EASTER SATURDAY, LO MONTE

What a way to start a day with Bee-eaters - Abejaruco Común burbling over head and this beautiful flower poking up through the other vegetation. Then to Lo Monte as there had been a male Gargany -  seen previously.

In the car park our first of the year, a Woodchat Shrike - Alcaudon Común perched on the fence. We sat in the hide with the wider expanse of water in view. In front of us were:

Two Great Cormorants - Cormoron Grande on each of the two platforms.

Common Pochard - Porrón Europeo at least a dozen but mainly males.

Little Grebes -  Zampullin Común 

Great-crested Grebe - Somormujo Lavanco. Only one 

White Headed Ducks - Malvasia

Mallard - Ánade Azuldon

Coots - Focha Común and Morehens - Gallineta Común 

In the reeds one Little Egret - Garceta Común.

Then a Grey Heron - Garza Real flew past us twice with a two foot long snake dangling from it’s beak. Maybe a Culebre Escalera? What a sight and one to remember. There were several other Herons as well, but no Purple yet.

Small birds were not easy to see clearly and we had a quick fly past of a Yellow Wagtail - Lavendera Boyera

At the second hide we watched the female Reed Bunting - Escribano Palustre and that bird entertained us for a good time as it fed on the mud and vegetation.

Then we had the bird we wanted to see above all others, a male Garganey - Cerceta Carratona with several swim pasts. What a stunner.

Back at our first hide we carried on watching the Garganey and then three Sandpipers flew in and around. We cannot agree on the markings we saw, but for me they were Wood Sands - Andarrios Bastardo and for Michelle the birds were Common Sands.= Chico.

We can add into this mix so much more with all the small arial species that included a Broad Bodied Chaser and some ‘large’ bees (maybe Hornets) but the photos did not turn out well. So difficult to focus on.

Lastly so good, clear and close up, views of a Marsh Harrier - Aguilucho Luganero. Our species tally for the morning was 22. Can it get any better?