SALINAS AND EL HONDO

We don’t need any excuse to get out and when friends asked ‘take us out where you go to’ it was quickly arranged. On Monday 12th April on a chilly breezy morning with an ever threat of rain my expectations were not high. We turned around at the Santa Polo junction to give us a better light on the way back towards home and at the salinas Mediterranean Gulls - Gaviota Reidora were raucous and flying over in good numbers. We moved on giving the Salt Tower area only a cursory look. At the Stones a good number of very distant Spoonbills - Espátula Común and on the opposite side of N332 a flock of Curlew Sandpipers - Correlimos Zarapatin. The light was poor and so only a record shot. We had not seen this species for a long time.

At El Pinet Common Terns - Charran Común were busy flying and on the islands. I haven’t noted everything but for our friends it was mostly all new to them. Again clear views of Avocet - Avoceta Común - such an elegant bird to see.

Inland we went and after the heavy rains we found a saturated field with great numbers of Med. Gulls, Glossy Ibis - Morito Común and Cattle Egrets - Garcilla Bueyera with the latter showing good colours. 

However, the star bird here was a Squacco Heron - Garcilla Cangrejera in almost full summer plumage. 

Around Palm Farm Road the first seasons sightings of Gull-billed Terns - Pagaza Piconegra
Santa Aguada was full of water with nothing of note. On the way there one field was swarming with Red-rumpled Swallows - Golondrina Daurica 

We took a chance with the areas around the information centre as we knew it was busy. It was and the car park was full. Not to be put off we had some more first sightings for our two friends and on the pond great views of Red-knobbed Coots (Crested Coot) - Focha Muruna and Marbled Ducks - Cerceta Pardilla were obvious too.

The boardwalk gave a clear view of a Great Reed Warbler - Carricero Tordal singing and with a Reed Warbler Carricero Común calling from the other side. 

A Common Cuckoo - Cucú Común called as well. Also several perched Whiskered Terns - Fumarel Cariblanco posed for the photo.

Moving onto the far hide Michelle found her target birds Collared Pratincoles - Canestra Común, distant and 15 in number. She was delighted.

So many firsts for our guests only some of which I have mentioned and great views for us. I checked everywhere for Yellow Wagtails - Lavandera Boyera with no luck. Next time then.