SIERRA DE SALINAS ALICANTE SPAIN

 It’s come around full circle, you could say. On Wednesday morning, 26th May, four of us met up to  re-explore some areas and for some of us make a first visit. 

Let me explain. Malcolm was invited to join myself, Bryan and Gareth to guide us to locations that he had investigated in past years. Malcolm for years has been a stalwart of the Costa Blanca Bird Club that is still an ongoing entity although the three of us have only tenuous links! That’s the connection and we are very grateful that club was formed. It brought us together and to share journeys looking for birds.

The specific target was to visit previous known habitats for the Orphean Warbler - Curraca Mirlona. Yes we wanted to see one and that would have been a ‘Werthers’ moment but what we wanted to achieve was to have historic knowledge of where they had been seen. It had been decided that the area close to Villena ( take A31) and Sierra de Salinas would be the best.

Having stopped down a farm track we heard the ‘cronk’ of a Raven - Cuervo and saw two. In the sky beyond them a multitude of Choughs - Chova Piquirroja and we have seen the same sort of numbers over Monnegre. Over a distant ridge it may have been a Golden Eagle - Águila Real but too far to be fully certain. Then seemingly out of the fields our first eagles of the year and looming large were two Short-toed - Águila Culebrera Europea. We watched them for several minutes, flying together and holding in the wind. At the same time flying low over the fields were Common Swifts that were id’d by the experts.

At another stop Gareth’s  sharp eyes located a bird on a wire. It was a Tawny Pipit - Bisbita Campestre. My second and for Gareth another first. Clear and unmistakeable and a photograph for the record. We heard Iberian Green Woodpecker - Pito Real and there it was stuck on the side of a pole like a door knocker. Distant but good in the scope.

We found our way to the sierra and this is a must place to visit. It’s top of my list for a return. It has suitable habitat for many species. We listened and there were clear bird calls around. A Bonnelli’s Warbler - Mosquitero Papialbo was in a Pine tree over our heads. Just prior to that a Goshawk was identified and that gave Gareth another first. I love the sierras and you can never tell what they will yield for you. It requires the effort to be there and to keep looking.

The wet weather we have had has provided the ideal moisture for flowering plants and I saw some terrific colors. A study in their own right. Butterflies too, but not many and only one glimpse of a Fritillary. There is always so much to see. We could be up there next week at about 700 meters

and to see all those vistas.

We obtained a good list for the day, but not all mentioned.

Bryan’s site - top right on my blog - is the one to see photos and it is worth looking on Instagram - michey._edwards and the nobinsbirdclub for other photos.