Wednesday 16 June 2021

COSTA BLANCA BIRDS AND LAGOONS IN THE HEAT

We are in the heat now that June is progressing towards the solstice. Even with an early start it was twenty degrees. We didn’t expect a great list and we didn’t get one. The lagoons were quiet and opposite Playa Lisa a very distant male Peregrine Falcon - Halcón Peregrino was our first notable bird. We passed quickly through some of our normals stops and at El Pinet we had a real treat. A pair of Kentish Plovers - Chorlitejo Patinegro with three chicks moving about on the tip of the nearest island. I rejoice in seeing a successful hatching and hope the babies make it to adulthood.



Our real target was to focus on Rollers - Carraca and they were around, possibly six in total, and Michelle photographed her first one. Success then.






In the same area we had four sightings of Great Spotted Cuckoos - Criala Europea but with no chance for a photograph. 


We were hoping for a flooded field but no and with many fields of grass cut and drying in the sun but nothing showed. We had hoped for really good views of Yellow Wagtails - Lavandera Boyera and they were around. Butterflies were disappointing with only small whites.


On CV 861 - Km 7 on the small lagoon were no less than twenty Marbled Ducks - Cerceta Pardilla and this was the first time we had seen them there. It is a good indication that the programme with these ducks has been successful and in the fields opposite Collared Pratincoles - Canastera Común were spotted together with a Kentish Plover.


At San Felipe Neri a Ruddy Darter was on the vegetation and then - we believe - a female Ruddy Darter was photographed. 





On the pond there were other Marbled Ducks and in the main lagoon there appears to be silt suspended in the water. Apart from raucous Great Reed Warblers nothing much to say except that this place disappoints yet again.






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