This was the first morning, after a total of three months, I traveled to Gran Alacant to meet with Bryan and Mark. I had no perception of what we might see but with the thought it was good to be out there at last. I was slightly reassured that I was in the company of two sharp eyed and trigger happy photographers as you never know what can be out there.
There was not much that was exceptional at Clot de Galvany except if it was your first sight of the main lagoon you would be delighted. We remembered the feeding frenzy of last summer with egrets, herons and gulls in large numbers, but it was nothing like that today. This is an excellent water for wintering water fowl and some have yet to arrive. However amongst the numerous birds on the water:
Shovelers - Cuchara Común and White Headed Ducks - Malvasia Cabeciblanca were plentiful It has been a good breeding season for them
Gadwall - Ánade Friso, both male and female. Eight in total.
Pochard - Porrón Europea.
A kingfisher - Martin Pescador called and flew
Common Snipe - Agachadiza Común Two of them showed that winter will be arriving soon.
Marsh Harrier - Aguilucho Luganero flew distantly.
We decided to check on the lagoons from Santa Pola onto El Pinet.
Opposite Playa Lisa we turned in and amongst the gulls was a Caspian Tern - Pagaza Piquirroja and at least three Lesser Black Backed Gulls - Gaviota Sombría. So this morning Mark recorded his first with the Caspian Tern. It is so pleasing to get a first and I believe only my second. We don't normally get them here. Next time we will check all the gulls out but today we moved on.
The Salt Tower lay- by can be very hit and miss but not today.
Thirty plus Spoonbills - Espátula Común flew close by and I asked the question would they have bred here?
A Turnstone - Vuelvepiedras Común was within metres of us and we counted four. Good views too.
Among the Little Egrets - Garceta Común we saw two Great Whites - Garceta Grande
There was a whole line, and others, of Great Crested Grebe - Somomurjo Lavanco
Then two birds that added to our morning. Bryan spotted a flying Osprey - Águila Pescadora soon joined by another. They circled around, the photographers got busy, and one landed on the posts in the water. The plumage was interesting and the photos when examined could tells us something. I will consider emailing Rutland to see if they have SatTagged birds coming our way. These two could be on way to Africa or they could be with us for the winter or even resident.
A large wader came into view and we considered the possibility of a Whimbrel - Zarapito Trinador but it soon it became a Black Tailed Godwit.- Aguja Colipinta nothing wrong with that!
At El Pinet we exchanged information of sightings with two other birders and we were informed that visits had been made throughout the summer with some good birds seen. It is the first summer we have not birdied through. We had a close view of Greenshank - Archibebe Claro and a Redshank - Archibebe Común was a distant bird. On an island were two pratincole - Canastera Común with some flying Little Terns - Charrancito Común . In the trees were Longtailed Tits - Mito.
Going to the beach with a strong wind coming onto us there were Common Terns -Charran Común. We hoped for Northern Gannets - Alcatraz Atalantico but with no luck. However plenty of swinging tits on the beach that were warming up in the sun. Bryan couldn’t take his off them! The coffee was good too and that was on Mark. A great way to celebrate a first. A bag of Werthers will have to be obtained.
I have not listed all and we still have many to see.
So good to get out and next week we will be out again.
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