EL FONDO AND SURROUNDS
The weather seems to have settled with strong suns and with little wind. We had heard that a field had been flooded in the area of The Parque Natural and decided we needed a trip out and to see for ourselves.
We found fields where the grass had been cut, was drying out and with some already bailed and being collected. Some still shows signs of having been wet with others under water or in the process of being flooded. We had hoped for a very good morning but had to be pleased with what we saw. It was good to be out.
Some areas were packed with Cattle Egrets - Garcilla Bueyera and with Glossy Ibis - Morito. They were is such numbers that they could only be estimated. Upwards of 200 with both species dependent upon which field you scanned. There were a good number of Black Headed Gulls - Gaviota Reidora.
We hoped for waders and we worked hard to find one solitary Greenshank - Archibebe Claro that was photographed even with its rapid movements and the poor light. We looked hard and found a Water Pipit - Bisbita Alpino. There were a few White Wagtails - Lavendera Blanca around too. Small birds were in very short supply and we were disappointed in not seeing many other waders. Perhaps next time.
We re-traced our route and went to the Information Centre and what we found was this. The scrapes and lagoons adjacent to the car park had been drained and machines had been in to cut down the vegetation. We wanted to see Blue Throat - Pechiazul and Snipe - Agachadiza Común but not here now. It was not a good time to be there.
Close by the picnic area a small pond contained photographable frogs the Iberian Water Frog - Rana Común and nearby feeding on Woody Fleabane was Plain Tigers - Mariposa Tigray. They are beautiful. The Woody Fleabane has numerous bright yellow flowers and dark green leaves on a dark brown woody stem. Easy to see and worth inspecting for the small stuff. Another name is False Yellow Head and according to a Catalan Proverb the following is said; ‘My dear one, don’t fall in love with any one who has only good looks. She is like a false yellow headed flower beautiful, but full of stench. So be warned.
Alongside these flowers was a new board showing the local butterflies.
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