The last day but one to get another day out birding in 2021. Thursday 30th was a day of full sun with temperatures going as high as 22 degrees. Recently we have undertaken more or less similar routes between Gran Alacant and El Hondo so that we are aware of any changes.
This morning we stopped at the lagoons down the hill from the Santa Pola turn off and got lucky straighway a Cetti’s Warbler -Ruiseñor called, popped up and flew in front of us. On a distant pylon a Peregrin Falcon - Halcón Peregrino and a Little Bittern - Avetorillo Común called.
At the Salt Tower three Turnstones - Vuelvepiedras Común flew in to be photographed. We notice that the water level was lower leaving a muddy margin. One Dunlin - fed on the edge of the rocks. The ‘Stones’ gave us distant views of 24 Spoonbills - Espátula Común and a very large number of Flamingos. On the water at least 70 plus Wigeon - Silbon Europea. We counted six Large Egrets - Garceta Grande as well.
El Pinet had reduced water levels too with the nearest lagoons in puddles. Little Stints - Correlimos Menudo and Dunlin - Correlimos Común fed together. There was one Redshank - Archibebe Común and the usual Avocets.
We quickly moved on as we wanted to photograph ‘the big one’- Aguila Moteada and it was in the same tree as before. This time Bryan got it on camera and you can judge what you see.
Flying at the back was a pale morph Booted Eagle - Agulilla Calzada and a Buzzard - Busardo Ratonero. Jackdaws - Grajillo called and perched even in the same tree as Moteada and that gave a size comparison. Bryan spooked a Hoopoe - Abubilla and it perched nearby.
We decided to give the lagoons near the information centre and it did pay off although there were too many people around for us! Bryan go straight on to a Temminck’s Stint that was really close by and photographed. A large number of Black Winged Stilts - Ciguelnuela Común
with four perched and two Whiskered Terns - Fumarel Carriblanco flying over. So graceful to watch and over-wintering here. Adding to the species number Snipe - Agachadizza Común, two Greenshank - Archibebe Claro, and again Dublin and Little Stint.
We, of course, wanted another good bird for our return journey but had to settle for a Common Buzzard. Two of them for the day and three Booted Eagles. A good way to the day 2021
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