CLOT DE GALVANY, EL HONDO AND SANTA AGUADA AND MORE
Tuesday 7th December was a day of full sun and little wind. By afternoon the temperatures had risen to 23 degrees and we were hoping for raptors.
Bryan and I decided to give Clot de Galvany a go although we knew there would be more people about because of the two public holidays. The new lagoon produced little although we did have several fly pasts by a Kingfisher - Martin Pescador. We quickly moved on to the main hide overlooking the large water and apart from around twenty White Headed Ducks - Malvasia
Cabeciblanca that appeared to be all female or juveniles. Again Kingfisher flew and so did a Swamp hen - Calamon Común. In the distance one Great Crested Grebe - Somomujo Lavanco Little Grebes - Zampullin Común appeared everywhere. Over our heads Long-tailed Tits - Mito were seen and a Cetti’s - Ruiseñor Bastardo called. We remarked upon the few in number of Black Redstarts - Collirojo Tizon as we only saw three all day. I suppose it’s where you are!
We got lucky at the ‘dry hide’ where we saw several Bluethroat - Pechiazul flitting about. A Robin - Petirrojo was good to see. Marsh Harriers - Aguilucho Luganero flew too.
The water level is higher now and that leaves hardly any visible margins. The number of wintering wildfowl was low except for Common Pochard - Porrón Europea. That was disappointing.
We gave Urba Nova a quick look and part form six Avocet, one lone Kentish Plover - Chorlitejo Patinegro, Meadow Pipit - Bisbita Común and a very obliging Stonechat - Tarrabilla Común that was it.
We then headed inland keeping our eyes on the sky hoping for eagles. We did not see any Spotted Eagles - Aguila Moteada but we did have good views of a Dark Morph Booted Eagle - Aguillilla Calzada
High up were two Marsh Harriers and in the distance Bryan spotted a smaller raptor. This is the one that got away. Kestrel size but it wasn’t. We don’t win them all!
At Santa Aguada there was some water with just one Green Sandpiper - Andarrios Grande and that was it. But on the way into it we had both Water and Meadow Pipits - Alpino and Común in a very damp field. Also there were five Little Ringed Plovers - Chorlitejo Chico feeding in the tilled earth. That was surprise but very good to see.
We headed towards the Vistabella Road and ended our day on some high points. We were passing a water-logged field when Golden Plover - Chorlito Dorada Europea took off, we believe, spooked by a male Marsh Harrier. They landed again and settled. I counted fourteen and Bryan got busy with the photographs. We moved on and at the junction with Vistabella Road there was a small flooded field with two close by Bluethroats. The light was wrong but photographs were taken. One field contained about eighty Glossy Ibis - Morito with others seen flying before.
Common Starlings - Estornino Pinto are definitely here in fast numbers as we saw them gathering on pylons and wires. One we saw feeding on Pomegranates and we were close enough to see the spots and iridescence.
Okay so we’ve had 14 Golden Plover, several Bluethroats and Raptors and then three Common Cranes - Grulla Común flew over. We had been hoping to get a view of them this winter and suddenly there they were flying into El Hondo. That was a great way to finish our afternoon. I have not recorded all our sightings.
No comments:
Post a Comment