LO MONTE

Changeable weather, wind and rain preceding a extra hot April and too many other events have made it my poorest birding period for years. Not all is lost as we are now going out here and we have plans for Cornwall in the summer.

Lagunas de Lo Monte on borders of Alicante and Murcia deserve more of my attention and time. We went there the other evening to see what could be flying into roost but the low sun was straight into our eyes. The usual were on the water and overhead, in the pines, up to fifteen Long-tailed Tits - Mito flew around. Michelle with her Nikon P900 got one shot that proves the point but a poor photo.

The following morning we tried again. There have been hatchlings. Common Coot - Focha Comun with two red headed youngsters were on the water, and Moorhen - Gallineta Común too.  A female Common Pochard - Porrón Europea swam with her nine young. I wonder how many she will have with her next time I see her. On a raft were two adult Shelduck - Tarro Blanco with six young and there was not a Cormorant - Cormorán Grande anywhere in view! Little Grebe - Zampullin Común and Black-necked - Zampullin Cuellinegro swam around with evidence of young. 

On the right hand edge a number of male White Headed Ducks - Malvasia Cabeciblanca squabbled with a great deal of splashing. 

We were particularly hoping to see Squacco Herons - Garcilla Cangrejera and Little Bittern - Avetorillo Común as well. We had a brief sighting of a flying male of the latter.

Small birds were not obvious but then we watched two in and out of the reeds - in full view and then hidden. Michelle photos show two Blackcaps - Curruca Capirotada. We think two juveniles but the experts will say whether that ID is correct or otherwise. 

All the hides face south westerly, more or less, with most backdrops being of reed or distant water and sky. There is only a small amount of a ‘shore’ available to be seen and so waders are not easy here.

However I will give it more attention and hope for something special. Here’s to the next time.