BIRDING IN THE HEAT IN ALICANTE

BIRDING IN THE DESERTED FIELDS IN PROVINCIA DE ALICANTE’s DESERT

We always want to be out there and this morning we were. Our expectations were low and what we achieved was very little but we did it.

The N332 was abnormally heavy so we headed in land from Gran Alacant. There was very little to see except a swarm of both House Martins- Avion Comun and Barn Swallows - Golondrina Común still going south. We seem to be betwixt the seasons with some still going away and nothing, it seems, coming in from the north. It is exceptional times with temperatures being so high. 

We headed to Parque Natural de El Hondo. On the way we discovered a very low flying light brown raptor that could be a  Common Buzzard - Busardo Ratonera, being mobbed by Common Kestrels - Cernicalo Vulgar but we did it see enough of it to decide.  One to remember and to look again.

El Hondo was very disappointing. It needs to be trimmed and the water was muddy too. Red-Knobbed Coots - Focha Moruna were swimming in open water while both Great Reed & Reed Warblers - Carricero Tordal & Comun called and flew. We saw only one Marbled Duck - Cerceta Pardilla and not one wader. We left quickly.

Santa Aguada was as dry as a bone and the fields are waiting to be cut and harvested. What we wanted was a flooded field but we did not get one. El Pinet, we tried, and found two Dunlin - Correlimos Común, one Black-tailed Godwit - Aguja Colinegra, one Black-winged Stilt -Cigüeñuela Común and a Ringed Plover - Chorliejo Grande.  That is not a good return.

(PS. It must have been Trev’s fault as he flew in today!)

And that was that! Our plan is to wait for the rain and go out then. Let’s hope the ducks and waders will have arrived.