Elena and I decided to visit the Charca de Suarez reserve near Motril today. It is a very relaxing way to pass a couple of hours. At this time of year it is open between 4 and 6 pm. We arrived in time to catch a shot of a Marsh Harrier quartering the Reserve with a vista of the Sierra Nevada snows in the background. A super view and a sighting which boded well for the next hour or two.
We discovered that work was ongoing inside, the management are constantly striving to improve this delightful semi-urban little oasis of a bird reseve. The clockwise route around to the main hide was closed off. Never mind, we set off in the other direction, it is a circular route so makes no difference.
We discovered that work was ongoing inside, the management are constantly striving to improve this delightful semi-urban little oasis of a bird reseve. The clockwise route around to the main hide was closed off. Never mind, we set off in the other direction, it is a circular route so makes no difference.
Snipe - gallinago gallinago
From the main hide we could see a Snipe feeding on the foreshore of the island. The only other bird of note amongst all the coots, moorhens, mallards and seagulls was what I thought might be a Ferruginous Duck asleep on the same island, but with its head tucked along its back I could not be sure and in that repose it was not worth photographing.
| However although Cormorants are not the most exciting of birds, being relatively common, it was fun watching them splash around very vigorously, bathing I suppose and creating quite a disturbance while doing so. |  |
Cettis Warbler - cettia cetti
We soon moved back to the hide on Laguna del Trebol. From here we could see quite a large company of Shovelers along with the Mallards, Coots, Moorhens and Little Grebes. A single Purple Swamphen, and surprisingly a solitary Balck-Winged Stilt. Lots of Chiffchaffs were feeding on the pile of dry pondweed that had been dragged onto the bank in front of the hide, and then a nice little Cettis Warbler put in an appearance right in front of us. Things were hotting up.
Bluethroat - luscinia svecica
Shortly afterwards we were treated to the spectacle of a splendid Bluethroat who flew in to join in the food search on the dried pondweed. Fortunately this bird had not been caught and ringed, so no unsightly bling around its legs, yet! That will undoubtedly change. I have doubts about the benefits of bird ringing. People do it mostly I believe, because they can. Does it really advance scientific knowledge?
Water Pipit - anthus spinoletta
It wasn´t long before a less fortunate bird showed up, a little Water Pipit which had the obligatory lump of metal around its leg. Still, It was a pleasant sighting anyway, as this is not a bird one sees every day.
As the evening sun got lower the light changed and provided a warm glow. This Chiffchaff was presumably enjoying the last rays of daylight as it perched on the reed stem for longer than the normal two or three seconds.
A White Wagtail came into view amost too close to focus on, but it made a nice picture to post.
We finally headed back to the main hide for a last look and were lucky enough to catch the Ferruginous Duck out for a swim. Although the light was poor by now it is worth posting a picture of this relatively rare duck.
A White Wagtail came into view amost too close to focus on, but it made a nice picture to post.
We finally headed back to the main hide for a last look and were lucky enough to catch the Ferruginous Duck out for a swim. Although the light was poor by now it is worth posting a picture of this relatively rare duck.
 White Wagtail - motacilla alba |  Ferruginous Duck - aythya nyroca |
It had been a very pleasant visit and we were pleased with the birds we had seen. However it is slightly worrying to note the lack of herons of any kind this year. Last year it had been a haven for Grey, Purple, Night and Squacco Herons, also Little Bittern was a frequent visitor. This year, nothing? The head warden Manu believes it has something to do with a lack of frogs. Possibly as a result of the Worldwide disease that is decimating frog populations? or perhaps something about the weather pattern, the long very hot and dry summer may be to blame. I don¨t know but it is not quite the same any more without the heron family. Let´s hope we see a return of those large and exotic birds next year.
