09:30 and twenty seven members of the Axarquia Bird Group met at the gate of the Charca de Suarez Reserve near Motril for a private visit. Once inside we all spread out and went our separate ways which worked very well since the Reserve has been extended with new pools, scrapes and paths. The overall area has increased considerably and it will be difficult to cover everything in the usual two hour time slots in future.
Spotted Flycatcher juvenile - muscicapa striata
Little Bittern - ixobrichus minutes At this time of year we often come across young birds that have not yet learned to be wary of people. This juvenile Spotted Flycatcher was quite unperturbed as I approached so I got some very nice close-up shots.
The same could not be said for this adult male Little Bittern that lurked in the reed-bed staying as inconspicuous as possible. I would probably not have spotted it but very little escapes Elena´s sharp eyes.
The new wader pool is looking promising with a good variety of waders already present. These included a nice Wood Sandpiper along with a couple of Green and a Common Sandpiper for company. Little Ringed Plover, Black Winged Stilt, Little and Cattle Egrets were also on the new pool together with a good number of Black Headed and Yellow Legged Gulls
The same could not be said for this adult male Little Bittern that lurked in the reed-bed staying as inconspicuous as possible. I would probably not have spotted it but very little escapes Elena´s sharp eyes.
The new wader pool is looking promising with a good variety of waders already present. These included a nice Wood Sandpiper along with a couple of Green and a Common Sandpiper for company. Little Ringed Plover, Black Winged Stilt, Little and Cattle Egrets were also on the new pool together with a good number of Black Headed and Yellow Legged Gulls
Reed Warbler - acrocephalus scirpaceous There was relatively little activity on the ponds of the old section. A solitary Ferruginous Duck which I am told is a hybrid female with some Pochard genes. The resident Red Knobbed Coots were visible, but apart from the Little Bittern and a couple of Purple Swamphens nothing very interesting at all. However as we walked towards the exit we did get nice views of a group of Red Avadavats and one or two Reed Warblers in the tall grasses.
