

Being so close to an Avocet it was possible to see just how blue the legs are. From a distance it is easily missed but at this range those bright blue pins were highly conspicuous.


Twenty two members of the Axarquia Bird Group met at 9:30 for a walk around the Guadalhorce on a cooler and cloudier morning than of late, a pleasant change from the recent unrelenting hot and humid weather. I even enjoyed walking in the light rain that ensued once we reached the far side of the Reserve. On the way in Elena and I had glimpses of the flock of Black-headed Weavers that feed on the yellow flowering plants growing along the riverbank. Unfortunately they moved on before most people had a chance to see them. Not a great deal of bird life was evident until we reached the path on the far side where a group of Red-Rumped Swallows were coming and going from a cane perch. The youngsters were flexing their wings and experimenting with lift from the fresh breeze off the sea, it made a good photographic opportunity. I was interested to see several Banded Groundlings quartering the paths around the Reserve. They are an attractive African dragonfly species which has spilled into parts of Southern Iberia and Corsica. I also noted a young insect that lacked the dark wing bands, possibly a sign of successful breeding here at the Guadalhorce. They are well known in Africa for frequenting animal and human activity, presumably to catch disturbed flies. This one in the picture seemed to Like Lesley Laver, it stayed with her for some time and enjoyed perching on her shoes. ![]() I am not a great 'lister' so a full account of all sixty species observed by the Group can be seen on Bob Wright's Axarquian Birder website. I will mention the Kingfishers seen at several of the lagunas, it has been a good year for this species. A Little Tern seen over the east river was nice, and a pair of Booted Eagles watching over proceedings from vantage points in some tall trees was a bonus. ![]() Perhaps the best bird watching for me however the beautiful Avocet that came close to the main hide so we were able to watch it sweeping from side to side in the shallow water with that long elegant upturned bill. What a stunner. Being so close to an Avocet it was possible to see just how blue the legs are. From a distance it is easily missed but at this range those bright blue pins were highly conspicuous. There have been a lot of Curlew Sandpipers around this year, more than I remember seeing in previous years and they were quite numerous at the Guadalhorce today. It should be Dunlin that are common & Curlew Sandpiper an occasional sighting, but the roles seemed to have reversed this year. Collins Guide states that they are usually scarce but are more common in some Autumns. Obviously this is one such special year. These birds have already lost the beautiful red Summer plumage but are an attractive sighting nonetheless. ![]() ![]() We were also pleased to see a group of four Oystercatchers on the island in front of the main hide. They were mixed in with a large number of yellow-legged Gulls that suddenly took flight, leaving the four oystercatchers on their own, a very fine sight. Other waders present included Greenshank, Redshank, Ringed, Little Ringed and Kentish Plover, a number of juvenile Flamingos, Common and Green Sandpiper and later a few Spoonbills showed up after I had left. I also missed the Garden Warbler spotted by Bob and those people who did not take the beach route across to the main hide. I did see Reed and Sardinian Warblers and caught sight of a Whitethroat on the way out.
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The end of August and migration is underway. Bee-eaters were heard streaming over the house in large numbers even at 2 am this morning. Sightings of Honey Buzzards and Quail from Mick, Roller from Alan, and Bob spotted groups of Willow Warbler with mixed Penduline Tits down at the Rio. I decided I should get out & see for myself despite the oppressive heat, so after enjoying Frigiliana's 3 Cultures Festival last night, Bob & Jenny stayed over & Bob & I went to the Charca de Suarez this morning & picked up 40 species. First birds sighted were Red Avadavats feeding in the tall grasses along Turtle Dove Alley. The place lived up to its name with several Turtle Doves on the road picking up seeds. This shot is of one of a pair that flew into a roadside acacia? tree & sat obligingly as we snapped away from inside the car. Inside the Reserve we met a Spanish birder at Laguna del Taraje who seemed quite excited about a small duck he had spotted at the far end of the pond. His photo looked quite ordinary though & I think it might have been a female Teal, which we saw later from the main hide. He believed it to have been a Marbled Duck, we will never know. On the new wader pond we picked out Common & Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, Dunlin, Black-winged Stilt, Little Egret and a solitary Glossy Ibis which is very nice to see here. Small birds included all three Wagtail species plus more Red Avadavats. ![]() From the main hide we saw relatively little of interest. A dodgy looking Pochard that upon reflection is probably a Ferruginous hybrid. Solitary Females of Shoveler and Teal, a Purple Swamphen showed nicely and a Kingfisher flew past every so often. In fact we saw a Kingfisher from every hide, never more than one at a time though so it could have been the same bird doing the rounds. At Laguna del Trebol we watched the usual Spotted Flycatcher demanding to have its picture taken, so (yawn) here it is! Apart from that there was not a lot else to see, unless you count the resident Red Knobbed Coots with those big unsightly neck bands. Fortunately we did find one without the bling, probably one of last year's brood. Moving along to the next hide was a good move as there in front of us was a handsome Squacco Heron walking a tightrope across the water on a fallen cane. Squaccos generally sleep in the middle of the day and are active feeders mainly at dawn and dusk. On migration however they must maximise their food intake for the long journey to sub-Saharan Africa so are active during all daylight hours. As we left the Reserve & drove off I bemoaned to Bob the fact that we saw no raptors at the Charca these days, and as I spoke a female Marsh Harrier rose from the marshes by the road just to prove me wrong. Not that I minded.
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AuthorRetired seafarer living in Frigiliana, a white village in Malaga Province in southern Spain. Married to Elena. Keen bird and wildlife watchers. Archives
July 2020
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