
We did pick up 29 species at this site which was not a bad total given that there was very little mud flat for waders and much of the cover for small species had been swept away. A pair of Yellow Wagtails were foraging in the muddy pools that were once the main footpath to the beach. This one with the obligatory "Bling" on its leg, all done in the name of science of course!

There were plenty of late Chiffchaffs about and they are always very obliging photo models. Other little brown jobs included numerous Zitting Cisticolas and a Robin or two. Plenty of Blackbirds, a few Greenfinches, Crested larks and Meadow Pipits were seen along with the usual Goldfinches and Serins. A few Black Redstarts were present but I only saw one Stonechat. Barn Swallows, House and Crag Martins were all quite numerous. Starlings on the wires and a Woodchat Shrike gave good views.
A Redshank managed to find a few shallow spots to wade in the lower reaches of the river, joined by a solitary Ringed Plover. | Water birds were not present in any numbers but a solitary Avocet gave us a nice flypast This Little Ringed Plover preferred to forage in the growing fields instead of the very small available mudflats. |


From here we headed up to the picnic site above Alcaucin to look for woodland species, and almost immediately "spotted" a pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers in the trees around the car park. At the same time the raucous yaffling call of a Green Woodpecker was clearly heard but this particular bird kept out of sight.
A high flying raptor kept us all "rapt" with it´s presence and in fact once the record shots were scrutinised it was confirmed as being a Golden Eagle, possibly bird of the day?
The trees in this attractive location always harbor Nuthatches and Crossbills and although neither were present in great numbers today we were not disappointed.
Now I always thought that the Great Tit was an attractive but innocuous little bird which wouldn´t hurt a fly! well, it might eat a few but you know what I mean. Then I saw this...(Click on it) http://www.iltasanomat.fi/videot/kotimaa/vid-1288538785461.html I will never look at great tits in the same way again! |

We moved on from this location and wound our way on a circular route back to Zafarraya for lunch, after which we walked along the old railway track to observe the resident Red-Billed Choughs around the rock face, spotting also a pair of Peregrine Falcons and then adding more birds to our list with Black Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush and Crag Martin.