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.
Red-Rumped Swallows - cecropis daurica
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.
Little Tern 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.
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.
