Today we were at the Odiel Marshes where we were dismayed to find major industrial works taking place. Huge trucks thundered up and down the narrow road at high speed, one every minute or so. The Southern end of the spit was blocked to the public and a long stretch of the approach road designated as no stopping. Presumably the trucks were continuing to dump dredging spoil on the Pratincole and Little Tern colonies, unbridled habitat destruction on an industrial scale.
We made the best of a bad situation though and collectively managed to build up a good selection of species. There are always Flamingos here, not in great numbers such as at Fuente de Piedra, but always some scattered about in the salt pans where presumably the depth suits them.
We made the best of a bad situation though and collectively managed to build up a good selection of species. There are always Flamingos here, not in great numbers such as at Fuente de Piedra, but always some scattered about in the salt pans where presumably the depth suits them.
Greater Flamingos
Spoonbills too are a certainty here, it is perhaps the best site in Spain to see this exotic species, like flamingos I think they are most elegant in flight with neck extended forward in a graceful curve.
Spoonbill
| Yes, definitely more graceful in flight than when stationary, as can be seen in the photos above compared with the one to the right in which a Spoonbill shares his space with a Yellow-Legged Gull. Personally I prefer to photograph small birds than Waders. Little ones are more challenging than a large target standing around on some mud, so are much more fun for the photographic hunter. I enjoyed capturing a decent image of a Whinchat for example, it's a passage migrant that we get few opportunities to see, let alone photograph. I think it is a very attractive little bird |  Yellow legged Gull & Spoonbill |
Whinchat
Northern Wheatear Another handsome smaller bird, the Northern Wheatear is highly photogenic and this one strikes an imposing figure on a fencepost in matching colours.
The Willow Warbler is quite a common passage migrant at this time of year but I think it makes a nice image as it moves around on tall plant stems picking out seed and insect food. I spotted this one through the portals in a hide behind the Visitor's Centre which allowed some close-up shots of a very active little bird finding good pickings on the plant seed heads.
The Willow Warbler is quite a common passage migrant at this time of year but I think it makes a nice image as it moves around on tall plant stems picking out seed and insect food. I spotted this one through the portals in a hide behind the Visitor's Centre which allowed some close-up shots of a very active little bird finding good pickings on the plant seed heads.
Willow Warbler
Willow Warbler
Willow Warbler
Another good sequence of photographs involves this Great Egret which had found a ready supply of fish in the shallows out of the current and turbulence of the main river. It was fun watching the bird jumping about following the fish and making strikes, often successfully as can be seen from the photo below.
Great Egret with fish
Great Egrets normally have yellow/orange bills except in breeding birds when the bills change to black. It was encouraging to see this is a breeding adult and in fact it has been a good period for Great Egrets, one of the few species that appears to be on the increase in Andalucia.
Great Egret - Casmerodious Albus
Great Egret - Casmerodious Albus
I should not ignore the other waders of course, I mean they are real birds, unlike common seagulls, sparrows and collared doves (joke, honest). One of Elena's favourites is the Oystercatcher, a bright-eyed and conspicuous chappie in red, black and white.
One of my favourite waders is the Grey Plover. Not one of the common species it is a real beauty in its full summer plumage. This one unfortunately is in a transitional phase and is not so stunning. nevertheless it is a pleasure to see them at any time.
Grey Plover
Curlews are a favourite wader amongst birders, both for the elegant and distinctive size and shape, particularly that long downcurving bill, and for their haunting call which is a familiar sound to anyone who has walked the misty estuaries and coastal marshes of North Norfolk for example. Young curlews that have not yet developed the very long bill can easily be mistaken for a Whimbrel, a similar species but slightly smaller with a shorter bill.
Curlew - numenius arquata
Young Curlew
 Pied Flycatcher | Pied Flycatchers featured regularly on this trip, they were seen at virtually every location, obviously making their way towards the narrow crossing at Gibralter on their way South. The solitary Slender Billed Gull below was on a salt pool on the Odiel Marshes. The inexperienced birder could mistake this species for a Black Headed Gull in Winter plumage. One needs to note the longer bill, forehead and neck. It is a much scarcer bird which only really occurs around the Meditterranean coasts and not in large numbers. I have posted a shot of a Black Headed Gull for comparison purposes. |
Slender Billed Gull - chroicocephalus genei
Black Headed Gull - chroicocephalus ridibundus
The Caspian Tern below was seen in the evening flying over the pond at the Golf Course at Costa Asuri, Ayamonte. It was quite close but once again the camera settings were wrong for a bird in flight & I didn't have time to change them, so the shot is not great.
Caspian Tern
A total of well in excess of thirty species was seen at this amazing Golf Course water. The Club Manager seemed keen to showcase it and at Bob's suggestion he is considering building a hide as an added attraction to the complex. Sounds like a good idea..
