Between South Africa and Morocco I did not do much birding around home, it seems quite flat as the number and variety of birds has declined drastically over the last few years and there is not much about to stir the blood. However I did get to the Charca de Suarez a couple of times and had a look at the Dipper site on the Rio Guadalfeo, so here are a few shots from those visits.
Ferruginous Duck - aythea nyroca
The Ferruginous Duck is classified as Near Threatened with extinction by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Hunting, loss of habitat, drought due to climate change are some of the reasons. It was nice to see few at the Charca de Suarez in March/April.
Ferruginous Duck - aythea nyroca
I don't get to see many Sedge Warblers so although this is not a very good photograph I post it for the record. Charca de Suarez in April.
Sedge warbler - acrocephalus schoenobaENUS
Common Sandpiper - actitis hypoleucis
The Common Sandpiper is as its name suggests, very common, but I like this shot from the Charca taken in good light and fairly close.
pale & dark morph Booted Eagles - aquila pennata
Four Booted Eagles at once over the Charca and I captured two in this shot including the solitary dark morphed bird.
Dipper - cinclus cinclus
I found this Dipper inspecting the nest site on the Rio Guadalfeo but the water level is down to about half from the previous year so I'm not sure if they will actually nest this year. We shall see. The prolonged drought combined with the increase in irrigation for the explosive spread of horticulture under plastic in Andalucia has denuded water supplies drastically. The famaous Chillar River walk in Nerja will be a thing of the past from this year, all the water is being diverted to Lake Vinuela which is very low.
Grey Wagtail - motacilla cinerea
The Grey Wagtails at the Rio Guadalfeo make a pleasant sight as always, one of the most colourful and attractive species in Europe.
