Dotterel - charadrius morinelus We finally managed to fit a day´s birding into our busy schedule, and a very good day it was too. We headed east, stopping at Las Norias/Roquetas de Mar on the way to Cabo de Gata to look for the Dotterel that Mick Richardson had reported recently. And there they were, giving us superb views (once they got used to the car).
Dotterel - charadrius morinelus However, no matter how close the bird & how good the light, the Dotterel is just not photogenic. Some birds are not. They blend in well with their background in browns and greys and do not stand out boldly. Never mind, it´s a lifer, and we were delighted to pass a pleasant hour watching a new species.
Curlew - numenius arquatus As well as Dotterel, there were groups of Golden Plover and Curlew foraging in the scrub behind the beach. Large flocks of Meadow Pipit and Starling were also finding something worthwhile here too, which all made for a really good birding experience.
Black-necked Grebe - The ponds at Las Norias had been fruitful with Flamingo, Avocet, Shelduck, Red Crested and Common Pochard, Wigeon, Shoveler, Black-necked Grebe, Ringed Plover, Sanderling, Redshank, Common Sandpiper, Marsh and Hen Harrier, Buzzard and a host of other common species I can´t be bothered to name.
Redshank - tringa totanus
Flamingos - phoenicopterus roseus After the beach near Retamar we continued on to the Salinas at Cabo de Gata which held many of the same species we had seen at Las Norias, including far greater numbers of Flamingo. We also added Grey Plover in the fields near the far hide, Black-tailed Godwit, Spoonbill, Southern Grey Shrike, and last but not least a new bird in Spain for me, the single Brent Goose that Dave Elliot-Bins had seen last week. Distant but a definite ID on this rare visitor from the north.
Record shot of a distant Brent Goose - branta bernicla
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Grey Plover - pluvialis sqatarola
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