Yet again the Charca de Suarez near the Port of Motril threw up some surprises and photo opportunities for the Axarquia Bird Group visit on Friday 13th! Feb. ooh er, unlucky for some maybe, but not me as I finally caught up with one of my bogey species, the elusive Water Rail.
Water Rail - rallus aquaticus
I was sitting alone in the South Hide on Laguna del Trebol when this one popped out of the reeds right in front of me. The light was not perfect but I was very happy to get some reasonable close up shots anyway.
Water Rail - rallus aquaticus
It is always nice to meet up with other birders and I enjoy the company of like-minded folk, but when it comes to birding I prefer to avoid the inevitable disturbance a large group brings. It certainly proved effective on this occasion as just after the Rail a nice adult Bluethroat showed up in the same spot and I was the only one fortunate enough to catch either species today.
Bluethroat - luscinea svecica
There's always a down side however as a call from Bob Wright informed me that the rest of the Group had a Little Bustard in their sights from the main Hide! This is totally unexpected and is probably the first record of such a bird in this location, what was it doing here with the herons and wildfowl of a waterside reserve? Quite naturally I headed over that way and was just in time to see the said bird in flight, heading North West, back presumably to where such birds belong, on the Spanish Steppes. It was quite clear and unmistakable but I was not quick enough to grab a shot. There are plenty of record shots from other members of the group to prove it however. Manu the Head Warden informed us that they also had a Common Crane earlier in the week, another first for the Charca and perhaps a symptom of the exceptionally cold weather we had been experiencing lately.
Red Knobbed Coot - fulica cristata
Chiffchaff - phyloscopus collybita It was also nice to see the Red Knobbed Coots busy collecting nesting material, including this one without the ugly bling around its neck, almost certainly a result of successful breeding here last Summer.
Chiffchaffs were by far the most plentiful birds around and I practiced my photography on them when there was nothing more interesting in view. One or two shots are quite pleasing so I post one here for its aesthetic qualities.
Other birds of note include Marsh Harrier, Teal, Pochard, Red Avadavat, some very early Barn Swallows, Grey Wagtails and the resident Little Bittern on the Laguna del Lirio. Purple Swamphens were out in force today, I lost count of how many.
Chiffchaffs were by far the most plentiful birds around and I practiced my photography on them when there was nothing more interesting in view. One or two shots are quite pleasing so I post one here for its aesthetic qualities.
Other birds of note include Marsh Harrier, Teal, Pochard, Red Avadavat, some very early Barn Swallows, Grey Wagtails and the resident Little Bittern on the Laguna del Lirio. Purple Swamphens were out in force today, I lost count of how many.
 Kestrel - falco tinnunculus |  Little Bittern - ixobrichus minutes  Red Knobbed Coot - fulica cristata |
Stripeless Tree Frog - hyla meridionalis It was encouraging to see so many Stripeless Tree Frogs on the tall grasses and vegetation. A good sign for the food chain and an attraction for herons and egrets in Spring perhaps. This one had a pair of Mosquitoes gorging themselves on its blood, unpleasant but better I suppose than them feeding on me!
Below are a few practice shots, I think the Black Redstart was on to me? She obviously did not consider me a threat though as she carried on foraging around in front of the hide.
Below are a few practice shots, I think the Black Redstart was on to me? She obviously did not consider me a threat though as she carried on foraging around in front of the hide.
 Chiffchaff  Black Redstart |  Black Redstart |
