It was time to head West. There was an ABS field meeting at Bonanza Salt Pans on Saturday morning, after that we would make our way along the east bank of the Rio Guadalquivir, cross over to Coria del Rio to visit Dehesa de Abajo and then on to the Odiel Marshes, & ending up at the Costa Asuri Apartments near Ayamonte on the Portuguese Border, for some birding in that local area.
Black Winged Kite - elanus caeruleus
We stayed the first night in a delightful Hostal (Gran Capitan) in Chipiona but first we swung through La Janda, where we met many of the ABS participants with the same thing in mind.
Here we saw Common Cranes already grazing in the fields, numerous Marsh Harriers, a distant Spanish Imperial Eagle on a pylon, a stunning Bonellis Eagle which I was too slow to get a really good photo of, and a compliant Black Winged Kite that sat on a wire allowing photography, not perfect as it was in bad light, but better than anything I already had. This ignores all the more common species of this area which included Griffon Vultures, hundreds of White Storks, Glossy Ibis, Common & Green Sandpipers, Short-toed larks and many more, not least a Wood Sandpiper which I do not normally associate with this location.
Here we saw Common Cranes already grazing in the fields, numerous Marsh Harriers, a distant Spanish Imperial Eagle on a pylon, a stunning Bonellis Eagle which I was too slow to get a really good photo of, and a compliant Black Winged Kite that sat on a wire allowing photography, not perfect as it was in bad light, but better than anything I already had. This ignores all the more common species of this area which included Griffon Vultures, hundreds of White Storks, Glossy Ibis, Common & Green Sandpipers, Short-toed larks and many more, not least a Wood Sandpiper which I do not normally associate with this location.
Distant Cranes - grus grus
 | Record shots only of the Spanish Imperial Eagle and the Bonellis Eagle, which was a stunner but I didn't get a bead until it was past and almost gone. |  |
Wood Sandpiper - tringa glariola
Out West Day 2, Bonanza, Trebujena & on to Brazo de Este
Saturday morning, and aware of the large numbers of people with the ABS group we decided to avoid the madding crowd and head off to the Salt Pans of Bonanza before they arrived. As we entered I shot a beautiful large Monarch butterfly in the weeds along the narrow spit between salt pans.
Monarch Butterfly in Bonanza Salt Pans
There were waders in the shallow pools but far fewer than I remember from previous visits. However at the far end we enjoyed watching some Caspian Terns fishing in the river. We were also treated to the spectacle of an osprey carrying a large fish for its breakfast, unfortunately a little too far away for a decent photograph.
Caspian Tern - hydroprogne caspia
Caspian Tern - hydroprogne caspia
One or two waders caught my eye, here is a nice shot of a Little Stint showing some beautiful patterning on its upper plumage.
Little Stint - calidris minuta
This Common Sandpiper scurried up and down the dried mud bank displaying great strength and agility in its quest for food.
Common Sandpiper - ardtitis hypoleucos
We did not stay long at Bonanza as it was about to become very overcrowded. Instead we made our way up the small roads that skirt the East bank of the Guadalquivir, spotting a gaggle of Greylag Geese near Trebujena. Any geese are quite rare in Andalucia so it was a nice find.
Greylag Geese - anser anser
Red Kite - milvus milvus
I have always found the east bank of the Guadalquivir much better for birding than the west. The Donana has dried up and become virtually devoid of life, destroyed by drought and illegal strawberry farming. The rice fields of Isla Mayor can be worth a visit during the rice harvesting period, otherwise it's largely a waste of time.
Marsh Harrier - circus aeruginosus
On our journey northward we spotted many raptors including a pair of Red Kites heading south, and this female Marsh Harrier quartering the water meadows.
Black Stork - ciconia nigra
As we entered the most productive area known as Brazo del Este I snapped this fine looking Black Stork.
Spoonbills over Brazo - platalea leucorolea
Spoonbills were prolific, but nothing like the numbers of Glossy Ibis which were literally in the thousands. Large areas of shallow pools were carpeted with them, here's a shot of many taking to the air after being spooked by something, possibly a passing raptor.
Some of the thousands of Glossy Ibis at Brazo del Este
I was also pleased to see some of the colony of Black Headed Weavers that breed here, their pendular nests still hanging from a tree roost that we knew of old.
Black Headed Weaver at Brazo del Este - ploceus melanocephalus
Typical Brazo scene
Here are some typical scenes from Brazo del Este. White Storks are everywhere, a Cattle Egret rides a wild pony with Glossy Ibis's wading in the background.
Another typical Brazo scene, glossy Ibis's in background
At the end of the day we crossed the Guadalquivir by the little car ferry to Coria del Rio, where we spent the night in a hotel. It had been a good day.
More Greylags by the ferry.
Ferry across the Guadalquivir
Out West Day 3, Dehesa de Abajo & Odiel (to be continued)
After an early breakfast we drove to the Dehesa de Abajo. The Visitor Centre for the Reserve is on a low hill which overlooks the lagoon which for us is the major habitat of birding interest. Entry into the Reserve was 25 euros per car and we could see that the lagoon was mostly dry with just a few waders on the exposed mud. Where there was water however was heaving with Flamingos, many hundreds of them interspersed with wildfowl and waders.
Flamingos with wildfowl & waders at Dehesa de Abajo
We decided to skip the entry fee and just observe what we could from the road which skirts the lagoon. Unfortunately the water was over on the far side so I took a long range shot of the Flamingos and then we headed off for the Odiel marshes by the quickest route.
Caspian with Sandwich Terns Meditterranean and Slender Billed Gull
The first thing that attracted our attention as we approached Odiel Visitors Centre was a row of gulls and Terns on a spit that separates the salt pans over to the right. Here were a pair of Caspian Terns at rest with many Sandwich Terns and some Mediterranean Gulls. I also spotted a lone Slender Billed Gull amongst them.
Caspian Terns - hydroprognia caspia
The pond to the left of the Visitor's Centre was partially dry but where there was water was well stocked with waders, in particular Black Tailed Godwits and Curlew Sandpiper, but there were many others including Dunlin, Avocet, Common Sandpiper and Ringed Plover, plus wildfowl including Gadwall, Shovelor, Pochard, and the ubiquitous Mallard.
Black Tailed Godwit - limosa limosa
Curlew Sandpiper - calidris ferruginea
From the Visitor Centre car park they have opened a boardwalk extending out over the river which at low tide gives excellent views of the mud flats and associated waders.
Whimbrel - Numenius phaeopus
It's a great vantage point to watch the Whimbrels, Turnstones and all manner of waders feeding below.
Turnstone - arenaria
As you drive along the causeway with the river on one side and extensive salt marsh on the other you never know what might turn up. This Grey Plover for example and a Black Winged Kite hovering in search of prey, another Osprey with fish for lunch and a stunning Flamingo in front of one of the Caspian Terns
Grey Plover - pluvialis squatarolea
Flamingo, with Caspian Tern behind
Black Winged Kite - elanus caeruleus
Osprey & fish
The Odiel Marshes never fail to provide a great selection of birds to see, varying with the time of year and state of tide, but always something worthwhile.
