Black Tailed Godwits - limosa limosa After dropping Elena at the Airport on Friday to visit daughter & grandaughter in London I continued on to Fuente de Piedra. I heard the fringe pools around the Lagoon are full again after having been dry all year. Sure enough there was plenty of water but unfortunately the weather had turned nasty with a cold wind and heavy cloud cover. Crossing the boardwalk I noticed large numbers of small waders which I believe were mostly Little Stints but I spotted a few Temminks Stints in a separate group, also a party of Black-tailed Godwits, a few Ruffs, Avocet, Dunlin, Redshank, Greenshank, Ringed and L R Plover, Kentish Plover and of course the ubiquitous Flamingos.
Little Stints with a Dunlin for comparison
Gadwall - anas strepara Wildfowl included this handsome Gadwall, lots of Shoveler, Mallard, Pochard, Teal and one or two White Headed Ducks.
It was nice to see my first Whiskered Tern of the year wheeling and diving over the Laguneta behind the Visitor´s Centre.
It was nice to see my first Whiskered Tern of the year wheeling and diving over the Laguneta behind the Visitor´s Centre.
Whiskered Tern - childonius hybrida
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Ruff - philomaxus pugnax
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Departing Black Tailed Godwit - limosa limosa Overall it was not the most exciting birding, being cold and quite dark. No sign here of passerines on migration yet, not even many hirundines. This time last year saw many more small birds arriving, hopefully things will pick up soon. Raptors included many Kestrels, a marsh harrier and a single Osprey passing over.
Black Winged Stilt - himantopus himantopus I did not stay long, the wind was picking up and I was not adequately dressed. Also the light was too poor for worthwhile photography, so having noted the easily spotted birds of interest I decided to head for home.
