Wild Flower
More overcast days with occasional rain has put a damper on getting out with the camera. Today though I decided on a walk along the Rio Velez, it´s my local patch and it usually has something to offer.
The first thing that caught my eye was the profusion of wild flowers. The wet weather has been good for them at least and they are out in abundance. This one has a particularly attractive combination of purple and magenta so it provides a splash of colour for the page.
The river is back to a more normal level so mud flats are starting to appear, encouraging the waders to return. They were present in some numbers but I was surprised to see a party of three Whimbrel on the beach, they are presumably just passing through as this species is not a regular sight here.
The first thing that caught my eye was the profusion of wild flowers. The wet weather has been good for them at least and they are out in abundance. This one has a particularly attractive combination of purple and magenta so it provides a splash of colour for the page.
The river is back to a more normal level so mud flats are starting to appear, encouraging the waders to return. They were present in some numbers but I was surprised to see a party of three Whimbrel on the beach, they are presumably just passing through as this species is not a regular sight here.
Whimbrel - numenius phaeopus
Sardinian Warbler - sylvia melanocephala
This attractive male Sardinian Warbler was tchekking loudly, trying to attract as much attention as possible to the fact that he had a particularly juicy morsel available for any passing female that might be interested in sharing a nest.
Singing Nightingale
It definitely caught my attention and I noticed a nearby zitting cisticola come in close to see what all the fuss was about. However I saw no sign of other Sardinian warblers showing any interest, I hope he found what he was looking for eventually.
The riverbank was alive with the song of Nightingales again, and today they were competing with the even louder, if not quite so melodic voice of Cettis Warblers.
Shallow pools behind the beach had trapped small fish, and a Little Tern was taking full advantage, twisting and turning in the air to make accurate dives for its lunch.
The riverbank was alive with the song of Nightingales again, and today they were competing with the even louder, if not quite so melodic voice of Cettis Warblers.
Shallow pools behind the beach had trapped small fish, and a Little Tern was taking full advantage, twisting and turning in the air to make accurate dives for its lunch.
 Little Tern - sterna albifrons |  Little Tern - sterna albifrons It is quite a feat of aviation to plunge into the water from a height, catch a sizeable fish, and then lift off and swallow it whole in mid flight. It requires a high success rate to maintain the calories needed for such efforts, and this individual was doing very well. |
Dunlin - calidris alpina
Waders included Ringed, Little-ringed and Kentish Plovers, Black-winged Stilt and quite a few Dunlin. I admit to having a double-take at this individual, it looked different and appeared to have a longer beak than the others and I thought it might be a Curlew Sandpiper. However on reflection I think it is a Dunlin still in winter plumage.
Wood Sandpiper - tringa glareola
It was a pleasure to see some Wood Sandpipers wading in the shallows. We see these less frequently than the other species present and they provide some welcome variety.
Serins are so common that we take them for granted. However I would miss the flash of yellow and their cheerful twittering song if they weren´t here. It is always a welcome sound on a country ramble.
Serins are so common that we take them for granted. However I would miss the flash of yellow and their cheerful twittering song if they weren´t here. It is always a welcome sound on a country ramble.
 Serin - serinus serinus |  Sardinian Warbler - sylvia melanocephala |
