The end of August and migration is underway. Bee-eaters were heard streaming over the house in large numbers even at 2 am this morning. Sightings of Honey Buzzards and Quail from Mick, Roller from Alan, and Bob spotted groups of Willow Warbler with mixed Penduline Tits down at the Rio. I decided I should get out & see for myself despite the oppressive heat, so after enjoying Frigiliana's 3 Cultures Festival last night, Bob & Jenny stayed over & Bob & I went to the Charca de Suarez this morning & picked up 40 species. First birds sighted were Red Avadavats feeding in the tall grasses along Turtle Dove Alley. The place lived up to its name with several Turtle Doves on the road picking up seeds. This shot is of one of a pair that flew into a roadside acacia? tree & sat obligingly as we snapped away from inside the car.
Turtle Dove
Inside the Reserve we met a Spanish birder at Laguna del Taraje who seemed quite excited about a small duck he had spotted at the far end of the pond. His photo looked quite ordinary though & I think it might have been a female Teal, which we saw later from the main hide. He believed it to have been a Marbled Duck, we will never know.
On the new wader pond we picked out Common & Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, Dunlin, Black-winged Stilt, Little Egret and a solitary Glossy Ibis which is very nice to see here. Small birds included all three Wagtail species plus more Red Avadavats.
On the new wader pond we picked out Common & Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, Dunlin, Black-winged Stilt, Little Egret and a solitary Glossy Ibis which is very nice to see here. Small birds included all three Wagtail species plus more Red Avadavats.
Glossy Ibis
4 Ducks - Pochard/Ferruginous, Teal, Mallard and Shoveler From the main hide we saw relatively little of interest. A dodgy looking Pochard that upon reflection is probably a Ferruginous hybrid. Solitary Females of Shoveler and Teal, a Purple Swamphen showed nicely and a Kingfisher flew past every so often. In fact we saw a Kingfisher from every hide, never more than one at a time though so it could have been the same bird doing the rounds.
Kingfisher
At Laguna del Trebol we watched the usual Spotted Flycatcher demanding to have its picture taken, so (yawn) here it is! Apart from that there was not a lot else to see, unless you count the resident Red Knobbed Coots with those big unsightly neck bands. Fortunately we did find one without the bling, probably one of last year's brood.
Spotted Flycatcher
Moving along to the next hide was a good move as there in front of us was a handsome Squacco Heron walking a tightrope across the water on a fallen cane. Squaccos generally sleep in the middle of the day and are active feeders mainly at dawn and dusk. On migration however they must maximise their food intake for the long journey to sub-Saharan Africa so are active during all daylight hours.
Squacco Heron
As we left the Reserve & drove off I bemoaned to Bob the fact that we saw no raptors at the Charca these days, and as I spoke a female Marsh Harrier rose from the marshes by the road just to prove me wrong. Not that I minded.
