Saturday 7th April 2012

San Pedro del Pinatar salinas

Weather: Sky 1/8 cloud, wind SW F1, temp. 15ºC.  09:40 – 12:30.  With Mick Brewer.

For a change of scene, we went to the Salinas at San Pedro del Pinatar (north end of the Mar Menor).  I was hoping to see some of the specialities such as Gull Billed Tern and Little Tern, but without success.  We did however see 5 Ruff and 3 Spotted Redshank coming into breeding plumage, a single Curlew Sandpiper which was my first of the year, and a smart adult Mediterranean Gull fly over.  I also saw a male Litte Bittern fly over a reed bed, but Mick couldn’t get onto it in time.  We spent some time in the hope it might fly out again, but without success.

 One of half a dozen or so Sand Martins

Species seen

Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis)

Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)

Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)

Little Bittern (Ixobrychus minutus)

Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus)

Black Winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus)

Stone Curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus)

Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta)

Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius)

Sanderling (Calidris alba)

Little Stint (Calidris minuta)

Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea)

Ruff (Philomachus pugnax)

Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)

Spotted Redshank (Tringa erythropus)

Redshank (Tringa tetanus)

Greenshank (Tringa nebularia)

Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)

Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna)

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)

Mediterranean Gull (Larus melanocephalus)

Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus)

Slender-billed Gull (Larus genei)

Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis)

Crested Lark (Galerida cristata)

‘flava’ Wagtail (Motacilla flava)

Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe)

Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus)

Sardinian Warbler (Sylvia melanocephala)

Chiffchaff/Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus collybita/trochilus)

Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis)

Red-rumped Swallow (Hirundo daurica)

Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

Serin (Serinus serinus)

Stonechat (Saxicola torquatus)

Rambla de Albujon

Weather: Sky 2/8 cloud, wind SW F3, temp. 17ºC.  13:00 – 14:00.  With Mick Brewer.

On the way back from San Pedro we called in at the rambla, where in spite of the wind, there were at least 3 Great Reed Warblers singing.  We also struck lucky with the Spotted Crake, and also had both Common and Jack Snipe, Little Ringed Plover and Water Pipit.

Species seen

Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)

Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)

Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago)

Jack Snipe (Lymnocryptes minimus)

Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius)

Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)

Spotted Crake (Porzana porzana)

Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

Water Pipit (Anthus spinoletta)

Great Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus)

Friday 6th April 2012 (Good Friday)

Cabo de Palos lighthouse garden

Weather: Sky cloud 6/8,  wind SW F3-4, temp. 12ºC.  08:20 – 09:35.

Things started well, with a male Common Redstart on the pavement while driving up to the lighthouse, but once I got there, it was back to the normal birds.  The only birds of note were a Great Skua seen over the Mediterranean, 3 Northern Wheatears, one with the appearance of the Greenland form, and a very late Meadow Pipit.

 One of the three Northern Wheatears seen

 

And another

 

 One of the residents - this Sardinian Warbler easily recognised by the white patches in the wings

 

More residents - this Blackbird giving the Spotless Starling a real ear-bashing

And a White Wagtail, always to be found around the carpark area

 

Species seen

Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis)

Yellow Legged Gull (Larus michahellis)

Audouin’s Gull (Larus audouinii)

Sandwich Tern (Sterna sandvicensis)

Great Skua (Catharacta skua)

Crested Lark (Galerida cristata)

White Wagtail (Motacilla alba alba)

‘flava’ Wagtail (Motacilla flava)

Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis)

Common Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus)

Robin (Erithacus rubecula)

Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe)

Sardinian Warbler (Sylvia melanocephala)

Chiffchaff/Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus collybits/trochilus)

Rock Dove/Domestic Pigeon (Columba livia)

Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)

Blackbird (Turdus merula)

Spotless Starling (Sturnus unicolor)

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)

Corn Bunting (Miliaria calandra)

Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris)

Linnet (Carduelis cannabina)

Serin (Serinus serinus)

Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)

Marchamalo Salinas, La Manga

Weather: Sky 4/8 cloud,  wind SW F2, temp. 14ºC.  09:45 – 11:10.

On the way back from the lighthouse garden, I called in at the Salinas at marchamalo.  Although there wasn’t much to see on the Salinas themselves, a walk around the wooded ‘mimosas’ area proved quite fruitful, with a male Black-eared Wheatear, about 20 swift (Pallid or Common), Swallows and Red-rumped Swallows, a couple of ‘flava’ Wagtails flying over, a Short Toed Lark singing up high, and my first Turtle Dove of the year heard calling.  Also another Northern Wheatear, 6 Chiff/Willows , a Hoopoe and up to 20 Corn Buntings, and on the way out from the Salinas, various groups of Monk Parakeets totaling 30 or more flew past.

Another Northern Wheatear, a very pale looking individual

Species seen

Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna)

Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)

Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta)

Black Winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus)

Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)

Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus)

Slender-billed Gull (Larus genei)

Audouin’s Gull (Larus audouinii)

Hoopoe (Upupa epops)

Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur)

Rock Dove/Domestic Pigeon (Columba livia)

Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus)

Swift/Pallid Swift (Apus apus/pallidus)

Crested Lark (Galerida cristata)

Short Toed Lark (Calandrella brachydactyla)

‘flava’ Wagtail (Motacilla flava)

Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

Red-rumped Swallow (Hirundo daurica)

Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe)

Chiffchaff/Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus collybita/trochilus)

Fan-tailed Warbler (Cisticola juncidis)

Spotless Starling (Sturnus unicolor)

Corn Bunting (Miliaria calandra)

Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris)

Linnet (Carduelis cannabina)

Serin (Serinus serinus)

Calblanque, Los Belones

Weather: Sky 2/8 cloud,  wind SW F2, temp. 16ºC.  11:15 – 13:10.

A quick call into Calblanque, but being a holiday, there were a lot of people at the beach there, so I didn't stay long.  Birds of note seen were a group of 6 Bee-eaters, a pair of Black-eared Wheatears and the usual Woodchat Shrike singing from its tree perch on the way out.

Species seen

Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis)

Audouin’s Gull (Larus audouinii)

Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus)

Bee-eater (Merops apiaster)

Black-eared Wheatear (Oenanthe hispanica)

Woodchat Shrike (Lanius senator)

Crested/Thekla Lark (Galerida cristata/theklae)

Blackbird (Turdus merula)

Spotless Starling (Sturnus unicolor)

Serin (Serinus serinus)

Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris)

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)

Thursday 5th April 2012

Cabo de Palos lighthouse garden

Weather: Sky cloud 7/8, no wind, temp. 12ºC.  08:35 – 10:45.  With Mick Brewer.

A few different names in the list of birds seen today, with both Black-eared and Northern Wheatears being seen (the latter my first of the year, the latest first date in 5 years), and also Nightingale seen fleetingly between bushes.

Again, a large group of Corn Buntings (22 seen together, and a total of 29).  Looking out to sea from the car park at the base of the lighthouse we saw close in a Great Skua, a Cory’s Shearwater and a group of 8 Balearic Shearwaters pass by.

Species seen

Cory’s Shearwater (Calonectris diomedea)

Balearic Shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus)

Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis)

Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)

Yellow Legged Gull (Larus michahellis)

Audouin’s Gull (Larus audouinii)

Sandwich Tern (Sterna sandvicensis)

Great Skua (Catharacta skua)

Pallid Swift (Apus pallidus)

Swift (Apus apus)

Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

Black-eared Wheatear (Oenanthe hispanica)

Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe)

Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos)

Sardinian Warbler (Sylvia melanocephala)

Subalpine Warbler (Sylvia cantillans)

Rock Dove/Domestic Pigeon (Columba livia)

Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)

Blackbird (Turdus merula)

Spotless Starling (Sturnus unicolor)

White Wagtail (Motacilla alba alba)

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)

Corn Bunting (Miliaria calandra)

Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)

Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus)

Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)

Calblanque, Los Belones

Weather: Sky 8/8 cloud,  wind SW F1, temp. 15ºC.  11:00 – 14:00.

After finishing at the lighthouse garden, I went over to Calblanque where Mick joined me later (he called by the Marchamalo salinas and had amongst other things, a Whinchat).

Here I had my first Bee-eaters of the year (a group of 3 and later another of 6), and a superb male Subalpine Warbler singing (which flew off as soon as I got my camera out).

Apart from that the only thing of note was that there were a minimum of 4 1^st year Audouin’s Gulls amongst the total of 112 seen. These very rarely call in at the Salinas, so to see 4 together is quite an event.  I also managed to read 14 colour rings on the Audouin’s Gulls.

The Woodchat that seems to have taken up residence in Las Jordanas, en route to Calblanque

Species seen

Shelduck (Tadornas tadorna)

Black Winged Stilt (Himanoptopus himanoptopus)

Greenshank (Tringa nebularia)

Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis)

Audouin’s Gull (Larus audouinii)

Little Owl (Athene noctua)

Woodpigeon (Columba palumbus)

Bee-eater (Merops apiaster)

Woodchat Shrike (Lanius senator)

Southern Grey Shrike (Lanius meridionalis)

Crested Lark (Galerida cristata)

Thekla Lark (Galerida theklae)

Fan-tailed Warbler (Cisticola juncidis)

Subalpine Warbler (Sylvia cantillans)

Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla)

Linnet (Carduelis cannabina)

Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris)

Corn Bunting (Miliaria calandra)

Wednesday 4th April 2012

Cabo de Palos lighthouse garden

Weather: Sky cloud 6/8, no wind, temp. 12ºC.  08:20 – 09:20.

Very hopeful this morning for a fall of birds, as conditions seem perfect, showers during the night, overcast dawn with no wind – and although I had my camera with me, I managed to leave the battery in the charger at home!

However, the only birds of note were 11 Willow/Chiffs, and 6 Subalpine Warblers.

Species seen

Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis)

Yellow Legged Gull (Larus michahellis)

Audouin’s Gull (Larus audouinii)

Sandwich Tern (Sterna sandvicensis)

Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros)

Sardinian Warbler (Sylvia melanocephala)

Subalpine Warbler (Sylvia cantillans)

Rock Dove/Domestic Pigeon (Columba livia)

Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)

Blackbird (Turdus merula)

Robin (Eryithacus rubecula)

Spotless Starling (Sturnus unicolor)

White Wagtail (Motacilla alba alba)

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)

Chiffchaff/Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus collybita/trochilus)

Corn Bunting (Miliaria calandra)

Fan-tailed Warbler (Cisticola juncidis)

Tuesday 3rd April 2012

Calblanque, Los Belones

Weather: Sky 3/8 cloud,  wind SW F 0-1, temp. 12-15ºC.  08:00 – 10:15.

Up early for the first net round, but things were very quiet.  Just greenfinches, linnets and a Willow Warbler.  The only other birds of note were a couple of ‘flava’ Wagtails flying over, and a Woodchat Shrike on my way out of Calblanque.

 Woodchat Shrike seen on the way out of Calblanque

Species seen

Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa)

Woodpigeon (Columba palumbus)

Linnet (Carduelis cannabina)

Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris)

Serin (Serunus serinus)

Blackbird (Turdus merula)

Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus)

Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita)

‘flava’ Wagtail (Motacilla flava)

Corn Bunting (Miliaria calandra)

Mar Menor (west)

Weather: Sky 4/8 cloud,  wind SW F 4, temp. 20ºC.  16:45 – 18:30

In the afternoon I did a sweep around the sites at the west end of the Mar Menor, calling in at the EDAR El Algar, Rambla de Albujon and sailing club at Los Urrutias.  The only ‘new’ birds were 3 singing Great Reed Warblers in the Rambla de Albujon, and on the way home, a flock of 12 Red-rumped Swalllows and 6  House Martins flying over the road as I came into Los Urrutias.

Yet another Corn Bunting, this time at the EDAR, El Algar

Species seen

Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)

Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto)

Spotless Starling (Sternus unicolor)

Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)

Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus)

Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna)

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

Black Winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus)

Greenshank (Tringa nebularia)

Coot (Fulica atra)

Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)

Fan-tailed Warbler (Cisticola juncidis)

Pallid Swift (Apus pallidus)

Common Swift (Apus apus)

Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa)

Great Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus)

Water Pipit (Anthus spinoletta)

Subalpine Warbler (Sylvia cantillans)

Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius)

Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago)

Sandwich Tern (Sterna sandvicensis)

Red-rumped Swallow (Hirundo daurica)

House Martin (Delichon urbicum)

Linnet (Carduelis cannabina)

Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris)

Serin (Serunus serinus)

Blackbird (Turdus merula)

Corn Bunting (Miliaria calandra)

Monday 2nd April 2012

Cabo de Palos lighthouse garden

Weather: Sky cloud 3/8, wind NE F1, temp. 14ºC.  08:55 – 09:50.

Things a lot quieter this morning with regards to migrants, but the number of Corn Buntings seen up, to a total off 22.  A Subalpine Warbler, 6 Swallows, Black Redstart, Chiffchaffs and Chiff/Willows being the only other migrants seen.

Species seen

Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis)

Yellow Legged Gull (Larus michahellis)

Audouin’s Gull (Larus audouinii)

Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros)

Sardinian Warbler (Sylvia melanocephala)

Subalpine Warbler (Sylvia cantillans)

Rock Dove/Domestic Pigeon (Columba livia)

Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)

Blackbird (Turdus merula)

Spotless Starling (Sturnus unicolor)

White Wagtail (Motacilla alba alba)

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)

Chiffchaff/Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus collybita/trochilus)

Corn Bunting (Miliaria calandra)

Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)

Calblanque, Los Belones

Weather: Sky 3/8 cloud,  wind SW F2-3, temp. 14ºC.  18:15 – 21:15.

Setting up the nets for ringing this afternoon with Angel Sallent of ANSE.  We didn’t catch much this afternoon (Linnets, Greenfinches, Blackbird and a single Willow Warbler), but the nets are set up for tomorrow morning.  Other birds seen were a group of about 20 Corn Buntings flying over together, and a ‘flava’ Wagtail.

Species seen

Linnet (Carduelis cannabina)

Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris)

Blackbird (Turdus merula)

Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus)

‘flava’ Wagtail (Motacilla flava)

Corn Bunting (Miliaria calandra)

Sunday 1st April 2012

Cabo de Palos lighthouse garden

Weather: Sky cloud 1-2/8, no wind, temp. 14ºC.  08:50 – 10:00.

Another morning visit to the lighthouse garden, and this time with a reasonable fall of migrants.  I counted a total of 23 Chiff/Willows, 9 Corn Buntings (not a species normally associated with being migrants, but I’ve had them in previous years around this time), a ‘flava’ wagtail flying over, 2 Subalpine Warblers, a Hoopoe, a male Redstart and my first Black-eared Wheatear of the year.

Also unusual there was a group of 4 Monk Parakeets.

The group of 4 Monk Parakeets on top of one of the radio towers - wonder where they thought they were going!

In the bay towards La Manga, this Little Egret taking a rest

 In the 'Sirio Gardens' area I came across this male Redstart

Species seen

Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis)

Yellow Legged Gull (Larus michahellis)

Audouin’s Gull (Larus audouinii)

Sandwich Tern (Sterna sandvicensis)

Hoopoe (Upupa epops)

Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus)

‘flava’ Wagtail (Motacilla flava)

Sardinian Warbler (Sylvia melanocephala)

Subalpine Warbler (Sylvia cantillans)

Fan-tailed Warbler (Cisticola juncidis)

Rock Dove/Domestic Pigeon (Columba livia)

Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)

Blackbird (Turdus merula)

Robin (Erithacus rubecula)

Black-eared Wheatear (Oenanthe hispanica)

Spotless Starling (Sturnus unicolor)

White Wagtail (Motacilla alba alba)

Serin (Serinus serinus)

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)

Chiffchaff/Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus collybita/trochilus)

Corn Bunting (Miliaria calandra)

Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus)

Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)

Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)

Swift/Pallid Swift (Apus apus/pallidus)

Calblanque, Los Belones

Weather: Sky 1/8 cloud,  wind SW F2-3, temp. 18ºC.  11:00 – 13:00.

A trip around Calblanque together with Mick Brewer, but we didn’t see too much, the most interesting being 6 Woodchat Shrikes, mainly in the area around Las Jordanas, but one also on the way down to the Rasall Salinas, together with a male Blue Rock Thrush. At the Salinas, 48 Audouin’s Gulls, a single Little Egret and around 20 Black Winged Stilts.

No migrants, but plenty of finches, including this male Serin

Another bird that seems to be particularly showy at the moment, Corn Bunting

On the way to the salinas, we came across this Blue Rock Thrush

Superb birds these - if only they'd let you get closer!

One of the few migrants seen, a Woodchat Shrike 

Species seen

Audouin’s Gull (Larus audouinii)

Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)

Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna)

Black Winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus)

Woodchat Shrike (Lanius senator)

Blue Rock Thrush (Monticola solitarius)

Corn Bunting (Miliaria calandra)