Sunday 5th May 2013 – Local roundup

Hi all,

Over the last few days there has been a bit of a fall of passerine migrants with the last few expected Spring species.  After the Pied Flycatchers of earlier in the week, the last few days has seen many Spotted Flycatchers and Melodious Warblers arriving. 

A quick visit in the afternoon on Thursday, 2nd May to Calblanque, Los Belones produced Pied Flycatcher, 3 Spotted Flycatchers, Whitethroat, Nightingale, a couple of Woodchat Shrikes and 3 Melodious Warblers.  Also there, at the Salinas of Rasall was a group of 8 Curlew Sandpipers, and a Great (White) Egret was roosting on one of the dividing walls.

 One of a few Spotted Flycatchers seen in the last few days

Carrying on to Cala Reona (Cabo de Palos), a walk around the bushes in the cove area brought to light another male Pied Flycatcher and Spotted Flycatcher, and continuing on to the lighthouse garden at Cabo, there were male Common Redstart, 2 Woodchat Shrikes and 3 more Spotted Flycatchers.
 

 At Cala Reona (Cabo de Palos) a male Pied Flycatcher...

 

 ... and in the lighthouse garden, the Woodchats are still coming through

Yesterday, Saturday 4^th May, I had a look round the Salinas at San Pedro del Pinatar. In the garden area of the information centre where all the tamarisk bushes are, there were again a few migrants around, with a couple of Melodious Warblers, female Redstart, a male Pied Flycatcher and 5 Willow Warblers.  I also had my first sighting of a family group of juvenile Sardinian Warblers fresh out of the nest.

 Sitting quietly at a picnic table in the Information Centre garden at San Pedro del Pinatar definitely paid dividends - here a male Pied Flycatcher...

 ... Willow Warbler...

 ... another Willow Warbler. Some of the birds that have been going through recently have looked quite large

 

 And here Sardinian Warbler

In the afternoon, back at Calblanque (Los Belones), more signs of a fall with 3 Spotted Flycatchers, 4 Woodchats, a male Common Redstart, 3 Melodious Warblers and 4 Willow Warblers, and later at the lighthouse garden at Cabo de Palos another 4 Melodious Warblers, male Redstart, 3 Willow Warblers and a Robin.

Finally, this morning in the lighthouse garden, a Woodchat Shrike, Whinchat, male Redstart, 2 Robins and 3 Willow Warblers.

Here a surprisingly confiding Robin.  Here in Spain they are nowhere near as confiding as in the UK

And don't forget, we're now entering the traditional time of year for Spring rarities (this morning in Sevilla, a Red-breasted Flycatcher, and in Zamora, Terek Sandpiper and Red Necked Phalarope), so keep alert!

Chauu!