Guadalhorce, Malaga

With Jenny on an early morning flight back to the UK on Saturday morning, I was able to be down at the Guadalhorce ponds by 9 o'clock and complete a few hours birding.  Mainly sunny if not too warm and the sea a boiling mass; so very few birds seen there between or over the waves.  On the other hand, in addition to some Yellow-legged Gulls, I did have a small group of Mediterranean Gulls slowly working their way east.  On the whole though, very quiet with only 37 species recorded.

Cormorant Cormoran Grande (Phalacrocorax carbo)

Greeted by Blackbirds and Serin upon my arrival at the church, the only bird in the drainage channel on the walk down to the track up to the river bank was a Little Egret.  A first Stonechat was also seen before reaching the track and then up to the very full and dirty brown western arm of the river.  A few Coots and no sign of a Moorhen and nothing up stream above the bridge.  Even the resident Rock Doves were missing though they did turn up later on within the reserve.  In the distance, it was clear that there still many Cormorants on the reserve and, when viewed form the far bank, I was able to count just over 150 individuals.

White-headed Duck Malvasia Cabeciblanca (Oxyura leucocephala)

A Crested Lark rested on the footbridge handrail as I approached and there were more Serins and Greenfinches on the far bank.  Reaching the Laguna Casillas, a good number of Pochard were recorded plus at least a dozen White-headed Ducks and the odd Mallard plus a few Coot.  A Grey Heron flew over as both Barn Swallows, (very many) and House Martins continued to feed.  In or near the surrounding bushes and shrubs a good number of Chiffchaff and a small charm of Goldfinches.  So, on to the Wader Pool which was very full of water with only one small island.  Either side of this landmark (watermark?) a resting Spoonbill with a pair of Little Ringed Plovers doing likewise on the small dry surface available.  In front of the island,  a single feeding Shelduck and 7 pairs of Teal.  Finally, a Little Grebe and a small number of Rock Doves moving overhead.

Black-necked Grebe Zampullin Cuellinegro (Podiceps nigricollis)

The walk to the Sea Watch only produced  another Crested Lark, Stonechat and White Wagtail whilst, on the water, were the gulls referred to above.  Returning the same way and on to the small Laguna Escondida, a single hovering Kestrel and then the first Whinchat seen on the reserve this year; a rather lovely female.  The water itself contained a couple of Coot and another dozen or so White-headed Ducks.  Finally, on to the Laguna Grande in the hope that this large , relatively sheltered water, might have attracted some of the gulls and ducks.  Unfortunately, very few gulls other than the occasional passing Yellow-legged Gull but, as already described, scores and scores of Cormorant and the odd Heron and Little Egret.  A pair of Black-necked Grebes was still present along with more Little Grebes and, at the far end, a single Avocet and a sizeable flock of Shoveler and a few more Pochards.  More Coot and White-headed Duck and then the sight of a single Moorhen and a Black-winged Stilt.  Overhead, a couple of departing Collared Doves and the usual Monk Parakeets plus a small flock of Spotless Starlings in the far trees.

Birds seen:

Shelduck, Mallard, Teal, Shoveler, Pochard, White-headed Duck, Black-necked Grebe, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Heron, Spoonbill, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Avocet, Black-winged Stilt, Little Ringed Plover, Mediterranean Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Rock Dove, Collared Dove, Monk Parakeet, Crested Lark, Barn Swallow, House Martin, White Wagtail, Whinchat, Stonechat, Blackbird, Chiffchaff, Spotless Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Serin, Greenfinch and Goldfinch.