Axaquia Bird Group visit to Guadalhorce

Chiffchaff  Mosquitero Comun Phylloscopus collybita

Perhaps because of the rather late date for this month's meeting, a select handful found themselves at the Guadalhorce yesterday (Thursday) to discover the birds present on the reserve.  As Andy, Gerry, Louise Ian and I walked up the embankment we said goodbye tot he pair of Crested Larks and House Sparrows on the school playing field and hello to the first of very many Robins and Black Redstarts that were to be seen during the course of the morning.  A cold start with a chilling breeze even though there was little cloud and the sun was doing its best to get its hat on.  Definite a case of coats on!  On the other hand, we did have the usual raucous company of the wandering Monk Parakeet gangs.

Departing Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo

From the river's edge we could see what appeared top be a rather quiet reserve with a pair of Mallards and the odd coot on the water itself and signs of Cormorants and Herons moving about overhead.  The resident Rock Doves were in smaller numbers as we crossed the footbridge but yet more Robins and the occasional Stonechat.  The walk down to the far bank and its trio of observation posts produced Sardinian Warbler and Zitting Cisticola plus evidence of much needed management to the site itself.  Lots of scrub clearing and removing of rubbish and, with the young workers already busy on their day's work, we took the opportunity for a brief stop to warm our hands over one of the small bonfires before entering the first hide to check out the Laguna Casillas.  (As with the neighbouring Wader Pool, bird life was somewhat restricted giving the temporary local disturbance.)  A few Coots and White-headed Ducks on the water but little else so on tot the Wader Pool where we found Black-winged Stilts, 8 Teal and a small number of Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers. A single White Wagtail on a sandbank and then the sight of our first Booted Eagle as the bird rose from the trees beyond the water.

Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus

Moving on down the track we had a few more birds on the Rio Viejo on the right.  First Black-winged Stilts and then a pair of Dunlin along with a pair of Common Sandpipers.  A single Redshank and three Snipe were observed on the far side of the river.  Kestrels hovering overhead and at least a pair of Booted Eagles resting in the trees to the rear with a small number of Spotless Starlings and Cormorants occupying the spare branches.  On the newly-cleared ground in front of the river a couple of Meadow Pipits and a good number of foraging Chiffchaffs and Stonechats plus the occasional Goldfinch and Serin.   Then, at last, a few Kentish Plovers located with their cousins on the near bank of the river.

The walk on down to the Sea Watch revealed the great progress achieved at improving the breeding area for the Kentish Plovers.  With all the debris cleared away we can all expect to see the benefit in a few months time and, perhaps, lots more[pipits and wagtails, etc.  Looking at the area revealed another pair of Crested Larks and a small flock of about five Sky Larks.  From the far end of the track and Sea Watch we could see a reasonable number of Lesser Black-backed Gulls on the sea but no terns.  Then, just off the beach, a group of three feeding Black-necked Grebes which remained in the area the whole time that we were present.  The bank of the eastern arm of the Guadalhorce held a dozen Sanderling and at least four Turnstones plus, surprise surprise, another Black-necked Grebe.

Black-necked Grebes Podiceps nigricollis

The walk along the beach gave us an opportunity to further appreciate the recent management work to the area and also good sightings of the soaring Booted Eagle.  Just to add tot the fun, we also had a magnificent view of a male Marsh Harrier displaying itself in all its handsome glory.  Over the area a score of Crag Martins were busy feeding and a solitary Hoopoe flew eastwards along the edge of the reserve.

And so to the Laguna Grande where most of the bird life was congregated - probably as a result of the work currently under progress on the eastern bank.  Lots of Shoveler and White-headed Ducks, a few Pochards plus five juvenile Flamingos and a good number of Black-winged Stilts.  The occasional Coots put in an appearance along with a single Moorhen and there was no shortage of Little Grebes plus a small number of Black-necked Grebes.  In front of the hide we had a couple of feeding White Wagtails and a Little Ringed Plover with yet more Chiffchaffs.  Needless to say, there were scores of Cormorants present, a lone Little Egret and a small number of Herons.

Finally, the Laguna Escondida produced very little other than a small number of White-headed Ducks so we made our way out of the reserve to the accompaniment of Robins and Black Restarts with the sun beating down and the temperature rapidly rising.  A wonderful way to end the morning with a final tally of 44 species.

Kestrel  Cernicalo Vulgar  Falco tinnunculus

Stonechat  Tarabilla Comun  Saxicola torquatus

Sleeping juvenile Greater Flamingos Flamenco Comun  Phoenicopterus roseus

Birds seen:

Mallard, Shoveler, Teal, Pochard, White-headed Duck, Little Grebe, Black-necked Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Heron, Flamingo, Marsh Harrier, Booted Eagle, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Black-winged Stilt, Little Ringed Plover, Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover, Turnstone, Dunlin, Redshank, Snipe, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Rock Dove, Monk Parakeet, Hoopoe, Crested Lark, Sky Lark, Crag Martin, Meadow Pipit, White Wagtail, Robin, Black Restart, Stonechat, Blackbird, Zitting Cisticola, Sardinian Warbler, Chiffchaff, Spotless Starling, House Sparrow, Serin and Goldfinch.

Check out the accompanying website at http://www.birdingaxarquia.weebly.com for the latest sightings, photographs and additional information.