Saturday 7 May 2011

Birding from the car El Hondo


Todays day tour guests John and Pat from Essex had two requests when they contacted us last night. The first was, could we take them somewhere that they could bird close to the car, as Pat has walking difficulties, and the second was to see some birds that they wouldn't see in Essex. With their requests in mind we headed for the perimeter of El Hondo where there are plenty of Camino's where we could view the birds from the car and lot's of safe places to stop and walk close by to view the more open areas of the reserve. The first camino track produced superb views of Black crowned Night Heron, which flew across the track in front of the car. We also recorded a super cast of Warblers including Great Reed, Moustached, Cetti's and Fan tailed along this track. The next stop produced Squacco and Purple Heron along with a further two Black crowned Night Heron and a male Little Bittern. Three Black Tern were flying amongst the many Whiskered Tern on a pool further around the reserve. We were also able to point out 7 stunning White-headed Duck a single male Furruginous Duck and plenty of Red-crested Pochard. The weather was perfect for birding with no heat haze and during the day good views were had of Collared Pratincole, Nightingale, Cuckoo, Roller, Monatgau's Harrier, Hoopoe and Johns' favourite the Bee-eaters. Pats' bird of the day was the Red-rumped Swallows which we saw in ambundance from the car.

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