Tour Day 2 - Murcia

Black Redstart

Ruff

We started today at San Pedro Salinas where it was clear that many Black Redstart had arrived since our last visit a few days ago, a conservative estimate of 40 individuals around the car park and hide, gives you an idea of the scale of the arrival. As usual waders were abundant along with some other interesting species, totals were as follows; Spotted Redshank (32), Redshank (9), Greenshank (23), Dunlin (50+), Little Stint (14), Ruff (4, above), Bar-tailed Godwit (4), Curlew Sandpiper (1), Knot (1), Sanderling (26), Turnstone (4), Spoonbill (1 - left leg, lime over blue over yellow - right leg, red), Slender-billed Gull (19), Greater Flamingo (numerous), Avocet (numerous), Black-winged Stilt (numerous), Kingfisher (2 female), Black-necked Grebe (9), Pintail (7), Teal (2), Red-rumped Swallow (3 with 20+ Barn Swallow) and a single Melodious Warbler behind the second hide.

The afternoon was spent trying to obtain good shots of Sardinian Warbler at El Rassal, this was achieved after some time and the images will be posted on here at the end of the week. Other species of note here included, Crag Martin (numerous), Balearic Shearwater (16), Gannet (numerous), Whinchat (4), Black Redstart (20+) and good numbers of Swallowtail Butterflies. I will be ringing birds at El Hondo tomorrow so fingers crossed we catch a nice variety of species!