Happy New Year

Happy new year to all! My year started slowly on the 1st and before any conclusions are drawn, this was not due to drinking a stupid amount of beer but down to a cold or man flu as I keep being told that it is! Nevertheless I managed 4 hours out in the field recording a respectable 68 species. Highlights of the opening day were - Hen Harrier (1 male), Kingfisher (1), Great Egret (6) and a gull fest which included; Yellow-legged Gull (numerous), Lesser Black-backed Gull (15+), Slender-billed Gull (numerous), Audouins Gull (11), Black-headed Gull (numerous), Med Gull (6) and an adult Little Gull at El Hondo!

We spent the 2nd at Hondo again but this time we walked the canal that cuts west - east along the southern edge of the reserve, despite it being very quiet we did manage to find a few new birds for the year including the below Osprey and Marsh Harrier. Other highlights included; Glossy Ibis (2), Pintail (15), Common Crane (9) and 2 Woodlark on the way home whilst checking one of our regular sparrow flocks. These crackin birds were feeding alongside 3 Skylark and a handful of Lesser Short-toed Lark. A video of the Osprey eating its fish is also available below.

Today (3rd) we had a couple of hours at Santa Pola in which time we recorded the following species of note; Great Egret (4), Spoonbill (6), Mute Swan (1), Whimbrel (3), Greater Flamingo (350+), Avocet (numerous), Little Stint (numerous), Dunlin (numerous), Kentish Plover (numerous) and single Greenshank.

Osprey, El Hondo

Marsh Harrier, El Hondo