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Birding in Alicante Province (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter Mark Etheridge
- Start date
Mark Etheridge
Bird Shooter (With A Camera)
I'm afraid getting around the Yecla steppe area is a bit of a non-starter without a car - you could certainly get to Yecla itself by public transport but the 'interesting' area starts about 5kms to the north of the town and extends for some distance. The area is criss-crossed by minor roads and farm tracks, most of which are driveable, but you need to put in the miles (kilometres?) to do the area justice.
The Costa Blanca Bird Club site has directions for the Alcoy vultures.
The Costa Blanca Bird Club site has directions for the Alcoy vultures.
G
Gleb Berloff
Guest
Thanks for the info!
I went down to Alcoy and had amazing views of the vultures there. Thanks. They mostly stayed near Barranc del Sinc, but then started dispersing as I tried-and failed-to reach Montcabrer, gave up too soon. Definitely my best sightings of raptors, overshadows the white-tailed eagles two years ago.
As for golden eagles, I probably won't visit Yecla, but have seen a golden eagle in flight as I was on the bus to Alcoy going past Sierra del Maigmo. Probably will check out Sierra de las Aguilas, and the mountains near Sax, I think that's Maigmo as well.
Can Font Roja center be reached without a car? Are the Bonelli's eagles good there? Is there a good place for them reached by public transport or less than 10km walk?
In addition, can anyone advise me which is the better site for white-headed duck- Clot de Galvany or El Hondo?
Is there a good and reliable place for eagle owl, anywhere? I've heard that La Finca golf course has a pair.
Thanks!
Gleb
I went down to Alcoy and had amazing views of the vultures there. Thanks. They mostly stayed near Barranc del Sinc, but then started dispersing as I tried-and failed-to reach Montcabrer, gave up too soon. Definitely my best sightings of raptors, overshadows the white-tailed eagles two years ago.
As for golden eagles, I probably won't visit Yecla, but have seen a golden eagle in flight as I was on the bus to Alcoy going past Sierra del Maigmo. Probably will check out Sierra de las Aguilas, and the mountains near Sax, I think that's Maigmo as well.
Can Font Roja center be reached without a car? Are the Bonelli's eagles good there? Is there a good place for them reached by public transport or less than 10km walk?
In addition, can anyone advise me which is the better site for white-headed duck- Clot de Galvany or El Hondo?
Is there a good and reliable place for eagle owl, anywhere? I've heard that La Finca golf course has a pair.
Thanks!
Gleb
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Yesterday (Friday) there were 4 Little Bitterns together for over an hour seen around the reeds and bushes on the Rio Segura 400 meters downstream from the N332 bridge. Easily seen from Calle Ingeneiro Juan Garcia alongside the river in Guardamar. A first for me, easily identified by cream coloration with black crown.
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Gleb Berloff
Guest
El Clot is monstrous now. there is a permanent whirlwind of little egrets in the skies and a glossy ibis on the big lagoon. Also on the big lagoon are black-winged stilts and night heron juveniles. On one of the smaller lagoons I saw a total of 8 recently introduced marbled teal. This may be the best site in the region for them. There were bee-eaters on the wing everywhere and three flamingos flew past.
TonyTwinTwine
Member
Hi Gleb, I’ve always found El Hondo reliable for White Headed Duck, specifically the lagoon on the right hand side as you walk to the first hide off the Vistabella Road. It’s just over a 5km walk through the reserve from the visitor centre. If you look at the reserve on Google maps it’s on the bottom right section. A great area for raptors too. Good luck.
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Hotspur
James Spencer
For Bonelli's Eagles, I found Sierra de Crevillente the easiest place to see them as they breed up there. I dont think non-driving is a goer to any of the upland areas tbh although you might be able to taxi up from Crevillente. I've also seen Bonelli's Eagle on the Vistabella road in winter and at Sierra Espuna in spring (along with Golden Eagle).
hypercolius
Member
Been up the gorge a few days ago. Getting there is easy without a car provided you are prepared for the heat. But this is the worst time to see those eagles- they are best in February and September, I have heard. No wonder I failed.
Clot de Galvany yielded 3 white-headed ducks and 5 marbled ducks two days ago, as well as more common wetland birds.
Would anyone be willing to suggest a reliable roller and eagle-owl site for me?
Mark Jarrett
Up Ont’ Moors
It’s a few years since I have birded El Hondo (we used to have an apartment in Quesada) but a reliable spot for Roller used to be just east of the North Gate to the reserve. Probably just one pair at that spot and they could be seen easily enough from the road.
Phil Andrews
It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
I always found the palm trees immediately north of North Gate to be reliable for Roller
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hypercolius
Member
I'm just back from a trip specifically to see roller. I encountered no less than 5 of them at the Ermita de San Francisco, and got great views of them perching on the wires next to the ruins. One of them decided to perch right next to a hoopoe, and the other bird didn't mind it's company. Other birds included Iberian grey shrike (those seem to be everywhere I go), Iberian green woodpecker and 2 cattle egrets.
If there was a site that I would suggest to someone looking to see roller, it is here. But I might try the palm sites as well.
One other thing. I severely dislike the name 'roller' as it makes me think of something rolling around on the floor, and in no way does justice to what in my opinion is the 3rd most beautiful bird in Europe. I noticed I started calling it 'European coracias' more and more often.
If there was a site that I would suggest to someone looking to see roller, it is here. But I might try the palm sites as well.
One other thing. I severely dislike the name 'roller' as it makes me think of something rolling around on the floor, and in no way does justice to what in my opinion is the 3rd most beautiful bird in Europe. I noticed I started calling it 'European coracias' more and more often.
Mark Etheridge
Bird Shooter (With A Camera)
Glad you found them! At this time of the year, it might well have been 2 adults and their offspring?
hypercolius
Member
It could have been, although they looked identical, so unless juveniles look the same as adults it could be 3 other birds in addition to the pair.
In regards to Torrevieja, are monk parakeet still present at Los Balcones?
In regards to Torrevieja, are monk parakeet still present at Los Balcones?
Mark Etheridge
Bird Shooter (With A Camera)
As far as I am aware (reading reports from resident birders), yes they are! Also the Azure-winged Magpies are still there.
hypercolius
Member
Can anyone suggest a place I should try for eagle owl? Have been unsuccesfull in my attempts
hypercolius
Member
Today have been to Torrevieja, where I saw monk parakeet in the city and enjoyed photographing them for a while, and then encountered obviously escaped yellow-collared lovebird in Los Balcones!
hypercolius
Member
Yesterday had a red-necked nightjar perched right out in the open about 20 meters or less from me near the Santa Pola lighthouse when it was around 21:40
