Searching for crakes at Campillos and Fuente de Piedra lakes (2019.03.11)
The glorious Andalucia Bird Society Malaga Team met once again to try the Little and Spotted Crakes recently recorded in The Route of 100 Birds.
Click here to see the video:
https://youtu.be/jhfWdaWyj2k
A Little Crake, a very rare species in Malaga province, has recently been recorded at the Laguna Dulce, near Campillos, in the Guadalteba Farmlands. And there we went as early birders. I had never seen so many enthusiastic birders on a Monday morning, but this small rarity is worth the trip and getting up at the crack of dawn.
It was fabulous how the crake “paraded”, as Derek put it, though it moves very quickly and makes taking good pictures very difficult.
Once it disappeared in the reeds and the tamarisks, we paid attention to the beautiful Great Crested and Black-necked Grebes, White-headed Ducks and Cetti’s Warblers around us as well.
We then moved on to Fuente de Piedra, where we met Ricky and Sonia, in search for some Spotted Crakes that had also been recorded around the Visitors Centre. You may not get your target, as it was the case, but coming to this lake is always worthwhile and we had great views of Stone Curlews, Greater Flamingos, a beautiful male Garganey (another “special” species in Malaga), a Squacco Heron at the Laguneto and a big flock of Glossy Ibis in flight over the area.
The day ended at the Mouth of the Guadalhorce, another gem in The Route of 100 Birds, where we wanted to repeat my wonderful views of the Short-eared Owls last week though, this time, they decided to show up, if they have not departed to the north yet!, after dusk.
Nevertheless, we had nice views of Mediterranean and Slender-billed Gulls, and Booted Eagles among many other birds at the reserve.
Great birding day, after which Barbara had recorded 82 species, in the best possible company.