Another great day of birding and banter in the company of Mike M, Mike S and Dave.
We met at the Depuradura at 9am. 2 Hoopoes were on the path to the parking point. From the platform we had 3 Glossy ibis, several Green and Common sandpiper, Stonechat , Swallow and Marsh harrier. We walked back down the track to view the dried out reservoir from the gate. There we saw Knot, Lapwing and Kentish plover. Mike M also picked out a Golden plover then on the way back to the cars he had a brief sighting of a Merlin which was out of sight before anyone else could get on to it.
From here we moved on to S’albufera. Here From Sa Roca hides we had Snipe, Spotted redshank, Blackwinged stilt, 3 Glossy ibis, Osprey, Kentish plover, Greenshank, Marsh harrier Grey heron, Little egret and Purple gallinule. On the way to the Cibollar hides we had Red knobbed coot on the canal then from the hide Kingfisher, 50 + Marbled duck, Cormorant, Chiffchaff Little grebe and fantastic views of the Osprey with a freshly caught fish, which we watched as it disposed of its prey right in front of the hide. Dave also picked out a female Pintail at the back of the scrape.
Other wildfowl seen around the reserve included Shoveller, Mallard, Teal, Wigeon, And Gadwall.
The last stop of the day was the hide at Son Real. We met Pere and Phil there who had just seen Hawfinch but in the hour we spent there it failed to show again. The birds we did see there included Gold and Greenfinch, Song thrush, Great tit, Meadow pipit and Hoopoe. Also a weasel appeared. On the way out Dave and I saw a group of 22 Red legged partridge in the field opposite the visitor centre,
Great day, great company.
Thanks guys.
