Geordie Dave and I joined Mike at the salt pans this morning. Dave wanted to test drive his new wellies and the very flooded Eddies track gave him a perfect opportunity. The first birds seen were a pair of Thekla larks in the left hand field. The first wet area held 10 Flamingos but before we reached the end of the track we saw well over 100.
Stopping at the refuge we scanned the track dividing the pans and were rewarded with good views of at least 3 Bluethroats. Also there, Stonechat, Sardinian warbler and lots of Chiffchaff. Moving further along we had Spoonbill, Great and Little egrets, Grey heron and Black winged stilt. At the end of the track we stopped for lunch (Mike supplied the pies again).
The water either side of the track was far too deep to hold any waders but at the end there was a shallow patch which held Curlew, Greenshank and Redshank.
All along the track there were good views of Marsh harriers and on the walk back 30 + Kentish plover flew across in front of us. Lots of Lapwing and a couple of Hoopoe were also seen here.
Later we moved on to the Es Trenc road. Here we saw Temminck’s and Little stint, Little and Kentish plover, Ruff, Greenshank, Redshank and Red kite.
Great day. Great company. These are the days!