Petrola area and San Felipe

These giants, when crossing the plains of Petrola, were something special!

 
  With the Costa Blanca Bird Club  http://www.costablancabirdclub.com/ John and Mary Brazier picked Bryan and myself up and then we teamed up with nearly 30 birders at the local supermarket. We all set off to visit San Felipe and our guide was Malcolm Palmer. Malcolm told me that he was involved in the tapping of the first Blackpoll Warbler to be recorded in Britain on St Agnes, October '68! If that wasn't enough, he went to visit Bardsey Island a few days later and was there when they trapped the second British record of Blackpoll Warbler!! What's the chances of that happening?
  We arrived at San Felipe just after 10.00 and started seeing the same species that Bryan and I saw on our last visit, 5 Booted Eagle, 7 Marsh Harrier, Penduline Tit, heard only, Cetti's, Fan-tailed, Dartford and Sardinain warbler. It wasn't till later that we got species that we didn't get last time includeding, ring-tailed Hen Harrier, 2 Little-ringed Plover, Bluethroat and the highlight was a very showy Temminck's Stint feeding with 6 Little Stint. The stints weren't on the muddy margins of a pool or flooded field, but in a small puddle in a garden! There was also a Water Pipit here with 2 more birds just up the road.

A Temminnk's Stint feeding with 6 Little Stint was a good record for this time of year.

 I finished off the evening at Clot and the first bird that I saw, was a Hoopoe. The only one of the day. I could hear Long-tailed Tits coming towards me and as they flew passed I counted 5 birds. The trill call was more abrubt and harsher than the ones I hear at home. Instead of a single Song Thrush, I had 4 birds and on the pool was my first Water Rail of the trip. Since I arrived in Spain, I've heard and seen them only in flight, daily, but today I got cracking views of an Iberian Green Woodpecker. I stayed at the reserve to almost dark and as a result I got up to 5 Little Owl

Here is Mary's blog  http://www.costablancabirdclub.com/blogmary.htm


  Yesterday at 9.30, we left for the road and over an hour later we arrived at Petrola in the province of Valencia. The first village we hit was Bonete. It was bitter with a cold strong wind, and we found a large flock of Rock Sparrow, over 200. A few miles out along the N430, we stpped and had a scan for one of our target species. With in seconds, I picked up a 16 Great Bustard in the distance. We drove a little closer and scope views were had by all. However, they were too far for the camera. Never the less, I was very happy, but we both had no idea what would happen later in the day. We continued on the main road, stopping off to scan the many pools at the side of the road along the way, and then pulled into a farm. Here there were Black Redstarts, Corn Buntings and good numbers of Crested Lark with 50+ being the largest flock. At the end of the day we must of seen well over 300 birds.

These Great Bustards werre a long way off

Good numbers of Corn Bunting were in the area

Well over 300 Crested Lark were seen all over the shop

  At Laguna de Perrola, one of the largest lakes, there were 1 male Pintail, 4 Water Pipit, 21 Pochard, 150+Teal, 30 Lapwing, 2 Ruff and Green Sandpiper, 7 Marsh Harrier and well over 700 Shoveler. The most that I've ever seen. All the ducks were distant, but when we looked from out the hide, there directly in front of us were, 4 White-headed Duck, including a cracking male. Altogether there were 11 birds present on the lake. Everything was going well and when we took a dirt track nearby towards Correl Rubio, we were rewarded with over 200 Calandra Lark. They were very mobile and only fight shots were taken. A few miles up the track and a Black-bellied Sandgrouse flew SW overhead. Magic!

There were up to 11 White-headed Duck on the lake

4 Water Pipit were feeding on the waters edge

This 1st winter Greater Flamingo was 1 of 6 that were also on the lake

There were two large mobile flocks of 100 Calandra Lark.

  We thought that it was a good idea to return and see if the bustards were feeding closer to the road. They were, but now there were 35 in total! As we drov away from the bustards, I spotted a ring-tail Hen Harrier flying away from us. Back at Bonete we took another dirt track. For five minutes it was all quiet, until Bryan shounted, Great Bustards! I think that's what he said. Just 150 yards in front of us were 11 birds looking very wary. Sure enough, they slowly lifted from the ground and gracefully flew across the fields, showing off the large amount of white in their wings. Double Magic! 'Oh there's a Hoopoe' Well we couldn't go throughout the day without seeing one. As we drove past the bird, 11 birds got up and flew further down the road! A flock of Hoopoe! It just couldn't get any better. We also saw 2 Merlin, 3 Mistle Thrush, large flocks of Magpie, 3 Buzzard and lots of Kestrel. It was a great day out, despite it being bloody freezing. Bar the Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, we got all the other target birds we were after and might return to try again in the next few days

Nearing the end of our visit, once more we drove up another dirt track and 150 yards ahead of us were 11 Great Bustards. 

Shortly after the bustards flew off we flushed 11 Hoopoe at very close range and observed them all flying together down the track.

Mixed flocks of Spotless Starlings and Starlings

Over 200 Rock Sparrow were feeding in this field

I've been to Melbourne three times, unfortunatly the Aussie 12 stringer, John Butler wasn't singing at Flinders Street live 'Funky Tonight' when I was there and I just missed him in 2005 when he was playing at Hotel Cafe in California

San Felipe

  A quick look at Clot Nature Reserve this morning produced 40+Stone Curlew, single Little Owl and still around was the Song Thrush. All the other stuff, Sardinain, Dartford and Cetti's Warbler and Black Redstart were all in good numbers.

Over 40 Stone curlew flew overhead

On the coast nearby was this stunning Audouin's Gull

Many Southern Grey Shrikes in the area

  Late morning and we made our way in the sunshine towards San Felipe. One of the best reserves in the Alicante area and only half an hour down the road. Once again we stopped off at a number of places, including the dump. This paid off, because there was a White Stork, very rare this time of the year, on a wall with Grey Herons. Over 100 Cattle Egret were feeding in all the rubbish with lots of Yellow-legged and Black-headed Gull. Just arouund the corner, up to 7 Hoopoe were feeding together and using the car as a mobile hide, all of them performed at very close range.

Didn't exspect to see White Stork on this trip

Cattle Egrets getting stuck in with the gulls

 
  We arrived at San Felipe Reserve and there was one special bird that I was hopping to see here. It started off well and while eating are dinner, a female Little Bittern flew across the pool in front of us from where we were sitting. We started walking and immediately heard Penduline Tit and saw two birds showing very well next to the board walk. This was followed by many Fan-tailed and Cetti's Warbler. Overhead, there were many Grag Martin and the odd Marsh Harrier flew through. I kept on scanning the skies and then picked up in the ditance, what I thought, might be the bird I was after. GREATER SPOTTED EAGLE! In fact this could be Tonn, radio transmitted from Estonia and has been wintering in this area since 2007. This winter it has been joined by 2 other Greater Spoted Eagles that first arrived last year. It was too far away to see a transmitter on the back, but you could see the larger size difference when circling with a light phase Botted Eagle. The GS Eagle flew off NE, while the Booted was joined by another light phase and both showed superbly just above our heads.
  The only birds of note on the pools were 2 Black-necked Grebe and both Serin and Crested Lark were in the car park. Bryan managed to see a Bluethroat that I just missed. .

Bluethroat, Fan-tailed Warbler, Reed Bunting and Penduline Tit can be seen from the boardwalk

Penduline Tits and Fan-tailed Warbler were heard and seen all over the shop

Immature male Marsh Harrier

Light phase Booted Eagle were seen at the reserve and sourounding area.

2 Crested Lark were in the car park

  Rurturning home, we were unsuccesful in searching for the small number of Cranes wintering near the reserve. On the roadsides, there must of been well over 100 Chiffchaff feeding and when reading the book
'A Birdwatching Guide to Eastern Spain' it comments on that 'millions of Chiffchaff winter on the reserve! 8 Tree Sparrow were also seen on the roadside. A few more Botted Eagles, single Ruff and Lapwing,  and 2 more Hoopoe were also seen. We stopped off at Santa Pola Salt Pans and got an Osprey flying off to roost

A small group of Tree Sparrow were approachable using the car as was this Little Owl

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The great Leonard Cohen singing 'There for You' Video not that bad too

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New garden bird!

Male Black Redstart

 
  Got up this morning, had a shower, brushed me teeth, tapped the brush two times, cut me nails, or did I do that first before I brushed me teeth. I can't remember. Hold on a minute, I had me breakfast first and then cut me nails followed by brushing me teeth. Did I pick me toe nails off the floor? Anyway, I made me way outside and I could hear a SERIN in me garden. I found it on the grass. Was I dreaming? Then I heard Bryan shouting me name. No, it was a nightmare!! I looked over me shoulder and there was a stunning BLACK WHEATEAR!! This was followed by a cracking male SARDINIAN WARBLER!! It wasn't a dream or a nightmare. I was in Alicante, Spain and all these birds that I was seeing, were all in Trish and Bryan's garden. What a garden! Tean set off to France yesterday on a school trip for ten days. So while she was away, at the last minute, I booked a ticket and yesterday I arrived in sunny Spain. But today, it wasn't sunny. In fact I was told that it was the first time it's been cold and cloudy for nearly a month.
  I didn't care and started walking down the road, looking for ideal spots for birds. Just ten minutes from the house, I found, what looked like an ideal area and it turned out to be pretty good. There were lots to see including good numbers of Spotless Starling, Dartord and Sardinian Warbler, Robin and Black Redstart were everywhere. Out of the 30+Black Reds, I only saw one male. Just as was walking up the road towards the house, I could see the Black Wheatear on Bryan's garden wall!

Black Wheatear and a male Sardinian Warbler both taken from me bedroom window

  Late in the morning, Bryan and I set off to Santa Pola Salt Pans. The salt pans seemed to stretch for miles. Here I saw my first Slender-billed Gull, Grag Martin, Greater Flamingo Crested Lark, Southern Grey Shrike and Fan-tailed Warbler as well as other good birds. It was fantastic! I've been to a few European countries before, but that was to play football. This is the first time that I've ever done any birding in Europe and I was loving it alredy!

Southern Grey Shrike were on the roadside wires

Up to 10 Great White Egret were feeding around the salt pans

After missing 2 Grag Martin over Bryan's garden, I was so pleased to see good numbers all over the shop

  We continued along the coastal road from Santa Pola back to Bryan's place, stopping off to have a look around. The highlights were up to 5 Audouin's Gull and a single Kentish Plover. Also a single Long-tailed Parakeet over the car was only the second one that Bryan has ever seen. We had an 30 minute look at Clot Nature Reserve and in front of the hide there was a Hoopoe, the 7th of the day, showing at very close range for ten minutes. With the 15 Moorhen was my first Purple Gallinule. However, a Song Thrush, would you believe, proved to be the rarest bird of the day, if you take away that parakeet!
  The last bird of the day was the Black Wheatear just outside me bedroom window!

We saw 5 Audouin's Gull at very close range

Grey Plover was a good bird

A male Kentish Plover was on the shore showing well

This Hoopoe was just in front of the hide on the reserve

  I had a great first day and tomorrow were going to look for wetland birds and raptors.

TOTALS OF SOME OF THE BIRDS TODAY

6 CRESTED LARK            
5 FAN-TAILED WARBLER
6 WATER PIPIT
80+GREATER FLAMINGO
1 PURPLE GALLINULE
20+BLACK-WINGED STILT
10+SLENDER-BILLED GULL
2 BLACK-NECKED GREBE
1 GREY PLOVER
1 KENTISH PLOVER
1 SONG THRUSH
7 HOOPOE
1 LITTLE GREBE
5 AUDOUIN'S GULL
50+SARDINIAN WARBLER
40+DARTFORD WARBLER
50-60 BLACK REDSTART only 3 males
2 MARSH HARRIER
1 CATTLE EGRET
12 SANDWICH TERN
15+GREAT WHITE EGRET
30+LITTLE EGRET
50+SPOTLESS STARLING
100'S YELLOW-LEGGED GULL


 On June 24, Iranian Superstar Andy Madadian went into an LA recording studio with Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora and American record producers Don Was and John Shanks to record a musical message of worldwide solidarity with the people of Iran. This version of the old Ben E. King classic is not for sale - it was not meant to be on the Billboard charts or even manufactured as a CD.....it's intended to be downloaded and shared by the Iranian people...to give voice to the sentiment that all people of the world stand together....the handwritten Farsi sign in the video translates to "we are one". If you know someone in Iran - or someone who knows someone in Iran - please share this link http://www.mydamnchannel.com/Don_Was/Vlogs/DonsVlogSeptember302011_7729.asp
It hasn't been updated since Semtember, but if you love music like me, then this a very good website to listen to with all tastes. From the great guy Clark to the amazing guitar player, Slash.

Good numbers of Woodcock

Woodcock out in the open at Lower Moors

  I had a total of 20 Woodcock today, including 11 at Lowers (4 flushed together) 2 at Content and 7 at Porth Hellick. This morning along the path at Lower Moors, I heard 2 Siberian Chiffchaff, the Yellow-browed and DUSKY WARBLER. The latter species I only saw in flight near the hides. 6 Snipe came in and landed out of sight on the pool. The Wilson's has not been seen for nearly a week now. There were also 35+Chiffchaff, only 3 Goldcrest, 2 male Peregrene, male Sparrowhawk and 16 Linnet flew over.

1 of the 2 Siberian Chiffchaff at Lower Moors

Over 35 Chiffchaff were also at Lower Moors

  It rained troughout most of the afternoon and at Content there were 2 Skylark and a Black Redstart was at Porthloo. Moving down to Holy Vale I found 5 Chiffchaff and 2 Firecrest followed by a single at Porth Hellick. 10+Chiffchaff , 2 Goldcrest and 8 woodcock were also at Porth Hellick. 

Does anyone know what this is?

Friday just gone, Will Wagstaff joined skipper Joe Pender on the MV Saphire. They got the dodgy hybrid ShelduckxCape Ruddy Shelduck thing and the 2 1st winter and adult Spoonbill on Green Island. All birds have been around for a while. They also saw 3 Eider, including the male in the harbour.

A remix of Ennio Morricone -Ecstasy Of Gold. This remix was used in the movie 'Breaking Bad' The only bad thing in this movie is Phil Collins sings in it. Put me off straight away! Matallica also covered it.