JANUARY FIELD TRIP - By Malcolm Palmer

The latest outing of the Costa Blanca Bird Club was held in mid-January, thankfully blessed by a warmer day than of late. We met up at the San Pedro del Pinatar Salinas, and were able to stand there watching a nice group of Pintail, as well as two Spoonbills and several Slender-billed Gulls.

It was agreed that we should go and look for the elusive and reportedly timid Belted Kingfisher – a mega-rare American visitor (a first for Spain and Southern Europe) that had been around since November, having recently moved from the side of the Mar Menor, inland, to feed from the many irrigation reservoirs, which are often stocked with fish. We had difficulty keeping all our cars in convoy on the rather complicated route to the bird’s last reported location, not far from Torre Pacheco, but finally gathered on an unpromising road, up and down which steamed a string of heavy lorries. The canal alongside was home to Common and Green Sandpiper, and a nice group of Stone Curlew flew unexpectedly over, but there was no sign of THE bird. We waited around, and tried a run down the track for some way, but to no avail.

Then, when we were about to leave, I said, ‘Why not try down that way?’ – indicating a new road. Within seconds, we saw a big-headed, long billed bird perched on a wire over a small reservoir – and there it was! All 24 members present got excellent views of this lost wanderer, which ought to have been in Central America. It seems to be a first year bird, in top condition, obviously enjoying the Murcian climate.

We made our way to the Algar sewage lagoons, where we saw a couple of Marsh Harriers, then on to Los Nietos, where the superb Pescaderia de Emely provided us with a memorable lunch – we even saw a Great White Egret through the window! Afterwards, there was time to look at Black-necked Grebes on the Mar Menor, as well as watching Booted Eagle and Buzzard fly past. All were agreed that it had been a splendid day.

The full list of species seen is as follows:- Slender billed Gull, Belted Kingfisher, Shelduck, Crag Martin, Avocet, Chiffchaff, Black winged Stilt, Greenfinch, Pintail, Goldfinch, Little Egret, Kestrel, Grey Heron, Serin, Black necked Grebe, Lapwing, Spoonbill, Marsh Harrier, Crested Lark, Cormorant, Greater Flamingo, Spotted Redshank, Yellow legged Gull, Blackbird, Spotless Starling, House Sparrow, Black Redstart, Great White Egret, Collared Dove, Sandwich Tern, Stonechat, Hoopoe, Common Sandpiper, Great Crested Grebe, Green Sandpiper, Common Buzzard, Stone Curlew, Booted Eagle, Cattle Egret, Blackcap, Teal, Southern Grey Shrike, Black headed Gull, European Starling, White Wagtail. Total = 45 Species.

Belted Kingfisher Photos by Dave Eddy and Michelle Edwards respectively

DECEMBER FIELD TRIP - By Malcolm Palmer

The Costa Blanca Bird Club held their AGM recently, incorporating an outing to the El Hondo Natural Park, the staff of which were most helpful in allowing us access for the morning. As we waited at the gate, a Sparrowhawk flapped and glided typically over – a promise of the raptor sightings we were shortly to enjoy. Almost thirty people entered the park, and when we walked the path out to the forward hide, Barry’s sharp eyes spotted a pair of Penduline Tits – seen by a good number of people. From around the hide, huge numbers of Avocet and Coot could be seen, and the odd Osprey perched on posts in the peaceful lagoon. Booted Eagles and Marsh Harriers circled around, and even a lone Peregrine Falcon was seen, atop a fence post.

Black-necked Grebe and Shelduck swam around, together with Pochard and Shoveler, and the reeds held Reed Bunting, Cetti’s Warbler, and the largely invisible Bluethroats. Barry’s call from behind alerted us, but too late! He had had a view of ‘Tönn,’ the radio-tagged Spotted Eagle, from Estonia, that has taken up residence – like last winter – in the area, doubtless enjoying the huge food-source on offer in the vast park. We later learned that he had been watched for a couple of hours before we arrived. No sooner had we got back to our cars than another great bird was found. The wintering Black shouldered Kite flew past, fairly close, its wings held in typical upward cant, then hovered obligingly, so that most people got a view.

From the observation tower, several people saw a big party of Cranes fly along the southern margins of the park, and more Ospreys, Marsh Harriers and Booted Eagles were watched. A Little Bittern and a Purple Swamphen called from a dense reedbed. Later, as we made our way back to the gate, a male Hen Harrier added to our growing raptor-list, and we had a brief look at the Vistabella area before making for Playa Llisa, where Rober’s, as ever, provided us with an excellent lunch.

At our AGM, all our officers were unanimously re-elected, and there was some discussion as to forthcoming field trips. A full list of species seen is set out below.

Little Grebe, Common Crane, Crag Martin, Black necked Grebe, Water Rail, White Wagtail, Cormorant, Purple Swamphen, Meadow Pipit, Grey Heron, Moorhen, Blackbird, Little Egret, Coot, Cetti's Warbler, Cattle Egret, Black winged Stilt, Chiffchaff, Little Bittern, Avocet, Sardinian Warbler, Greater Flamingo, Lapwing, Robin, Teal, Common Snipe, Bluethroat, Mallard, Black tailed Godwit, Black Redstart, Shoveler, Green Sandpiper, Stonechat, Pochard, Little Stint, Penduline Tit, Osprey, Dunlin, Southern Grey Shrike, Black shouldered Kite, Yellow legged Gull, Common Starling, Marsh Harrier, Black headed Gull, Spotless Starling, Hen Harrier, Slender billed Gull, House Sparrow, Sparrowhawk, Mediterranean Gull, Greenfinch, Greater Spotted Eagle, Collared Dove, Goldfinch, Booted Eagle, Kingfisher, Linnet, Kestrel, Hoopoe, Reed Bunting, Peregrine Falcon, Crested Lark, Corn Bunting (63 species).

NOVEMBER FIELD TRIP - By Malcolm Palmer

For our November outing, the Costa Blanca Bird Club, led by Barry Chambers, visited the Sierra de Escalona. After a short look at the Embalse de Pedrera, where a couple of Great Crested Grebes were the sole sign of life, we made our way through Torremendo to the road which skirts the wooded ridge which is the main dispersal area for two species of resident eagles, after the breeding season.

Our nine carloads (25 people) managed to find a suitable place to park just off the road. We then walked up the path in glorious, Indian Summer weather, with Robins and Blackcaps singing all around us, along with the odd Chaffinch, and a couple of Crossbill, flying over. A big gathering of Long tailed Tits fed busily in some large pines, and a couple of Coal Tits and a Firecrest joined them, then our first raptor gave a brief flypast, in the form of a distant Sparrowhawk.

Some of our members flushed an owl, which may have been a Long eared Owl, then an adult Golden Eagle drifted along the top of the ridge before disappearing. This short view was soon more than compensated when a lovely first year Golden Eagle circled lazily almost directly overhead, giving great views of its prominent white wing ‘roundels.’ Soon afterwards, a second year bird sailed over, giving members a chance to compare the two eagles, and see their relative development.

A dead Ladder Snake provided a diversion when we stopped by the almond groves on our way to have lunch at the excellent Restaurante San Andreu. After lunch we followed the rough road by the side of the Embalse, and stopped where we could approach the water’s edge. Flocks of Linnets and a few Meadow Pipits flew around, and we watched more Great Crested Grebes, until a surprise in the form of a Great White Egret put in an appearance, having something of a contretemps with a Grey Heron– they are a similar size. It was the first of its species any of our party had seen at the Embalse de Pedrera.

The quality of birds seen outweighed the quantity this trip, but, as usual, a good time was had by all. The full list of species seen is as follows:- Great Crested Grebe, Chiff Chaff, Southern Grey Shrike, Black headed Gull, Kestrel, Robin, Black Redstart, Firecrest, Blackcap, Crossbill, Coal Tit, Sparrowhawk, Chaffinch, White Wagtail, Golden Eagle, Stonechat, Linnet, Red legged Partridge, Great White Egret, Grey Heron, Yellow legged Gull, Meadow Pipit, Hoopoe, Iberian Green Woodpecker and Magpie.

OCTOBER FIELD TRIP - By Malcolm Palmer

If you’ve been on Holiday on Mars, you won’t know about the mosquito ‘plague’ which has terrorised Torrevieja and nearby areas in recent weeks, since, in fact, the heavy rains of late September provided the horrid brutes with plenty of still pools in which to reproduce. The species most normally involved is the ultra-common Culex pipiens, a small species which bites above its weight! The bigger, rather attractive, Tiger Mosquito now has a foothold in Spain, mainly in the northeast – its bite isn’t noticeably more unpleasant than that of the smaller beast.

On the latest outing of the Costa Blanca Bird Club, several members dressed for a summer trip to the beach, and suffered the attentions of C. pipiens, especially when they waited for the rest of the party to arrive at El Pinet, where the water conditions were ideal for the pestilential creatures, which also benefit from the fact that most of the Swallows and all the Swifts have gone! Those of us who covered up were suitably smug.

After watching a couple of Gannets and some Sandwich Terns offshore, we moved on to La Mata, where a very obliging Osprey perched, and a few waders included some nice Grey Plover. Red Squirrel and Long tailed Tit were in the woods. Taking to the road, we made for the Vistabella fields, but birds were few and far between until we reached the recently flooded marsh off the Camino del Hondo, where members were delighted to get good views of a Bluethroat, as well as glimpses of the retiring Cetti’s Warbler. A lovely Booted Eagle, and a couple of Marsh Harriers enlivened the proceedings.

Lunch at Rober’s, in Playa Llisa, was the usual well-appreciated break – he did us proud – then we all made for the Clot de Galvany, and a few more of our insect-friends. Barry’s sharp eyes found a nice Green Woodpecker, and we all enjoyed the duck on the Charco de Contacto as well as five Snipe. Somebody found a Water Rail too. The highlight there, though, was a couple of Red rumped Swallows, which afforded excellent views.

It hadn’t been the best of days for birds, but a good time was had by all and the full list of species seen is as follows:- Little Grebe, Grey Plover, House Martin, Northern Gannet, Ringed Plover, White Wagtail, Cormorant, Kentish Plover, Blackbird, Grey Heron, Common Snipe, Zitting Cisticola, Little Egret, Green Sandpiper, Cetti's Warbler, Cattle Egret, Sanderling, Sardinian Warbler, Greater Flamingo, Little Stint, Robin, Teal, Dunlin, Bluethroat, Shoveler, Lesser Black backed Gull, Black Redstart, Mallard, Yellow legged Gull, Stonechat, Pochard, Black headed Gull, Long tailed Tit, Osprey, Slender billed Gull, Southern Grey Shrike, Marsh Harrier, Sandwich Tern, Jackdaw, Booted Eagle, Wood-Pigeon, Spotless Starling, Kestrel, Collared-Dove, House Sparrow, Red legged Partridge, Hoopoe, Greenfinch, Water Rail, Green Woodpecker, Goldfinch, Moorhen, Crested Lark, Linnet, Coot, Crag Martin, Serin, Black winged Stilt, Barn Swallow, Avocet, Red rumped Swallow.

SEPTEMBER FIELD TRIP - By Malcolm Palmer

Rather earlier than is usual, the Costa Blanca Bird Club had their first outing of the autumn season, which took the form of a trip to Valencia’s Albufera. Firstly, however, we made an early start on Pego Marsh, where the day’s leader Julian Sykes led us around to watch ringing in process. The ringers have a daily presence during autumn migration, and were busily engaged when we arrived. A passing female Montagu’s Harrier diverted our attention for a while, before we all had a chance to see some birds in the hand – those present admiring, in particular, a couple of fine Bluethroats, rather more drab Cetti’s and Reed Warblers, and a nice young Kingfisher.

We then made our way along the motorway and northwards towards the Valencian capital, stopping to look at an irrigated field which had attracted a big flock of Yellow Wagtails. An Osprey flew lazily overhead. Jules then took us to a site he knew – La Ratla – where we had to park and walk to a ‘blind’ (a screen with holes for viewing) overlooking a couple of excellent shallow ponds – how we could do with more simple sites like this in the region! For it was full of waders, with almost every common species represented, as well as the rarer Collared Pratincole. There were some lovely Curlew Sandpipers, Spotted Redshank, Ruff, Dunlin, Wood Sandpiper, etc, etc., whilst Squacco Herons were numerous nearby, and a migrant Whinchat was perched.

Reluctantly, we moved on, and arrived at the reserve of the Racó d’Olla just in time to see them close (rather inflexibly) for the day. Spain, and particularly the Valencian authorities, will need to take a long, hard look at the opening (or more importantly, closing!) times of their reserves as interest in the Natural World increases. We were close to El Palmar, where half Valencia eats on Sundays, so finding a restaurant was no problem – though finding a reasonable one was more difficult! We did just that, however, and all sat down to a good repast. Some of us then took a look at Cullera’s nice coastline on our way south. The trip had been interesting – a little further north than our usual limit.