Arenales, El Clot

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Finally, after more than two years we were back in Spain for a couple of weeks. Hoorah!

25/5/22 – A trip to Arenales seafront for breakfast gave us our first bird, a Pallid Swift, along with Spotless Starlings, which might not sound like much but when you’ve been away for a while, you forget how impressively glossy they are.

Later in Santa Pola for shopping we added House Martin and Yellow-legged Gull to our list.

In the late afternoon we visited El Clot which I have missed so much. At the dry hide, which isn’t very dry anymore, we had Little Grebe, Black-necked Grebe, White-headed Duck, Red-crested Pochard, and a Little Bittern was seen briefly in flight. On to the ‘new’ hide there were several more White-headed Ducks and both types of Grebe, plus a few Coots.

As we walked away from the hide, John spotted a Turtle Dove in a tree. I was beyond excited as this was one of many birds I was really hoping to see, but they are not always easy.

At the main pool a Great Reed Warbler was singing loudly and more of the same ducks were seen along with a few Marbled Ducks and Common Pochard. A Whiskered Tern was flying around and a Little Bittern flew past and into the reeds.

Swallows flew over the pool, including the odd Red-rumped Swallow. All in all not a bad first day.