Yesterday an afternoon trip to El Clot. There were a lot of people at the main pond, but not too much in the way of birds, other than Coot, Moorhen, Little Grebe, Teal and a Purple Swamphen. Nice to see that they are beginning to sort out the scrape but it is bone dry. A Stonechat, White Wagtail and a Grey Wagtail were there though. Decided to go to the dry hide, nice and peaceful until another birder came and decided to play the Green Woodpecker song continuously on his phone. After about 15 minutes he gave up and went away. A couple of minutes later what should turn up? Yes a Green woodpecker! It clung to a post just to the left of the hide.
Green Woodpecker by Greta Owen©
Today the pallet road proved fruitless so on we went past the donkey sanctuary to the Monastery road. A Little Owl was perched on the wall of the finca, as we went round to the Monastery where we were met by horses and carts. Not much else down that road so on we went to PFT where there were two flooded fields which proved quite fruitful with Water Pipit, Ringed Plover and a Green Sandpiper. A Common Snipe tried to hide in amongst the shrubs. We stopped by the “ditch” for our drinks and just as we pulled up a Kingfisher darted off up the ditch and hid among the reeds. A couple of Buzzards and Booted Eagle flew over in the distance and a Green Sandpiper flew up and over the canal. A nice morning out.
Common Snipe by Greta Owen©
Sadly, we haven’t seen the Black Vulture we saw around here back on the 2nd December.
Black Vulture by Greta Owen©