El Hondo/Santa Pola – Malcolm Palmer

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Not really great for birding today – the weather was too fine, but heard Moustached Warbler in song from the Convenio. A group of raptors circling gave me a headache. A Booted Eagle and a Marsh Harrier were joined by two Buzzards, one of which had pronounced black flank-patches, and had me thinking of a young Long-legged, but maybe not quite big enough – and upon consulting Porter, Willis et al I plump for a  Steppe Buzzard – not regarded as a full species, but unusual enough! Lots of waders on the Salinas, with uncountable numbers of Black-tailed Godwit, and shanks of all 3 species amongst them.