Today we met Barry and Carol at the arches in the Crevillente canyon where we looked and listened for Golden Oriole but, having no luck, we continued up to the canyon.
On the way up we saw three Little Owls, and several Woodchat Shrikes and Bee Eaters. Swallows, Red rumped Swallows and Swifts were flying around near the Finca and we heard, and then saw a group of Red billed Chough. It didn’t take long to find a Bonelli’s Eagle sitting on a ledge and while there we also saw both birds flying and the head of a youngster poking out of the nest. On the way back down it was great to see a Turtle Dove on a wire.
Bee eater by Barry Chambers© 
Woodchat Shrike by Barry Chambers© 
Bonelli’s Eagle by Barry Chambers© 
Turtle Dove by Barry Chambers©
We left Barry and Carol at the arches and headed down to San Felipe to eat out lunch in the picnic area, bumping into Malcolm on the car park where we had a quick catch up. The small lake held Purple Swamphen, Marbled Duck, Pochard, Mallard and a Glossy Ibis flew in and landed on the opposite bank. Several more Glossy ibis flew around the area.
As soon as we set off around the boardwalk we saw a Squacco Heron on the fence and several more were seen in the area. A few Red knobbed Coot were on the water here.
We continued to the second hide where we saw a couple of Black necked Grebe in breeding plumage and a White headed Duck were on the water and many Avocets, Black winged Stilts and Shelducks were nesting on the islands. Sadly no Collared Pratincole were seen.
We left San Felipe and scanned the dry fields along the exit road where we were lucky to see a Stone Curlew hiding in the furrows. We drove back across the fields having a brilliant view of a Cuckoo perched on a wire on the road near the sheep sheds. I don’t think I have ever seen a Cuckoo before having only heard them in the past so this was pretty special. We continued home via the monastery road where we saw another Cuckoo also perched on a wire. Happy Days! We headed back across the Salinas adding a few more birds on the way.
Species list – Black necked Grebe, Squacco Heron, Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Grey Heron, Flamingo, Glossy Ibis, Shelduck, Mallard, Marbled Duck, Pochard, Red Crested Pochard, White headed Duck, Marshe Harrier, Bonelli’s Eagle, Kestrel, Red legged Partridge, Coot, Red Knobbed Coot, Purple Swamphen, Moorhen, Stone Curlew, Black winged Stilt, Avocet, Slender billed Gull, Yellow legged Gull, Little Tern, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Turtle Dove, Cuckoo, Little Owl, Swift, Bee eater, Hoopoe, Crested Lark, Swallow, Red Rumped Swallow, House Martin, Stonechat, Blue Rock Thrush, Blackbird, Great Reed Warbler, Southern Grey Shrike, Woodchat Shrike, Spotless Starling, Chough, Serin.
Squacco Heron by Mary Brazier©