26 Dec 2025 – Boxing Day. I decided to head for Sierra De Crevillente, a mountain range west of the city of Elche, Alicante. It wasn’t long till I spotted a first for trip Bonelli’s Eagle. Also noted were Booted Eagle, Black Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush, Crag Martin, Hoopoe, Serin, Iberian Grey Shrike, Dartford and Sardinian Warblers. Little Owl were heard and surprisingly an Eagle Owl called a few times seemingly from a cliff face close by. Unfortunately, after a thorough scan of the cliff it wasn’t located.
On my return to Los Montesinos, I enjoyed the last hour of daylight at the El Hondo reserve around the visitor centre. Marbled Teal, Black-winged Stilt, Western Swamphen, Common Snipe, Shoveler, Greater Flamingo and Red-knobbed Coot were day additions. Cetti’s Warbler and Water Rail called but remained hidden. A nearby flooded field hosted c40 feeding Dunlin, a couple of Ruff and dozens of White Wagtail. As the light dropped, parties of Cormorant and Glossy Ibis passed overhead & dropped into roost. Day 41 species. Trip list 125 species.
