El Clot

posted in: Mary's Blog | 0

Really enjoyed meeting members of the Leigh Ornithological Society today at El Clot. Jolly nice people. Good to see Bryan Thomas again too.

There were hundreds or House Martins, Swallows and Red rumped Swallows putting on a great display. At the main pool initially it seemed like only Mallards were going to show but soon three White headed Ducks appeared and the odd Pochard and Little Grebe could also be seen. Bryan heard a Wood Warbler in a Tamarisk tree but it refused to show itself to the group. We walked over to the mirador, seeing a Little Owl perched in a tree, watching us, watching it! At least it stayed for a long while allowing everyone to have a good look. At the mirador we saw the White headed Ducks again and heard a Turtle Dove cooing away, although it too refused to show itself. On the way back we had a look over to the marshy area where there were four Red Crested Pochards on the lagoon, another new species for some of the party, and a Great Reed Warbler could be heard calling loudly. Bryan spotted a Whiskered Tern over the lagoon but I’m afraid I missed it! Several Pochards were also on the lagoon.

We set off back to the exit gate and I said my farewells to the group, as Bryan led them off to visit some other sites, and I headed home for lunch.

Species list – Little Grebe, Mallard, Pochard, Red crested Pochard, White headed Duck, Coot, Moorhen, Black winged Stilt, Woodpigeon, Turtle Dove (HO), Little Owl, Swallow, Red rumped Swallow, House Martin, White Wagtail, Blackbird, Sardinian Warbler, Great Reed Warbler (HO).