18th January – A first visit to El Clot for 2018 was a good opportunity to tick off a few birds on my year list. Highlights were Two male White Headed Ducks on the main pool, along with 16+ Shoveler, several Little Grebes and a few Teal. A Cetti’s Warbler was heard but not seen. We took a walk along the path towards the mirador and found a Little Owl in one if it’s usual dead trees.
Species list – Little Grebe, Mallard, Shoveler, Teal, White headed Duck, Marsh Harrier, Coot, Moorhen, Woodpigeon, Little Owl, Hoopoe, Robin, Black Redstart, Stonechat, Cetti’s Warbler (HO), Chiffchaff, Southern Grey Shrike, Spotless Starling, Linnet.
19th January – On our way back from the scrapyard at Catral we drove along the Palm Farm Track (PFT) and back across the Salinas seeing a few birds, including a male and female Blackcap and Dark phase Booted Eagle on the PFT. A Great White Egret standing next to a Little Egret on the Salinas illustrated the size difference between the two species very well.