On a damp and overcast day, Bryan Thomas and myself decided to go to Santa Agueda to see if Tonn the satellite tracked Spotted Eagle had arrived in El Hondo – he had been recorded on Wednesday night near Alcoy!
We didn’t see the Great Spotted Eagle but we did see a very distant Osprey on the salinas, lots of mixed finch flocks, Skylark, Blackcap, Little Stint, Booted Eagles, Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, White Wagtail, Glossy Ibis, Hoopoe, Water Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Marsh Harrier, Kestrel and a flypast adult male Hen Harrier which temporarily left Bryan incapable of speech!
Green Sandpiper by Mark Etheridge© 
Wood Sandpiper by Mark Etheridge©
There are now several flooded agricultural fields along Camino del Hondo which will be well worth watching over the next few days. Less promisingly, the pathway to the first hide along Vistabella Road looks to have been torn up, they are also cutting the reeds along the track around the south gate.
I have just checked the forum for Tonn’s Travels, and he spent last night near Castalla, so I suppose there is the off chance he might arrive tomorrow, not much good to me as I will be spending the day getting ready to fly home on Sunday…
24th November update – Typical! Tonn has arrived at El Hondo today and I’m 1700 miles away..