An Elegant Tern was showing off to the surrounding Sandwich Terns. There were very large numbers of Collared Pratincole there too, both on the ground and in the air. 15 Mediterranean Gulls flew low over the reserve in two groups. 25 different species were recorded here.
El Hondo: The usual “rarities” were all present – Marbled Teal, White-headed Duck, Red-knobbed Coot – a total of 30 species seen in all. There were also a couple of Black-necked Grebe here showing in full summer plumage. However, the star for me was the male Montagu’s Harrier, which we saw hunting over some of the fields close to the El Hondo reserve. While in the reserve itself, we also saw a female ring-tail harrier at distance, which could have been a female Montagu’s Harrier.
Clot de Galvany: More Marbled Teal and Red-knobbed Coot, plus very vocal Great Reed Warblers. Ten Mediterranean Gulls flew in and landed on the middle of the large lake. There was also a Woodchat Shrike here. A total of 30 species were recorded at this location.
I didn’t see one Little Tern anywhere – perhaps the large number of Collared Pratincole at the Little Tern’s usual sites at both El Hondo and El Pinet was a problem for them?