The Costa Blanca was ‘enjoying’ an uncharacteristically cold spell when 24 well-wrapped souls met on the northern ‘arm’ of the Mar Menor’s mouth. Flamingos, Avocets and Slender-billed Gulls dotted the Salinas nearby, but we took the boardwalk towards the sea.
A Ruff swam across a nearby dyke, and a couple of Stonechats hopped up onto the fence, but members were delighted to get good views of a Dartford Warbler nearby. A small group of Red-legged Partridge scuttled for cover, meanwhile, some members had spotted a Gannet fairly close in.
Before we left the car park, David found a small party of Stone Curlews, and I managed to find a nice Lesser Black-backed Gull among the many Yellow-legged Gulls.
As we made for the Visitor Centre, Cathy saw a Black-necked Grebe on the Salinas. The trees in the Centre were alive with Chiffchaffs and Serin, but little could be seen from the hide, save Mallard and Moorhen, until a young Audouin’s Gull alighted, shortly to be joined by a young Mediterranean Gull. Just across the road from the Centre, members were able to obtain great views of a Kingfisher and a Grey Wagtail. Later a Bluethroat was seen there too.
We then took the long drive south to Las Urrutias. The Mar Menor proved somewhat lacking in birdlife, only the odd Great Crested Grebe, and a Coot being seen from the usual viewpoint, so we tried the Sailing Club, where we saw Greenshank, Redshank and Common Sandpiper.
The next stop was an area of scrubby grassland where Richard’s Pipit had been reported. Alas, no luck was to be ours – just a couple of Crested Larks today!
On our way to lunch we saw Kestrel and several Monk Parakeets, then it was time for a splendid feed at the Restaurante RufMari.
It had been an excellent day, despite the cold wind, and the over-long drive – everyone with whom I spoke was very content and looking forward to our
next field trip.
Additional information from David Roe.
A few of us hardy souls stopped after lunch at El Carmolí and the site where we were looking for the Surf Scoter (Los Alcázares South) earlier in the day.
The first site produced three Marsh Harriers in the distance and a fleeting glimpse of what could have been a Stone Curlew.
No luck again with the Surf Scoter at the second site, but we did see thirteen Spoonbills close to the shore, which then all took to the air when spooked by a Grey Heron.
