Today we set off for the Mar Menor, first stopping at the salinas at San Pedro Del Pinatar. On the way a Glossy Ibis flew over the road near Guardarmar. At San Pedro we found Black-winged Stilt, Avocet, Greater Flamingo, Slender-billed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Stonechat, Blackcap (f), two Greenfinch, Sardinian Warbler, House Sparrow, Shelduck, Spotless Starlings and a Kestrel. The visitor centre seemed to be undergoing renovations so we had a look at the the water channel across the road where Black-tailed Godwit, Common Sandpiper, and a Grey Wagtail were feeding.
We continued on to the Cabo de Palos where there was a Song Thrush in the scrub under the lighthouse. Also seen in this area were Black Redstart, Goldfinch, Crested Lark, Spotless Starling, House Sparrow, Sardinian Warbler, Little Egret, Yellow-legged Gull, and a possible Rock Dove.
Our next stop was at the Salinas de Marchamalo where there were small groups of Yellow-legged Gulls and Audouin’s Gulls sitting on the small walls. A group of Flamingo where resting in the water with a Grey Heron and two Little Egrets behind them.
On our way back we called at Los Urrutias and were pleased to find a pair of Kentish Plover on the shore along with some Ringed Plover on another spit of land. As we were leaving we spotted a single Sandwich Tern diving. Other birds seen here were Marsh Harrier, Stonechat, Sardinian Warbler and Crested Larks.
Our final stop was at Lo Monte where the usual duck species were seen including, White-headed Duck, Mallard, Pochard, Teal, and Shoveler, along with Little Grebe, Black-necked Grebe, Cattle Egret, Chiffchaff, Greenfinch and John had a brief view of a Kingfisher before it disappeared into the reeds.
Species list – Little Grebe, Black-necked Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Grey Heron, Greater Flamingo, Glossy Ibis, Shelduck, Mallard, Shoveler, Teal, Pochard, White-headed Duck, Marsh Harrier, Kestrel, Coot, Moorhen, Black-winged Stilt, Avocet, Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover, Common Sandpiper, Black-tailed Godwit, Slender-billed Gull, Audouin’s Gull, Yelloe-legged Gull, Sandwich Tern, Rock Dove?, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Crested Lark, Grey Wagtail, White Wagtail, Robin, Black Redstart, Stonechat, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Chiffchaff, Sardinian Warbler, Blackcap, Iberian Grey shrike, Spotless Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch.
