16 members showed up at El Pinet, for the Costa Blanca Bird Club’s December Field trip, on a distinctly chilly morning, under largely clear skies.
Little bird-life was to be seen at close quarters, but well over a hundred Golden Plover flocked on stony islands at the far side of the reserve. A couple of Redshank fed close to them, and a Little Stint hopped around. Several Slender-billed Gulls and a couple of Black-winged Stilts completed the picture.
Taking the short journey to the shore proved hardly more fruitful, a Cormorant and a Gannet so distant that few could see it being the only birds on view, though an Iberian Grey Shrike, perched nearby, was pleasing. We moved on across the Salinas, noting good numbers of Great White Egrets.
The Salt Museum was our next port of call, and yielded Grey Heron and a slightly unseasonal Common Sandpiper, as well as Shelduck, a few Shoveler, and a Sardinian Warbler.
And so to the Clot de Galvany – and Birds! The Low hide produced myriad Shoveler, a wandering female Marsh Harrier, a couple of Black-necked Grebes, a fleeting view of Kingfisher, Chiffchaffs and a Cetti’s Warbler. Walking back I had a Dartford Warbler, but the Zeiss hide was replete. Good numbers of Gadwall, a few Teal, the odd Pochard and three pairs of Red-crested Pochard. A Barn Swallow that obviously didn’t have the benefit of Kathy’s (dog rescue) calendar fed and repeatedly returned to the same post. Several lucky people reported a Yellow Wagtail, and a Grey Wagtail was also seen. Several reintroduced Red-knobbed Coot were swimming, whilst from the Contact hide reports came of White-headed and Marbled Ducks.
The visit had been a notable one, as we made our way to El Duque, Gran Playa, for a good lunch and the AGM.
