23 Dec 2025 – On this cold morning, I went in search of a local phenomenon on the south banks of the Laguna Salada de Torrevieja, around the urbanisation Los Balcones. Here there are Iberian Magpies, a satellite colony some 200km away from the closest other populations. Now 10+ years from when first discovered. Originally escapees or dispersed birds from another population – this is still debated. They are breeding, that I do know. On previous visits I’ve seen them feeding young and today c30 were seen. Also noted were many loud Monk Parakeets, Hoopoe, Black Redstart, Sardinian Warbler, Serin, Greenfinch, Goldfinch and Linnet.
Later, I made my first visit to the coastal site Cabo Cervera, south of Torrevieja. What a fabulous, picturesque area with plenty of waders present. Whimbrel and Kentish Plover were welcome. Also Sanderling, Ringed Plover, Turnstone, Kingfisher, Crag Martin, Black Redstart, Chiffchaff, Audouin’s Gull, Little Egret, Monk Parakeet, Sandwich Tern and offshore a few ‘close in’ Gannets. I’ll definitely re-visit here.
The remainder of the afternoon was spent on a third party computer transferring images from filled SD cards to some memory sticks. At least I can take more images now. Hopefully my computer can be fixed on return to UK. Day c30 species. Trip list 124 species.
