No Bins Bird Club

Well it's been an odd few weeks since the New Year, it now looks like there could be a pandemic, on the way.  "Hopefully not"  I've not been birding much and to tell you the truth I've only really been birding the Clot De Galvany and with nothing very much out of the ordinary to report, I thought it's not worth the time and effort to write up.  As i didn't want to report no news.  John Edwards and I did manage a morning's local birding and the highlight was the Greater spotted Eagle and a singing  Iberian Chiffchaff which was good.

Great spotted Eagle

Some things of note at the Clot there was a Ferruginous duck that was very distant but that was a few weeks ago.

Last week at the clot, 1st of March there was a few Swallows, Sand Martin, House Martins, and Red-rumped Swallows and a very nice Garganey which disappeared into the reed not to be seen again?

The No Bins Bird Club has been hit with some ill health not surprising as we are all getting on a bit, but happy to report were all on the mend, and are now ready to go Birding and make the news.

This week my Birding buddy Trevor arrived and was in need of a birding fix.

Sunday 8th March

Santa Pola Salinas

Nothing mega to report, but some nice birds to be seen, an Ospery flypast with fish in talons was nice, plenty of Black-tailed godwits mostly in summer plumage. Good numbers of Ruff,  about 12  Widgeon, 2 Penduline Tits was a surprise find.  Also Yellow wagtails, and Blue Throats. Quite a few Mediterranean Gulls in full summer plumage. The final tally for our 5 hours was 58 species.

 Blue Throat

Montnegre

Our target for today was the very elusive Trumpeter Finch, last time we visited Montnegre was late September and we didn't connect with these star birds and it led me to believe at that time they were just a summer visitor to this area, and today Monday 9th March we heard a few calling, then I flush 2 birds which flew away, shortly after,  2 more birds arrived from a different direction, which makes me now think that they are very probably,  a resident in this area. Although scarce in numbers. An obliging Red-legged Partridge showed well

Red-legged Partridge

Red-legged Partridge

Some great overhead views of Chough, a few Blue Rock Thrush and Black wheatear, Rock Sparrow, Peregrine Falcon, and a probably Tree Pipit, which I'll need to check the photos. Crested, Great, and Long-tailed Tit was seen, also Short-toed Treecreeper and Griffon Vultures.

Yecla
Tuesday 10th
It's not a big list,
but it's not about the numbers, it's about quality and also the views you get?
And so today we were a little late arriving due to the major road works and rerouting of the main road and a missed turning twice,
Star Bird of the day was a Golden Eagle x two with good views,

Golden Eagle

Golden Eagle Mobbed by Buzzard

 Calandra Lark, Crested, Thekla's Lark, Rock Sparrow, Tree Sparrow,

Calandra Lark

Thekla's Lark
not 100 percent on this bird?

Thekla's Lark

  Lesser Kestrels around the breeding Barn, Stone Curlew, Raven, Little Owl, Sand Grouse heard in different locations but no views.

San Felipe
Wednesday 11th

Little-ringed Plover

Red-knobbed Coot

Marbled Duck around about 30+ birds, Teal, Snipe, Little-ringed Plovers.

Marbled Duck

Teal

 Red-knobbed Coot, Water Pipit, loads of Fantail warblers, and a explosion of white Wagtails.

White Wagtail

Water Pipit

  Penduline Tits, Cettis Warbler, a few Barn Swallows, Black-necked Grebe.

And later at
  Sante Agueda

 Great spotted Eagle

The Great spotted Eagle put in a prolonged appearance, Buzzard, Marsh Harrier, Booted Eagle,  2 Blue Throat, Little Ringed Plover, Water Pipits, Black Cap, and so we finished up about 12 o clock

Rock Dove

And that's was the end of Trevor's birding visit. Tomorrow I'm off to the UK to watch Rugby in Cardiff, fingers crossed.

 I can't stop thinking what's going on in Wuhan and Italy with the covid 19 virus
Hopefully, our politicians have been listening to the news? I've got a funny feeling this is going to turn very nasty over the coming 6 to 9 months or even longer watch out?

Everybody

Have fun

Cheers BT