Lightning does strike twice

We planned to do our normal route we do this route often, as it's good indication of what's going on in the area?

Unfinished Business 

 The Great Spotted Eagle's favourite perch is where we decided to go and get some photos that I didn't take a week or so ago, more of that later.

And so our route across Santa Pola Salinas  produced a very nice Peregrine Falcon, 6+ Great White Egret, an amazing count of Widgeon 75+ a canteen of Spoonbills, 24+ a scattering of different Waders including Dunlin, Little Stint, Redshank, Turnstone etc,

 Turnstone

 at one of the Gull roost's there were good number Slender Bill, Black-headed, and Audouin's, Thousands of Greater Flamingo, hundreds of Avocet.

 Widgeon 

We headed inland to the Spotted Eagle Tree,  heading down the track and Bingo lightning does strike twice!   The bird was there, in the same tree, same branch, this time I took some record photos, terrible lighting almost straight into the sun but I think you get an idea of the size, and shape, still a way off but better and closer than going into El Hondo on a Saturday its a no brainer.

Spotted Eagle

Spotted Eagle

 Definitely a Werther's moment ?

but sadly no Werther's moments to suck on, so we had to make do with frangipane mince pies. ( it's a hard life )  John suggested San Felipe, ok let's go, "good call"  lots of Black-Winged Stilt,  quite few Snipe, 2 Greenshank, 6 Whiskered Tern, Wood Sandpiper, Temminck's Stint, Water Pipits, Meadow Pipits, Other birds seen Blue Throat Marsh Harrier Booted Eagle, Buzzard, Skylark.

Wood Sandpiper

 Temminck's Stint

 Temminck's Stint

Not mention ever species seen

San Felipe

It was busy there lots and lots of campervans, people sunbathing, making lunch,  why oh why do they cycle around the boardwalk on electric bikes, also walking a yappy dog around, 

unbelievable

I know it's a visitor Centre but it's also a Bird Reserve

Very annoying!

Whiskered Tern

 Very Happy New Year to Everybody.

Glossy Ibis

Massive thanks to J E