Three Days of Birding Costa Blanca Spain
With Trevor
Introduction
What was meant to be three days of birding — though really two and a half+ but turned into an unforgettable mix of great sightings, frustrating conditions, and an unfortunate lesson in travel security.
My old mate Trevor came out to sunny Spain, and despite a few setbacks, we managed some superb birds, including Great Bustard, Wryneck, Jack Snipe, and Alpine Swift.
Trevor ended with a personal tally of 100 species (he only counts birds seen), while my list was slightly higher since I also include heard species.
Monday 3rd – Santa Pola & San Felipe
Late start, strong finish, and an encounter I wish hadn’t happened…
After a late start we began birding just after 1 p.m.
Our second stop was the Salt Tower at Santa Pola Salinas, where we picked up:
Osprey, Great White Egret, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Sandwich Tern, Ringed Plover, and Sanderling.
From there, we headed to San Felipe and birded back toward Gran Alacant. Water levels were worryingly low, but the exposed mud produced:
Blue throat, Black-winged Stilt, Snipe, Glossy Ibis, Purple Swamphen, Hen Harrier, Kingfisher, Red-knobbed Coot, Cetti’s Warbler, Chiff chaff, Little Ringed Plover, Shoveler, and Southern Grey Shrike.
A quick stop at El Pinet produced little, so we finished at Clot de Galvany with:
Kingfisher, Ferruginous Duck, Gadwall, White-headed Duck, Red-crested Pochard, Shoveler, and Grey Wagtail.
Bird of the Day: A superb Wryneck, showing beautifully in late afternoon light.
Tuesday 4th – Pétrola, Corral Rubio & Yecla
Fog, fields, and a spectacular flock of Great Bustards.
We were on the road by 7 a.m., heading inland through thick fog that thankfully lifted after Yecla.
Near Bonete, we connected with a small group of Black-bellied Sandgrouse, plus:
Rock Sparrow, Hoopoe, Kestrel, Buzzard, Black Redstart, Corn Bunting, Meadow Pipit, Tree Sparrow, and flocks of Linnet and Goldfinch.
Just before Corral Rubio, a lone Great Bustard flew overhead — and then Trevor found around 40 more feeding in a nearby field! They were distant but magnificent through the scope, and we even got some flight shots as they took off together.
The lagoons were in poor condition — almost dry — but still held a few surprises:
Common Crane (30), Water Pipit, Kentish Plover, Common and Jack Snipe, Redshank, Ringed Plover, Marsh Harrier, Skylark, and Calandra Lark.
Highlight: The Jack Snipe, always a tough bird to find.
At Yecla, we added: Raven, Chough, Merlin, Little Owl, Buzzard, and possibly two Golden Eagles (though distant).
We wrapped up as the light faded and returned to Gran Alacant tired but satisfied.
Wednesday 5th – Guadalentín Valley & San Pedro de Pinatar
Hard work, dry fields, and a breathtaking finale.
The Guadalentín Valley was alive with activity — harvesting red peppers and planting new crops. Birdlife was patchy but included:
White Wagtail, Southern Grey Shrike, Reed Bunting, Spectacled Warbler (briefly), Dartford Warbler (a showy family group), Marsh Harrier, Jackdaw, Chough, Green Sandpiper, and Greenfinch.
After five hours and little to show for it, we decided to head for San Pedro de Pinatar. En route, a low tyre pressure warning slowed us down, but at the reserve we finished the day on a high with:
Spoonbill, Dunlin, Sanderling, Little Ringed Plover, Serin, Ruff, Grey Wagtail, Black-tailed Godwit, and Black-necked Grebe.
Highlight: Around 30 Alpine Swifts mixed with Crag Martins — ten magical minutes of aerial mastery.
Thursday 6th – Maigmó Mountains
High winds spoiled the final morning — it was difficult even to stand upright at the summit!
Still, a few woodland species rounded off the trip:
Coal Tit, Crested Tit, Woodlark, and Crossbill.
Theft at Santa Pola – A Hard Lesson
Back to that “eventful first hour” on Monday.
While parked at Santa Pola Salinas, we were targeted by thieves. I stayed near the car because the passenger window didn't close — my Canon 600 mm f/4 lens and 7D Mk II were in the footwell.
A black saloon pulled up. The driver, a man in his 40s, appeared to be taking scenic photos. Trevor called me over to check some birds — only 45 m away — and when I returned moments later, the lens and camera were gone.
We checked the boot — thankfully my other gear, Trevor’s passport, and documents were untouched. Still, losing that lens (worth £14,180) was devastating.
The insurance company refused the claim as the car was “unlocked”.
Worse still, the next morning Trevor discovered €260 missing from his wallet. We now believe there were two thieves: one distracting, pretending to take photos the other one stealing.
Lessons Learned
This experience was a harsh reminder that birders can be easy targets. Thieves know our gear is valuable and easy to sell.
Tips for travelling birders:
Never leave optics or cameras visible, even for a minute.
Always lock the car, even if you’re just a few metres away.
Keep valuables out of sight and secure.
Trust your instincts — if something feels wrong, it probably is.
Despite the losses, the birding itself was often excellent. Great Bustards, Wryneck, and Jack Snipe will stay with us far longer than the bad memories.
Trip Summary
Dates: 3rd–6th November
Total Species (Trevor): 100
Notable Species:
Wryneck, Great Bustard (40+), Jack Snipe, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Alpine Swift (30), Ferruginous Duck, White-headed Duck, Red-knobbed Coot, Purple Swamphen, Common Crane (30), Hen Harrier, Marsh Harrier, and Golden Eagle (probable).
Photos to follow next week — not quite up to my usual standard (for obvious reasons!), but the story’s not over
Have fun go birding