I don't know if we set the bar to high for Birding, we put the hours in, we've done the kilometers, ( This birding trip 800 kilometers ) I don't get distracted, stay focused on the task, but we find we don't get the rewards for the effort put in, it just seems to be getting harder to find the bird's.
Take for instance Great Bustard 10 years ago it wouldn't be unusual to see a drove of Great Bustards of up to 50+ birds in the Corral Rubio area and the last few days just 4 birds were seen, could this be down to climate change? As the area has suffered several years of drought and despite this winter's very heavy rains the seasonal lakes are almost dry and gone.
Spain’s Eastern Valencia region has just experienced the wettest winter on record. In the provinces of Valencia and Alicante, there has not been this much rain since authorities began keeping weather records back in 1864. It is the same story in other areas of Spain which began keeping track of rainfall
The exceptional wet weather has been two and a half times what is considered normal rain levels for this winter and comes on the back of the region experiencing the driest and sunniest successive winters, and springs, and the hottest summers on record.
The Spanish State Meteorology Agency says barely 100 litres of rain have fallen per square meter (the average is 336) here in Alicante the lowest level since 1857, and the worst figures for anywhere in Spain. The impact on the province’s unirrigated farmland has been devastating
University of Alicante’s Climatology Laboratory, concurs, saying that in previous years, the southwest of the Iberian peninsula has received less rainfall than desert areas such in northern Africa. Alicante has beaten neighbouring Murcia’s record of just 89 litres per square meter set in 1945. There has been no humidity from the sea. It hasn’t really had any substantial rain since the winter of 2023. (Excluding this Winter) Winter and spring have been extremely dry. The lack of rainfall is impacting the whole ecosystem of the region.
Back to Birding
Tuesday 17th
Santa Pola Salinas San Felipe and the surrounding areas.
and Clot de Galvany
2 Ospreys, Booted Eagles, Marsh Harriers, Distant Spoonbills, Great White Egrets, water levels are very high so no muddy margins for waders. All the usual suspects were at the Clot including my two old birding buddies John and Mary from CBBC. Good to see them both again. The three Amigos would go birding together before John and Mary moved back to the UK.
Wednesday 18th
Bonete and Estación
Best bird seen was the Spanish imperial Eagle which was a dot in the distance, but through the telescope was pretty good so to get a photo I set off across the grassland to get a record photo of the breast, no sign of any little bustards not surprisingly with a Spanish Imperial Eagle on the hunt. Also lots of distance Calandra lark, and Corn Bunting.
El Bachiller
At El Bachiller farm it was good as there are Lesser Kestrel sharing nest holes in the farm building with Common Kestrels which made it difficult for photography as they were very active I kept focusing the lens on the wrong birds and with lots of comings and goings and conflicts between them. They've obviously bred very early and are carrying food back. Also good for Rock Sparrow.
Corral Rubio and Yecla
As I mentioned earlier the seasonal lakes have almost disappeared which are essential for Great Bustards they are always close by or need to have access to water, luckily they found us, only 4 birds and all females, It looks like they've not paired up yet. No males seen but they must be around somewhere. Yecla was quiet and only added a few species like Chough, Raven, and Common Buzzard.
Petrola
The water quality has improved and it doesn't stink compared to last summer, but I'm guessing that's down to the temperature and the recent rains.
Give this place a miss as there's hardly a bird on it. In the past, I've seen between 8 and 10,000 greater flamingos on this water and great for Waders and Black Terns, Gull-billed Tern, etc., A few days ago hardly anything on the water. It's not the first time I've moaned about how this place has changed.
Thursday 19th
Gaudelentin Valley
Good for Broccoli, and intense farming, it was so good years ago, historically we are reminded of the birds we once saw there but alas no more.
So we spent 7 hours cruising around the area hoping for a Great Spotted Cuckoo, but only added 6 new birds to the list it was very tough going, the best bird Spectacled Warbler only one migrant was seen which was a Barn Swallow.
Friday 20th
Montnegre
Good start with Blue Rock Thrush, Black Wheatear, Rock Bunting, Dartford Warbler, and in a wooded area Crested Tit, Coal Tit, Tree Creeper, and ended up with Griffon Vultures
Total species seen was 88 and even though it was a hard slog and I almost lost the will to live, we enjoyed being out and about birding despite the lack of birds
Big thank you to Trevor
A few Photos to follow
Have a great day
Cheers Bryan
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