El Clásico

Wednesday 28th

We mostly have good birding days, we put in the time and considerable effort, but every now and then we earn EL Clásico

John and Michelle, Gareth, and myself

The four Amigos went Birding.

And today was one of them, Clásico we started early at El Recórral Night and Squacco Heron showed well, a common cuckoo was calling and they were often heard during the day, also seen our first Woodchat Shrike of the day.

Night Heron

On to Benejuzar not too far away.

I like this place as it offers easy birding by just rolling along the track and good photo opportunity's 

On arrival.

First breakfast and Nightingales were singing everywhere, difficult to estimate, but they're lots and a few very showy individuals, Cettis Warbler, Reed Warbler, along the river bank. Overhead Bee-eaters.  The sound of European Cuckoo was constant with the odd fly past.

Nightingale

"Unbelievable"

Melodious Warbler

A Melodious Warbler put on a show as it flitted from tree to tree this was another classic moment, the sweets came out, several Melodious were seen or heard this morning.

Melodious Warbler
There were yellow flower all around this bird giving an unusual green / yellow colour cast

Golden Oriole was singing and we have probably seen 8 + in total either in flight or perched up, it's not unusual to connect with Golden Oriole around there, on. Turtle Doves we're common. 6 + Woodchat shrike seen today.

Bad photo of a good Bird

John and Michelle had to leave for an appointment 

Turtle Dove

Gareth and I carried on through San Felipe and eventually ending at the back of La Marina, we stopped for a singing Corn Bunting on top of some reeds, and then we heard a Qual calling, Gareth then said what do you think this is?

It was over a field away and no scope between us, well I said it's either a common Redstart or Whinchat, So I walked the field as it turned out it was whinchat and what a beauty it was, these birds are a little bit of a scarcity 

   as we don't see many coming through.

another bad photo of a good Bird
I must try harder.

A Monitor Lizard cross our path and was very well marked I was wondering if these lizards have breeding colours as it was so well marked, it was big,  we finished off with a brace of European Rollers.

European Roller

I've not mentioned every bird, as it's a big list

El Clásico

Monitor Lizard?

Enjoy your birding and have some fun

Cheers Bryan

Birding Santa Pola Salinas and Surronding Area

Friday 24th

A good mornings Birding and a big list, so I'll keep it brief and to the best bits, crossing the Salinas stopping at the usual points.

Great crested Grebe

Great white Egret, Purple Heron, lots of Curlew Sandpipers, Collared Pratincoles, Ruff and Reeves, Black tailed Godwits, Wood Sandpiper, the expected arrival of Terns, and some very Smart Yellow Wagtails.

 Yellow Wagtail

First breakfast at El Pinnet was uneventful except for the colony of Common Tern and a mega colony of Slender-billed Gulls, but we did bump into our friend and researcher from the university and exchanged some interesting info.

Gull-billed Tern

We had an amazing few minutes with a Great-spotted Cuckoo, out came the sweets in celebration, Bee-eaters perched up and a Woodchat Shrike sat up nicely for a photo, also Turtle Dove.

Great-spotted Cuckoo

Great-spotted Cuckoo

2nd breakfast watching Gull-billed Terns and another Great-spotted Cuckoo dropped in to say hello, quite a few Corn Bunting calling,  plus 2 more Woodchats.

Woodchat Shrike

Marbled Duck

We did pop into to San Felipe, but left shortly after,  as there were two coach loads of children ages 6 to 10 having great fun and a nature lesson on site,  I wish that I could of been encouraged at that age to get involved into nature.

Long-tailed Tit 

Interestingly did you know

The Long-tailed Tit is not a typical Tit, in fact it isn’t actually a Tit at all! It turns out that the long-tailed is more closely related to the babblers of India and Southeast Asia than it is to the Blue Tits and Great Tits that we associate it with.

Bee-eater

Have a great weekend

Cheers BT

Fake News

    Misuse of Images and Fabricated Bird Sightings

Google Reverse Image Search is a powerful tool for uncovering the origins of photographs online. By uploading an image to Google Images, you can quickly find visually similar photos, locate the original source, and often determine when and where the picture first appeared.

For journalists, this helps verify authenticity and publication dates. For photographers, it’s a way to track whether their work is being reused without permission.

Unfortunately, fake news doesn't only appear in politics or media—it’s now making its way into bird sightings, birding websites, and even wildlife photography. It’s disappointing to see individuals feeling the need to fabricate sightings or use stolen photos to support claims.

I know several birders who have spent valuable time searching for species based on these reports, only to discover that the supporting images were not legitimate. The website involved has repeatedly used photos taken from elsewhere on the internet to bolster false sightings.

The most recent example involves a supposed Trumpeter Finch photographed at Montnegre. However, a simple reverse-image search reveals that the photo is actually from Morocco, April 2010, taken by photographer Michel Carré.

Here is the source:

The original image can be found here:

https://www.oiseaux.net/photos/michel.carre/trumpeter.finch.2.html

This confirms that the photo used to support the alleged Montnegre sighting was not produced locally and does not correspond to the date or location claimed.

Implications

While the individual or website responsible has not been publicly identified here, repeated incidents of this nature risk leading to the perception of intentional deception. In birding terminology, such behaviour is often associated with the term stringer—someone who knowingly falsifies sightings rather than making unintentional identification errors.

These practices can erode trust within the birding community and diminish the reliability of local reports, which many birders depend on for planning fieldwork, travel, and species monitoring.

Conclusion

The exposure of falsified sightings through reverse image search underscores the importance of verification in the digital age. Birders are encouraged to make use of available tools to confirm the authenticity of images and reports. With widespread attention—nearly 105,130 views on Birding Costa Blanca at the time of writing—it is hoped that greater transparency will discourage the spread of misleading information.

Mountains or Salinas

Wednesday 14th April 

Hi there hope you're having a good day

Today a toss-up,

Rain is threatening in the mountain so do we stay safe and take the easy option and look at the coastal areas and the Salinas, or do we go mountains?

And so the vote was the mountains and the speciality birds that the mountains could offer and also explore the some other areas we've missed out in previous visits.

It was cloudy and a fresh wind at only 14 degrees, and it didn't rise above that all day until we returned to the coast

There was only one moment during our morning but a moment. And guess what we forgot the Werther's sweets?

"Unbelievable"

Not a rare bird but a great bird to connect with at this time of the year when in full summer plumage.  Black-eared Wheatear is a stunning bird, we saw 3 or 4 of them today but this particular bird was exceptional and very showy individual.

Black-eared Wheatear

Black-eared Wheatear

Amazing views, and  point blank

Black-eared Wheatear

1st breakfast had come and gone, the slab of banana bread didn't go down too well today, I made spiced banana bread flavoured with a large spoonful of Curry powder, anyway, 2nd breakfast followed rather quickly to wash away the lingering afterburn of the spicy curried banana bread.

Not so many birds today and not much banter going on either, as no one had any sense of feeling on there tongue, the curried banana bread was to blame.

Peregrine Falcon, Blue rock Thrush, Black Wheatear, Chough, Rock Bunting, Red-rumped Swallow, Sand Martin, Bonellis Warbler, Red-legged Partridge and a good case for Thekla's lark.

There's so much more to Montnegra than just the main track.

Have fun

Cheers Bryan

The Hidden Valleys of Montnegra

 There

Good morning everybody

Today was a day to explore some of the hidden parts of the valley of Montnegra.

On route, John said "hey look over there" that track goes on a long way "I've never noticed it before" I said let's go then, and so off we toddled down the track not getting very far, as there was a gulp of Sand Martin probably 50+ birds, many of them landing and picking up nesting material, it was good to see their aerobatic display, just above our heads. Better than the RAF Red Arrow display team.

Sand Martin

 At that same moment Gareth called Raptor I didn't get on it too good and the bird had already gone over and was going away, I struggled with an ID? But my attention was drawn away by the call of Spectacled Warbler which eventually done the business and perched up nicely for a photo, at least 3,+ birds were calling, I like it when a plan comes together. (A new bird for Gareth)

Spectacled Warbler

 We followed the track until we reached a hidden village and a stream at the bottom of the ravine where there was plenty of Nightingales in full song, we then had to retrace our route. And so back to the mystery Raptor we went through it again eliminating what it wasn't and still we weren't happy but Gareth solved the Raptor mystery it was, of course, a Black Kite. Well done that man!

Back on track and first breakfast was calling, a slab of Trish's fruit cake, a freshly brewed cup of tea and you've guessed it a Western Bonelli's Warbler flicking around in the pine tree opposite the car, this is easy birding, and I'm so glad that my birding buddies are there to share with me these birding moments, it wouldn't be the same if I were a solo birder, with no one to share those moments with, also the banter, and the joking around and of course the birds. A major part of birding is getting your amigos. to see the birds. (well it is for me!)

Next up The Trump's,

Adult male Trumpeter Finch

Wow Amazing

This was a major birding event, it lasted only 7 seconds but what crazy birding behaviour, today we watched the Adult male Trumpeter exchanging food, part of their courtship display, I guess, it was a special moment, I wonder who else has ever witnessed this let alone photograph it. 2 weeks ago there was a different male jumping around like Michael Flatley from Riverdance which was also amazing.

 Trumpeter Finch

"Unbelievable"

 Trumpeter Finch

Talk about tongues down the throat, this was full-on birding porn xxx. Our knowledge continues to grow about the Trump Family and we are a little closer to finding their nesting sites and preferred habitat.

And now after 6 years of research following the Trumps, through the seasons, we have a more complete picture of their movement, migration, diet and habitat, we believe there could be up to twenty pairs scattered around the mountains and ravines in different locations around the rear of Alicante.

It must be Love
Trumpeter Finch

Next up Subalpine Warbler

This bird was difficult to see let alone get a photo, always in the shadows and the thickest part of the bush, we all managed some decent views in the end. And I have a crap series of photos.

A nightmare.

 Subalpine Warbler

We didn't venture much further than the village of Montnegra as time was getting on, so we turn back. Gareth spotted 2 Black-eared Wheatears (male and female) and further on down the track another three males.

 Black-eared Wheatear

A revisit to the Trumps for a tea break and watch in which direction the Trump headed off.

We seem to be on a roll, almost every time we stopped something good popped out. I've Not mentioned every single bird seen, just some of the more interesting birds and those moments which make for a great day birding.

Thanks to my amigos, none of this research would be possible without you. 

You know who you are but thank you so much for your time and effort.

Have a great day

And after all today's birding, I arrived home and the resident Black Wheatear was on my neighbour's roof, I couldn't resist just one more photo.

Black Wheatear

I must give credit to Mike Smith, (who I knew well) And one of the original members of the CBBC, we have a lot to thank him for. Historically mike confirmed there presence of Trumpeters Finch at Montnegra, Trumpeter Finch are rare and are very often claimed but I would be sceptical of other sightings without photographic evidence or a supportive report.

Trumpeter Finch
Mike Smith 
2005?
A guess or before

Cheers BT

Lo Monte and Benejuzar

Yesterday 5th of April

We officially  have a new member of the NBBC  Michelle Edwards who forgot her bins this morning

"unbeliveable" 

Lo Monte

Extended birding morning at lo Monte, it was good for a small reserve, male little Bittens chased the females around, the first highlight of the day an energetic Moustached Warbler showed on and off, disappeared and reappeared in another area for 15 minutes, difficult to get a clear photo as it sneaked in and out the reeds.

 Moustached Warbler

 White-headed Duck and Common Pochard, Little Grebe, and Great-crested Grebe pass by the hide. We had some amazing views especially the Great-crested Grebe in his full summer plumage.

Great-crested Grebe

The second Hi-light of the day was a Gargarny Duck which dropped in for a minute or two before returning to the other pool.

Gargarny

 Lots of other small birds like Greenfinch Reed Bunting, linnet, Serin.

Greenfinch

Benejuzar

We birded for an hour or so along the river, the bank we heard our first Cuckoo of the year and later on a proper view of this Cuckoo who whizzed around our heads displaying and calling "magnificent" 

Quite a few Nightingale singing and at least 2 Melodious Warblers and the Same in number for Woodchat Shrike,

Cuckoo

Missed photo opportunity of the day A Iberian Green Woodpecker which was perched on the wooden post by the side of the track at a few meters.

Little Grebe,

Cheers 

Bryan