The plains of Petrola, Yecla and the Mountains of Alicante.

 

I spent a nice couple of days birding with Daniel Newton from Northern Ireland

With a few big target birds on his list.

Black-eared Wheatear

Monday 1st May

So an early start and we set off for the plains of Petrola, the target bird for today was Great Bustard. I was a bit concerned as thought the seasonal lakes would be dried up several months ago, and it turned out to be true, no water in any seasonal lakes except Petrola which was more swamp-like and smelling and  Laguna del Salobralejo which was buzzing with birds

Big bird list for the day

85 Species

Great Bustard took a little time to find, but in the end, we had fantastic views of these plains wanderers,

Corn Bunting 

Other highlights were Black Kite, Black Tern, hundreds of Gull-billed Tern, Whiskered Tern, Golden Orioles, Western Bonelli's Warbler, Thekla Lark, Calandra Lark, Greater short-toed Lark, Sky Lark, Crested Lark, 10 + Wood sandpipers, loads of Yellow Wagtails, Whinchats, Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, lesser Kestrel, Woodchat Shrike, Black wheatear, Northern Wheatear, Black-eared Wheatear. And so much more.

Yellow Wagtail

Greater short-toed Lark

I've not mentioned every bird seen just the highlights 

Whinchat

.,,

Mr and Mrs Whinchat

Tuesday 2nd May

Montnegra and Maigmo Mountain

Day Two

65 Species 

Crested Tit

Golden Oriole spoilt by heat haze

One of the must-see birds were the Trumpeter Finch which we found easily,  Blue Rock Thrush, Black Wheatear, Black Eared Wheatear, Nightingale, Melodious Warbler, Rock Sparrow, Raven, Rock Bunting, Short-toed Treecreeper and Crested Tit. Coal Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Chough, Jay Woodchat Shrikes, Roller, Bee-eaters,  and loads more

Thekla Lark

So a very successful few days and all the target birds were fulfilled.

Calandra Lark

 nice to meet Daniel and hopefully and at some point we'll go birding again

Melodious Warbler

Black-eared Wheatear 

Thekla Crossbill?

Never thought I'd find a new bird for Spain

But the proof there above?

Just joking 

                                   

Have fun go birding

Blue Rock Thush 

Cheers bryan