Corral-Rubio, Bonete, Petrola, Yecla, and El Clot ect

At last a rewarding day Birding

Thursday the 27th of March 

Early start and away and on the road by 7 o'clock and on route to Bonete and 1 hour 15 minutes later we were Birding, Calandra Lark was easy, and the odd Barn Swallow looped around, at El Bachilla, Good numbers of Rock Sparrow, also there a good number of Common Kestrels and also Lesser Kestrels, probably 13 + birds in the air at one time and close range. Squabbling over territory and the cracks in the farmhouse wall, 

Big flocks of Gold Finch, Linnet, and several Hoopoe, we managed to flush 3 hares which were good as they ran right in front of the car, a little bit further on there was  a nice group (7) of the mostly male Northern Wheatear, also there Woodchat Shrike, And Iberian Southern Grey Shrike, Stone Curlews, and Marsh Harriers, and during the day we saw lots probably (30+)

The plains of Corral Rubio and Petrola

It wasn't long before we found Great Bustards' first group of 13 which took flight and watched them disappear over the ridge, and another group of 16, Avocets, Gadwal, and Yellow Wagtail, were also seen. The bird of the day was an impressive Spanish Imperial Eagle, which hawked low over the plains flushing the Calandra Larks, and Corn Buntings we lost it as went over the undulating hills only for the bird to pop up again, we gave chase and managed some better views. What a bird and massive. I forgot to bring Werther's butter sweets to celebrate the Eagle so a eucalyptus cough sweet was used instead. 

This is my second encounter with this Spanish imperial Eagle in recent months see my blog Four Days Birding With Arte Lesyvor 8th, of November. 

So the Spanish Imperial Eagle has overwintered around the Corral Rubio area and hadn't strayed very far from that area. 

Habitat

So after the recent bad weather, the seasonal pools are back but there is no way near the levels of 3 or 4 years ago, and they will dry up fast so if want to make the most of it and planning to go birding.

Go Soon.

Corn Bunting singing almost everywhere. Green Sandpipers, Kentish Plover, Red Shank, Greater Flamingos, Black-winged Stilts, Black-necked Grebe, Lapwing,

We stopped at the Estación for the little bustard but with no luck, we decided to make a quick dash for Yecla.

Which worked for us first bird seen was a Black Wheatear quickly followed by Black-eared Wheatear, a Blue Rock Thrush, another Woodchat Shrike, and a female Black-eared Wheatear, watched a Booted Eagles take out a baby Rabbit, a flock of 12 Pin-tailed Sandgrouse which I did initially dismissed as pigeons but as follow through the binoculars I was mistaken.  A Red Kite popped up from nowhere and had a duel with Buzzard.

Clot De Galvany  Santa Pola Salinas

Mainly Duck's at clot and we didn't venture far from the hides

Marbled Duck, Red-crested Pochard, Pochard, Teal, Shoveler, Gadwal, Ferruginous Duck, White-headed Duck, Red-knobbed Coot, Santa Pola Salinas Great White Egret, Sandwich Tern, 200 + Mediterranean Gulls, Slender Billed Gull, Great Crested Grebe, Cetti's, Warbler, Grey Herons, Dunlin, Little Stint, Little-ringed Plover, Glossy Ibis, Reed Warblers,

Many thank to 

Agha Verdits

Photos to follow I had to return UK  yesterday so no. Time to process the images

Have fun make so news go birding

Cheers Bryan