Spain Thursday 7th January 2016

Flags, Rings, and Osprey....

Today dawned a glorious morning of clear blue skies and, I think a north westerly of about f2, with it being my last day to get out and about we took a taxi back to the Nature Reserve at Guadalmar.

The highlights today were Black Redstart, with +10 seen on the approach to the reserve entrance, Moustached Warbler again seemingly more plentiful than on my first visit, and a bird often misreported on Lesbos ( they are usually Sedge Warblers in the spring).

Butterflies were represented by flying too fast whites!, Painted Lady and Clouded Yellow,
there were also grasshoppers and hover flies around.

I'll have to identify this when I get home !

A flock of  WOODPIGEON (13), was new as were the following, Dunlin (3), Greenshank (5),BARN SWALLOW (1), WATER PIPIT (1) [ thanks to the chap from Scarborough for the heads up as it called, {sorry if it wasn't Scarborough}]OSPREY (1) [thanks], COMMON SCOTER (2) [I am only 90% confident but two non descript ducks flying out to see looked good for Scoter], CRESTED LARK (1), GREAT TIT (2), AND KENTISH PLOVER (13).

Kentish Plover

The Kentish Plover were a nice find especially as one bird was carrying coloured rings and flag, the combination appeared to be Left Leg, BLUE FLAG on tibia, YELLOW RING on tarsus, and  Right Leg, PALE BLUE FLAG on tibia and YELLOW RING on tarsus.

Kentish Plover  with Flags & Rings

Coincidently the beach has a large area sectioned off as it is a breeding site for Kentish Plover the nearby information board showed an increasing population trend  although the data is old.

The sign basically says, the authorities noticed a decline in Kentish Plover,

in 1997 and took action, 2011 had over 50 breeding pairs?

Without too  much effort I got to 60 Species, in three days of gentle birding, it would seem that some of the "to be expected" species are not around this year, such as Greater Flamingo, and Bluethroat.

I think we will definitely be back at sometime in the future, only 2.5hrs from the UK and easy to get about with decent weather and great wildlife