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After travelling to the Center East, our work required us to spend another week in Algeciras, Spain. This time, I had the good thing about a lighter schedule — that, and one other profit we had already had there, on our earlier keep. Our buddies/hosts, you see, reside in an unattached home (a rarity in Spain, the place most individuals reside in residences); and that home is only some minutes’ stroll from the delta of the Palmones River. I, in fact, love a great river delta. I couldn’t take a lot benefit of it on our first, two-week keep. However this time, I may.
Now, it’s a lot simpler for me to realize first-time sightings of species in Europe than it’s in Mexico, at this level of the sport. Nonetheless, I had already had a number of alternatives to go to wetlands in southern Spain. So I might need assumed I’d not see new species within the Palmones wetlands. Fortunately, I’d have been mistaken.
I managed to spend two good mornings at Palmones. The primary gave me eight new species for Spain, of which 4 had been lifers. And my subsequent outing, two days later? Eight extra new species for Spain, of which three had been lifers!
I’ll effectively have seen Eurasian Crag-Martins previous to that first morning. However it was good to have photographic proof of this sighting:
Thanks for exhibiting me these diagnostic white tail patches!
In distinction, if I had ever seen a Frequent Kingfisher earlier than, I’d most definitely have realized it. This chook could also be “widespread”, however it’s also gorgeous. Too unhealthy my photographs didn’t do it justice.
That’s the Kingfisher on the proper; on the left was one of many space’s many European Stonechats. The Kingfisher’s irridescent blue again was a surprise to see because it flew to this perch, however my digicam didn’t give attention to the fast-flying chook.
The Lesser Kestrel was one other chook I’ll have seen earlier than, however with out proof. It was busy mobbing one of many area’s many Booted Eagles. (Query: Is it technically appropriate to talk of a lone chook “mobbing”?)
A Frequent Greenshank, seen a methods upriver, was my fourth lifer. (You may get a way of the breadth of my European birding expertise by what number of of my lifers have the phrase “Frequent” of their names. Many others embody the phrases “European” or “Eurasian”, however that’s just about avoidable… Apparently, Previous World chook namers didn’t prefer to work very arduous at their craft.) Had I seen this chook at house, I would definitely have recognized it as a Willet.
An Osprey, member of a worldwide species I may also see in Mexico, was additionally extra beneficiant with the photographs. He circled simply above me, permitting me to take the photograph seen on the head of this publish.
On the second day trip, the Water Pipit began the lifer record. I’m slightly embarassed that I can’t discover any photographs for this one, and one month later, I should not have any clear recollections as to how I arrived at my identification. Gee, I hope I bought this one proper.
Thankfully, I’ve no such doubts relating to my second lifer, the Frequent Ringed Plover.
My first two Eurasian Oystercatchers had been an surprising delight. Oystercatchers are unquestionably cool birds, and, even in North America, a uncommon deal with.
I additionally loved seeing some previous buddies, all the time an fascinating expertise when one has travelled to the opposite facet of the world. Dunlins, Black-bellied Plovers (generally known as Gray Plovers in Europe), a Whimbrel, and the inevitable Mallards and Rock Pigeons, all turned as much as make me really feel at house.
That’s one Gray Plover, and two Dunlins.
And that, my buddies, will in all probability be the tip of my reviews on our 2022 Spain/Center East journey. Subsequent week, we will likely be again to Mexico.
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