Ha...Sunshine !

Murcia - 30.10.19

This time tomorrow I'll probably be sat in some seaside bar enjoying a nice beer happy to be back in the sun, that's not to say currently we're note enjoying sun at home but it's a bit chilly 8 degrees in the UK not 30 degrees that's alway beneficial to a dip in the sea.

To start the trip off here's a few images of a Kentish Plover one of the birds I always look on my return to Murcia, so watch this space

Kentish Plover

Another Wader Day

Los Urrutias - 4.5.19

Its back down to the Mar Menor this evening to try and get improved images of the Curlew Sandpiper I'd seen earlier in the week. The tide's in and there's not a waders to be seen apart from a couple of Ringed Plover and a pair of on territory breeding Kentish Plover which I'm going to give a go.

Work in progress....

Kentish Plover - male

To finish off the session I have a walk along the track I usually drive during the quite winter months when I see a female Kentish Plover way up on the high tide line which usually means a nesting pair, a few more steps more and I see the male. 

Watching from a distance the plover returns right next to the path which is a long way above the hight tide line, a wise bird as the Mar Menor is still subject to a small tide variance but the location must be pose a disruption. Walking back slowly noting where the plover had settled, to may amazement I spot the tiniest scape with three eggs the size of which being no bigger than my thumb nail. I quickly depart leaving the pair alone but sure disturbance is likely by the next walker.

The following day I return to see the latest on the plover scrape, I take a few images with the iPhone showing how vulnerable the scrape is next to the path and then retreating back to the car. Using the car as cover I move forward slowly along the track to a safe distance, over the next hour and a half I watch how these tiniest of waders endure nesting so close to a public track. A couple on cyclists pass, the sitting plover doesn't move happy to sit tight, when walkers pass on the other hand the wader is up and off, disruption for the plover yes, but for me it gives a load photo opportunities of the plover returning back to the eggs.

Below are images showing the location of the scrap next to the track, and me in the car with the plover on eggs circled. 

Hope they successfully hatch all the eggs.

Scape Location

Kentish Plover on Eggs

The Waders Have Gone Missing

16th April - Salinas de San Pedro

After yesterday visit to the salinas the thinking was It couldn't be as quite with the lack of waders, well I was wrong. Yesterday I managed to see Curlew Sandpiper and Little Stint in part summer plumage along with the usual residents, today......nothing.

I set up in my number one location more hopeful something will drop in, I know Redshank and the odd Greenshank are about so you never know. After an hour of waiting I decide to call time may be a visit to Lo Monte which isn't too fare away, but then I hear a call, it's a Common Sandpiper and drops in just in front of me.

The Sandpiper is moving fast, too fast really and I wish it would slow done. I get some images some way too near to look any good, but the one below is about the best. Time to move on to Lo Monte which isn't too far away.

Click image to view

Common Sandpiper

Before I head to the carpark I have one final look at the small mud bay on the other side of the road, straight away I pick up a Little Ringed Plover, Its not in the best light as the sun angle is too the side but I'm grateful for the photo opportunity.

The Plover is very confiding and carries on feeding just in front of me eventually move to the far side of the bay, time to relocate

On the far side of the salinas nearest to the sea there is always an opportunity to regular see Sanderling at close distances, other species such as Greenshank, Dunlin can also be seen during winter so that where I'm heading.

Little Ringed Plover

As I pass the water channel where in the passed I've had some very closes encounters with Slender Bill Gulls a pair of Kentish plover are watching my progress, I can see a photo opportunity if the bird positions itself on top of the mud bank so I wait eventually getting the shot....pity about the twig !!

Kentish Plover - female

It's Quiet at Salinas

15th April - Salinas, de San Pedro

This is my first time at the salinas since last October, then there was quite at lot of waders about but today I'm surprised how quite it is wader wise. A quick scan and the usual suspects are here Black Winged Stilt, Avocet but very few other waders.

On the far side I can see a couple of Little Stint one coming into summer plumage also two Curlew Sandpiper again one sporting the first signs of it's summer red plumage, it looks like it's going to be a waiting game.

Slowly the CSP make their way round the small bay each never far from the other within range of the camera, unfortunately they have a preference for deeper water which as a resulted in the sun angle being slightly from the side, I grab some shots before they depart not to return during my visit. The Little Stint never come anywhere near which was a bit disappointing as I was looking forward to photographing the Stint in summer plumage.

Last year there was a breeding Kentish Plover at this location and again the birds are on territory, occasionally the sitting bird will take a rest and feed along the sandy bay, I managed some shots but it's lean pickings today.

A pair on Avocets drop in from the other side of the salinas, the male can see me and starts incessantly calling the female just gets on with the day skimming the surface for what morsels are on offer. Occasionally the male stops calling and dose a bit of maintenance and has a shake proving a different photo op.

Time to move on

A selection of images from today. Click image to view

Avocet

Kentish Plover

Curlew Sandpiper

Kentish Plover Morning

With an evening flight back to the UK I have one last morning available to enjoy this great birding area so its back the salinas at San Pedro to see what new photo ops can be had. The Little Terns are now on the far side of the salt pans so I move along to muddy cove nearest to the reserve centre which can attract Avocets and Black Winged Stilts and wait, sometimes you just have to wait and see what turns up. A Kentish plover drops in on the mud which would be good photo op as I've missed this bird so far on the trip, I grab a couple of distant shots and it fly's off so I decide to move on to another location.

On the lagoon on the opposite side of the road there are a twenty or so Slender Billed Gulls, squabbling, screeching, generally making a din so I sit on the lagoon bank and try and get some flight shots, in the corner of my eye I notice a plover running like a clockwork toy up and down a dry sandy beach....its a Kentish Plover...then another, bins out, there are also young chicks so I know the birds won't stray far. As I watch for the next fifteen minutes or so there are two pairs with young chicks and a third, sitting on eggs

The plovers take no notice of me as I sit hidden amongst the scrub on the lagoon bank, on occasions a male on territory chases the other birds away, its all action. I notice a plover return to its scrape presumably with eggs which is located amongst the dead drift vegetation up against an old rope knot on the shore line, I resist getting closer happy to view from a distance getting some good images, a good encounter to finish off my trip

I'll be back in September for return migration.

Click to view...

Kentish Plover brooding on its scrape, must get some sense of security from the rope knot !

Kentish Plover chick..