Murcia Tidy Up

Post Trip Tidy Up - 30.9.19

Although return bird migration didn't match my expectation being very quiet, perhaps my visit was early or, possibly late I don't know but it's alway good to travel the Murcia and enjoy the usually fine weather.

I'm still going through the hundreds of images from the trip and any wothwhile images not included in earlier posts I will include here, but in the interim here's an image of a Little Stint which are pretty common on the salinas.

Little Stint

The story behind the stint images...the wader was feeding in some very sticky mud, the only way the bird could free its legs was too flap it's wings to lift itself out of the mud, it could then move and carry on feeding.

Click image to view....

Dunlin - summer plumage

Ruff - something in the eye I believe ?

Return to Murcia - September18

After the quiet period of the long hot summer (it’s still hot !) it’s a return to Murcia for some bird photography of returning summer migrants that have bred in northern Europe on route back to their winter locations in sub-saharan Africa. 

One area I visit often being a short drive away is the salinas de San Pedro. A working salt industry still occupies one end of the salinas, but the remaining area of extensive lagoons along with the adjacent sand dunes now all form part of a large nature reserve that extends right down to the sea. 

In summer the area is particularly good for breeding Little and Gull Billed Terns and during spring and autumn migration a magnet for passage migrant waders. Winter time can also be productive favoured by Black Necked Grebes which congregate in their hundreds, normally very skittish I can regularly photograph these grebes at distances as close as ten metres. The whole area has something to photograph year round but its also a welcome warm weather retreat from the UK's wet cold winter...it's win win !

Salinas de San Pedro - 18.9.18

My first visit of the trip and you've guessed it's too the salinas at San Pedro. Stopping at my number one spot it all looks very quite not what I was expecting or hoping for...autumn wader migration in full swing. After a couple of hours the only the waders to show for my efforts are Ringed Plover, Little Stint and a couple of Black Winged Stilts, time to have a look over the road.

A solitary Black Tail Godwit along with a Ruff are feeding in the corner of the muddy bay, slowly I get into position but the Godwit and Ruff move further away amongst the reeds, not much chance of getting an image here then, and move on.

Now at the second pull, the location being just about ok for photography I spot a small group of Dunlin feeding along the waters edge next to the path but its not a cleen shot, one of the Dunlin is in summer plumage probably having just arrived from the breeding grounds in norther Europe so this is my target bird.

After shooting a number of images it's evident there's too much clutter so I move round to the small bay then, my target Dunlin appears this time clutter free at the waters edge all be it the light angle is not the best. I get as many images at the Dunlin remains at a distance down to four or five meters something you don't often get in the UK

As a bonus a Little Stint and a Black Tailed Gotwit drop in, may be it's the Godwit seen earlier as there doesn't appear to be many about. The shutter's has been non-stop and my memory card is full with the battery on one bar, my others are in the car twenty metres away, if I move the waders will fly so the sessions over. For the remainder of the trip I will carry replacements in my pockets....tip !

After a very quite start it's good to finish with good encounter, you just never know with wildlife photography just how your day will turn out, perseverance.

Dunlin - summer plumage

(This appears to be the "alpina" race with the richest rufous colour and longer bill length that can been seen better in the fourth image, winters in Western Europe and Mediterranean)

Dunlin - juvenile

Black Winged Stilt

Black Tailed Godwit

Ringed Plover

Little Stint

If you look closely at the image you can just about see the wader has a ring on it's right leg, never close enough to read the number, the first ringed bird seen in Spain.

A morning with the Waders

The salinas at san Pedro being so close to the accommodation is probably the location I visit most, the species your most like to encounter being Gulls, Waders and Terns at the right time that’s not to say that you won’t see loads of other stuff through out the year. 

The more you explore a location you will undoubtedly have favourite locations, when it come to waders I have two, one is superb for light and reflective colour, the other you can just well, get mega close. All the Wader images below were shot at either of these two locations with the exception of the images of Sanderling on the beach which I refer to in a "Walk in the Sunshine"

I’m in position in probably my favourite spot for photographing waders, but there’s not much happening, sometimes you just have to wait and see what turns up. A group of Black Tailed Godwits are in the distance, I’ve never be able to get near these. Black Winged Stilts on the other hand are more obliging, I manage shots in real good light. A Greenshank drops in on the far side of the little cove, a little near would have been better but the shots are fine. Finally the ubiquitous Little Stint can drop in front of you at any time exactly what this bird did. Time to move on.

I’m now on the far side of the salinas, at times the wind can whip up the water so there are waves breaking onto the shore of a small bay, with patience and some concealment you can get real close to waders here.

A small group of Sanderling are energetically running up and down the shoreline sometimes running back and forth into the waves. Flying up the edge of the salinas I see a Common Sandpiper and it drops in the bay front of me promptly sent packing by the Sanderling, but I manage to rattle off some shots.

Next to appear is a Redshank which I sometimes find hard to get near, the bird is in good light with some nice pink and blue colour. Then I here the call…”tyew” it’s a second Greenshank of the day. Another wader I see more than any other turns up, it’s a Ruff with so many cool variations from black to vary pale, the bird fills the camera viewer as the lens has a 1.4 extender fitted.

Another grand day in the sunshine.

Click image & view full screen

Sanderling

Little Stint

Redshank

Black Winged Stilt

Greenshank

Common Sandpiper

Ruff

VisMig in Murcia

Camera...check, lens...check, bins...check. I'm off to Murcia for an eight day trip to photograph the autumn bird migration, the weather forecast is sun, sun, and more sun with temperatures between 26-28 degrees !

On arrival my first stop will be to get myself down to the Salinas at San Pedro as its only around six mile away and check out the reported 600 Black Necked Grebes that have congregated on the lagoons

Day 1, Salinas de San Pedro del Pinatar

I've just got off the plane and keen to see whats about, the San Pedro Salinas is only one stop further along the AP7 so what the heck !...arriving at the salinas I get a text from my mum "your tea's ready"...doh, only a very quick look then

I grab a couple of shots of Ruff and Turnstone, a quick scan I count 30 Slender Billed Gulls and 43 Black Necked Grebes, the Grebes as usual keeping their distance.

Early start tomorrow, hopefully something new to photograph

Click image to view

Ruff

Day 2, Salinas de San Pedro

Arriving at the Salinas wondering what photo opportunities lay ahead. Its light but the sun has yet to fully rise so not at its optimum for photography so I surveying to see what birds about, I locate Curlew Sandpiper, Black Tailed Godwit, Little Stint, Ring & Kentish Plover amongst others.

On the boardwalk I can see a Curlew Sandpiper on the mud bay below, a good place to start. Setting up the gear at the water edge overlooking the mad bay I play the waiting game, the sun is now giving some nice light and theres lots of bird activity

Black Winged Stilt and a very brief appearance of single Curlew Sandpiper give some superb photo ops. Ruff and Little Stint more plentiful and approaching to a close distance play their part as I'm waiting for that mega that may be round the corner

Its been a successful session and I'm looking forward to what tomorrow photo opportunities are to be had

Redshank

Curlew Sandpiper

Ruff

Black-Winged Stilt

Immature Greater Flamingo

Day 3, Salinas de San Pedro / Lagunas de lo Monte

I'm back at the Salinas de San Pedro nice an early hoping to continue from the good session I had yesterday. little Stint as usual fill in as I'm waiting for something unusual to turn up, a Black Necked Grebe cruises past still sporting remnants of its summer plumage but today its a little quite so I opt for plan B and move on to another location

Black Necked Grebe....Still in part summer plumage

Little Stint

The Langunas de lo Monte a nature reserve consisting of two lagoons (Lagunas) fringed by reed beds can turn up something of interest from time to time and usually I have all to myself as I very rarely see anyone else during a visit. My usual approach is to start at the bottom lagoon in the first of the five hides and work my way up the reserve, the first hide is quite, not mega close views of Swallows punching on the reeds like my last visit in May, the second hide is quite the same so I make my way to the fourth hide over looking the top lagoon which is always the most productive for me and wait.

To my left I notice a warbler moving in the reeds, Reed Warbler and Chetti's Warble are common if not a little hard to see, but this is a Acro warbler, I'm hoping for a migrant and not the Spanish resident Moustached variety....mottled head, no head stripe rules out Aquatic which I've seen on occasion back in the UK, its a Sedge Warbler common in the UK but a migrant in Spain.

Looking a little rough around the edges the warbler is confiding spending the next forty minuets off and on scrabbling and feeding in the reeds just in front of the hide.

Happy with the couple of hundred images taken and needing some much needed refreshment I call it a day, but first one last look at the other hides on my way back to the car......you never no that mega might just turn up unexpectedly !

Sedge Warbler

Lesse Emperor Dragonfly

Day 5, Salinas de San Pedro / El Mojon

It's now becoming the norm for me on this trip to visit the Salinas San Pedro just as the sun is rising, a quick scan doesn't reveal anything new, never the less I wait in the unusual location near the main road optimistic something may possibly turn up.

Its quite so I move on up the salinas to the second pull in, a few Ruff are feeding amongst the reed beds, the odd Little Stint clockwork scuttles about feed in the shallow mud bay, moving on to the third pull in...nothing apart from a cruising Black Necked Grebe in the now low light as its become overcast...time for a new location

Black Necked Grebe

I'm now at El Mojon which is on the other side of the salinas close to the urbanisation where the water channel flows in to the sea, this location can be good for waders but is frequented by bathers and beach walkers so the best time is early morning.

As I approach I see a Redshank feeding in the water channel where it flows on to the beach, I make my way round, and it fly's off further up the beach...doh ! luckily (for me) a walker disturbs the bird and it fly's back to the water channel

I've now managed to get myself within the range of the camera lens to the bird, and its just a matter of sitting tight gaining the confidence of the bird I'm not a thret, and it wasn't too long before the Redshank came within fifteen metres distance giving some great photo ops

Bathers that had been enjoying a brilliantly sunny day in 28 degrees of temperature are now calling it a day and making there way home, some stopping to look at this chap (me) sat on the beach with a long lens camera wondering whats going on...that was enough for the Redshank and it disappears back to the safety of the salinas, but I'm happy as Ive managed to take over 400 images.

Job done, I call it a day

Redshank

Day 6, Los Urrutias

Today a complet change in location as I head south to the areas around El Cormoli and Los Urrutias to check out wader locations along the land side of the Mar Minor (Little Sea). This is very much a crop growing area of the region and I've have information that during the right time of year is good for breeding Collard Pratincol

I'm driving along the F54 and I've stopped at the traffic lights at Los Urrutias, all of a sudden I can hear the unmistakable screeching of Monk Parakeets, the last time I tried to photograph these birds was in Villamartine on that occasion it meant standing in a busy road trying to avoid getting run over. Monk Parakeets originate from Argentina with escapees having bred are now pretty much a common sight particularly where there are palm trees which is one of their favoured breeding sites. The sight of these lime green small parrots flying around screeching looks a little exotic, even for Spain

Trying to photograph these birds particularly in palm trees can be a little difficult as they tend to occupy the central part of the tree, the branches always get in the way of a clear shot. With some careful surveying I manage to find a breeding pair giving some relatively clear shots, although there is considerable nest material behind the birds I'm happy with the clear shots at least of the birds

As I'm going back to the car I come across a Monk Parakeet caged belonging to the owner of a ground floor flat, the sight and sound of this bird, that may never be freed calling to other free flying parakeets is so sad to see and hear

Monk Parakeet

Day 7 Salinas, El Pinet

Two new locations today, the first to look for the Azure Wing Magpies at south side of the Laguna Salada de Torrevieja and then up to the Salinas at El Pinet. Up the AP7 again and another 4 Euro toll fee, its costing me ! I've set the location in the sat nav previously and it takes me right to where I should be....where would I be without my sat nav !

The area generally comprises scrub and wild gardens of small holding properties with some citrus growing near the lagoon, not very picturesque but pretty easy terrain to cover, you just need to be lucky to catch up with these elusive magpies.

After some searching I have no luck locating the Magpies, but birds of note include a small group of Monk Parakeets flying about screeching, a Iberian Grey Shrike refusing to let me get near perched on a telegraph wire. Visiting this location was primary to tick off the AWM with no sign I decide I move on to El Pinet.

The Salinas at El Pinet are quite extensive salt pans south of Santa Pola, but the area I'm visiting today is a nature reserve created on the southern edge of the salt pans. Earlier in September there were reports of some interesting species so I'm hopeful to get some images of birds I've yet to encounter

Scanning the first lagoon it all looks very quite, I see a boardwalk which threads its way between the lagoon and sand dunes so I see where it takes me eventually leading to the first hide, its hot so I welcome the rest. I count eighteen Grey Herons, two Slender Billed Gulls dancing like as they feed water surface, a few Sanderlin, Ringed and Kentish Plovers and that's it. After an hour or so its still quite so I decide to call it a day and make my way back to the car.

I'm back at the car park near the first lagoon and locate a Greenshank busy feeding at the lagoon edge giving a good photo op, but the camera's all packed up and I'm sure birds going to fly, camera out the 2x is still on the lens which isn't my preferred option...it will have to do. I take maybe thirty images before the Greenshank disapeears on the other side of the lagoon...at least I get some shots

Greenshank

Lesser Grey Shrike

Day 8, Salinas de San Pedro

My last day of the trip and with a late afternoon flight I have the morning free, my preferred location on my last day is always the Salinas at San Pedro. At the first pull in I scan the lagoon to see if theres been an influx overnight of any new migrants, it looks pretty quite and I'm a little disappointing as this should be in the middle of the autumn migration period.

One bird that's been around in small numbers this week that I haven't managed to nail down, and that's a Common Sandpiper. This morning I'm sat quite on the edge of the muddy bay and on the far side a Sandpiper drops in, slowly but surely it makes it way round to the idea position to photograph and I rattle off maybe four hundred images with a superb golden colour to the water. Eventually another Sandpiper calls an alarm and it fly's to the other side of the lagoon.

Its still quite early and I would like to finish on something mega but that dosen't look like happening, a juvenile Black Winged Stilt has joined in the photo session posing nicely sometimes motionless again with that fantastic water colour background.

I finish off the morning session with one last look along the boardwalk which meanders through the sand dunes to the sea and always good for Stonechat, maybe I'll get lucky and get close, then gliding majestically in off the sea I see a large bird, no is a plane (superman joke) dangling like its on a bit of string its amazing how still manages to remain in the air as it very slowly as it comes into land, the Spanish Airforce training jets are based at San Javier. With the wrong settings in the camera I grab a couple of images, and that it, times up for this trip, I have just enough time to review and edit a few images back at the property for I head back to the UK

Common Sandpiper

Black Winged Stilt