I Finally Make It - 6

Day 6, AM -  Lesser Kestrels 2

This morning is a repeat of a session I did a few days ago aborted after only a few minuets as result of a bird ringers group meeting, cars arriving, talking, the disruption was such that all the birds promptly departed off into the countryside not to return.

In a different location this morning from my previous visit facing a tiled roof on the other side of the building, there's no sight of the adult Kestrels just a few newly fledged birds sitting around the roof, some poking heads out from under the roof tiles. 

I'm hoping for more of the same activity as seen yesterday with the adults bring food for the juveniles, or hovering in the wind..but no luck again. The Jackdaws are still present waiting to rob any kestrel that aren't alert but little else, just an odd Hoopoe. 

The action's slow so I'm afraid it's just static shots for the session of these summer migrants to the region.

El Taray Map

Lesser Kestrel

Lesser Kestrel - fledgling

Day 6, PM - Hydro Hide 2.

On the first hydro hide visit I really didn't know what to expect as a result it was a bit hit and miss aimlessly paddling around the lake, today is different as I have a plan all worked out, well I think I have !

I'm heading up to where the breeding Black-head Gulls colony is located where also the Black-necked Grebe's nest on the fringes of the colony for security. The noise is constant especially when a Marsh Harrier zooms in to try and grab an egg or fledgling then the gulls take to the air on mass to chase off the harrier, whilst the gulls are all frantic the grebes seem to calmly cover the eggs before they leave the nest.

Even thou it's still full sun under under the shade of some tall reeds there's no harsh light, and surprisingly the grebes are very approachable, even when there's some human paddling round a floating tent.

Black-necked Grebe

Squacco Heron

Squacco Herons can be seen sat on reed clumps....slow and steady to approach thou !

Glossy Ibis

Like the Squacco's the "glossy's" use the reed clumps to rest up, a real stunner in the sun light.

White-headed Duck

A real difficult subject to get near. I was lucky with this individual as I spotted the duck cruising towards me, getting into position some distance in front I waited for it to approach, You only get a few shots before it steams passed as they are fast movers when they know your there, try to catch up and it movers faster, faster than even I can paddle. 

Exposure, trying not blowing out the whites on the ducks head is paramount.

San Felipe Visitors Centre & Vistabella Road, El Hondo

After visiting the San Felipe Visitors Centre at midday on Saturday with unfavourable the light conditions I thought I’d have a return visit early morning to photograph the in decline Marbled Duck and also the breeding pair of Little Ringed Plover. On my previous visit the Marbled Duck had dispersed to the reserve by midday and the constant stream of visitors tended to spooked the Little Ringed Plovers, so the plan was to arrive around 7.30 am taking advantage of the more favourable early morning sunlight and lack of visitors

As I arrive the centre staff are scattering grain presumably to attract the birds closer for visitors, very soon Marbled Ducks had returned and were enjoying the free meal along with two very noisy Purple Swamphen’s (Galinulle), Whiskered Terns were feeding off the waters surface and a couple of Squacco Herons and an Egret were standing motionless in the reeds a lot closer than you would normally see and the Red-Knobbed Coot which have been reintroduction are busily feeding young. It’s now 9.30 am with all the shots I need I decide to try my luck getting some images of the plovers that had taken up residence in the roped off area on the centre approach

The male Little Ringed Plover is watching, occasional with a reassuring call to its mate, the female is further back in some scrub near the reedbed periodically brooding the small chicks, any disturbance sends the chick to cover, I sit motionless under the boundary path hedge in order to get some shots and leave satisfied that I may have one or two usable images. 

My next stop is the hides along the Vistabella Road on the southern boundary of El Hondo which is a new venue for me and very interested to see what it looked like, but first I call in at the "old football pitch" about a mile from the centre which is a “hot spot” for Roller. As I arrive I see a Roller sat on the closest goal post, as soon a I stop it fly’s to the next goal post, now there a four Rollers all sat in a row. With little chance of getting close I move on to Vistabella Road

Previously I had programmed the sat nav to arrive on Vistabella Road where the small irrigation foot bridge crosses the water channel, its quite close to the first hide so I set off along the edge of the reeds which must be three metres in hight, as I turn and head through the reeds towards the hide a Squacco Heron stood motionless on the path no more than tree meters in front of me, a truly unexpected encounter. Arriving at the hide I try to pick out the different bird calls through the wall of sound, Great Reed Warblers chattering, Coots clucking, Heron grunts, the unmistakable shrills of Little Grebe, Mallard and the constantly "pu-ii" calls of Black Necked Grebe. For the next tree hours I enjoy what reminds me a little of Leighton Moss, a hide all to myself in birding heaven.

Moving on to next location which has been recommended by resident birder, The Old Monastery on the Elche Road, as I arrive I see a resident Kestrel mentioned, I park up at the rear of the building, a Roller is inquisitively looking in one of the holes in the building, it see’s me and heads to and perches on a metal pole sticking out of the ground like a missile ready to lunch, it sits there for a few moments and then heads for a Palm tree further away which it descent lookalike moving from. 

Its now 3.30 pm, time for home.

Click image to view....

It's a Hard Day at El Hondo

Today I've booked to visit the main El Hondo Reserve at the North Gate entrance. Access to the reserve is only available on Saturday mornings so it's a 6. 30 am start and I head up the AP7 to San Felipe but first I call in at the reserve centre as both venues are new to me.

Arriving at 7.30 am I have 45 minuets spare so I take the opportunity to have a quick look at the centre lake...its bussing with activity, Marbled Teal zoom off at the first sight of me, herons, egrets are around the fringes, Whiskered Terns flit around picking food from the surface of the water, but times up, its time to leave. I note a Little Ringed Plover in the roped off area with young, in the carpark a Woodchat Shrike is sat on a fence post, but thats for another day

At the North Gate there are four cars waiting to gain access, surprising really given the reserves reputation I was expecting more. I chat with another "Brit" about a plan to view the reserve and park up ready to explore. A Great Reed Warbler is chattering in front of me, and I rattle of a couple of frames. Reaching the tower which I understand is one of the main venues as it offers views over a large are of the reserve. Birds of note include...Greater Flamingo, Greater & Lesser Egret, Little Bittern, Glossy Ibis, Grey & Purple Herons, Great Reed Warblers, ducks and much more. For the photography perspective the distance to the birds is too far to offer real success.

I follow the channel-tree line to the next hide, herons and terns fly overhead but the hide is a little disappointing as birds are way in the distance. Moving further into the reserve to boardwalk and tower that fringes the last accessible lake, Slender Bill Gulls bob about on the water, Little Bittern fly between reed beds, Glossy Ibis fly over, other than that, little else new.

I am now at the far end of the accessible reserve and its 10. 45 am so I start my return my long walk back to the carpark. Its hot and I can quite believe how far I have walked, here's a tip, park mid way a save yourself a long walk !

Back at the carpark its been a long walk with little photo ops, a little disappointed I take a rest and down a litre of water, a Nightingales is singing somewhere in the undergrowth and leave for the reserve centre

Click image to view...

Making my way to the reserve centre around 12.0 midday the lake is now completely quite, the sun is now directly in front no good photography so I move on to the boardwalk through the marsh, flamingos are close by, two Collard Pratincoles site at the waters edge and a Squacco Heron is out in the open all good photo ops. My times up, its been a tiring day

As I leave the centre the two Little Ringed Plover are in the open, calling in the roped area, they have several recently hatch young so I site down and see what photo ops presents, the plovers constantly vigilant as people leave the centre come quite close, camera at the ready I get the shots