Elton Little Gull

Whilst at Elton photographing the Garganey a Little Gull had been present for a few days which I had attempted to photograph, but due to rain and the gull staying in the middle of the lake opportunities where proving slightly challenging.

With the improving weather for the bank holiday Monday I arrive at Elton expecting to see gulls...but there weren't any !....apart from a single gull at the far end of the reservoir...the Little Gull. 

I make my way to the farm at the far end and set up the camera, the gull seems to have a routine, flying/feeding then resting with the Blacked Headed Gulls. The gull fly's towards me, then suddenly gains height and fly's off in the direction of Withins Reservoir and its gone, I thought thats it, the gull has moved on. 

With a little patience the gull returns, and for the rest of the day and the following day, I make the most of the photo op to record this great bird locally as I'm sure it's only a matter of a very short period of time before the gull moves on to its breeding grounds in Scandinavia/Baltic States.

Interestingly looking at some of the images the gull appears to tuck its feet up into its plumage, looks rather odd as you would think the gull has no feet!

Foot note, 21/04/17...visited Elton this morning and there was no sign of the Little Gull, appears to have moved on

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Elton Garganey

After the failed attempt to see the reported Garganey at the Clot de Galvaney last week on the Costa Blanca, I returned home on Saturday to find a Garganey had turned up no more than five miles from home on a flooded field at Withens near Elton in Bury, so Sunday morning in slight drizzle I'm off to see if I can get some images. 

Arriving at Elton several others are also making their way to the location so I tag along as I don't know exactly where the duck is located. After about thirty minuets walk it seems like we are practically in Radcliffe, as we arrive the Garganey is located on a pool some distance from the canal path, too far really to photograph so its just a case of observation. The rain is now constant, quite different to yesterday thirty degrees temperature and full sun, so I call it a day.

With the improving weather forecast for the bank holiday Monday I thought I'd try again for the Garganey after yesterdays disaster, so its an early 6.30 am start full of optimism I would get some decent images. 

Arriving at Elton/Withens the Garganey is located on the near pool adjacent to the canal path no more than thirty to fourty meters distance, great...but the light is in front and reflecting off the water, with +2 stops over exposure I make the best of the situation and get a good photo ops. After some nine hundred frames in the bag, I decide to call it a day happy that at last I managed to obtain the images I had missed at the Clot de Galvaney last week

Foot note, 21/04/17...visited Elton this morning and there was no sign of the Garganey, appears to have moved on

Click image for clarity

Last Day at Lagunas de lo Monte

Well its the last day of my current trip so its a morning at lo Monte then off to the airport for my afternoon flight back to the uk. Early start and I'm on site for just after 8.30 am, quick scan of all the hides just to get an overview of whats about then I settle down and wait !

I'm at the number one hide on the bottom and largest lake and I see a Squacco Heron flying towards me, it drops down on the other side of the reeds near number two hide so I make my way round, theres a brit already in the hide, he's also from Campoverdi and a northerner, we chat about birding in general, Spain, retirement, we'er missing loads of stuff taking ! Birds of note....Marsh Harrier, Night Heron, Squacco Heron, Purple Heron, White Headed Duck, Iberian Green Frog

I finish off on the top lake, theres some differing water colour, some dark green, and some flat calm blues, both situations gives good photo ops of Pochard and Gadwall. All to soon its time to leave for home back to Compoverdi, but I'll be back soon !

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Salinas Good Friday

Another fantastically sunny day and yes i'm off to the salinas at San Pedro. Parking at the visitors centre at main road end of the salinas it obvious its a bank holiday, there are runners and cyclists a plenty out early enjoying the early morning sunshine.

Making my way to the hides overlooking the small lake, as on other visits I have yet to see anything of interest other that a couple of summer migrants, a Spotted Flycatcher and female Blackcap, so its back to the car to make my way down to "mosquito alley" to look for migrant wagtails. 

The carpark is filling up with walkers heading through the dunes to the beach which suites me as I head the other way along the salt pan embankment. I again locate Blue Headed and White Wagtails that have been here for a couple of days, and a very close encounter with a Turnstone showing the signs of a new summer plumage. A Green Finch lands on a scrub bush two metres away providing a good photo op but other than that, little else

Occasionally flamingos fly overhead moving from one salt pan to another which provides good photo ops, a group of five Mediterranean Gulls pass over head with there unmistakable call. Its now become quite busy so its time to called it a day at the salt pans

Driving past Camposeven growers at La Romero, I see a multi coloured bird perched on a fence, my first instinct is Roller, stopping the car I see its a Bee-eater, in fact probably up to twenty, hawking insects over a field recently harvested of crops, a nice photo op so close to the accomadation.

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Lagunas de lo Monte 3

Back to lo Monte Reserve today having had some success on my previous visits. Started at the first hide on the bottom lake, met and chatted with one of the reserve staff, he mentioned he'd seen an Osprey earlier in the morning but not seen by me, not a lot going on so moved up the the fourth hide on the top lake. As soon as I arrive I spot a Moorhen in the reeds to my right....no its a Purple Gallenule !....I manage to fired off some shots, it takes one look at me and its gone...theres timing for you !

The rest of the morning was spent moving between the hides trying to cover as much of whats going on as possible, birds of note include....Chetti's Warbler, Whiskered Tern, Common Tern, Squacco Heron, Grey Heron, Red Crested Pochard, M&F White Headed Duck, Kestrel and the chorus of croaking frogs

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Rebate - Salinas del San Pedro

Off to the salinas at San  Pedro but first a slight detour up to Rebate amongst the orange groves where normally we has a Sunday lunch. The place was eerily quite apart from the sound of partridge calling in the distance and the odd twittering House Sparrow, on the way back I spotted two Swallows sat on a road side wire, not swallows but...Red Rumped Swallows !...quickly parking up just below the Swallows who duly obliged for several minuets before flying off over the orange groves in the morning sunshine.

Next up was the visitors centre at the San Pedro Salinas, Spotted Flycatcher, Blackcap, Chetti's Warbler were worthy of note, onwards to "midge alley" to look for yellow wagtails, I did mananage find several but no decent photo ops today. Back to my usual number two stop locating a black Ruff, as the camera set up was for 700mm the bird was too close hence missing a good photo opportunity, I  settle down and wait for the return of the Ruff occupying my time snapping the numerous Yellow Legged Gulls that patrol the salt pans on the look out for a free meal

It takes another hour before the Ruff returns, with the lens extender already removed I at last obtained the photo op I was after.

Click image for clarity