Today I decided to have a day off birding in favour of a walk through the sand dunes at the salinas to the beach and then down to El Mojon, never the less I take the camera…just in case an opportunity presents its self.
It's a brilliantly sunny day as we join the many walkers out enjoying the great weather. The sea is flat calm and Sanderling are scuttling along the waters edge letting us get within a few metres before flying further along the beach, the occasional Stonechat can be seen sat on some scrub never letting us get too close for that mega shot, but its great just to be out.
El Mojon has a nice coffee bar close to the beach so thats where we are heading. The area of Mojon is located on the edge of the salinas and where the salinas channel empties into the sea, in the passed I’ve taken some nice images of Little Egret and Redshank on the beach so I hopeful of a photo opportunity, that is if my wife is not looking !
As we arrive at El Mojon the coffee bar is closed...well it is winter after all, we spend some time just enjoying the sights and sounds of this side of the salinas, in the past Wilsons Phalarope has been recorded in the near by lagoon but all that's on show today is Stonechat perched on the boardwalk handrail so we head back up the beach.
Where the channel empties onto the sea it has created a small pool where a group of Audouins and Slender Billed Gulls have congregated, not wanting to miss a photo op I get the camera out managing some good shots as the gulls not unduly bothered by the walkers and joggers passing close by. A group of Sanderling drop in and take the opportunity of the fresh water to bath and carry out some plumage maintenance much closer than the usual beach encounter which is an added bonus to the scarce Audouins and Slender Billed Gulls.
As we head back to the carpark we head to a favourite wader location on the salinas, nothing present apart from a distant Southern Grey Shrike sat on the tower which soon disappears as we get too near.
All in all a great walk in some great weather, a little different to what's on offer back home
Audouins Gull
Slender Billed Gull
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