Category: Vacation birding

Returning to Charca de Suarez

On our first trip to Spain in 2018, we discovered this gem of a wetland refuge not far from our lodging in Salobreña. Nestled into an area of apartment and industrial buildings, it is a great network of ponds, shady paths, and streams that is open evenings and more on weekends. The ten or so “hides” attract birders and many serious photographers. It’s a “must visit” spot for us.

Two Greater Flamingos were among the highlights of our visit.
A Purple Swamphen with a Common Moorhen in the background.
A Little Egret
Common Waxbills are pretty but often an introduced pest.
Red-knobbed Coots, being rather rare, are studied and protected here.

So, Charca de Suárez is on the coast, a little over an hour drive from the Malaga airport and less than that from Granada. This little spot (40 acres), which has plans for expansion, is a perfect place to spend a few hours. Check the opening times, they change during the year. We hope to visit before we leave, hoping to see Margarito, the White Stork.

First Days in Spain

After a long trip, we’ve setted into our apartment and with nice views and weather, are seeing a nice mix of birds from our terrace.

We have an artist friend here from past visits and this montage of his captures much of the flavor of Salobreña.

One of my favorites is the eurasian kestrel which we see daily. I’ve yet to get a good photo but did capture this one yesterday at long distance.

A European Turtle Dove overlooking things.

Last night, one of the large field below us was irrigated and this morning a few Mallards arrived. Then a group of Cattle Egret showed up for desayuno.

As I watched them, this large group of dark birds appeared.

Glossy Ibises, probably on their way to Africa, were foraging all day.

Our landlord left instructions to close windows when we left the apartmento because when the folks are away, guess who comes in and plays?

Who, me?

A Wednesday Beach Walk

We are on an outing to North Carolina for some warmer weather and beach walking. It’s been quite windy but things have improved, as has the birding. We stay in Manteo and usually visit the national seashore daily.

Our backyard

Brown Pelicans surround a fishing boat

Here’s a young Herring Gull and then an older model.

Sanderlings are fun to watch.
A Black-bellied Plover joined the party.

And a Whimbrel watched from a distance.

Seals and Gulls

We recently spent a nice week on Cape Cod, avoiding crowds and taking long walks along the National Seashore beaches.

Aside from the access points, the beaches had very few visitors.

We saw a lot of gulls, Herring, Greater Black-backed, and likely others.

Each day, we also saw dozens of Harbor Seals who seemed to enjoy us as much as we did them.

Come back and see us next year!

Some Maine Birds

During our stay in Maine, we heard a nice variety of birds but many were buried in foliage and constantly moving. This Black-throated Green popped out for a quick photo op.

This Alder/Willow Flycatcher and Cedar Waxwing pair picked a dead tree for their perch.

Flycatchers aren”t singing so identifying them is pretty tough.
Even the young Downy Woodpeckers provided a challenge.

On the water, there were lots of cormorants, gulls, and ducks beyond scope range. I saw a passing White-rumped Sandpiper, a bird I haven’t seen in 8 years.

Greater Black-backed Gull – big and noisy.
Herring Gull

Just after seeing this Herring Gull, we returned to the trail and Ginger suddenly darted into the underbrush. I went after her, saw trouble, and yelled at her to come. She turned, moved toward me, and I grabbed her leash. Then I took a picture of this guy, who had just ambled up the tree a few feet. It could have been a disaster, dozens of miles from a vet. She got big-time praise and treats.

Last Day Bird Groups

This morning, there were all sorts of birds out back at low tide. This group had Wood Storks (the ones with black on the back), American White Pelicans, Roseate Spoonbills, Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets, and White Ibises,

Groups of Roseate Spoonbills came and left.

Later we went downtown and found these groups of Double-crested Cormorants and Brown Pelicans hanging out in the sunshine.

We’ve seen 65-70 species here this week, more than half from our deck. We’ll head north in the morning after a nice stay in Cedar Key.

Some Spain Shots

We have been enjoying the weather, the culture, and the people this trip — birding has been just another activity, but still very enjoyable. Here are some birds and flowers from some of our outings.

Some flowers along the trail.

Little Grebes are cute but sure like to dive in the muckiest water. Time for a shower.

Here is a Northern Shoveler between and egret and a coot.

Hey, you looking at me?

Even the common House Sparrow looks pretty sharp today.

Hoopoe Happy

The bird I most wanted to see this Spain trip is the Eurasian Hoopoe, one of the most striking and distinctive birds of the region. Last year, I missed a couple that were beside the road – and while our birding this week has been limited, today we went to a favorite site nearby, Charca de Suarez.

Today, after an hour of seeing a nice variety of species, many of which I couldn’t identify, a splashy bird with lot of color flushed. I thought it was a Kestrel but Sally felt otherwise, and spotted it up ahead where it perched in foliage. Sure enough, it was a Hoopoe. I had trouble getting a decent shot but we were happy, even as it flew off.

After more birding including some nice looks at a White Stork and Grey Heron, we stumbled on to a Hoopoe, perhaps the same one, in the middle of the road. Quick camera shots and off it went.

I want to see these guys again, it’s just a very cool bird. They winter in Africa but there’s a chance we’ll see more in the next week. In the meantime, we are Hoopoe Happy.

Birds Loving Water

I mentioned earlier that the little preserve that we visit is the largest wetlands on the Granada coast and is tucked into an 18 hectare plot in Motril. The birds love it, as do we. Yesterday, we saw a number of Red-knobbed Coots, a rare bird that is still in danger but is restored to Spain as well as other water-loving birds.

 

We are leaving in a few days but still doing some rooftop birding from the terrace. Adios desde Espana

Meet the Common Kingfisher

Kingfishers are perhaps our favorite bird – we see them all summer on the river in Vermont, have been delighted by them in Texas and Ecuador, and as I noted a couple of post ago, caught a glimpse of one in Spain. This morning, we went back early to the Charca de Suarez to try to see him again. Sure enough, he showed up in the same small lagoon.

The bird is small (sparrow-sized) and flies fast so it is a challenge to photograph with the Canon SX-60 but he gave us some nice far-away looks.

There’s a great write-up on the bird here if you want more information. Gracias, mi amigos.