We escaped the ugly Vermont weather for some time in Southern California and Mexico, visiting friends and relatives and to do some birding in shorts. Today we walked barefoot on the beach and saw lots of surfers and birds. In learning how to do wireless photo transfer, I lost several nice shots but here are a few that were left.
Sanderlings cavorting with surfers out further
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
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.
Several birds here in Spain – Rock Doves, Mallards and Northern Shovelers come to mind – seem to be about the same as in the U.S. The Little Egret is just like its close relative, the Snowy Egret, that we see in Texas and other southern states. Great to watch this patient hunter.
Note the classic yellow “slippers” which also mark the Snowy Egret.
This morning, we went over to a small park in the neighboring town – Charca de Suarez – which is the largest wetland along the Granada coast. It is a challenge to identify birds we’ve never seen but we had a great session. The highlight was probably this White Stork.
This guy posed for dozens of photographers, before heading to Africa.
Grey Herons are stately and photogenic.
Can you find this next bird — look for green and red.
A Common Kingfisher was perched in the cane.
A Northern Shoveler
A Common Moorhen
A Great Cormorant with a Eurasian Coot in front.
A nice outing at a lovely site right in the midst of condos and industry.
Southern Spain is a desert and reminds me of parts of California the Southwest US where birds congregate around nearly any body of fresh or brackish water. The salt lagoons were packed with bids, some resident, and some starting their migration to Africa.
This Bar-tailed Godwit was foraging along, intent on fueling up for the trip ahead.
Gray Herons (Ardea cinerea) are much like the Great Blue Heron.(Ardea herodias)
A far-off Western Marsh Harrier hunting for food
A tableau of birds at one of the park’s lookout sites.
At the ocean, we came upon a familiar scene, where earlier a boat had unloaded immigrants from Africa. The police were there, there was clothing strewn around, but otherwise business as usual. There were dozens of very large swarms of insects – which left us alone – providing food for hundreds of Martins swooping every which way. This Guardia officer had a swarm right above his head, which you can barely see in the photo as a darker strip arising from his head as he talks on the phone. 
And finally, a couple of photos from our terrace as I try to identify some morning bird songs.
We are in southern Spain for several weeks and learning a little more Spanish and some new birds. We hired a guide yesterday and he brought us to one of the great spots in the area: Cabo de Gata Natural Park – Las Salinas.
Our guide, Jesus Fronteras, knew the birds, natural geography, and history of his home province well. He was great.
We visited some salt mining lagoons and watched dozens of flamingos. Here are some shots in poor light:
A Black-tailed Godwit forages under a flamingo.
A flamingo heading west and a Black-headed Gull heading east.
It was a spectacular start on a hot day and in the next post, I’ll share some of the other birds we saw. Adios, amigos
Fed up with the depressing Border Wall plans and the ongoing paramilitary presence along the border, we decided to cancel our trip to Texas and instead, give northern Florida a try. Most southern Florida campgrounds were already full so as you’ll see, the gameplan is to hit Louisiana, the Florida panhandle, Georgia, and perhaps South Carolina. 
I’m posting this only to see if any of our birding friends might be in the area when we are. Of course, everything is subject to change — birds have wings, we have wheels.
Earlier in the week, Sally came upon an American Bittern right at the end of our path to the river. All I had was my iPhone and the photos, in poor light, were not good. Yesterday, we saw it again, without phone or camera. Today, at the end of a long bird walk, I snuck down the path and Voila!
Our friend will be on his way southward soon but what a great backyard treat.
During a quick trip to Virginia, we drove up to Chincoteague Island for a little birding. A friend of Sally’s, Chip, met up with us for a visit to National Wildlife Refuge and was a wonderful host/guide. Not only does he know his birds and is a skilled photographer, he has a sand permit allowing him to get out closer to some of the good birding areas with his SUV. It was hot and muggy but a great chance to get reacquainted with shorebirds.
Chip not only brought his 4WD vehicle, he brought his spotting scope and shorebird knowledge.
There were a number of Tri-colored Herons doing their stealthy stalk
Looks like a Greater Yellowlegs
We watched dozens of terns, mostly Forster’s, learning to get their food, diving from he bridge to the water.
Semi-palmated Sandpipers foraging
There were many Clapper Rails about, chasing one another, acting like chickens on drugs. (Sandpiper in background.)
After supper, we went back looking for night herons without luck but did see this nice Green Heron.
Leaving the refuge, Sally spotted about a dozen Chincoteague ponies in the hazy distance, part of the wild herd that just show up here and there on the island. They were a nice end to the outing.
