From Bustards to Bee-eaters
Before heading off down the motorway to the Coto de Donana, we had a last look for more Bustards on the Belen plains just beyond Trujillo. Driving out across the vast open expanse of the plains, we immediately saw a Great Spotted Cuckoo being mobbed by Magpies, and a good number of Corn Buntings, Crested Larks and Calandra Larks. Towards the centre of the steppes, we saw a crisp white blob in the distance, and a quick look through the bins revealed one Little Bustard all by himself. But further on we picked up 24 Great Bustards all together, including several displaying males. Raptors here included male Montagu’s Harrier and Merlin.
Time to drive south on the wonderfully empty motorway, but we made a short detour en route to check out a good Bonelli’s Eagle site. Unfortunately the weather was cold and windy and few raptors were airborne. We gave it a couple of hours but sadly still no Bonelli’s Eagle on our year list. This is turning into our bogey bird! However the site did offer great views of hundreds of Alpine Swifts, Southern Grey Shrike, Wood Lark, Blue Rock Thrush, and a flock of 150 Lesser Black-backed Gulls heading north.
On again south to El Rocio and the Coto de Donana National Park. A quick walk along the edge of the lagoon immediately gave us our only year tick of the day, Eurasian Spoonbill – lots of them. As always the lagoon was busy with numerous birds including Greater Flamingoes, Collared Pratincoles, Glossy Ibis, Gull-billed Tern, and Black-tailed Godwits. A familiar call drew our attention to a wonderful spectacle of 26 European Bee-eaters flying low over the town. Walking out onto the fields east of the lagoon, we had a pleasant surprise with the discovery of a Black-shouldered Kite hovering in the strong wind.
Back to our accommodation at Camping Aldea just outside El Rocio. Yes, that’s right a campsite! But although we’re not technically under canvas, our new home for the next few days is a glorified garden shed where there’s no room to swing a kitten, never mind a cat (or toucan). What a difference to the last few nights at El Recuerdo!
Species total 1894
Posted 30th March, El Rocio, Spain