Last Friday April 29th we decided to go down to Northern Spain to the Aiguamolls Natural Park close to the town of Roses. Arriving about 10am we had been joined by Ron Bennett and our walk began as usual with the deafoning cacophony of Nightingales, Cetti's Warblers and Great Reed Warblers. In addition the continous rattling of the resident White Storks added to the background noise. Checking the first hide we quickly found two male Garganey asleep on a mud bank. Feeding nearby were good numbers of Black-winged Stilts and a couple of Spotted Redshanks. We also picked out a splendid male Ruff whose head gear was becoming black and ginger.
Moving on we visited the hide o further up the trail passing a couple of Melodious Warblers and a Golden Oriole. The water levels were very high and nothing much was added except a flock of 14 Whiskered Terns hawking over the lagoon. Retracing our steps back to the main path we were pleased to find a family party of Long-tailed Tits a species not often seen here. The sound of Bee-eaters was constantly in the air and we noted several groups heading north.
Where the path opens out into meadows we first watched a Zitting Cisticola at very close quarters singing from a tree and then discovered a beautiful Wryneck perched in a nearby tamarisk. Reaching the flooded meadows we could see a good number of Wood Sandpipers and a couple of Black-tailed Godwits but not much else. We entered the small hide and had excellent views of Purple Heron and Squacco Heron but the most entertaining was a Little Grebe carrying at least one of its two chicks on its back as its mate journeyed backward and forwards bringing food.
Walking back to the car we joined other visitors watching a superb Green Lizard before sitting down to eat our lunch.
After lunch we drove down the campsite road to look at the wet meadows from a different angle. The herd of Camargue horses were grazing a large wet area where there were many more waders. Most were Wood Sandpipers and Black-winged Stilts but 3 Little Ringed Plovers were picked out. Thereafter went drove through Castello D'Empuries to the the 3 Bridges area of the reserve. We hoped for Little Bittern here but had no luck with this species. We did find 3 Collared Pratincoles, 2 Night Herons and a good numbers of Purple Herons and White Storks before crossing the border for supper in Collioure.
A most enjoyable day with some stunning birds.
On Saturday April 30th we began by checking out our local Bonelli's Eagles with friend Stuart Gregory. Both adults were seen briefly overhead but the highlight was the sight of a chick with feathers already forming on the wings standing up in the nest.
On our way back to lunch we found a lovely male Woodchat Shrike by the road side at Agel. In the afternoon we explored the region north of Minerve. Birds were thin on the ground but insects more interesting. Stephen was busy with his net and caught a few species including the spectacular Moroccan Orangetip. We also encountered a really strange yellow and black insect which resembled both butterfly and dragonfly. It turned out to be an Ascalaphid closely related to the Antlions. A few birds were noted including Garden Warbler, Western Bonell's Warbler and Coal Tit.
Coming righ up todate today we first drove down to Port Leucate near the fish market where we quickly found 3 Spotless Starlings. A great success ornithologically but a disaster otherwise. We were parked just off the road close to a ramp where lorries drove up and deposited waste. One was on the ramp behind us and we heard a shout and to our horror the van was heading our way with the driver running after it. He had forgotten to apply the hand brake. The van ended up smashing into my Land Rover destroying two rear lights and the door opening mechanism to the rear. An hour was taken up filling in accident forms before we could move on.
We drove along the Etang for a while finding lots of Black-winged Stilts and Kentish Plovers and also a Whimbrel and Sanderling. A small group of Little Terns were also there on a mud bank.
Next was a walk around the headland at Cap Leucate. We soon found a male Black-eared Wheatear but struggled to get a good view of Spectacled Warbler although they were singing. A male Sardinian Warbler did show well and we managed to identify up to 3 Thekla Larks.
We had lunch at La Palme and 2 Slender-billed Gulls flew past.
We called in at Peyriac de Mer and Bages but found little else of interest.
Getting back to Montcelebre we found a Woodchat shrike and a Honey Buzzard flew over just before supper.
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