Trip With my Mum and Dad visiting relatives, therefore birding not the priority of the trip!

19th
Mid morning flight from LDN Luton to Alicante in South-east spain.

Serin was seen in the Airport car park and proved to be one of the commonest birds during the trip! Crested Lark and Stonechat were also seen
 
We then headed towards north Font Roja where we had some lunch and saw more Serin, Chiffchaff and Crested tit. After here we went towards the coast near Oliva to El marjal de pego, an extensive area of reedbeds and marshes. Viewing was difficult but we picked up Cattle and Little Egrets as well as Purple heron. Several hoopoes were in the area and Sardinian and fan-tailed warblers were singing. Swallows, House and Crag Martins fed above the reeds and a selection of raptors included Marsh Harrier, a short-toed eagle over, Kestrel and a bonelli’s eagle flew south mobbed by a Peregrine. Some spotless Starlings were around a nearby farm

Further round the coast we came to Calpe, a big rock and some nearby saltpans! Sardinian warblers and black redstart were around the rock and 2 raven flew over. On the pans were the first Greater Flamingos of the trip as well as Black-winged stilts and
more cattle egrets coming in to roost. The night was spent in a hotel near Alicante.

20th
The only birding done today was around the saltpans at Santa Pola, south of Alicante. We saw more greater Flamingos here as well as a sum plum Black-necked grebe and a pair of red-crested pochards feeding along a ditch. Waders included Black-winged stilt, Kentish Plover, Sanderling and Temminck’s stint among other things. A male ‘iberiae’ Yellow wagtail fed by the road and 2 Black Kites went over. Several Slender-billed Gulls showed well by the road!

The rest of the day was spent travelling south and inland towards los cerricos in the hills near Albox, to stay with my Granddad who recently retired to a farmhouse out there.

21st
A day spent in the area around my granddads house in the hills near los cerricos. Birds included Black Wheatear, Rock Sparrow and Blue rock thrush in his garden!! 1 red-rumped swallow flew through, Cirl Buntings were singing in the valley and Spotless starlings were around the farmhouses. Hoopoes and Crested larks were common and we also saw a few Great Spotted Cuckoos and Crag Martins.

22nd
Another look around my granddads house early morning produced Black Wheatear, Rock Sparrow, RRSwallow, Spotless Starling, Black Redstart and Little Owl.

We then headed south towards almeria. At Sierra  de alhamilla we picked up a male Black-eared wheatear, southern Grey Shrike, a male Subalpine Warbler and more Black Wheatears.

We spent the night in a hotel in Roquetas de mar on the coast. In the evening we took a drive around the saltpans and marshes on the edge of town. Here we saw a selection of waterfowl including Shoveler, Garganey, red-crested pochard and several distant white-headed ducks, mostly males. There were a surprisingly high number of Black-necked grebes, as well as little and Great crested. A male peregrine flew over and there were a pair of Red-knobed/crested coots on a pool (both with obvious white neck rings!). Waders included A spotted Redshank, Kentish and little ringed plover, Greenshank and common sandpiper among others.

23rd
A quick look around the saltpans in the morning produced much of the same with the addition of 2 adult Audouin’s Gulls.

A look around the cabo de gata area for much of the afternoon gave us a few new species for the trip list! I saw a pair of Black-bellied Sandgrouse distantly near little Hollywood along with more Black wheatear and a few Hoopoes. Near the coast we picked up 6 Trumpeter finches feeding by the road and a male spectacled warbler in scru near the car park Corn Buntings were numerous and we saw Gtr. Flamingo, Little Stint, Ruff and Avocet on nearby saltpans.

The rest of the afternoon was spent heading back north to spend another night at my granddads house where we were to spend another night. On the way we saw Dartford Warbler, a male Ring Ouzel, Blue Rock Thrush, Gt. Spotted Cuckoo, and an immature Golden eagle very high over the road just north of Albox.

24th
The last day! Most of the morning was spent unsuccessfully trying to catch up with Dupont’s lark! We did however find a pair of woodlark, some black Redstarts and a pair of Mistle thrush in the Sierra de espuna area and a male Black-eared wheatear at Guadalentin.

On the way back towards Alicante we made a few stops seeing Slender-billed Gulls at Mar menor Salinas and santa pola Salinas as well as Greater Flamingo, 2 marsh harrier, golden plover and an adult Mediterranean gull all at the latter. Just south of Alicante we found a pair of Audouin’s gulls on a beach along with Kentish Plover, hoopoe and a Whimbrel flew north.

Late Evening flight back to LDN Luton.

Total of 116 Species!! For more pics + a complete list click here!

Summary

Another great trip! The main reason for going was to visit my granddad as apposed to birding! Still, managed to get a few ticks such as he sandgrouse + slender-billed gull!! It was Nice spending time in the hills away from all the touristy areas, overall a good trip. .....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................