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Wednesday 30 April 2014, El Rocio, Sevilla, sunny, light NW wind, 32C

Our first stop this morning was the cliffs and beach at Matalascanas where there was little to report other than a Peregrine, a Whimbrel and a few passing Sandwich Tern. Moving on towards Huelva we checked the Laguna Primera de los Palos where we saw a Purple Heron and several Whiskered Tern. Next was the Marismas de Odiel where the sightings included the following: Osprey (one of a rare breeding pair in Andalucia), Marsh Harrier, superb views of a male Montagu's Harrier, Common Shelduck, Little Tern, Grey Plover, Red Knot, Little Stint, Dunlin, Curlew Sandpiper and Black-winged Stilt. Along the Punta Umbria spit we recorded Audouin's Gull, Bar-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Pied Avocet, 100+ Collared Pratincole, Sanderling, Ruddy Turnstone, Ringed, Little-ringed and Kentish Plover, Northern Wheatear, Pied Flycatcher, Spotted Flycatcher, Dartford Warbler and a surprise appearance by a striking male Common Rock Thrush.
 A stop at the Laguna El Portil produced Red-rumped Swallow, Hoopoe and Common Sandpiper but not the hoped-for Ferruginous Duck. Our last stop at Castillo de Niebla to view a Lesser Kestrel colony was more successful with several birds around in and out if their nest holes in the large moorish fortress.

During our journey we also saw Booted Eagle, Honey Buzzard, Golden Oriole, Eurasian Magpie and Azure-winged Magpie.

 Back in Gaucin Janys reported a kettle of 19 Honey Buzzard.


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