Wednesday 10 November, Las Mesas de Chullera and Rio Guadiaro estuary, very light E-SE wind, clear, warm: A visit to the coast in such fantastic weather just had to be combined with a couple of birding opportunities. First I had a quick look at the heathland 1-2km in from the coast near La Duquesa - I have to confess it was my first visit here - it's classic heathland with sandy soil and rare for this area. Whilst there I saw a groupl of 6 Red-legged Partridge, Common Kestrel, Crested Lark (see photo), Sardinian Warbler, Stonechat, Black Redstart, Song Thrush, Common Starling (a couple of flocks of 250-300), Blue Rock Thrush, Serin, Blackcap and Chiffchaff.
Next I went on to the Rio Guadiaro estuary at Puerto Sotogrande and saw the following... Great Cormorant, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Coot, Moorhen, Mallard, Wigeon (male in eclipse plumage), Ringed Plover, Snipe (see resting bird, below)
Curlew Sandpiper (see below), Black Redstart, Zitting Cisticola, Blackcap and Chiffchaff. On the non-bird front there was a lovely Monarch butterfly to finish off, see below. A gratuitous photo of the Serrania de Ronda yesterday, with Alpandiere and Farajan in the background, below. It's burning season, hence the fires.