December 2007's article:

Now safely back from our visit to Australia and what a surprise, bird-wise, that turned out to be. Both my brother-in-law and I took our binoculars and really paid the dividend with the number and variety of birds on show, especially during our short stay in Cairns. What had been intended as a relaxing, swimming break turned out to be a marvellous bird-watching opportunity. So much so, that we had to buy an Australian Field Guide to try and identify all the birds that we saw!

Perhaps the most amazing observation was seeing the number of European birds. We certainly did not expect the very shy and wary Purple Gallinule to wandering around like a pet duck! Great views of waders, members of the parrot family, three species of kingfisher; Laughing Kookaburra, Blue-winged Kookaburra and Forest Kingfisher. Then there were the raptors: Wedge-tailed Eagle, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Hobby, Brown Falcon and Nankeen Kestrel amongst others. Certainly wonderful spectacles.

If you are visiting Australia, I would certainly recommend the following field-guide which is very clear and informative and, unlike many, does actually fit into a normal pocket!

“Field Guide to Australian Birds” by Michael Morcombe (Complete Compact Edition) published by Steve Parish Publishing Pty Ltd. (ISBN-10:174021559 1)

So it was back to Spain for the last nine days of the month. Apart from seeing my local birds I did manage to fit in a visit to both the rivers Velez and Guadalhorce in Malaga to check what was in residence at the moment (see “Bird Walk” below). It became very obvious that Chiffchaffs must have had a good breeding season as the mountain and countryside seems to be full of these little dark green warblers. Very similar to the Willow Warbler but normally with dark rather than light coloured legs. However, exercise caution as the birds are not singing at the moment (which usually makes identification very straight forward) and they are very similar in size and colour. Remember also that the Chiffchaff tends to winter with us whereas the Willow warble should be back in Africa for this season. In the field, the Chiffchaff appears slightly smaller and rounder with the Willow warble having a longer, cleaner look. Both have pale undersides with yellow but our low winter sun can make the Chiffchaff appear far “cleaner”/lighter than it really is.

Our Black Redstarts are back around the house on the mountain and I even woke the first morning to find a female Blackcap resting on the terrace staircase. Did she fly into a window and drop or was she just exhausted? After a short rest she was able to safely fly away. The one resident bird that seems to be less obvious than I expected is the resident Sardinian Warbler. Where are they all? Have they had a bad breeding season?

I did manage to see a Hoopoe at the river Velez in Torre so in the five years that we have been here this bird has now been recorded every month save one, and then only because I was back in the UK for most of that month. So much for being a summer visitor!

For those who know the old railway track at Venta de Zafarraya, I can report that there was at least one pair of Chough present on 1 December plus many Blue Rockthrushes, a Black Wheatear, Meadow Pipits and beautiful male Black Redstarts in what looked like breeding plumage, unlike my local individuals.

My close friend, Ron from Leicester always laughs at me when I tell him that the bird I never see is the British ever-present Robin! No problem lower down the mountain or when I visit gardens at a lower level but here, on the mountain top, they only seem to put in an appearance between November and about March. Even then I have to go looking, usually in the scrub and branches where the olives have been cut back and left. Imagine my surprise, therefore, when two days after returning from Australia we saw one sitting outside the kitchen window. It looks as if this individual may have taken up residence for the coming colder spells along with a female Black redstart and male Blue Rockthrush. Still, I can always show him our Southern Great Grey Shrike which loves the electricity cable round the corner for his observation post (the “masked Zorro” of the mountains).

What is it?

This month’s problem is that little grey-looking bird with a black head. Is it a Blackcap, a Sardinian Warbler or Black Redstart? The varying light levels do not help with the male Black Redstarts looking dowdy and similar to the females which are more a “browny” colour.

All are about the same size so it is usually the tail that best helps separate the birds. No matter how dowdy, when the Redstart flies off you will almost certainly see the flash of red. With regard to the Blackcap and Sardinian Warbler, the Blackcap is literally just a black cap with the colour not reaching the shoulder whereas the latter has black head with the colour reaching both shoulder and eyes. If you are lucky you may see the red iris around the Sardinian’s eyes but, again, the tail is the give-away. If you see white on the outer tail feathers then you have a Sardinian warbler rather than the Blackcap. Similarly, the Blackcap will be seen higher in trees and bushes with the Sardinian preferring to skulk around the undergrowth. Watch for the “flash” of black and grey with a hint of white as the small Sardinian warbler flits across the track to its next bush.

When I referred bird watchers to the mouth of the river Velez in Torre del Mar with instructions on how to access, little did I expect to drive down to the river upon my return from Australia to discover that all had been changed in my absence. On Monday last (26 November) I discovered the track next to the Citroen garage closed and split traffic directions over the old bridge. However, it is still possible to access the site from the (tarmac) track on the left immediately before the old bridge. Drive down and under the main road or leave the car and walk.

Then the next problem! When you reach the pumping station the track is (was) flooded and it is impossible to walk along the embankment top and down without getting very wet. So back to the main road, cross the bridge and take the first track on the left towards the camping site. Then first track on the left (concealed behind a plastic house until on top of the turning and work your way towards the river and along as far as you can go. No problem with a 4 x 4 but take care with a “normal” car; I was driving a Citroen C4. What did I see after all that? Hoopoes and Meadow Pipits near the beach and plenty of Snipe. Indeed, whilst observing a couple of Snipe through the scope I had the great surprise, and pleasure, to watch a Bluethroat perch in full view above the said Snipe!

Now to this month; the estuary of the River Guadalhorce in Malaga. This is one of the prime sites, if not the best site, in the immediate area and very easy to access. It is especially convenient if visiting the airport to drop off/collect friends, etc. At the moment there is plenty of water in the pools so expect duck numbers to increase with waders to be seen on the far side when viewed from the dyke between the easterly arm and the nature reserve.

Take the motorway to Malaga and stay on rather than swing off to the right for the airport. At the second exit after the airport split, San Julian/Leroy Merlin exit, drop down and round the roundabout as if turning left and head off towards the sea. You will see the “Guadalmar” sign on the first mini roundabout. Cross over this and the next, then slightly left at the off-set crossroad still heading towards the sea. At the next junction you will see a large block of apartments on the left and you turn left in front and after about 50m right at the end of the road. You are now below the western arm of the river. Park about 100m along the road near the path up to the river bank.

From the top of the bank you get a good view of this branch and the nature reserve beyond with its far border on the eastern arm of the river. Look for Herons, Cormorants, a range of Gulls and Terns depending upon the season. You will, also, hear if not see your first group of Monk Parakeets. Similarly, looking over the reserve do not be surprised to see circling Marsh Harriers, a possible Short-toed Eagle or even one of the larger Eagles. On most visits I can also usually guarantee to see Osprey. However, the Osprey(s) is/are usually resting on the far side of the large pool (see below).

Having viewed the general area, walk along the path towards the sea and either risk your legs on the boulders or walk round the end to the beach. By now you will probably have seen Coot, Little Egret and possibly a Great White Egret (looks like a very large Cattle Egret but with a white head, long golden bill and at least the size of our common Grey Heron), a range of small birds including Wagtails, Chiffchaffs and Zitting Cisticolas (previously known as Fan-tailed Warblers!), a Ringed Plover on the beach and maybe either/both of Dunlin and Sanderling.

At this point, usually, you can walk along the beach as the western arm of the river is truncated with no exit to the sea. When you have passed the river turn inland towards the reserve which presently looks as if has recently been levelled. Climb the very low bank and you will see a path in front of you. Follow the path to the right towards the vegetation where you will meet the main track. Now walk away from the sea taking a quick look at any exposed water on the right until you reach the main pool. There is a man-made mound overlooking this pool with the base prepared for, presumably some time in the future, an observatory hut.

The pool normally holds just about everything and I have seen Heron, Cormorant, Little and Great White Egrets, Little and Black-necked Grebes, Black-winged Stilts, Spoonbill, Flamingo and Ibis, duck species including Teal, Shoveler, Mallard Pochard, Shelduck, White-headed, Ruddy, Ferruginous and Gadwall to name but a few! Also Kingfisher, Hoopoe, most finches, Grey, White and Yellow Wagtail, Stonechat and Black Redstart. Apart from Cormorant, Heron and Parakeets flying overhead, look across to the trees on the far side for resting/roosting Osprey, Kestrel and Marsh Harrier.

Leaving the pool, continue towards the distant motorway and take the first turn on the right. There are two more look-outs along this track and then you can make our way towards the embankment in front of the eastern arm of the river, that does actually flow into the sea. You now have views of the river bank on your left and pools on your right as you head back towards the sea. At the end of this path is a newly-built stone look-out post for a last rest which gives good views over both beach and sea. At appropriate times with good binoculars or telescope it is possible to see Gannets and Shearwaters out at sea and possibly even Little Auk and Guillemot. The beach between here and the eastern river where you started is one of the main breeding areas for Kentish Plover. So, on walking back along the beach to your starting point keep an eye open for what appear to be the common Ringed Plovers. Take a closer look and see if the birds are missing the black around the head then check your field-guide for the possibility of Kentish Plover.

Feeling tired as you near the end? Then, in season, take the opportunity for a swim and rest before heading home or onwards. To do this site justice, I would allow at least two hours from parking to returning to your car.