Category Archives: Spain Birding

Hoopoe Happy

The bird I most wanted to see this Spain trip is the Eurasian Hoopoe, one of the most striking and distinctive birds of the region. Last year, I missed a couple that were beside the road – and while our birding this week has been limited, today we went to a favorite site nearby, Charca de Suarez.

Today, after an hour of seeing a nice variety of species, many of which I couldn’t identify, a splashy bird with lot of color flushed. I thought it was a Kestrel but Sally felt otherwise, and spotted it up ahead where it perched in foliage. Sure enough, it was a Hoopoe. I had trouble getting a decent shot but we were happy, even as it flew off.

After more birding including some nice looks at a White Stork and Grey Heron, we stumbled on to a Hoopoe, perhaps the same one, in the middle of the road. Quick camera shots and off it went.

I want to see these guys again, it’s just a very cool bird. They winter in Africa but there’s a chance we’ll see more in the next week. In the meantime, we are Hoopoe Happy.

Birds Loving Water

I mentioned earlier that the little preserve that we visit is the largest wetlands on the Granada coast and is tucked into an 18 hectare plot in Motril. The birds love it, as do we. Yesterday, we saw a number of Red-knobbed Coots, a rare bird that is still in danger but is restored to Spain as well as other water-loving birds.

We are leaving in a few days but still doing some rooftop birding from the terrace. Adios desde Espana

Meet the Common Kingfisher

Kingfishers are perhaps our favorite bird – we see them all summer on the river in Vermont, have been delighted by them in Texas and Ecuador, and as I noted a couple of post ago, caught a glimpse of one in Spain. This morning, we went back early to the Charca de Suarez to try to see him again. Sure enough, he showed up in the same small lagoon.

The bird is small (sparrow-sized) and flies fast so it is a challenge to photograph with the Canon SX-60 but he gave us some nice far-away looks.

There’s a great write-up on the bird here if you want more information. Gracias, mi amigos.

Little Egret

Several birds here in Spain – Rock Doves, Mallards and Northern Shovelers come to mind – seem to be about the same as in the U.S. The Little Egret is just like its close relative, the Snowy Egret, that we see in Texas and other southern states. Great to watch this patient hunter.

Note the classic yellow “slippers” which also mark the Snowy Egret.

Birding Charca de Suarez

This morning, we went over to a small park in the neighboring town – Charca de Suarez – which is the largest wetland along the Granada coast. It is a challenge to identify birds we’ve never seen but we had a great session. The highlight was probably this White Stork.

This guy posed for dozens of photographers, before heading to Africa.

Grey Herons are stately and photogenic.

Can you find this next bird — look for green and red.

A Common Kingfisher was perched in the cane.

A Northern Shoveler

A Common Moorhen

A Great Cormorant with a Eurasian Coot in front.

A nice outing at a lovely site right in the midst of condos and industry.

Learning Spanish Birds – 2

Southern Spain is a desert and reminds me of parts of California the Southwest US where birds congregate around nearly any body of fresh or brackish water. The salt lagoons were packed with bids, some resident, and some starting their migration to Africa.

This Bar-tailed Godwit was foraging along, intent on fueling up for the trip ahead.

Gray Herons (Ardea cinerea) are much like the Great Blue Heron.(Ardea herodias)

A far-off Western Marsh Harrier hunting for food

A tableau of birds at one of the park’s lookout sites.

At the ocean, we came upon a familiar scene, where earlier a boat had unloaded immigrants from Africa. The police were there, there was clothing strewn around, but otherwise business as usual. There were dozens of very large swarms of insects – which left us alone – providing food for hundreds of Martins swooping every which way. This Guardia officer had a swarm right above his head, which you can barely see in the photo as a darker strip arising from his head as he talks on the phone.

And finally, a couple of photos from our terrace as I try to identify some morning bird songs.

Learning Spanish Birds – 1

We are in southern Spain for several weeks and learning a little more Spanish and some new birds. We hired a guide yesterday and he brought us to one of the great spots in the area: Cabo de Gata Natural Park – Las Salinas.