Monfrague March 2020

We spent a day in the superb Monfrague National Park. As we were arrived at the Castillo quite early the crowds had not arrived, so for a small donation we were able to drive and park at the top. The views were superb even with the misty drizzle. As this was my first visit I was unprepared for the stunning views we would get of Griffon and Black Vultures, absolutely amazing. Apart from the Vultures a couple of Hawfinches flew over, a Blue Rock Thrush was present with the Chaffinches and Great Tits, also Chris picked out a distant Black Wheatear.

 Griffon Vulture

 Castillo de Monfrague

 Views from the Castillo de Monfrague

Chris & Tony eye balling the vultures

 Griffon Vulture

 Griffon Vulture

 Griffon Vulture

 Griffon Vulture

 Griffon Vulture

 Black Vulture

 Black Vulture

 Black Vulture

 Black Vulture

 Black Vulture

 Black Vulture

Griffon and Black Vultures

Below the Castillo Rock Bunting posed for us, also some Iberian Long-tailed Tits.  Also seen were Spanish Imperial Eagles, Egyptian Vulture and of course Serins and Azure Winged Magpies.

 Rock Bunting

 Rock Bunting

 Iberian Long-tailed Tits

Spanish Imperial Eagle

We stopped at the Riberos Del Almonte a superb peaceful valley that was full of birds

 Riberos Del Almonte

It is an idyllic valley, I can only imagine what must through in April. As it was there was Cirl Bunting, Blue Rock Thrush, White Wagtails, Chiffchaffs, Sardinian Warblers, Fan-tailed Warblers, Corn Buntings, Crested Larks, Crag Martins, Swallows, House Martins, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Hawfinch, Serin, Griffon and Black Vulture, Short-toed Eagles, Black Storks and more.

 Numerous Serins were in the valley

 6 Short-toed Eagles flew over

 Several Black storks flew over

A pair of Lesser kestrels were in residence

Crag Martins roosting on the bridge

Friday 20/03/2020

A not unexpected poor sea watch due to the blasting NE wind and drizzle.
07.50-08.50 from in front the hide:
Shoveler: 2E
Common Scoter: 5W       1E
Red-throated Diver: 3E     1W
Great-crested Grebe: 5 on
Gannet: 73E
Cormorant: present n/c
Oystercatcher: 1E
Dunlin: 8E
Curlew: 1E
Mediterranean Gull: 1E (2w)     1W (ad)
Sandwich Tern: 3E
Guillemot: 1E
Auk sp: 4W
Harbour Porpoise: 1+
The Short-toed Treecreeper was reportedly still present in the lighthouse garden early morning, but I only gave the garden a cursory look due to the cold wind.
I parked at Springfield Bridge and did a complete circuit of the reserve, not surprisingly I saw very little of note. Cetti's Warblers were singing from all parts of the reserve, the hay fields held Lapwings, Oystercatchers, Shelducks and few feral Geese, but no sign of any Water Pipits. The lakes in general seemed to hold very low numbers of the usual wildfowl, 2 Firecrest were in the Sea Buckthorn between Firth and Makepiece hides, also a Chiffchaff there. A Great white Egret and a Little Egret flew over the entrance track and the usual  Marsh Harriers were quartering the fields.

A gloomy Dengemarsh Gully

From Springfield Bridge I walked down to the sea and back, 2 Ravens flew over, 2 Firecrests were with 2 Chiffchaffs in the gully with 3 Mute Swans.

 Certainly no sign of one of these beauties today. This one was present in the Gully 2 years ago 03/18

Thursday 19/03/2020

I ended up spending most of the day around the lighthouse area after Stephen Message found/refound the Short-toed Treecreeper in the lighthouse garden.

Hopefully with comparison of DWs image of Tuesdays bird in DBs garden we may be able to say whether this is the same or new bird.

07:50-08:20 from by the hide:
Red-throated Diver: 4E      1W
Great-crested Grebe: 2W      12 on
Gannet: 18E
Cormorant: present n/c
Sandwich Tern: 2E
Meadow Pipit c40 in
Wheatear: 3 around hide
Black Redstart: 2 behind Hide
Chiffchaff: 3 behind hide
Harbour Porpoise: 2+

 Short-toed Treecreeper

 Short-toed Treecreeper

 Short-toed Treecreeper

 Short-toed Treecreeper

 Short-toed Treecreeper

 Short-toed Treecreeper

For a long time I thought I was going to have to make do with this image, until it popped up again

Redwing in the lighthouse garden this morning, along with at least 4 Firecrests and several Goldcrests

Several Black Redstarts were around

 Several Wheatears were new in this morning

 Small parties of Meadow Pipits came in this morning 

Resident Stonechat pair female bearing a ring

Late afternoon at Dengemarsh there was no sign of yesterdays Red-necked Grebe though it could easily have been in the reeds, at least 2 Water Pipits still present and a a Ruff. @ Great White Egrets and 3 Little Egrets were on Tanners Pool

Wednesday 18/03/2020

Us old boys wouldn't want to pop our clogs in the hide 😱😂

A very meagre sea watch this morning standing outside the hide: Seriously considering investing in an Anglers tent or a good wind break, because I can see this present crisis continuing for some time.
06.15-08.35 with AJG, RW & OL
Common Scoter: 7E
Red-throated Diver: 23E      5W
Great-crested Grebe: 1W    1 o/s
Fulmar: 1E    2W
Gannet: 22E
Peregrine: 1 around
Sandwich Tern: 1E
Meadow Pipit: 8 in
Carrion Crow: 4 in

Skylark behind the fishing boats

A wander around around The Point found little of note, however it was good to hear and see singing Skylarks and lots of Meadow Pipits, also 2 Peregrines and a White Wagtail.
At the ARC apart from large numbers of Shoveler and a Great White Egret little was seen in the strengthening wind, though 4+ Sand martins must have flow through while I was there per DW.

My first on the peninsular this year down Galloways

Ringed Plover and Dunlin on the flood at Scotney

Scotney was quiet with 6 Redshank, 3 Ringed Plover, a Dunlin and 2 Curlews on the Sward, the Barnacle Geese are still present but most of the Wigeon seem to have gone.

2nd calendar year Glaucous Gull

No real improvement in the sea watch this afternoon.
15.00-15.30 with AJG from the boats:
Red-throated Diver: 1E
Great-crested Grebe: 34 o/s
Gannet: 1W
Turnstone: 4 on beach
Glaucous Gull: 1 on sea usual bird
Sandwich Tern: 1E
Guillemot: 1W
Harbour Porpoise: 4+
Common Seal: 1

Summer plumaged Red-necked Grebe

The highlight of late afternoon at stroll Dengemarsh was a super Summer Plumaged Red-necked Grebe, also seen 9+ Water Pipits on the hay fields, a Ruff, several each of Lapwing and Oystercatcher. 2 Marsh Harriers and several p[airs of Shelducks displaying.

Red-necked and Great-crested Grebe

Tuesday 17/03/2020

As I did not get home from the airport till 03.00 AM I had a lay in, luckily I did get to Dave & Sheila Bunney's just in time to get a brief view of the Short-toed Treecreeper that was in their garden this morning, before it headed out to The Desert not to be seen again today. Firecrest and Gils crest were also present, several Wheatears were seen opposite the garden which I missed.
At the ARC I again failed to see the Red-necked Grebe, I did mange to see of note see a Great White Egret, 4+ Cetti's Warblers, several Chiffchaffs and Marsh Harrier.

 The 2nd calendar year Glaucous Gull

A fairly mundane sea watch this afternoon much improved by the appearance of "The Brute" the 2nd calendar year Glaucous Gull.
13.45-15.00 from the fishing boats:
Brent Goose: 15E
Red-throated Diver: 8W      3E
Great-crested Grebe: 231 o/s
Gannet: 3W
Cormorant: present n/c
Turnstone: 6 on beach
Kittiwake: 1W
Black-headed Gull: present n/c
Common Gull: present n/c
Herring Gull: present n/c
Glaucous Gull: 1 x 2nd cal year around
Lesser Black-backed Gull: present n/c
Great Black-backed Gull: present n/c
Sandwich Tern: 1W
Guillemot: 2E
Auk sp: 3E

The Punk Great Black-backed Gull was still present today at the fishing boats

Late afternoon at Dengemarsh there were still at least 7 Water Pipits in the hay field behind Christmas Dell, also 2 Curlew, 4 Redshank and a Ruff of note. At least 2 White Wagtails were among many Pied Wagtails at the Dung Heap.