BIRDING TRIP: Torrox Lagoon, Jerez de la Frontera, Spain

Last time I went birdwatching, I did not take my camera. A capital mistake, because whenever and wherever you go, you always see something interesting! Although I did not expect to see anything really spectacular today, I was happy to have taken my equipment, because I saw some truly amazing birds, most of them willing to pose. The Torrox Lagoon hardly ever disappoints...

Let the images speak...

One of the stars of the day, the magnificent Hoopoe

I saw several Hoopoes, one of them preening in a tree, another one looking for food on the ground. They are quite confident with human presence and always a joy to watch!

Hoopoe preening in a tree

Displaying its beautiful crest

Sunbathing

Looking around for bugs

Tossing an insect in the air

Pure art!

At this time of year, temperatures can be very high at noon, but today they allowed for a very comfortable walk that lasted almost three hours.

A nearby sunflower field

A very confident Nightingale

Greenfinch

Blackbird

Kestrel

Crested Lark

Eurasian Collared Dove

European Turtle Dove

Low-flying Barn Swallow

Grey Heron

Little Egret

Squacco Heron flying towards me

Little Bittern

Spoonbill

Muscovy Duck with its brood

Two juvenile Red-crested Pochard

Male House Finch catching an insect

Female House Finch

I also spotted several Crested Grebes. After previous disappointing attempts to capture their nuptial display on camera, I couldn´t believe my luck today when I saw the birds carrying some weed in their beaks and approaching each other. I was a bit too far away to take high-quality photos, but at least I witnessed the event.

A wonderful moment

There was also a species that I spotted for the very first time, the Whiskered Tern. I flew by several times while it was catching fish from the lagoon.