Today I was invited by some members of GOUCA (Grupo Ornitológico de la Universidad de Cádiz) to go on a birding walk around one of my local patches, Costa Ballena in Rota. Despite the very low temperatures and a chilly breeze, it was a very pleasurable experience, allowing us to observe over forty different bird species. Whereas I usually follow the same route, walking back along the golf court towards the beach, today we focussed on the inhabitants of the two lagoons and the canal in between. It meant that we didn't see any Crested Lark or Meadow Pipit, but we ran into some other wonderful species which I don't usually see in this area!
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| Very first image of the day in foggy conditions, featuring Eurasian Coot |
Our main targets were any type of uncommon types of gulls. Before we saw any of those, one Slender-billed Gull called our attention, and for two reasons. Firstly, it had a broken right leg, which was banded with a ring that mentioned San Sebastian, in the north of Spain.
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| Slender-billed Gull with a broken right leg |
Secondly, this clever bird decided to follow us anywhere we went during our three-hour walk in between the two lagoons. It was a saddening sight to see it fly with a dangling leg, but also reassuring to know that in this area it will be relatively safe and find food easily.
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| It clearly got on well with other species |
Following the canal to get to the most western lagoon, we found a nice surprise: first slowly swimming and a bit later willingly posing while preening on a rock, this hybrid of Eurasian and Red-knobbed Coot.
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| Eurasian x Red-knobbed Coot Hybrid |
Before reaching the second lagoon, we observed plenty of other species, including Ruddy Turnstone, Northern Pintail and even a Kingfisher!
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| A lot of the Turnstones were ringed |
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| Male Kingfisher |
Another remarkable sight was a Eurasian Coot carrying a prominent type of banding, right around the neck, making identification less difficult with this species which is usually found with its legs in the water.
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| Eurasian Coot 1M8 |
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| Underside of a Coots leg - perfectly adapted for life in the water |
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| High manoeuvrability is required when a Mediterranean Gull tries to swipe your food! |
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| This gull has found something edible |
It was also a great opportunity to practise Crag Martin-shooting! They stayed flying round in circles and descended to as low as two feet off the ground, almost touching us! But even so, it was still a huge challenge to get sharp pictures of these little acrobats.
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| Crag Martin |
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| Communicating in mid-air |
Arriving at the second lagoon, guess who we were welcomed by? Right, our new Gull friend! This time waiting for us in the water. It must be difficult to swim around with one leg though.
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| Flying seemed to be much easier, despite the immobile right leg |
Gathered on the grass beside the western lagoon were several Greenshanks, peacefully mingling with the gulls and Cormorans.
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| Greenshank |
Apart from some rarer species, we also spotted quite a few hybrids in this popular birding place. |
| Tufted Duck |
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| Lesser Scaup |
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| Ruddy Turnstone |
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| Grey Heron |
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| Greylag Goose in flight |
Fortunately, as time went by, the temperature also slightly rose. It was time to say goodbye to our Gull friend and head back to our starting point, hoping to finally catch a glimpse of another different gull.
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| See you next time, amigote! |
And lucky we were... one Common Gull flew over our heads in circles and another one landed on the water.
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| Common Gull |
A final look over the eastern lagoon resulted in a final photo of a White-headed Duck. |
| One of four White-headed Ducks |
Find out more about this birding hotspot here.Happy birding, Henry.
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| 'Bokeh Balls' |
