Next Outing - BRAZO del ESTE - Saturday 14th May

WORTH THE EARLY START!

I'll be leading the next Outing next Saturday 14th May to the Brazo del
Este, on the very shores of the Guadalquivir. This is an area of wetland
and cultivation, which, in good years, holds a rich variety of birds,
including herons and egrets, glossy ibises, purple gallinules, and many
others.

The Brazo del Este in Sevilla, part of the Guadalquivir complex of wetlands

It is a rather long drive, so in order to arrive early enough for decent
birdwatching, we will set off from the Spanish side of the border at 6am.
We will, of course, be stopping for the obligatory coffee on the way, and
the intention is to stop for lunch at the usual Venta, 'El Pinzon"  in the
heart of rice and cotton-growing country!

Look forward to seeing you there.

John Cortes

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Although the journey to the 'venue' for this outing is indeed quite a long one, it has to date always been an enjoyable drive, very scenic and with the opportunity to begin birdwatching as the first light breaks and birds are leaving their night-time roosts. There is very little walking involved as the route through the site we visit is flat and linear - it's pretty much a repeated drive a short way-stop-get out for a closer look kind of event with plenty to see at each stop. It's a good venue for photographers too with plenty of time to set up tripods etc., if so desired. It's a very open site with no shade outside of a vehicle, so be prepared for standing around in the hot sun, or if the present weather conditions prevail, maybe rain!  

The following of some of my (Theresa's) photographs from last year's outing:

15/5/10 - Greater Flamingo - Phoenicopterus ruber

15/5/10 - Spoonbill - Platalea leucorodia

15/5/10 - Spoonbills with a Sacred Ibis

15/5/10 -Black-winged Stilt - Himantopus himantopus

15/5/10 -Collared Pratincole- Glareola pratincola

15/5/10 -Purple Heron - Ardea purpurea

15/5/10- Great White Egret - Egretta alba 

The most remarkable and probably never to be seen again sight of last year's outing was the gathering of  Herons shown in the photographs below that included Purple Herons, Grey Herons, Night Heron, Little Egret and White Storks........

15/5/10 - White Stork, Purple Heron, Grey Heron, Night Heron, Little Egret

..........then within a few metres of them, wonderful views of two Squacco Herons -

15/5/10 -Squacco Heron - Ardeola ralloides

Our recorded bird species for this outing were:  

Night Heron, Cattle Egret, Squacco Heron, Little Egret, Gt. White Egret, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, White Stork, Spoonbill, Greater Flamingo, Mallard, Black Kite, Marsh Harrier, Booted Eagle, Short-toed Eagle, Kestrel, Red-legged Partridge, Moorhen, Coot, Purple Gallinule (Swamp Hen), Black-winged Stilt, Avocet, Collared Pratincole, Kentish Plover, Redshank, Gull-billed Tern, Whiskered Tern, Swift, Bee-eater, Crested Lark, Barn Swallow, House Martin, Meadow Pipit, Tawny Pipit, Yellow Wagtail, Savi’s Warbler, Fan-tailed Warbler, Cetti’s Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, Reed Warbler, Common Waxbill, Goldfinch, Corn Bunting, Cirl Bunting and the exotic Sacred Ibis.