A great day's birding

[Peter]

Having the dubious pleasure of taking my wife to the airport in Sevilla on Saturday 7th March, I decided that rest and recuperation was the order of the day. After getting her safely to the airport of course! So a spot of birding on the return journey was the order of the day. The fact that we did Ronda to Sevilla airport in an hour and twenty minutes had nothing to do with the notion I had to start birding as early as possible.

My route back was the proverbial dog-leg. From Sevilla airport I headed for Carmona and took the exit for this town on the furthest eastern junction (junction 504). Much the easiest route as you miss the town and turning right as if headed for the centre you take the first left for Marchena. The road to Marchena is always productive and so it proved this day. Lesser Kestrels (25+), Buzzard, Hen Harrier (3), Corn Bunting (1,000,000+) and others were dangerous distractions whilst driving. Shortly before you approach the first outlying buildings of the industrial estate, look to both sides of the road. I had Short-toed, Crested and Calandra Larks, Skylarks, Stone Curlew (58+), Snipe, Black-winged Stilt (30+), Green Sandpiper and several Swallow and House Martins. Here it is also a fantastically easy site to see Short-toed Lark and Collared Pranticole in the breeding season. White Storks and several Lesser Kestrels were at their breeding stations in Marchena.

Following the same road through Marchena you arrive at a second set of traffic lights where you should turn left (signposted Écija). Almost immediately you reach another set of lights and here turn right signposted Lantejuela. Take your time along this road as it can nearly always produce great birding, especially near to the river crossing. I had Merlin, Lesser Kestrels of course, Buzzard, Black Kite (100+), Calandra Lark, Common Crane (11), Little Bustard (20+ difficult in winter wheat), Hen Harrier, Northern Wheatear, Southern Grey Shrike and a host of other goodies. The road eventually ends at a ‘T’ junction, turn right not signed but the opposite direction to the sign for Lantejuela (which always seems to be 7kms away at any junction!!!). Pretty soon you will see open areas to the left after Olive Groves. The farm here raises fighting Bulls, so no walking in the fields! Several times now and also on this occasion I have seen Black-winged Kite in the tall Eucalyptus tree in front of the farm buildings. Always around here too is a fairly large population of Spanish Sparrow.

Soon after the farm you pass over a bridge and then look for the first road on your left. Almost immediately (in winter) there is a shallow lake and extensive mud flats. Here I had 00’s of Black Kite, Short-toed, Booted and a 1st winter Bonelli’s Eagle. On the right there was a huge flock of gulls and scanning the flock I couldn’t find any wind blown rarities, but had Black-headed, Lesser Black-backed, Mediterranean (16) and Yellow-legged Gull. Several waders were around including large numbers of Golden Plover, Lapwing and Snipe. 8 Stone Curlew were very close to the road and Calandra Larks were chasing each other around in every direction! In the far distance I saw a small party of 5 Common Crane and spooking the mixed Starling flock was a real star a Long-legged Buzzard. Leaving the area I saw Hen and Marsh Harrier, Southern Grey Shrike and lots more Calandra and Crested Larks. The site has produced Great Bustard, but I guess on top of everything else it was hoping for too much. An amazing route on a day when I really hadn’t expected to see much. Looks like I'll have to send Brenda away more often!

I hope the route might be useful and perhaps we could look at doing an ABS day sometime in April?

Peter 

[john]

Many thanks for that Peter!  I've investigated the area as a long way round en route to Alcala, but never seem to have enough time.  It's a fantastic area with much potential.  In May at least it seems to have a good population of Rollers.  I'll be tempted to take a look when I'm out in April so please keep me posted!   I'm flying into Seville in May so I'll definitely take this roundabout route then,

John

[Peter]

I'll be tempted to take a look when I'm out in April so please keep me posted!
John

Hi John,

I am only just back from Morocco and due to pick-up Brenda from Sevilla tomorrow. Depending on whether or not I can convince her that the 'scenic' route is best on the way home, then I might be able to take another look and up date you on the birds there.

Peter 

[john]

Thanks for that Peter,

John