Marsh Sandpiper - Cabo de Gata

I received the following from Andy and thought it might be of interest to forumers.

The Arboleas Bird Group from AlmerÃa had another outing to Cabo de Gata and struck it rich, but let Dave Elliott-Binns tell the story.

Hi all,
Today's usual Wednesday trip out by the group took us to Cabo de Gata. Lovely sunny day, hardly a cloud in the sky, but a cold breeze which kept a lot of the smaller birds in the vegetation.
At the first hide, a kilometre or so out of the village of Pujaire, the water level was quite low, so the waders were quite a distance away. All the usual suspects were present, Kentish Plover, Redshank,
Black-tailed Godwit & numerous Grey Plover. In the scrubland we saw the first of two Dartford Warblers of the day. A lone Lapwing was also seen.

The second hide, off the beach road, produced 18 Shelduck, a single male Pintail, two female Wigeon, some Shoveler and a solitary Spoonbill. Rafts of Avocet were feeding and 6 Stone Curlew were cowering from the wind on the scrubland.

There wasn't a lot at the public hide. We'd previously seen the salt works Land Rover driving over the causeway so it wasn't a surprise. We did pick up Meadow Pipit & Corn Bunting on the approach and a couple of Black-necked Grebe on the water. Water levels were also down round the rear of the reserve, but we first saw a small flock of seven Ruff and the bird of the day, a single Marsh Sandpiper which was close enough to photograph (attached. Gilly also got a nice photo of a female Stonechat.
All in all a good day. A grand total of 44 species seen.

NOTE: Marsh Sandpiper is a local rarity. They are super little birds and very scarce on migration and even more so in the winter months.

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