Laguna Dulce, Malaga Province.

An unexpected run to Laguna Dulce. 

Eurasian Curlew (Zarapito Real / Numenius arquata).

We popped over to Antequera to get a few bits and whilst there we had a quick look at Laguna Herrera but found that it was pretty much dry except for a couple of damp patches where there were quite a few roosting Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) but nothing else so we headed off to Laguna Dulce.

Eurasian Coots (Focha Común / Fulica atrs).

By the time we got there it was quite cold, raining and windy so I was not to surprise to find that there was not a lot on the water except for two large rafts of Eurasian Coots (Focha Común / Fulica atrs), whilst I was watching there flocks I noticed that they were being constantly harassed by several immature Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) possibly getting some practise in at mugging of the species. Also out on the water there were a few Little (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and Black-necked Grebes (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) but little else. The only ducks to be seen were a few Mallards (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) and Northern Shovelers (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata) in the left hand corner.

Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus).

The commonest species by far were the several hundred Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) which were feed low over the water along with at least three House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica). On the fields on the far side of the pool there were 150 or so Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus) feeding on a newly ploughed field. 

Jayne and I then had a look in the leather shop just down the road before taking the track out to the back of the lagoon to try and get better views of the Cranes and see what was on the far shore line. As soon as we got round there I picked up a Eurasian Curlew (Zarapito Real / Numenius arquata) which was feeding amongst a small flock waders including several Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), 3x Black-tailed Godwits (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa), 9x Dunlins (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), a Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) and a couple of Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) all of which were sheltering from the wind behind the reeds.

Eurasian Curlew (Zarapito Real / Numenius arquata).

We continued on up the track a short way and had some better views of the Cranes before turning around as the track was getting progressively muddier. From here we headed back to Antequera picking up a female Hen Harrier (Aguilucho Pálido / Circus cyaneus). After a visit to the shopping center we made our way home.