![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCfoMKDOEB0bBExpBESfxpWYnUpK4dXxQzTVrxZo4s_03KvndAj-iY33FagLMRnbYV67jpxOmQd1sKBavcUkvF2Z6gEYDmwYgX19JxTrUvo_XYlzMdmXFhDe3P_tTNzzALDCxb_QPsBVg/w640-h426/31st+Dec+20-1.jpg) |
Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus). |
I was again out before light and arrived at Braza del Este just in time to see the dawn murmuration of the Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoSiOfW4WG9dIPhH1_hbbjJhc2O8puGIx7jziAhH10akf0m1G_CZR06sxI8eYrovMyo8cSc2Wgh7W9yxHAqcMVdFxsFsVuAxbD2AsN0w3rwgtJb5p_56OiZwZbaSfRp0HGClU7ZVsldP0/w640-h400/31st+Dec+20-3.jpg) |
Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus). |
As I drove out to the first of the ends in the river there were hundreds of
Ibis whirling above the marshes along with big numbers of
White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdoyzmIdIkpoxhrdRedN2qfuQNH4ltCOrsmaGhghLZzJWa-Z4dVkQtCuQrTDyhvHMYzBYnO7wNICfrm6gJYCbB2ivVmaG5tJPs66qqmhrv7FiYM0Qic31R514jIQap8f0oGbUs9OHM3uY/w640-h480/31st+Dec+20-4.jpg) |
Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus). |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheRsdRUmCJUFq0v1Rl-1sygXDF1BLlSVB5Ui_qHEfqmeJuJPP-sHNYPjsfC76-PE3mdNCziFotocjLYZjanw-R3eicCophZuEX-pvrmzGoi_J5zPIDUksUAXkfQUPgPMibmA1akY8rt0M/w640-h330/31st+Dec+20-5.jpg) |
Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus). |
I parked by the first crossing of the river and watched as many more
Glossy Ibis came flying over and heading out to their feeding grounds.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid5bT0xL5RMmFiVxPMMZBAF2Qjc3XBISmXBVH9b3xx0jWocdPX-GvQynaJBgAavkKWXrYwnIqFmyguHYhnd6_iQefDQ1MBhms2B38GmKSYE6PVgTPUd4i09UYHXteRe6uqSlq0nTNPlnY/w624-h640/31st+Dec+20-6.jpg) |
Great Egret (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba). |
On the water around this area I also had good views of
Great Egret (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta),
Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus),
Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and
Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and a fishing
Caspian Tern (Pagaza Piquiroja / Sterna caspia).![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgil4Glykl0ahw4K9gQ9bhoVMa3VlFAKvPcgqXWuCSvQixq-f8I7TTGyeNsvnnlwkKCb06RKDtgTPYejVNk37pik3YzsxjuPAS-dIVU9X03Qgj9jqfxZOFHlKpJ1YuiAuOXHYS8C_ykup8/w640-h314/31st+Dec+20-7.jpg) |
More Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus). |
On the other side of the road large numbers of Common Waxbills (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild) flying out of their roosts, Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo),
Little Grebes (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), the first of loads of Marsh Harriers (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) and
Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5lnp6iF8uAEIeaqlvB39LsFq95nMpDfVCxH3WXYECg2JxDny8iWWB1bwzsdPml4fV6O4FhJySZptyU8mifPAx8n_Kanyrs3oAQdweUib1EN6cNijNke7fyfE7tnvJ6_91cYe219qtOXc/w630-h640/31st+Dec+20-2.jpg) |
Squacco Heron (Garcilla Cangrejera / Ardeola ralloides). |
I drove up the track towards the second area of water but just as I started off I notice a
Squacco Heron (Garcilla Cangrejera / Ardeola ralloides) sat on a post in one of the side ditches, so I reversed and rolled down towards it and the bird sat brilliantly and was still there when I reversed up on to the main track again.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLRen0o_e7IVswuy93MVqbHhc0Zftk09SomhyR7bcRcs2ta-wUco2QuYxCqO8rkxxmSwJAcftLM4jHCb6235ydMRmAPmon6E-6tryTyJ16J5WCi2B4nFomb_JSmub045VOHUEj05knh-w/w640-h484/31st+Dec+20-8.jpg) |
Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus). |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg63fr4zfYJ7R5tciqMKbJL8SQVzXWt7pYAoZzK2jOhYV5PPuSLs_8G878tM3BDtKLT1z8awOFKns3N3OyY5JY79PskQYAE0jPjIwq8vxFGGopkLmbzCdwXBZJFg-pBuCd7zatjmBcM8w/w560-h640/31st+Dec+20-9.jpg) |
Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus). |
On the second area of water there were
Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos),
Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera),
Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra),
Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus),
Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago),
Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), even more Glossy Ibis, a cracking Black Stork (Ciguena Negra / Ciconia nigra) which did a flyby and on a wet field next to the river there were several Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) and two Golden Plovers (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaia).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8JS4RpJeLpYg8jilwbiO30-_mLbMEnOrXHwUD3IXVcXpbxAPCljQixh-COOrp4N0whs-rfuEIkVvqv9O2LGQBZREqxFaxbZL3KOFn6BBlsar4Gut8SzTmDU5HuTrb86SdCJR2jlnB_e0/w640-h616/31st-Dec-20-10.jpg) |
Black Stork (Ciguena Negra / Ciconia nigra). |
The track to continue on looked a tad muddy so I turned around and returned to the first area of water and parked up a smaller Tern flying towards me which I managed to some shots of, It was the
White-winged Tern (Fumarel Aliblanco / Chlidonias leucopterus) which had been seen a few days earlier and just the third I had seen in Spain.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMKjp7Ri_mr4Urp2VFgEWMK-yH2CEcFrFAGlAtnNTW_Xt1-MORxGyYiszjhAQGqUTrNRZNbIuuF46KFJrdJ_QA9_bJtITr-HWswRUij3yCeeoTggsReTW2KegBcIaLun8WhvWA5c-Hd34/w640-h564/31st+Dec+20-12.jpg) |
Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea). |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTz_xGZ0y5-_D94oTcuc8qfscIoem7lBNMzTBnRGK0VckppwJI5FwnIY9OqUSnKYPGylEyAJ5M5u6G2j9LUlEsVxQAgNQaV6tWHDzXJN_5iCxTvAJwpfiZIqYbMjD8h9nve03cyo4AEvQ/w640-h410/31st+Dec+20-13.jpg) |
Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea). |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5yDA4-aexrcfR4Qttl4KLk2SmMuRfJAnB85CxbbwaPgGiFetRE_hIgBkQObj78p6E3X3xCshSiM9ch8t8YflfT_Q4ppM2ZgWeqRhc4LdR75N1MIJz69qgX0HJrscBg11OAqz5lZMbkX8/w640-h632/31st+Dec+20-14.jpg) |
Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea). |
In the same area I also had
Grey Heron which flew in and started to feed, Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and
Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT33ffOXktBf272D2AMKSS6ixRkkkyWYcKvkt2gzxeYCPnC_hvHXNSyjupesA9EYmnrz7bUDYX56F-D9N0fNMrww2bStwjIwUJ5ADC1-CxtvhkGJufdRMmnEEw6OWqZGJezxRh3UkpzOM/w640-h504/31st+Dec+20-22.jpg) |
White-winged Tern (Fumarel Aliblanco / Chlidonias leucopterus). |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUYT1KRwKqQkMrFGl9YpUVqL5YcAWTC2q2uU-e3TbFBL7I3Eqtef23FiRxAqaWAORd-RYPmAR2YEvO9H4WRxgLktu6bbCfYAfx8yC_a7lD6FtqDv8yHdpmyemu5B2_lns73ZV8uaHyvrQ/w640-h524/31st+Dec+20-21.jpg) |
White-winged Tern (Fumarel Aliblanco / Chlidonias leucopterus). |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjymenlpskONwKviWEd46RefjJOsMUINKfnGxaJMoDgVzAXK0yEaj-GYgjaeu8sEXqQWLpfjKjFbhfFFmNPDEYVsOm2SgUUYZjug9z4Ic7trsc9yc9CWNpLL80pIkvTCqApfA6wNtPM_ME/w640-h454/31st+Dec+20-20.jpg) |
White-winged Tern (Fumarel Aliblanco / Chlidonias leucopterus). |
I was then aware that everything was flushing up and I then picked up a female / immature
Hen Harrier (Aguilucho Pálido / Circus cyaneus) quartering its way across the marsh.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS1xjVch9CUFqRx6BNHE0IYN7xCQVLLle8BqHTWcYXMgEK_mTYP8MXx-IslncCWFDB04YZ7y0Vgu5prgSZSCwsh1x5uvFzAiQoNzigiZ_7K9YmFxvmFIAJUSq_1s6XoGZHeBpgzH7DDV4/w640-h420/31st+Dec+20-23.jpg) |
White-winged Tern (Fumarel Aliblanco / Chlidonias leucopterus). |
More Glossy Ibis came flying through as did the
White-winged Tern again but this time it sat on a stump out in the water but right into the sun.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ-QgnMtWAzznDDcWbMhUQcPkOPqrZ7xMIVPNJvrRPJZyJHryZ0X169gom8NCP9ONhyphenhyphen8gUJHFduJpdvdr-SROlq-xg_p8catS0Ue9otE5s_fl8vzpslS8mTqx12c90Wjnu_155Tdeny2Q/w640-h464/31st+Dec+20-18.jpg) |
Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus). |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDUYEQ5bVzzYsvhxqETL0-66EQYAcis_OV1it1Hu1b53QZQUu5Gp30VYV7bh5uXVFt3EbzC4iVjKGF9AYvOd9cYqQ6_oWMBUwmxyXcMTQSVsxy0EeF-qMeOVmBdx75fjmkwQoJ86fxdY4/w640-h432/31st+Dec+20-19.jpg) |
Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus). |
I drove along on of the tracks that follow the river where there were lots of
Western Swamp-hens,
Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia),
Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus),
Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and along the fence post there were two Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQQ2sqklMq6fI5QJ9uBmvrbDATG6YAF_6nXNnwmI081DkYi-_icJeYkXZaL-kPDShWPTQT_pJ3PM11OusPhdpDXIOwLdONlrOyAeE0xYAAfMDrsVGwjfz6dGWXTVd-IptgnYbPSixyVN8/w640-h608/31st+Dec+20-11.jpg) |
Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica). |
I returned to the main track and scanned the river again seeing a fine male Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) in the reeds just in front of me, several Eurasian Spoonbills (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), a group of female type Black-headed Weavers (Ploceus melanocephalus) which flew past and most surprising 3 House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) which flew along the road heading North. ![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkOcENj78yCv0GypwHHpoj_ek4uKJ20kHUX5FiVwTm8Pi1yohHxmzYYiKTlyD4MzBTDdqLNsUwEyxsc7WUo6AVJlAvbAM0NAN4BGUROTVlJ3lkOV4LICnlH72Pcd0Gaot79i1tLj6UydM/w538-h640/31st+Dec+20-16.jpg) |
Caspian Tern (Pagaza Piquiroja / Sterna caspia). |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieUyi0Q-6kKnIZwyM6SeZTivONI5M_jUynCp66lZ7RiR9u-H8I2HWHxetaUaQiyEeMk0PN-g_tLpIekXRXCqE-hi4ltusRPbccvb88BrVg_utCDCrJA4kkAkwAIrE47Nubvk1oykQsCyk/w518-h640/31st+Dec+20-17.jpg) |
Caspian Tern (Pagaza Piquiroja / Sterna caspia). |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4wZIBA_51CQJAdqAsLPLqOxKjdJsC-__x5WcuSZuCPj_OisXNeC3PNx5dRCAwNYvuYXUUg-WTldLbc0oK44f7Y4R2RVtAcsl7dlbViJxldWfV-jbGyCRvOk5h-wgHd3TH6msY6ZHpgXs/w640-h384/31st+Dec+20-15.jpg) |
Caspian Tern (Pagaza Piquiroja / Sterna caspia). |
The Caspian Tern flew in again and started fishing right in front of me, I also picked up 6x Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata),
Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) and I also had a nice pair of calling Penduline Tits (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus) in the reeds. ![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx1MUPc0cLQl3SYIm1G4ygbj_oHLTli2Pxz_wIUi-4OPS5hV-o98eU5u-qjyF-JYiQIyX0H_M6cuZWTEUNb7YwCedEr8IIuIK0CDmdtAPogb7Phipu2jAvuyNdLvYnQOv682RJd08aRok/w640-h614/31st+Dec+20-24.jpg) |
Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia). |
I left the site and went to another spot on the side of Los Palacios where I checked the dry river bed and then the pools, here I found
Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto),
Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis),
Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), 2 more Marsh Harriers which were seeing off a pale morph
Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus) and there were also a couple more male Bluethroats.![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsyr2oSVR0grq3TsSyCiKit4711XrftkOiQOIL542_MjIcrGU0VOUlpNbWGkslLNE-1W7wgKLY2hw4WbBK8oZGROW86INU-1CVS5k_qz4qe3auGaJ-Szjf0lX2VJ7nhEtjw1WTK7GvmfU/w640-h576/31st+Dec+20-26.jpg) |
Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia). |
Around the Laguna there were lots of Black-winged Stilts, Eurasian Coots, Common Moorhens, Eurasian Spoonbills, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Western Swamp-hen, a Muscovy Duck (Cairina moschata), Mallard, Northern Shoveler and the first Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca) of the trip.![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR8YWSDF1qfQ9PinVoFWbX_8ylRqn8q_RYNEwB2ltkqx1gkLvcFaxpBYfk2050IAFtr_w1mXrb5n7EiO3mBRKBHpBG8lovURxTvIdQtzaU6DogpbQBeT0UlRJTNss4teDA3e3Eyy4BDcA/w640-h246/31st+Dec+20-25.jpg) |
Great Bustards (Avutarda Común / Otis tarda) some of the 48 seen.
|
I continued on towards home and made a brief visit to the Osuna area where I scanned the fields from the two Railway bridges where in two flocks I saw 48 Great Bustards (Avutarda Común / Otis tarda), 5 Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis), Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) and
Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis),
Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis),
Ravens (Cuervo / Corvus corax) and
Red Kites (Milano Real / Milvus milvus).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4r2bcZikll04uuxswKfr1cwB8yxC7v7xDSD2bp_JzC09nsxhz8eAbwC_rSAPMMeoDc22QAkrPgAR9KtaUrX-oKr3YlRiNXsFE-v6EFO-dYwzdx7H4OadGCYSLnOUr8jo_jUV_g7uQFuU/w640-h298/31st+Dec+20-28.jpg) |
Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax). |
Last stop of the day was on the fields near the house where I found the 30 odd
Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra),
Iberian Magpies (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and
Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea).![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1VrXmYEWzqU4rFnZA-HLZ_VOEZ-bT7KOMMuVU2R6MzLq_EfYt8-7vELpOTMgS2y3tppdrawCHzMokSb0nNf_gv52cXVHsYr3t7xsSNGpUXLmcW3RNoK2A1daoOJt1XHUDt5C9LnJZ3Eo/w640-h548/31st+Dec+20-27.jpg) |
Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra). |