Serra de Ronda Part One.

Greater Flamingo (juvenile).

May 1st -5th saw another excellent trip out to Malaga, where I was met by my friend and guide Peter Jones of Spanish Nature. The usual scenario was set in stone, pick up from the airport but entry to the vehicle only permitted if I brought along the customary Welsh cakes (which didn’t last more than a few days).  The weather was excellent, and with the hope of seeing some new orchid species and plenty of birds, and me already in my birding attire, it was straight into some birding. I would like to share this birding trip with you in the four parts of my adventures in the Serra de Ronda area.

En-route to the first site saw the species already racking up, including Swallows, Spotless Starlings, Collard Doves, House Sparrows, White Wagtail, Cattle Egrets, Bee Eaters and Crested Larks. The first nearby stop was Los Campillos, where a monochromic pink Poppy amongst the usual red variety caught our eye. Birds of the area also caught my eye and included Thekla Larks, Red-rumped Swallows, Fan-tailed Warblers, a female Woodchat Shrike, Linnets, Stonechats and Goldfinches. It was a great feeling to be back and already I had seen several species that back home are rarities.  Soon we were in the area of some lagoons, and coupled with roadside stops more species were added to an already impressive list, and included several Gull-billed terns, Coot, Mallards, Little Ringed Plovers, a Cettis Warbler calling, Black-winged Stilts and Greater Flamingo’s.  From one Laguna with a hide we watched Common Pochards, Little Grebes and Shoveler and the first of a number of Montagu’s Harriers. A second Laguna gave us the first of many Glossy Ibis – and in the strong sunlight you could see why they are so aptly named, Spotted Redshanks in summer plumage, Avocets, Moorhens, Marsh Harrier and a Short-toed Lark flying past.

Common Poppy with a monochromic form

Next it was on to La Fuenta de Piedra which was very busy, and as we were to find out later, there had been a fiesta locally. Many people (some noisy unfortunately) were out and about, but this wasn’t going to deter us. Taking a stop to scan the water followed by a short walk along a boardwalk proved a good move as we had excellent close views of more Glossy Ibis along with Black Terns, 15+ Curlew Sandpipers, Reed Warblers, Small and Large White butterflies and an Emperor Dragonfly. From the boardwalk we found a good mix of waders which at first glance all appeared to be Dunlin, but mixed in was a Little Stint, a Wood Sandpiper, Ringed Plovers and a Common Redshank, with several Sand Martins aerial feeding over the marsh. Jackdaws and a Greenfiinch were added to the list as was a White Stork which flew overhead.  Soon it was time for a well-earned beer and some lunch followed by a coffee.

After lunch we passed Spain’s largest saltwater lake, and the mass of white along the edge turned out to be anywhere from 34 – 40,000 Greater Flamingo’s that breed here. What an awesome spectacle, and in the background looking like shimmering water was in fact 300+ Gull-billed Terns. White Antirrhinum, Crown Daisies and Field Marigolds adjourned the roadside where the odd Spanish Oyster plant was also in flower. A s
top off at another Laguna complete with a hide gave us excellent views of three grebe species. The commonest were the enchanting Little Grebes but there was also a healthy number of beautiful Black-necked Grebes, showing off not just their little head feathers but a bright red eye too. A pair of Great Crested Grebes were displaying to each other in between the male collecting vegetation for its nest close by. A third grebe appeared and was soon shown who was boss here. A female White-headed Duck showed briefly. A Lapwing was added to the list along with calling Marsh Frogs, and a Vagrant Emperor dragonfly was a lifer for me. It had a distinctive blue patch on its lower back which was a good identification feature. Also here were several Common Darters and Red-veined Darters and a Clouded Yellow butterfly.

Black-necked Grebe showing of it's striking red eye.

Back on the road a third Montagu’s Harrier was seen along with several Calandra Larks – and it was good to see the extent of white on the outer tail feathers which is a good feature along with their almost buoyant flight. A pile of rocks at the roadside had not just a Hoopoe perched up on them, but next to it was a Corn Bunting, what a lovely scene that was. Two male Blue Rock Thrushes were chasing each other and two Turtle Doves and another Short-toed Lark were also seen. The highlight though along this stretch of road was seeing a male Bonelli’s Eagle, flying slowly and low across the hillside. But as we watched the female came into view and she was carrying what appeared to be a game bird of some sort. They slowly drifted past together and behind a low ridge. What an amazing and heart racing spectacle this was. It was now early evening, and Peter dropped me off at my hotel based in Ronda, where later that evening, I enjoyed a stroll down to the magnificent gorge, where numerous Red-billed Choughs awaited me along with a male Blue Rock Thrush, Blackcaps and Crag Martins. What an amazing first day it had been and I was confident that there would be more to come.

  

Male Blue Rock Thrush casting a shadow against the rocks and a Red-billed Chough - frequesnt visitors to Ronda Gorge. (All pictures copyright N J Davies).