Birding in Alicante Province (1 Viewer)

[La Terra Trema]

Fantastic. Thanks.

 

[Dr.Boletus]

We are currently staying up on the La Finca Golf Club in a rental property. Balearic Shearwater are currently being seen, in small numbers, off Guardamar Lighthouse/Faro de Guardamar. A male Surf Scoter has been at the site for c. two months but I was unlucky on my visit earlier in the week. Double figure counts of Razorbill are to be had plus easy enough sightings of Gannet, Slender-billed Gull and Audouin’s Gull. Recent sightings also include Common Scoter and European (Mediterranean) Storm Petrel, so a decent site.

With regard to La Finca Golf Course, does anyone have any further info on the Eagle Owl pair?

No. I haven't heard any reports of these owls for a long time. The only time I've seen this owl in the area was at El Hondo, when its appearance surprised a lot of people. I think your best bet is to visit the mountains north of Crevillent and explore the valleys (Bonelli's eagle also present there)

 

[Mark Jarrett]

Thanks for that condor. I did get up into the mountains north of Crevillent and one of the Bonelli’s Eagles showed after only 15 minutes. Also there were around 6 Red-billed Chough and 2 Blue Rock Thrush. My wife, who isn’t a birder, was with me so I only stayed for half an hour. 🙄

 

[Dr.Boletus]

Thanks for that condor. I did get up into the mountains north of Crevillent and one of the Bonelli’s Eagles showed after only 15 minutes. Also there were around 6 Red-billed Chough and 2 Blue Rock Thrush. My wife, who isn’t a birder, was with me so I only stayed for half an hour. 🙄

I saw your report on eBird, nice!
Also, I highly recommend Los Montesinos. The shores of the lake south of this settlement have a very large Montagu's harrier colony. There are Iberian magpies in Los Balcones, but they can be tricky to find- they are up one of the roads leading to the south shore of the lake, all I can remember. Introduced yellow-collared lovebirds present, too.
In Clot de Galvany you can have very close views of marbled and white-headed ducks, and at the Ermita de San Francisco de Asis, today there was a massive "dogfight" between a pair of great spotted cuckoos all over the place, with one of them perching extremely close to me afterwards.
For further locations, Alcoy-Barranc del Sinc for griffon vultures and Corral-Rubio near Almansa for great bustard...

 

[La Terra Trema]

Uploaded the video of my May 2024 birding trip to Alicante region (and beyond) to YouTube…

Places visited included Lo Pagan, El Hondo, La Mata de Torrevieja, Laguna Rosa, Guardamar, Alcoi, Maigmo, Monnegre, Yecla and Corral Rubio…

 

[njlarsen]

Hello all,
I will be visiting the Alicante Region in about a week, staying a couple of days and then making my way towards Malaga. I do not have time to read this entire thread (I wish!) so asking for just a little up to date info. Any don'ts at this time, areas that are not nice? Any advice on how best to use limited time here during the hot season?
thanks
Niels

 

[Dr.Boletus]

Hello all,
I will be visiting the Alicante Region in about a week, staying a couple of days and then making my way towards Malaga. I do not have time to read this entire thread (I wish!) so asking for just a little up to date info. Any don'ts at this time, areas that are not nice? Any advice on how best to use limited time here during the hot season?
thanks
Niels

The place which immediately comes to mind is the Ermita de San Francisco de Asis. This looks like a rubbish heap at first, but there are a ton of European rollers around the area, with bee-eaters, hoopoes, shrikes and more. There should be a lot of young birds about as well. You could also try Clot de Galvany and head to the hide with the small pool with reeds for little bittern and some other herons, with the same birds being likely at El Hondo visitor center.
Finally, there are a lot of griffon vultures in the Barranc del Sinc above Alcoy. On the way to Malaga, if you so wanted, you could stop in the Sierra Espuna and the Guadalentin valley for golden eagle.

 

[njlarsen]

Thank you for this information!
Niels

 

[njlarsen]

A little follow up, I visited the Salinas once and La Honda twice in the short time I had in that area. Top birds for a visitor was a distant White-headed Duck, and much closer Knobbed Coot and Swamphen. Not to mention hundreds of Flamingos.
Niels