Spanish Birding – Collared Pratincole – 17th May 2011

Just over twenty or so miles along the coast is the Spanish city of Huelva, a thriving port and in amongst the labyrinth of roads around the industrial water front you can breakout on a long narrow causeway (used by fishermen).  It’s in the direction of Punta Umbria, but turn down across the Isla de Saltes to get there.

A first you pass though some marshland which was great for waders: Dunlin, Curlew Sandpiper, Whimbrel & Godwit, to name a few.  Further on there is water each side of you and towards the lighthouse at the very end we found three Collared Pratincole, all of which allowed us to get stunningly close, which suggested to me that they had just arrived from wintering and were quite exhausted.  Anyway after seeing a large flock of these birds over Donana, it was great to see them at close quarters.

East Anglia Year Count: 133 (April)

Life bird count: 403. Year bird count: 203. Month bird count: 153 (April)

Photo:  Collared Pratincole (Glareola pratincola)