Salobrar de Campos and Colonia San Jordi
The 14th was allocated to a visit to the marshes at Salobrar de Campos and also a visit to Colonia San Jordi. Salobrar de Campos was much nicer than the last time we were there when it was very hot and heaving with mosquitos. There were Fan-tailed and Cetti’s Warblers in the bushes as well as Sardinian Warblers and Thekla Lark, Stonechat and Meadow Pipit in the fields. On the pools the star attraction was the presence of at least twenty Greater Flamingos. Unlike at S’Albufereta on the 8th, these Flamingos were flying around a lot; pretty much all of the time from one pool or another. It was not really possible to estimate the total number but we saw about twenty at the one time. There was also a pair of Ruddy Shelduck, a pair of Spotted Redshank and some Kentish Plovers and, in the air, a Kestrel and a couple of Booted Eagle.
We left the main track at Salobrar and drove around the road that passes the salt works. Unfortunately the workings at present mean that the ponds that used to be right by the road were no longer there and instead dry pans were visible; the result of the active operation of the salt pans.
We decided to go on to the nearby Colonia San Jordi. Unfortunately we found it practically impossible to find anywhere to park. When we eventually found somewhere we had a drink and a bite to eat overlooking some pools on which there was at least a Black-necked Grebe. There were also quite a few Black-winged Stilt. That was about it so we decided we had better be getting back home again.