Visit to our familiy home on Costa Blanca, with day trips to birding sites in the Alicante Province.
We have had our family home on Costa Blanca for about 35 years, but I have not done so much birding in this area as I have in Andalucia. It is a pity, as the Alicante Province has some excellent locations like El Hondo, Salinas de Santa Pola and also some of the mountain areas.
I visited El Hondo a couple of times, including walking the Ruta Roja, which is open on saturday morning only. Further, I was at the Salinas de Santa Pola
both driving along the main road, however also visiting the Salinas de Pinet area on the southern part of the salinas. I also walked along the Rioa Algar in Altea a couple of times, walked in the Bernia mountains and a couple of visits at the Albir lighthouse.
Some of the highlights of the trip:
- Red-knobbed Coots, Purple Gallinules/Western Swamphens and Greater Spotted Eagle at El Hondo
- Marbled Teals and loads of Red-crested Pochards and good numbers of wintering Bluethroats at El Hondo
- Alpine Accentor and Black Wheatears at Albir Lighthouse
- Little Bittern and Common Waxbills at Rio Algar
- Large numbers of Red-billed Choughs in the Berni mountains
Some of observations can be found on Ebird;
Sierra Gelada/Faro del Albir:https://ebird.org/checklist/S63086494
Rio del Algar: https://ebird.org/checklist/S63048048
Sierra Bernia: https://ebird.org/checklist/S62960045
Salinas del Pinet: https://ebird.org/checklist/S62915543
El Hondo, Visitor center, first visit: https://ebird.org/checklist/S62369336
