The area around Santa Pola/GranAlacant is, in my opinion, an area much under-watched. In the short time I was there I compiled a list of 35 species, such as, Osprey, Marsh Harrier, Great grey shrike, Black winged stilt and Pink flamingo. Add to that a few more that, for various reasons, I could not identify. For me it was a combination of seeing different birds and some I know but, in winter plumage. The area offers diverse habitat, arid and rocky scrub, cliffs, sea shore, muddy shallows and salt pans. If there are any birders out there, enjoy.
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We are currently at Santa Pola south of Alicante. Jan’s sister lives about a twenty minute drive away. I can see the attraction of the area in terms of sunshine and nice beaches, apart from that it is typical of the coastal strip which is highly developed. Jan and I are not great ones for the built environment and we both wonder if it is sustainable. The visual evidence is that their are developments that have been abandoned and land that is earmarked for building but, in the current climate is not going ahead.
If you make the effort to explore the area it has it’s own beauty. At first glance it is arid and lifeless, nothing could be further from the truth. Take the time to look and it abounds with wildlife, both flora and fauna and, can be very peaceful.
If you take the N332 south you will pass the salt pans, where they extract large amounts of salt to be used in industrial processes. These salt pans are a haven for a variety of birds, including pink flamingos. You do not have to be a bird watcher to appreciate the beauty and majesty of these birds, many of you will have watched wildlife programmes featuring these birds. The message is look, listen and enjoy, whatever gives you pleasure.
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Our next site was at Villagordo Del Cabriel www.kikopark.com/rural A nice quiet site in land on the road from Valencia to Madrid, rural and peaceful. On route Jane, Jane is our sat nav, took us through the town centre with the instrunction of turn right and then first left. Keith surveyed the left turn and decided to go for it. As soon as we were comitted we realised the road got narrower. On approaching a slight left hand bend with a building on each side we realised how narrow, with mirrors touching each side we sqeezed through.
We took a drive out into the surrounding area, how many hectares of vineyards and olive groves are there in Spain? Once up into the hills the scenery becomes quite pleasant, see the pictures.
We had decided to move on Monday, a good decision. Did most of the packing up Sunday evening, Monday morning went to load the car on the trailer, the car was covered in ice. Thats what happens at a thousand feet above sea level in late November.
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As we travelled through Spain we noticed some young (ish) ladies stood at the side of the road waiting for lifts, or so we thought. I suppose it depends on your definition of a lift. After we passed the third one we realised the real reason for their presence.
In our mind it begged various questions. Most of them had chairs to sit on, how did the chairs get there? Do the chairs ever get stolen? Who are their clients? and where do they perform the act? Answers please in a plain brown envelope to, Fred Smut, Railway cottages, Sea view road, Birmingham.
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First something heard on Wake up to Wogan. How come that I can remember the words of a song from the sixties but, can’t remember what I was doing ten minutes ago? What was I doing? Ah, yes a blog.
We returned to the delta, a different part, to find some Glossy Ibis, of which there are plenty. In the process we discovered a local sport, annoy the bird watcher. On a couple of occasions we were stopped at the side of the road watching the birds when the driver of a passing car repeatedly blew the horn. It would appear that the purpose of this was to alarm the birds and put them to flight, poor deluded fools. Yes the birds did take flight, wheeled around, landed and returned to their feeding. Far from annoying us it actually provided us with the opportunity to see the birds in flight at close quarters. May be they should get out more.
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The bottle comes in the form of Castillo de Alco from Valencia. A nice red which cost 3 euros 49, that’s Liddl’s price so it is not cheap. I am not a conasewer, or whatever but, it is nice.
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Keith has visited the Ebro delta, or, if you prefer DeltaEbre. He has been restrained until now but look out. The delta is a massive area on the scale of the Lincolnshire fens and equaly as flat and feature less. It is an agricultural area used mainly for growing rice. It’s birdwatching potential is known globally. The first impression is of the number of birds and it takes a little time to adjust and absorb the details.
Red crested pochard in there hundreds. All three types of Egrets. Thousands of Flamingos. Marsh harriers. The list go’s on and on. Star of the day! the purple swamp hen. I let you of easy, stop yawning.
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WARNING, Keith has found the Edbro delta, loads of birds, get ready for an anorak attack. Today we made a late start having been disturbed in the night. Keith was convinced that he heard someone on site with a vehicle in the early hours. We had two objectives today, one,, to get some cash, two, get in some supplies, we achieved both. This afternoon we took a trip into L’Ametlla de Mar walking around the harbour area. It is a fishing port with vessels of various sizes unloading their catch, see the pictures. Take note of the one with the octopus, they were still alive. Like the rest of Spain there are plenty of feral cats. However, these are well fed with fresh fish from the boats.
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Sunday we took a drive into the hills. It is difficult to describe how pleasant it was, the pictures will give you an impression. This is the first time that we have put our little car to the test, we are pleased with it. The type of roads are synonymous with mountain areas, winding with tight bends. On the theme of driving, how do you confuse a pedestrian in Spain? Give way to them on a pedestrian crossing. It’s as if you are stalking them, waiting for them to step out so that you can get them.
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It’s Friday the 13th and we decided to move south. We are now at a site on the outskirts of L’Ametlla de Mar. It is more to our taste being smaller and in a rural setting. The weather as been the warmest yet making for a pleasant walk to the beach, beutiful clear water. There is an area just outside the site where we have decided it would be nice to take a picnic lunch, a bottle of wine and enjoy the local wildlife. Such pressure deciding weather it should be red or white.
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