Catalonia, Spain - Part 2 Birding at the Aiguamolls de l'Emporda

The next day we visited the main site of the reserve. We were really pleased to see that the big lagoon was full of water which meant there was plenty of bird life around. This reserve has plenty of hides and viewing platforms, especially around the lagoons.

When we got out of the van, I spotted some little butterflies on these flowers. I could tell that they were Skippers, but this is the best photo I could get as they were very flitty! I am not sure which species it is, I think probably Large Skipper? If so, it's the first one I have seen since leaving Brittany!

Most of the bird photos are Keith's. Below is a Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur), usually we hear them more often than we see them.

Little Egret (Egretta garzetta).

Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis).

Gadwall (Mareca strepera), possibly a juvenile male.

Above and below, Cattle Egrets (Ardea ibis), perched up on a tree. I prefer my photo that I shared with you a few posts back, with punky looking heads! According to Wikipedia "The cattle egret has undergone one of the most rapid and wide reaching natural expansions of any bird species." The rest of the article is here, it makes very interesting reading.

Juvenile Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus). Juveniles have very little pink compared to the adults.

Above and below, Egyptian Geese (Alopochen aegyptiaca). These two are actually my photos. These geese are introduced species and are native to sub-Saharan Africa. The EU lists these geese as an Invasive Species and member states are obliged to try to eradicate them. They have always here since we first visited the reserve about 13 years ago so I think they are pretty safe here!

I kept seeing red dragonflies but couldn't get a photo, but this lovely damselfly posed for me. It's a Western Willow Spreadwing (Chalcolestes viridis, formerly Lestes viridis) or Willow Emerald Damselfly.

Camargue horses in a field full of Sea Lavender. My Sea Lavender at home survived being dug up from the front of the house before all that work was done around it, and we've just planted it out into the Nectar Bar. It's been perfectly happy in a pot but the insects will appreciate it more in with the other flowering plants.

I actually have enough photos for three more posts from Spain before I get back to the Croatia trip.