Pego Marsh is superb, one of the best places in Europe to see Little Bittern, plus a super array of egrets, herons, waders, terns etc - then back in the evening for Red-necked Nightjar.
Well I'm hoping to find out in June, I have read that the salt lakes nr Alicante are a great place to visit and the surrounding hills/mountains look like they could be pretty good to.
Plus some sunshine wouldn't be a miss lol.
Hi Mike! I've definitely nothing about Spain (just Benidorm!!)- parents lived out there for about 12 years near Torreveija. Salt lakes are fab. Good time to go in June as its not too hot and you can still get out & about on the roads in the evening (gets gridlocked). We use to do night drives spotting owls, nightjars and various lizard/snakes and preying mantis. Nightjars are like sitting ducks on the country roads- they certainly have a death wish & always go back to the same spot. Or we sat having a beer in the evenings watching flocks of beeeaters and parakeets. Hoopoes should be about then too. I dare you to go to the waterfalls at Algar!!- just a wee bit chilly, if you do go right up to the top (where the Spanish go) its more tranquil and there's lovely damsel flies. I'm sure some people here will tell you the top spots. Enjoy Rae
My mates think I'm bonkers for going to the wind swept deserted Outer Hebrides for a holiday compared to Benidorm, they always say 'but whats there??' Rae
Well I'm hoping to find out in June, I have read that the salt lakes nr Alicante are a great place to visit and the surrounding hills/mountains look like they could be pretty good to.
Plus some sunshine wouldn't be a miss lol.
You can visit eight Natural Parks in Alicante (North to South) :
-PN de la Marjal de Pego-Oliva (Pego-Oliva). Wetland. -PN del Montgó (Xàbia-Dénia). Mountain, mediterranean forest. -PN de la Serra de Mariola (Alcoi...). Mountain, mediterranean forest. -PN del Carrascar de la Font Roja (Alcoi-Ibi) Native forest, mountain. -PN del Penyal d'Ifach (Calp) Marine mountain, cliffs ( -PN de El Fondo (Elx-Crevillent). Very important wetland. -PN de les Salines de Santa Pola (Santa Pola) Wetland (salt pan). -PN de la Llacuna de La Mata-Torrevieja (Torrevieja) Wetland (extract salt)
Though I would also like to visit the Outer Herbrides but I think the family would vote against me.
that sounds like a good plan, the wind swept deserted Outer Hebrides sounds like a good holiday to me
i suppose the saying you dont have to be mad to work here but if you are it helps is appt, at least we can all be mad together and in good company
Hope you like piccie Dennis! I meant the windswept
This thread reminds me of a poem I had to learn for an exam by Emily Dickinson. Basically, you are only counted as mad if you go against the majority, therefore (birdwatchers being in the minority) we're all bonkers! I rest me case
Much Madness is divinest Sense -- To a discerning Eye -- Much Sense -- the starkest Madness -- 'Tis the Majority In this, as All, prevail -- Assent -- and you are sane -- Demur -- you're straightway dangerous -- And handled with a Chain --
I have read it 4 times now and my head hurts!! haha!
that sounds like a good plan, the wind swept deserted Outer Hebrides sounds like a good holiday to me
i suppose the saying you dont have to be mad to work here but if you are it helps is appt, at least we can all be mad together and in good company
Hope you like piccie Dennis! I meant the windswept
This thread reminds me of a poem I had to learn for an exam by Emily Dickinson. Basically, you are only counted as mad if you go against the majority, therefore (birdwatchers being in the minority) we're all bonkers! I rest me case
Much Madness is divinest Sense -- To a discerning Eye -- Much Sense -- the starkest Madness -- 'Tis the Majority In this, as All, prevail -- Assent -- and you are sane -- Demur -- you're straightway dangerous -- And handled with a Chain --
i dont think i am mad, i find the cut of most straight jackets quite comfortable after years of wearing one
Keeps you nice & snug too! Mad?...... depends on your definition. My mates think I'm bonkers for going to the wind swept deserted Outer Hebrides for a holiday compared to Benidorm, they always say 'but whats there??' I think they are all bonkers I'm quite glad that bird watching is not everyone's thing or they'd all scare everything off! Not into twitching, but would look up an area beforehand to see what I could expect & where, & sometimes I may, by complete coincidence, encourage a trip out in a direction of a good birdspot Rae
Alreet john i'm still 5ft 6 and nowt more than 8st but still get out almost every day. I remember the days when nothing would stop us cycling to the flash to see next to nowt but happy days. long may they last. It's nice to see that there is still a strong birding contingent round leigh. All the best to everyone from the whiskey soaked wild man of the north!
alreet paul,daupt a bike tyre would tek mi weight now,but they were beltin days,and long ones sometimes,i remember me and thee doing 6am-till 10pm on there int spring passageand there were no hides to sit in and keep warm,and with the other in and out members oft A team ariving about 10am and leaving at 11am because he was seeing some girl in manchester(mr baglee)or thats what we were told.get thi sen dawn here,then we can do it againand keep off that skullcrusher ale up therespeak lt jt boss here again
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Thursday 7th of January 2010 01:11:56 PM
For me it's been a case of 'needs must' these last few days as I've been unable to work! I bird every day, but it's more convenient for me to bird the area around work (Silver Lane, Risley Moss, etc.) during the week rather than Penny Flash, even though I only live half a mile away! At 7.00am (or much earlier in summer) I can do the journey to work in less than 15 mins; if I left it until 8.00am and birded around Penny, it could easily take me 40 mins to do the same journey. At weekends I tend to go further afield. I do visit the Flash regularly - if only a quick ten minutes down Green Lane - but if I don't see something unusual I don't tend to post anything on here.
Alreet john i'm still 5ft 6 and nowt more than 8st but still get out almost every day. I remember the days when nothing would stop us cycling to the flash to see next to nowt but happy days. long may they last. It's nice to see that there is still a strong birding contingent round leigh. All the best to everyone from the whiskey soaked wild man of the north!
If you can walk to your local patch then that is all fine and dandy. For me, it is just a case of walking down two roads and crossing another, and I`m there..............doing a 500 mile round trip just to twitch something (as some people do in ALL weather) IS mad !!!
PS How come you keep falling over in your size 15`s ?
Keep local
I TRY TO BALANCE MY BODY WHEN BIRDING.AND PUT MI YIN AND YANG IN SYNC MY BEER BELLY ON THE FRONT ,AND MY CAMERA BAG ON THE BACK,BUT IM AFRAID XMAS HAS TIPPED ME A BIT FORWARD WITH ALL THEM PIES AND BEER,JUST HAVE TO GET A BIGGER LENS FOR THE BACK TO BALLANCE ME UP AGAIN "WHAT DID YOU SAY JUST GO ON A DIET YA FAT B******" BEEN THERE DONE THAT EAT THE T-SHIRT. AT THE MOMENT IM ON A ALL STEAK PUDDING DIET
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Thursday 7th of January 2010 10:05:58 AM
If you can walk to your local patch then that is all fine and dandy. For me, it is just a case of walking down two roads and crossing another, and I`m there..............doing a 500 mile round trip just to twitch something (as some people do in ALL weather) IS mad !!!
PS How come you keep falling over in your size 15`s ?
As for venturing out in this weather, it's the chance of finding that biggy, if not surely the waxwings are due, or can we dream of a Nutcracker invasion, perhaps Siberian Jay!!!
Just wondering after struggling into work this morning at 6.30for the 3rd day,last 2 days walked as the roads are a nightmare If all birders are mad?why would someone who is warm at home..,seeing the news with people abandoning cars etc,then set out for penny flash to birdwatchI know more than anyone birds end up in penny like the iceland gull yesterday,and thats probably the reason,but after 5 falls at the weekend at penny and ive got decent gear,i wonder if all birdwatchers arn't a little mad Its strange that when the weather was beltin the other week,not a report was put on for a week in between mine and there were loads of birds on yet, this week we have reports when there's no water open,and the roads shocking.Just a thought thats all why do we do it
p.s-see ya ont flash sat even if we are 6 foot deep in snow and ice as i want some pictures of that interesting gull, John (crampons on ready)Tymon and as you can see im doing nowt at work,as no ones turned in due toot weather.....boss here
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Thursday 7th of January 2010 07:23:42 AM
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Thursday 7th of January 2010 07:54:42 AM
I'm quite glad that bird watching is not everyone's thing or they'd all scare everything off!
,and with the other in and out members oft A team ariving about 10am and leaving at 11am because he was seeing some girl in manchester(mr baglee)or thats what we were told.get thi sen dawn here,then we can do it again
I know more than anyone birds end up in penny like the iceland gull yesterday,and thats probably the reason,but after 5 falls at the weekend at penny and ive got decent gear,i wonder if all birdwatchers arn't a little mad