“We really enjoyed our day (in fact, we called back in at Aiguamolls on the way to the airport), so as soon as my computer is OK, I will send you some comments...” (!)

Bill and Helen Dick

The really nice thing about the autumn is that you get the best of both worlds.  When we met at El Cortalet, the skies were still full of summer with Swifts, Swallows and martins (incidentally including an almost completely albino Sand Martin) whilst the waters were filling up with the first winter arrivals of Shelduck, Teal and Greylag Geese.

As we watched the transition between seasons, a Short-toed Eagle, most probably on its way to the savannahs south of the Sahara but may be one of the few to over winter in Spain, soared low over the near horizon and landed in a bush just ahead of us.  And another bird that may well choose to spend the winter locally or head off to sub-Saharan Africa, the Hoopoe, escorted us as we made our way back to the car.

We paused en route to Vilaut at a roadside field, a traditional site for throngs of pre-dispersal Stone Curlew, and sure enough, given a second look with the aid of binoculars, about thirty pairs of big yellow eyes stared back at us.  Vilaut itself was too flooded to gain access but we were entertained by an adult and a juvenile Peregrine Falcon chasing, or perhaps teasing, a flock of Black-headed Gulls.

A quick migrant check at a cork oak and olive grove on the boundary of the Cap de Creus National Park produced Redstart, Hobby and singing Melodious and Willow Warblers among others and the winding road to the Cap itself was marked with stop offs for resident Thekla Lark, Corn Bunting and Blue Rock Thrush.

Unfortunately conditions were less than ideal for sea watching but we did ‘scope the occasional Balearic Shearwater trailing the fishing boats and one or two Shag were evident on the cliff face.  Around about Northern Wheatear and Stonechat perched up every few metres and Pallid Swifts skimmed above our heads but the highlight by far for this section of the tour was four absolutely classic Honey Buzzards floating and flapping directly above our heads as we watched over a beautiful cove facing the Mediterranean.

The flocks of Jackdaw and Carrion Crow signalled almost the completion of a full circle and we arrived back at the El Cortalet reserve, this time to check in on the waders at El Mata.  Continuing the theme of the day, Black-winged Stilt and Wood Sandpiper were the summer’s representatives whilst expanding flocks of Lapwing and Common Snipe had showed up on behalf of the approaching winter.

The final word I suppose has to go to the autumn though with passage birds including Ruff, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Greenshank, both stints, Common and Spotted Redshanks and three juvenile Black Terns hawking over the shallows.  Pied Flycatcher and a blue-headed Yellow Wagtail provided welcome distractions until, as the day’s piece de resistence, a majestic VERY LOW Osprey checked in and hovered just a few metres ahead of us.

Marjolijn Van Delft, Holland

When I was asked to lead a group of Dutch biology students on a tour to the Aigüamolls de L’Empordà, I was a little concerned that the size of the group (over forty 19-26 year olds plus a few lecturers) would make it difficult to spot birds, let alone expect them to hang around long enough for everyone to gather round so I could talk about them.

Despite this, having satisfied myself that splitting them into two groups and my degree in zoology would be enough to make the day work, I accepted the task and set about planning a series of ‘set-pieces’ to punctuate the impromptu stuff. 

However, when they poured out of the coach, most of them without binoculars, and I was told they had literally just driven the eighteen hours from Holland non-stop – save for a breakdown! – I almost jumped back in the car and fled.

I’m glad I didn’t.  From the moment when came the first of many eager interruptions as a small section couldn’t contain their excitement at seeing adjacent Squacco and Purple Herons, to the scramble for hand-shakes and photographs at the day’s end, I had an absolutely fantastic time.