We made three visits to the Depuradora, a sewage works and settlement pools on the southern edge of the Albufera. There is an observation platform gives good views out over the pools and there are also good birding opportunities from the access road in the area known as the Son Bosc. This is a mix of wasteland, low intensity farming and a few old quarry areas.
Birds seen in this small area included:-
Roller (at least two)
Bee-eaters
Thekla Lark
Short-toed Lark
Stone Curlew
Woodchat Shrike
Hoopoe
Tawney Pipit
Marbled Duck
Ferruginous Duck
Garganey
Whiskered Tern
White-cheeked Pintail (Bahama Pintail)
As well as numerous Nightingales, Cetti's Warblers, flyovers by Squacco, Night, and Purple Herons, and various birds of prey. There is limited cover along the road or from the platform so the birds tend to be a bit distant but there were some good picture opportunities.
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| Roller |
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| Bee-eater |
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| Ferruginous Duck |
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| Marbled Duck |
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| Whiskered Tern |
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| Stone Curlew |
The Stone Curlew wasn't too difficult to find. We had watched it fly in and knew it was there. It took a bit of searching but that eye really makes a difference.
Some of the other little brown birds were a bit harder to spot against the ploughed fields. The Thekla Lark below stands out as it is silhouetted against the lighter ground but without cover it is unlikely that the birds will come closer and it is difficult to get photographs.
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| Thekla Lark using 420mm lens combination |
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| Thekla Lark - big crop from the shot above |
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| Cetti's Warbler |
And one unusual find, an Egyptian Grasshopper. I think this is a female. It is about six centimetres long and although it is quite common around the Mediterranean area this is the first one I have seen.
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| Egyptian Grasshopper |
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