by Robin Noble
One of the joys of living here is that we are so close to Spain: we can hop over the Border at very short notice. During the recent spell of fine, spring weather we decided to do just that. I was in my bedroom, putting a few clothes in a bag, when a movement outside the window caught my eye. I turned to have a look, and it turned out that what I had seen was a blackbird flying down to land under the cherry trees in the little orchard. What I had not previously noticed were two quite dapper and self-possessed little birds. They were finches, with a neat, little, seed-eating beak, generally yellowish in colour, with a marked streaking on the breast. I knew at once what they must be, as not long before I had been told to look out for serin, and had duly looked them up. They had few distinct markings on the head, and I suspect they were last year's young. The book (again!), says that they have a lovely tinkling call, rather similar to that of a canary, to which bird they are quite closely related; I have not yet made out the call so cannot comment on that!
Later that day we were indeed in Spain, on the coast just south of Roses. Friends had drawn our attention to a large nature reserve, which we had managed so far to overlook, so we duly headed for it. Its name is Aiguamolls de l'Emporda, and from what we saw on this occasion, it is a large area adjacent to the shore, with ponds, marshes and damp meadows- and lots of birds! We did not actually get very far, there was so much to see. The first large pond is very close to the Nature Centre itself, and was full of activity. There were lots of duck- mallard of course, shelduck, the amazing shoveler, and along with some coot, moorhen and busy dabchick, a number of Egyptian geese. There were cormorants in the distance, some gulls and egrets, but in the meadow across the pond, my day was made by the sight of a few cranes- impressive at even that distance. I don't know whether they will breed there (the meadows look rather suitable) or whether they have yet to migrate through the Alberes on the way to Hungary or some other country in Central Europe. And there were storks.....
Actually, there turned out to be a lot of storks, particularly in the trees around the meadows. Here, nest-building was well and truly underway, with some of these amazing, huge birds standing about on their enormous nests, others flying in with sticks and twigs. The arrival of one with nesting material was greeted by the other with a strange sort of rattling noise, which almost sounded mechanical. The sight of these extraordinary creatures, standing about or flying around, their immense nests on tree- or pylon-tops, against the brilliant blue sky and fresh spring greenery made a real impression on us. Here was the sheer exuberance of nature, the vivid joy of spring, and we were so lucky to be part of it.
One of the joys of living here is that we are so close to Spain: we can hop over the Border at very short notice. During the recent spell of fine, spring weather we decided to do just that. I was in my bedroom, putting a few clothes in a bag, when a movement outside the window caught my eye. I turned to have a look, and it turned out that what I had seen was a blackbird flying down to land under the cherry trees in the little orchard. What I had not previously noticed were two quite dapper and self-possessed little birds. They were finches, with a neat, little, seed-eating beak, generally yellowish in colour, with a marked streaking on the breast. I knew at once what they must be, as not long before I had been told to look out for serin, and had duly looked them up. They had few distinct markings on the head, and I suspect they were last year's young. The book (again!), says that they have a lovely tinkling call, rather similar to that of a canary, to which bird they are quite closely related; I have not yet made out the call so cannot comment on that!
Later that day we were indeed in Spain, on the coast just south of Roses. Friends had drawn our attention to a large nature reserve, which we had managed so far to overlook, so we duly headed for it. Its name is Aiguamolls de l'Emporda, and from what we saw on this occasion, it is a large area adjacent to the shore, with ponds, marshes and damp meadows- and lots of birds! We did not actually get very far, there was so much to see. The first large pond is very close to the Nature Centre itself, and was full of activity. There were lots of duck- mallard of course, shelduck, the amazing shoveler, and along with some coot, moorhen and busy dabchick, a number of Egyptian geese. There were cormorants in the distance, some gulls and egrets, but in the meadow across the pond, my day was made by the sight of a few cranes- impressive at even that distance. I don't know whether they will breed there (the meadows look rather suitable) or whether they have yet to migrate through the Alberes on the way to Hungary or some other country in Central Europe. And there were storks.....
Actually, there turned out to be a lot of storks, particularly in the trees around the meadows. Here, nest-building was well and truly underway, with some of these amazing, huge birds standing about on their enormous nests, others flying in with sticks and twigs. The arrival of one with nesting material was greeted by the other with a strange sort of rattling noise, which almost sounded mechanical. The sight of these extraordinary creatures, standing about or flying around, their immense nests on tree- or pylon-tops, against the brilliant blue sky and fresh spring greenery made a real impression on us. Here was the sheer exuberance of nature, the vivid joy of spring, and we were so lucky to be part of it.
