Bird Watching or Twitching in Andalucia Southern Spain

Septmber 2004, Avocet, Recurvirostra avosetta

Avocet

The avocet is a migratory bird travelling between northern and eastern Europe where it breeds, and the Iberian peninsula and west Africa. Its numbers here peak in spring and autumn. It is often seen mixed with black winged stilts and gulls but can easily be distinguished by its very smart black and white plumage and its slightly upturned, black bill. When with its young it is very territorial, chasing off other birds like gulls that may be many times its size. It inhabits salt marshes and lagoons. There are a few places in Spain where the avocet breeds and this bird was seen at the Cabo de Gato lagoon in Almeria province with two chicks in late July. There were around forty other avocets on the lagoon at the same time.

Other places to see this bird include Los Palmones and the Guadiaro estuary at Sotogrande.