Beating the Heat at Bornos Reservoir

Today was officially the hottest day of the year in southern Spain with temperatures well over 40 degrees. With that in mind, I knew my birding trip to Bornos Reservoir would need an early start—and an equally early finish. The sun was already fierce by mid-morning, and by 11 o’clock the heat had made further walking almost unbearable. But in those brief morning hours, before the full force of the heat set in, the reservoir still offered me a rich variety of sights and sounds.

Was I going to get in trouble again?

The cows do look a bit intimidating at times, don't they?

But they had other things to do than to attack me

They didn't bother me—and neither did the horses

What struck me first was the sheer amount of water still present. In the middle of a punishing heatwave, I had expected shrinking shorelines and dusty banks. Instead, the reservoir still looked full of life. Compared to my birdwatching trip to Bornos in the winter of last year—when there was hardly any water and the terrain looked desolate—today felt like another world.

There was some shade early in the morning, but not for long

Soon after arriving, I was greeted by a huge flock of Jackdaws tumbling down into the bushes—a chaotic, shimmering wave of movement. Two hours later, I encountered them again. The flock had grown, now at least 600 strong, swirling together like a living cloud.

Part of the huge flock of Jackdaws

Grey Herons were also present in good numbers, their guttural calls slicing through the stillness of the morning. One of the morning’s standout moments was encountering an unusually large gathering of Hoopoes. I counted around a dozen, more than I can remember seeing together in one place.

Grey Heron

One of the many Hoopoes

Three Great Cormorants

The abundance of juvenile birds was proof of a successful breeding season, no doubt helped by the generous spring rains. Among them were young Great-crested Grebes drifting close to the shore, and just a few metres from where I stood, two juvenile Spotted Flycatchers being tenderly fed—one of those intimate scenes that makes birdwatching feel so rewarding.

Great Crested Grebe with juvenile

Juvenile Woodchat Shrike

As if that wasn’t enough, 20 Greater Flamingos paid an unexpected visit, their pink silhouettes adding a dash of colour to the scene. Stone Curlews made an appearance, as did several Bee-eaters, while Greenfinches and Goldfinches provided the familiar, cheerful background.

A pair of Cattle Egrets

By the time the heat became too much, I’d had my fill of sightings for the day. This brief early-morning trip had been more than worth the effort—a reminder that even in the height of summer, with the right timing, the Bornos Reservoir still has plenty of surprises in store.

Booted Eagle

Western Olivaceous Warbler