Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 10th January 26.

15W Actinic on the terrace, +2.

0 Moths of 0 Species.

Any corrections, PLEASE send me a comment on the post, thanks. 

Licence from Junta de Andalucia.

It dropped to +1.8 over night and as expected the trap was again empty this morning.  

El Temple, GR-3310 near Ventas de Huelma, Contraembalse de los Bermejales, GR-4304 North of El Turro, Moraleda Crags, Balsa del Regidor and Realenga de Agicampe, Granada Province, Spain.

El Temple and then worked my way back onto the Local Patch.

Ebird List for El Temple.

Ebird List for GR-3310 near Ventas de Huelma. 

Ebird List for Contraembalse de los Bermejales.

Ebird List for GR-4304 North of El Turro.

Ebird List for Moraleda Crags.

Ebird List for Balsa del Regidor.

Ebird List for Realenga. 

 

Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos).

I had originally planned to head up towards Granada for a couple of species, but in the end turned off and made my way to Chimeneas and then I took to a more minor road out towards La Malaha and a couple of the tracks.

Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

In the area I saw an immature Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) x1, Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real / Lanius meridionalis), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Eurasian Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Crested (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and Calandra Lark (Calandria Común / Melanocorypha calandra), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

This was until recently a nice view of the Sierra Nevada.

I headed off the site and went through Ventas de Huelma out towards Cacín but stopped near the Cortijo Ochíchar where I scanned the skies and ridges looking for Raptor's, for many years there was a very good wintering population of larger Eagles, mostly Golden but with the occasional Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti) which came here to hunt the large numbers of Rabbits (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus) but since they have turned the area into a solar desert it has become very hard work finding any and today I didn't see a single raptor here.

I did however see Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Magpie, Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Western Jackdaw, Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Thekla's Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Linnet, European Goldfinch, European Serin and Corn Bunting.

The low waters of the Contraembalse de los Bermejales.

After a while I gave up and dropped into the Cacín Valley and drove up to the Contraembalse de los Bermejales, I parked in the usual spot and walked down to the edge of the lake where I saw Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Spatula clypeata), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Common (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) and Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Common Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Common Chiffchaff, Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Sardinian Warbler, Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtail, European Goldfinch and Corn Bunting.

A bit further up the valley I stopped in the Pine woodlands and checked the fields on either side of the road adding Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito ibérico / Picus sharpei), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater), Eurasian Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Woodlark (Alondra Totovía / Lullula arborea), Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and Common Chaffinch.

My last stop in the Cacín Valley saw to check the cliffs at Moraleda where I was hoping for a Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura) and after a while I managed to find a nice ♂ sat out on the rocks along with a ♂ Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius).

The final site of the run around the patch was at the Balsa del Regidor, the light was not great as the sun was reflecting off the water, I did find Northern Shoveler, Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Little and Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta), Common Buzzard, Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and a Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) which was my first butterfly of the year.

Sierra Nevada as the light starts to drop.

I headed back to the house and caught up with a few bits, later I went for a walk up the road and along the road through the Olives at dusk, after about 20 minutes It was getting quite dark and the first Little Owls (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) were calling and then the first of 2 Eurasian Eagle Owls (Búho Real / Bubo bubo) started up.

Hacho and Sierra de Loja.

Sierra de Loja.

After a few minutes standing listening to this bird a second bird flew across the road and off down the hill and once it landed it started to call back to the first bird. 

Huétor in the foreground with the Sierra behind.

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A walk back from the Mechanic's.

I did the shortest route back today as it was cold and dull, before the town I saw Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), White (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis).

To the North of the town I took the Dog S**t Track and then the main road up to the closed down bars, where I took the road up to the house.

From the town home I saw Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), Eurasian Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and Eurasian Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), House (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

I got the car back at around 16:00, gave it a clean on the way back and fuelled up ready to head down the coast for some birding in the morning but after getting a phone call from Friend Juan Perez who told me that Charca Suárez was going to be closed all weekend I changed my plans.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 8th January 26.

15W Actinic on the terrace, +6.

0 Moths of 0 Species.

Any corrections, PLEASE send me a comment on the post, thanks. 

Licence from Junta de Andalucia.

 

It stayed up at +6 over night but the trap was still empty this morning. 

Town Fields, Rio Genil West, Town Fields and Lucerne Fields, Huetor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Out on the local patch with Juan Perez Contreras and José María González Cachinero. 

Ebird List for the Town Fields 1.

Ebird List for Rio Genil West.

Ebird List for the Town Fields 2.

Ebird List for the Lucerne Fields.

 

I started the day by checking the Town fields to see if the European Golden Plovers (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaia) that I had seen yesterday were still there, as good friend Juan Perez was coming over to see them. 

I checked from the La Fabrica road but only found 20 or so Eurasian Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina).

The Dog S**t Track and Irrigation Channel.

After moved around to the Dog S**t Track I walked out to the far end again, which was where I found a group of around 40 Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) and at least 4 European Golden Plovers.

♂ Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica).

♂ Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica).

♂ Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica).

♂ Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica).

Other species seen along this track I had 3 nice ♂ Bluethroats (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) one of which sat nicely for the camera, Eurasian Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Black Redstart, Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), White Wagtail, European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis).

I had a chat with Juan, he told me that he was on his way and we were going to meet down by the Rio Genil first as a friend of his was also coming across, on my way I stopped off at the large puddle on the Fiesta Grounds parking area where I was surprised to see the 1st winter Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus) was still there but it was being hassled by several Eurasian Magpies (Urraca Común / Pica pica).

1st winter Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus).

1st winter Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus).

1st winter Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus).

I arrived by the Genil and shortly after that José María arrived and a while later Juan got there but just a minute late as while we were waiting José picked up a ♂ Lesser-spotted Woodpecker (Pico Menor / Dryobates minor) which I saw in flight twice and briefly as it sat on a dead branch before disappearing off along the Rio.

Once Juan was kitted up we walked West along the Rio, but we didn't see the Woodpecker again, however we did see Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Eurasian Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Long-tailed Tit (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Black Redstart, Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), White Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), European Greenfinch, Common Linnet, European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), European Serin and Eurasian Siskin (Jilguero Lúgano / Carduelis spinus). 

Before we reached the end of the track José had to head back but Juan and I continued and picked up Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus).

We returned to the cars and then made our way up through town to the fields just to the North where we checked the normal fields, finding the Eurasian Stone Curlews and just a couple of hundred meters up the road we scanned some Asparagus strips where we found 8 European Golden Plovers, a couple of Northern Lapwings, more Eurasian Stone Curlew and a hunting Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus).

♀ Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius).

After a while we moved up to the Lucerne fields where we were pleased to see ♂♀ Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius), both Black-winged Kites (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) which were seen to copulate on top of one of the large pylons, 6x Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus canariensis).

Just before 14:00 Juaun headed off home and I returned to the house and got a few bits done then got the fire going again. 

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A local MEGA and bird of the day, a 1st winter Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus).

Ebird List for Huétor Fiesta Ground.

Ebird List for Town Fields.

Ebird List for Lucerne Fields.

 

A very frozen car which didn't like starting this morning, reason 1 for the Mechanic's visit.

After checking the Moth Trap which was empty, which was no surprise really as it had dropped to -3 and it was covered in frost, as was the car.

1st winter Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus).

I headed down to what feels like my second home to book the car in for some more jobs, then went to Mercodona, the Builders Merchants and as I was heading up to the Town Fields I found the bird of the day, a 1st winter Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus) which was having a bath in the large puddles on the Fiesta Grounds car park, I think this is the first record for me in the Huétor area.

The Town Fields.

European Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaia).

After watching this bird for a while I went and parked just out of town where I scanned the fields finding my first 3 European Golden Plovers (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaia) of the year, several Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), good numbers of Eurasian Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and the Black-headed Gull which had followed me here.

The Dog Shit Track.

♂ European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

♂ Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica).

Different ♂ Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica).

I walked around the edge of town and checked out the Dog Shit Track finding Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Eurasian Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra), 2 ♂ Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) and 5 more European Golden Plovers which dropped in with the others and the all the birds got up and did a loop before dropping back onto the fields.

European Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaia) and Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus).

European Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaia) and Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus).

European Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaia).

European Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaia).

European Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaia).

I returned to the car and went up onto the top Lucerne fields where I parked by the Walnut Trees and walked out as far as the gate and then back again, during the walk I picked up Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), the resident pair of Black-winged Kites (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), 2 Little Owls (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) both warming up on different parts of the Cortijo roof, Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki) and Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus) which were all new for the day.

The Lucerne Fields.

Sierra Nevada off in the distance.

A couple of the massively depleted wintering flock of Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), this year's best count is just 11, hard to believe it used to be in the 100s, very sad what Agriculture has achieved.

The afternoon was moving on so I headed back to get the Log Burner going as it was going to be another damn cold night. 

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 6th January 26.

15W Actinic on the terrace, -2.

0 Moth of 0 Species.

Any corrections, PLEASE send me a comment on the post, thanks. 

Licence from Junta de Andalucia.

 

A forst covered Trap.

Well, the temperature went down to -2 overnight, so I was not surprised to find the trap was completely empty.

Golf Medina Elvira, Embalse del Cubillas and Balsa del Regidor, Granada Province, Spain.

Out for a morning's Birding with Beatriz, Juan and Chika.

Ebird List for Golf Medina Elvira.

Ebird List for Embalse del Cubillas.

 

Egyptian Geese (Ganso del Nilo / Alopochen aegyptiaca).

I drove up towards Granada and then North to the abandoned Golf Medina Elvira area where I was meeting Juan for a walk, I arrived early and as it was Piggin freezing I decided to put all the layers I had on and go to stand down by one of the man-made pools which was just about in the sun, whilst here I had a couple of Egyptian Geese (Ganso del Nilo / Alopochen aegyptiaca) do a flyover, a female (by the size of it) Northern Goshawk (Azor Común / Accipitor gentillis) which scattered the flock of Feral Pigeons (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia) off the abandoned blocks of apartments, Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), 2x drumming Great Spotted Woodpeckers (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

Egyptian Geese (Ganso del Nilo / Alopochen aegyptiaca).

Juan arrived and to my surprise Beatriz and Chika came as well, I really didn't expect Beatriz to come as I know she doesn't like the cold, and it was freezing with a damn nasty wind, it was great to see her and Chika as well who really enjoyed her walk.

Eurasian Wryneck (Torcecuello / Jynx torquilla).

As we walked near the pool we saw Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) and a rather unexpected Eurasian Wryneck (Torcecuello / Jynx torquilla) which showed well on the grass.

We walked past the pool to the woods and then turned to the North and walked up as far as the GR-3412 following the Rio Colomera adding Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Eurasian Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis).

Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

We turned around and followed the Rio again all the way to the other end of the complex, as we walked we found a couple of pools, the larger of the pools had a few Mallards (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), 3x immature Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) which we had not expected, Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Long-tailed Tit (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus), Eurasian Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Redwing (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus illacus), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and a couple of Hawfinch (Picogordo Común / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes).

By the time we got back to the cars it was time for Beatriz, Juan and Chika to head off home and for me to go up to the Embalse where I wanted to find a ♀ Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Mareca penelope), as I scanned the margins I found Mallard, Northern Pintail (Ánade Rabudo / Anas acuta), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Eurasian Coot, Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Great Cormorant, Little (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta) and Great Egret (Garceta Grande / Ardea alba), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and after a while I tracked down the Wigeon in a channel with feeding Herons and Egrets.

The Margins of Embalse del Cubillas.

As it was even colder here than it had been at the Golf Complex I decided to head off back towards home, on the way I called in at Balsa del Regidor but the light was all wrong and the sun was reflecting straight off the water making Identification of the Wildfowl difficult, however I did see but not count Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Spatula clypeata), Mallard, Common Pochard, Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Little Egret, Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Eurasian Crag Martin, Common Chiffchaff, Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Eurasian Blackcap and White Wagtail.

I was now starting to get quite cold, so I headed back home to get the Log Burner going and chill.