SIERRA de LOJA.

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Friday, 4 September 2026

Loja, Granada Province, Spain.

An unexpected flyover.
Ebird List.

A gift of Pepper's, Tomato's and aubergine's from Paco.
Paqui and I just popped into Loja to collect her daughters from an appointment, on the way we had an immature Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) flying West along the A92, when I got back home I was met by neighbour and friend Paco with a wonderful bag of his veggies from the plot across from my house..
The leading group.
Later in the afternoon, Paqui and I headed up to the crossroads below La Fabrica and watched stage 13 of the La Vuelta 26 which came through La Fabrica, Huétor and finished for the day in Loja, we didn't stay long as it was +40 and too hot to stand around let alone race on a bike.

Thursday, 3 September 2026

Embalse de Cubillas, Granada Province, Spain.

A mornings birding with good friend Juan.
Ebird List for the Embalse.
 
Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta) and Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea).
I met Juan at 08:00 at the usual spot on the western side of the Embalse and almost instantly I was pleased to see my main target the Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia) which was feeding amongst the reeds in the bay where the Rio Cubillas comes into the Embalse.
Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta) and Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea).
Purple Heron (Garza Imperial / Ardea purpurea).
Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta).
Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta).
We set up our chairs and scopes low down on the shore line and spent 3 hours and 20 minutes recording some good species including Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Thinornis dubius), Common (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) and Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), a single Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta), Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Black-crowned Night Heron (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax), Purple Heron (Garza Imperial / Ardea purpurea), Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus), 113x European Honey Buzzards (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus)Short-toed Snake Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus), Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Northern Goshawk (Azor Común / Accipitor gentillis), Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Common Kingfisher (Martin Pescador Común / Alcedo atthis), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oropéndola Europea / Oriolus oriolus), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia),Common Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapilla),Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Spanish (Yellow) (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra).
Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus).

Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus).
European Honey Buzzard (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus).
European Honey Buzzard (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus).
European Honey Buzzard (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus).
European Honey Buzzard (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus).
European Honey Buzzard (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus).
European Honey Buzzard (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus).
European Honey Buzzard (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus).
After saying goodbye to Juan and Chika I headed back home and then met Paqui for Lunch. 

Wednesday, 2 September 2026

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

An early walk with Paqui along the Lucerne fields and a sit under stars later.
Ebird List for the fields early.
Ebird List for the fields later.

I met Paqui by the Walnut Trees and we walked out to the gates and back, interesting species included 2x Tree Pipits (Bisbita Arbóreo / Anthus trivialis), at least 2 calling Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix), European Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Thinornis dubius), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator),Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Northern Raven (Cuervo grande / Corvus corax), Melodious Warbler (Zarcero políglota / Hippolais polyglotta), Common Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica), Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Spanish (Yellow) (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).
Later in the evening I went back down to the fields where I saw Eurasian Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Little Ringed Plover, 2x Black-crowned Night Herons (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) and Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).

Tuesday, 1 September 2026

Embalse de Cubillas, Granada Province, Spain.

Paqui and I spent a while looking for a Spoonbill for my Granada year list.
Ebird List for the Embalse.
 
Black Stork (Cigüena Negra / Ciconia nigra).
Paqui and I went up to the Embalse which is just to the North of Granada where I was hoping to see a Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia) which had been around for a few days but as hard as we searched the bird evaded us.
Black Stork (Cigüena Negra / Ciconia nigra).
Black Stork (Cigüena Negra / Ciconia nigra).
However we had a few good species, the best we a very smart Black Stork (Cigüena Negra / Ciconia nigra) which Paqui picked up flying along the far side of the Embalse and then off to the West.
Pied Avocets (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta).
Pied Avocets (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta).
Other species of interest were 
Pied Avocets (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta) which flew around in a flock of 24 birds, Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Thinornis dubius), a single Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta), Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), a Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus), 4x Black Kites (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia),Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica), Western Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Common Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapilla) and several Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa).
Pied Avocets (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta).
Pied Avocets (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta).

Monday, 31 August 2026

Presa y Meandros del Genil, Granada Province, Spain.

Back for another look at the Owls.
Ebird List for the Presa.
 
European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster).
Paqui and I spent the day sorting our homes out after our few days away, I popped down to her place for lunch, on the way I took some photographs of a couple of European Bee-eaters (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster) which were feeding from the wire along the road to Huétor.
European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster).
European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster).
During the evening we spent an hour sitting at a site near the Presa looking for the Eurasian Eagle Owls (Búho Real / Bubo bubo) that we have been watching for a while, tonight I didn't manage to see any but Paqui saw one bird leave the one of the caves in the cliffs.
Other species interesting seen during the visit were European Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito ibérico / Picus sharpei), Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oropéndola Europea / Oriolus oriolus), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Melodious Warbler (Zarcero políglota / Hippolais polyglotta), Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis) and Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild).
Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oropéndola Europea / Oriolus oriolus) ♂, digiscoped by Paqui.

Sunday, 30 August 2026

Campiña de Trebujena, Marismas de Trebujena, Costa Ballena and Presa de Embalse de Bornos in Cadiz Province, and Laguna Dulce in Malaga Province, Spain.

Looking for Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin, a dip in the sea and a drive back home.
Ebird List for Campiña de Trebujena.
Ebird List for Marismas de Trebujena.
 
One of the local wildlife ceramic plaques. 
We were up and out just as the sun was rising, looking for Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin (Alzacola Rojizo / Cercotrichas galactotes) in the Agricultureal areas around Trebujena, as I couldn't remember where the spot I usually go to was we just pottered around and after a few minutes I picked a bird up on a chainlink fence but it dropped off before Paqui saw it, however a few seconds later it came back up and she had views but it was a bit distant so we will need to return at some point.
In the area we also saw Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), European Turtle (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur) and Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Short-toed Snake Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus), Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Melodious Warbler (Zarcero políglota / Hippolais polyglotta), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).
Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).
Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).
Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).
Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).
The next spot back at the site we were at at the end of the day yesterday on the Marismas de Trebujena, on the fenced off pool we found Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser) domestic, Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Spatula clypeata), European Turtle DoveEurasian Collared Dove, Common and Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Pied Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Common Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Eurasian Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus), Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa), Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Common (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) and Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Curlew Sandpiper (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Little Tern (Charrancito Común / Sternula albifrons), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), 
Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).
Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).
Little Grebe
(Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), 
White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus), Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), Grey (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and Black-crowned Night Heron (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax), Little (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta) and Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), European Honey Buzzard (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus)Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Common BuzzardCommon Kingfisher (Martin Pescador Común / Alcedo atthis),
Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia) and Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa).
Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia).
Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia).
Black-crowned Night Herons (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax).
White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).
Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Eurasian MagpieCrested LarkGreater Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), Zitting CisticolaCommon Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Sand (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia) and Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Barn and Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica), Cetti's (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti) and Sardinian WarblerSpotless StarlingEuropean Stonechat, Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) and Corn Bunting.
Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus).

Pied Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta).
Pied Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta).
Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa).
Black-crowned Night Herons (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax).
We also saw Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope), Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum), Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea), Banded Groundling (Brachythemis leucosticta) and Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi) before we headed off to Costa Ballena for a dip in the sea.
Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) 1st winter.
Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) AD.
We arrived at the car park by the beach and got set up before having half an hour in the Sea which was very nice.
Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea) .
Later we checked out the lake where we found MallardCommon Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Black-winged StiltEurasian Whimbrel x3, Common SandpiperRuddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), Black-headedMediterranean, Lesser Black-backed Gull and Yellow-legged Gull, Eurasian CootCommon MoorhenLittle Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Grey HeronLittle EgretWestern Cattle Egret and European Bee-eaterBarn SwallowWestern House MartinMonk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), Sardinian WarblerWhite WagtailLesser (Anax parthenope) and Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator), Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum), Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea) and African Grass Blues.
We started to make our way back towards Huétor but called in at the Presa de Embalse de Bornos but the Rio Guadalete was smelling so bad that it was making us feel sick so we moved on very quickly seeing nothing.
Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) .
Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata) .
Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata) .
Further on we called in at Laguna Dulce where we picked up a few new species including 
Marbled Duck (Cerceta pardilla / Marmaronetta angustirostris), Red-crested (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina), White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Thinornis dubius), Black-necked (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis) and Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus), Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa), Oriental Hornet (Vespa orientalis) as well as big numbers of both Red-veined Darter and Violet Dropwing.