Balsa de Regidor, Granada Province, Spain.

Out at dawn on the fields and later for a bit of Dragon hunting with Paqui.

 

Corn Poppies (Papaver rhoeas) at dawn.

I met Paqui down on the fields where we had a walk out to the gate where we spent some time photographing the many Corn Poppies (Papaver rhoeas).

Corn Poppies (Papaver rhoeas) at dawn.

We headed out towards Moraleda and around to Balsa de Redidor where after parking we checked the area near the concrete pier where we could see Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) including several juvenile birds just out of the nest, Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala) and Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti) and Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs).

Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica).

Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica).

Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathinerum) ♂.

Dragonfly wise we saw Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathinerum) x8, Lesser (Anax parthenope) x3 and Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator) x2.

♂ Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi).

A little further along the track we found a nice ♂ Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi) and heard calling Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oropéndola Europea / Oriolus oriolus).

Bramble flowers.

We walked back towards the car finding Small White (Pieris rapae) and Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) before we checked out the eastern side of the pool which is line with a large hedge of Brambles.

Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum) ♂.

♂ Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi).

Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathinerum) ♂♀.

Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathinerum) ♂♀.

Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata) ♂.

As we walked along this area we picked up Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum) ♂ x1, Common Blue Damselfly x11, Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) x2♂, Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata) x3♂ 2♀, a couple of less expected Dark Spreadwings (Lestes macrostigma) which I was pleased to see as they had been there last year, guess they had drifted in from the west where there were huge numbers again this year, Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi), Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa) and lots of Rabbits (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus).

Dark Spreadwing (Lestes macrostigma) ♂.

Dark Spreadwing (Lestes macrostigma) ♂.

Dark Spreadwing (Lestes macrostigma) ♂.

Dark Spreadwing (Lestes macrostigma) ♂.

El Temple, the Cacín Valley and Huétor Tajar Granada Province, Spain.

A day birding with Gary, Pippa and Josh.

Ebird List for El Temple.

Hopefully got some more photo's coming soon from Gary.

 

As I was getting ready to head out I could hear two Red-necked Nightjars (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis) calling, House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula). 

I met Gary, Pippa and Josh and we headed out onto the El Temple area, along the first of the tracks we started the list off with Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), European Turtle (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur) and Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Cetti's (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Blackbird, Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), House Sparrow, Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus), Small White (Pieris rapae) x1, Common Mallow (Malva sylvestris), Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas), Squirting Cucumber (Ecballium elaterium) and White Wallrocket (Diplotaxis erucoides).

A bit further along the track we added Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Eurasian Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Crested (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Greater Short-toed (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla) and Calandra Lark (Calandria Común / Melanocorypha calandra) and Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).

We crossed over to the southern side of the area where we checked out a lot more of the area, from a good high spot we scanned and found a very large immature Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti) which quickly dropped onto the ground and disappeared from view, a few minutes later we started to hear a second bird and after a while we managed to locate an adult bird which flew through the area.

Lesser Kestrel (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni) ♂.

As we stood at this spot and continued on across the site we picked up Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Lesser Kestrel (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni) ♂♀, Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), a really unexpected European Roller (Carraca / Coracias garrulus) which has been a difficult species to see in this area recently, Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) x6, lots of Painted Lady's (Vanessa cardui) x19+ and several impressive fields of Corn Poppies.

Corn Poppies (Papaver rhoeas).

Corn Poppies (Papaver rhoeas).

Corn Poppies (Papaver rhoeas).

We drove off the El Temple area and made a stop just out of the village of Ventas de Huélma, there were plenty of birds around including Common Woodpigeon, European Turtle Dove, Booted Eagle, Barn Swallow, Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oropéndola Europea / Oriolus oriolus), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Common Nightingale, Melodious (Zarcero políglota / Hippolais polyglotta) and Sardinian Warbler, Woodchat Shrike, Eurasian Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and Great Tit, Common Chaffinch, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch and European Serin.

We continued on out to the Cortijo Ochíchar where we parked on the roadside and scanned the nearby ridges adding a Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) which dropped in to a distant Oak tree as soon as I got on to it, Booted Eagle, Western Jackdaw, a distant calling Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito ibérico / Picus sharpei).

Whilst we were there we could hear a calling Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius) a short way back down the road so we headed down there, we didn't find the Cuckoo but we did add Rock Sparrows (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), another 2 Griffon Vultures which Josh picked up Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) x2 and Knapweed Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe) x4.

We again moved on towards the Cacín Valley making a very short roadside stop when we saw Thekla's Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and yet another pale morph Booted Eagle.

We dropped into the Cacín Valley and drove up to the Contraembalse which was fairly quiet even though the water level had come up quite a lot, we only saw Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Booted Eagle, Western Marsh Harrier, Common Swift, Melodious and Common Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus).

Just up the road at the track to the dam we had a few new species for the day, the best was a Eurasian Eagle Owl (Búho Real / Bubo bubo), along with Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Western Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla) and a few Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) x3. 

Further up the valley at the Crags we picked up Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Eurasian Crag Martin and European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola).

As we still had a bit of time we returned to the Motorway via the fields near Moraleda getting views of Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real / Lanius meridionalis), Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), Zitting Cisticola, Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Crested Lark, European Bee-eater, Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator) x2 and Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri) x5.

Rio Genil, Huétor Tajar and along the Rio Cacín, Granada Province, Spain.

An early walk along the Rio Genil and then later another walk along the Rio Cacín with Paqui.

Ebird List for Rio Genil. 

Ebird List for the Rio Cacín.

 

Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).

I started the day with a short walk along the Rio Genil, during the time there I picked up Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), European Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oropéndola Europea / Oriolus oriolus), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Common Reed (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) and Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Barn (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis) and European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos).

Later in the day I picked Paqui up down in Huétor and we drove the short distance to the top of the Rio Cacín near the A92, as we walked we saw Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Common Woodpigeon, European Turtle Dove, Eurasian Collared Dove, Common Swift, Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Eurasian Golden Oriole, Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Long-tailed Tit (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus), Crested Lark, Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Common Reed and Cetti's Warbler, Barn and Red-rumped Swallow, Western House Martin, Eurasian Blackcap, Eurasian Wren, Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Common Blackbird, Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Nightingale, European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Grey Wagtail, Common Chaffinch, Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina), European Goldfinch, European Serin and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Roadside Corn Poppies (Papaver rhoeas).

Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum).

Other species seen included Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Small White (Pieris rapae), Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus), Bladder Campion (Silene vulgaris), Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas), Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum), Wild Caper (Capparis spinosa), Tassel Hyacinth (Muscari comosum), Squirting Cucumber (Ecballium elaterium), Southern Knapweed (Centaurea pullata), Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis), Rosy Garlic (Allium roseum), Purple Phlomis (Phlomis purpurea), Purple Bugloss (Echium plantagineum) and Common Mallow (Malva sylvestris).  

Realenga de Agicampe, Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

A day working on the house and an evening with Paqui on the Terrace.

Ebird List for the Terrace.

 

After a busy day in the house and the garden it was nice to chill up on the Terrace with Girlfriend Paqui, whilst up there we saw a few interesting species which included European Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Common (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) and Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), European Honey Buzzard (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus) x3, Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) ♂, Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki) and Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos).

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province and Sites around Fuente de Piedra and Campillos, Malaga Province, Spain.

Out with Barbara and Derek Etherton and Kevin Wade for Global Bird Day.

Ebird List for Realenga de Agicampe.

Ebird List for Fuente de Piedra, Centro de Visitantes.

Ebird List for Fuente de Piedra, Mirador de la Vicaría.

Ebird List for Fuente de Piedra, Mirador de Cantarranas.

Ebird List for Lagunas de Campillos, Laguna Dulce.

Ebird List for Lagunas de Campillos, Laguna Salada.

Ebird List for Lagunas de Campillos, Laguna de Capacete.

Ebird List for Laguna de Cortijo Grande.

Ebird List for A-7286, Campillos.

Ebird List for Cerro del Búho.

Ebird List for C-341, Teba.

Ebird List for Colonia de Santa Ana.

I started my day list off with Red-necked Nightjar (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis), Eurasian Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) and Woodlark (Alondra Totovía / Lullula arborea) before I headed off to Mollina where after meeting up with the rest of the team we headed off to Fuente de Piedra.

The roadside pool at Fuente.

Once we parked we walked back along the road and checked out the pool where we found Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Pied Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Slender-billed (Gaviota Picofina / Chroicocephalus genei) and Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Common Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti) and off in the distance we could see 3 White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia) on the chimney on the edge of town.

Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

Common Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus).

We continued on around the track finding Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Gull-billed Tern (Pagaza Piconegra / Gelochelidon nilotica), European Honey Buzzard (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus), Common (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and Lesser Kestrel (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus), Sea Clubrush (Bolboschoenus maritimus), Common Fumitory (Fumaria officinalis), Common Mallow (Malva sylvestris), Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas), Shepherds Needles (Scandix pecten-veneris), Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) and Purple Bugloss (Echium plantagineum).

Dark Spreadwing (Lestes macrostigma).

We moved out on to the Boardwalk where we found the first of several hundred Dark Spreadwings (Lestes macrostigma) 400+, Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus) heard, Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Once we reached the other end of the boardwalk we walked along the Tamarisks seeing Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), European Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Anarhynchus alexandrinus), Melodious Warbler (Zarcero políglota / Hippolais polyglotta), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), at least 3 singing Western Olivaceous Warbler (Zarcero bereber / Iduna opaca) one of which showed well and Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina).

Looking out from the Mirador.

The metal work at Fuente.

Our next stop was up at the Mirador where we scanned the main laguna seeing loads more Greater Flamingo's, along with Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus), Sardinian Warbler, Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), 

Around the back at the two hides we added several more species but didn't stay that long as it was cold in the wind, however we did find Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Spatula clypeata), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Mareca strepera), Marbled Duck (Cerceta pardilla / Marmaronetta angustirostris), Common (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina) and Red-crested Pochard (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina), White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Little (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa) and Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi).

We walked around to the other hide but it was extremely windy there so we again moved on quickly and made our way back around to the cars and then headed off towards Mirador de la Vicaría seeing Mallard, Greater Flamingo, Melodious Warbler and Zitting Cisticola before we continued on again to Mirador de Cantarranas seeing Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus), Lesser Kestrel, Barn Swallow and Corn Bunting on the way.

Mirador de Cantarranas.

From the watch point we saw Common and Red-crested Pochard, White-headed Duck, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Coot, Gull-billed Tern, Greater Flamingo, Black-necked Grebe, Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), European Honey Buzzard, Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Eurasian Hoopoe, European Bee-eater, Lesser Kestrel, Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Western Jackdaw, Crested and Greater Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), Sardinian Warbler, Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), European Serin and Corn Bunting.

Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina) ♂.

Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis).

Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis).

Our next stop was over near to Campillos where we visited the hide overlooking the Laguna Dulce, on the way we had a fine Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) and a pale morph Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas), species seen from the hide included Gadwall, Common Pochard, White-headed Duck, Common Woodpigeon, Common Swift, Eurasian Coot, Black-winged Stilt, Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Thinornis dubius), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Common Sandpiper, Collared Pratincole (Canastera Común / Glareola pratincola), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Gull-billed Tern,Greater Flamingo, Little , Great Crested Grebe and Black-necked Grebe, Glossy Ibis, Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) ♂, Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Eurasian Hoopoe, Western Jackdaw, Barn Swallow, Western House Martin, Common Blackbird, Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail, European Goldfinch, European Serin and Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii).

Laguna Salida.

We made a quick visit to Laguna Salida but it was quiet so we went on to Laguna Redonda where we added a few more species including Gadwall, Mallard, Common Pochard, White-headed Duck, Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix), Eurasian Coot, Little Ringed Plover, Gull-billed Tern, Greater Flamingo, European Honey Buzzard, Black-necked Grebe, Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Crested Lark, Barn Swallow, Western House Martin, Spotless Starling, Common Blackbird, Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail, Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis), European Goldfinch, European Serin, Corn Bunting and an amazing number of Dark Spreadwings x600+.

White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala) ♂. 

Dark Spreadwing (Lestes macrostigma).

Dark Spreadwing (Lestes macrostigma).

Dark Spreadwings (Lestes macrostigma).

Dark Spreadwings (Lestes macrostigma).

Just down the road we checked out Laguna de Capacete, species seen included over 60 Gadwall, Mallard, Common Pochard, White-headed Duck, Common Swift, Eurasian Coot, Eurasian Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Black-winged Stilt, Northern Lapwing, Gull-billed Tern, Greater Flamingo, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe and Black-necked Grebe, White Stork, Western Marsh Harrier, Western Marsh Harrier, Barn Swallow, Western House Martin, Common Blackbird, European Greenfinch, European Serin, Hummingbird Hawkmoth (Macroglossum stellatarum) and Red-striped Oil Beetle (Berberomeloe majalis).

Red-striped Oil Beetle (Berberomeloe majalis).

Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus).

Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus).

Just a little way further on along the road we stopped again and scanned the Laguna de Cortijo Grande where we had nice views of Northern Shoveler, Mallard, Red-crested Pochard, Common Woodpigeon, Black-winged Stilt, Little Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, Northern Lapwing, Black-headed Gull, Gull-billed Tern, Greater Flamingo, Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta), Common Kestrel, Zitting Cisticola, Western House Martin, Common Chaffinch, European Goldfinch and Corn Bunting.

We returned to the cars and went off towards Teba but stopped at an area of Pine Woodland where we added Alpine (Vencejo Real / Apus melba) and Common Swift, Crested Lark, Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Common Blackbird, Common Chaffinch, Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), European Goldfinch and European Serin. 

Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

Before we reached Teba area we saw that there were a good number of Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) up at the feeding station so we went up for a look and it was impressive seeing so many birds in the sky, whilst there we also picked out a single Cinereous  / Eurasian Black Vulture (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus) and Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real / Lanius meridionalis).

Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

Cinereous  / Eurasian Black Vulture (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus).

Our final two stops were in the Teba area, the first was at the bridge over the Tajo where we picked up Common Sandpiper, Montagu's Harrier ♂, Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila Perdicera / Aquila faciatus), European Bee-eater, Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Thekla's Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes) and Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea).

Our final stop was at a nearby quarry but we didn't add anything as the forecast rain eventually arrived so I headed off home and the others headed on towards Malaga.

Northern Bald Ibis (Ibis Eremita / Geronticus eremita).

On my way home I was surprised to find one of the introdution Northern Bald Ibis (Ibis Eremita / Geronticus eremita) sat on a roadside telegrapgh pole.