Parque de Los Lagos / Costa Ballena, Puerto and Playa Cruz del Mar in Chipiona, Playa de Montijo, Cadiz Province, Spain.

A morning birding around Chipiona.

Ebird List for Parque de Los Lagos / Costa Ballena. 

Ebird List for Puerto de Chipiona. 

Ebird List for Playa Cruz del Mar in Chipiona. 

Ebird List for Playa de Montijo. 

 

Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus).

I set off west at 05:20 seeing absolutely nothing during the drive until I reached the flooded areas along the A-471 around Lebrija, Trebujena and Sanlúcar de Barrameda, species seen were Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Western Marsh (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) and Hen Harrier (Aguilucho Pálido / Circus cyaneus) ♂, Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica). 

Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) and Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus)

Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina) ♂.

Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus).

I reached Costa Ballena and checked the Parque de Los Lagos hoping for some Gull species, unfortunately it was disappointing as I only found 20 odd Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus) and singles of Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) and Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito ibérico / Picus sharpei).

Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito ibérico / Picus sharpei).

Other species seen as I walked the loop included Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser) domestic type, Muscovy Duck (Pato criollo / Cairina moschata) domestic, Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Mallard domestic types, Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Glossy Ibis, Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus) x2, Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito ibérico / Picus sharpei), Common Kestrel, Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Barn and Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica), Western House (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Eurasian Crag (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), lots of Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) but I couldn't find the tristris type bird that had been around, Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba),  Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina), Eurasian Siskin (Jilguero Lúgano / Carduelis spinus), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis) and European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

Borage (Borago officinalis).

Large White (Pieris brassicae).

Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria).

Whilst I did this walk I also saw a few other bit which included Bermuda Buttercup (Oxalis pes-caprae), Borage (Borago officinalis), Large (Pieris brassicae) and Small White (Pieris rapae), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Hummingbird Hawkmoth (Macroglossum stellatarum), Carpentor Bee (Xylocopa violacea), Yellow-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta scripta) and Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi).

Yellow-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta scripta).

After this walk I went down to the Lago Plaza del Mar, it was even quieter here with just Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot, a single Black-headed Gull and Common Sandpiper being seen.

I returned to the car and headed up into Chipiona to the Port where I had a later breakfast before spending a while scanning through the Gulls and watching the wonderful Little Swifts (Vencejo Moro / Apus affinis).

Also there were Black-headed, Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gull, Great Cormorant, Barn Swallow and Eurasian Crag Martin.

Chipiona Beach.

The Fish Corral.

I walked around to the beach and scanned through the Gulls that were roosting in the Fish Corral as there was no water being held in there because the wall had a large gap in it, I checked through the mostly Lesser Black-backed Gulls I came across a larger bird which I was pretty sure was a 1st winter Great Black-backed (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus) which was confirmed from the Photo's later.

1st winter Great Black-backed (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus).

1st winter Great Black-backed (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus).

1st winter Great Black-backed (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus).

Here I also saw Yellow-legged Gull, Eurasian Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus), Grey (Chorlito Gris / Pluvialis squatarola), Kentish (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Anarhynchus alexandrinus) and Common Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) and Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres).

Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus).

My final stop of the day as I was flagging was at Playa de Montijo, as I walked down to the beach a Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus) flew along the shoreline.

Other species included Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), 30+ Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta), Black-headed, Mediterranean and Lesser Black-backed Gull, Eurasian Whimbrel, Grey, Kentish and Common Ringed Plover, Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Great Cormorant, Western House Martin, Eurasian Blackcap, Sardinian Warbler and Spotless Starling.

Balsa de Regidor, Rio Genil East and the Lucerne Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A morning's birding on a sunny but cool day in a brisk breeze.

Ebird List for Balsa de Regidor.

Ebird List for Rio Genil East.

Ebird List for the Lucerne Fields.

 

Looking south down the Balsa.

I popped down to Huétor first thing as I need a few bits from Mercodona, later I made my way out to Balsa de Regidor where there were good numbers of hirundines, the commonest being Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), along with Eurasian Crag (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum).

The other end of the Balsa.

On the water there we Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis).

Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina) ♂♀.

Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina) ♂.

Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus).

Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus).

In the air and around the margins of the pool there were Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Cetti's (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), House (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis). 

A very muddy Rio Genil, still taking away large amounts of topsoil.

Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki).

Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki).

Eurasian Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus).

One of three Bats seen out feeding along the Genil road.

My next stop was along the side of the Rio Genil to the east of the bridge into Huétor, as I walked I added Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Eurasian Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris) and European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus). 

Sierra Nevada off in the Distance.

Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis).

Water still flowing into the Arroyo from the flooded fields.

I returned to the car and then went up through town and out to the Lucerne fields where I parked at the Walnut Trees and walked right up along the Arroyo Vilano to the point where the farmers had dammed the water, during this walk new species included Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) x2, Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), a ♀ Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), just my second Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata) for the patch, this time it was a white bird, probably a ♂ and a Comma (Polygonia c-album) which was my 3rd butterfly species of the year.

Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata) ♂ probably.

Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata).

I returned to the house and spent the rest of the day sorting old clothes and doing some batch cooking. 

Mollina and Fuente de Piedra, Malaga Province, Spain.

A nice morning out with friends Jan and Garry.

 

Jan, Garry and I headed off to the West and over to Mollina where we went to the Saydo Hotel to have a look at the "English Market" as I wanted to drop off some bags of clothes to a Palliative care Charity there.

A few of the Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

We had a quick look around the stalls and then had a coffee before moving on to the Flamingo Lake at Fuente de Piedra, we parked and walked up to the Mirador via the steps up to the Visitor's Centre, once we were on the far side of the building we could view the full main Lagoon and the large number of Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), a week or so I had been there when we only saw around 50 so it was great to see several 1000 birds.

At the Mirador we bumped into Barbara and Derek Etherton and another birder with them Bob, from here we also saw Common Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus) and Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba). 

Here we also met Álvaro Peral from Wild Andalucia and an American Lady he was guiding, after a chat Jan, Garry and I headed around to the back hide overlooking the Laguneto del Pueblo where we picked up Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Spatula clypeata), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Mareca strepera), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis) before we said goodbye to Barbara, Derek and Bob and walked back around towards the car via the lower track.

Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and ♀ Northern Pintail (Ánade Rabudo / Anas acuta).

♀ Northern Pintail (Ánade Rabudo / Anas acuta).

On our way back we saw a nice ♀ Northern Pintail (Ánade Rabudo / Anas acuta), Pied Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa) x5 and Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi). 

Once back at the car, we headed for Huétor and then had a nice Lunch in Café-Bar Las Tres Calles (thanks Jan and Garry) before returning to the house. 

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 17th February 2026.

15W Actinic on the terrace, +5.

3 Moth of 2 Species.

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

Licence from Junta de Andalucia.

 

Sunrise over Sierra Nevada.

6496 Evergestis isatidalis x2 and 9676 Xylocampa areola (Early Grey) x1.

Montes de Málaga - Lagar de Torrijos in Malaga Province and Cerro Hacho in Granada Province, Spain.

A morning woodland birding with Friends Barbara and Derek Etherton and an afternoon visit to the local Hill.

Ebird List for Montes de Malaga.

Ebird List for Hacho.

 

Looking out from our view point.

I was up early and on my way to meet Barbara and Derek at the Visitor Centre in Montes de Malaga by 06:20, I arrived at 07:45 to see Barbara and Derek were already there, we stood at the side of the Lagar de Torrijos, Ecomuseo for around 1.5 hours and had views of Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Great Spotted (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major) and Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito ibérico / Picus sharpei), Eurasian Jay (Arrendajo Euroasiático / Garrulus glandarius), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater), European Crested (Herrerillo Capuchino / Lophophanes cristatus), Eurasian Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Long-tailed Tit (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Common Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapilla), Eurasian Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and the 3 main species we were looking for Hawfinch (Picogordo Común / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes) both ♂♀ were seen, Common Crossbills (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra) and a good number of Eurasian Siskin (Jilguero Lúgano / Carduelis spinus) most of which were heard as the flew over but we had good views of a couple of ♂ birds in some conifers above us.

Checking the Merlin App.

After we had seen all we thought we would in the area we decided to try and drive a loop but it was blocked after a little way as there were trees down after the storms.

We returned to the Centre and then headed for Colmenar and then to Bar Cafetería El Asturiano on a nearby industrial area.

European Crested Tit (Herrerillo Capuchino / Lophophanes cristatus).

European Crested Tit (Herrerillo Capuchino / Lophophanes cristatus).

Once we had finished our coffee and breakfast Barbara and Derek headed back towards the coast and I headed back to Loja, on the way I saw Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica) and European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola).

Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila Perdicera / Aquila faciatus).

Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus).

Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) ♀.

I came off the motorway at Loja and then went up to Cerro Hacho where I parked just off the main road and walked the south facing bank up to the quarry and the part of the way around the loop, as I did this I added Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila Perdicera / Aquila faciatus), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia) to the day list.

Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia).

Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia).

As well as the birds I saw Hummingbird Hawkmoth (Macroglossum stellatarum), Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Capra pyrenaica hispanica), Giant (Himanthoglossum Robertiana) and Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys lupercalis), Field Marigold (Calendula arvensis), Broad-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia) and Common Whitlowgrass (Erophila verna).

Giant Orchid (Himanthoglossum Robertiana).

Broad-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia).

Broad-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia).

Common Whitlowgrass (Erophila verna).

I returned to the car and on my way back to the house I stopped to get a photo of the Sierra Nevada and I also picked up a Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

Sierra Nevada.

Looking East, back towards the house.