Venta de Zafarraya, Malaga/Granada Provinces.

A morning with the Axarquia Bird Group.

I drove down to Zafarraya via Salar and the tracks to the meeting  point on the old railway line car park. On the way down I started off my list with Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), 

Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).

I met Bob Wright, the leader of the group at the start point and we first sorted out a bit of Camera equipment before the rest of the group arrived.

Once everyone was there we started off along the old railway line and before we had reached the tunnel we had views of Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Common Kestrel, Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Goldfinch, Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and just as we entered the tunnel several Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris).

On the far side of the tunnel we had a second Blue Rock Thrush, more Black Wheatear, Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Thekla Lark,  House Sparrow and by some derelict  railway buildings there several patches of Thyme which had Clouded Yellow (Colias Común / Colias corcea),  Bath White (Blanqiverdosa / Pontia daplidice), Long-tailed Blue (Lampides baeticus), Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous) and Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) nectaring on then.

In the same area there was quite a bit of Blue lettuce (Lactuca tenerrima) and on the crags a couple of Spanish Ibex.

Boningale, Albrighton, Shropshire.

Another walk out to the Horns.

I again had a stroll up Newhouse Lane, through Boningale and down to the Pub. On the way back I came back across the fields via the Pebble Brook area.

On the way out I stopped by one of the gate ways in Newhouse Lane where I saw Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius) x34, Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica).

Further along the lane I crossed the Holyhead road and walked down Church Lane towards the Pub and stopped in another gate way where I boosted the list with a flock of 25 or so Redwings (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus illacus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Stock Dove (Paloma Zurita / Columba oenas), a flock of 30+ flying Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes).

On the verges I also recorded Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum) and Hedge Bindweed (Calystegia sepium).

Newhouse Lane and Boningale, Albrighton, Shropshire.

A Shropshire LIFER for me.

I had a walk out to the Pub the Horns of Boningale via New Houselane, during the stroll I found Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius) x8, Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and Stock Dove (Paloma Zurita / Columba oenas).
I crossed the Holyhead road and walked in to Boningale Village and back around to the Holyhead road seeing Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Herring Gull (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Rook (Graja /  Corvus frugilegus), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).
During the walk I also saw Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Green-veined (Pieris napi) and Small White (Pieris rapae) and a Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta).

I came out on to the Holyhead Road and as I approached the Pub I heard a sound which I was very used to hearing back in Spain as they are around the fields and house all the time but I was not expecting to hear let alone see a Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) here in Shropshire.

On a stubble field on the other side of the road I first heard the bird calling from the ground and then saw it in flight a couple of times but unfortunatly the last view I had was as I went into Pub and by the time I came out I could not see or hear it.
Later some fiends came down to check the area and did not find it, guessing it moved on quite quickly.

Green Pool and Humphreston Lane, Albrighton, Shropshire.

A look at Green Pond and a walk with Harry.

Brown Hawker (Aeshna grandis).

I walked up Crossroads and spent a while having a look for Dragonflies and soon found Common Spreadwing (Lestes sponsa), Common Bluetail ( Ischnura elegans) which was sat on some Amphibious Bistort (Persicaria amphibia), Brown Hawker (Aeshna grandis), Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta) and Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum).

Amphibious Bistort (Persicaria amphibia).

There were just a few birds including Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) and Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula). Also had a Common Field Grasshopper (Chorthippus brunneus) hop up on to my bins.

Common Bluetail ( Ischnura elegans).

Later in the afternoon I took Harry out for a walk along Huphreston Lane and out on to the fields where I recorded a Juv Hobby (Alcotán Europeo / Falco subbuteo) hawking insects along with Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Blackbird, Woodpigeon, Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica).

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On the insect front I added several Migrant Hawkers (Aeshna mixta), Small (Pieris rapae) and Large White (Pieris brassicae), Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) and Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae).

Common Field Grasshopper (Chorthippus brunneus).

Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum).

Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta).

Priorslee Flash & Hangman's Pool, Telford, Shropshire.

Another walk around the Flash.

Canada Geese (Barnacla Canadiense /Branta canadensis).

Again I took a walk clockwise around the lake and saw pretty much the same species as a few days ago including Canada Geese (Barnacla Canadiense /Branta canadensis), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Tufted Duck (Porrón Monudo / Aythya fuligula), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Herring (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus).

Tufted Duck (Porrón Monudo / Aythya fuligula) x 2 females.

Along the boardwalk area I also saw a nice female Brown Hawker (Aeshna grandis) egg laying, Common Blue Damselflies (Enallagma cyathinerum) and a male Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum).

Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor).

Back in the garden in Priorslee I saw several Blue and a nice Coal Tit (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater).

Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus).

Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus).

Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus).

Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) female and duckling.

Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus).

Tufted Duck (Porrón Monudo / Aythya fuligula) Male.

Female Brown Hawker (Aeshna grandis).

Common Blue Damselflies (Enallagma cyathinerum).

Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus).

Coal Tit (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater).

Coal Tit (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater).

Priorslee Flash & Hangman's Pool, Telford, Shropshire.

A lunch time walk around the pool.

Eurasian Coots (Focha Común / Fulica atra).

I took a couple of hours doing a clockwise circit of the pool, on the side with the houses close in to the anks there were good numbers of Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Coots (Focha Común / Fulica atra) including a couple having a really good scrap, Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), a group of Canada Geese (Barnacla Canadiense /Branta canadensis), an immature Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Tufted Duck (Porrón Monudo / Aythya fuligula) and further around on the far side Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus).

Eurasian Coots (Focha Común / Fulica atra).

 Along the boardwalks on the last stretch of the walk I had several Common Blue Damselflies (Enallagma cyathinerum), a couple of Southern / Blue Hawker (Aeshna cyanea) and Small White (Pieris rapae) butterflies.

Eurasian Coots (Focha Común / Fulica atra).

Birds included more of the previous species as well as Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Long-tailed Tits (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone) and Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula).

Eurasian Coots (Focha Común / Fulica atra).

Bridgnorth and the river Seven, Shropshire.

Day great day out with good friends Steve and Lynn up from Cornwall.

Looking down on the Seven.

Our friends Steve and Lynn travelled up from Cornwall to spend a couple of days with us, this was the second day and we spent a really nice day out around Bridgnorth and along the River Seven.

Funicular Railway.

We parked on Seven Park and walked along the River to the bridge where we saw Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Goosander (Mergus merganser) x5F, Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) and several Eurasian Coots (Focha Común / Fulica atra).

Once across the Bridge we got onto the funicular railway and went up into High Town where we had a good walk round and then some Lunch.

Later we dropped back down on the Railway and then walked back along the river adding Banded Damoiselle (Calopteryx splendens), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea),

Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) and Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).

We returned to the car and then drove back to Albrighton ut made a stop at Green Pool on the edge of Albrighton where we looked for Dragonflies and we were not disappointed when we found several Small Red-eyed Damselflies (Erythromma viridulum) which we later found out was only the third county record, as well as these little crackers we also had Common Spreadwing (Lestes sponsa), Azure Damselfly (Coenagrion puella), Common Bluetail ( Ischnura elegans) and Southern / Blue Hawker (Aeshna cyanea).

Thanks to Steve and Lynn for a great day out.

Jayne, Steve and Lynn.

Azure Damselfly (Coenagrion puella).

Common Spreadwing (Lestes sponsa).

Small Red-eyed Damselflies (Erythromma viridulum).

Peble Brook Fields, Albrighton, Shropshire.

Out walking Harry the dog.

Small White (Pieris rapae).

Just a quick walk out to the fields along the Pebble Brook area and over to Woodhouse Lane and back.

Peacock (Aglais io).

Species seen included Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Stock Dove (Paloma Zurita / Columba oenas), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Pied / White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba / yarrellii), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Pheasant (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus). 

Back at the house I checked the Buddleja and found Peacock (Aglais io) and Small White (Pieris rapae).

Priorslee Lake, Telford, Shropshire.

A walk around the lake looking for Dragons.

Common Tern (Charrán Común / Sterna hirudo).

Jayne, Sue and Barb wee going for a walk around the Telford Town Centre so I got them to drop me off at the lake where the first call was at the sandwich van before I had a Clockwise walk around the lake. 

Common Tern (Charrán Común / Sterna hirudo).

I started off along the southern shore line counting a few of the bird species as I went, the first counts were Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) x61, Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus) 11, Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) x25, Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) x9, Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) x1, Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor) x8, Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser) x2 and Common Tern (Charrán Común / Sterna hirudo) x1.

Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos).

As I walked in to an area of grassland between the scrub patches I found the first of many Common Blue Damselflies (Enallagma cyathinerum), Peacock (Aglais io) butterfies and Gatekeepers (Pyronia tithonus).

Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos).

Around the edges of the grassland areas i found several Brown Hawkers (Aeshna grandis) moving between the Hawthorn bushes, a couple of Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum) which were sunning themselves on the paths and both Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) and Green-veined White (Pieris napi) in the longer grass.

Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathinerum).

As I reached the Boating ramp I had much better views of the Mute Swan Family, Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) x3, Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) x3 and a couple of Reed Warblers (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) in the reed beds opposite, here I also found a few Red-eyed Damselflies (Erythromma najas) and a single male Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator).

Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathinerum).

As I continued on around towards the more wooded side of the lake  heard and then saw a small group of Bullfinches (Camachuelo Común / Pyrrhula pyrrhula), along with Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis), Goldcrest (Regulus regulus) x1, Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Rook (Graja /  Corvus frugilegus) x3,  Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes).

Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathinerum).

Along the walk through the woods Common Treecreeper (Agateador Norteño / Certhia familiaris), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus),  Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) x 120+, House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus) x1, Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), as well as Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) and Large White (Pieris brassicae).

Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor).

As I walked back to the car park and saw the first hirundines of the day when a mixed group of Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) flew around high up with a single Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) and a couple of soaring Common Buzzards (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).

Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor).

Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor).

Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor).

Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum).

Peacock (Aglais io).

Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus).

Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus).

Needham Market Lakes, Needham Market, Suffolk.

Out feeding the ducks with Ryan.

Brown Argus (Aricia agestis).

Jayne, Becky, Alan, Chewie, Ryan and myself had a walk from by the railway station in Needham and out to the larger of the lakes. We walked through some nice grassland and areas of Buddleia along the railway where I saw Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina), Brown Argus (Aricia agestis), Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus) and Small White (Pieris rapae).

Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina).

As we approched the lake I started the bird list off with House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) and down by the lake Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) and also found several species of Dragon including Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathinerum), Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum) and Brown Hawker (Aeshna grandis).

Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus).

We continued on around the lake to a log pile area wher Ryan had a great time building a den and in a nearby ditch I saw Banded Damoiselle (Calopteryx splendens), Common Roach (Rutilus rutilus), Yellow Water-lily (Nuphar lutea), Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), Common Ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris), Great Willowherb (Epilobium hirsutum) and a couple of Painted Lady's (Vanessa cardui).

Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos).

We headed ack towards the car adding Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica). 

Banded Damoiselle (Calopteryx splendens).

Once back at the car we headed back to the house.