Huétor Tajar, Granada Province.

The burning of the Huétor Fields again.

The annual burning of the Asparagus tops around Huétor has started, we were in the town during the afternoon and it was hard to breath as the smoke was so thick. Jayne had to put a hankie over face as she was struggling to get her breath.

Realenga de Agicampe, Huétor Tajar, Granada Province.

A late Dragon in the Garden.

Just a nice male Desert Darter (Sympetrum sinaiticum) which was still flying around the garden pool.

La Janda and Montenmedio Golf Club, Cadiz Province.

A Spanish lifer in the La Janda wetlands / Rice fields.

Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

I left the hotel in La Linea and headed up to the entrance of La Janda near to the town of Benalup-Casas Viejas, on the way I saw Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus).

White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).

Along the first part of the track I added Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Little (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) and Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), lots more White Storks, Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), another Common Buzzard sat on a telegraph post and the first of several Marsh Harriers (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).

Hen Harrier (Aguilucho Pálido / Circus cyaneus).

My target species for the day was one of the three Sociable Lapwings (Avefría Sociable / Vanellus gregarius) which had been around for a while so I drove straight over to the southern end of the main Channel and scanned the fields for the Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) flocks.

Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo).

Over the next few hours I scanned the fields on either side of the track but only moved 2.3KM as I was searching hard for the Lapwing. During this search I was very pleased to find a Marsh Sandpiper (Archibebe Fino / Tringa stagnatilis) which was feeding with three Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia) in a damper edge of a swampy field. 

White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).

In the same area there were good numbers of Northern Lapwings, Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), several Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls, Little Egrets,  a group of flyby Great Cormorants (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), House Sparrows (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), loads of Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus), Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Common Kestrel, Marsh Harriers, a rapid flying Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius) which upset the large numbers of House Sparrows and Meadow Pipits (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis).

Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus).

I moved slowly along the Channel heading North all the time stopping regularly adding Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) and Green Sandpipers (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), a

Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus).

Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta) which was suprisingly still in quite good summer plumage, a stunning male Hen Harrier (Aguilucho Pálido / Circus cyaneus), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), a large flock of Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) which were in the air mobbing a Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus) which landed on a pylon just past where I was standing scanning the Paddy fields. Whilst I was stood at this spot I had a Shrew species cross the road being chased by a Weasel (Comadreja / Mustela nivalis), as well as a large Brown Rat (Rata parda / Rattus norvegicus).

Sociable Lapwing (Avefría Sociable / Vanellus gregarius) a bad digiscope photo.

As I reached a spot just past the large blue sluices I found a small group of Northern Lapwings so I set up the scope and scanned and the first bird I looked at was a cracking adult Sociable Lapwing, a bit distant but good through the scope, well happy. 

Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus).

In the same area I also had a male Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), a male Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus), Calandra Lark (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and then just behind me from the canal a calling Penduline Tit (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus) which made me turn around just in time to see it fly North along the reeds and behind it I was even more pleased to see the male Pallid Harrier (Aguilucho Papialbo / Circus macrourus) but it was to far passed me to get a shot unfortunately.

Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus).

I had been on site now for almost 5 hours and had only moved a couple of KM along the Canal but the birds had been kind. I continued on along the channel right along to the main Vejer road, on the way I had a single Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus), several Common Starlings (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), a cronking Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), 2x Great Egrets (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba), a large flock of Jackdaws (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) and just as I was about to reach the road I had 2 Short-toed Eagles (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus) which got my hopes up when they came out of the trees as there has been a wintering Lesser Spotted Eagle (Águila Pomerana / Aquila pomarina) but still a nice sighting.

Pallid Harrier (Aguilucho Papialbo / Circus macrourus) totally out of focus Typical, Classic 😀😀😀😀.

Just up the road I turned into the golfcourse and up at the club house I found a nice group of the reintroduced Northern Bald Ibis (Ibis Eremita / Geronticus eremita) along with lots of Western Cattle Egrets, Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla).

The spot where I saw the Sociable Lapwing.

I dropped back to the Northern end of the track and drove along to the turning left back over to the Benalup side of the area, on my way I saw another Gret Egret, more Glossy Ibis, a Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Clouded Yellow (Colias Común / Colias corcea), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) and another Weasel, Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus), Squirting Cucumber (Ecballium elaterium) and Pitch Trefoil (Psoralea bituminosa).

Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus).

I turned on to the track that goes across the site, passed the farm and amongst the wild olive fields, during this drive I had Jackdaw, Robin, Common Buzzard, Marsh Harrier, Western Cattle Egret, Common Kestrel, Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Common Stonechat, Blackbird, Pheasant (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and as I drove out of the site and back towards La Linea I had a Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) sat on a Pylon, Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius) and Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus).

Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus).

White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).

Northern Bald Ibis (Ibis Eremita / Geronticus eremita).

Great Egret (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba).

Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

Travelling to Gibraltar.

A mid morning run down to La Linea and the a quick whizz around Gib.

Barnical Goose (Barnacla Cariblanca / Branta leucopsis).

We set of across the fields towards the motorway seeing the one flocks of Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), mixed in with good numbers of Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), a perched Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and

House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus).

Barnical Goose (Barnacla Cariblanca / Branta leucopsis).

In Huétor we stopped and checked the Rio Genel by the bridge where we found a Barnical Goose (Barnacla Cariblanca / Branta leucopsis) which had been reported on E-bird but unfortunately it was always going to be an escaped bird and the small plastic ring confirmed this but still nice to see but stays off all the lists.

View from the hotel room in La Linea.

During the rest of the drive down to Gib I saw Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

The entrance to Bar la Serrana.

Arroyo Marin, Laguna Grande, Malaga Province and Sierra de Loja, Granada Province.

Woods, Water and Mountains.

Iberian  Magpies (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).

Nicky and I headed out again and made our way west over the boarder into Malaga Province and down in to the Arroyo Marin. We parked and walked the first Km or so scanning as we went and finding Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), a good group of Iberian  Magpies (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) some of which sat up nicely, Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Long-tailed Tits (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs canariensis), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla) and as we returned to the car we had both male and female Black Wheatears (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura).

Ferruginous Ducks (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca).

We drove further along the valley to the chain barrier and spent some time checking the more open area nearby and the dencer trees near the river and boosted the list with a calling Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes) and some flyover Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra).

Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae).

On our way to the Sierra we called in at Laguna Grande which was full to the brim but also had quite a few birds there including Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), 3x Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca) and Great Crested (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus) and Little Grebes (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and up off the water Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus viridis), Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Long-tailed Tit, Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius) and Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki). 

Ring Ouzel (Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus).

We continued on along the motorway and then up the Sierra de Loja where we drove right over to the far side picking up Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), a couple of Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and

Iberian / Southern Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis).

At the far side of the Charca del Negra track we searched the Hawthorn trees and soon found the first of quite a few Ring Ouzels (Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus) which were feeding on the winter berries, during the visit we saw around 15 birds of both torquatus and alpestris subspecies.

Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae).

In the same area we also had a single Fieldfare (Zorzal Real / Turdus pilaris), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia) and Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

On our way back down along the crags we had good views of another Dartford Warbler, Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and Green Woodpecker.

Huétor Fields and Hacho, Granada Province.

Back out on the local patch again with Nicky.

26 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

We started the day right on the Northern edge of Huétor Tajar and walked out on what is unfortunately a favourite place for dog walkers who do not clean up after their hounds so we spent some of the time dodging the remains.

As we started out and soon found several Common Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), a hundred or so Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), 2 stalking Grey Herons (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) which were plundering the Lucern fields and the first of around 400 Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus).

Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus).

Behind the Curlews we also found 26 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) waddling aroud on a newly cut Lucern field along with good numbers of White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Collared Doves (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and a male Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis) which is a rare bird on the patch.

As we walked back towards the car we found Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) as well as a couple of Tree Sparrows (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus).

Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus).

Once we were back at the car we went and checked the Loja fields side of the site but the Lucern was too long to find anything in the fields but on the cross track back to the rio we picked up a flock of finnches including Linnets, Goldfinches, Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus). Whilst Nicky had her eye to the viewfinder on her camera a Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) flashed out of the Olives and out over the fields too quickly for her to get on to it.

Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

Our next areas were the two lengths of the Arroyo Vilano to the north of the town, as we stood beside the Western end of the River a flock of around 100 Iberian  Magpies (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) came upstream and past us and off in to the fields, we also had 2 Cetti's Warblers (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) which were getting annoyed with each other in a bramble patch and along the Eastern end of the river a Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus) was hasseling the large numbers of Woodpigeons whilst a Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) sat quietly on one of the distant pylons. 

Red Squirrel (Ardilla común / Sclurus vulgaris).

In the Juncus patch we had Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Dartford (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), a flushed Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago) and up on the river again as we were on our way out a Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus).

We moved around to the Mesia side of the site and checked the ditches, channels and reedbeds and apart from the amount of mud it was a success full 40 minutes. We started with a walk along the long ditch and quickly found a male Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) but it was flighty and did not give us great views, a group Red-legged Partridges (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), four more Snipe, Black Redstart, Cetti's Warbler, Common Chiffchaffs, a Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) and our first flight views of a Jack Snipe (Agachadiza Chica / Lymnocriptes minimus) which we watched all the way across the track behind us and down into the field next to the reedbed.

We walked back to the track and then out into the reedbeds where we heard and had fleeting views of a Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), more Common Waxbills and as we returned to the car we again had flight views of the Jack Snipe.

We walked along the main Irrigation ditch and crossed the road to Mesia and out to the river bank where we walked the bank to the road and back to the car only adding a very smart Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea).

Firecrests (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus).

Our next stop was at Bar Pedro where we had a good lunch before going up past the house and up to the Northern side of Hacho where we parked and started to walk the upper track where we had a Red Squirrel (Ardilla común / Sclurus vulgaris) ran across in front of us and tried to hide up in a Pine but we refound it and had some shots of it. As we came back out on to the track we had brilliant views of a soaring Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) which dropped down into one of the oak trees on the next ridge where it was mobbed by several Iberian Magpies before it flew up again and headed off. 

Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus).

This species was at the top of Nicky's target list so she was rather pleased with it. We continued on along the lower track adding Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), 4x Common Crossbills (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra) on the overhead power cables, another noisy Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), a very late male Spectacled Warbler (Curruca Tomillera / Sylvia conspicillata) and back by the car a party of at least 4 Firecrests (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus) which showed extreamly well. We also had Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) and both Small (Pieris rapae) and Large Whites (Pieris brassicae).

We drove back to the Hotel across the fields seeing more Western Cattle Egrets, Jackdaws (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Grey Heron, Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and loads of Spotless Starlings.

Moraleda Fields, the Cacín Valley and La Malaha Fields, Granada Province.

A cracking day out on the local patch with Nicky.

Iberian / Southern Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis).

I met Nicky and as the weather was not great we decided to stay down on the fields, so we headed out to Moraleda where we picked up White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) on our way out on to the way out to the fields nearby.

We spent a while driving the tracks and exploring the Almond and Olive groves where we had views of several Black Redstarts (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Thekla Larks (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), a noisy Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), lots of Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Meadow Pipits (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), the first of a good many Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), 3 Tree Sparrows (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Linnets (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Nicky's first Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), a Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius) which buzzed through whilst Nicky was in amongst the Olives photographing a Hoopoe and missed it, good numbers of Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) which were pushed up by a couple of Bunny Blasters that crossed a nearby field, a flash by male Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), several Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and a couple of very sluggish Clouded Yellow (Colias Común / Colias corcea) butterflies which were struggling around in the cool morning sunshine.

Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra).

Just down the road from the fields we had views of our first Iberian / Southern Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Song (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) and Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and one of the regular Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

We turned around and headed back towards Moraleda and as we passed a field newly sprouted winter cereal crop we had a female Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) sat on a ridge and as we were watching this I was very pleased to see 3 Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis)fly across in the back ground and then even more pleased when they circled around and dropped in on to the same field. We spent a good while watching the 1 male and 2 female Sandgrouse before dropping down through El Turro and into some nearby Pine woods where we had some good views of several species including Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), Crested (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater) and Long-tailed Tits (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus) and a fine Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea).

Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).

Just a little further along the valley we stopped again and checked the woodlands along side the rio again and we soon had Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) and Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major canariensis).

Again we moved just up the road to have a look over the Embalse de Cacín and the list was quickly boosted with Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), a calling heard only Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), 2x Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and our first views of Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) which flew between the pines distantly on the far shore.

Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).

We had some lunch in Cacín before heading up over the ridge towards the fields of La Malaha adding Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris) and a Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus).

Out on the fields we finished the day off with a couple of female Marsh Harriers (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) and a couple of Calandra Larks (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) before we headed back to the hotel.

Huétor Fields, Granada Province.

Out and about on the patch.

I spent an hour or so out on the fields picking upquite a few nice species including 41x Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), 379x Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), 14x Golden Plovers (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaria), 1000+ Woodpigeons (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), 2x Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), 70+ Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), 27x Iberian (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and Common Magpies (Urraca / Pica pica), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus).

Park Parque de Huelín, Malaga, Malaga Province.

Twitching a missing Yellow-browed Warbler in Malaga City.

Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).

After the news that there was a Yellow-browed Warbler (Mosquitero Bilistado / Phylloscopus inornatus) in this park in Malaga I decided to head down and have a look but typically the weather was not great, in fact it was peeeeeeeeeeeeeeeing down and breezy. I stuck at but after a couple of hours I gave up, party due to the fact that the police were chasing down a couple of drug dealers and some ladies that were selling something else 😀😀😀😀

Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus).

I did however see Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), a Harris's hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus) which caused almost has much panic as a hunting Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus) which passed over the site.

Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus).

Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).

Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

Guadalhorce, Torremolnos and Guadalhorce again, Malaga Province.

Seeing Mom and bit of birding down on the Malaga Coast.

Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

I started off by headed down to Guadalhorce and having a look at the coast by the Western walkway but it was fairly quiet, however I did see Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus).

Next I made my way into Torremolinos where I met Mom and John at their Hotel and we spent a few really nice hours wandering along the sea front and having some Lunch, this was just a short extra meet as we will be joining them at the hotel for a few days later in their holiday.

Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus).

I dropped them off in the Port of Benalmadina where they caught the tourist bus for a trip around the area and I popped up to Plaza Cantabria just up the road looking for some Bulbuls which had been around for a while but I dipped on them.

Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus).

I did see Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Robin, Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla).

Great Cormorants (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo).

I gave up and dropped back down to Guadalhorce but this time I parked by the church and walked on to the main reserve and then around to the main hide where I spent most of the visit. 

Black-necked Grebes (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis).

Whilst there I recorded Western Cattle (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Little (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) and 2x Great Egrets (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba), 6x Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), 1x Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Little (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and 10x Black-necked Grebes (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), 

Northern Shovelers (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata).

1x Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), 1x Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), 1x Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), 1x Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), 2x Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), lots of Great Cormorants (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), 2x Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus), 2x Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), 5x Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Spotless and 150+ Common Starlings (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), Meadow Pipit and Black Redstart.

Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).

After quite a while I moved on around to the next hide seeing Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Sardinian Warbler, Robin, Song Thrush, Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs canariensis) and one of the Great Egrets which flew across to the far side of the reserve.

Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

I continued on around to the far bank of the reserve and checked the two hides along there but they were quiet except for a single male Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) from the wader pool and what was probably the same Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) as during my last visit but this time along the old river bank.

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

Down at the coastal watch point I again scanned the sea and was quite surprised to see a single Cory's Shearwater (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea) being harrised by a Great Skua (Págalo Grande / Stercorarius skua) just off shore.

Great Egret (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba).

I walked back to the bridge where I had a Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) before returning to the car and heading home.

Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).

Common Starlings (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris).

Common Starlings (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris).