Extremadura and Heading North to Palencia, Palencia Province, Spain

Up to Palencia in a 1300KM roundabout sort of way.

Going North to UK, Day One.

Great Bustard (Avutarda Común / Otis tarda).

I Started off the trip by driving down down to John's at Casares to drop his bag off which was left in my boot after our days birding and from there I pushed on North around Sevilla and up as far as Llanos de Cáceres where I stopped for some lunch.

On the way up I saw White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Griffon (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) and Eurasian Black / Cinereous Vultures (Aegypius monachus), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax) and Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus).

I took to the tracks out on Llanos de Cáceresand within seconds I had 6 Great Bustards (Avutarda Común / Otis tarda) walking around in a field right by the side of the road but within a few more seconds a pickup came in the opposite direction and the birds flushed up and I only managed some back on flight shots.

In the same area I saw Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Calandra Lark (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser).

I continued on to my over night stop in Palencia, on the way adding Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) before arriving.

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A walk out on the fields. 

Ebird List.

 

Nothing very exciting, just first Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) of the season.

Field near Campanillas, Malaga, Malaga Province, Spain.

On my way Home.

 

White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).

John and I got a good bit of painting done at the finca during the morning and then I headed off after having some lunch and made just the one call on the way back at the Pectoral Sandpiper (Correlimos Pectoral / Calidris melanotos) fields but there was no sign of the bird.

Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

I did however see good numbers of White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Wood Sandpiper (Andarrios Bastardo / Tringa glareola), Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), White (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica).

White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia) and Wood Sandpiper (Andarrios Bastardo / Tringa glareola).

Wood Sandpiper (Andarrios Bastardo / Tringa glareola).

 

Cazalla Watch Point, Los Lances Beach, Barbate Saltpans and La Janda, Cadiz Province, Spain.

A days birding with John.

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

John and I headed out for a days birding off the plot, doing part of a route John had done many times in the past which usually included Laguna Medina but as it was bone dry we did not bother with it and started the day by driving down to watch some of the visible migration near Tarifa.

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

Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) ?????

We arrived and set our selves up and we were soon watching the first of a good number of Short-toed (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus) and Booted Eagles (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus), Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Common (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and Honey Buzzards (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus).

Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus).

Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus).

As we were watching the raptor's we also had other species including Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), House (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Sand Martins (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia), Red-rumped (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Alpine Swift (Vencejo Real / Apus melba), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).

Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans).

After several hours of migration things slowed down so we headed off and a walk out to the Hide on Los Lances beach, we parked and checked out the meadows before the boardwalk where we had Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae).

Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax).

Northern Bald Ibis (Ibis Eremita / Geronticus eremita).

Northern Bald Ibis (Ibis Eremita / Geronticus eremita).

From the hide we scanned through the waders finding Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Bar-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colipinta / Limosa lapponica), Pied Oystercatcher (Ostrero Euroasiatico / Haematopus ostralegus) and Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta).

White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).

Other speices included Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Willow Warbler (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus), Audouin's Gull (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii) and Small White (Pieris rapae).

Monarch (Danaus plexippus).

Monarch (Danaus plexippus).

Monarch (Danaus plexippus).

We returned to the car again and drove up to the Saltpans to the south of Barbate where we parked in the shade of some trees and scanned the pools finding several new species including Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa), Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Red Knot (Correlimos Gordo / Calidris canutus), Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Caspian Tern (Pagaza Piquiroja / Sterna caspia), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) and as we were driving out of the site through the small fields full of live stock we found several of the ugly looking but beautiful in their own way Northern Bald Ibis (Ibis Eremita / Geronticus eremita).

Blue-eye (Erythromma lindenii) male.

Blue-eye (Erythromma lindenii) female.

We drove passed Vejer and down to the Northern track into La Janda, along the main track along the canal we saw Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), many White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia) including a strange looking Melanistic bird, Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) and quite a few nectaring Monarchs (Danaus plexippus).

Egyptian Grasshopper (Anacridium aegyptium).

We turned around at the southern end of the track and returned to the canal crossing and drove up to the farm and out through the wild Olives finding Pheasant (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia). 

Zeller's Skipper (Borbo borbonica).

Our last stop of the day before we headed back to the plot was on one of the side roads on the way back up to Benalup where I was very pleased to find several Zeller's Skipper (Borbo borbonica) along with Blue-eye (Erythromma lindenii) Damsel, Egyptian Grasshopper (Anacridium aegyptium), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis), Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), and as we drove off the site Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and a Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) which whizzed off up river but not before John picked it up and we both had nice views.

Zeller's Skipper (Borbo borbonica).

Zeller's Skipper (Borbo borbonica).

Once we were back on the patch we sat on the terrace with a beer and finished the day list off with Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes) and Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) which was a great way to end the day.

Field near Campanillas and Finca Molina, Casares, Malaga Province, Spain.

Another American Wader for the year List.

Pectoral Sandpiper (Correlimos Pectoral / Calidris melanotos).

On my way down to visit John a friend near Casares I called in at a flooded field near Malaga where there was a Pectoral Sandpiper (Correlimos Pectoral / Calidris melanotos), I was there ust as the light was coming up and soon had the bird distantly on the far side of the field.

In the same field I also recorded Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Western Yellow Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava flavissima), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

Pectoral Sandpiper (Correlimos Pectoral / Calidris melanotos).

Once I had seen the Sandpiper I drove down to John's and we spent some of the day preping some areas of wall for painting but later we sat out on the terrace for a beer and saw Egyptian Vulture (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus), Booted (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus) and Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus) and Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla).

Rambla Morales and Cabo de Gata Saltpans, Almeria Province, Spain.

A late start but a Spainsh Lifer from America.

Rambla Morales Ebird List.

Saltpan Ebird List.

Two of the four White-winged Terns (Fumarel Aliblanco / Chlidonias leucopterus).

After getting a phone call from good friend Juan Perez Contreras to tell me that a Wilson's Phalarope (Falaropo Tricolor / Phalaropus lobatus) that had been around for a few days was still there I set off within a few minutes and I was on site within 2.5 hours but I could not find the bird.

Wilson's Phalarope (Falaropo Tricolor / Phalaropus lobatus).

Wilson's Phalarope (Falaropo Tricolor / Phalaropus lobatus).

I did however see the first of four White-winged Terns (Fumarel Aliblanco / Chlidonias leucopterus) feeding out over the lake and on the lake Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Pintail (Ánade Rabudo / Anas acuta), a single Red-crested Pochard (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina), White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Slender-billed Gull (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei) and Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) were all seen.

Red-crested Pochard (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina).

On the beach and around the margin I added Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus), Bar-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colipinta / Limosa lapponica) x2, Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax), Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Curlew Sandpiper (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta) and 4x Collared Pratincoles (Canastera Común / Glareola pratincola).

White-winged Tern (Fumarel Aliblanco / Chlidonias leucopterus).

White-winged Tern (Fumarel Aliblanco / Chlidonias leucopterus).

White-winged Tern (Fumarel Aliblanco / Chlidonias leucopterus).

After carrying out several scans of the pool and the margins I could not find the bird so I rang Juan to see if he could give me any further information on the bird, he said he was only 10 minutes away and would meet me.

White-winged Terns (Fumarel Aliblanco / Chlidonias leucopterus) x4.

White-winged Tern (Fumarel Aliblanco / Chlidonias leucopterus).

White-winged Tern (Fumarel Aliblanco / Chlidonias leucopterus).

Juan arrived and he told me where he had seen the bird and showed me some photographs he had taken and they are used above (Thanks Juan), we both scanned the lake and after a while Juan picked up the bird a long way down the lake but we had decent views through the scope,

Collared Pratincole (Canastera Común / Glareola pratincola).

Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba).

We watched the bird for quite a while before we went down to the Salina's where we looked for but did not find a Lesser Flamingo (Flamenco Enano / Phoenicopterus minor) which had been around for a while, however we did see Spotted Redshank (Archibebe Oscuro / Tringa erythropus), Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata), Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Little Stint, Dunlin, Sanderling, Black-winged Stilt, Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Greater Flamingo, Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis) and Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo).

Red Knot (Correlimos Gordo / Calidris canutus).

Red Knot (Correlimos Gordo / Calidris canutus).

Red Knot (Correlimos Gordo / Calidris canutus).

Bar-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colipinta / Limosa lapponica).

Bar-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colipinta / Limosa lapponica).

I returned to Rambla Morales, on the way I dropped  Juan back to spend the rest of the afternoon with Beatriz and Chika, I sat down on the beach and scnned the lake again bit the Phalarope was still a good way back down the lake.

Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus).

Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus).

Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus).

I spent another couple of hours sat on the sand adding Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Sand (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia) and House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Western Yellow Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava flavissima) before I headed back home.

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

Playacan Motril, Charca Suarez and travelling home, Granada Province, Spain.

A mornings birding with good friend Juan at the Charca.

Ebird list.

Audouin's Gull (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii).

After Miguel and I had finished checking and releasing the moths Miguel shot off and I headed out on to the beach in front of the Reserve where I saw Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Cetti's  (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) before I met up with Juan and Chika.

Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus).

Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis).

Red-knobbed Coot (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata) and male Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos).

After having a chat Juan and Chika headed back to their place before I met Juan later in the reserve and we spent the moring birding around the hides, on the walk in to the new hide we saw Cetti's Warbler, Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Spotless Starling, Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata) and Red Avadavat (Bengali Rojo / Amandava amandava).

Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca) male.

Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca).

From the hide we had the regular White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia) as well as Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio) and Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca).

Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) female.

Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) female.

Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) female.

Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) male.

We moved on around towards the main hide but had a quick look in at the hide at the Northern end of Laguna del Taraje adding Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera) and Red-knobbed Coot (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata).

Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur).

From the main hide we heard and saw Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), Night (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax) and Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) and an old Penduline Tit (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus) nest.

Penduline Tit (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus) nest.

On our way areound the the first hide over looking Laguna Trebol we had brief views of a Wryneck (Torcecuello / Jynx torquilla), a fly over Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and a calling Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major).

Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).

Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).

From the hide we saw an immature Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), both male and female Bluethroats (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica), Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca) female type, Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica).

Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera) male and Female.

Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera) male and Female.

We walked around to the southern hide over looking Laguna Taraje where we sat and watch a really smart pair of Gadwall which were sat out on a log, Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica).

Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) male.

We then left the reserve and Juan went back to his appartment and I headed home picking up another Marsh Harrier and a pale Morph Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus).