Huetor Tajar, Granada Province.

Dodging the showers.

Stone-curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus).

Juan Pérez Contreras from Granada and a friend who was visiting him from near Leon in France stopped by the house whilst they were out birding in the area. We had a quick drive up the road towards Loja to a site for a pair of Eagle Owls (Buho Real / Bubo bubo); it was the wrong time of day so we were not surprised when we did not see them.

White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

Later in the day I went down on to the fields just north of Huetor Tajar with the camera hoping to get some shots of the Stone-curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus). There were some 160+ birds on the field but just as I was getting to the site a farm worker flushed several of the closer birds. I took some shots and then headed out towards Villanueva Mesia picking up White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común) and Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis).

Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).

I then took one of the tracks along the bank of the Arroyo de Milano and on one of the many shingle ridges in the stream a large group of Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) were bathing and in the Poplar trees surrounding the area there were a lot more birds, numbering over 100 in total. Along this track I also saw Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).

Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).

The next track was along the other side of the Arroya heading back towards town where I had hoped to catch up with the Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) flock but all that was added to the list were 5 Tree Sparrows (Gorrión Molinero / Passer Montanus) and a Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus).

Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla).

I did eventually catch up with some of the Little Bustards, about 60 birds were found on the road out to Loja.

Once at home I set up the camera in the garden and photographed the Iberian  Magpie in a neighbour’s fruit tree.

Huetor Tajar, Granada Province.

More and More Rain.

Huetor Tajar (by the sea).

After a night of wind, rain and thunder I decided to have a run out on to the fields just to the north of Huetor Tajar and have a look at the rivers. In the town the river Genil had burst its banks and the Guardia were just shutting the road as the water was on the bottom of the road bridge. I then went out on to the fields and had a look at the Rio Montefrio, it too was in flood but staying within its banks.

The Bridge.

Looking up stream.

Out on the fields I was surprised to see a group of 3 White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia) feeding on one of the Lucerne fields, with a female Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), 218 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), 150+ Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaia), 200+ Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) and a flock of 5 Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) all from the same place it was quite a good few minutes before the rain returned.

White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).

Rute, Cordoba Province.

A visit to the Chocolate Belen in Rute.

Princess Letizia.

Jayne, Alan and I set off to Rute mid morning to visit what is said to be the biggest chocolate Belen in the world. We arrived and had a walk around the main display, which was very impressive but the smell was enough to put you off chocolate for a very long time. 

Queen Sofia.

We had a quick look at the shop and the drove a little way down the road to look at another largest chocolate Belen at another sweet factory. Here we did buy some of the sweets including some very nice sugared almonds.

Later we had a look around the centre of the town and had a walk around the market and some more sweet producer’s factories.

Chocolate Belen.

On the way back we made our way up to the motorway via the cross country road to Loja. Along this road we picked up Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and an Immature Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) just before we reached the motorway.

Huetor Tajar, Granada Province.

Over Night Rains.

The weather over night was savage, with very very heavy rain and strong winds. The dry barranco at the back of the house was running at about 2.5 meters deep and wide at 2am and when we were heading out to Rute later the Rio Genil was not it's usual 3 meters wide and a meter or so deep.
Photographs from the top: View upstream and view downstream.

Sierra de Loja, Granada Province.

Winter Atlas recording.

Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae).

I had another 8 itineraries to complete today this time on the Northern slope of Sierra de Loja, just above the town. It started in a disused quarry and finished on the flatter tops about 4.5kms to the west. The first birds seen were a flock of about 40 Spotless Starlings (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) circling above the crags, followed by Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Great Tit (Carbonero Común / Parus major), Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis) and Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs). 

Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falcotinnunculus).

Further along the main track up the Sierra a small flock of passerines passed through the pines, including Coal Tit (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus) and a great many Common Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita). Out along the crags I started to pick up some of the upland species expected, these included a single Alpine Accentor (Acentor Alpino / Prunella modularis) which landed briefly on the top of the crags and spent a few minute flying around over head. 

Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula).

Also seen were Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blue Rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falcotinnunculus), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae).

Motril area, Granada Province.

RAM, Motril Port and Charca de Suárez.

Cabo Sacratif.

This month the RAM was put back to the second weekend of the month due to a couple of Spanish holidays. Juan and I set off from Granada at just after seven and arrived down at Cabo Sacratif to the East of Motril where we set up looking over a flat calm sea. The see watching did not produce the numbers but we did see a couple of good species.  

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus).

Arctic Skua (Págalo Parásito / Stercorarius parasiticus) x1 and Great Skua (Págalo Grande / Catharacta skua) x3 were probably the highlight of the couple of hours spent on the headland. We also picked up a single Cory's (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea) and good numbers of Balearic Shearwaters (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus), Razorbill (Alca Común / Alca torda), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Audouin's Gulls (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo), Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) and a pair of Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) and a small group of Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba) also passed by.

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

Along the cliffs Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) were all seen. Amongst the vegetation I picked up a single Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous).

Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna).

The next stop was the fish docks at Motril, where we had more access that usual now that Juan had managed to get a letter of permission to enter the areas behind the barriers. Several Lesser Black-backed Gulls with rings on were recorded along with more Black-headed, Yellow-legged and Mediterranean Gulls, Sandwich Tern, Sanderling and Great Cormorant. New birds included Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falcotinnunculus).

Charca.

We moved on later than expected to Charca de Suárez for a quick look at the pools, fortunately Manolo the warden was not in any hurry so we had a good couple of hours there, some of the time spent in the restricted access photographic hide where the light direction is much better. By the gate we saw several Speckled Woods (Pararge aegeria), a single tatty Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) and Small White (Artogeia rapae). At the first hide Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) and Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) were all added to the growing list.

Stripe-less Tree Frog (Hyla meridionalis).

We moved around to the hide on the long pool where Western Swamp-hen (Calamón Común / Porphyrio porphyrio) was calling from the reed beds, along with Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and White Wagtail. In the distance a single White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia) was picked up soaring, eventually it passed right over head. We then made our way around to the main hide picking up a couple of Stripe-less Tree Frog (Hyla meridionalis) sitting out in the sun. Once in the hide the species flowed again, we picked up Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Eurasian Wigeon (Silbón Europeo / Anas Penelope), Mallard, Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata) and a single Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Eurasian Coot and Common Moorhen.

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus).

Out on the pool we also picked up a single female Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis).

Villanueva Mesia and El Turro areas, Granada Province

Another mornings Atlas work.

White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

The morning started misty and damp but as I approached the start of the area to be worked the visibility improved and I was able to start. I had 8 fifteen minute itineraries to complete, five in the area around the village of Villanueva Mesia and three near El Turro. Along the Rio Genil where it is joined by the Rio Cacín Several Grey Wagtails (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), 30+ Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), a single Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) and a few Cetti's Warblers (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) were counted. Out on the fields Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) were the commonest species, they were also joined by a couple of Common Buzzards (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and a male Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris).

The next two sections were along the wooded banks of the Rio Cacín, Both Great Spotted (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major) and Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei) were heard the former was drumming regularly. Also picked up here were more Iberian  Magpie about 50, Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotraustes), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus), Great Tit (Carbonero Común / Parus major), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).

Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

Later I went to complete the three itineraries near El Turro, here I added Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Blue Rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Miliaria calandra) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falcotinnunculus).

Huetor Fields, Granada Province.

A visit from Bob Wright from the Axarquia Bird group.

Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

I meet Bob down in Huetor Tajar so that we could go and have a look at the wintering flock of Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) which by now numbered 215 birds. I had checked out the site earlier and found the flock on one of their regular fields just out of the town. When we arrived we counted about 180 birds, most of the flock. Bob took some shots from in the car and then tried to get a bit closer by using the cover of the adjacent Asparagus field. Unfortunately a train spooked the birds and they flew off to the fields they use in the Loja direction. We then had a look along the river picking up a single Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata).

Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).

There were also good numbers of Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and Tree Sparrows (Gorrión Molinero / Passer Montanus).

Bob in the Stone-curlew fields.

Later we went down to the fields where a large flock of Stone-curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) had been wintering, but because of a lot of activity on the nearby lettuce fields the flock had splintered and we only had about 70 birds. Also seen were House SparrowA (Gorrión Común), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

Near Andújar, Jaen Province.

The Iberian Lynx in Sierra Morena.

A foggy start to the day.

Jayne, Juan and I set off at some unearthly hour to drive into the mountains in Jaen Province with a dream of seeing Iberian Lynx (lince iberico / Lynx pardina). This was a trip I had long waited to do and a species I had wanted to see for many years.

Round-leaved Oak (Quercus rotundifolia).

We arrived before the dawn but found the site was blanketed in Mist and visibility was about 30 meters. As soon as we got out of the car we started to pick things up by sound including the bellowing calls of a great number of rutting Red Deer (Cervus elaphus), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) and as soon as dawn arrived many species of passerine started to rise. Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Song (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) and Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) were all heard.

Juan search the hill sides.

Juan and I had a stroll along one of the tracks and I had a look at some of the trees and plants. The only blooms seen belonged to Iberian Milk-vetch (Astragalus lusitanicus), a species I had seen before in the area around Grazalema. Round-leaved Oak (Quercus rotundifolia), Strawberry Tree (Arbutus unedo) and Cistus bushes made up a vast amount of the ground cover. At about 12:30 the fog had cleared enough for some serious watching to take place. One of the first interesting finds was an adult Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti) which was sitting in one of the larger Oaks, it later moved closer in a eucalyptus but remained on view all day much to the dislike of the local Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común) population which pestered it all afternoon.

Red Deer (Cervus elaphus).

I then took a stroll along the track again and on my way back I stopped to talk to a couple of Spanish lads and suddenly notice Jayne and Juan waving madly and I soon realized that the walk was a big mistake. The next 200 meters were a blur, I wasn’t but it was the fastest I have moved in a very very long time (probably since PE lessons at school), I got to the others to get a two second view thought the scope. I had seen a Lynx but not for any thing like long enough, but it was a start and I did not wonder off again for the rest of the day. Luckily a few minutes later the magnificent male Lynx came into view again a lot closer, it moved through the Oaks at speed and then appeared right out in the open on one of the tracks. 

Iberian Lynx (lince iberico / Lynx pardina).

We had marvelous views, it was still about 270 meters away but through the scope it was great. During the afternoon the animal was seen again briefly several times until its last sighting when it was about a 750m away but again through the scope it could be seen lying in the grass cleaning its self before moving out of sight over a ridge. 

Iberian Milk-vetch (Astragalus lusitanicus).

During the day we also saw Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei) a couple call continuously all day, Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Little Owl, Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotraustes), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Blue Rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata).

A92 from Granada, Granada Province.

Raptor with a death wish.

Jayne and I spent a hectic but good few hours around the large general market in Granada city, well worth an occasional visit. On the way back near the exit for Lachar (salida 223) I was looking to the south for a flock of about 40 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) which I had seen a few time recently, they were there along with a few Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) and a Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea). As I looked back at the traffic I was aware of a small raptor flying at about 2 meters down the outside lane of the motorway. It suddenly lifted to the northern side and landed in a small tree. All I saw at first was a flash of silver / grey so was expecting it to be a Harrier but as it lifted it's small size became apparent as did the black wing patches and I soon realized that the bird was in fact a Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus).

Rio Guadalahorce, Malaga Province.

A couple of hours on the beach.

Eurasian Oystercatcher (Ostrero Euroasiático / Haematopus ostralegus).

After getting information from Andy Patterson about two Red-breasted Mergansers (Serreta Mediana / Mergus serrator) on the sea from the sea watch point. I arrived at the sea front end of the urbanization and set up the scope on the rocks nearby. The first bird seen was a 1st winter Eurasian Oystercatcher (Ostrero Euroasiático / Haematopus ostralegus) which was feeding on the Common Mussels (Mytilus edulis) on the rock. Also seen from here was a winter plumaged Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis) which sat on the rocks next to the Oystercatcher till a wave forced both of them up on to the beach.
Out on the sea there was a group of 4 Common Scoters (Negrón Común / Melanitta nigra), a single Razorbill (Alca Común / Alca torda), Northern Gannets (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Lesser-black backed (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), along with more Sandwich Terns and 8+ Northern Pintail (Ánade Rabudo / Anas acuta).

Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis).

On the river a couple of Audouin's Gull (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii) were roosting and Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta) were stalking fish from the reedy margins. On the sand bar a group of 20+ Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba) one of my favorite waders were roosting along with a couple of Common Sandpipers (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos).I then scanned along the shore line and picked up the two Mergansers down by the far sea watch point so I got in the car and made my way down to the reserve entrance, on the walk down to the beach numerous Monk Parakeets (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus) flew over, also seen were Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris).

Red-breasted Mergansers (Serreta Mediana / Mergus serrator).

Whist passing the main pool a quick glance added Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia) x3, Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia) x3 and a couple of Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata). Once on the beach, the two birds were soon picked up down near the river mouth, so I walked down to the sea watch point and had some nice views of them. I managed a couple of poor record shots and also picked up out on the sea another couple of Common Scoter. I then walked back via the raised ridge pasted the two hides to the car. On the way I picked up a couple of both Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas) and Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) but did not see the expected Osprey. On the pools to the left of the bank several more Sanderling were seen along with Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus).

Red-breasted Mergansers (Serreta Mediana / Mergus serrator).

On the other drier side of the bank Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falcotinnunculus), Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis) and Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) were all recorded. Whilst I was wondering I also saw a single female Red-veined Dart (Sympetrum fonscolombii) and quite a few Painted Lady's (Vanessa cardui).

Fuente de Piedra, Malaga Province.

A pleasant morning with the Axarquia Bird Group.

Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago).

On the way over to meet Bob Wright, Andy Patterson and the rest of the group I made a short detour out on to the fields North of Antequera. On one of the many tracks that cross the area I picked up 3 Marsh Harriers (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) two males and a juv female. The one male bird was as bright and well marked as I have ever seen a real cracker. Whist watching the Harriers a large flock of Larks was flushed, most of the birds were Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), up wards of 200, along with Crested (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis). 

Also seen were Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Miliaria calandra), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros). 

Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus).

I them continued on towards the meeting point but got caught in a blockage as the electricity people were hoisting a new set of cables between two pylons, one either side of the motorway. I arrived and then so did the rest of the group who had also been stopped. 

After a chat on the car park we made our way around to the Lagoon. Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Lesser-black backed Gull (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus) and White Wagtails were seen on the dried out pools and 30+ Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) on the fields on the approach road. Out on the main lagoon a few Greater Flamingos (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber), 4+ Common Crane (Grulla Común / Grus grus), 50+ Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna) and hundreds of Gulls. 

We next visited the hides around the rear of the centre where Quite a few Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), several Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), a single Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) were all the waders seen, along with Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata) and Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis). 

Common Crane (Grulla Común / Grus grus).

On the banks and in the marginal vegetation good numbers of Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) were feeding and a single Water Pipit (Bistita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta) was picked up wandering the rocks that lined on of the islands. 

On the far side of the pools several Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) were seen and a single Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes). We then moved back towards the car park picking up a pair of Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax) on the way. We moved on around the side of the lake heading south and stopped at a view point part way. It gave a great view out over the fields and marsh that were between the road and the Lagoon, but today there were few birds. 

A little further on a sizable (250+) flock of Common Cranes was seen and unfortunately flushed because of the door slamming which went on. The birds settled again but quite a bit further away, we still had good views. I then continued on to the Lagoons around Campillos but saw very little except for another closer group of Cranes which I managed a few record shots of.

Near Huétor Tajar and Húetor Tájar, Granada Province, Spain.

First day on the Winter Birds Atlas.

Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis).

I started out from the house on the first part of this winters atlas, the first two itineraries are through the Olive groves around the house. The most notable things seen was a very large concentration of finch species feeding on the newly turned ground between the trees. Several hundred Serins (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) made up the bulk of the flock but there were also hundreds more Linnets (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Miliaria calandra) and House Sparrows (Gorrión Común). In the Olives Blackcaps (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula), Blackbirds (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) were the commonest species. 

Huetor Fields.

Once out on to the agricultural areas I started to pick up Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) with a flock of 30+ birds in a row of Fig and Pomegranates, Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis) and a single Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) which was to be the only raptor recorded. In a row of road side Almond trees several Collared Doves (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) were all added to the growing list along with a single unexpected Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata). I then walked the fields along the river bank, here there are a lot of areas cultivated with Asparagus which at this time of the year is nice and tall and gives good cover for a lot of species. 

Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer Montanus).

Along this stretch Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer Montanus), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Great Tit (Carbonero Común / Parus major), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) were seen along with the distant wintering flock of over 200 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

Rio Velez, Malaga Province.

Good Birding amongst the Filth and Rubbish.

Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta).

After a dampish drive down to Torre-del-Mar on the Malaga Coast I was pleasantly surprised to find it was warm and quite pleasant by the time I reached Rio Velez. I parked the car and the first birds seen were a very smart Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta) preening in the riverside reed beds, Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and a couple of Robins (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula) doing Bluethroat impressions in the reeds. Walking further down the river towards the sea I started to hear a call from the tall reeds at the side of the track which I knew were coming from some Penduline Tits (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus) but I could not see them until eventually they dropped down on to the Reedmace (Typha angustifolia) on the main marshy area.
There I could see that there were 6 males and 2 females in the group, but all too quickly they were off again foraging through the vegetation. Along here I also picked up a small flock of Reed Buntings (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus) at least 6 birds flew up from the side of the river when the two horses that were wandering around wandered just a bit to close. Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) and a single male Red Avadavat (Bengali Rojo / Amandava amandava) were all seen before I reached the beach.

Returning fishing boats.

On the beach a little further east a large gull roost had formed with several thousand birds of five species included Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) a few hundred, Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) 1000+ probably the commonest gull I saw during the day, Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii) 50+, Lesser-black backed (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus) 1000+ and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) 100s. Out at sea there were many more gulls along with good numbers of Northern Gannets (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) and a raft of 36 Balearic Shearwaters (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus).
On the beach side of the reserve a large pool held a few Eurasian Coot, Common Moorhens, Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), bathing Spotless Starlings (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and just as I was leaving to head back to the car a group of 5 Monk Parakeets (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus) flew through.
On the way back I meet another couple of Birders and we had a pleasant chat and I then returned back to the beach for a while whilst we talked, they told me about a Greylag Goose (Ansar Común / Anser anser) they had seen just back up the river, so I headed back to have a look. By the time I found the bird it had moved down the river and was right by the car. A couple of Migrant Hawkers (Aeshna mixta) and several Clouded Yellows (Colias crocea) were the only insects seen. On the way out of the site several Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) were noted feeding over the fields near the road bridge.

Greylag Goose (Ansar Común / Anser anser).

A good few hours birding, the only down side to the day was the amount of rubbish and filth that was discarded at the site, some by the river waters from upstream but quite a lot of it was obviously deliberately dumped.

Sierra de Loja, Granada Province.

Ring Ouzel's, camera shy Thrushes.

Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

The main reason for the drive up was to try and get some photographs of the Ring Ouzels (Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus) seen a few days earlier. We started our drive from the woodlands above Loja, several species of wildflower were starting to add a nice splash of colour to the area, including Wide-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia) with just a few of the many thousands of blooms were just starting to show, Purple Vipers Bugloss (Echium lycopsis), Common Mallow (Malva sylvestris) and Field Marigold (Calendula arvensis). Passing the crags several climbers were seen scaling the cliffs, whilst Jackdaws (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and Red-billed Choughs (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) flew along the ridge above them scalding loudly.

Wide-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia).

Once up on the tops we started to see Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura) all of which are regular here. Once we reached the area for the Ouzels we parked in a convenient spot and waited. Several Corn Buntings (Triguero / Miliaria calandra), Black Redstart,  Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) all paid a brief visit to the water hole but the Ringed Ouzels remained distant.

Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia).

After a couple of hours the light started to drop so we decided to return down the mountain before dark. On the way we added several small groups of Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis) and a flock of about 15 Alpine Accentors (Acentor Alpino / Prunella modularis).

Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Capra pyrenaica).

A couple of male Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Capra pyrenaica) were also seen wondering around alone on the higher rocky ridges.