RAM and Charca de Suárez (Motril), Granada Province.

RAM sea bird survey.

White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala).

Juan Pérez Contreras and myself set off from Granada at 06:15 on our monthly visit to cabo Sacratif to the East of Motril. Where we carry out a sea watching session which is also carried out at many other coastal sites in Spain at the same time on the same day each month.

Generaly the time spent during the survey was quiet but several Cory's (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea) and Balearic Shearwaters (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus) were seen along with a single Imm Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), 2 Shelducks (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna). Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta) and 2x Peregrine Falcons (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus) were also seen. Pallid Swifts (Vencejo Pálido / Apus pallidus) flew around the cliffs and Sardinian Warblers (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) called from the surounding scrub.

Little Grebe (Zapullin Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis).

We later moved to the docks at Motril where four Audouin's Gulls with rings were recorded and the information will be forwarded to the ringing groups for further information.

The next stop was at Charca de Suárez, a group of lagoons on the coast near Mortil. I added a couple of new species to my small but growing list for Granada Province which were Garganey (Cerceta Carretona / Anas querquedula) and White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala) both males. 

Garganey (Cerceta Carretona / Anas querquedula).

Also seen were Little Bittern (Avetorillo Común / Ixobrychus minutus), Squacco Heron (Garcilla Cangrejera / Ardeola ralloides), Purple Swamp-hen (Calamón Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Whiskered Tern (Fumarel Cariblanco / Chlidonias hybridus), Little Grebe (Zapullin Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus) and Reed Warblers (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scirpaceus).

Charca de Suárez, Granada Province.

Broad Scarlets (Crochemis erythraea).

Male Broad Scarlet (Crochemis erythraea).

Teneral male Broad Scarlet (Crochemis erythraea).

The weather while we were at Charca de Suárez was quiet dull so not many insects were flying. A teneral male Broad Scarlet (Crochemis erythraea) was found settled in a clump of rush and was photographed. Several males were seen at the site later as the sun broke through and warmed things up.

Right place at the right time, Guadix, Granada Province.

Rollers.

Roller (Carraca / Coracias garrulus).

A last minute trip to an area near Guadix allowed me to get the chance to get some shots of Roller (Carraca / Coracias garrulus) a fantastic bird which breeds in old dead tree stumps. Five birds were seen in the valley and this bird allowed me to approach in the car as it sat preening in a road side tree. 

Roller (Carraca / Coracias garrulus).

Also seen in the same area were Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator glandarius), Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis), Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) and Stone-curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus).