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.

Near Loja, Granada Province.

Heard but not seen.

The Sunset from Hacho.

Jayne and myself made a quick visit to a site about 5 minute from the house, below some rocky cracks and on the edge of a pine woodland we hoped to get views of a pair of European Eagle Owls (Buho Real / Bubo bubo). I had first seen these birds about 6 weeks ago whilst a friend from the UK was visiting and we were out setting up his (John Morgan) bat detectors.

The Sunset on the crags

This evening we were only lucky enough to hear the two birds but they were not willing to show. We did see Great Tit (Carbonero Común / Parus major), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), 100+ Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus), Blue Rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis), Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).