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Friday 24 December 2010

Western Slopes of the Sierra Nevada, Granada Province.

Buntings, Finches and Larks Galore.

Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia).
We had got back what is our normally faithful little puddle jumping Fiesta back from the mechanics and decided to give it a test run up to the Sierra Nevada, after dropping Jayne for some last minute bits and pieces of shopping in the city I drove up to a site on the western slopes of the Sierra. 
The road up to the ski resort was fine but on the side routes the ice and snow was still quite a problem, so I spent a posterior twitching last 20 minutes of the drive going very slowly along some bendy sloping roads with considerable drops to the side to reach the site but it was well worth it. Most of the birds coming up will not get the blood pumping for the British birders but I was very pleased with some of them. 
As I choose an ice free and dry parking place a small flock of birds flew in and landed right in front of the car on a girt bank, as I scanned through them I counted at least 20 Woodlarks (Totovia / Lullula arborea), 15 Rock Sparrows (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia) and a single 1st winter male Yellowhammer (Escribano Cerillo / Emberiza citronella) a good start. 
View of the site.
Strolling further along the road I started to scan in and below an area of nut and fruit trees, there were loads of Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) some really bright birds, Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and about 25 Brambling (Pizón Real / Fringilla montifringilla), with most of them being cracking males. 
A Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei) then flew across the road and into the same trees and the first large flock of Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) seen flew over head and it must have contained at least 300 birds. 
On the flatter area at the highest point of the site I saw two female Spanish Ibex (Capra pyreaica hispanica), as I started to walk down the hill I past amongst berry laden Hawthorn bushes. As I walked between them thrushes exploded from their cover and flew off towards the fruit trees, there were several Redwings (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus iliacus), loads of Blackbirds (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Mistle (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and Song Thrushes (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) but none of the hoped for Ring Ouzel (Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus) which Juan Perez and his wife had seen a week ago. 
Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotraustes).
Good numbers of Rock Buntings (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia) were seen and photographed, also seen here were Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Great (Carbonero Común / Parus major) and Blue Tits (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), 20+ Jackdaws (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and a couple of Jays (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius). 
On the walk back up the hill a small flock of about 12 Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) flew over calling and more Corn Bunting flocks past over, in total there must have been well over a 1000 of them in the small area I had covered. 
The finch / bunting list just kept growing, first came a nice male Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotraustes) which sat nicely in a leafless Walnut tree, then the second 1st winter male Yellowhammer, a small group of 5 Linnets (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and a few Serins (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) flew up from the roadside and a party of 4 female and 2 male Cirl Buntings (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus) all perched up neatly on a small Cherry tree. 
Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus).
As I reached the car again I still had the best part of an hour before I needed to get back down to the city so I just set the scope up on the road side and waited to see what turned up. 
A Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla) was the first species and quite unexpectedly it dropped down onto the ground and spent the next ten minutes scrambling around in the grass and scampering over rocks. 
More Rock Buntings and Woodlarks showed well and then an adult male Yellowhammer flew in to a small tree with a flock of about 30 Rock Sparrows, the Yellowhammer looked as though it was in almost full breeding plumage. 
The last three and a half hours had shot by and it was time to drive back down to meet Jayne, the car had behaved well but the birds had performed even better. I had seen only about 30 species but 13 of them were Finches, Buntings or similar.

Monday 20 December 2010

Guadalhorce and Near Fuengirola, Malaga Province.

A shopping and birding day.

Purple Sandpiper (Correlimos Oscuro / Calidris maritime).
Jayne and I set off down to the coast to get the shopping for over the holidays while we have still got the hire car as we are not sure when the Fiesta will be back with us. The first stop was at the massive DIY store Leroy Merlin which is conveniently just opposite the Guadalhorce Nature reserve. I just fancied a look at the beach on the way further down the coast and was quite pleased with the birds seen on this very brief visit. The first things picked up were three separate flocks of Common Scoters (Negrón Común / Melanitta nigra) with a total of 22 birds between them, also seen were large numbers of Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis). 
Purple Sandpiper (Correlimos Oscuro / Calidris maritime).
With a quick scan along the shoreline I added 6 Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), several Sanderlings (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), a Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta) and a few Great Cormorants (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo) which were diving in the waves. A small number of Northern Gannets (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) fished further out and a Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) was also trying hard for a meal from the rocks just off the watch point. The only birds noted over the reserve were a single female Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) which was being mobbed by a flock of about 50 Spotless Starlings (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).
Sea or Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritime).
I then dropped Jayne off in the centre of Fuengirola and then continued further on along the coast to try and find some reported Purple Sandpipers (Correlimos Oscuro / Calidris maritime), eventually I located two birds a little further along the coast road than I had seen them in the previous year. I had just got set up and had taken some not so great shots when two more birders turned up from the opposite direction and the birds were flushed. They relocated further out on some rocks but eventually move back to the large blocks of concrete where they had been first. Again I was just setting up and a police helicopter flew over the site very low and flushed them again and that was to be the last I saw of them that morning. The only other new birds for the day were Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).
Seaside Daisy (Asteriscus maritimus).
The coast line along the stretch was covered in white patches of Sea or Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritime) and dotted with the yellow flowers of both Seaside Daisy (Asteriscus maritimus) and Rock Marigold (Calendula suffruticosa), adding some nice colour at this time of the year.

Saturday 18 December 2010

Granada Airport and back, Granada Province.

Trip to collect a hire car.

After the third break down the ***bleeping*** car was left at the mechanics to be sorted out yet again. Garry one of our neighbours was kind enough to take me up to the airport to collect a hire car and on the way I picked up a few species.
On the fields along side the Autovia near Lachar I spotted a small flock of about 15 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) and a perched Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus). Both Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and a Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus) were also seen on the roadside fencing.
Other birds seen during the journey were Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Stone-curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).

Sunday 12 December 2010

Home near Huétor Tajar and Huetor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A stroll down to the Bar.

Ladder Snake (Culebra de Escalera / Etaphe scalaris).
We got all the jobs done and decided to have a walk down to Huetor and then back over the fields as it was a nice sunny day. We started off down the hill pursued by some of the local campo hounds barking, yapping and generally being a pain. Good numbers of the locally common Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) were feeding in and around one of the farm cottages with at least 30 birds being seen in a tree at the same time.  
Ladder Snake (Culebra de Escalera / Etaphe scalaris).
Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer Domesticus) and Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) were all seen before we headed out into the open fields. On the fields and along the side of the barranco birds were plentiful, large numbers of finches and sparrows fed on the dried off thistle tops, White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Crested Larks (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) seemed to be popping up on the tops of all the field ridges and there were loads of Collared Doves (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and Spotless Starlings (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) on the wires. 
Further down the road toward the town Jayne suddenly stopped and I walked into the back her, when I sort of said why did you do that she pointed at the road just ahead of us at a rather large but dopey looking Ladder Snake (Culebra de Escalera / Etaphe scalaris). The snake really should have been curled up some where but had obviously been disturb from its winter slumber and had decided to take the rather dangerous route along the road side, after some coaxing the reptile moved off into the undergrowth. We continued a little further on and found the wintering flock of Stone-curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) on the normal field, about 200 birds were in view, along with small numbers of both Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) and Golden Plovers (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaia). 
The Arroyo Vilano.
Our next stop was at one of the local bars were we had a drink before setting off on the return walk on the road across the fields. When we reached the railway bridge we stopped and had a good scan over the fields picking up a small group of Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), a second flock of just over a hundred Stone-curlews, Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), a pair of Calling Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax) and a mixed flock of Crested (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis). On the final part of the walk an unexpected bird was added to the list, a Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) was perched low down in one of the Almond trees along the side of the barranco, which at the time only had a small tickle of water in it.
Other species noted included Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Hoopoe, Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina). We also picked up Small White (Artogeia rapae), Large White (Pieris brassicae) and Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) butterflies, a single Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) and a couple of Iberian Brown Hares (Lepus europaeus / poss subsp capensis).

Friday 10 December 2010

Home near Huétor Tajar and Huetor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

First of the winter birds atlas days.

This was the first days atlas work for the 2010 /11 winter period, this is an on going survey and can take up as little as four hours over the 3 month duration. Details of the survey can be found at http://www.seoprogramas.org/__htdocs/sacin/index4.php. I do three itineraries and this take just over six hours plus the travelling but I find it makes you look at and enjoy all the birds, even the very common one.
Today’s walk started from the front door and took me down the road through the Olive groves, out on to the agricultural fields and along the local river. The birds seen are just listed below with there totals and are in the order they were seen.
House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer Domesticus) x 270, White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) x56, Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) x12, Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) x29, Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula) x11, Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) 94, Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) x1, Great Tit (Carbonero Común / Parus major) x7, Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) x95, Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) x15, Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) x57, Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) x86, Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) x12, Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) x137, Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) x3, Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) x6, Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla) x17, Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) x41, Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) x35, Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) x8, Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) x18, Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) x11, Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) x8, Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis) x23, Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) x33, Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) x6, Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) x211, Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) x3, Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa) x3, Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer Montanus) x7, Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) x1, Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) x7, Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) x171, Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) x9, Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) x2, Calandra Lark (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) x1, Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) x123 and Stone-curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) x25.

Tuesday 7 December 2010

Laguna Herrera, Antequera, Malaga Province.

Silent but deadly, a Lifer for my Spanish List.

Short-eared Owl (Búho Campestre / Asio flammeus).
As usual I called in at the laguna on my way over to the hotel for today's walk. I know that it has been raining but I was surprised by the amount of water that was about, several of the local fields were flooded and actually held more birds than the lagoon. On the top end of the nearest field to the track I picked up a single Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) as it flew up from the margins, 70 or so Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) were also on the muddy edges and at least 200 Mallards (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) were out on the water. A bit further along the track I again viewed the flooded field from the raised back and added at least 3 male Northern Pintail (Ánade Rabudo / Anas acuta), a small number of Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Eurasian Wigeon (Silbón Europeo / Anas Penelope) and about 20 Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina). Also on the water were a couple of thousand Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).
On the laguna there were 6+ Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), a couple of Avocet (Avoceta Común/ Recurvirostra avosetta), about 20 Little Stints (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta) and 2/3 Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina). As I watched these birds a pair of White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia) drifted over and landed in the flooded field and a Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius) flashed along the track chasing off all the White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) feeding on the shoreline. 
Short-eared Owl (Búho Campestre / Asio flammeus).
Other birds in this area included Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer Domesticus), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti).
I then drove further around the tracks towards the motorway and stopped to look at a small flock of about 10 Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) and noticed in the back ground a huge flock of Calandra Larks (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) which must have numbered over 250 birds. Whilst I was watching these birds a shape flew in very low and dropped down amongst the Skylark flock, flushing them and the Calandars up. It was a magnificent Short-eared Owl (Búho Campestre / Asio flammeus), it sat on the road side for a few seconds allowing me to get some OKish shots before it flew off a short distance. I thought the bird had missed its target but when it flew a small bird was in its left talon, it landed in the road side ditch some 30 meters further on. It was unfortunaley time to go to work or I would have like some more views of the bird.

Sunday 28 November 2010

A morning of unexpected birding.

Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata) Male.
Today was to be a bit different, with just one guest for the walk and knowing that Dot had an interest in wildlife I was given the option to ask her if she fancied a mornings birding instead of the usual El Chorro walk. She was happy with that idea so we made our way to Laguna Dulce near the town of Campillos, where the water was carpeted in birds. The most obvious birds were several hundred Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), good numbers of Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) and Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis).
White-headed Ducks (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala) probably numbered close to 80, quite an impressive site in their small groups, a few Black-necked Grebes (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis) were seen diving along the far shore along with good numbers of the larger Great Crested (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus).
Eurasian Coots (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and Greater Flamingo’s (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber).
Just in front of the hide we saw the only Gadwalls (Anade Friso / Anas strepera) we could find and several Common Moorhens (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus) and Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago) were in the reeds. A female Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) then flew in low and flushed an immature Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) from the same reed bed. In the distance a couple more Marsh Harriers quartered the edges of the marsh including a cracking male bird and just behind them a small flock of about half a dozen Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus) were picked up feeding with a good number of Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis). On the screens and in the Almonds near the car we added Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra). Just as we were leaving a single Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna) flew in over the fence, a Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and several White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) flew along the road.
On the way to the visitors center at Fuente de Piedra we added a couple of largish flocks of Spotless Starlings (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Woodpigeons (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), along with Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus), Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis).
Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).
On the road along the eastern side of the Lagoon we got our first views of the Greater Flamingo’s (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber) a couple of hundred birds were in a tight group some way out in the water with many other scattered about. Whilst we were watching them a large group of Stone-curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) flew up from the field between us and the water, in total we saw at least 200 birds here and on the reserve. More Common Cranes were seen as we drove around to the entrance, on the walk around the centre we picked up loads of Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Northern Shoveler, Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) and a female Hen Harrier (Aguilucho Pálido / Circus cyaneus). From the large hide we added a single Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), at least 2 Water Pipits (Bistita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis). As we watched the Water Pipits every thing started to fly and get upset, just at that moment the female Hen Harrier made another appearance but this time it landed in the thistle scrub between us and the water, even though it was obscured we still had great views through the scope. We then went to the smaller hide which was quite quiet but we did add a single Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo) and a couple of fly over Ravens (Cuervo / Corvus corax).
Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).
Other birds seen included Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer Domesticus) and Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti).
On the way back to the hotel we paid a quick visit to Laguna Herrera and added Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Avocet (Avoceta Común/ Recurvirostra avosetta) and Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus) to a great day list.

Friday 26 November 2010

Albrighton, Shropshire, UK.

A walk around the village and more time with family.

The gate into St Cuthberts Church, Donington.
In the morning Brenda dropped Jayne and me in to Wolverhampton to pick up the last bits we needed before our return flight tomorrow. By lunch time we were back in Albrighton and we had a walk up to the Chuch at Donnington via the village pool, so that Jayne could visit the family stones and plaques, we later went to St Marys Church to check on my father's Plaque. 
St Cuthberts Church grounds, Donington.
It was nice to have a walk around the area that I had grown up in but as always it is quite depressing when you see all the changes. As with most places most changes have not been for the better but I think that the most notable thing was the amount of rubbish everywhere, the worst example was around the St Cuthberts well and Donnington Pool areas. 
St Cuthberts Church, Donington.
These spots had away been kept nice and well preserved.
Later we again visited Mark, Nicky and the boys before getting ready and going for a meal with my Mother and her partner John. We had a nice evening and then went back to Brenda's. 
Donington Pool.
During the walk around the village I picked up Fieldfare (Zorzal Real / Turdus pilaris), Redwing (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus iliacus), Song (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) and Mistle Thrushs (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus), Pheasant (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris) and Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris).

St Cuthberts Well, Donington.

Thursday 25 November 2010

Albrighton, Shropshire, UK.

Time with the family.

I spent most of the today with my brother and his family but popped in to see a few other friends in Albrighton, we had a nice luch in one of my old drinking haunts and then went back to his house to await the arrival of the kid from school. After a nice day I wandered back to Brenda and Keiths house, on the way I noted a few bits including Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula), more Dunnocks (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), Rook (Graja / Corvus frugilegus), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Great (Carbonero Común / Parus major), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater) and Blue Tits (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba subsp yarrellii), Herring (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) amongst others

Wednesday 24 November 2010

Ironbridge Gorge, Telford, Shropshire, UK.

Visiting a favorate site.

The Iron Bridge.
Today we spent the morning in the town of Ironbridge with Jayne’s sister Brenda and her husband Keith. We parked and had a walk through town towards the world heritage site The Ironbridge, building was started by Abraham Darby the 3rd in 1779 the bridge opened in 1781 on New Year's Day. 
The town and River Seven from the Iron Bridge.
It still looks as impressive today as it away has, spanning the River Seven deep in the bottom of the gorge. We had a walk and did a bit of nic-nac shopping and then went into one of the many cafes for a Hot Chocolate and a warm.
Looking back up to the Bridge.
On the way around I either heard or saw several Nuthatchs (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Coal Tits (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris).
The Towns war memorial.
Looking back across the bridge to the main town.

Tuesday 23 November 2010

Various Sites near Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK

Another day with UK Birds.

Goosanders (Serreta Grande / Mergus merganser).


Jayne and all three of her sisters arranged a days shopping at Telford town centre and as tempting as it was to join them I was talked out of it by a friend and spent a day visiting some of my old birding haunts when I live in Shropshire.
John Morgan kindly gave up a days work so that we could catch up on things and do some birding, we met at Priorslee lake which is just off junction 4 of the M54 on the edge of Telford new town. While we were there I picked up another very common species in the UK which I had not seen for some time a Herring Gull (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus). 
In the far corner there was a largish flock of Tufted Ducks (Porrón Monudo / Aythya fuligula) and Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), along with a single Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor), several Mallards (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus).
Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis).
We then went towards Shrewsbury and called in at Venus Pool, one of the best sites in the county but today it was fairly quiet. From the main hide the highlight was a single Marsh Tit (Carbonero Palustre / Poecile palustris) which was feeding on the dried out heads of Teasels along with several Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis). 
Out on the pool the commonest duck was Eurasian Wigeon (Silbón Europeo / Anas Penelope), closely followed by Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata) and Common Pochard, with a pair of Northern Pintail (Ánade Rabudo / Anas acuta) and a single Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna). 
I was quite surprised to find just a single Greylag Goose (Ansar Común / Anser anser) as in the past there were usually large flocks of both them and Canada Geese (Barnacla Canadiense / Branta canadensis) present. 
We then had a walk to the woodland hide where several feeders hang and large numbers of passerines come to take advantage along with several Grey Squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis). Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Great (Carbonero Común / Parus major), Marsh and Long-tailed Tits (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus) were all there along with Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), several Dunnocks (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major) and Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula). 
Canada Geese (Barnacla Canadiense / Branta Canadensis).
Later we had a walk along the hedges of the top field towards the fishing pool, here we picked up good numbers of Yellowhammers (Escribano Cerillo / Emberiza citronella), Tree Sparrows (Gorrión Molinero / Passer Montanus) and a single Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus). 
Other species seen here included Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus), Great Crested (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus) and Little Grebes (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) and Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba subsp yarrellii).
Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor).
We then carried on towards a small pool just on the out skirts of Shrewsbury called the Mere hoping for some views of some reported Goosanders (Serreta Grande / Mergus merganser). They were almost the first birds we saw, 3 males and 5 females were swimming on this quite unlikely site in the middle of a housing estate along with Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor), Canada Geese (Barnacla Canadiense / Branta Canadensis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata).
Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra).
On our way back towards Telford we stopped on the verge to look at a flock of Swans some way off on a Beet field, all but one were Mute but there was a single adult Whooper (Cisne Cantor / Cygnus Cygnus) amongst them.
Our final stop was at our starting point at Priorslee Lake for the Gull Roost, the best bird turned out to be an adult Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis). 
Not very exciting for me and I was much happier watching the few Herring Gulls there, accompanied by hundreds of Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus).
What had been a great day had come to an end all too quickly and John dropped me back to Albrighton, Thanks John for a great day.
Whooper Swan (Cisne Cantor / Cygnus Cygnus) middle bird.

Saturday 20 November 2010

Various sites around the Midlands UK.

UK birding with some good friends.

Waxwings (Ampelis Europeo / Bombycilla garrulus).
John Holian picked me up and we headed over to Wombourne to collect friend Brian Marsh before going on to Dudmaston Hall to have a look at the two pools. The pool near the road held just a few Tufted Ducks (Porrón Monudo / Aythya fuligula) and Mallards (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos). Opposite the pool entrance there was a well hidden public footpath which lead through some woodland down to another larger more open lake. 
As we approached 5x Goosanders (Mergus merganser) flew over us and disappeared towards the lake we had just left, a larger flock of Tufted Ducks was seen out on the middle of the water, numbering 30+ birds. A flash of bright blue gave away the first of the days Kingfishers (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis). We were at the site for a bird which John and Brian had already seen a hybrid between a Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and a Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus). 
We eventually found the Coot flock and very quickly picked this bird up, it was intermediate in size between the two species, had a pink/orange bill and lacked the white undertail covets of the Moorhen. Whilst I was there the bird swam and behaved very much as a Coot but John and Brian said that they had seen it swimming in a manor more typical of a Moorhen. Two more Kingfishers flew past and disappeared behind some Willows, Rooks (Graja / Corvus frugilegus) called from the Rookery in the Beech trees on the far bank and a couple Common Buzzards (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) drifted overhead. In the woods on the way back we added Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula), Pheasant (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus) and eventually we got views of a calling Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major). 
From the gate where we parked we picked up Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), a male Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) and a single Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo) dived on the upper lake. The next stop was at Essington pool where John had seen a pair of Red-crested Pochards (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina) but the fog was so thick that we could not see a great deal but we picked up a nice female Common Goldeneye (Porrón Osculado / Bucephala clangula) again a bird I had not seen for at least six years or so. 
Waxwings (Ampelis Europeo / Bombycilla garrulus).
Also here Eurasian Wigeon (Silbón Europeo / Anas Penelope), Tufted Duck, Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata), Mallard, Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and more Dunnocks (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis) were seen. 
I had mentioned to John and Brian that I would like to see Waxwings (Ampelis Europeo / Bombycilla garrulus) if there were any about, so when the phone went and a message came in that 20 birds had been seen in Stafford we diverted from our drive towards Cannock Chase. Luckily the site was on the outskirts of the town in the direction that we were travelling (not very often that happens), so we were soon on site and after about 20 minutes searching John spotted them in a tall tree some distance away. We drove as near as we could and walked towards the gates of a local school and the birds were all perched in the top of a semi dead tree and were dropping down lower to feed on Rowan berries. We soon realised that the reported flock of 20 birds in fact numbered somewhere between 80 and 100. 
 About 5 minutes after we arrived the birds were flushed by a Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) and flew off strongly across the housing estate; we had a look around several of the roads locally but could not find the birds again but thought that we would give the original tree another look. Just as we arrived back so did the now very jumpy flock of birds. We continued to watch them for the next hour or so before they flew off again. 
We also saw Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and Coal Tit (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater). Our final stop was near the rifle ranges on Cannock Chase where we were looking for a reported Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotraustes) and the regular Great Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Norteno / Lanius excubitor). We did not see either of the two above but I was very happy with the cracking male Bullfinch (Camachelo Común / Pyrrhula pyrrhula) which was feeding in some birch trees with a flock of Lesser Redpolls (Pardillo Sizerín / Carduelis flammea). 
Waxwings (Ampelis Europeo / Bombycilla garrulus).
We continued our stroll through the woods seeing large numbers of Thrushes including Mistle (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Redwing (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus iliacus), Song (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Fieldfare (Zorzal Real / Turdus pilaris) and Blackbirds (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula). A large flock of birds then past through the pines which included the three tit species already mentioned plus Great Tit (Carbonero Común / Parus major) and Goldcrest (Reyezuelo Sencillo / Regulus regulus). 
On the way back to the car we past a bird feeder which was covered in Coal Tits but more interesting were the five male Yellowhammers (Escribano Cerillo / Emberiza citronella) feeding on the ground below it. After a cracking day John dropped me back at Barbs house, took Brian home before returning to Barbs and picking Jayne and me up again to go out for a curry. A brilliant day thanks John, Sharon and Brian.

Friday 19 November 2010

Wednesfield, West Midlands, Great Britain.

Staying at Barb's.

Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor).
The first day in the UK started with a mornings gardening for Jayne’s sister Barbara. As I tatted around in the back garden I was regularly dragged away from my tasks by birds flitting around in the Hawthorns along the towpath of the canal running along the rear of the garden. These included a few highlights, a pair of Dunnocks (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis) which I have only seen on a couple of occasions back in Spain, a small flock of Fieldfare (Zorzal Real / Turdus pilaris) and a low flying Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor) heading along the canal.
View along the canal.
Later I had a stroll along the canal but the fog made taking any worth while photos hard to get. I did see Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Great (Carbonero Común / Parus major) and Long-tailed Tits (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Rook (Graja / Corvus frugilegus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus).
Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos).