The Laguna and Torcal de Antequera, Malaga Province

Waders and Ibex.

Greater Flamingo’s (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber).

As usual, I called in at the laguna on my way over to the en-slava hotel at Antequera, the sun was low and viewing was not easy. 

I did manage to pick out a good selection of waders including Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Common (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Green (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Wood (Andarrios Bastardo / Tringa Glareola) x1 and Curlew Sandpipers (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea) x2, Common Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Little Ringed (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) and Common Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax), Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago) and Spotted Redshank (Archibebe Oscuro / Tringa erythropus) x3. 

Spanish Ibex (Capra pyreaica hispanica).

The regular 50-70 Greater Flamingo’s (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber) were out in the very slightly deeper water along with 2 Grey Herons (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and a few Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis). On the water there were about 50 Mallards (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) and 8 Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus). 

On the fields and in the air above the site I also saw Lesser Kestrel (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni), Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans) x2, Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) x1 female, Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Red-rumped (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica) and Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Crested (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and Calandra Larks (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), European Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer Domesticus), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) and Western Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula).

The walk was the usual Saturday hike around the yellow trail at El Torcal, The five of us started out from the car park in nice sunny but cool weather and were soon well on the way around the first half of the walk. 

On the way we had some cracking views of the Spanish Ibex (Capra pyreaica hispanica), a small group of female were first seen and then a youngish male stood on the limestone crags. 

European Plumbago (Plumbago europaea).

Also see were Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blue Rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor). 

Along the tracks on the second half of the walk the only plant in flower was European Plumbago (Plumbago europaea) and the only new birds were Western Bonelli’s Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli) and Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax).

The Laguna again and Near El Torcal, Malaga Province.

A walk to Davids Finca.

David.

On the way over for to days walk I called at the Laguna again, the first bird which stood out was an adult White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia) which was feeding amongst the 50 or so Greater Flamingo’s (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber). Waders included Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Common (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Curlew (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea) and Green Sandpipers (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax), Little Ringed (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) and Common Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) and Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago). 

A couple of Grey Herons (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) were out in the middle of the water fishing and Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) patrolled around the margins. 

About 50 Mallards (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) and 8 Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca) swam along with the Eurasian Coots (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and Common Moorhens (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus).

Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera).

Other birds noted were Crested (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) and Greater Short-toed Larks (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer Domesticus), Western House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido / Apus pallidus) and on the track back to the road I picked up a couple of Black Kites (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans) on the deck feeding.

Sophie, Rowina, David and I set off from the Hotel and made our way to a spot above Villanueva de la Concepcion where we started a walk out to David’s place called Finca Muerte (Death Farm!!!). 

We started from a watering hole for the local goat population, a row of 6 solid limestone baths and made our way up towards the foot of the Torcal cliffs.

David, Sophie and Rowina.

The views were fantastic, as we climbed further up through the scrub and Oaks we were soon in the low cloud as we were a few days earlier. 

Again the Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) appeared ghost like out of the grey shroud, at least 10 birds were seen along with a pale morph Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus) passing what seemed to be a long way below us.
Along the base of the cliffs a couple of Black Wheatears (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura) and a ♂ Blue Rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) were seen perched up on the large boulders and in the dried out grass I identified Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Striped Grayling (Pseudotergumia fidia), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina) and Large White (Pieris brassicae) butterflies. 

We arrived at David’s finca, pretty much a ruin but in a fantastic location amongst the Oak trees and with amazing views right down to the coast. 

We sat and had a drink at the stone building he and his friends had built, here I found a beautiful Spider which turned out to be a ♀ Argyope lobata.

Argyope lobata.

Refreshed we started the walk back down the hill through a much more agricultural area picking up Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus) and a few Iberian Wall Lizards (Podarcis hispanica) which scuttled around on the track side boulders. We eventually got back to the car and went back to the hotel.

Near Antequera, Malaga Province.

Just the Laguna today.

Greater Flamingo’s (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber).

Jayne and I set off to have another look at the newly discovered Lagoon near Antequera and to get some plants for the garden. 

We arrived at the lagoon to again find good numbers of waders, all yesterdays species plus a couple of Curlew Sandpipers (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea) and about half a dozen Common Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia). About 70 Greater Flamingo’s (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber) were also present and looked spectacular in flight when they were flushed by a Micro light Aircraft passing too close. 

Greater Flamingo’s (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber).

A single ♀ Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) put all the birds up again as she flapped slowly along the far edge of the water and large numbers of Lesser Kestrels (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni) were watched feeding on the fields nearby. 

Juvenile Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius).

Other species seen during the drive across county to the town included Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Calandra Lark (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Eurasian  Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer Domesticus), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido / Apus pallidus), Northern Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Common Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scirpaceus), European Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator).

Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica).

Both of the Garden Centre’s plants looked worse for ware, so we said we would wait till the weather cools off and try again.

El Choro and Near Antequera, Malaga Province.

Crags, More crags and a Lagoon.

The view from the top of the Arab steps.

Today it was again the same three intrepid walkers that set off on one of David’s lesser known walks called the Arab steps. The walk started below some amazing crags on the Eastern side of El Choro which were clocked in a heavy layer of low cloud / mist. 

At first the way was along a nice level track blow the crags, in the pine trees and scrub we soon found good numbers of birds including Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Blue Rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Common Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotraustes), Melodious Warbler (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), European Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and in the clouds over head we had the hazy shapes of Griffon Vulture’s (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) breaking into view occasionally, Eurasian Crag (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Western House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) also darted around. 

The view from the top of the Arab steps.

After a while we reached the bottom of the steps, when David had said that we were going to the top of the cliffs we thought he was joking, WRONG. 

We started the ascent up the steep steps between a fold of rock which made them invisible from below, we move slowly up adding a small herd of Spanish Ibex (Capra pyreaica hispanica) which scampered up the almost vertical rock face, Striped Grayling (Pseudotergumia fidia), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera) and Small White (Artogeia rapae) were also added even though it was thick cloud and cool weather. 

Once we were at the top it was well worth the effort as the moody views through the clouds were great, we move on further up and around the back of the crags eventually coming to a decent track. On the walk down several Spotted Flycatchers (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata) were seen in the pine woods along with Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Western Subalpine Warbler (Curruca Carrasquena / Sylvia cantillans) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor). We arrived back at the car, and we started the drive over to the King's Walk end of El Choro to check out part of a walk I had missed a few days earlier.

We passed along the river and through some spectacular limestone areas until we reached the start point, from here we did most of the normal Choro walk but cut off on a spur which was the part I had missed. 

Here I added Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Great Tit (Carbonero Común / Parus major), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica). 

Once we were again back at the vehicle we headed back to the Hotel at Antequera where David gave me some directions to a Lagoon which I did not know about.

Bridge of the Kings Walk.

I arrived at the largish area of water to find good numbers of waders on the muddy margins including Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax) x5, Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus) 100+, Wood Sandpiper (Andarrios Bastardo / Tringa Glareola) x2, Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Common Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta) x2 and Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago). 

Other species seen included Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Spanish (Yellow) (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) and White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Eurasian Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Common Stonechat, Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

Three species of Dragonfly were also seen, Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum), Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator) and Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii).