Travelling to Iznajar Dam, Malaga Province.

A few more birds for the year list.

Sun rise through the Poplars.

I left home this morning and had a quick look down on the fields at Huétor Tajár on my way over to the Dam on Embalse de Iznajar. The sun coming up through the Poplar plantaions made for a pleasant sight and gave me hope that the forecast rain would hold off till after the walk. The only birds of interest on the fields were a flock of around 40 Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) which were spirraling down to feed on a newly flooded Lucerne field near the town and a male Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator) which was sat up on the wires near the railway (first of the year). I headed over towards Iznajar and then as I had plenty of time I took the road/track along the southern side of the lake. In amongst a small piece of Oak woodland I had two more year ticks, a Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos) and Bonelli’s Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli). Both birds were singing from right at the top of a large tree, but as the road was quite high on the hillside I was level with the tree tops and this gave me nice views. Other species seen on the way included Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido / Apus pallidus) and Woodlark (Totovia / Lullula arborea).

On the return journey I picked up a single Willow Warbler (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus) and a male Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus).