Rio Guadalhorce, Malaga Province.

Jacko's last birding before the return to the airport.

Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus).

Jacko, Jayne and I set off down the Motorway heading back down to Malaga Airport for Jacko’s flight back to the UK via Rio Guadalhorce Nature Reserve. We first dropped Jayne off at the Plaza Major Centre and then went and had a last hours birding from the western sea watch point. 

Jacko had already passed the 159 species total he had set on his 2009 visit last night, so we were just mopping up a few extras, the first were 4 Cory's Shearwaters (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea) which were moving through west along with several Northern Gannets (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), these were soon followed by a couple of Little Terns (Charrancito Común / Sterna albifrons) who’s numbers had grown to 8 before we left. 

Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia).

On the beach there were a couple of Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) which were joined by a single Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba) and several Common Sandpipers (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos). 

Jacko then picked up a distant flock of birds off to the east which as they got nearer were identified as 70+ Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus), some of which alighted on the far end of the beach whilst others went down on Laguna Grande. 

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus).

The nearly summer plumaged Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres) seen at the start of Jacko’s trip was still on the rocks and it was joined by 3 Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta). Other birds seen included Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), a single immature Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and a single none breeding plumaged Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus). The last hour soon went by but we had managed to bump Jacko’s trip list up to 166 before going to the airport for his flight.