IF YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE BLOG ON A PHONE PLEASE CHANGE TO WEB VIEW AT BOTTOM OF PAGE AS IT WILL LOOK BETTER, THANKS MICK.

Saturday, 28 April 2012

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.

Friday, 27 April 2012

Sierra de Loja and Western Slopes, Granada Province.

Adalucian Bird Society April Meeting (and the sun was out).

Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) taken by Stephen Powell .
This morning Jacko, Andy and I were joining more birders for a mornings birding in the Sierra de Loja and an afternoon in the valley to the western side looking for Orchids. We arrived quite early so decided to go and have a look at the disused quarry to see if the Eagle Owl (Buho Real / Bubo bubo) was sat out on it’s platform and to both Jacko and Andy's great pleasure it was, as nether had seen this species before. Whist we were there we also had Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura) and Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax). We then headed back down and meet up with the rest of the ABS members, 16 of us in total set off up to quarry at just after 10:00 and the biggest surprise was that the sun was out after the last two years visits both being a washout. 
Linaria anticaria.
We arrived at the quarry to find that the Owl had disappeared back into its cave out of sight which was a bit disappointing but we did see the Black Wheatear, Red-billed Choughs, Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor). Some of the group who waited out side the quarry also picked up Spectacled (Curruca Tomillera / Sylvia conspicillata) and Dartford Warblers (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata). Up on the very to of the rock face above the quarry we also had nice but distant views of a single Spanish Ibex (Capra pyreaica hispanica). 
We then started off back down the small track but stopped just before we reach the main dirt road where we had a look at some interesting plants including Linaria anticaria, Viola dementria, Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum umbellatum), Spring Rockcress (Arabis verna) and Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea). 
Spring Rockcress (Arabis verna).
Whilst we were here we also picked up Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Bonelli’s Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli) heard only, Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus) heard only, Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa) and Coal Tit (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater). In the pines on our way up to the crags we added Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) and in the air there were a few Pallid (Vencejo Pálido / Apus pallidus) and Common Swifts (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), along with more Barn Swallows.
Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush (Roquero Rojo / Monticola saxatilis) taken by Stephen Powell .
We then drove out on to the area below the northern crags and stopped above an area of Hawthorn trees and other scrub, here we picked up Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), a male Subalpine Warbler (Curruca Carrasquena / Sylvia cantillans) which sat out on the top of a hawthorn for a few seconds, Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), both Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Great Tits (Carbonero Común / Parus major), several Common Stonechats (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), a singing /calling Rock Bunting which was sat nicely in a bush and more Jackdaws, Red-billed Choughs and Common Kestrels along the crags. A rather large Ladder Snake (Culebra de Escalera / Etaphe scalaris) was also seen from the track curled up amongst the herbage.
Conical Orchids (Orchis conica).
Up on the flatter tops we soon added several stunning male Black-eared Wheatears (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica) to the day list along with Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), the only Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) of the day, Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia). We pushed on past the two pools of Charca del Negra and went around the far side of the ridge looking for and finding Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush (Roquero Rojo / Monticola saxatilis), we had some distant but very nice views of a displaying male which was heard singing and seen doing it’s display flight from the high cliffs. Along the crags in the same area we saw more Rock Sparrows, Rock Bunting, Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Red-billed Choughs, Blue Rock Thrushes including a female and Black Wheatear. On the way down we stopped at the Charca and had a look for but did not see Sharp-ribbed Salamander (Pleurodeles waltl), but we did see some plants of Narcissus Bugei some of which were still in good nick. 
Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum robertiana).
We continued on down at a quicker pace as lunch was calling but we still had time to call pick up a Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis) which was skulking around an old tier which had been cut up to be used as a feed trough and to see a male Spectacled Warbler (Curruca Tomillera / Sylvia conspicillata) in the broom scrub above the large marble quarry and give the Eagle Owl a second try before heading around to Venta del Raya for a very nice menu del dia. Jacko, Andy and I also stopped briefly on the crags again to try and get more views of the Subalpine but failed but we did hear a calling Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei).
We later went on down the road towards Zafarraya calling at some roadside crop fields where we soon located a couple of male Montagu's Harriers (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) quartering the fields below us. Then it was onwards to an area of Oak woodland where we were hoping to find a few Orchid species and it was just a few due to the dry cold winter. We started with more Yellow Bee Orchids and a well over with Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera) and several Fan-lipped Orchids (Orchis collina) some of which were going over. We walked further along the woodland edge and started to find good numbers of Conical Orchids (Orchis conica) and lots of the rosettes of Lizard Orchid (Himantoglossum hircinum) which will be in flower later in June and July. 
Southern Early Purple Orchid (Orchis Olbiensis).
We also heard and saw several species of bird including another Subalpine Warbler, Woodlark (Totovia / Lullula arborea), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius) and Bonelli’s Warbler. We continued to look for orchids and found Giant (Himantoglossum robertiana), Lange's (Orchis langei) rosettes only, Southern Early Purple Orchid (Orchis Olbiensis) and Sword-leaved Helleborine (Cephalanthera longifolia). Several Species of butterfly were seen during the day including Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Brown Argus (Aricia agestis), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenoides), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Sage Skipper (Muschampia proto), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus), Small White (Artogeia rapae), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina), Swallowtail (Papilio machaon) and Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera).
Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenoides).
At this point some of the group continued further on down the valley but we headed back to the house as Andy had to be down on the coast later that evening. Jayne, Jacko and I finished the day with a nice meal and a few drinks out on the terrace.

Thursday, 26 April 2012

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

From the Terrace and a new species for the local patch.

Today we were staying local party because I am shattered and also Jayne needs the car to go to craft group in Trabuco. We spent most of the morning birding from the terrace where the Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator) kept upsetting the local Sardinian Warblers (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) by perching up high in the fig trees. In the olives we could hear at least two possibly three Golden Orioles (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus) calling along with a male Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus) which was singing from further up the Barranco. Several Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) were seen flying low over the tree tops and both Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus) and Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur) were heard. 
Other species seen before we went out birding properly were European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer Domesticus).
We had a lift off Jayne down as far as Huétor before starting to make our way out on to the field from the south. On the walk through the small industrial estate we picked up Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata). 
We continued on past the model aircraft landing strip and up onto the railway bridge, along the way there were several Tree Sparrows (Gorrión Molinero / Passer Montanus) mixed in with the large numbers of House Sparrows, singing Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), Serins (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) which were feeding on a small weedy field and in the air lots of Common Swifts (Vencejo Común / Apus apus). Just as we reached the far side of the bridge two birds got up out of a nearby field and flew straight towards us, they were a pair of Collared Pratincoles (Canastera Común / Glareola pratincola) an new species for my local patch and only the second and third I had ever seen in the province. 
We continued on across the fields towards the bridge over the Arroya and then took the track that follows it to the east adding Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix) and Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) on the way. From the track we has cracking views of a nice male Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), heard and saw several Golden Orioles (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Melodious Warbler (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and had several Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) collecting reed tops for nesting material. 
We then heard a calling Eurasian Scops Owl (Autillo Europeo / Otus scops) from in one of the poplar plantation but we could not see the bird so we continued on along the track and went under the low railway bridge crossing the Arroya. This was an area I had not been into and it was quite different to the other side of the bridge where we had just come from as the irrigation channel feeds in to here and instead of being completely dry it had running water and was lush and green. 
Here we had several singing Reed Warblers (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scirpaceus), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus), a single Green (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) and a pair of Common Sandpipers (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Little Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and a migrating Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis). 
We then made our way back out under the bridge and followed the track on the opposite side of the dry Arroya back towards the bar at the bottom of the road, on the way we saw Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata).
We stopped off at the bar and had a couple of beers and some tapas just to keep us going and then made our way back up towards the house. Jayne came home and later we were joined by another birder who was visiting just for the one night, Andy Mountford. We went down to Huétor for a meal before heading home.

Wednesday, 25 April 2012

Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

Second day's birding this week with an America Visitor.

Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus).
Jacko and I set off up to Granada at around 07:00, I dropped Jacko off near the Alhambra to do some birding in the gardens and surrounding area and then picked up Hilary nearby. Hilary and I were going to be having a days birding in the Cacín Valley area so we set off to the first site which was on the way at a semi-disused Cortijo. The first birds seen were at least 15 Lesser Kestrels (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni) which were breeding in the derelict parts of the buildings, also around the area were Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and a single Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata). In the dry Barranco we picked up Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos) and Melodious Warbler (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta), two species at opposite ends of the beautiful song ratings. On the fence that surrounded the nearby industrial estate we added Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica). We then moved on to the industrial area where we immediately picked up a male Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) which was displaying quite near the fence, leaping into the air and walking around with his neck feathers all puffed out. Both male and female Common Kestrels (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus) were sat up on the lamp posts, both Crested and Calandra Larks (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) called overhead and a pair of Red-rumped Swallows (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica) did an areal display around some half completed buildings. We then continued on towards the Cacín Valley via Ventas de Hulmera, just before we reached the town Hilary spotted two birds in a newly ploughed field so we turned around and had cracking views of a pair Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus). 
On the Cacín road our first stop was by a poplar plantation and reed bed, here we picked up Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) heard only, Olivaceous Warbler (Zarcero Pálido / Hippolais pallida) I was surprised to find this bird still here, female Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur) which was purring from a nearby dead tree, Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis), a male Subalpine Warbler (Curruca Carrasquena / Sylvia cantillans) which did its best not to be seen by Hilary but was eventually added, A male Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) singing with a bill full of grubs and a very dark Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo). We then turned off on to one of the local farm tracks and quickly added a pale phase Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas) to the days list and further along we picked up a couple of obliging Thekla Larks (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) which showed well by the side of the track. 
Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs).
Also seen along here were Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and at the end of the track there were a couple more calling Little Bustards and two males which were doing battle in a nearby ploughed field. Before we dropped down into Cacín we heard and saw several Nightingales (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer Domesticus).
Just beyond the village of Cacín we stopped and viewed the mixed woodlands along the river and had a walk to the south viewing some more poplar plantations. From the bridge we picked up another female Pied Flycatcher, Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Winter Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Barn (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and more Red-rumped Swallows and a male Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus) which was singing loudly close to the road but remained elusive. We had a stroll along the river and had excellent views of a single Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and a nesting Great Tit (Carbonero Común / Parus major), more Nightingales and Blackcaps.
We then continued on south along the valley to the roman bridge where several Rock Sparrows (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia) were perched on the parapet as we arrived but did a bunk before Hilary had had decent views but on the return journey they were seen well. We walked across the bridge and from the far side saw Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), 2 Common Cuckoos (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus) which we could only hear at first but they started to chase each other along the valley towards us and flew right over our heads, a male Blue Rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) which again flew before Hilary had seen it, Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris). Our next stop was down on the shore of Embalse de Bermejales were we only added 4 more species, a pair of Little Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), we also heard both Coal Tit (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater) and Bonelli’s Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli).
Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus).
We now retraced our steps back up the valley towards Embalse de Cacín but stopped by a bridge which crossed the river on one of the farmers tracks the flow of water had increased greatly since the last visit, here I saw a single Garden Warbler (Curruca Mosquitera / Sylvia borin) and we could both here a Wryneck (Torcecuello / Jynx torquilla) but this also stayed out of sight. Once we reached the lake it was obvious that the increased flow on the river had bought the water level up considerably but all the wader species were still there but in smaller numbers, these included Little Ringed Plover, Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia) x3, Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus) x2, Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) x10+, Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) x1 and Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus) x4. On the water there were small numbers of Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus) and Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis). Over head we picked up another pale phase Booted Eagle and a distant but identifiable pair of Bonelli's Eagles (Aguila Perdicera / Aquila faciatus) which were displaying over the far ridge, both Common (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) and Pallid Swifts (Vencejo Pálido / Apus pallidus), a male Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) which displayed over the reed beds and a single Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) which flew the length of the lake and disappeared. In the woods on the far side we eventually managed to track down a calling Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei) which was well hidden in a dead tree. We headed north to the small bridge over the river just passed the dam where we added Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scirpaceus) after only hearing it up at the lake plus we heard and saw more Nightingales, Melodious Warbler and another elusive Wryneck.
Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea).
We then went to a small bar in Cacín for some lunch (thanks Hilary) before continuing on up the road to the crags below Moreleda, here we were hoping for Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura) which we got fine and Blue-rock Thrush which we saw but as Hilary quite rightly said it was not close enough for her to tick it as it was a lifer, we waited around hoping it would come closer but it played hard to get so we went up on to the agricultural area above El Turro getting nice views of a perched European Bee-eater on the way. Once on the fields we started the search for the Sandgrouse, whilst we searched we had nice views of Calandra and Short-toed Larks (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), heard Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix) and more Little Bustards. We then went into one of the Almond Groves and had nice views of several Great Spotted Cuckoos (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius), heard more Stone Curlews and watched a 1st summer male Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) at close range. On the drive back up to the entry track we saw a very nice brightly plumage male Black-eared Wheatear (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica) on a pile of rocks and pretty much the last bird of the day was a male Spectacled Warbler (Curruca Tomillera / Sylvia conspicillata) which darted around in the lower branches of some small Olive trees. In the Alomonds there were hundreds of Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea) in perfect flower. We missed the Sandgrouse today but we did get some quality birds at this last site. We then drove back up to the city where I said goodbye to Hilary and collected Jacko after his long days birding.

Thanks Hilary for your company on a cracking days birding, Mick.

Tuesday, 24 April 2012

Fuente de Piedra, Malaga Province and Osuna area, Sevilla Province.

Another couple of lifers for Jacko and a few year ticks for me!

Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius).
Today was an early start as we wanted to be over in the Osuna area as soon as possible so we were on the road by 07:00 and arrived at our first stop at Fuente de Piedra at around 10 to 8. We parked up and went and had a walk out on to the board walk over the small scrap, straight away we were hearing a couple of Great Spotted Cuckoos (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius) scolding each other out on the marsh and soon had them in the scope perched on a distant fence post. On the muddy margins of the pools we soon had a single Temmincks Stint (Correlimos de Temminck / Calidris temminckii) which was moulting into summer plumage, several Curlew Sandpipers (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea) with plumages ranging from full breeding through to winter, a couple of Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta) both in almost full summer dress and at least 20+ Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax). 
Temmincks Stint (Correlimos de Temminck / Calidris temminckii).
We continued to pick up more and more waders and within the first 10 minutes we had seen 15 different species, some of the others were Wood Sandpiper (Andarrios Bastardo / Tringa Glareola) x2, Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Common (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) and Green Sandpipers (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Avocet (Avoceta Común/ Recurvirostra avosetta) and a flyover Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus). 
Curlew Sandpiper (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea).
We also had another wader which we only saw in flight we did not get good enough views of it to be 100% certain of it identification but I am fairly confident that it was a Jack Snipe (Agachadiza Chica / Lymnocriptes minimus). 
Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta).
Whilst searching through the waders we also added Gull-billed Tern (Pagaza Piconegra / Gelochelidon nilotica), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) to the day list before walking around towards the main Lagoon. As we passed the next pool 2 Purple Herons (Garza Imperial / Ardea purpurea) flew in and landed in the reeds out of sight and in one of the larger Oak trees we picked up both Bonelli’s (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli) and Garden Warblers (Curruca Mosquitera / Sylvia borin) along with the more usual Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala). From the view point we saw around 100 Greater Flamingo’s (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber) which was all that was left of the huge flocks seen a week or two ago.
Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae).
We then continued the trip towards Osuna only stopping briefly on the way to see Alpine Swifts (Vencejo Real / Apus melba) at a site near the Motorway.
The first thing we did when we arrived in Osuna was to find a bank for Jacko so that he could change some Pounds in to Euro’s, this proved harder than either of use thought and after being told that because of money laundering you could only change currencies if you had an account at the bank Jacko used the cash point and kept his Pounds. In the town we added both Common (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) and Pallid Swifts (Vencejo Pálido / Apus pallidus) and an adult White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia) returning to the nest with food. Once out in the countryside again we started to pick up new species for the day including Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), Crested (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and Short-toed Larks (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla).
European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster).
We stopped on one of the bridges along the road and within seconds had located three male Great Bustards (Avutarda Común / Otis tarda) distantly on a crop field, but a couple of minutes after we got onto them they took off. Two of the birds headed off away from us but one flew straight towards and passed us with in 100 meters giving Jacko a great view of the first of today’s lifers. Whilst we were here we also saw several Lesser Kestrels (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni) these were the first of what must have been 300 plus birds seen during the day. Further along the road we stopped on another bridge where we could hear several Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) blowing raspberries out in the crop fields, we also saw the first of the days Black Kites (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa) and European Bee-eaters (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster). 
Lesser Kestrel (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni) female.
We again continued further on along the road until we picked up several large blobs out in the fields, these turned out to be another male (who looked very tired) and 19 female Great Bustards. We turned off onto one of the side tracks and immediately started to pick up good numbers of Collared Pratincole (Canastera Común / Glareola pratincola) which were hawking over the fields where a farmer was ploughing up some very dry ground. 
Northern Bald Ibis (Ibis Eremita / Geronticus eremita).
Further along this road we turned onto a rough dirt track and started to scan the area for Spanish Sparrows (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis) which took more finding than expected as during the winter there were loads, we eventually found a couple of males along with a nice pair of European Bee-eaters which were hunting from a nearby barbed wire fence, a Willow Warbler (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus) who’s migration looked over with due to a badly damaged wing and a very dark Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo). 
Roller (Carraca / Coracias garrulus).
Continuing on along this track we came across several Corn Buntings (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) singing loudly from their prominent perches, Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), more Black Kites and ever increasing numbers of Lesser Kestrels
Eventually we reach our goal a large disused Cortijo and after explaining what we were doing to a local Campo Copper we started birding again and the first species seen came as a bit of a surprise. I was scanning along one of the outer walls and came across a largish dark bird, I had seen it with out the bins and thought that it would be one of the free flying Peacocks that roam around the site but I was pleased to find it was actually a Northern Bald Ibis (Ibis Eremita / Geronticus eremita). 
Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax).
It stayed just long enough for me to take a couple of very bad shots but they were good enough to confirm the ID and to see that it was not carrying any rings, it was almost certainly one of the unringed birds from the later generations of the birds reintroduced at Barbate down in Cadiz Province. The bird stayed for just a few minutes and flushed up when the Campo Copper returned to ask us not to drive off the tracks as the birds were breeding, I am driving a Ford Fiesta so I do not know where he thought we were going to go. The bird circled a couple of time before disappearing off over the Olives and out of sight. We then continued birding around the Cortijo and found at least 3 Rollers (Carraca / Coracias garrulus), lots more Lesser Kestrels and at least one of the resident Peacocks
Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus).
We made our way back to the road via a different track and then retraced our way back to the main road and onwards towards Marchena where we picked up a couple of sandwiches to go and went out of the town on the Carmona road to a field where in the past there had been a breeding colony of Collared Pratincoles only to find the site had now been turned into a car park for one of the local factories!!! We stayed and eat our sandwich before heading for Lantejuela and onwards to Laguna la Ballestera passing a couple of dry pools on the way, on the pool there were a couple of hundred Greater Flamingo’s, Eurasian Coot, Gull-billed Terns and the days first and only flock of Black Terns (Fumarel Común / Chlidonias niger). 
Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus).
We then went and had a look at what turned out to be a very dry Laguna de Consuegra before spending a good while checking out Laguna de la Turquilla, here we quickly added a single Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus), several Western Swamp-hen (Calamón Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Great Crested (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Black-necked (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis) and Little Grebes (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and Great Reed Warbler (Carricero Tordal / Acrocephalus arundinaceus) on to the day and trip list. 
Avocet (Avoceta Común/ Recurvirostra avosetta).
From here we headed back to Fuente de Piedra where we saw all the same species but did not add anything new to the day list except for Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna). We then headed home and picked up Jayne and popped back down to the bar at the bottom of the road and had another Tapas evening meal.

Monday, 23 April 2012

Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

5 Eagle species in just 3 hours.
 
Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius).
I had some jobs to catch up with in the morning so Jacko and I did not leave the house until 14:00ish heading for the Agricultural areas near Moraleda. As soon as we entered the sit we stopped so that I could put the scope on the window mount just in case anything sat long enough for me to mess around and get a shot of it. 
Whilst we were sorting out we had two Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix) fly across the track giving us both good but brief views of this secretive but noisy species. A couple of Greater Short-toed Larks (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla) were singing overhead accompanied by a noisy Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) which was sitting on a nearby broom bush. We then moved out on to the site where Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) and more Greater Short-toed Larks were seen along with both Crested (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and Thekla Larks (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) and Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica). 
We then move further through the site picking up a Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) which was sat out on it’s regular rock pile, Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala). 
We then had a drive along the side of one of the larger Almond groves and quickly picked up a cracking male Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus) which sat out giving very good views, we also had at least 6 Great Spotted Cuckoos (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius) amongst these trees and they also showed very well. As we were walking back to the car I heard a call that I knew meant that a flock of Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis) had just taken to the air, with in seconds we were watching 15 of these cracking birds flying over the top of the Almonds we were standing in and then away over to the east. In the Almonds we found hundreds of flowering Yellow Bee Orchids (Ophrys lutea) even though the area had been ploughed up quite recentlyand we also found a swarm of Bees settled on a branch. 
The next bird a male Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) then came up over the distant ridge and worked it’s way down the field towards us giving us a good chance to see all the plumage details on this fabulous bird. Other species at this area included Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) heard only, Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator) a fine bird which posed nicely for the camera, Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), both Common (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) and Pallid Swifts (Vencejo Pálido / Apus pallidus), Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) and European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster). 
We next dropped down into El Turro and then headed South along the Valley to the bridge just before the Embalse de Cacín, here we had very good views of our first species of eagle which was a pair of Bonelli's Eagles (Aguila Perdicera / Aquila faciatus) which flew up the western ridge crossed the valley and flew right over us as they came back down the right hand side of the Valley. 
Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) swarm.
The size difference between the male and female was quite obvious as the two birds soared together. Here we also saw Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and Coal Tits (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater), a female Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca), female Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla) and Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur). 
It was then on wards up to the lake which was still extremely low which meant that the wader seen yesterday were still present and these included 7x Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), 20+ Common Sandpipers (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), 2x Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), 3x Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), 2x Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus) and Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius). 
We also had Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus) out on the water. Other species seen were Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and the second species of eagle, a Short-toed (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus) which was flying North up the Valley. 
We then called in at the Rio Cacín on the road in to the village of Cacín; here we quickly added Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and Great Tit (Carbonero Común / Parus major) to the afternoon’s list. We continued on up this road seeing Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) and another Montagu’s Harrier. We turned off onto one of the many roads/tracks that cover this area and drove for a couple of kms to where it sends being drivable and scanned the area, we could hear Little Bustard, Corn Bunting, Thekla Lark and then we saw the bird we had come for, a huge 3rd year Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti) flew low to our left just a couple of hundred meters away and then landed on a large pile of rocks. 
The bird sat there long enough for us to get good views through the scope before lifting off and spending the next five minutes soaring around in front of us and giving views from all angles, this was a lifer for Jacko so he was well pleased and this obviously gave us Eagle number three. 
The view from the Raptor watch point.
We dropped down off the ridge back onto the road and stopped at a small area of Poplar trees and a reed beds, the first birds seen were both pale and dark phase Booted Eagles (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas) which clattered out of the trees as we arrived (Eagle 4). 
We then turned around and drove back to the Lake where we hung around thinking that we may see the filth species of Eagle, whilst waiting we heard Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scirpaceus), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei) and saw Thekla Lark well and then the filth Eagle arrived just as we were about to give up. 
A fine immature Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) came north along the Valley and passed by just a hundred meters in front of us. 
We then got a second view of Booted and Bonelli’s Eagles with the latter flying straight over our heads so low that I could not get the both wing tips in the bins. Our last stop was at the crags below Moreleda were Blue Rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) were seen before we headed back to the house and then down the bar for a beer or five and some tapas.