Happy New Year.

Thanks to all of you that take the time to read my ramblings and hope to keep it interesting in 2014.

Sierra Nevada, Granada Province.

In the snow with Jayne, Sue and Sam.

Today was mainly about getting Sam up in to the Sierra to play in the nice new snow that had fallen on Christmas day. We set off hoping to get up to the main carpark above the town but due to the volume of people having the same idea the police were stopping cars and sending them back down in to the town so we parked in the main car park and had a wander.

Whilst there we had a good lunch and watched some of the skiers before dropping back down to one of the roadside areas where we had a great time building a snowman and having snowball fights before heading home to warm up.

We did see a few birds including Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Coal Tit (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) and Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia).On the way back to the house we had a brief view of a Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) as it flashed across the A92.

Huétor Fields, Granada Province.

An afternoon walk on the local patch.

Through the Poplars.

The weather was not great during the morning but improved a bit during the afternoon so we all decided that a bit of a walk was required. We drove down to the bar at the bottom of the road so that we avoided all the dogs and then walked out on the track following the river. Wescanned the fields on the far side of the Rio Vilano and soon started to find interestind birds including 40 or so Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and 4 very nice Stock Doves (Paloma Zurita / Columba oenas).

Huétor Fields.

We then checked out the area around the first Poplar plantation which has a small but very tightly planted Olive grove next to it and in the rides between the trees was saw Song Thrushes (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Blackbirds (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs).

Sue get a shot through the Poplars.

All the way along this first part of the walk we were following an irrigation channel and as we moved forward we pushed a small flock of Common Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) along infront of us. Also in this area we had Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

Jayne and Sam.

We reached the first road and turned towards the railway bridge but took the track before we reached it and dropped back down to the river side, as we did we flushed up 2 Green Sandpipers (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) and watched a large flock of Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) fly off towards the large plantation on the far bank. In the reeds we picked up Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and on the mud a fine Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea).

Me.

Continuing on down this track we added Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala). 

On the way back to the car we followed the same tracks but still added a couple more species including Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).We got back to the car and went into the bar and warmed up with a coffee before heading back to the house.

Christmas diner in Loja, Granada Province.

Christmas Day with Jayne, Sue and Sam.

Jayne, Sue, Sam and I went down to the El Cerro bar in Loja and had a very nice lunch time meal and Sam had a great time in the play area.

Sue and Jayne.

Sam.

Huétor Tajar, Granada Province.

A trip around the Market and the park in town.
Sue and Sam's visit, day one.

Sam.

Sue and Sam arrived yesterday and settled in for their Christmas visit.  We decided to have a fairly quiet day and went down to Huétor Tajar market where we had a look around the stalls and Sue got Sam a few bits. Whilst there we had a plate of Churros which we all enjoyed. Later we had a quick look in the town and popped into one of the bars for a coffee before spending an hour or so in the park.

Sam.

Sam.

Sam.

Thanks to every one who has taken the time to read and comment on my blog for another year.

Laguna's Dulce, Capacete, Salada, Teba Gorge and across country to Fuente de Piedra and above Archidona, Malaga Province.

A second day with Jackie and Neil in Malaga Province.

Tufted Ducks (Porrón Monudo / Aythya fuligula).

I picked Jackie and Neil up from the very nice hotel (Almohalla 51) in Archidona and we headed out to Laguna Dulce via Antiquera where we parked up and went to the hide. We started scanning the lake and soon had several species of wildfowl on the list including Tufted Duck (Porrón Monudo / Aythya fuligula) x 12, Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), just 2 White-headed Ducks (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala) and at least 3 Ferruginous Ducks (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca) two on the far side of the pool and a single male much near just to the right of the hide.

Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).

Out on the water and in the reedbeds we also recorded loads of Black-necked (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis) and Little Grebes (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Purple Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Little (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) and Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and in the air several Marsh Harriers (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).

Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

Other species seen whilst we were at this site included Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and a flock of around 50 or so Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus) which flew west at the back of the pool. 

We then returned to the car and headed to the nearby Laguna Capacete, the only new species seen here were Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris). We did however have very nice views of several more Greater Flamingo's, Black-necked Grebes and another female type Marsh Harrier. 

Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus).

We turned around and headed back towards Campillos but turned off on to a muddy track to have a quick look at Laguna Salada where we saw a couple more Tufted Ducks, hundreds of Northern Shovelers, 50+ White-headed Ducks and a handsome male Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) which was hunting around the Tamarisk trees.

We continued on south along the Malaga road and turned off towards Teba, just after the junction we pulled into the Raptor watch point and scanned the cliffs, here we saw around 15 or so Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and lots more Crag Martins.We moved just down the road to the gorge and walked along the river for quite a way and had nice views of Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Rock Pigeon (Paloma Bravia / Columba livia), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and heard a singing Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes).

Hen Harrier (Aguilucho Pálido / Circus cyaneus).

Also in the gorge we saw lots of flowering Broad leaved Iris (lirio de invierno / Iris planifolia) and Friar's Cowl (Arisarum vulgare) along with singles of Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) and Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus). 

From the gorge we headed back to Dulce and took the rear track across country to Fuente de Piedra, on the way we had nice views of three Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Anas penelope) on the back edge of the lake and on a small pool a little further on small numbers of both Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina) and Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta) were still present. Further along the track a nice male Hen Harrier (Aguilucho Pálido / Circus cyaneus) did a flyby, more Common Cranes were seen and heard, along with Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and several Jackdaws (Grajilla / Corvus monedula).

Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

Once out on the road at the far end of the track we picked up another male Hen Harrier and lots more Greater Flamingo's, Common Cranes and Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax) on the way around to the western view point. From the view point we did not have any new species but we did get cracking views of Marsh Harrier and Cranes before we moved on to the road side hide nearer to the visitors center. On the way we stopped to get some shots of the Cranes and a nice female Hen Harrier. We did not go to the hide as there was a large family there with several children that were making quite a lot of noise so we scanned the fences and bushes nearer to the car park and added a couple of new species to the day list including a brief view of a male Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica), a male Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), several Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) and out on the water a few Shelducks (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna) amongst the masses of Gulls and Flamingo's.

Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).

Our last stop of the day was just above Jackie and Neils hotel in Archidona on the road up to the church on the hill. Here we had a look for woodland species and succeeded in seeing or hearing Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater) and Great Tits (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) and Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) before we dropped back to the hotel and said our goodbyes. I then headed home. 

Thanks Jackie and Neil for your company on a cracking days birding.

Huétor Fields, Moraleda Fields and the Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

Quality rather than quantity on a very cold but sunny day.

Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra).

I was meeting Jackie and Neil, birders over from the UK at the hotel just off the motorway at 10:00 so I decided to check out the fields and find the wintering Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax). 

I had a drive along the Loja side of the site and scanned the fields where they usually hang out in the mornings but the area was being irrigated so the Bustards had moved but I did see good numbers of Golden Plovers (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaria), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops). 

I then had a look along the Rio Vilano and added Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) to the list before dropping back down in to the town along the main road. 

Along here I made two stops, the first was to watch just a small group of about 40 or so Little Bustards which were settled on a thin stripe of Lucerne and the second was to check on the wintering Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus).

I then headed up to the hotel three quarters an hour early so that I could get a coffee, I walked in ordered my drink and found that Jackie and Neil were already there having some breakfast so I joined them.

A short while later we made our way out on to the fields on the northern side of the town and started birding, at our first stop on the top of one of the railway bridges we picked up several Corn Buntings, White Wagtails, Spotless Starlings, plus Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Hoopoe, Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Feral Pigeon (Columba livia) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala). We moved on from here and went to check out the western stretch of the Rio Vilano, on the drive down the track we saw several Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) and Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica). 

We parked the car and had a short walk down towards the railway line, on the way we had nice views of Meadow (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) and Water Pipits (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Cattle Egret and Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea). We turned around and walked back to the car, Jackie and I had brief views of a Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) before it disappeared into the reed-bed. 

Once back at the car we checked the river at the eastern end and added Green Sandpiper, Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita). 

We then passed the bar and headed back into Huétor making a couple of stops on the way, the first was to check the fields where I had seen the Bustards earlier but as usual they had moved on so we did the same and spent some time watching the really good numbers of Stone Curlews nearer the town. 

Our last on the local patch was back where I had started the morning and missed the Bustards on the Loja side of the town, we dropped lucky as the birds I had seen earlier appeared to have moved to the far end of this field. 

We did not get great views but at least they were seen by us all. 

We moved on to the area of fields near Moraleda where we were hoping to connect with some of the small number of Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis) but we were not in luck, it was very cold up on the higher part of the site which was usually the best place to see them, we did however add Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) and Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus). 

We then dropped down out of the wind into the valley where we made a couple of stops in the woodland which runs along the river, again due to the cold birds were a bit thin on the ground but we picked up a nice male Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra) which gave nice views in one of the Willow trees, Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and several Long-tailed Tits (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and Blackcap. 

We moved up the hill to the Embalse de Cacín where we stood and scanned the water whilst eating our lunch and soon had  Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) on the list. 

We again moved on further down the Valley to the Roman Bridge and the deeper part of the Gorge, along this stretch we picked up Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), a nice male Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) and an even nicer male Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura).

Time was moving on so we went back down into Cacín and took the road east towards Ventas del Huelma to look for Raptors which had so far given us the slip, on this road we did eventually catch up was a single Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) but nothing else so we made our way back to the hotel via the Sandgrouse fields but again we had no luck. 

During the day we did see three species of butterfly, Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) and Large White (Pieris brassicae).
Thanks Jackie and Neil for a cracking day and looking forward to tomorrows birding.

RAM and Charca del Suarez, Granada Province.

Sea birds survey and a few hours around the pools at Charca.

Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).

I met Juan Perez Contreras up in Granada and we made our way down to the coast near Motril and then on to Cabo Sacratif where we spent some time counting sea birds as the passed the headland or just hung around in front of us, which was what lots of Northern Gannets (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) were doing which made counting then difficult. We had small numbers of Balearic Shearwaters (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus) moving east and a single Great Skua (Págalo Grande / Stercorarius skua) which went through heading west.

Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis).

Other species recorded included Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Mediterranean Gulls (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and a flyby Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus).

Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis).

After the survey we moved on to Charca del Suarez for a few hours around the pools which in general were quite quiet. From the first hide we had nice views of 2 male and a female Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), several Little Grebes (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Mallards (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), a Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) which flashed passed in front of the reeds and masses of Common Chiffchaffs which were by far the commonest bird seen all day.

Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra).

We moved on around to the next hide but a couple of workers were there doing some maintenance on the hide so there was not much to be seen close but further out we located two adults and a youngster of the reintroduction Red-knobbed Coots (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata). We continued on to the main hide but the light was terrable from here so birding was hard going but we picked up two winter plumaged Black-necked Grebes (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata) and Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).

Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).

Onward again we walked around to the last small hide, on the way we saw Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and several Speckled Woods (Pararge aegeria) and a Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus). From the hide we had nice views of a couple of Swamp-hens, several more Little Grebes and hundreds of Common Chiffchaffs but we did not see anything new for the list except for a late flying Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope).
We later made our way to the exit and just as we were leaving we found two beautiful Monarchs (Danaus plexippus) before heading towards home. On the way our only new species were a male Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), several Common Magpies (Urraca / Pica pica) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and once I was back on the patch I added Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) and Hen Harrier (Aguilucho Pálido / Circus cyaneus) which finished the days birding off nicely.

Later Jayne and I went to friends Jean and Davids house in Loja where 20 or so English and Spanish friends were meeting up for a Christmas meal and lots of puddings, Thanks all for a great evening.

Salina's, Malaga Province and Riofrio, Granada Province.

A few hours of localish birding.

Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).

Jayne and I drove out to the Hotel Paloma where the Ladies from the Trabuco Craft group were having their Christmas Lunch and drinks. I dropped Jayne off and went to do a bit of birding at a small pool near by, as soon as I arrived I was pleased to see large numbers of Sparrows and Finches feeding on the dried out Thistle fields. 

Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti).

The commonest species was surprisingly Rock Sparrows (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia) with over a hundred birds in the flock, closely followed by Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) along with smaller numbers of Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra). On and around the pool I added Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Feral Pigeon (Columba livia) and Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata). 

Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti).

After eating my lunch I made my way down to Riofrio and had a look along the river there as I wanted to try and get some shots of Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) but the light was getting really quite bad so the results were not to great. I did get a few and also recorded Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) before heading back to the site near Salina's.

White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

 Once back here I dug the Cam-sheet out and sat on the side of the track near a small concrete trench and waited to see what would come down to drink, the first species in were White Wagtails and Linnets, quickly followed by Goldfinch and Common Stonechat. Whilst under the sheet I also saw and heard Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos). 

Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina).

After a short while it started to rain so I packed in and went and waited at the hotel for Jayne before heading home.

Guadalhorce and El Faro, Malaga Province.

A day on the coast.

Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas).

We started off by driving into Malaga where I dropped Jayne off at the Lario's Center for a bit of Christmas shopping and then headed out to one of the DIY places got a few bits and onward to Guadalahorce via a small canal beside the Golf course nearby. Here the only birds seen were a small group of Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), a single Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), loads of Monk Parakeets (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus) and a couple of Zitting Cisticola's (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).

Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos).

My next stop was at the sea watch point at the end of the raised bank at Guadalamar. I spent a short time scanning the sea but it was very windy so I walks a short way up the river but not before I had seen a single Common Scoter (Negrón Común / Melanitta nigra), Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis) and several Balearic Shearwaters (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus).

Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).

As I walked along the waters edge up river I saw a single Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) which sat nicely for a photo, a very confiding Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) which was popping off some very small fry with great regularity, a Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres) and a small group of Great Cormorants (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) with wings stretched drying out.

Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea).

After a getting some shots of the Little Egret I made my way down to the main reserve and walked out to the main hide, on the way I saw the first Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) of the day zipping over the smaller pool off to my left and on top of the nearer bushes there were several Common Stonechats (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), a Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata) and then down in the grasses several Greenfinches (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinches (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Linnets (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and Serins (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).
I walked passed the first part of the main lake picking up White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) on the way.

White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala).

Once I was in the main hide I was pleased to see good numbers of Grey Herons (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) in the surrounding trees and bushes, I counted at least 47 birds. These were joined by 3 Great White Egrets (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba), 3 Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), 1 Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and several more Little Egrets. Out on the water were several more Little Grebes which were joined by just 2 Black-necked (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), 4+ more White-headed Ducks, loads of Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina) and Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna).

Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas).

Other birds seen from here included Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) and a Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus). Next I headed around to the smaller pool but picked up the same sort of species before moving around to the two hides on the far bank. On the way around I had nice views of a pair of hunting Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), a Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and heard but did not see a Penduline Tit (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus). The first hide was very quiet and the second was not much better but I did get a glimpse of a Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) as it flashed in to the pool side cover and a nicely plumage Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) before heading back towards the car.

Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba).

On the walk a pale phase Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas) flew nearby a couple of time allowing me to get some decent shots and I had the only butterfly of the day a Large White (Pieris brassicae). 

I got back to the car and went back into the city and had some lunch with Jayne before we headed down the coast to Fuengirola where I again dropped Jayne at the shopping center and went to El Faro. I was hoping to see the regular wintering Purple Sandpipers (Correlimos Oscuro / Calidris maritima) but again dipped. I did however see a nice group of 20 or so Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), a few more Ruddy Turnstones, Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Great Skua (Págalo Grande / Stercorarius skua) and a single adult Audouin's Gull (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii) before heading back to Jayne.

Laguna Dulce and Fuente de Piedra, Malaga Province and Huétor Fields, Granada Province.

A mornings birding with good friend Juan Perez Contreras.

Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus).

I met Juan at the Hotel Corjito de Tajar just off the A92 at Huétor and we set off towards Campillos to have a look at Laguna Dulce. On the way over we got the day list off to a good start by seeing Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), 2x Common Buzzards (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and 2 superb Black-winged Kites (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) perched on telegraph poles on the side of the road, both on stretches where it was not possible to park.

Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus).

When we arrived at Dulce we were surprised how few birds there were on show but soon found that there were many more there than first met the eye but they were on the far shore. We spent a good hour or so scanning the lake and by the time we were leaving we had recorded 12+ Tufted Ducks (Porrón Monudo / Aythya fuligula), White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Red-crested (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina) and Common Pochards (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Little (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Great Crested (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus) and Black-necked Grebes (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) and Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio).

Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

Other species seen on around the water were Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus) and Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), 3x Marsh Harriers (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala).

Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

We left the hide and made our way along the tracks to the rear of the site scanning the fields as we went, we picked up another Common Buzzard, lots of Serins, Goldfinches and a decent sized flock of Calandra Larks (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) with a few Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) mixed in. Our next stop was at a small track side pool which had a nice margin of mud which held several feeding waders including 4 Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta), 2 Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), 10+ Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) and singles of both Green Sandpiper and Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina). Also on the water we saw several Eurasian Teal and an Immature Greater Flamingo. We continued on through quite a large expanse of Olives, picking up Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) on the way.

Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

As soon as we came out into open fields again we were amazed at the sight of around a 1000 or so Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus) feeding on the ploughed stubble fields, some flew off straight away but we got great views of the rest as they relocated a little further away from the track, we reached some high ground and Juan did a count of the birds that remained nearby and before long had reached 600. More birds could be seen and heard all around us, it was quite a spectacle. We moved on again and came out onto the tarmac road at the southern end of Fuente de Piedra and continued on towards the view point half way down the western side of the reserve picking out our third Black-winged Kite of the morning on the way.

From the view point we counted 9 Marsh Harriers, another couple of hundred Common Cranes, loads of Greater Flamingo's and good numbers of wildfowl on the pools but nothing new to the list.

From here we went on round until we reached the roadside hide before the centre, we parked and scanned the shore line and then the thistle scrub and added Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major) to the list. 

Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata).

Our final stop was at the visitor center where we walked around past all the dried up pools and then checked out the hides looking over the fresh water pools at the side of the centre. Things were generally quiet apart from the Greater Flamingo's and massed of Northern Shovelers however we did add Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) and Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna) to the day list.

Juan then drove us back to Huétor and he headed off up to Granada and home and I went through Huétor and did the same but called via the river on the way finding Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) and Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) on the way.