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Saturday 3 May 2014

Near Mollina, Arroya Marin and Guadalhorce, Malaga Province.

The last day, a cracking end to a great weeks birding.
GRANADA WILDLIFE'S Spring Tour.
Day Eight.

Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos).
It onlt seemed like 5 minutes since we set out on this trip but we were starting our last day, we left the hotel and headed out along the A92 west to Mollina where we had called a few days ago looking for the Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin (Alzacola / Cercotrichas galactotes) and as it was a most wanted species and only John and myself had managed to connect with it we decided to give it another try.
Almost as soon as we arrived I heard the male singing but just as I located it the bird few off the post it had been on and disappeared in to the fields. We stayed around thespot for some time but the bird did not show so I went and checked the areas around the rear of some farm buildings but could not locate it but by thee time I got back to the group they were all smiles as the male had come up on a post and had sung right in front of them all.
Small-tongue Orchid (Serapias parviflora).
In the same area we also recorded Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), both Common (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) and Pallid Swifts (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Rock Pigeon (Paloma Bravia / Columba livia), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Black-eared Wheatear (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus).
Ophrys algarviensis.
Pleased with the views of the bird we moved on again, retracing our way back down the A92 to a small wooded Valley near to Archidona, we made several stops and checked sevearl different areas of woodland out.
The first stop was in the broadleaved woods at the start of the valley, here we up graded several species from heard onlys to seen which was nice including Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), we also saw and heard Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus), Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes), Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla) and Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).
Man Orchid (Orchis anthropophora).
Our second stop was a little further down at the first bridge where we had a walk through an area of pine woodland adding Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Wryneck (Torcecuello / Jynx torquilla) and Crested Tit (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus) to the trip list and up grading Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus) to seen. In this area we also saw Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera), Small-tongue Orchid (Serapias parviflora), Ophrys algarviensis and Ophrys dyris.
We again moved on to the far end of the valley seeing Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Coal Tits (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops). On the banks in this area we had several spikes of Man Orchid (Orchis anthropophora) and a single spike of the much rarer Iberian Orchid (Ophrys vernixia) along with Spanish Gatekeeper (Pyronia bathsheba), Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenodes), Clouded Yellow (Colias corcea) and Bath White (Pontia daplidice).
Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres).
After sometime we made our way back along the valley and across country to the Malaga Motorway and stopped for lunch at a roadside service station before continuing on down to the coast and o our final birding spot at Guadalhorce.
Again due to the problem with car thefts we just stayed down at the beach end of the site and sadly did not venture on to the reserve. From the seawatch point we picked up Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) which was neaw for the trip along with Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) and Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus). We walked along the lower path following the river inland for a while seeing Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica).
We also saw Green-Striped White (Euchloe belemia), Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris), Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) and Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator).
We then returned to the Van sorted out a few bits in the cases and made our way out to the Airport. We said our goodbyes and the group headed off  back to a rather cool UK and I made my way home.
Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).
The tour went very well and we end the final day with a trip total of 195 species of birds, along with quite a few Wildflowers, Orchids, Butterflies, Dragonflies and Mammals.
It makes a great difference to a tour when the guests are as keen as Lynda, Judy, John, Nick and Mike were, as a guide I can take birders to the sites and show them whats there but when you have all six sets of eye looking hard you are going to see a great deal more.
Thanks again to the group for a great weeks birding, Good company and some super memories.

Friday 2 May 2014

Sierra de Loja and Zafarraya Road, Granada Province.

Up in the local hills and Valley's.
GRANADA WILDLIFE'S Spring Tour.
Day Seven.

The Group on Sierra de Loja (Lynda, Judy, John, Nick and Mike).
Again I picked the group up from the Cortijo de Tajar and again the first comment was about the great food, once we were all loaded up we headed for the hills, well one of the local Sierra's. We set off daown th A92 and up Sierra de Loja, on the first stretch of track we started the day with a Red Squirrel (Sclurus vulgaris), followed by Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Blackbird  (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).
Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae).
A little further along we parked and walked up to the small quarry, on the first section we picked up Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Coal Tit (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca) and Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).
There were also good numbers of wildflowers on the track side including Blue Hounds-tongue (Cynoglossum creticum), Viola dementria, Wild Gladiolus (Gladiolus illyricus), Tragopogon angustifolius, Rosy garlic (Allium roseum), Navel-wort (Omphalodes commutata), Purple Bugloss (Echium plantagineum), Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum umbellatum), Tassel Hyacinth (Muscari comosum), Centaurea boissieri and Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalia).
Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).
As we walked up the slope we had good views of Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Spectacled (Curruca Tomillera / Sylvia conspicillata), Melodious (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta) and Dartford Warblers (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula).
Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush (Roquero Roja / Monticola saxatilis).
At the top near the quarry the scopes came out and we had great views of an Eagle Owl (Buho Real / Bubo bubo) which was sat on the entrance to it's nest platform on the high crags above, also in the area we recorded Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus).
The Group again near Charca del Negra.
Also seen on the high tops of the quarry were a couple of Spanish Ibex (Cabra pyreaica hispanica) which walked slowly off up the hill. In and around the quarry we also had Linaria anticaria, Southern Knapweed (Centaurea pullata ssp pullata), Silvery Paronychia (Paronychia argentea), White Rockrose (Helianthemum apenninum), Southern Wild Tulip (Tulipa sylvestris ssp. australis), Rusty-back Fern (Ceterach officinarum), Mediterranean Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria), Mediterranean Catchfly (Silene colorata), Ground-pine Germander (Teucrium pseudochamaepitys), Common Stork's-bill (Erodium cicutarium), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Spanish Gatekeeper (Lobito listado / Pyronia bathsheba), Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus F lyllus) and Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenodes). during the walk back down to the van we spent quite a while watching a skulking warbler in a small Hawthorn bush, most of the group were getting glimpes of the bird but Nick kept on commenting on the orangish legs but none of the rest of us could see this colour on the bird, eventually a nice female Orphean Warbler (Curruca Mirlano / Sylvia hortensis) shot up and then out of the bush.
Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera).
It did not have orange legs, it was at this point we guessed that Nick was actually watching a different bird to the rest of us which later he decided was a Spectacled after we had closer better views of one further up the hill. We reached the van and headed up along the crags stopping about three quarters of the way up to check the Hawthorn bushes, here we picked up Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), more Spectacled Warblers, Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri), Common / Southern Blue (Polyommatus icarus / celina), Clouded Yellow (Colias corcea), Large White (Pieris brassicae), Spanish Brown Argus (Aricia cramera) and Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus).
We moved on again adding several Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and the first of quite a few Black-eared Wheatears (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica) to the day list. Our next proper stop was at Charca del Negra, we pulled off the track near the pool and checked the area over, in the water we soon saw several Sharp-ribbed Salamanders (Pleurodeles waltl) which kept coming to the surface briefly to breath.
Lange's Orchid (Orchis langei).
On the near by crag we had very nice views of a male Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush (Roquero Roja / Monticola saxatilis) which was singing nicely, good numbers of noisy Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), more Rock Buntings, several Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) which were coming down to drink and Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa).
Also at this spot we saw Knapweed Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Bitting Stonecrop (Sedum acre), Buckler Mustard (Biscutella frutescens), Chickweed (Cerastium boissieri), Common Snapdragon (Antirrhinum major), Little Robin (Geranium Purpureum), Saxifraga Camposii which was not quite in flower and Sarcocapnos pulcherrima.
Wild Peony (Paeonia broteroi).
We continued on around to the next corner but we did not add to the list but had nice views of Blue-rock Thrush, Black and Black-eared Wheatears and on the way back towards Charca both male and female Rufous-tailed Rock Thrushes. The morning had flashed by and lunch was calling so we started to drop back down towards Loja, on the way we saw much the same species but added Paeonia coriacea, Red Phlomis (Phlomis purpurea) and Ptilotrichum spinosum.
Once we were down the hill we went and had lunch at the bar in Venta del Raya before going to a nearby area of cereal fields looking for Montagu's Harriers (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) which we found easily, whlst at the spot we watched a couple of males and a female both perched and in flight.
Sword-leaved Helleborine (Cephalanatera longifolia).
We then moved on down the road a short way to an area of Oak woodlands looking birds but also Orchid species, birds seen included Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus), Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus) heard only, Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus) heard only, Woodlark (Totovia / Lullula arborea), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli) and Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus).
Other species seen were Adonis Blue (Lysandra bellargus), Small White (Artogeia rapae), Lorquin's Blue (Cupido lorquinii), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina), Conical Orchid (Orchis conica), Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum robertiana), Lange's Orchid (Orchis langei), Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera), Sword-leaved Helleborine (Cephalanatera longifolia), Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea), Wild Peony (Paeonia broteroi), Wild Clary (Salvia verbenaca), Warty Spurge (Euphorbia squamigera), Spanish Thistle (Scolymus hispanicus) and Crown Daisy (Chrysanthemum carinatum var discolor).
Lorquin's Blue (Cupido lorquinii).
On the drive back to the hotel we finished the day list off with Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Short-toed  Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) and both Common (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) and Pallid Swifts (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus).

Thursday 1 May 2014

The Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

Back on the local patch.
GRANADA WILDLIFE'S Spring Tour.
Day Six.

The group out on the fields watching Little Bustard.
I met the group back at the Hotel Cortijo de Tajar and they all commented on the fantastic evening meal and breakfast that they had been given (Thanks to David and Colleague's) before we headed out to the first site of the morning near Moraleda. We arrived at the site and drove out on a small track in to a large Almond grove and out on to the edge of a field where we I had seen Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis) with Rob Jones a few days earlier, we did not get the sandgrouse there but we had nice flight views of a couple of male Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) along with Crested  (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Short-toed Larks (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), two Common Buzzards (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica).
Roemeria hybrida.
We then moved up a track and went out on to the fields properly and again quickly picked up a couple of Black-bellied Sandgrouse out on a well vegetated fallow fields be fore they flew off giving us flight views as they left, in the same area we heard and saw several Calandra Larks (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), another Little Bustard, Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) and a distant Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius). We continued on down the track and around the solar panel farms checking out the Almond groves for more Cuckoo's, on the way we stopped at a spot where I was hoping to see a pair of Rollers (Carraca / Coracias garrulus) but the nest was occupied but House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) which was bad news.
A little further on we stopped and had a look at some just starting to go over Pink Butterfly Orchids (Orchis papilionacea) which were growing along side Common Asphodel (Asphodelus albus), Ground-pine Germander (Teucrium pseudochamaepitys), Henbit Deadnettle (Lamium amplexicaule), Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum), Navel-wort (Omphalodes commutata) and Pitch Trefoil (Psoralea bituminosa).
Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli).
Whilst we were at this stop we had a couple of very smart Great Spotted Cuckoo's do a flyby being harrassed by several Common MagpiesWe continued on around the site seeing Southern Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Rock Pigeon (Paloma Bravia / Columba livia), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and both Common (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and Lesser Kestrels (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni).
We moved on from here and dropped down in to the Cacín Valley proper, our first stop was amongst the pines where we immediately added several woodland species to the list including Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Long-tailed Tits (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus) which was only heard at this point but seen later, Pied (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca) and Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and a adult Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila-azor / Hieraetus faciatus) which flew down the valley. On the Almond covered hills above the site we also saw and heard a Woodlark (Totovia / Lullula arborea), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and back in the pines a Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra).
Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).
We again moved on down the valley to the bridge over the Cacin where we parked and had a walk, we first of all checked the bridge and in one of the nearby trees picked up a very dull but nice Garden Warbler (Curruca Mosquitera / Sylvia borin) the first of at least six birds, Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), singing Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), several more Pied Flycatchers and a Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major) which was drumming on a nearby telegraph pole. In the air Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Pallid (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) and Common Swifts (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) and a Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus) did flybys. In the river we could hear good numbers of Iberian Water Frogs (Rana Común / Rana Perezi) and around the roadside verges Clouded Yellow (Colias corcea), Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli), Swallowtail (Papilio machaon), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenodes), Bath White (Pontia daplidice) and Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra).
Knapweed Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe).
We then had a walk along the river towards the dam and a little way up the hill, along here we had nice views of Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), more Garden Warblers, Pied and Spotted Flycatches, Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos) and Melodious Warbler (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta).
A little further along the road we stopped by the Embalse de Cacín and scanned the lake adding Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) and Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis). Also in the area we had a male Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), heard a Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei) and on the far bank had views of several sun bathing Stripe-necked Terrapins (Mauremys leprosa).
Small Woodcock Orchid (Ophrys picta).
It was getting on towards lunch so we headed down the valley towards Cacin Village but just before we got there we had another walk along the River, during this short walk we recorded Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), a cracking Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes) which Lynda picked up on the edge of the river drinking, Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), calling Golden Oriole, Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes).
We stopped for lunch in the town before driving the ridge road over to Ventas de Huelma, it was generally quiet and we only added a Knapweed Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe) to the butterfly list, so we headed down towards Embalse de Bermijalis and looked for an Eagle Owl (Buho Real / Bubo bubo) which decided to disappear in to a cliff hole before I got the group on to it. Down at the embalse we did not get much bird wise but saw several still good conditioned spikes of Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea), Small Woodcock Orchid (Ophrys picta) and Mirror Orchid (Ophrys speculum) along with Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator), Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Common / Southern Blue (Polyommatus icarus / celina), Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus) and Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui).
We continued on and headed back North up the valley seeing another Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila-azor / Hieraetus faciatus), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Turtle (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur) and Collared Doves (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and on the crags near Moraleda a Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius).
From here we headed back in to the Hotel as the group were having an early evening meal so that they could come up to visit our house to watch for the newly arrived Red-necked Nightjars (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis). We sat up on the back terrace where we could hear Little Owls (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) and just before dark we had a brief but decent view of a Nightjar as it flashed between our and the next house. Once every one had finished there wine I returned them to the hotel.

Wednesday 30 April 2014

Fuente de Piedra, Back of Laguna Dulce, Teba area, Laguna Dulce again and Near Mollina, Malaga Province.

Wetlands, Sierra's and River Valley's.
GRANADA WILDLIFE'S Spring Tour.
Day Five.

The group at the Mirador at Fuente de Piedra.
We started today with a 50 odd KM drive from Osuna over to Fuente de Piedra across the boarder in Malaga Province. On the way we recorded Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Rock Pigeon (Paloma Bravia / Columba livia), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax) and Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus).
Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus) with a flying Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta).
As we approached Fuente we could see the pink sprawl of the Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) on the main lake which was quite impressive. We passed through the town and down to the entrance track where we scanned the pool on the left hand side of the track and quickly built up a good wader list which included Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Ringed (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) and Kentish Plovers (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta), Curlew Sandpiper (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina) and Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax).
Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).
Also on the pool were Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Little (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) and Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) and White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Gull-billed Terns (Pagaza Piconegra / Gelochelidon nilotica).
We continued on and parked at the centre before walking out on to the board walk where we met Bob Wright from the Axarquia bird group and whilst we were talking to him we added a skulking Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus) to the trip list which showed briefly at the back of the pool. Also on here there were the same wader species as before plus Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and a flyby Whiskered Tern (Fumarel Cariblanca / Chilidonias hybridus). From here we walked around to the Mirador and sat out of the aready warm sun under the large Oak tree and checked through the large numbers of Greater Flamingo's for some reported Lessers (Phoenicopterus minor) with out success.
The group out side the visitors centre (Me, Nick, Mike, Lynda, Judy and John).
We did however get great views of a stunning male Lesser Kestrel (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni) which came and perched in a nearby tree, several Shelducks (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Common (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) and Pallid Swifts (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and a singing but unseen Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos).
Whilst we were here we also had the pleasure of a chat with Andy Patterson of Birding the Costa Blog who was also hopeing to see the Lesser's.Again we continued on and had a look from the small first hide / screen where we picked up Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa), Iberian Water Frog (Rana Común / Rana Perezi), Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator), Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) as well as Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Melodious Warbler (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta) and Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula).
We then headed for the smaller hide a little way further around, on the way we saw a large number of newly emerged Black-veined Whites (Aporia crataegi), along with some Painted Lady's (Vanessa cardui), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Clouded Yellow (Colias corcea) and a couple of Bath Whites (Pontia daplidice).
Black-veined White (Aporia crataegi).
From the small hide we did not see a lot that was of interest so we moved to the larger of the two where we soon added a couple of male White-headed Ducks (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala) to the list, along with several Red-crested Pochards (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina), Northern Shovelers (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and both Reed (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) and Great Reed Warblers (Carricero Tordal / Acrocephalus arundinaceus). We started to make our way around to the van again but had one last scan of the Flamingo's with not luck and then made use of the loos at the visitors centre.
From here we moved west around the lake having a quick look in at mirador on  the way, on the pool below the viewing area we had a couple of Marsh Harriers (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and lots of Gull-billed Terns.
Corn Poppy's (Papaver rhoeas) on the drive between Fuente and Dulce.
We continued on south around the lake and took a dirt track across country heading for the back of Laguna Dulce, on this stretch we had good views of Short-toed (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla) and Calandra Larks (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis).
After a while we reached the small pool and ruined cortijo and in a dead tree near the ruin we got some very good views of a cracking Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus). On the pool we did not see any thing new so we continued on to the back of Laguna Dulce and parked on the track for a scan over the reeds, as soon as We got out of the van a medium sized heron flew from the right hand side of the pool across in front and way over to the far shore. I instantly called Eurasian Bittern (Avetoro Común / Botaurus stellaris) but just as instantly I questioned my Identification as its a dam rare bird down here but a few seconds later the shouts from the rest of the group (all from Norfolk) came up with the same species, a cracking bird to see.
Green-Striped White (Euchloe belemia).
From this spot we drove on south and called in at the raptor view point below Castillón where we had good numbers of Alpine Swifts (Vencejo Real / Apus melba), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) and Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus). We then moved a short distance down the road to view and have a short walk in to the Gorge of the Rio la Venta, where we parked we had a couple of Green-Striped Whites (Euchloe belemia), Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenodes) and a Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera). We spent a little while checking out the cliffs from the bridge seeing Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Common Sandpiper, House Martins which were nesting just below our feet on the underside of the bridge and a couple of Blue-rock Thrushes (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) which were chasing from one side of the gorge to the other. We dropped down onto the track and walked just a short distance along the rive as we did not want to disturb any of the breeding species there, along here we saw lots more Crag Martins and Alpines Swifts in the air and Rock Pigeon (Paloma Bravia / Columba livia), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes) on the cliffs and in the air again we picked up two large flocks of around 175 Honey Buzzards (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus).
Viperine Snake (Culebra Viperina / Natrix maura).
There were large numbers of the very noisy Iberian Water Frogs, several more Stripe-necked Terrapins and a swimming Viperine Snake (Culebra Viperina / Natrix maura). Also seen was a Black-eyed Blue (Glaucopsyche melanops) Butterfly and several wildflowers including Blue Alkanet (Anchusa azurea), Blue Hounds-tongue (Cynoglossum creticum), Curry Plant (Helecrisum stoechaes), Grey-leaved Cistus (Cistus albidus), Intermediate Periwinkle (Vinca difformis), Mallow-leaved Bindweed (Convolvulus althaeoides), Navel-wort (Omphalodes commutata), Pitch Trefoil (Psoralea bituminosa), Rosy garlic (Allium roseum), Southern Knapweed (Centaurea pullata ssp pullata), Tassel Hyacinth (Muscari comosum), Mediterranean Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria), Snapdragon (Antirrhinum controversum), Common Snapdragon (Antirrhinum major), Cliffhanger (Chaenorhinum villosum), Galactites (Galactites tomentosa), Italian Sainfoin (Hedysarum coronarium), Iberis pectinata, Red Phlomis (Phlomis purpurea) and Spanish Thistle (Scolymus hispanicus).
Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus).
From here we retraced our steps back to the van and the on to the hide at Laguna Dulce, where we scanned the water and picked up a male Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca), Great Crested (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus) and Black-necked Grebes (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), more Common and Red-crested Pochards, Northern Shovelers and both Gull-billed and Whiskered Terns. In the reeds we heard Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and Great Reed Warbler.
We then made our way out to our last stop of the day at a site near the town of Mollina where we were hoping to see the very elusive Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin (Alzacola / Cercotrichas galactotes), by now it was hot and birds were few and far between but John managed to pick the bird up on a distant fence but it dropped off before anyone else could get on to it. We spent quite a long time looking for the bird but did not see it again. We did see a male Black-eared Wheatear (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).
We then made our way towards the nights Hotel at Huetor Tajar (Cortijo de Tajar), on the way we had a couple of Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) fly over the motorway.
I booked every one in at the hotel andthen headed home for the night, Lynda, Judy, John, Nick and Mike had what they discribed as a superb evening meal before turning in.

Tuesday 29 April 2014

El Brazo, Cadiz Province and Osuna area, Sevilla Province.

Third tick for the guide, now this was getting a bit embarrassing !!! A great days birding.
GRANADA WILDLIFE'S Spring Tour.
Day Four.

The Group bird near Los Palacios y Villafranca.
After a rather large breakfast we headed south back to Los Palacios y Villafranca and then out on to the fields, on the way we picked up several Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus) in roadside ditches and two Ring-necked Parakeet (Cotorra de Kramer / Psittacula Krameri) which flew high along the centre of the road and were only seen by Judy and Myself.
Night Heron (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax).
Our first stop was along side a large channel just out side of a small town nearby and on the margins we started off with Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata). In the air there were more Spoonbills, Glossy Ibis and a couple of Night Herons (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax).
Black-headed Weaver (Ploceus melanocephalus).
We all got back in to the bus and we headed out over the fields until we reached another area of channels where we again parked and started to scan the reeds in the larger ditch, soon we were watching one of several Great Reed Warbler (Carricero Tordal / Acrocephalus arundinaceus) that were singing, a fine male Black-headed Weaver (Ploceus melanocephalus), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Collared Pratincole (Canastera Común / Glareola pratincola), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa) and Judy had a brief view of a Penduline Tit (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus) but it dropped in to cover before she could get the rest of us on to it.
Great Reed Warbler (Carricero Tordal / Acrocephalus arundinaceus).
We started to drive along the track passed the reeds, the Black-headed Weaver stayed put and I managed to squeeze of a couple of shots of it and a pair of Common Waxbills (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild) flew along the right hand side of the van but kept going. Just passed the reeds we had great views of a Great Reed Warbler which sat out very nicely on the top of a stem. 
As we drove along this track we were checking the ditches on either side, on the left we started to build quite a list of waders and by the time we reached the sluices at the far end we had seen Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Common  (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Curlew Sandpiper (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea), Green (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) and Wood Sandpipers (Andarrios Bastardo / Tringa glareola), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia) and Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius).
Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus).
We reached the sluces and checked an area of Tamarisks, we were quickly rewarded with good clear views of a  Western Olivaceous Warbler (Zarcera Pálido / Hippolais pallida) which showed very well low down in a small bush and for comparison a Melodious Warbler (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta). Several more birds were seen in the bushes so we decided to park and have a walk around this cracking spot. On the far side of this dyke there was a small pool and a larger area of water swamped by reeds and Tamarisk tree. On the smaller patch of water there was a colour ringed Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa) which Nick checked over and recorded the colour combinitions so that he could send the info off on his return to the UK.
Also on the pool there were a couple of Glossy Ibis, a few Black-winged Stilts and a Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio). We walked out towards the reeds and Tamarisks after Judy had fleeting glimpes of a Little Bittern (Avetorillo Común / Ixobrychus minutus) which dropped down in to the reedbed.
Squacco Heron (Garcilla Cangrejera / Ardeola ralloides).
In the area we had cracking views of more Ibis, Western Swamp Hens, Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Turtle Dove, European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) and after a good look around the Little Bittern flew the full length of the Pool straight at us giving nice views. We walked back along the reedbed picking up a good sized flock of fast flying Common Waxbill and then the bird of the day for me a Wood Warbler (Mosquitero Sibador / Phylloscopus sibilatrix) which was my third Spanish lifer in three days. In amongst the grasses we found several Iberian Blue-tails (Ischnura graellsii), Clouded Yellow (Colias corcea), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus) and Small White (Artogeia rapae).
Whiskered Tern (Fumarel Cariblanca / Chilidonias hybridus).
We made our way back to the van and then continued on along the track to the next area of water and reeds, there were lots of birds around including good numbers of Whiskered Terns (Fumarel Cariblanca / Chilidonias hybridus), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Common (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina) and Red-crested Pochards (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina), Squacco (Garcilla Cangrejera / Ardeola ralloides), Purple (Garza Imperial / Ardea purpurea) and Grey Herons, Spoonbill and Glossy Ibis. In the reedbeds we caught a short blast of a Savi's Warbler (Buscarla Unicolor / Locustella luscinoides) but we could not locate it but we had nice views of a couple of female Black-headed Weavers, more Great Reed Warblers, several flyover Little Terns (Charrancito Común / Sterna albifrons), a fishing Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus) and a nice pair of Northern Pintail (Ánade Rabudo / Anas acuta) whic Judy picked up on the far side of the pool.
Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus).
We again moved on and checked the next area of water, Judy struck again almost before the van had stopped by picking up the first of two possibly three Great White Egrets (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba), here we also had good views of Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Gull-billed Tern (Pagaza Piconegra / Gelochelidon nilotica), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica) and just as we were about to leave we managed to get a scope on to a singing Savi's Warbler deep amongst the reeds. We spent another hour or so driing slowly along the track, stopping many times to scan the small pools, we heard several more Savi's Warblers and had good views of a male Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra) which flicked form post to Tamarisk as we followed it along the track, the same or another Osprey which sat on a pylon eating a largish fish and many more exciting species before dragging our selves away from this brilliant site for the drive over to Osuna. 
Great White Egret (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba).
The drive took us just over 1.5 hours and produced our first Roller (Carraca / Coracias garrulus) of the trip as well as Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) for the day.
We had lunch just after we left the A92 Motorway and then headed out in to the fields nearby, at our first stop through the now building heat haze we picked up a pair of distant Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator) and heard Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus). We moved along the road a short way and took a track out in to the fields where we again had nice views of a female Montagu's which was drinking from a deep rut in the track, heard and saw lots of Turtle Doves but could not find any Bustards of either species.
Collared Pratincole (Canastera Común / Glareola pratincola).
We spent some time checking fields from the last of the bridges along this road and during this time we watched a large very bright Ocellated Lizard (Lacerta lepida) and whist we were doing this an Egyptian Mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon) crossed the road giving us brief but good views. We continued on around the area checking out several more sites but still we could not locate any Bustards, how can a population of 170 or birds of this size hide so well ? We next called at a large ruined Cortijo looking for better views of Roller which we easily got and also for Lesser Kestrel (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni) which we also got but could not find a nice co-operative male to show off his nice grey wing stripe. Just around the corner from the Cortijo we called in at a sparrow colony in a Eucaliptus plantation where we all eventually got nice views of the Spanish Sparrows (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis) that are mixed in with the masses of the commoner House Sparrows (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), also here we saw another Roller, Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and many More Black Kites
Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus).
From here we drove through the village of La Lantejuela and on the Laguna de la Ballestera, as soon as we arrived we could see quite a few Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), loads of Gull-billed Tern (100's), many Whiskered Turns (50+), Black-winged Stilts, Little Ringed Plovers, Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), a single Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna) and in the Tamarisk around the site a Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata) and several singing Melodious Warblers. Over the water we could also see Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum), Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope) and Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii).
We checked out a couple more Lagoons but they were both dry, it was late afternoon by now and getting very hot so we decided to drop back to Osuna and check in to the hotel. Later in the early evening at around 18:00 things had cooled down a bit so we headed back out along the same road that we had checked earlier but the outcome was much better. Within a few minutes of reaching the first view point we had a fine male Great Bustard (Avutarda Común / Otis tarda) crossing a fields a few hundred meters away and a second was picked up by Lynda in a nearer field but we could only see its head as it walked through a deep crop.
Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans).
We moved on to the second stop we had made early and picked up a very nice adult Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) which was perched on a nearby road sign. Whilst we were studying this bird a chap pulled up on the road below us and shouted up that there were 21 Great Bustards from the third view point further down the road, we thanked him and put him onto the Kite before heading down to the spot. By the time we arrived the majority of the birds had dropped over a ridge in the fields but we did get good views of a couple of males displaying to some female birds.
Very happy with our views we made our way back to the hotel for our evening meal seeing a small flock of Collared Pratincoles on the way.