Tablas De Daimiel, Castilla–La Mancha and Belen plains near Trujillo, Extremadura.

First birding out side of Andalucía in a long while.

Marbled Duck (Cerceta Pardilla / Marmaronetta angustirostris).

We made an early start and drove the three and a bit hours up to Tablas de Daimiel, a large area of wetlands with good board walks and trails which get you out and amongst the birds. On the way we had the briefest of views of a Red-necked Nightjar (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis) which flashed across the road and a Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) which was sat on a roadside pylon. We arrived at the visitor centre and after sorting out a small orange juice leak we headed out on the yellow trail. 

We started to see birds straight away with Reed (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Willow (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus) and Cetti's Warblers (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) being common throughout the visit in the Tamarisk trees which lined the route in many places, in the air we picked up Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) and Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).

Marbled Duck (Cerceta Pardilla / Marmaronetta angustirostris).

After a couple of hundred metres we came off the board walk and on to the first of a few raised islands which gave us views out over some open water areas, here we added Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Night Heron (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax) and heard the first of many frustratingly elusive Water Rails (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus).
We moved on across a board walk to another island getting a quick view of a Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca) as it can in from behind us and dropped into the reedy pool away to our left. From the next island we had nice views over a large pool in the reeds and picked up three Great White Egrets (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba), two Purple Herons (Garza Imperial / Ardea purpurea), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia) and a fine female Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).

Marbled Duck (Cerceta Pardilla / Marmaronetta angustirostris).

A little further on we turned on to another boardwalk out to a hide, on the way Stephanie pointed out a group of birds sat up on the reeds and when I got the bins on them I was delighted to see a flock of Bearded Tits (Reedling) (Bigotudo / Panurus biarmicus) containing at least 3 superb males and several females / juveniles, a Spanish lifer for me. 
We continued on out to the hide and as Ken had predicted it was not worth while so we retraced our way out to the nearby obsavation point which we equally not worth it as it was so far from every thing. We returned to the board walk and continued on around passing the hide again picking up a migrating Bonelli's (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli) and Melodious Warblers (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta), a Water Rail which showed well for Stephanie and myself but eludide Ken as he was just a few paces ahead of us, a juvenile Whiskered Tern (Fumarel Cariblanca / Chilidonias hybridus), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus viridis), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), an immature Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus) and on the fields on the far side of the pool there was a flock of Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser).

Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).

On the last pool along this board walk we had a female Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) and then find of the day a cracking Marbled Duck (Cerceta Pardilla / Marmaronetta angustirostris) which showed very nicely before swimming off into the vegetation. 
On the way back to the car we saw Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca) and Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus).

Once we reached the car we drove a short way along the road before we turned off on to a track which we stayed on for a few KM picking up Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Iberian Grey (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) and Woodchat Shrikes (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Marsh Harrier and another Western Osprey perched on a pylon.

Once back on the roads we started to make our way over towards Trujillo in Extremadura stopping on the way for lunch on a road side lay-by, here we picked up a nice Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus).

Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae).

A little later at Sierra de Puerto Pena where we had good views of Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus) and European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster).

We completed the journey and before we went to the hotel we had a look at Belen plains but things were quite quiet, however we did see Whinchat, Northern Wheatear, Tawny Pipit (Bisbita campestre / Anthus campestris), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Common Kestrel, Common Stonechat and Spotless Starling.

After this visit we headed for the hotel and collapsed into our rooms after a very long day, the night ended with a view of a fantastic fireworks display over Trujillo castle which both Stephanie and Ken slept through.

Cabo de Gata, Almeria Province and Puerto de la Ragua, Granada Province.

A day down on the dunes and saltpans.

Eurasian Dotterel (Chorlito Carambolo / Eudromias morinellus).

We got off early and spent most of the time driving down to Almeria in the dark, we got to the outskirts of the city and stopped at a petrol station where we started the day list off with Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba). 

Eurasian Dotterel (Chorlito Carambolo / Eudromias morinellus).

Once we were fuelled and looed we headed down towards the coast and out on to a track down to the beach where we parked and had a walk along the beach. During the walk we saw Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis), Iberian Grey (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) and Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and out on the beach and at sea we also saw Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Sandwich (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis) and Little Terns (Charrancito Común / Sterna albifrons) and Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus).

Group of Slender-billed Gulls (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei).

Once back at the car we drove the tracks in the area and I was suprised but very pleased to find a group of at least 17 Eurasian Dotterel (Chorlito Carambolo / Eudromias morinellus) with some of the birds still in good condition. We also saw Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), several Lesser Emperors (Anax parthenope), a single Vagrant Emperor (Anax ephippiger) and quite a few Spiny-footed Lizards (Acanthodactylus erythrurus).

Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus).

We headed down to the road towards the town of Cabo de Gata and had a look from the hide at the Northern end of the lagoons which is unfortuntly a long way back from the water. From here we added Eurasian Oystercatcher (Ostrero Euroasiatico / Haematopus ostralegus), Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Little Ringed (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Ringed (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) and Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Greater Flamingo´s (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) and Slender-billed Gull (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei). 

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

From here we moved further south to the coastal strip between the sea and the saltpans where we looked for Trumpeter Finch (Camachuelo Trompetero / Bucanetes githagineus) with out any luck. We did not see anything of interest alon the coast so we had a look at the southern hide where we saw several species we had at the first hide but added Curlew Sandpiper (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea) and Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus). 

We then drove out towards the light house and then turned up towards the high cliffs of Cerro de Vela Blanca, on the way we had a couple of Black Wheatears (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura) and at the top of the road we saw a group of 3 Sparrowhawks (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), a migrating Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus) and down on the rocks way below a roosting Shag (Cormorán Mondudo / Phalacrocorax aristotelis).

Greater Flamingo´s (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

We dropped back down off the ridge and after seeing the number of tourists at the lighthouse we gave it a miss and drove back down to the saltpans where we took the back track around the pans, on the way round we saw Crested and Thekla Larks, Red-rumped (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica) and Barn Swallows, Slender-billed Gull, House Martin, Pallid Swift, Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Greater Flamingo´s, Curlew Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Avocet and Kentsh Plover.

We finished the drive along the back of the pans and went to first hide where we added Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus) and Alpine Swift (Vencejo Real / Apus melba). 

Our last stop in the Cabo de Gata area was at Rambler Morales where we checked the area near the beach pool and soon found a very nice male White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), a goup of immature Greater Flamingo´s, lots of Eurasian Coots, Common Moorhens, a fast flying Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Mallard, Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Audouin´s Gull, Yellow Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) and 2 Pied Oystercatchers which flew in and landed on the beach.

Eurasian Oystercatcher (Ostrero Euroasiatico / Haematopus ostralegus).

We left the Cabo de Gata early afternoon and drove back up the motorway until we reached the turning up to Puerto de la Ragua where we checked out the pine woods at the pass, after a short search we found a Wryneck (Torcecuello / Jynx torquilla), lots of Coal Tits (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Common Chaffinches (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Crested Tit (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus) and single male Citril Finch (Verderón Serrano / Serinus citrinella) our main target bird. After checking the area we headed back down to the motorway and the back to the house.

Moraleda Fields and the Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

A day above and in the Cacín Valley.

Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis).

Stephanie, Ken and I set off heading for the fields near to the town of Moraleda, we arived and found a Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) which was sitting near its nesting site in an old construction on the road side. Between the Owl and the first track on the left we picked up Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Short-toed (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla) and Calandra Larks (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) with a mixed flock of Rock Sparrows (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia) and Corn Buntings (Triguero / Emberiza calandra). We took the first track and made our way out in the nearby Almond grove, at the far side of the trees we checked out a newly ploughed field where we quickly located 4 Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis) which flew as soon as we appeared but we located 2 more birds on the far side which gave us desent views through the scope. From here we moved out on to the fields proper on the main track and straight away we were seeing lots more Short-toed and Calandra Larks along with some good sized flocks of Corn Buntings. We made our way around the site picking up Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Iberian Grey (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) and Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) and Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).

Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica).

Our next stop was down in the Cacín valley where we checked out and area of Pine woodlands along the roadside, stright away we heard and then saw a Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla) which was feeding on some high pine cones. In the same area we also saw Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Coal Tit (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus).

A little further down the river we parked on another track where we had a walk along the track to the dam, on the way we picked up a flock of migrating raptors, most were Honey Buzzards (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus) along with several Black Kites (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans). As we walked we added Common Crossbill, House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), a brief fly by from a Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).

Tawny Pipit (Bisbita campestre / Anthus campestris).

Our next stop was just up the road at the reservoiur where the water level was nice and low so there were a few waders including at least 4 Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), 3x Common Sandpipers (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), 3x Green Sandpipers (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) and a couple of Little Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius). On and over the water there were good numbers of Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Barn (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Red-rumped Swallows (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei) and European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster). 

Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis).

Again we moved south down in to the gorge, new species here included Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) along with more Rock Sparrows and a female Common Redstart. 

We drove back up the valley to Cacín and then we took the road across to Ventas de Huelma and a track off to the North, in this area we saw Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus), Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus), 3x Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) and more Black Kites, European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) and a nice Woodchat Shrike. On the track we had good views of a Northern Goshawk (Azor Común / Accipitor gentillis), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Tawny Pipit (Bisbita campestre / Anthus campestris), Melodious Warbler (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta), Northern Wheatear, Crested Lark and Short-toed Lark.

On our way back up the valley we had a second Northern Goshawk near El Turro and back up on the fields where we started the day we had an extraordinary encounter with a fine male Black-bellied Sandgrouse which did not want to fly and gave us some fantastic photographic oppotunities before we made our way back towards the house as things were getting rather warm.

Huétor Fields and Sierra de Loja, Granada Province.

Some birding on the local patch and then Sierra de Loja but in reverse (no I did not drive backwards all the way).

Eagle Owl (Buho Real / Bubo bubo).

We started by having a look down on the Western Lucerne field where we got the day list off to a desent start by seeing several Short-toed (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla) and Crested Larks (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Northern Wheatears (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica).

Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush (Roquero Roja / Monticola saxatilis).

From here we drove over to Salar and made our way up the hill from the back road, a way that I have not bothered to do for some time but which proved to be quite productive. Before we started to do the climb we had very nice views of a couple of Pallid Swifts (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) which were still hanging around, more Spotless Starlings and several House Sparrows (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus). Down on the lower areas in amongst the Olives we picked up a male Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca), Serins (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and I heard a distant Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei) several times.

Spanish Ibex (Cabra pyreaica hispanica).

We continued on climbing steadily all the time until we reached some of the lower rocky areas amongst the goat fields were we saw 3 Black Kites (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), a nice male Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus).

We reached one of the disused roadside marble quarries and had a short walk in to it and along the main track where we added Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) and heard a Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) calling from the opposite side of the valley.

Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus).

Again we moved on up the road and as we came out onto a leveller area near a much larger working quarry we had the first of two immature Rufous-tailed Rock Thrushes (Roquero Roja / Monticola saxatilis). we watched these birds but nether came close enough for a desent shot so we moved on and quickly picked up the first of several Spectacled Warblers (Curruca Tomillera / Sylvia conspicillata) and Black-eared Wheatears (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica).
Near a small group of Hawthorn bushes we located a nice Wryneck (Torcecuello / Jynx torquilla), followed by Subalpine (Curruca Carrasquena / Sylvia cantillans) and Orphean Warblers (Curruca Mirlano / Sylvia hortensis) and another very nice Black-eared Wheatear. Next came Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Melodious Warbler (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta) and a family group of Spanish Ibex (Cabra pyreaica hispanica).

Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator).

We eventually dropped right down on to the Loja side of the hill and went up the track to the small quarry, parking in the shade of a pine tree and had a late lunch. Ken and I walked up towards the quarry and picke up a couple of Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) on the way along with 70+ Honey Buzzards (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus),30 or so more Black Kites, Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), a second Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus) and Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops). We then dropped down the hill and had amazing views of a roosting Eagle Owl (Buho Real / Bubo bubo) at a new spot for me.

We later headed off up the Motorway and stopped at Laguna de Regidor where we found several Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Barn Swallow, House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) for the bird list and Lesser Emperor (Anax Parthenope), Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata) and Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathinerum) for the dragons.

Lesser Emperor (Anax Parthenope).

It was getting on and quite warm so we headed back in to the house over the fields from the Mesia road adding Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator) and Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) on the way.

Rio Guadalhorce, Malaga Province.

The first of many hours birding with Stephanie and Ken from South Africa.

Caspian Tern (Pagaza Piquiroja / Sterna caspia) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

I met up with Stephanie and Ken down in Malaga and we made our way to the beach sea watch point to have a look at what was passing. We dropped lucky as there was a fishing boat away out which had a good number of birds following it including 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) plus a couple of distant Balearic Shearwaters (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus) which Ken picked out but they unfortunattly eluded Stephanie.

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

In the same area we also recorded the first Common Sandpipers (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) of many, a single winter plumaged Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica). I then drove down to the main reserve entrance and parked before heading around to the main hide over looking Laguna Grande. On the way we saw Red-rumped (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica) and Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and Monk Parakeets (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus). 

Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus).

We arrived at the main hide just as two cracking Caspian Terns (Pagaza Piquiroja / Sterna caspia) were lifting off from the near island which was a shame as they would have made a nice picture, in the area we also saw Lesser Black-backed, Yellow-legged and Black-headed Gulls, Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), a single Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Kentish (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus) and Little Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus), Common Sandpiper, Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus).

Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus).

On the way around to the next hide we picked up a couple of Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), a male Banded Grondling (Brachythemis leucosticta) and several Large Whites (Pieris brassicae). 

Once we were in the next hide we added White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and got flight views of the Caspian Terns again. 

Time was now moving on so we completed the loop back to the car adding Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and two female type Pied Flycatchers (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca) which only I saw whilst fetching the car. 

From here we headed up o the house where Jayne had prepaired us a nice meal which we had out on the terrace before a good nights sleep.

Padul, Granada Province.

A morning watching some ringing with Beatriz Pérez Machado and Juan Pérez Contreras at an open meeting on the reserve.

Garden Warbler (Curruca Mosquitera / Sylvia borin).

I picked Beatriz and Juan up from their home and we went down to the reserve where we spent the morning watching a ringing demonstration by Jose Manuel Rivas and others. 

Great Reed Warbler (Carricero Tordal / Acrocephalus arundinaceus).

Species that we saw in the hand included Garden (Curruca Mosquitera / Sylvia borin), Cetti's (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Great Reed (Carricero Tordal / Acrocephalus arundinaceus), Reed (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) and Willow Warblers (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus) and Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae).

Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae).

Whilst there we also saw Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus), Barn  (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Red-rumped Swallows (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator). 

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

Willow Warbler (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus).

Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus).

Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus).