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Thursday 31 December 2015

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Trapping.

9676 (2243) Xylocampa areola (Early Grey),
Moth from the trap last night, 1x 9676 (2243) Xylocampa areola (Early Grey), 1x 7725 Menophora japygiaria (Brassy Waved Umber), 1x 10346 (2091) Agrotis ipsilon (Dark Sword-grass), 1x Cerastis faceta and 1x 9565 (2267) Agrochola lychnidis (Beaded Chestnut).
7725 Menophora japygiaria (Brassy Waved Umber),

10346 (2091) Agrotis ipsilon (Dark Sword-grass),
Cerastis faceta.
9565 (2267) Agrochola lychnidis (Beaded Chestnut),

Saturday 26 December 2015

Huétor Fields, Huétor Tajar, Granada Province.

A couple of hours checking out the Local Patch.

Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti).
I drove down to the pools and ditches on the far side of the area and parked on the ditch side edge where I found Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), 30+ Common Waxbills (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and lots of Common Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).
Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) female.
I moved back towards the house and made a second stop along side of the Arroyo Vilano where I found a nice male Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius) sat on a field ridge, Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), 20+ Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), 6 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) and several Common Chaffinches (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs).
Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis).
I dropped down to the side of the river near the ford and sat for nearly an hour to see what arrived, as I stopped a Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta) flew up but stayed out of range of the camera but more Chiffchaffs came close enough as did a Meadow Pipit and a White Wagtail.
Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).
Also seen here were Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula). 
Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).
White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

Sunday 20 December 2015

Campobuche area and Grazalema Village, Cadiz Province.

A walk through the Cork and Portuguese Oak woods.

Portuguese Oak (Quercus faginea).
Jayne, Sue, Sam and I headed for the river in the Campobuche area and walked towards Montejaque passing several pools in the none flowing river, on the way we saw ten or so Cirl Buntings (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Crested (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Long-tailed Tits (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus).
Portuguese Oak Leaves in the river.
Several butterflies were seen including Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera) and Large White (Pieris brassicae) not bad for December and followed by a single male Desert Darter (Sympetrum sinaiticum).
Jayne and Sam sat in the dry river bed.
All the time we were amongst some superb Cork Oaks (Quercus suber) and had the sound of the leaves falling from the deciduous Portuguese Oak (Quercus faginea). 
A mischievous looking Sam.
Later we went and called on Clive and Family and had Lunch in Grazalema before heading home.
Desert Darter (Sympetrum sinaiticum).
Another Portuguese Oak.

Grazalema, Cadiz Province.

The Night Sky at Sue's.

Orien in the Skies over Grazalema when we were at Sue and Sam's.



Saturday 19 December 2015

Cerro Coros and Campobuche, Cadiz Province.

A lovely walk in some superb countryside.

Crested Tit (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus).
I started the day with a walk around the garden and saw Crested (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Great Tits (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei) and Great Spotted Woodpeckers (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major) and a couple of Meadow Pipits (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) on the newly dug veg patch.
Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus).
After breakfast Sue, Sam, Jayne and I headed off through Grazalema and up to Puerto de las Palomas seeing a small herd of Spanish Ibex (Cabra pyreaica hispanica). Once we were parked up we started out on the track around the northern side of Cerro Coros and almost straight away we picked up a couple of Ring Ouzels ( Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus) as well as Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs).
Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).
We continued on and soon started to see good numbers of Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) and whilst watching these we picked out the adult transmitter carrying Black / Cinereous Vulture (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus) which had been knocking around for a while.
Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).
We continued on around to the southen side of the ridge where we were treated to superb views of the Griffons whilst we sat on an out crop having a break. Again we continued on and came back on to the Northern side of the rigde, from here I left the others and went up to the trig point and had a chat with a Spanish birder up there who was watching a Woodlark (Totovia / Lullula arborea).
Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).
After a while I dropped back down and met the others picking up Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae).
Black / Cinereous Vulture (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus).
As we reached the car we talked to a Spanish couple when a single Alpine Accentor (Acentor Alpino / Prunella modularis) did a fly past.
Coros Peak.
We dropped back down to the Venta near Sue's and had some lunch and later I dropped the others off at the house and continued on down to Campobuche river where I boosted the list with Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), Dartford (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius) and Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus).
Jayne, Sue and Sam watching the Vultures.

Friday 18 December 2015

Travelling to Grazalema, Cadiz Province. Province's.

A visit to Ronda on the way to Sue and Sam's.

Cueva del Gato pool.
We had a leisurely start and headed over to Ronda, on the way we had the usual pair of Little Owls (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) sat on a roof before we reached Huétor and a little further down the road several Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) with around 50 standing out on a newly ploughed field, Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), a couple of Common Kestrels (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) sat on the wires and both Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) which flushed up off the road. As we past around Huétor Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) were added and between Huétor and the Observatory Penarrubia I picked up Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and around 15 Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus).
Cueva del Gato pool.
Once we were past Campillos we pulled off at the raptor watch point Observatory Penarrubia where I found a couple of Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), several Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and down on the Embalse below there were several Great Crested Grebes (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus) and Great Cormorants (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo). 
Railway bridge on way to pool.
We reached Ronda and had a nice walk around the town and then unsuccessfully looked for some where to have lunch and in the end went just out of the town to a place where we have had good food in the past and we were very happy yet again.
After a nice Lunch we drove out to Cueva del Gato and had a walk across the river to the pool below the cave, on the way we saw Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) as well as singles of Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) and Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui). 
Broad-leaved Iris (lirio de invierno / Juno / Iris planifolia).
We drove further on through Benaojan and Montejaque before making a short stop on the far side of Cerro de Tavizna, on the rocks there were lots Broad-leaved Iris (lirio de invierno / Juno / Iris planifolia) along with Southern Daisy (Bellis cordifolia), Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritima) and a very fresh looking Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros). Birds included Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina).
Our last stop before we arrived at Sue´s was just below her house on the Rio Campobuches area where we saw a single Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus) and Crested Tits (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus) and Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris).

Thursday 17 December 2015

Fuente de Piedra, Malaga Province.

A mornings birding with the Axarquia bird group.

View over the Salt Lake.
I drove over to Fuente de Piedra calling in at Antequera on the way where I checked the fields out to the North of the Motorway. I only drove along the one track as I was starting to run out of time but I started my day list off with a very nice male Hen Harrier (Aguilucho Pálido / Circus cyaneus) which was hunting over a new plantation of young Olive trees, a small group of 5 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Calandra Lark (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) and Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis). I continued on adding Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) on the way to the visitor centre car park for the meeting. 
The Group at the Mirador.
I was in fact a little early and none of the others had arrived but Bob and Jenny Wright soon turned up and we picked up Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) before Marcus and Liz Rootes joined us, so the five of us walked up to the view point and scanned the main salt lake which had a small amount of water which held a couple of hundred Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), several Shelducks (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), lots of Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus).
Distant Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus).
Whilst we were there we were joined by Steve and Elena Powell and Eric and Pat Lyon and continued to add species including Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), a couple of Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Small White (Artogeia rapae) and loads of Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus).
View from the Mirador.
We continued on around to the back hides where the water level in the main pool was surprisingly high and held good numbers of Northern Shovelers (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), a few Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), a single male Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and at least 4 Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago). We walked back to the view point and then took the lower track back towards the car park via the board walk, on the way we saw a single male Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis), 20+ Corn Buntings (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) and a female type Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).
Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus).
At the far end of the board walk the scopes were trained on some distant pylons where we saw two large raptors which were almost certainly Golden Eagles (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos). We got back to the cars and started to make our way around the lake along the Western side and just before we reached the Mirador a few KMs along this road we stopped and saw a very nice Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), several Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Woodpigeons (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and a Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) which had a quick but unsuccessful go at a Iberian Brown Hare (Lepus europaeus / capensis).
From the view point we added Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) and the first of the days Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus).
Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus).
We again continued on around the lake and soon found out where the rest of the Common Cranes were when we came across between 700 and 900 birds feeding on a couple of fields South of the road. In the same area we had Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and just down the road a second Black-winged Kite. We moved on again to a small ruin next to the lake but we could not find any new species so most of the group went for lunch but I headed of home.

Saturday 12 December 2015

RAM, Port Beach, Charca de Suarez and Local Patch, Granada Province.

A cracking day down on the Granada Coast seeing 81 species with Juan Pérez Contreras and John Ross.

Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis).
I met Juan near Granada and then we picked up John down near Lecrin before heading down to Peñón de Jolúcar near Torrenueva, on the way we had a fly over Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) and several Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) which were flying out from their roost sites.
Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca / foresteri).
We parked and we walked up to the high point to do the monthly sea bird count, on the way up we saw Thekla Larks (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and a fly over Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus) which called nicely. 
Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula).
During the count we had a good mix of species including 1x Great Skua (Págalo Grande / Stercorarius skua), 1x Arctic Skua (Págalo Parásito / Stercorarius parasiticus), 1x Shag (Cormorán Mondudo / Phalacrocorax aristotelis), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), 1x Cory's (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea), 2x Med / Yelkouan (Pardelas Mediterráneas / Puffinus yelkouan), good numbers of Balearic Shearwaters (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus), Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus) and 2x Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).
Red-knobbed Coot (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata).
We finished the count and walked the short but steep way back to the car to see if there were any orchids in flower and found a few spikes of Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca / foresteri) with on in flower. We also saw Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Small White (Artogeia rapae), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Bermuda Buttercup (Oxalis pes-caprae), Climbing Groundsel (Senecio Angulatus), White Rockrose (Helianthemum apenninum) and Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritima).
Once back at the car we headed to the beach just down the road near the port, again we parked and walked over the river down to the beach. On the way we saw Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Red Avadavat (Bengali Rojo / Amandava amandava), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus).
Red-knobbed Coot (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata).
On the beach we had a group of 5 Little Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) and a preening Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta). Juan then heard a group of Waxbill and after a search we found a couple of Black-rumped Waxbills (Estrilda Culinegra / Estrilda troglodytes) which flew out n to a nearby field where we saw lots of finches feeding. On the field we also found Meadow Pipits (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) and a couple more Waxbills which turned out to be Common Waxbills (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild). In the same area and back on the beach as we walked back to the car we saw Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica), a single Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), a Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) which was sat on the port wall and finally as we recrossed the river a Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos).
Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis).
Our final stop of the morning was at the wetlands of Charca de Suarez one of my favorite place to do some birding, on the way to the site we picked up Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa) and Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata). We walked around to the small hide which over looks the southern end of Laguna del Taraje and boosted the day list with Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus) heard and Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) as well as the first of several Red-veined Darters (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Yellow-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta scripta), Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa) and calling Stripe-less Tree Frogs (Hyla meridionalis).
Stripe-less Tree Frog (Hyla meridionalis).
We moved around to the hide at the other end of the pool seeing Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta) and Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope) on the but saw little from the hide. We continued on to the new hide over looking the new lagoon where we saw several Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca) and a few Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago).
Wild Boar (Jabalí / Felis silvestris).
Again we walked on around to the main hide and scanned the pool looking for new species but the light was not great so it was a struggle but we eventually located Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), a male Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Red-knobbed Coot (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata), a winter plumaged Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis) and just as we were leaving the hide we heard a large splash as a family group of 9 Wild Boars (Jabalí / Felis silvestris) swam past the front of the hide.
We continued on around to the exit via the two hides that look over the Laguna del Trebol adding just Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and a female Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla).
9x Wild Boars (Jabalí / Felis silvestris).
We left the reserve hearing the news that David Jefferson had seen and photographed the Spotted Crake (Polluela Pintoja / Porzana porzana) that had been wintering at the site. From the exit we went out on to the road to the rear of the area to have a look for the Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) which was also wintering on the site, we found the bird but we only had very distant views as it hovered a long way off. We also saw and heard Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Penduline Tits (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus). 
We went back to the car and then back up towards Granada dropping John off at Lecrin on the way. I left Juan at his apartment and the headed off home.
A view from the hide to the Kingfisher posts. 
On the way I had a quick look out on the fields around Huétor Tajar and increased the list with Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Common (Urraca / Pica pica) and Iberian Magpies (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cyanus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Green Sandpiper Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), 200+ Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), 18 x Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) and Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus).

Thursday 10 December 2015

Gibraltar and Tarifa area, Cadiz Province.

Day two down in Cadiz Province with Jayne, Allan and Lesley.

View out to Tarifa Island.
We had a nice breakfast st the AC hotel in La Linea before heading over the border again but this time it was just a quick visit to the supermarket before going further west to Tarifa.
Tarifa Beach.
Whilst we were in the supermarket it was nice to bump into Penny and John Hale as we had not seen them for quite a long while, after a chat we did the shopping and the headed for the crossing and straight through. Once we were in the town at Tarifa we had a coffee before walking through the streets down to the port and the out onto the beach near the causeway out to the Island.
5x Grey Plovers (Chorlito Gris / Pluvialis squatarola).
Here I saw a few bits including several Sandwich Terns (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).
After we got back to the car we headed just down the road to Los Lances beach where we walked out to the hide and I scanned the pool and see.
Group of Gulls and Terns.
On the way I added Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus). On the pool and around the hide we saw a small group of 5 Grey Plovers (Chorlito Gris / Pluvialis squatarola), as well as a single Ringed (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) and a couple of Kentish (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus), Sanderling  (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), a single immature Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii) and Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) and a fishing Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).
View of Getares Beach.
We walked back to the car and made our way to Getares just to the west of Algeciras where we had a very nice luch watching the Kite Surfers on the beach. Later we drove home adding just Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) to the list.