Tablas de Daimiel, Castilla la Mancha and Hoces del Duratón, Castilla de León.

From Wetlands to dry hill tops as we start to head North.

Deb and Renate Day Eight.

Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus).

The three of us set off early hearing Red-necked Nightjar (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis) as we left the house, we went past Granada and up to Tablas, once we were there we went out on to the board walk trail. Right from the start we could hear Penduline Tits (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus) and the first bird we saw from the small platform was a fine male which was collecting nesting material.

Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus).

This little pool was quiet except for singing Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Grey (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and Purple Herons (Garza Imperial / Ardea purpurea), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) and Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus). From the first island top we scanned the surrounding pools picking up Red-crested (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina) and Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) and a fly over Black / Cinereous Vulture (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus) which later when we spoke to one of the guides was a rare bird at the site.

Red-crested Pochard (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina).

We continued on along the board walk getting views of Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), our only Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus) of the trip, Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and as we were photographing a very nice Great Crested Grebes Deb picked up a female Bearded Tit (Reedling) (Bigotudo / Panurus biarmicus) as she dropped into the reed across the pool. 

Penduline Tit (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus) in a nest.

This bird was followed by a second female and a nice male but they all disappeared as soon as they landed. 

Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).

As we had already seen Penduline we did not go on to the larger island but turned left and made our way out to the hide, on the way we heard Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), had flight views of several Night Herons (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax), more Purples and Greys as well as another male Bearded Tit, Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Whiskered Tern (Fumarel Cariblanca / Chilidonias hybridus) and in the Tamarisks several Melodious Warblers (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta), Tree Sparrows (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus) and Great Reed Warbler (Carricero Tordal / Acrocephalus arundinaceus).
In the hide there were several nests of Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), the young had fledged but were still in the hide and the adults returned to feed them sometimes through a small Crake at the top of the door.

Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica).

Here we also had a Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) which was trying to eat a largish Crayfish, Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia) and the frst of several Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia).

Corn Flowers (Centaurea cyanus).

We carried on around the board walk back towards the visitor centre adding only Viperine Snake (Culebra Viperina / Natrix maura), Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa), a single Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope) and Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser).

Corn Flower (Centaurea cyanus).

We went back to the car for drinks and a bit of Renate's German Chocolate cake before taking the second trail which included several hides and a larger tower hide at the furthest point which gave a nice view over the wetland. Just before the first hide we stood on a small boat jetty and listened to a Savi's Warbler (Buscarla Unicolor / Locustella luscinoides) out in the reeds but we did not see it so we continued on. Just as we approach another one of the hides Deb had fleeting views of a Moustached Warbler (Carricerin Real / Acrocephalus melanopogon) which dived into cover before Renate and I could get on to it but a few seconds later I had equally fleeting views of the bird as it disappeared in to the larger reedbed.

Deb in the Cornflowers.

From the next hide we were very pleased to see a nice male Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca) which showed well but did not come close enough for a decent shot. We had spoken to a warden earlier in the day and he had been very helpful with info about the Savi's and Moustached Warblers but had said that there were no Ferruginous on this part of the reserve with the whole population being on a part of the wetland that was restricted with no access, this made this bird all the better.
Deb commented that the bird looked a bit like their Hardhead (Aythya australis) but it is a different species. During the walk back to the car park we had views of Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) and a male Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii). 

A ruined Barn.

Just as we reached the turn for the car park we again heard the Penduline Tit in the same area as earlier so we scanned the Tamarisks and soon located a part built nest with a fine male bird adding some more material to the structure.

We returned to the car and had another drink and added European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) and Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) to the day list before putting Hoces del Duratón in to the sat-nav and heading onwards.

Shepherd and his dogs.

We stopped a couple of times during the journey but we did not add any thing to the list except for a couple of Monk Parakeets (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus) as we drove around Madrid. Another one of the stops was on the roadside next to a corn field full of the most beautiful blue Corn Flowers (Centaurea cyanus).

Shepherd and his dogs.

We reached the Hostel, booked in and unloaded before having some thing to eat in a near by bar, later Deb and I headed out to the first part of Hoces del Duratón whilst Renate had a break. On the way we made a quick stop at a group of ruined farm buildings and had a walk around seeing Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla) and Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).

Shepherd and his dogs.

We arrived and parked along side the main track where we soon had several Woodchat Shrikes (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator) in view along with Thekla (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Short-toed (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Sky (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) and Woodlarks (Totovia / Lullula arborea), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Orphean Warbler (Curruca Mirlano / Sylvia hortensis), Black-eared (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica) and Northern Wheatears (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) and Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).
The whole time we were at this spot there was the lovely sound of bells ringing from a large flock of sheep, the shepherd was bringing them back in towards their night time home just as the sun was starting to drop. He had two really beautiful Pyrenean Mountain Dogs with him and the whole scene was very nice and was recorded in lot of our photographs from the day.

Shepherd and his dogs.

As the light dropped we could hear the one species we had come to try and find but the two or three Dupont's Larks (Alondra Ricotí / Chersophilus duponti) we could hear were quite a long way off across a small ravine so we did not see them, we also heard Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) and Red-necked Nightjar (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis) before we called it a day and went back to the accommodation.

Ronda, Indiana, Caves of the Cat and Oak woods near Montejaque, Malaga Province.

Jayne and Renate spent the day in Ronda whist Deb and I caught up with a couple more interesting species.

Deb and Renate Day Seven.

Olivaceous Warbler (Zarcero Pálido Occidental / Hippolais opaca).

We all drove over to Ronda where Jayne and Renate got out and spend from all acounts a very pleasant day around the town sightseeing and having a nice meal over looking the Taco. Deb and I made our way out into the country and to out first stop near the Rio Guadiaro at Indiana where we soon had the target Western Olivaceous Warbler (Zarcero Pálido Occidental / Hippolais opaca) in the bins and the camera lens.

Olivaceous Warbler (Zarcero Pálido Occidental / Hippolais opaca).

We had great views of this difficult species singing from several different trees around us. In the same area we picked up Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), several Black Kites (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Rock Pigeon (Paloma Bravia / Columba livia), Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica) and Melodious Warbler (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta).

Olivaceous Warbler (Zarcero Pálido Occidental / Hippolais opaca).

We moved along the river a short way and found another pair of Olivaceous on a side stream and in the wood near there a calling and drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus).

Alpine Swift (Vencejo Real / Apus melba).

As we were walking back towards the car we were surprised to get a Ring-necked Parakeet (Cotorra de Kramer / Psittacula Krameri) flash along the river through the Poplar trees.

We moved on but just along the river a short way to the Cave of the Cat, the first stop was at the Hotel there where we had a coffee whilst we listened to Golden Orioles and Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla).

Deb getting some shots of the Swifts.

On the river we watched at least two more Olivaceous Warblers and hordes of Alpine (Vencejo Real / Apus melba) and Pallid Swifts (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) as the wheeled around abover the water and flew in and out of the cave. Whilst we were trying to get some shots of the swifts we had Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), 50 or so Honey Buzzard (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus) pass down the Valley along with good numbers of Black Kites (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus) and a Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus).

Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis).

We crossed the river on the clapsed bridge and on around the board walk under the railway out to the Cave where deb spent some time trying to get some shots of the Apline Swifts as they left and approched the entrance, in the same area we had several fleeting glimpes of the Dipper (Mirlo Acuático / Cinclus cinclus) as it flew along the river. 

Wader flock in flight.

We spent quite a while here and finished off with another coffee before going up through Benaojan and Montejaque and stopped in the Oak woods on the drop down to the Ronda road lookng for woodland species. We walked along the roadside picking up Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes), Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), heard Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Long-tailed Tits (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei).

Wood Sandpiper (Andarrios Bastardo / Tringa glareola).

Once we got back to the car we headed back into Ronda and picked Renate and Jayne up at the Bullring before drivig over to Fuente de Piedra on the way home to try and get better views of the Lesser Flamingo's (Flamenco Enano / Phoenicopterus minor) but they were in almost the same place and there was a lot less water so the were unlikey to come any closer. On the way in we checked the roadside pool again and had great views of a good number of Curlew Sandpipers (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea) some looking very smart in their summer plumage, other still looking completly grey.

Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta).

Also on the pool were Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Common (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) and Wood Sandpipers (Andarrios Bastardo / Tringa glareola), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Gull-billed Tern (Pagaza Piconegra / Gelochelidon nilotica), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), White (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Lesser Kestrel (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata).

Curlew Sandpiper (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea).

From the view point we had the two Lesser's and a few hundred Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Great Reed Warbler (Carricero Tordal / Acrocephalus arundinaceus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).

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

We had a look from the small hide on the rare trail and saw several Dark Spreadwing (Lestes macrostigma) in the Clubrush stands along with Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator) and Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii). From the large hide we boosted the day list with Red-crested Pochard (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera) and Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).

Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

We returned to the car and spent some time photographing the waders on the entrance road pool again before heading back to the house seeing Common (Urraca / Pica pica) and Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) and once we were back at the house we had the usual calling Red-necked Nightjars (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis).

Huétor and Moraleda Fields, Cacín Valley, Sierra de Loja and Zafarraya Road, Granada Province, Spain.

A day mopping up a few local species before we moved North.

Deb and Renate Day Six.

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

Deb, Renate and I set off to the fields near Moraleda where we were hoping to catch up with a few gaps in the trip list, on the way there we picked up some of the regular species including Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala). 

Almond-tree Leaf skeletonizer Moth (Aglaope infausta).

Once we were out on the fields we took the first track and I had the first Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator) of the trip but for now it remained a guide only sighting but soon enough we were starting to fill some of the gaps when we heard and saw a nice male Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) and 2 distant Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis) on a stubble field. We got back to the car and made our way back along the track and took the next one back out to where the grouse were but they as usual saw us before we saw them but we had good flight views.

Almond-tree Leaf skeletonizer Moths (Aglaope infausta).

We carried on around the site but apart from Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) and Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) we did not see a great deal. On the way off the site we stopped by an Almond plantation and photographed a swarm of Almond-tree Leaf skeletonizer Moths (Aglaope infausta) which were there in their thousands.

Deb and Renate.

We dropped down in to the Cacín Valley via El Turro and spent some time checking out the pine woods and riverside trees and almost straight away we picked up Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus), Coal Tit (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos) and Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus) which we at first only heard but it came closer and then flew right over our head and started to call from wires nearby.

Lange's Orchid (Androrchis langei).

We continued on lower down the valley to the bridge crossing the Cacín where we had a walk towards the dam wall adding European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), White (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Grey Wagtails (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Reed (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) and Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula).

Late Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys Ficalhoana),

Our next stop was at the small embalse just above the dam, on the mud and water we had good numbers of Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) and on the margins, in the reedbeds and surrounding woods we caught up with Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica).

Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli).

We retraced our way back along the valley past Moraleda and along the motorway to the exit for Venta del Raya and then down the Valley towards Zafaraya. On the way we stopped at the roadside and had very nice views of several Montagu's Harriers (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) flying over partly harvested crop fields. We continued on again and stopped in the Oak woodlands North of the town where we searched amongst the trees and built up quite a nice list of species including Subalpine Warbler (Curruca Carrasquena / Sylvia cantillans), Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix), Woodlark (Totovia / Lullula arborea), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Melodious (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta) and Bonelli's Warblers (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Lange's (Androrchis langei), Lizard (Himantoglosum hircinum) and Late Sawfly Orchids (Ophrys Ficalhoana). 

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

Our last stop of the day was up on the Sierra de Loja where the target species was the locally commonish Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush (Roquero Roja / Monticola saxatilis), we drove quickly across the mountain to the crags just beyond the pools at Charca del Negra and started to search the ledges. After a couple of minutes I pick up a cracking male sat on a rock not far from the car, it sat there singing for a few minutes whilst we both cracked quite a few shots off. Up on the mountain we also saw Black-eared (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica) and Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Spectacled Warbler (Curruca Tomillera / Sylvia conspicillata), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) and Sharp-ribbed Salamander (Pleurodeles waltl).

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

We finished off on the mountain and headed back towards the house, later we sat out and listened to the calling Red-necked Nightjars (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis).

Sharp-ribbed Salamander (Pleurodeles waltl).

Sierra de Loja, Granada Province.

A rest day for Deb and Renate and a day with Paul and Muriel Speak on the hill.

Ladder Snake (Rhinechis scalaris).

I meet Paul and Muriel just down the road and then we headed through Loja and then up the Sierra, our first stop was just short of the motorway bridge where we started the list off with Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs).

Near the lower quarry we heard a singing male Orphean Warbler (Curruca Mirlano / Sylvia hortensis) but only got brief views, Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), a little further down the track we saw a couple of Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala).
Along the track we also saw Blue Spotted Hairstreak (Satyrium spini), Spanish Gatekeeper (Pyronia bathseba), Mallow / False Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus alceae / tripolina), Red-underwing Skipper (Spialia sertorius), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Panoptes Blue (Pseudophilotes panoptes), Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenoides) and Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina).

Black-eared Wheatear (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica).

In the same area we saw Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalia), Brown Bluebell (Dipcadi serotinum), Common Stork's-bill (Erodium cicutarium), Ground-pine Germander (Teucrium pseudochamaepitys), Mediterranean Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria), Navel-wort (Omphalodes commutata), Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum umbellatum), White Rockrose (Helianthemum apenninum) and White Mignonette (Reseda Alba).
On the cliffs we could not locate the Eagle Owl (Buho Real / Bubo bubo) but we did catch up with Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus). We dropped back down to the main track and started to head further up the hill seeing a couple of Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) in the last of the pines and a Ladder Snake (Rhinechis scalaris) which was trying to warm up on the track.

Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia).

Once we were out on to the flatter tops we started to see Thekla Larks (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Black-eared Wheatear (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa) and Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina). We made a shortstop on the way up in the broom scrub and soon had a singing Spectacled Warbler (Curruca Tomillera / Sylvia conspicillata) on the list. We eventually reached the pools at Charca del Negra, over the pool we saw Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator), Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) and Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum).

Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

We also checked the low crags nearby and had the days first Rock Buntings (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Rock Sparrows (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius).
In the pools we saw Sharp-ribbed Salamander (Pleurodeles waltl) and on the rocks we saw a juv Ocellated Lizard (Lacerta lepida). On the rocks below the crags we had a couple of Andalucian Wall Lizard (Podarcis vaucheri), in the air there were several noisy Red-billed Choughs (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) and a late Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina). We moved on around past the Goat cave and checked the cliffs further on and eventually got nice views of a male and female Rufous-tailed Rock Thrushes (Roquero Roja / Monticola saxatilis).

Pyramidal Orchids (Anacamptis pyramidalia).

From here we went back along the track past the cave and the pools and decided to go right across to Salar and during the first part of the drive we had a Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) flash across in front of us and away around a nearby peak.
A few minutes later we had the first of ten Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) a little further down the track we stopped near a large Marble quarry and the 10 Griffon circled above us and in the same area we saw a male Subalpine Warbler (Curruca Carrasquena / Sylvia cantillans), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes) and Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops). As we dropped down towards Salar we stopped a couple of times and added Lizard Orchid (Himantoglosum hircinum), Montpellier Snake (Malpolon monspessulanus), Bath (Pontia daplidice), Black-veined  (Aporia crataegi) and Large Whites (Pieris brassicae), Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus), Spanish Marbled White (Melanargia ines), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata) and Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus).

Lizard Orchids (Himantoglosum hircinum).

Once we were down near the town we stopped for the last time near a small stream and heard or saw Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus) and Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur). We went through Salar and back to the house.

Bonanza, Chipiona, La Janda and Tarifa area, Cadiz Province.

The second day across in Cadiz Province.

Deb and Renate Day Five.

Little Tern (Charrancito Común / Sternula albifrons).

We left the hotel at around 07:00 and headed back to Bonanza where we were hoping to get some more wader species photographs but we were disappointed by the numbers of birds but still managed to get a few good shots.

Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina).

Species included Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba) including a couple of summer plumage individuals, Curlew Sandpiper (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea), Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus) and Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos).

Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula).

We took the track out towards the river and had a Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus) do a flyby and saw a couple of pairs of Red-crested Pochards (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina) and Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera) before turning off and skirting the fences checking the pools where we saw several Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Curlew Sandpiper, Grey Plover (Chorlito Gris / Pluviali squatarola) and a couple of better behaved than yesterdays Lesser Short-toed Larks (Terrera Marismena / Calandrella rufescens) along with the commoner Short-toed (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla) and Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata).

Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba).

We then made our way out to the larger pools and added Night Heron (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax), Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Slender-billed Gull (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei), Little Tern (Charrancito Común / Sterna albifrons), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) and Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta). We retraced our way back down to the main track and then back towards the entrance but as we drove we noticed a big gathering of Slender-billed Gulls and Little Terns so we slowly rolled up to them and started to get some shots.

Slender-billed Gull (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei).

The gulls were just preening and roosting in the new water being pumped in to the pans while over head the Terns were hovering and diving in for small fish giving us superb views. After ages and a phone call from Debs husband Ian who was unforgettably looking after things back in Australia this time we pushed on and headed along the coast to Chipiona stopping for a coffee on the way (I think Deb and Renate were well addicted to Spanish Coffee by this point).

Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) and Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus).

Once the Caffeine was in place we continued down to the spot for some of the best birds in Spain the Little Swifts (Vencejo Moro / Apus affinis) which were on the list before we had even left the parked car. 

Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus).

Once we were at the site the camera were clicking at full speed try to get a decent shot of these very quick little birds as they zoomed around with both Pallid (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) and Common Swifts (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) for company.

Little Swift (Vencejo Moro / Apus affinis).

In the same area we had Red-rumped (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica) and Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Lesser Black-backed  (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres) and a singing Melodious Warbler (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta) back where we had parked.

Little Swift (Vencejo Moro / Apus affinis).

We stayed at this spot for a couple of hours totally engrossed in watching this special species before heading down to the south and to the cliffs below Vejer de la Frontera where we had good views of a rare but not so beautiful bird the Northern Bald Ibis (Ibis Eremita / Geronticus eremita) which were breeding in good numbers again.

Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis)-

We also took some shots of the nearby Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) before again moving on down to La Janda but its was very quiet and we only had Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus), White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Pheasant (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur) and European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster).

Northern Bald Ibis (Ibis Eremita / Geronticus eremita).

As the area was quiet we moved on, our next stop was on the edge of Tarifa where we were hoping to see the Common Bulbuls (Bulbul Naranjero / Pycnonotus barbatus) which are seen in the area. We dipped on the Bulbuls but did get Lesser Kestrel (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla) and Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos).
We tried a second site just down the road but again we did not find the Bulbuls here either so we started the drive back to the house. along the coast but using the toll roads. Once we were back home we could hear the local Red-necked Nightjars (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis).