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Friday 11 September 2015

Puerto del la Ragua and Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

Chasing a target bird for John and Sharon.
John and Sharon Holian, day six.

Citril Finch (Verderón Serrano / Serinus citrinella).
We were out and about fairly sharpish and heading along the A92 East past Granada, Guadix and down towards Almeria but turning off and heading in to the Sierra Nevada on the border between the two Provinces.We reached the top of the pass much to the delight of John who did not like the drive up, almost at the top we had a couple of head butting Spanish Ibex (Cabra pyreaica hispanica) showing off. Once out of the car we were surprised to find that it was piggin freezing and I was soon wishing I had put a fleece in the boot.
Citril Finch (Verderón Serrano / Serinus citrinella).
We decided to head for the sun and and made our way across to the small stream on the far side of the road to searched amongst the Hawthorn bushes and were very pleased to come across the main target species almost straight away when we saw 20+ Citril Finches (Verderón Serrano / Serinus citrinella) in the trees and bushes. In amongst the Finches we saw Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Willow Warbler (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus) and in the Pine trees there were a good number of Common Crossbills (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra) as well as  Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Crested (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Long-tailed Tits (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Woodlark (Totovia / Lullula arborea), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei) and as we dropped back towards the car a fleeting glimps of a Northern Goshawk (Azor Común / Accipitor gentillis).
Citril Finch (Verderón Serrano / Serinus citrinella).
Also seen along this stream were several Queen of Spain Fritillaries (Issoria lathonia), Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Cardinal Fritillary (Pandora / argynnis Pandora), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Oriental Meadow Brown (Hyponephele lupinnus), Bath White (Blanqiverdosa / Pontia daplidice) and Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus).
Queen of Spain Fritillary (Issoria lathonia).
We crossed the road and had a coffee before having a look around the clearing next to the car park and added Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Grayling (Hipparchia semele), Tree Grayling (Neohipparchia statilinus) and a very smart yellow Fungus which is unnamed at the moment.
Yellow Slim Fungi type thingy.
We again crossed the road and checked the small bushes near the road where Sharon picked up a nice male Subalpine Warbler (Curruca Carrasquena / Sylvia cantillans) and we had a fly over male Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus). Along side the road we had more nice views of a group of Citril Finches as well as another small flock near the closed Restaurant.
We continued on up the stream again where we had a very nice pair of Spectacled Warblers (Curruca Tomillera / Sylvia conspicillata) and a passage Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis).
Sharon watch the Finches.
Once we had had our fill of the supurb Citril Finches we got back into the car and dropped back down the mountain road and made our way back past Granada and took the Motorway south to the La Malaha junction and then out on to the fields nearby. Here we added several new species including Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Short-toed Larks (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), Golden (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) and Booted Eagles (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), White  (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Grey Wagtails (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator). 
Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra).
Our next site was along the ridge on the way to the Cacín Valley where we had nice views of 2 more Golden Eagles, another Booted, 2 Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Rock Pigeon (Paloma Bravia / Columba livia) and Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae).
On and around the Contra-embalse we boosted the day and trip list with Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), 2x Water Rails (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).
Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).
Our final stop of the day was on the fields near to Moraleda where we picked up some more interesting species including a second Northern Goshawk, good numbers of Short-toed Larks, Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) and both Swallowtail (Papilio machaon) and Scarce Swallowtail (Chupaleches / Iphiclides podalirius feisthameli).
From here we headed back to the house after a cracking day.

Thursday 10 September 2015

Cordoba City, Cordoba Province.

A day around the Mosque and City with a bit of birding on the river.
John and Sharon, day five.

The four of us headed up to the City of Cordoba and found a parking slot just down from the roman bridge. We crossed the bridge and went to the Mosque, where we had a couple of Lesser Kestrels (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni) and around the city where we had some lunch before heading back across the roman bridge and home.
From the bridge we had some good views of a Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) and Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) which were new for the trip list as well as Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Little (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) and Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus).

Wednesday 9 September 2015

Fuente de Piedra and Arroyo Marin, Malaga Province and Sierra de Loja, Granada Province.

A local day amongst the rather dry wetlands, woodlands and Mountains.
John and Sharon Holian, day four.

John at Arroyo Marin.
John, Sharon and I headed along the A92 and through the Town of Fuente de Piedra to the Laguna's but the as expected there was not a great deal of water. We parked and walked up to the centre and around to the mirador where we scanned through the distant group of Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) looking for one of the birds from the three pairs of the Lesser Flamingo's (Flamenco Enano / Phoenicopterus minor) but we could not find any sign of them. In the area we did however see Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta), Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Ringed (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) and Kentish Plovers (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) as well as Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope) and Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii). The two hides behind the centre were completly dry so we headed back to the car park where we met a Spanish birder who told us that all the Lagoons around Campillos were also dry so we decided to head for Arroyo Marin instead.
We drove back along the A92 and around Archidona to the valley below and into the woodlands, we parked and walked a short distance along the track in amongst the woods. During the walk we added Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Coal Tits (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cyanus), Bonelli's (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Melodious (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta), Subalpine (Curruca Carrasquena / Sylvia cantillans) and Sardinian Warblers (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephalba), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Spotted (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata) and Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) as well as Small (Artogeia rapae) and Large Whites (Pieris brassicae), Cleopatra (Cleopatra / Gonepteryx cleopatra), Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus) and Spanish Ibex (Cabra pyreaica hispanica).
Sharon at Arroyo Marin.
Our last stop of the day was up on Sierra de Loja where we drove right across to the far side near Charca de Negra and then back seeing several new species including Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush (Roquero Roja / Monticola saxatilis), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), a Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), Spectacled Warbler (Curruca Tomillera / Sylvia conspicillata), Black-eared Wheatear (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica) and several Cardinal Fritillaries (Pandora / argynnis Pandora). From here we headed back to the house.

Tuesday 8 September 2015

Tarifa area, Cadiz Province.

Our second and equally successful day down near Tarifa.
John and Sharon Holian, day three.

Garden Bulbul (Bulbul Naranjero / Pycnonotus barbatus).
Our day started down in the town of Tarifa at another site that I had seen the Garden Bulbul (Bulbul Naranjero / Pycnonotus barbatus), we had a quick look around before the four of us went to a cafe for some breakfast. Once we had eaten we went back out and soon heard the bird singing but could not see it then after some time Sharon picked it up singing from a TV aerial on a nearby roof but the bird soon disappeared in to some trees.
Ruppell's Vulture (Buitre Moteado / Gyps rueppellii).
A few minutes later we could near two birds calling to each other and then we had then fly over us and disappeared in to some dense trees and a short while on they flew back and perch out in the open in the top of a dying Eucalyptus tree giving nice views.
Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus).
In the same area we had Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) and Honey Buzzards (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus).
Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).
After the nice views of the Bulbuls we headed for the Algarrobo Raptor watch point just on the western side of Algeciras where we sat with a few other birders and scanned the skies. During the couple of hours we had there we were lucky enough to get a single Ruppell's Vulture (Buitre Moteado / Gyps rueppellii), lots of Griffon's (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), a few Egyptian's (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus), Short-toed (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus) and Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Sparrowhawk, Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and Black Kites (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans).
The watch point.
Later we dropped back down and went on to Gibraltar for a bit of shopping before heading back home.

Monday 7 September 2015

Tarifa Area and La Janda, Cadiz Province.

A great days birding with good friends John and Sharon from the UK.
John and Sharon Holian, day two.

Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans) approaching the crossing.
Jayne, Sharon, John and I headed down the to the Gibraltar crossing where we dropped Jayne off to do some shopping whilst the rest of us headed to Cazalla watch point where we had a great few hours watching real time migration as the raptors and storks were making there way south to Africa.
Egyptian Vulture (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus).
During the time we were there we saw lots of Black Kites (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Short-toed (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus) and Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Griffon (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) and Egyptian Vultures (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Black Stork (Ciguena Negra / Ciconia nigra), Common (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) and Alpine Swifts (Vencejo Real / Apus melba), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and 6x Ravens (Cuervo / Corvus corax).
Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus).
We next dropped down to a site near Tarifa and in to a small wooded valley where we were looking for the newly resident Garden Bulbuls (Bulbul Naranjero / Pycnonotus barbatus) which have been breeding in the area for a couple of years. Whilst we were looking for them we saw more Short-toed and Booted Eagles, Black Kites, Alpine Swifts as well as Honey Buzzards (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), good numbers of European Bee-eaters (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica) as well as Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator), Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus) and Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria).
Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus).
Once we had finished at this site we drove towards Vejer de la Frontera stopping at the Golfcourse on the way to get views of the regular flock of Bald Ibis (Ibis Eremita / Geronticus eremita), we went straight around to the car park behind the club house and found 19 birds perched on the roof where we got great views and photographs. In the same area we had Western Cattle Egrets, Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).
Black Stork (Ciguena Negra / Ciconia nigra).
Our next stop was at Barbate Marshes where we scanned the older disused saltpans and added Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Sandwich (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis) and Little Terns (Charrancito Común / Sterna albifrons), Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Kentish (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus)
White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).
and Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Red Knot ( Correlimos Gordo / Calidris canutus), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Short-toed Larks (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla) and Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).
Black Kites (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans).
Just down the road back towards the town we stopped and checked the roadside pools where we boosted the list with Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), Grey Plover (Chorlito Gris / Pluviali squatarola) and Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus).
Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus).
We then headed back down towards the hotel for the night calling in at La Janda for the last couple of hours birding, on the way we had a Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos) flash across the road.
Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus).
As soon as we were off the road and on the track we started to find White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus), several Marsh Harriers, an immature Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and a good many Corn Buntings (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).
Bald Ibis (Ibis Eremita / Geronticus eremita).
We did not go along the side track but continued on along the main track following the main canal and on some yellow Dittrichia viscosa plants we found a couple of the very rare Zeller's Skippers (Borbo borbonica) which was a new species for my Spanish Butterfly list as well as a Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous).
Audouin's Gull (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii).
Whilst we were watching this we had several Banded Grondlings (Brachythemis leucosticta), lots of Red-veined Darters (Sympetrum fonscolombii) and a couple of Lesser Emperors (Anax parthenope).
Zeller's Skippers (Borbo borbonica).
On the second half of the drive we had views of Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) as well as around 300+ European Bee-eaters.
Banded Grondlings (Brachythemis leucosticta).
From here we headed back to La Linea and met Jayne before going out for a meal at the Luna Beach Club Bar.

Sunday 6 September 2015

Charca Suarez and surrounding area, Granada Province.

A morning around Charca and surround fields and beaches.
John and Sharon Holian, day one.

Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).
John, Sharon and I headed out earlyish and drove down to Charca on the coast near to Motril where we started a good days birding in the area to the North-west of the main reserve sometimes called Turtle Dove alley.
Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata).
Our first species of the day was a fine adult Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) which was sat in a small dead tree when we arrived but soon started hunting and settling on nearby wires over the fields. Whilst watching this elegant little raptor we also had Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Alpine Swifts (Vencejo Real / Apus melba), Red Avadavat (Bengali Rojo / Amandava amandava), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), calling Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix), Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus), a flyover immature Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), a nice group of European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and plenty of Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis). 
Red-knobbed Coot (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata).
We moved a short way up the road to the T junction and stopped again by a derelict building where new species included a distant soaring Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila-azor / Hieraetus faciatus) spotted by Sharon, Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus). 
Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos).
Time was pushing on and the reserve was now open so we made our way to the main entrance and then moved anti-clockwise around the hides. The first was quiet but we added Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) and Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).
Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio).
Further around we called at the two hides overlooking Laguna del Trébol and had views of Squacco Heron (Garcilla Cangrejera / Ardeola ralloides), Red-knobbed Coot (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata), Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Great Reed Warbler (Carricero Tordal / Acrocephalus arundinaceus), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator), Black Percher (Diplacodes lefebvrii), Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea), Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria), Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi) and Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa).
Immature Purple Heron (Garza Imperial / Ardea purpurea).
Moving on we were soon in the main hide and watching a winter plumage Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), an immature Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), 2 adult and 2 immature Purple Herons (Garza Imperial / Ardea purpurea), 4 immature Night Herons (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax), Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia), a Curlew Sandpiper (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) and Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis).
Curlew Sandpiper (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea).
We later walked on around to the new hide over looking the reedy pool, on the far side we had both Green (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) and Common Sandpipers (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), as well as Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), White (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Yellow (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) and Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea).
Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis).
My last stop was at the small hide over looking Laguna del Taraje where we caught up with Little Bittern (Avetorillo Común / Ixobrychus minutus) as it flew between the reed beds. John and Sharon decided to go and have a look for the Mediterranean Chameleons (Chamaeleo chamaeleon) along the track to the first hide over looking Laguna del Taraje whilst I stayed hoping to get shots of the Little Bittern, I am pleased to say they had more successthan I did and found a very smart Chameleon right next to the information board about the species. 
Immature Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).
At 13:00 we all met up again at the exit and went back to the car and made our way to the beach by the near by golf course, on the way we stopped to watch a very nice Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra) perched on a fence and then noticed that there were a good number of other birds in the area including 50+ European Bee-eaters, Willow (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus) and Melodious Warblers (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta), Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis).
4 immature Night Herons (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax) and a Squacco Heron (Garcilla Cangrejera / Ardeola ralloides).
Further on we parked and checked golf course pool were we picked up Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis). Down on the nearby beach we set up the scopes and scanned the horizon and had several passing Cory's (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea) and Balearic Shearwaters (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus) as well as Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) and Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis).
Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica).
We again walked back to the car and then back towards home but spent some time on the fields to the North of the town where we watched the flock of Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) in a field of Lucerne. In the same area we had Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) and Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina).
Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).