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Saturday 3 October 2015

Charca Suarez and Granada City, Granada Province.

Some wetland birding in the morning, then lunch and the afternoon in Granada City.
Day five with Bob Ruvolo from New York, USA.

Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis).
We headed out early and made our way down to the coast at Motril where we visited the wetlands but before the reserve opened we checked the area to the rear nearby and picked up Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Willow (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus) and Sardinian Warblers (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Red Avadavat (Bengali Rojo / Amandava amandava), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Collared (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and two Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur).
Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis).
We made our way around the reserve and easily filled the time taking some photographs on the way around.
Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis).
During the visit we saw several Kingfishers (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) including a ver nice bird from the new hide which showed very well as well as Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos),  Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) and Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus).
Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).
We went around towards the main hide calling at the second new hide over looking the far end of Laguna del Taraje but only saw a female Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca).
White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala).
Once we were in the main hide we adding singles of both White-headed (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala) and Ferruginous Ducks (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca) along with Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), 4x Night Heron (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), immature Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Grey (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and Squacco Herons (Garcilla Cangrejera / Ardeola ralloides).
Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra).
We continued on around the reserve we picked up Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Western Cattle (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Sand (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia) and House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and the usual reintrodution Red-knobbed Coots (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata).
Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis).
Other species seen during the visit included Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope), Large (Pieris brassicae) and Small Whites (Artogeia rapae), Monarch (Danaus plexippus), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa), Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi) and Stripe-less Tree Frog (Hyla meridionalis) which we only heard.
Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus).
We finished at the reserve and headed to Granada City where we had lunch and a good stroll around some of the sights with a visit to part of the Cathedral before we headed back to Huétor.
Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur).

Friday 2 October 2015

Osuna area, Sevilla Province.

A visit to the fields of Osuna and the Laguna's del Gobierno.
Day four with Bob Ruvolo from New York, USA.

Bob out on the fields in the early sun.
We had breakfast at 07:00 and headed straight out on to the fields near the town looking for Great Bustards (Avutarda Común / Otis tarda). 
Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis).
On the way out to the first bridge we recorded Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax) and then the target Great Bustards but they were on the far side of the area of fields we were watching so quite distant but OK through the scope. 
Willow Warbler (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus).
As we dropped down off the bridge we had a couple of Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) in the Olives and Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and House Sparrows (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) on the wire fencing along the railway line.
Willow Warbler (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus).
From the second and third bridge we had Red (Milano Real / Milvus milvus) and Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) and slightly closer views of the Bustards
Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus).
We made a quick stop just along the road to photograph a very nice Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) and then took a couple of tracks out to and back from a very large semi-derelict Cortijo, on the way out we had several Willow Warblers (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus), Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and a couple of heard but not seen Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis). 
White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala).
Around the building we saw a couple of late male Lesser Kestrels (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni), Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala). On the return trip across the farside of the fields Calandra Lark (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra) and Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) before we reached the ruin at the end of the track where I was surprised to find 10+ Garden Warblers (Curruca Mosquitera / Sylvia borin) feeding in the fig trees growing there.
Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) adults.
Once back at the road we took the road towards La Lantejuela and had a second Little Owl on the way. In the town we stopped for lnch and got chatting to the bar owner who knew a chap that could show us around a nearby nature resever. After eating a very nice meal we headed out and met Manuel at the Laguna's del Gobierno and had a very pleasant and interesting walk around several pools on the site and learnt that all the water come from a reedbed sewage filtration system run by the local town hall. 
Bob and Manuel.
On the pools we saw Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Western Cattle (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), a single Northern Pintail (Ánade Rabudo / Anas acuta), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Green (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) and Common Sandpipers (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Marsh Harrier, Common Buzzard, Booted Eagle and Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis). 
Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) immature.
Whilst we were there we also saw a very nice Swallowtail (Papilio machaon), seeveral Lesser Emperors (Anax parthenope) and hundreds of Red-veined Darters (Sympetrum fonscolombii).
Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).
After spending a great couple of hours with Manuel we headed back to the Hotel at Huetor Tajar where I dropped Bob off before heading back home again.

Thursday 1 October 2015

Chipiona, Bonanza and Brazo del Este, Cadiz and Sevilla Provinces

A day along the Guadalquivir and a finish in Osuna.
Day three with Bob Ruvolo from New York, USA.

Little Swift (Vencejo Moro / Apus affinis).
We left the El Paso Hotel and headed North up the coast to the seaside town of Chipiona where we checked out the fishing port area and soon located around 15 Little Swifts (Vencejo Moro / Apus affinis). 
Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).
After spending quite a while watching these wonderful birds we walked along the beach checking the rocks for waders and located Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus), Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Ringed (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Kentish (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus) and Grey Plovers (Chorlito Gris / Pluviali squatarola) and Eurasian Oystercatcher (Ostrero Euroasiatico / Haematopus ostralegus) as well as 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) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus).
Audouin's Gull (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii).
Continuing on along the coast and up the Guadalquivir our next stop was at the pool just to the south east of Bonanza where we had the amazing sight of 9 Marbled Ducks (Cerceta Pardilla / Marmaronetta angustirostris) all sat together on logs at the one end of the pool along with Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Western  Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio),
Marbled Ducks (Cerceta Pardilla / Marmaronetta angustirostris).
Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Squacco Heron (Garcilla Cangrejera / Ardeola ralloides), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), a Spotted Redshank (Archibebe Oscuro / Tringa erythropus) which flew in, landed in the deep water and flew off again and Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus).
Marbled Ducks (Cerceta Pardilla / Marmaronetta angustirostris).
The saltpans at Bonanza just up the road were the next stop but I was surprised to find that all the main track pans were totally birdless so we continued on and turned right at the far end of the track and went down to the pump house at the far end.
White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala).
This area was far from birdless and held really good numbers of Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), 18+ Great White Egrets (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba), Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Black (Ciguena Negra / Ciconia nigra) and White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Slender-billed Gull (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei), Caspian Tern (Pagaza Piquiroja / Sterna caspia), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), a female Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus),
Great White Egret (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba).
Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Black-winged Stilts, Sanderling, Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus), Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) and Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).
Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos).
The last stop of the day was at Brazo del Este where we entered the area across the rice paddies just to the North of Los Chapatales, the numbers of White and Black Storks, Grey Heron, Glossy Ibis and both Little and Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) was just amazing.
Slender-billed Gull (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei).
We also saw a few Greater Flamingo's, Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtails (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), a fine male Yellow Crowned Bishop (Eucleptes afer) and many more Marsh Harriers.
Black Stork (Ciguena Negra / Ciconia nigra).
White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).
Along the main track we stopped many times checking the areas of water and were amazed at the numbers of Glossy Ibis which were there in their thousands along with several Western Swamp-hens, Squacco Heron, Great White, Little and Western Cattle Egrets, Black-winged Stilts, Snipe, Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus), Soonbill, Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Night Heron (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax), Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) and Willow Warbler (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus).
Black Stork (Ciguena Negra / Ciconia nigra).
From here we made a late drive across to Osuna and once we were checked in at the hotel went down stairs to the bar and had a beer and some tapa.

Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea).

Wednesday 30 September 2015

Tarifa, La Janda and Barbate, Cadiz Province.

Migration watching down in the south.
Day two with Bob Ruvolo from New York, USA.

Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus).
We set off early from the hotel and after a quick caffeine stop on the way down we were soon in place at the Cazalla watch point just above Tarifa where we spent a couple of hours watching the raptors moving through.
Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus).
We started the list with a couple of Red Kites (Milano Real / Milvus milvus), which were soon followed by the first of a great many Short-toed (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus), a single Bonelli's (Aguila-azor / Hieraetus faciatus) and Booted Eagles (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus), Black Kites (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Egyptian (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus) and Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Black (Ciguena Negra / Ciconia nigra) and White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).
Garden Bulbul (Bulbul Naranjero / Pycnonotus barbatus).
During the time we were there we also saw Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Willow Warblers (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae).
Garden Bulbuls (Bulbul Naranjero / Pycnonotus barbatus).
Our next stop was down in the town of Tarifa where we checked the gardens and house tops for the resident Garden Bulbuls (Bulbul Naranjero / Pycnonotus barbatus), after a bit of a search we had great views of a pair of adult birds and the a little later another adult but this time with a new fledgling.
Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans).
In the town area we also had Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans) and more Willow Warblers.
Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) male.
We moved just down the road and walked along the boardwalk from the town out to the hide on Los Lances beach, we boosted the list with Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Sandwich Terns (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), 3x immature Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Bar-tailed (Aguja Colipinta / Limosa lapponica) and Black-tailed Godwits (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa), Ringed (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) and Kentish Plovers (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and even more Willow Warblers.
Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).
After lunch at the Apollo 11 bar on the way Northish we spent a good while on the main track at La Janda, new birds for the day came thick and fast and included Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus), Great White Egret (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Lesser (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni) and Common Kestrels (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Pheasant (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) and Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia) along with lots more White and Black Storks, Little and Western Cattle Egrets, Grey Herons, Short-Toed and Bonelli's Eagles and Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail
Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).
We finished at the site and headed up to the Hotel El Paso just below Vejer de la Frontera and checked in before heading to the marshes at Barbate where we finished the day adding Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Caspian Tern (Pagaza Piquiroja / Sterna caspia), Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Cory's Shearwater (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea) and Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) to the day list and seeing more Spoonbills, Audouin's Gulls, Sandwich Terns, Dunlin, Sanderling, Ringed and Kentish Plovers and Crested Larks.
Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus).
Our very last stop of the day was in the Tapas bar opposite the hotel where we had some very nice food and a beer before turning in.
Immature Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila-azor / Hieraetus faciatus).
White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).
Adult Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila-azor / Hieraetus faciatus).
Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).
Lesser Kestrel (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni) Male.
Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe).

Tuesday 29 September 2015

Bobadilla, Arroyo Marin, Malaga Province and Sierra de Loja, Granada Province.

Birding on the fields, in the woodlands and up the mountains.
Day one with Bob Ruvolo from New York, USA.

Bob up on Sierra de Loja.
I met Bob at the AVE station just to the West of Antequera and we started birding almost straight away on an area rough grassland with a few reedbed stands. From the roadside we started the trip list off with Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), a female Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) and Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).
Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).
We walked out on to the fields and around the reedy patches, we had good views of a flock of Calandra Larks (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), several Reed Warblers (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and in the air there were good numbers of migrating hirundines which included Barn (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Red-rumped Swallows (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Sand (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia) and House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica).
Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata).
On our way to our next site at Arroyo Marin we picked up Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and a Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).
We arrived at Marin and walked along the river valley scanning the trees and bushes for passerines and soon picked up Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cyanus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), both Pied (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca) and Spotted Flycatchers (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus), Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and at the far end of the valley bird of the day a very smart Tree Pipit (Bisbita Arbóreo / Anthus trivialis) which moved through the pine trees on the river side bank.
Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).
On the way back to the car we added Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes).
Some clouds from Sierra de Loja.
We again headed back towards Huétor and up on to our last spot Sierra de Loja, we started off by having a look at the small disused quarry were Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) were added to the list. Further up and beyond the crags we had nice views of Northern (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) and Black Wheatears (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) as well as Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) and Small White (Artogeia rapae).