El Rocio and other Visitor Centres in the Donana and Osuna area, Sevilla Province.

A cloudy start, then the rain came in the Donana. An afternoon near Osuna.

Day Six with Abby Turner from New York, USA.

The approaching storm clouds.

We left the hotel and the weather was not to bad but off in the distance it did not look good, on our way towards El Rocio we picked up several good species sat on the wire fences which ran along the roadsides including Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and a couple of Woodlarks (Totovia / Lullula arborea). We by-passed El Rocio and drove down to the visitor centre at El Acebuche but we arrived under heavy cloud cover and the odd spot of rain, so we were not hopeful of getting very far and things were made worse when the lady on the desk said that there was no water at all at the site. This I am guessing is caused fruit farmers and mismanagement in the area by the local authorities which is threatening the status of the Donana as a significant European wetland. Anyway we went and had a walk  and had good views of a Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Tree Sparrows (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and an elusive Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata) which gave us the run around in some small scrappy bushes and did not give us good enough views before the rains arrived.

A beautiful tiled gate sign.

We hurried back to the car before it got too heavy and drove back towards El Rocio and in to the reserve area called El Arroyo de la Rocina but we drove passed this centre and continued on to the car park at the start of the walk out to the Palacio del Acebrón. On the drive down to the car park we had nice views of our first Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), another Woodlark and Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata). By the time we reached the woods around the car park the heavens had opened and the sky looked full of it so we sat in the car for a while to see if it would stop and it looked like doing so for a short while, just long enough for me to get out of the car and start to get sorted. Just as we were considering starting out it redoubled its load and we decided to give it a miss and have a look at the lake at El Rocio from the SEO centre. We parked and walked to the centre / hide where we set up the scope and had good views of Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser) and Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus). The very helpful young lady that was on duty at the SEO hide told us that the weather was not going to get any better and would probably get worse if anything as the day goes on so we decided to cut our losses and head out of the area and over to Osuna area early.

Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).

As we drove west the clouds got lighter and by the time we were through Sevilla the sun was coming through and once we reached the area for birding again it was quite pleasantly warm and sunny. We searched the area around the Cortijo de los Ojuelos where we had nice views of a group of Red Kites (Milano Real / Milvus milvus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), 1000s of Spotless (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and a few Common Starlings (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulg aris), lots of Ravens (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis), 3+ Hoopoes, Common Stonechats, another elusive Dartford Warbler and Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).
We next went for Lunch in La Lantejuela and then had a very quick look at the nearby pools but we did not see anything new so we headed back through the town and out passed the earlier site and on to the road heading towards Osuna. At the first bridge we scanned the fields and located two groups of Great Bustards (Avutarda Común / Otis tarda) in the distance totalling around 27 birds. In the same area we had Iberian Grey Shrike, Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Meadow Pipit, Corn Bunting and a male Hen Harrier. We dropped down off the bridge and turned around in a track and had a third Dartford Warbler flick across in front of us but this time after about 20 minutes work we nailed the id when the bird sat out for Abby to get good views and put it on the green list.

Some horses amongst the birds at El Rocio's SEO hide.

We moved on along a track next to the railway line and made a couple of stops when we were level with the Bustards we had seen earlier and had much closer better views before heading to the next bridge. From here we saw nothing new and continued out on to the fields adding Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) and at a junction in the track we scanned the fields again and added more Great Bustards bringing the total up to 55 for the day. We again moved up to the last bridge and scanned again, it was just starting to go dark when a nice flight of Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) flew passed us quite close and we had a female Hen Harrier heading towards a roost somewhere nearby and good numbers of Jackdaws (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) gathering together in a pre-roost flock. The light dropped quickly so we headed off to Osuna and to the hotel in the town where we had another tapas evening meal and then a confortable nights sleep.

Espera Lagoon's, Braza del Este and the Centro José Antonio Valverde area of Donana, Cadiz and Sevilla Provinces.

More Rice Paddies and wetlands.

Day Five with Abby Turner from New York, USA.

Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus).

We headed out from the very smart Cortijo Los Naranjos where we had comfortable night and a good breakfast. Our first stop was just down the road at what in a wetter year would have been one of the many Lagoons of Espera but the only one we reached was dry but not a total waste of time as we picked up a Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) which was sat in a Tamarisk tree on the far shore.

Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia).

We also picked up the first Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus) of the trip along with Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and a fly over Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus).

Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus).

From here we went up to Braza del Este where we worked the tracks around a large area of Rice Paddies some of which were being harvested and covered in hundreds of White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), large numbers of Grey Herons (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Little  (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Great White (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba) and Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), singles of both Squacco Heron (Garcilla Cangrejera / Ardeola ralloides) and Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) and several Spoonbills (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia).

White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).

Smaller birds feeding amongst the watery fields included Meadow (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) and Water Pipits (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Collared Doves (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto). On the furthest fields before we went up on to the large bank we saw Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), a couple of flocks of Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus) and the first of quite a few Marsh Harriers (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus). Along the tracks we also saw large numbers of Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) and both Lesser (Anax parthenope) and Blue / Common Emperors (Anax imperator).

White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).

Once we were on the bank we motored along until we reached the main track through the site near the large sluice gates and the started to check the fields and ditches again and the first birds seen were a couple of very nice Black Storks (Ciguena Negra / Ciconia nigra). We continued on to the first area of water and parked on the track side and checked the two areas of water.

Narcissus serotinus.

We soon had new species for Abby including 2 female Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Anas penelope), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), a pair of Northern Pintail (Ánade Rabudo / Anas acuta), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Little (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and Great Crested Grebes (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), 2x Western Ospreys (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus), Purple Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) and a couple of calling but unseen Water Rails (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus).

Narcissus serotinus.

We moved down to the second area of water where the commonest species were Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus) with at least 100 birds in a single flock on the margins along with a few Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) and several Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago) which were only seen as the flew in and jumped around in the thick marginal vegetation. On the water there were a few Glossy Ibis, Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) and when a female Marsh Harrier flew over the reeds it flushed out a cracking pair of Marbled Ducks (Cerceta Pardilla / Marmaronetta angustirostris) which dropped quickly in to the reeds but we eventually got good enough views of them for them to go on to the green list. 

Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus).

Unfortunatually a pair of Ferruginous Ducks (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca)did not get passed the amber list as the floated with there heads under their wings for the whole time we were there and could not be seen well enough for a tick to go on the list. In the same area we did however also see or hear Black-headed Weavers (Ploceus melanocephalus) but only females, Spanish Sparrows, Penduline Tit (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus), Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), Great White Egrets and Northern Shovelers (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata).

Fallow Deer (Dama dama).

We moved on along the track but added nothing new so we put the Satnav on again and headed over to the other bank of the Guadalquivir into the Donana proper, we drove across country to the ferry across the river at Coria del Rio and I was surprised it was just €3:10 one way with a car and only took a couple of minutes. Once we were across we drove back down the far side of the river and had a medocar lunch at the bar at Venta del Cruce before checking the White Stork nest at an old quarry / working where e tried some digiscoping with Abby's camera.

Fallow Deer (Dama dama).

In the area we had good numbers of Northern Lapwings, Glossy Ibis, Black Storks, Lesser Black-backed Gulls and lots of Egrets of 3 species.

Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).

We again moved along the road a short way to the large lake called Cañada de la Rianzuela where we scanned the water from a couple of points along the road seeing several hundred Greater Flamingo's, hundreds of Northern Shovelers, Gadwalls, Mallards, Common Pochards, Eurasian Coots, Little and Great Crested Grebes, White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Red-crested Pochard (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina) and in the reeds several Reed Warblers (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla) and Common Chiffchaffs.

Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser).

We moved on from here and drove the long track down towards the Centro José Antonio Valverde where we saw many of the same species we had already seen but got Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus) from Abby's amber list up to green along with nice views of Great White Egret, several clumps of the beautiful Narcissus serotinus a new plant for my plant list and a family group of Fallow Deer (Dama dama). Once we reached the Visitor's Centre we parked and had a look from the building and had views of Gadwall, a male Eurasian Wigeon, Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser), Eurasian Teal, Eurasian Coot, Common Moorhen and a male Ferruginous Duck which disappeared before Abby got on to it properly.

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

Next we went for a drive along the road a little further passed the centre out into the field which in wet years are pools but were dry. We did however see a good number of Greylag Geese, White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), a photogenic Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), masses of Red-veined Darters, Lesser (Anax parthenope), Blue / Common (Anax imperator), at least 2 of the less common Vagrant Emperors (Anax ephippiger) and some croaking Perez's Frogs (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi).

Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus).

We returned to the centre hoping the Ferruginous Duck was on show but it remained hidden so we decided to head for the hotel near Villamanrique as time was pushing on. Instead of retracing our way back along the track we had come on we took a different route which payed off nicely as just a short way into the drive we had two Short-toed Eagles (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus), more Fallow Deer, an immature Peregrine Falcon which sat nicely on the top of a pylon, a flock of Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) which was sat on a post just a we approached the hotel along the sandy tracks on the edge of town. We settled in to our rooms and then later had a walk in to the Pines nearby.

Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus).

We heard and saw Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Little  (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) and Tawny Owls (Cárabo Común / Strix aluco), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) before heading back for some Tapas and another good nights sleep.

Barbate, Golf course, Chipiona, Bonanza Pools, Bonanza Salt Pans, El Tarelo Pool and Algaida Pine woods and along the Guadalquivir, Cadiz Province.

Beach, Pools, Salt pans, Lakes and Marshes and lots of birds.

Day Four with Abby Turner from New York, USA.

Little Swift (Vencejo Moro / Apus affinis).

Over night I was kept awake for a while but by calling Eagle (Buho Real / Bubo bubo), Little  (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) and Tawny Owls (Cárabo Común / Strix aluco) so I did not mind too much. We got up, had breakfast and headed out to just in time to see masses of  Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and Jackdaws (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) leaving their near by roosts.

Little Swift (Vencejo Moro / Apus affinis).

Once in the car we made our way to the disused Salt Pans just to the South of Barbate on the Atlantic coast and it was surprisingly cool. We pulled off the road on to what would become a car park a little later once the tide had dropped a tad more but instead of cars it held a much nicer group of  Ringed (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) and Kentish Plovers (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus), Dunlins (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), a Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) and several Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) which were stalking prey along the quickly emptying river.

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

On the opposite side of the road in a couple of pools we added Grey Plover (Chorlito Gris / Pluviali squatarola), Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia) and Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus) to the wader list as well as Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).
We moved up the road a short way and turned on to the track around the disused Salt Pans and scanned the water picking out Spoonbill (Espátula  Común / Platalea leucorodia), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Audouin's Gull (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba) and Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos). In the bushes and on posts along the margins we also had Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra). 

The pool near Bonanza.

We retraced our way back to the road and set the satnav to take us up to the town of Chipiona via a golf course just to the south of Vejer where we looked for and found just a single Northern Bald Ibis (Ibis Eremita / Geronticus eremita) which was feeding under some Oak trees on the side of the course with several Western Cattle Egrets and Jackdaws nearby and a Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) which was sat in the sun on the grass. 

We rejoined the main road going North and followed it past Jerez and out to Chipiona where we called at the well known site for the Little Swifts (Vencejo Moro / Apus affinis), with it being so late in the year I was not sure whether the birds would still be on site. We pulled up and almost immediately had 5 Swifts fly over us and with in a few minutes found that there were around 20 birds in the area and they gave us fantastic views. 

Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild).

We checked the jetties in the harbour but only found Lesser Black-backed Gulls so we went to have a look at the beach pools. Unfortunately there were loads of fishermen on the pool walls so there were not many birds but we did see Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus), Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres) and more Audouin's Gulls.

We moved on slightly North to the three pools near to Bonanza but the one was rather green and slimy and birdless apart from one rather brave Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and a Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra).

Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos).

On the opposite side of the road we checked the larger pool and boosted the list with Western  Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), a brief Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) which we did just manage to get in the scope and then right below us a couple of Common Waxbills (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild).

Next we spent while checking out the generally quite Salt Pans at Bonanza but we did get good views of some new wader species including Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa) and Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax) as well as more Dunlin, a good sized flock of Whimbrel, Common Sandpipers, Grey Plover and several Sanderlings.

Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos).

Down near the pump house at the far end of the site we got good views of several Caspian Tern (Pagaza Piquiroja / Sterna caspia), a couple of Slender-billed Gulls (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei), Greater Flamingo's, 8x Great White Egrets (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Little Egrets and White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia). As we made our way back along the ditch which had a chainlink fence running along side it we had views of at least two Kingfishers, Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) and Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis).

We left the site and moved to the Algaida Pine woods where we parked and walked through a large crowd of Spanish school children to get to El Tarelo Pool but I was surprised to see how big the lake was so I went back for my scope and again made my way through the question asking Spanish Kids.

Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).

 It was surprising how many of the youngsters could speak English, I got the scope and by the time I had walked back through the kids again we were on first name terms. I reached the hide and set up the scope and we soon added White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala) and a couple of Black-necked Grebes (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis) as well as Clouded Yellow (Colias Común / Colias corcea), Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope), Red-veined (Sympetrum fonscolombii) and Common Darters (Sympetrum striolatum).

By the time we returned to the car the bus loads of Children had gone and it was much quieter, we drove through the woods but saw little and then made our way along the banks of the Rio Guadalquivir. We checked the pools and canals where we saw many of the same species seen during the day along with a stunning male Hen Harrier. 

Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).

We made our way out from the river and towards the nights hotel the Cortijo Los Naranjos near to the town of Las Cabezas de San Juan and what a hotel it was. We pulled up out side and I was convinced that we were at the wrong place as I had not paid a vast amount for the rooms and this place looked amazing from the out side. The inside was just as good, with our rooms set off a beautiful courtyard with benches and a good number of nice Orange trees. I will put some links here when I can find the email.

Hotel el Cortijo los Naranjos.

A fantastic place to stay for birders.

I found this hotel by chance on the web and had no idea what to expect so when we turned up and found this fantastic place in a nice location. It is just up the road from the Laguna's of Espera and not a great drive from Barza del Este.
Below are some links to this very nice hotel, contact Antonio Sánchez from these links and he will give you a good rate.

Virtual tour:   https://goo.gl/8zflh0

                    https://goo.gl/GDa4VK

Fotos:            https://goo.gl/0S2B9m

El Faro, Malaga Province and Cazalla watch point, Tarifa town, Los Lances Beach and La Janda, Cadiz Province.

A better day weather wise and bird wise with a lifer for the guide.

Day three with Abby Turner from New York, USA.

Mediterranean  (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) and Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) side by side.

I picked Abby up from the Cortijo de Tajar and we drove down the motorways via Malaga to the seawatch hide below the lighthouse at El Faro Fuengirola where we walked along the coastal path.

Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres).

On the rocks we had good views of Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus), Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) and out to sea there were Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Mediterranean  (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Audouin's Gulls (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis) and Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo).

Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

In the same area we also saw White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).
At the far end of the walk I got some nice shots of a Black-headed Gull sat next to a Med which made a nice pic. 

Lesser-crested Tern (Charrán Bengalés / Thalasseus bengalensis).

We continued on along the coast using the toll roads and then through Algeciras to the view point just short of Tarifa called Cazalla but there were a good number of work men there and the gates were closed to birders but we managed to park in the gate way where we watched a large gathering of Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) circling before heading out to sea, in the same area we had Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

Lesser-crested Tern (Charrán Bengalés / Thalasseus bengalensis).

After a short while we dropped down into Tarifa town looking for but not seeing the rare Garden Bulbul (Bulbul Naranjero / Pycnonotus barbatus). As we searched for these birds we recorded Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Black Redstart, Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Yellow-legged Gulls and a single Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica) which disappeared out of view before Abby got on it.

Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

We had a short walk down by the Island but we only saw several Sandwich Terns. We drove a short way up the coast to Los Lances beach where we walked out to the hide along the boardwalk seeing Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulg aris), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina),  Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) and Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).

Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus).

Out at the hide we scanned the water and soon found Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Little Egret, more Yellow-legged, Lesser Black-backed, Black-headed and Audouin's Gulls, and around 100 more Sandwich Terns. I scanned through the Terns and was very pleased to find two Lesser-crested Terns (Charrán Bengalés / Thalasseus bengalensis) which were a Spanish lifer for both Abby and myself. We watched thes birds for a while before walking back to the car and then heading to the Apollo X1 bar for some lunch and the onwards to La Janda. 

Immature Bonelli's Eagles (Aguila-azor / Hieraetus faciatus).

We made our way in via the track opposite the turning to Zahara de los Atunes and followed it down to the canal, on the way we saw Zitting Cisticola, Common Stonechat, House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), the first of a good many Marsh Harriers (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Little Egrets, Western Cattle Egrets, Grey Herons (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and most amazing to me were the number of Zeller's Skippers (Borbo borbonica) seen which numbered around 20 insect and Red-veined Darters (Sympetrum fonscolombii) which must have numbered in there hundreds.

Abby looking at the Mandrake plants.

Along the main ditch we saw Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), 3x Green Sandpipers (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), a good sized flock of Common Crane (Grulla Común / Grus grus), Pheasant (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus), some distant Spoonbills (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia) which were sat amongst a group of drying Great Cormorants and just before we turned right on to the track to the farm we saw three Great White Egrets (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba) in amongst lots of White Storks and Little Egrets.

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

We stopped on the bridge and scanned the reed beds looking for one of the many Penduline Tits (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus) we had been hearing all along the canal, very soon we had a couple calling and then a male bird sat up on to of a reed head and gave us nice views in the scope. We drove on and up towards the farm adding Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus), a cracking Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) which gave us a nice display back along the ditches, a female Hen Harrier (Aguilucho Pálido / Circus cyaneus), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and several more Pheasants.
Once we were past the farm and amongst the wild olive trees we had cracking views of a Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) sat on a roadside wire fence, one adult and two immature Bonelli's Eagles (Aguila-azor / Hieraetus faciatus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and lots of Common Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).

View of the Facinas track area.

At the far end of the road we turned right and drove the track towards Facinas and soon picked up a nice male Hen Harrier but we did not get anything else until we turned around and stopped to chat to a couple of British birders, Peter Ellis and his wife Sharon. While we were talking we had a male Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius) do a flyby. 

We continued back along the road and instead of retracing our tracks back through the Olives we continued on up to Benalup and made a stop at a flooded field where we flushed an immature Purple Heron (Garza Imperial / Ardea purpurea) from the roadside and then had a few Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) fly over and as it went dusk we were treated to a mass arrival of Marsh Harriers to go in to a nearby reed bed to roost. 

From here we made our way around to Vejer to the El Paso hotel on the road down to Tarifa.

Cacín Valley, Huétor Fields and Sierra de Loja, Granada Province.

Another day on the local patch dodging the rain and fighting our way through the clouds.

Day two with Abby Turner from New York, USA.

Loja through a Rainow.

Abby and I started the day out on the fields near to Moraleda where we were hoping to find some special species for the trip list, on arrival we found that one of the tracks that leads out on to this area had a new chain across it so we headed straight down to the main track and out to the ruin on the high point in the area. As soon as we were out of the car we could hear good numbers of Larks which included Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), by the time we had finished at this site we had seen several hundred of the later species which had arrived for the winter in good flocks. Around the Cortijo we also saw Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) and then just a short way down the field there were two female and one male Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis). With the main target species under the belt we rolled down the hill and through the Solar Panel areas where we had very good views of a small flock of Rock Sparrows (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia) which were sat on the chain link fence as well as Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and what turned out to be Abby's bird of the trip a very smart Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops). On our way out of the site we had a female type Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), a couple of Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and a couple of Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) which flushed up from the track side as we passed.

Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea).

We dropped down into the Cacín Valley and made our way down towards the Contra-embalse de Bermejalis by which time the clouds had started to break up a bit and we were getting the odd glimpes of sun. On the lake we boosted the list with species including Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), a squealing but unseen Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris). A little way back up the valley we stopped by the bridge over the Cacín but it was quiet and we only added Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Crested Tits (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra).

Our next stop was at the small pool on the side of the A92 cal Balsa de Rigedor but we only viewed it from the motorway service road but picked up Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) for the day list.

We continued on through Mesia and then out on to the fields North of Huétor Tajar where we checked the fields, ditches and the river and added Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cyanus), Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), some Stone Curlews which showed nicely on their roost field and a superb female Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius) which showed well for us while we were checking some fields with out any luck for the wintering Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax). 

The best of the view up Sierra de Loja from the Ouzel site.

Our last stop of the day was up on the Sierra de Loja but the weather did not look great but we decided that it would be worth it as there were several species up there that we would not get another chance of during the trip. We drove up and called in at the small quarry where we started the battle to get decent views of a Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), today we heard it well but had just fleeting glimpes as it moved around on a gorse covered slope and it was going to take a coule more attempts before we had tickable views for Abby. In the same area we had Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Crag Martin, Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia) and a very smart male Black Redstart. We continued on up passed the crags and made our way up into the thick cloud and rain but again decided to carry on over to the furthest point but by the time we reached the far side things had not got much better and we saw nothing much but all of all sudden the cloud broke and we could see quite a good way and soon had cracking views of a Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta) as it moved around amongst the rocks. Lower down I had views of an Alpine Accentor (Acentor Alpino / Prunella modularis) as it flicked around on a cliff top but could get Abby onto it which was the same story with a female Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) which pocked it head above the rocks but did not give good enough views before slipping away again. The Ring Ouzels ( Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus) which were looking for became more active as the clouds cleared and we eventually got good views of this very active and twitchy species as well as a Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus) which swept in and away just as quickly before the cloud returned and made seeing the calling Red-billed Choughs (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) which were right above us immposable. We dropped back down the maountain and drove back to Huétor adding Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) to the day list before reaching the hotel.