Observatorio Cazalla, Tarifa and Los Lances Beach Hide, Cadiz Province.

A drive South and some birding in the Afternoon.

Immature Egyptian Vulture (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus).

We were up and about earlish and after a second very good breakfast drove south past Jerez down to the Gibraltar border where I dropped Jayne and Barb for some retail therapy in the town before driving out to the Cazalla watch point just above Tarifa. 

Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus).

During the drive I saw a small flock of Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus), Alpine Swift (Vencejo Real / Apus melba), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata).

Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus).

I arrived and bumped in to Peter Jones with in seconds who I had not seen for quite a while, we chatted and caught up with a bit of what had been going on but saw very few birds, I thought this was probably because I was late but Peter said it had been like this for the two day he had been there. 

Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus).

We did however see several Egyptian Vultures (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus), Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus), Honey Buzzard (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus),  more Western Cattle Egrets, Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) and several Monarchs (Danaus plexippus). 

Bar-tailed Godwits (Aguja Colipinta / Limosa lapponica).

After a couple of hours I decided to drop down the road to the Los Lances beach hide where I met Alan??? and his wife from Northumberland who were on there holidays. 

Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea).

We spent the next couple of hours seeing some nice species and having a good chat, species seen included Bar-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colipinta / Limosa lapponica), Eurasian Oystercatcher (Ostrero Euroasiatico / Haematopus ostralegus), Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus), Kentish (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus) and Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), Red Knot ( Correlimos Gordo / Calidris canutus), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), a single Collared Pratincole (Canastera Común / Glareola pratincola) which dropped in on the beach, Caspian (Pagaza Piquiroja / Sterna caspia) and Sandwich Terns (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), White (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Yellow Wagtails (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and a flyby Honey Buzzard. 

Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos).

After a very pleasant afternoons birding I left the birders in the hide and went back to Gib border where I met Jayne and Barb before we drove back home. 

European Black Vulture (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus) being mobbed by Spotless Starlings.

As we were just about to cross from Malaga to Granada Province Jayne picked up a massive bird just to the North of the A92 which turned out to be a very nice European Black Vulture (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus), which drifted off towards Archidona very quickly but not before I managed a few distant shots.

European Black Vulture (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus) being mobbed by Spotless Starlings.

We made a stop in the town of Huétor at 3 Calles bar for some food before going back to the house.

During the 3 half day birding stints I was pleased to pick up 119 species of bird in total.