Gijon beach, Sidra Trabanco and Llanes, Asturias.

A start on the beach with Gulls, then a tour of the Sidra factory and a drive down to Llanes.

Adult Ring-billed Gull (Gaviota de Delaware / Larus delawarensis).

Jayne and I headed down to the far end of the beach at Xixón (Gijón) where Jayne sat for a while reading her Kindle whilst I checked the Gulls on the beach. 

Mediterranean Gulls (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus).

Straight away I found the adult Ring-billed Gull (Gaviota de Delaware / Larus delawarensis) which was mixed in with loads of Mediterranean Gulls (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), the 1st winter Common (Gaviota Cana /Larus canus), lots of Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and a single Kittiwake (Gaviota Tridáctila / Rissa tridactyla), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis),  Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres) and Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus).

Out on the sea there were Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Shag (Cormorán Mondudo / Phalacrocorax aristotelis), Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis) and as I walked back up the road towards the car I found a Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) sitting on a pipe in the wall, several Mallards (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and a singing male Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus).

From here we drove through the countryside to Sidra Trabanco in Lavandera, we arrived and were given a very interesting tour by one of the guys who worked in the bar there and had a tasting of the Sidra with some local cheeses and bread which went down very nicely. 

Kittiwake (Gaviota Tridáctila / Rissa tridactyla).

Kittiwake (Gaviota Tridáctila / Rissa tridactyla).

During the time there I saw Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus) and Blue Tits (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) and on the way down towards the coast Yellowhammer (Escribano Cerillo / Emberiza citrinella).

Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis).

Once we were on the coast we drove along motorways towards Llanes where we parked near the Harbour wall and then had a walk in to the very nice town and then out on to Punta de Guruña seeing Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula). 

Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis form lusitanius).

In the centre of town we had some lunch before walking around the streets around to the fort and then back to the harbour wall where we spent some time watching some fishermen sort out their nets and feed the fish. 

Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).

Whilst there we saw Razorbill, Great Cormorant, Shag, Northern Gannet, Yellow-legged, Lesser Black-backed and Black-headed Gulls. 

Very large (30.000L) casks of Sidra.

We made our way back along the coast and then had a very nice night in the bars around Gijón.

Jayne in Llanes harbour.

Llanes town and harbour.

Llanes harbour.

Cudillero, San Esteban, Avilé and Xixón (Gijón), Asturias.

A day to the East of Gijón along the coast.

Village of Cudillero, Cudillero Harbour.

Jayne and I drove east along the coast to the sea side village of Cudillero which Jayne had found on the internet and it looked very nice. We drove over and dropped down into the nearby harbour where we had a walk along the harbour wall and out to the cross at the end.

Village of Cudillero, Cudillero Harbour.

On the way we saw Razorbill (Alca Común / Alca torda), Shag (Cormorán Mondudo / Phalacrocorax aristotelis), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).

Cudillero Harbour.

We moved on into the town which was very nice but the shots on the internet had quite obviously been photoshopped a bit as it was quite a lot tattier in real life and the houses behind the front row were crumbling and a mess.

Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) sat on a boat in the harbour.

We had a nice walk around and had a coffee and bought some pasteries before walking back to the car and got there just before the heavens opened yet again so we sat and ate our bits of pastry before heading slightly further along the coast to Cabo de Vidio and out to the light house.
On our way back towards Gijón we pulled off at San Pedro Beach and on the way down passsed through some wet woodland where I had good views of Redwing (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus illacus), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius) and at least two female Bullfinches (Camachuelo Común / Pyrrhula pyrrhula).

Bullfinch (Camachuelo Común / Pyrrhula pyrrhula).

Further along the track there were several Common Buzzards (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), a female Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone) and on the sand several Sanderlings (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba) and Ruddy Turnstones (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres).

Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

We drove back along the coast again calling in at Muros where we again had a walk along the front looking at some very large cranes which were still on the quey side. They were remains of a big coal industry that used to be important in the area.

Crane in Muros.

Later we continued on stopping on the beach at Salinas where we walked out on a path to La Pénona point where I got some nice photographs of a cracking male Black Redstart. As we walked back I spotted a strange looking contraption on the bank on the other side of the road and when we looked closer it turned out to be a pile of junk made in to several water wheels and piles. 

Again moved on calling in breifly at Avila and then drove back to Gijón see both the Snow Geese (Ánsar nival / Anser coerlescens) and Whooper Swan (Cisne Cantor / Cygnus cygnus) on the banks of the Embalse. 

Contraption near the beach at Salinas.

Once we were back at the hotel Jayne had a couple of house relaxing while I went for a walk down to the port and scanned the sea. In on of the bays I saw a diver quite close to shore so I tried to get some shots and it turned out to be a winter plumaged Black-throated Diver (Colimbo Ártico / Gavia arctica) a Spanish lifer.

Black Redstart at La Pénona point.

Whilst I was out I also saw a very smart Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba yarrellii), Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), Shag, Great Cormorant, Black-headed, Lesser Black-backed and Yellow-legged Gulls, several Razorbills and Northern Gannets (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus).

Black Redstart at La Pénona point.

Black-throated Diver (Colimbo Ártico / Gavia arctica) in Gijón harbour.

Black-throated Diver (Colimbo Ártico / Gavia arctica) in Gijón harbour.

Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba yarrellii) in the same area.

Embalse de San Andrés, Sidra Trabanco and East of Gijón, Asturias.

A quick damp visit to a lake then lunch at a Sidra restaurant and an afternoons drive along the coast.

Horreos.

Jayne and I drove to a nearby Embalse where we looked for a couple of interesting species which had been on site for a while, the first species was easily found when I picked out two white form Snow Geese (Ánsar nival / Anser coerlescens) which were feeding on the grass along the margins. I had a walk just a short way down the road to check a reed bed at the Western end of the lake and saw Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) and in the bushes along the roadside a very nice Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus).
We took a drive along the southern side and scanned back down in to the corner of the lake where I had distant views of the second target species, a Whooper Swan (Cisne Cantor / Cygnus cygnus).

The rain started again so we headed inland to a Sidra visitor's centre which turned out to be a very nice place to have lunch, after which we book our places on a tour of the production areas in a couple of days.

Horreos.

 As it was only early afternoon we decided to have a drive west along the coast a few KM calling in at a few villages, during the dirve we saw Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), Razorbill (Alca Común / Alca torda), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Shag (Cormorán Mondudo / Phalacrocorax aristotelis), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).

As we drove around we saw several Horreos, small buildlings used for drying grain and other crops.

Xixón (Gijon), Asturias.

A morning around the Port and town and the afternoon birding the beaches of the town.

Gijon Port.

Jayne and I got up and went down for breakfast before heading out in to the town and port areas of Xixón. During the walk it was mainly dry and pleasant. 

Sidra bottle tree in Gijon.

As we walked the eastern side of the town I saw 4x Black-necked Grebes (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Shag (Cormorán Mondudo / Phalacrocorax aristotelis), a single Great Northern Diver (Colimbo Grande / Gavia immer), Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Razorbill (Alca Común / Alca torda), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula). 

Elogio del Horizonte and Jayne.

From the far end of the port we turned around and walked back towards the hotel through the centre of town, but when the rain knocked off and i side I wanted to check a spot out further in to the port we redid the first part of the walk and then continued of for some way out on to one of the promentories. 

Adult Great Black-backed Gulls (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus).

I did not add any thing to the list this time except for Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and a couple of adult Great Black-backed Gulls (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus).

Common Gull (Gaviota Cana /Larus canus).

From here we againturned around and walked back along the full length of the port to the Península de Santa Catalina stopping for a coffee on the way. We walked the Península around to the oposite side of the town seeing Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Spotless  (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Common Starlings (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulg aris), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) on the way. Once we were down in the town we had some lunch and again the rain returned briefly. 

Adult Ring-biled Gull (Gaviota de Delaware / Larus delawarensis).

After lunch Jayne and I returned to the hotel where Jayne spent the afternoon whilst I grabbed the scope and went out birding again. 

Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus).

This time I redid the ports but saw nothing new so decided to walk the far each down to the river at the far end of San Lorenzo beach where I checked through the group of roosting Gulls but only the species seen earlier in the day so I decided to check along the river for a short way and almost straight away I found a 1st winter Gull which I suspected was a Common Gull (Gaviota Cana /Larus canus) but it flew off up stream as I got the scope on it but landed again so I pursued it and a few minutes later was able to confirm that it was indeed the species I hope it would be. 

Common Gull (Gaviota Cana /Larus canus).

I managed to get some shots of this bird before it was flushed by a person on a push bike coming past and flew further up the river. 

Common Gull (Gaviota Cana /Larus canus).

I then walked back down to the beach and scanned the birds there again before I was going to walk back to the hotel but as I started I picked up another smallish gull which needed a closer look so I walked down the beach towards the roosting birds and was soon watching a very smart adult Ring-biled Gull (Gaviota de Delaware / Larus delawarensis) amongst the 80 or so Meds. 

Adult Ring-biled Gull (Gaviota de Delaware / Larus delawarensis).

I got some shots of it and continued to check the birds further along the beach and found that the 1st winter Common Gull had come into the group. Very pleased with these finds I walked back to the hotel and later Jayne and I went out for a couple of beers.

Driving from Santiago de Compostela, Galicia to Gijon in Asturias.

Travelling between sites in the rain and the first real sun of the trip.

Lugo City walls.

To day was a moving day, so after packing the cases we set off under the usual grey rain fill clouds towards our next stop which was for five nights in Gijon in Asturias. The clouds broke up during the journey and the sun glasses were need for the first time in quite a while. 

Lugo Cathedral.

On the way we made a stop at Lugo and spent a very pleasant couple of hours around the town visiting the Cathedral and walking the town walls. Further on we followed a small track after seeing a sign to some lakes called Lagoa de Caque where I parked and had a walk to a raised hide looking over a very interesting looking reserve. 

Lugo Cathedral.

The pools were very quite for the type of site but I did find a couple of male Tufted Ducks (Porrón Monudo / Aythya fuligula), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis). 

Lugo Cathedral.

In the surrounding woodlands and fields Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Brambling (Pinzón Real / Fringilla montifringilla), Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) and Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius). 

Another church in Lugo.

We hit the road again after this short break and apart from a stop for lunch we drove through to Gijon in the sun but just before we reach the journey's end the rain returned and continued on in to the evening. We booked in at the hotel and then went for a walk around the town and later found a very nice bar with a very varied range of beers where we passed a very enjoyable couple of hours.

Santiargo de Compostela and A Coruña, Galicia.

A morning around the City of Santiago and an afternoon on the river at A Coruña.

Razorbill (Alca Común / Alca torda).

Jayne and I spent the morning around the city visiting the Cathedral and other land marks before heading of a short way north as it was yet again peeeeeeeeeeeeeing it down. 

Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus).

I dropped Jayne off at the shopping centre and headed out the nearby rio do Burgo where I spent a very nice three hours watching Great Northern Diver (Colimbo Grande / Gavia immer), Razorbill (Alca Común / Alca torda), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Shag (Cormorán Mondudo / Phalacrocorax aristotelis), Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Eurasian Oystercatcher (Ostrero Euroasiatico / Haematopus ostralegus) and Bar-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colipinta / Limosa lapponica) along the estuary. 

Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).

Further on added Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls  (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus). 

Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis).

Back near the car I found Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica).

Great Northern Diver (Colimbo Grande / Gavia immer).

Later Jayne and I had a walk along one of the longer sea walls down in the main harbour and had good views of Shag, Great Cormorant, Northern Gannet and Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis).

Shag (Cormorán Mondudo / Phalacrocorax aristotelis).