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Friday 26 February 2016

Huétor Fields, Moreleda Fields, Ventas de Huelma and Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

Trying to get the year list over 200 before the end of the month.

Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae).
First thing I headed down to Huétor to get a few bit for a job I was doing but went across the field instead of the direct route and found 41 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica). I then visited the hardware shop and returned via the opposite route along the rio Vilano where I saw good numbers of newly arrived House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Red-rumped (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica) and Barn Swallows, Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), 4x Green Sandpipers (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and then a small flock of Common Waxbills (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild) flew up from the weeds which got the year list to 199.
Later in the day Jayne and I headed out to the fields near Moreleda hoping to catch up with a couple of the species there, as we drove along the A92 passing the small pool called Balsa de Rigedor I got the 200th species for the year list when 2 Great Spotted Cuckoo's (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius) flew over being chased by a group of Common Magpies (Urraca / Pica pica).
Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) and Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).
We arrived on the track to the fields where I found several spikes of Ophrys forestieri growing on the verge along with Broad-leaved Iris (lirio de invierno / Juno / Iris planifolia), Field marigold (Calendula arvensis), Hollow-stemmed Asphodel (Asphodelus fistulosus), Southern Daisy (Bellis cordifolia) and Violet cabbage (Moricandia moricandioides).
On the upper tracks we had the first of several Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), a female looking Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), several Hoopoes (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa) and several spikes of Fan-lipped Orchids (Anacamptis collina). On the top fields I parked by the ruin and then scanned the crop fields and soon found a fine male Little Bustard which was strutting around in a distant field, a small group of Calandra Larks (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) and then I eventually picked up just 2 Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis) which flew from one distant field to an even more distant one. 
On the way off the site we had a nice male Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) and Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus). 
Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis).
We drove across country to Ventas de Huelma and took the 14KM road to the village of Cacín and then up to the Contra-embalse de Bermejalis seeing nothing of interest until just before the village when I had views of a flying Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila-azor / Hieraetus faciatus) and thenjust short of the lake we saw a pair of Common Buzzards mobbing an adult Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos). On the lake wildfowl were in good numbers including Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) and Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis). 
Over water there were large numbers of migrating Barn and Red-rumped Swallows, House and Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) but no Sand Martins (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia) yet.
From here we headed home along the valley but added nothing new and got back just as it started to rain. 

Thursday 25 February 2016

Hacho, Loja, Granada Province.

A quick look at the Orchids on the Northern slopes.

Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum robertiana).
I spent a few minutes up on the smallish hill just to the North of Loja to check how well the Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum robertiana) and Ophrys forestieri were doing. In the ten minutes or so I was there I counted over 200 spikes in the one small area which was very pleasing.
Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum robertiana).
Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum robertiana).
Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum robertiana).
Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum robertiana).

Wednesday 24 February 2016

La Linea, Gibraltar and the Malaga Coast.

A walk around La Linea Market, a quick visit over the boarder and the a drive home with a couple of stops on the way.

We left our hotel in Sanlucar and headed off South towards La Linea, on the way we had Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa) two of which nearly bounced of the front of the car when they flushed up from the verge, Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).
We arrived at La Linea and had a hour or so around the market before popping quickly on to Gib to go to Morrison's to get a few bits.
We were on and off in just over an hour and headed along the coast towards home, our first stop was for lunch and was followed by a short walk along the coast near El Faro where we looked for waders on the beach. It was windy and the tide was high and most of the rocks were covered so birds were few and far between, in fact we only had 2 Ruddy Turnstones (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres) along with Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), 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), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) and Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).
Once we were back at the car we made our way to Guadalhorce where I went and had a quick look at the beach and found 20 or so Common Scoters (Negrón Común / Melanitta nigra) down towards the far seawatch point along with Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and a flying Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis).

Tuesday 23 February 2016

Bonanza Pools and Saltpans, Medina Sidonia, Vejer de la Frontera, La Janda and along the coast back to Sanlucar.

A big loop around Cadiz Province.

Slender-billed Gull (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei).
After breakfast at the hotel Jayne and I headed just up the road to the three pools in the agricultural fields near Bonanza, the first and smallest pool which on my last visit was looking stagnant had a lot more water in it and held a dozen or so White-headed Ducks (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Purple Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus).
Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus).
I then went across the road to the larger of the pools and found more White-headed Ducks, Common Pochards, Purple Swamp-hens, Mallards as well as Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and two very smart fly over Squacco Herons (Garcilla Cangrejera / Ardeola ralloides). I pushed on around to the far pool and had a quick look but the only new species was a disappearing Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis).
Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).
We moved on around to the saltpans where we did the usual drive up the central track and then to the right to the pump house. Along the central track I picked up plenty of Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Slender-billed (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Kentish (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus) and Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), at least 3 Spotted Redshanks (Archibebe Oscuro / Tringa erythropus), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) and a couple of Spoonbills (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia).
Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).
After I turned right we picked up Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and just as we reached the far end a passing Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus). We parked next to the Pump House and I went for a walk along the track following the fence, straight away I had a male Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) which flew from cover and perched in the chainling fence, a couple of singing Lesser Short-toed Larks (Terrera Marismena / Calandrella rufescens) and out on the water amongst the large flocks of Greater Flamingo's there were quite a few Black-tailed Godwits (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa), 7+ Northern Pintails (Ánade Rabudo / Anas acuta) which flew up and away and Great White Egret (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba). 
Caspian Tern (Pagaza Piquiroja / Sterna caspia).
As I walked back I had the first of several Caspian Tern (Pagaza Piquiroja / Sterna caspia) fly over, Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), another Kingfisher, Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica). 
We made our way back to the entrance seeing Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).
Northern Bald Ibis (Ibis Eremita / Geronticus eremita).
Once we reached the exit we parked and looked at the map before deciding to have a drive out to Medina Sidonia, we parked on the outskirts of the town and spent a couple of hours having a good look around this very smart place. During the walk around we had some lunch at Bar in the main square, I had a very nice plate of Wild Boar stew which I could not fault but Jayne ordered Sole and when it arrived it did not look right. 
Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus).
First we were quite sure it was not Sole but Jayne put that down to the translated menu being wrong and thought that if it tastes ok then she would eat it anyway but when she cut in to it it was raw so it went back. It returned and was so dried out and rubbery she left it, when we asked for the bill we complained and to give the young lady her due she listened, agreed that it was not right and did not charge us for it. Anyway we made our way back to the car adding Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Lesser Kestrel (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni) and Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) to the day list.
Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus).
Once back at the car we headed to Vejer de la Frontera where we checked the cliffs below the town to see if any of the Northern Bald Ibis (Ibis Eremita / Geronticus eremita) had returned to the breeding site there but they were all empty so we dropped along the road to the Golf Course. On the Golf Course we soon found a single bird right by the practise area, after getting views from the car we went back to the main road and then out on to the fields of La Janda.
Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus).
Along the first part of the main track we had superb views of at least 3 Black-winged Kites (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) including a copulating pair, Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus), Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus), lots of White Storks, a couple of Great White Egrets and 5x Green Sandpipers (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus). Once we reached the sluices gates we took the track to the farm and picked up a couple of Pheasants (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus) under the Poplar trees. 
Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus).
At the first bridge we turned around and returned to the main track and continued on towards the Zahara junction, on the way we saw Penduline Tit (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus), Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis), more Common Cranes, Purple Swamp-hens and Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).
Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).
Once out on the roads again we drove along the coast heading back towards the hotel going through Zahara, Barbate, Conil and then to Chiclana where we had a walk along one of the beaches and had a coffee. During the walk I saw several Northern Gannets (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) out to sea along with Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Yellow-legged and Black-headed Gulls.
Great White Egret (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba).
We got back to Sanlucar and went down to the port and had something to eat.

Monday 22 February 2016

Fuente de Piedra, Malaga Province and Chipiona, Cadiz Province.

Jayne and my first day away in the West of Andalucia.
Day One.

Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula).
After a visit to the Doc's we headed off West calling in at a wetter than expected Fuente de Piedra, on the way I started the list with Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).
Common Crane (Grulla Común / Grus grus).
We arrived at Fuente and I was very pleased to find that the recent rains had topped up the  roadside pool, I parked and scanned the water and margins and soon added Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) and Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).
Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus).
We then parked and had a walk around to the view point which looks out over the main lagoon where I searched and eventually located a single Lesser Flamingo (Flamenco Enano / Phoenicopterus minor) in amongst the large number of Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) as well as 100s of Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta), Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and a pair of fly over Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera).
Common Crane (Grulla Común / Grus grus).
We then walked back around to the car on the lower track and had good views of some more Jackdaws, Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Yellow Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) and Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris).
Jayne popped in to the Centre before we went further around to the western side of the lagoon but before that I checked the back pools from the view point and was pleased to find a Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and a couple of Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago).
Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus).
We drove around to the Western side of the lagoon where we had nice views of a group of Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) and a hunting Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus). In the area we also saw Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), Iberian Brown Hare (Lepus europaeus / capensis), Clouded Yellow (Colias Común / Colias corcea), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) and Small White (Artogeia rapae).
We then continued our journey over to Sanlucar de Barameda where we were staying, on the way we saw Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Calandra Lark (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), Hen Harrier (Aguilucho Pálido / Circus cyaneus) female, Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).
Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus).
We went to the hotel and checked in, Jayne's cold was getting a little worse so she decided to stay in the room whilst I dropped down to Chipiona to have a look for the Little Swift (Vencejo Moro / Apus affinis) but struggled to find them but eventually I got 2 birds for just a few seconds mixed in with flocks of Barn Swallows and House Martins. The tide was high but I scanned the beach and found a single Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), several Sanderlings (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba) and a winter plumaged Grey Plover (Chorlito Gris / Pluviali squatarola). 
I returned to the hotel and later Jayne and I had a walk down to the port area and had a drink before heading back to the town centre for a tapas evening meal.