Whittington, Staffordshire, Chelmarsh, Shropshire and Belvide, Staffordshire.

Flicking between sites for some good local rarities and an evening of Carols.

The Ironbridge.

Sharon, John and I picked Brian up and went to a site not to far from his house in a wooded valley next to an old style open sewage where we were looking for a wintering Yellow-browed Warbler (Mosquitero Bilistado / Phylloscopus inornatus) which had been around for a while. During the time we were looking for the bird we recorded good numbers of Goldcrests (Reyezuelo Sencillo / Regulus regulus), Long-tailed Tits (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), a couple of wintering Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Great Tits (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), both Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba yarrellii), Treecreeper (Agateador Norteño / Certhia familiaris) and a couple of Song Thrushes (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) which appear to be doing a bit better than when I left the UK as we saw these birds and several the day before in Derbyshire. After a while we found the Yellow-browed and heard it calling several times as it moved quickly along the row of Hawthorns that lines the sewage works and feed in a large Hazel bush, it was a cracking little bird and I hope it makes it through the approaching cold spell.

The Carol service on the bridge.

We crossed the boarder into Shropshire and up to Chelmarsh Res and down to the end near the scrape, on the way there we had Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Rook (Graja /  Corvus frugilegus), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs).

Once we were at Chelmarsh we scanned the waters near the scrape where we saw Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Anas penelope), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Tufted Duck (Porrón Monudo / Aythya fuligula) and several Goosander (Serreta Grande / Mergus merganser). We walked along a public foot path to a high point above the main lake and dam area where we scanned the fields and dam walk finding the 6 Tundra Bean Geese (Ánsar Campestre rossicus / Anser fabalis rossicus) which had been around as well as several Greylags (Ansar Común / Anser anser) and calling Bullfinch (Camachuelo Común / Pyrrhula pyrrhula).

Ironbridge High Street.

We walked back to the car and drove across country through Telford and along the A5 to Belvide Res and out to Scot Hide where we sat and waited to see what turned up. We satrted off with good numbers of Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Goldeneye (Porrón Osculado /Bucephala clangula), Lots more Tufted Ducks,  Great Crested (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus) and Little Grebes (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Canada Geese (Barnacla Canadiense /Branta canadensis), Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) and just in fornt of the hide in the reeds a couple of Water Rails (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus) chased each other and a Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes) fed low over the water in the reeds. The Gull roost started to build up with Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Great Black-backed Gull (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus), Common (Gaviota Cana /Larus canus) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) being joined by a single adult Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

We finished the day with views of a wintering Eurasian Bittern (Avetoro Común / Botaurus stellaris) which sat nicely in the reeds just to the left of the hide but it did not move around much and was difficult to see in the wind at times.

Late in the afternoon John and Sharon dropped me back in Albrighton and then Jayne and I headed off down to Ironbridge for an hour of Carols on the bridge with Jayne's Brother David and his wife Pauline who we were staying with for Christmas. A very nice evening with Fish and Chips at a nearby Restaurant.

Beeley, Derbyshire and Chasewater, Staffordshire, UK.

A lifer for my old British List and a few other good species.

Dusky Thrush (Zorzal eunomo / Turdus eunomus)

Sharon, John and I headed North from their house and were soon on site in a very cold village called Beeley in Derbyshire looking for a Dusky Thrush (Zorzal eunomo / Turdus eunomus) which had been around for a few weeks. 

Fieldfare (Zorzal Real / Turdus pilaris).

John and Sharon had already seen this bird but were kind enough to go up again and look for it again even though it was freezing. 

Fieldfare (Zorzal Real / Turdus pilaris).

We arrived and soon started finding Thrushes including Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Fieldfare (Zorzal Real / Turdus pilaris), Redwing (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus illacus), Song (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) and Mistle Thrushes (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus). 

Fieldfare (Zorzal Real / Turdus pilaris).

We also saw Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Rook (Graja /  Corvus frugilegus), Goldcrest (Reyezuelo Sencillo / Regulus regulus), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Treecreeper (Agateador Norteño / Certhia familiaris), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater) and Long-tailed Tits (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba yarrellii), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) and Pheasant (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus).

Fieldfare (Zorzal Real / Turdus pilaris).

Eventually whilst we were checking a small orchard a little further along one of the lanes Sharon noticed that everyone had gone from the wall where we had been looking so we walked back and found that the Dusky Thrush had been found out on the fields quite a walk away and typically up hill from where we were. 

Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos).

Once on site I stood for a minute to get some air into my burning lungs and to stop the pains in my legs before having a further 10 to 15 minutes watching this cracking little Thrush on the far side of the field. 

Greylag Goose (Ansar Común / Anser anser).

It was quite a way away from us which meant the shot were rubbish but the views through the scope was great, the bird was chasing other species off from the spot where it was feeding until all the birds flew up and away. 

There were many more birds in the flock made up od 100+ Redwings with other Thrushes mixed in, we dd not relocate the bird again so decided to head south again calling in at Croxall on our way to Chasewater in Staffs.

Female Red-breasted Merganser (Serreta Mediana / Mergus serrator).

On the way to Croxall we picked up Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and at the pools and fields at Croxall we found Tufted Duck (Porrón Monudo / Aythya fuligula), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) and Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus).

Female Red-breasted Merganser (Serreta Mediana / Mergus serrator).

We moved on down to Chasewater where Sharon dropped us at the Dam and later picked us up on the far side near the railway station, in between we had good views in bad light of a female Red-breasted Merganser (Serreta Mediana / Mergus serrator), Goosander (Serreta Grande / Mergus merganser), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Goldeneye (Porrón Osculado /Bucephala clangula), a female Velvet Scoter (Negrón Especulado / Melanitta fusca), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Canada Geese (Barnacla Canadiense /Branta canadensis) and later as the light dropped even further towards dusk the Gull roost 

Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor).

built up and John and I managed to find Black-headed, Common (Gaviota Cana /Larus canus), Herring (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Great Black-backed (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus), Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and with the help of a local Gull expert who I do not know the name of we had views of adult and 1st winter Caspian Gulls (Gaviota Cáspica / Larus cachinnans) before dark.

We then headed back to Sharon and Johns ready for our evening meal and a second days birding tomorrow.

Happy Christmas.

Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

A day down the Valley with David Drake from Texas.

Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).

I picked Dave up from the Albacin on the edge of Granada City and then headed back down the A92 to the Balsa de Rigedor where we scanned the water seeing Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina) and in the reeds and surrounding trees and bushes we had Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), lots of Blackcaps (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), several House (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and at least one male Spanish Sparrows (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo). 

We later drove over the A92 and out on to the fields nearby looking for but failing to find Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis), guessing that there had been quite a lot of disturbance by hunters over the weekend which meant that the birds were keeping low. We did however see Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Thekla (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus).

Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis).

Our next stop was down in the valley along the Rio Cacìn, we made two stops and boosted the list with Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Crested (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus) and Long-tailed Tits (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra) and a pair of soaring Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila-azor / Hieraetus faciatus).

Just up the road we had a look at the Embalse and scanned over the water and found Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and in the air a good sized flock of Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and lots of Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris).

as we continued on along the valley we added a male Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) and a fly over female Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius).

We drove back up the valley and then across the ridge to the field areas near La Malaha, on the way we saw Rock Pigeon (Paloma Bravia / Columba livia) and out on the fields we were very pleased to finish the day with a cracking female Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus) sat on a post in the fields and four winter plumage Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) which showed well along the roadside.