Padul Wetland, Granada Province.

The second Crake of the year and a few more year ticks.

Spotted Crake (Polluela Pintoja / Porzana porzana).

After getting some info from Juan Pérez Contreras and the web site Cuaderno de campo "Aves granadinas" I visited Padul in the hope of seeing one of two Spotted Crakes (Polluela Pintoja / Porzana porzana) reported there and the first one was on the year list within 2 minutes of arriving.

Spotted Crake (Polluela Pintoja / Porzana porzana).

Except for a walk around to an area of willows and wet reed beds nearby I sat on the bank of the pool and watched this stunning little bird for the next 3.5 hours and heard another calling close by in the reeds. In the same area I also picked up Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta), Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Barn (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Red-rumped Swallows (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Reed (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Sedge (Carricerin Común / Acrocephalus schoenobaenus), Cetti's (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and a singing

Spotted Crake (Polluela Pintoja / Porzana porzana).

Willow Warbler (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) M & F, Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago) x8, Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), a nicely plumaged male Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) and Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).

Spotted Crake (Polluela Pintoja / Porzana porzana).

After a while another couple of birder showed up and after getting them on to the Crake I went for a walk around to the willows nearby where heard a calling Iberian Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Ibérico / Phylloscopus brehmii) as well as several Common Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis).

Spotted Crake (Polluela Pintoja / Porzana porzana).

I walked back to the spot for the Crakes and had another half an hour watching it and then walked back to the car just as the snow arrived, as I passed along the stream I added Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) and Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea). In the same area I saw Clouded Yellow (Colias corcea), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) and Southern Water Vole (Rata topera / Arvicola sapidus).

Spotted Crake (Polluela Pintoja / Porzana porzana).

I then went back to the Sierra Nevada shopping centre where Jayne and I had lunch before buying a few bits and pieces before heading home. Thanks to Juan for the info about the Crake as I enjoyed this bird very much.