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Saturday 1 April 2017

Padul Wetlands and Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

Crakes, a Cuckoo and some Orchids.
Kate and Jim McCusker, Day Six.

Spotted Crakes (Polluela Pintoja / Porzana porzana).
After a day catching up with a few jobs at home yesterday and a rest day for Kate and Jim we were back to it with a visit to Padul Wetlands looking for the Spotted Crakes (Polluela Pintoja / Porzana porzana) which had been around for a short while. 
Spotted Crakes (Polluela Pintoja / Porzana porzana).
As soon as we arrived we saw a single bird which dived for cover but soon came out on to the area of mud where it had been showing well over the last few days and Kate rattled off a few shots before it again disappeared and headed off into the far reedbed. 
False Mallow / Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus tripolinus / alceae).
As the bird had decided to go wandering and the wind was bitterly cold Kate went back to the car, Jim and I gave it a while longer but the bird did not return and none of the others showed.
Bath White (Blanqiverdosa / Pontia daplidice).
In the same area we also saw and heard Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta), Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica).
Provence Hairstreak (Cardenillo / Tomares ballus).
Our next stop was at a semi-disused Cortijo near La Malaha where we had good views of several Lesser Kestrels (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni) but they were flighty and did not sit for us. 
Large White (Pieris brassicae).
In the same area we found Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), a calling Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia).
Red-horned Poppy (Glaucium corniculatum).
We moved on again and out on to the fields on the other side of the town and soon found several Small (Pieris rapae) and Bath Whites (Pontia daplidice), False Mallow / Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus tripolinus / alceae), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) and a flyby Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli).
Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius).

Birds on this first area included Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) and Short-toed Larks (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), a distant Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and several very high Pallid Swifts (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) pushing on North.
Adonis aestivalis.
On a fallow area on the far side of the site we spent some time looking at the butterflies and plants there. The butterflies included a rather tatty looking Provence Hairstreak (Tomares ballus), Large White (Pieris brassicae), Common / Southern Blue (Polyommatus icarus / celina), Clouded Yellow Colias corcea), Swallowtail (Papilio machaon) and Spanish Brown Argus (Aricia cramera).
Prickly Poppy (Papaver argenone).
Wild flowers in the same area included Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas), Roemeria hybrida, Prickly Poppy (Papaver argenone), Adonis aestivalis, Purple Bugloss (Echium plantagineum), Shepherds Needles (Scandix pecten-veneris), Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis), Henbit Deadnettle (Lamium amplexicaule), Field marigold (Calendula arvensis), Field Gromwell (Lithospermum arvense), Eruca (Eruca sativa), Crown Daisy (Chrysanthemum carinatum var discolor), Common Grape Hyacinth (Muscari neglectum), Common Fumitory (Fumaria officinalis), Borage (Borago officinalis), Mallow-leaved Bindweed (Convolvulus althaeoides), Squirting Cucumber (Ecballium elaterium) and Red-horned Poppy (Glaucium corniculatum).
Naked / Italian Man Orchid (Orquídea italiana / Orchis italica).
A little further along the track we disturbed a beautiful Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius) which flew up into an Almond tree and then down into a low bush where we got shots as it was harrissed by a male Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator).
Mirror Orchid (Ophrys speculum subsp speculum).
Our next stop was down on the shores of the Embalse de Bermejalis where we searched the woodlands for some of the Orchids which grow there and picked up quite a nice selection including lots of the stunning Naked / Italian Man Orchid (Orchis italica) along with Mirror (Ophrys speculum), Fan-lipped (Anacamptis collina), Sawfly (Ophrys tenthredinifera), Somber Bee (Ophrys fusca / O. forestieri), Giant (Himantoglossum robertiana) and a single Pink Butterfly Orchid (Anacamptis papilionacea)  as well as White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra) and Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs).
Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera subsp tenthredinifera).
Instead of going back towards the hotel along the Cacín valley we cut across country to the fields near Moraleda picking up a couple of confiding Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).
Pink Butterfly Orchid (Anacamptis papilionacea).
On the fields birds were few and far etween but we did see lots of Green-Striped (Euchloe belemia), Bath and Western Dappled Whites (Euchloe crameri), several more Swallowtails and at a spot not far from the town Bumblebee (Ophrys bombyliflora), Dark Spider (Ophrys incubacea) and Yellow Bee Orchids (Ophrys lutea) all of which were new for the day. we then headed back to Huétor Tajar and to the Hotel Cortijo de Tajar.
Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca / O. forestieri).
Fan-lipped Orchid (Anacamptis collina).
Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).







Swallowtail (Papilio machaon).
Dark Spider Orchid (Ophrys incubacea).
Bumblebee Orchid (Ophrys bombyliflora).

Thursday 30 March 2017

Chipiona and Brazo del Este, Cadiz Province.

Rapid movers on the coast and later we were on the marshes again.
Kate and Jim McCusker, Day Five.

Little Swift (Vencejo Moro / Apus affinis).
Kate, Jim and I headed down to the well known site at Chipiona where from the grassed area out side the port we watched the very special Little Swifts (Vencejo Moro / Apus affinis), with in seconds we were watching a dozen or more of the little rockets whizzing over our heads along with several Pallid (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) and at least two Common Swifts (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) as well as Grey Plover (Chorlito Gris / Pluviali squatarola), Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and a flyby Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus).
Roosting Spoonbills (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia).
After seeing the Swifts well we drove the hour or so to the super area of wetlands called Brazo del Este, just before we headed out on to area we had a coffee in Los Chapatales. Out on the fields we soon found a field full of around 80 Great Cormorants (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) along with 8 immature Black Storks (Ciguena Negra / Ciconia nigra), a few White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and in the ditch along side the road we had a fly past Little Bittern (Avetorillo Común / Ixobrychus minutus).
Caspian Terns (Pagaza Piquiroja / Sterna caspia).
Further along we ran along side some pools which held good numbers of birds including a group roosting Caspian Terns (Pagaza Piquiroja / Sterna caspia).
Caspian Terns (Pagaza Piquiroja / Sterna caspia).
In the sme area we had a calling Savi's Warbler (Buscarla Unicolor / Locustella luscinoides), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), a flock of roosting Eurasian Spoonbills (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), several Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus), Great White Egret (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), 3 or 4 Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus) and an Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus) which was at first sat on a fence post and then in  field.
Roosting Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia).
Further along we stopped again at the next area of water and boosted the bird list with Purple Heron (Garza Imperial / Ardea purpurea), a flyby Collared Pratincole (Canastera Común / Glareola pratincola), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Little (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) and Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Reed (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Sedge (Carricerin Común / Acrocephalus schoenobaenus), Cetti's (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Red-crested (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina) and Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and a gang of female Black-headed Weaver (Ploceus melanocephalus).
Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus).
Whilst we were at this spot we meet a group of Spanish birders and to my surprise two of the lads were from Salamanca and I had met them back in February at a twitch up in Santona where we watched the Hudsonian Whimbrel (Zarapito de Hudson / Numenius hudsonicus) together.
Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta).
We again moved along the road a bit further and checked the next area of water seeing my first Great Reed Warbler (Carricero Tordal / Acrocephalus arundinaceus) of the year as well as Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and in one of the crop fields a calling Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix).
Caspian Tern (Pagaza Piquiroja / Sterna caspia) in flight.
At the far end of the track we checked the ditches around the sluices finding Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and passing Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans).
Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia).
At this point we decided that we would redo the same route back along this track instead of driving over to Osuna so we turned around and headed back along the wetlands and pools to see what appeared. 
Spotted Crake (Polluela Pintoja / Porzana porzana).
During the time back tracking we found a cracking Spotted Crake (Polluela Pintoja / Porzana porzana) which show well but distantly, we also had Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia) and Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago).
Black (Ciguena Negra / Ciconia nigra) and White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and Great Cormorants (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo).
Once we returned to the main road we had lunch in a bar before heading back towards Granada Province and to the Cortijo de Tajar Hotel where Kate and Jim to stay for the next seven nights and I went home.

Wednesday 29 March 2017

Bonanza Saltpans, Bonanza Pools, Algaida Woods and Lake and upper Saltpans, Cadiz Province.

Saltpans and Stone Pines.
Kate and Jim McCusker, Day Four.
 
Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).
We left the hotel and drove through the town hearing towards Bonanza Saltpans seeing good numbers of Pallid Swifts (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) on the way. 
Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta).
Once there we stopped on the entrance road and scanned the lagoons seeing several nice plumaged Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), several passing Sand Martins (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi) croaking from a water deposit nearby and a rather tatty Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta).
Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus).
We drove out on to the main area of saltpans and turned right out to the pump house at the end, on the way we saw Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus), Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta), Slender-billed Gull (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei) and Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae).
Slender-billed Gull (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei).
On the run out to the Pump House Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Caspian Tern (Pagaza Piquiroja / Sterna caspia), Barn (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Red-rumped Swallows (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) were added.
Slender-billed Gull (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei).
At the Pump House Lesser Short-toed Larks (Terrera Marismena / Calandrella rufescens) were heard calling over head and we also saw Collared Pratincole (Canastera Común / Glareola pratincola), Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus), Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and a Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus) which sat on a pylon back along the track but did not allow Kate to get close enough for a photograph.
Red-crested Pochard (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina).
We made our way out of the pans adding a winter plumage Spotted Redshank (Archibebe Oscuro / Tringa erythropus) before heading out to two nearby pools where we boosted the list with White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Red-crested (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina) and Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and male and female Little Bitterns (Avetorillo Común / Ixobrychus minutus) as well as several Vagrant Emperors (Emperatriz emigrante / Anax ephippiger) and a couple of teneral Red-veined Darters (Sympetrum fonscolombii).
White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).

We moved on and visited the pool in the Pine woodlands and picked up Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Night Heron (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax) and out at the other end of the woods Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), White (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia) and Black Storks (Ciguena Negra / Ciconia nigra), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus), Sardinian Warbler, Clouded Yellow (Colias corcea), Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra), Swallowtail (Papilio machaon) and lots of the stunning little flower Leucojum trichophyllum.
White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).

We then moved out and took the track around to the upper Saltpans of Algaida where we saw plenty of Yellow (Spanish) Wagtails including a strange looking intergrade which was a probable hybrid between flava flava and flava iberiae. 
M. f. flava x M f iberiae.
In the same area we had Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Zitting Cisticola, Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and on our way out of te area a very smart male Spectacled Warbler (Curruca Tomillera / Sylvia conspicillata) which posed long enough for me to get a couple of shots with kates camera. 
Leucojum trichophyllum.
We made our way back to the hotel along the long ditch seeing many more Vagrant Emperors but nothing else, later we had a meal in the town.
Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia).
Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus).
Spectacled Warbler (Curruca Tomillera / Sylvia conspicillata).
Spectacled Warbler (Curruca Tomillera / Sylvia conspicillata).
M. f. flava x M f iberiae.
M. f. flava x M f iberiae.

Tuesday 28 March 2017

Vejer de la Frontera, La Janda, Laguna del Jeli and Sanlucar de Barrameda, Cadiz Province.

A return to La Janda and driving North West.
Kate and Jim McCusker, Day Three.
Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).
Due to a much swifter start I did not get chance to Look around the gardens this morning but I did hear a calling Eagle Owl (Buho Real / Bubo bubo) from my room and once out side I added Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Pheasant (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) and Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) before we set off. We headed out and dropped down to the Southern entrances to La Janda on a much nicer, sunny morning but at the Southern end there was still some heavy mist.
Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).
The track in was clear and soon due to the sun the whole area was demisted and we started to find birds including Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Calandra Lark (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Meadow (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) and Water Pipits (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta), a Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus) which was sat on a distant pylon and a pair of mating Little Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius).
Scrophularia sambucifolia.
Along this first bit of track we also had some plants which included the tall and showy Scrophularia sambucifolia, flame red Italian Sainfoin (Hedysarum coronarium), White Mignonette (Reseda Alba), Gum Cistus (Cistus ladanifer), Blue Alkanet (Anchusa azurea) and lots of Borage (Borago officinalis).
Scrophularia sambucifolia.
Up and along the main canal we had two Purple Herons (Garza Imperial / Ardea purpurea) in the reeds on the far bank, migrating European Bee-eaters (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) heading North, Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Western Cattle (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), calling Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix), Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia). 
Provence Hairstreak (Cardenillo / Tomares ballus).
Instead of turning across the canal we went straight on looking for but failing to see any Black-winged Kites (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) for a secong time but we made a stop on the roadside where we checked the wildflower areas for butterflies and soon had Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Large (Pieris brassicae), Small White (Pieris rapae) and Green-Striped Whites (Euchloe belemia) and then Jim found the first of several Provence Hairstreak (Tomares ballus) which we eventually got shots of. 
Provence Hairstreak (Cardenillo / Tomares ballus).
In the same area we had Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) and lots of croaking Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi) down in the channel.
Viperine Snake (Culebra Viperina / Natrix maura).
We turned around and then crossed the canal and headed over to the Benalup road through the felds and wild Olives, on the way we had a surprise Viperine Snake (Culebra Viperina / Natrix maura) warming up on the track, a very smart Monarch (Danaus plexippus) sail along side the car and disappearing before we could see in again, Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), more Western Cattle Egrets and Rabbits (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus).
Viperine Snake (Culebra Viperina / Natrix maura).
Once out on the road at the far side we made out way up to Benalup, on the way we had views of a couple of Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Montagu's (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) male and a female Hen Harrier (Aguilucho Pálido / Circus cyaneus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Clouded Yellow (Colias corcea) and several more Green-striped Whites. 
Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).
Once we reached Benalup we headed back to the cliffs at Vejer, having a sandwich in a bar on the way and photographing a Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina) before having another look at the Northern Bald Ibis (Ibis Eremita / Geronticus eremita) and Western Cattle Egrets there and picking up Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes) for the day.
Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia).
We then started to head North West towards Sanlucar for our next nights stay in the Hotel Barrameda there, on the way tried to reach Laguna del Jeli but failed to find in amongst the aray of closed and suddenly ending tracks but whilst searching for a way in we had Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla) which were new for the day and a second Male Montagu's Harrier before we left and continued on. 
Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus).
Just before we reached Sanlucar we stopped on the roadside near an industrial estate and scanned the fields looking for a Long-legged Buzzard (Busardo Moro / Buteo rufinus) which had been reported the day before but we could not find it so we carried on and got booked in before going out for some food later.
White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).

Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus).




Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina).
Paper Wasp nest.
Green-Striped Whites (Euchloe belemia).
Arctotheca calendula.








Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).
Northern Bald Ibis (Ibis Eremita / Geronticus eremita).
Northern Bald Ibis (Ibis Eremita / Geronticus eremita).