Fuente de Piedra and Archidona, Malaga Province.

A walk around a drying Fuente.

Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus).

After doing a few bits and pieces in Iznajar and Antequera we went for a walk around Fuente de Piedra. On the pool along the entrance road we found Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Gull-billed Tern (Pagaza Piconegra / Gelochelidon nilotica), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Curlew Sandpiper (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta), Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

We parked and walked down to the board walk but there was not a great deal of water and I only found a single Little Stint, Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) and Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos).

Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

Up at the mirador we scanned the main Lagoon and saw Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti).

Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta).

Around the back of the centre we checked the pool from the hide and found Common (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina) and Red-crested Pochards (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina), White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and the two year ticks that I had hoped for Black (Fumarel Común / Chlidonias niger) and Whiskered Terns (Fumarel Cariblanca / Chilidonias hybridus).

Curlew Sandpiper (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea).

We walked back around to the car seeing some spikes of Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea) in the car park and on the edge of the roadside pool as we drove out I added Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos).

Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta).

We headed back to Archidona and had some lunch before  went and had a walk in the woods nearby where I found Cleopatra (Cleopatra / Gonepteryx cleopatra), Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina), Pink Butterfly Orchid (Anacamptis papilionacea) and the hybrid Orchis x gennarii (O. papilionacea x O. champagneuxii).

Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus).

Orchis x gennarii (O. papilionacea x O. champagneuxii).

Pink Butterfly Orchid (Anacamptis papilionacea).

Rio Guadalhorce, Malaga Province.

A mornings birding with the Axarquia bird group.

Little Bittern (Avetorillo Común / Ixobrychus minutus).

Jayne dropped me off (that made a change) and headed off along the coast to Fuengirola, I waited at the entrance to the reserve and after a short while several members of the group turned up including Bob Wright who was leading us around. we set off and started the list with European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) which were sat in a dead tree on the far side of the river along with several Spotless Starlings (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) around the bridge. 

Once across the river we were joined by Kevin Wade and picked up Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and then the biggest surprise of the day (well it was for me) was when a Short-eared Owl (Buho Campestre / Asio flammeus) dropped into a reed bed and disappeared as fast as it appeared but was a good, late and unexpected year tick.

White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala).

We continued on along the bank to the first hide (Casillas) adding Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) and Pallid Swifts (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) on the way and from in the hide Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Red-rumped (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica) and Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and just before we moved on Kevin picked up a male Little Bittern (Avetorillo Común / Ixobrychus minutus) in the reeds opposite.

Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos).

From the next hide (Wader Hide) where the water levels were just spot on and the margins held good numbers of birds including Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Curlew (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea) and Wood Sandpipers (Andarrios Bastardo / Tringa glareola), Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta), Little Ringed (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Ringed (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) and Kentish Plovers (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus) and in the vegetation Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Reed (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) and Willow Warblers (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus) and Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata).

We walked on down towards the beach checking the old river, Rio Viejo which produced lots of new species for the day including Squacco Heron (Garcilla Cangrejera / Ardeola ralloides) x1, Little (Charrancito Común / Sterna albifrons) x8 and Gull-billed Terns (Pagaza Piconegra / Gelochelidon nilotica) x4, Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Grey Plover (Chorlito Gris / Pluviali squatarola), Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax), Eurasian Oystercatcher (Ostrero Euroasiatico / Haematopus ostralegus) x2 and Avocets (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta).

Red-crested Pochard (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina).

As we walked down to the beach a Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) flew over and then from the sea watch point we managed in the very high winds to find Audouin's Gull (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Balearic Shearwater (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus) and Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis).

After a short se watch we were beaten back by the spray and wind and retraced our way back along the bank adding Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia) and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus).

Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus).

We moved around to Escondida hide and found a cracking male Red-crested Pochard (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina) along side another White-headed Duck.
We moved on around to the main hide adding Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia) there and a splendid Slender-billed Gull (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei) as we walked back to the cars.
Thanks to Bob for organising a cracking day with 66 species seen. 
Travelling home I did add a few more species to my day list including White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila-azor / Hieraetus faciatus), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) and Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus).

Venta del Raya to Zafarraya, Granada Province.

A morning photographing Birds and Orchids with Ian Phillips and his sister.

Male Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus).

After sorting a few things in Loja I headed south through Zaffaraya to Puente Don Emanuel but found the place I want to visit was shut so I made my way back up over the ridge to a spot where I spent an hour or so before I met Ian watching several Montagu's Harrier's (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus). 

Female Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus).

In the same area I also had Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Collared (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and Turtle Doves (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei).

Male Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus).

I was meeting Ian and his Sister just down the valley, on the drive down I picked up Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia) and Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes).

Male Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus).

I arrived a little early and checked the area around where I was parked and soon found Giant (Himantoglossum robertiana), Yellow Bee (Ophrys lutea) and Conical Orchids (Neotinea conica), Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) and Bath White (Pontia daplidice). 

Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum robertiana).

Birds seen and heard included Wryneck (Torcecuello / Jynx torquilla), Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Subalpine (Curruca Carrasquena / Sylvia cantillans), Bonelli's (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli) and Western Orphean Warblers (Curruca Mirlano / Sylvia hortensis).

Small Woodcock Orchid (Ophrys picta).

Ian and his Sister arrived and we walked around the whole site building the Orchid list with Fan-lipped (Anacamptis collina) but they were mostly over with, Sawfly (Ophrys tenthredinifera), Pink Butterfly (Anacamptis papilionacea) with a very nice large group under the Almonds and Small Woodcock (Ophrys picta). 

Yellow Bee (Ophrys lutea).

Butterflies were also boosted with Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenoides), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) and Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina).

Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera).

We moved back up the valley and checked an area of Oak Woodlands, bird wise we found Woodlark (Totovia / Lullula arborea), Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus) and the orchid and butterfly lists were boosted with Sword-leaved Helleborine (Cephalanatera longifolia), Dense-flowered (Neotinea maculata) and Southern Early Purple Orchids (Androrchis Olbiensis) and Spanish Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Small (Pieris rapae) and Large Whites (Pieris brassicae).

Conical Orchids (Neotinea conica).

Once we had checked these areas we made our way up to the spot where I had started the morning and watched the Montagu's Harriers again and they put on a nice show. 

Small Woodcock Orchid (Ophrys picta).

I left Ian and headed off home just stopping briefly to photograph some Corn Poppy's (Papaver rhoeas) growing below Sierra de Loja.

Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina).

Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli).

Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli).

Ian and his sister looking at the Pink Butterflies.

Sword-leaved Helleborine (Cephalanatera longifolia).

Sword-leaved Helleborine (Cephalanatera longifolia).

Dense-flowered Orchid (Neotinea maculata).

The Poppy field.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Trapping.

1655 Ethmia bipunctella

Ran the 18watt Actinic in the garden again last night as it had warmed up again and had a decent amount of species for here amongst the Olives. They included 1525 Plutella xylostella (Diamond backed Moth) x1, 1648 Ethmia terminella x8, 1655 Ethmia bipunctella x3, 6488 Evergestis frumentalis x3, 7984 Phaiogramma  etruscaria x1, 8145 Idaea manicaria x2, 8328 Nebula ibericata x3, 8638 Lithostege griseata (Grey Carpet) x2, 8897 Minucia lunaris (Lunar-double Stripe) x1, 9056 Autographa gamma (Silver Y) x2, 9100 Acontia lucida (Pale Shoulder) x1, 9140 Eublemma ostrina (Purple Marbled) x1, 9207 Cucullia chamomillae (Chamomile Shark) x1, 9350 Synthymia fixa (The Gold Wing) x1, 9367 Heliothis peltigera (Bordered Straw) x1, 9425 Caradrina proxima x2, 9433 Caradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow), 9436 Caradrina flavirena (Lorimer's Rustic) x5, 10003 Mythimna vitellina (The Delicate) x2, 10343 Agrotis puta (Shuttle Shaped Dart) x4 and 10346 Agrotis ipsilon (Dark Sword-grass) x1.

6488 Evergestis frumentalis

7984 Phaiogramma  etruscaria

8145 Idaea manicaria

8328 Nebula ibericata

8638 Lithostege griseata (Grey Carpet).

8897 Minucia lunaris (Lunar-double Stripe)

9056 Autographa gamma (Silver Y)

9207 Cucullia chamomillae (Chamomile Shark)

9350 Synthymia fixa (The Gold Wing)

9367 Heliothis peltigera (Bordered Straw)

9425 Caradrina proxima

9436 Caradrina flavirena (Lorimer's Rustic)

10003 Mythimna vitellina (The Delicate)

10346 Agrotis ipsilon (Dark Sword-grass).

9140 Eublemma ostrina (Purple Marbled)

??????????

?????????

9370 Heliothis armigera (Scarce Bordered Straw).

9370 Heliothis armigera (Scarce Bordered Straw).

?????????