RAM and Charca Suarez, Granada Province.

Birding the Coast of Granada Province.

Roosting Shags (Cormorán Mondudo / Phalacrocorax aristotelis).

I met Juan Pérez Contreras in Granada, on the way I had an Eagle Owl (Buho Real / Bubo bubo) fly across the motorway and a Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) which was on a roadside telegraph post. 

Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius).

We went down to Peñón de Jolúcar near Motril in Juans vehicle seeing Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops). 

Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa).

Before we went to do the seawatch we checked a site for roosting Shags (Cormorán Mondudo / Phalacrocorax aristotelis) and found that there were at least 10 birds at the site. 

Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa).

We did not have time to check for rings so we decided to return later.

Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa).

Once we were up on the top of the cliffs we started the seawatch and recorded Cory's (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea) and Balearic Shearwaters (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus), Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) and Audouin's Gulls (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii) which were out sea. 

Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus).

Inland and in the air we saw Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Crag (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala). 

Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos).

After the sea watch we made our way to Charca de Suarez hearing a calling Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) on the way. 

Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia).

Once we were in the reserve we went to the hide over looking Laguna del Taraje where we had views of European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio) and an immature Little Bittern (Avetorillo Común / Ixobrychus minutus) which was well hidden in the reeds.

Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica).

We moved on to the new hide over looking the new lake seeing Red Avadavat (Bengali Rojo / Amandava amandava), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata) and hearing Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus) on the way.

Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata) juv.

From the hide we saw a Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) briefly, Black-rumped (Estrilda troglodytes) and Common Waxbills (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) and then the Black-tailed Godwit came into view from behind the reeds and showed well for the cameras.

Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).

We later walked around to the main hide over looking the Laguna de las Aneas, on the water we had a male Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Red-knobbed Coot (Focha cornuda / Fulca cristata), Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia), Red-rumped Swallow and adult and immature Night Herons (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax).

Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).

We continued on around the reserve and had a look from the two hides over looking Laguna del Trébol but we had nothing new but we did see more Red-knobbed Coots, a Little Grebe on a nest, a couple of Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope), Stripe-necked Terrapins (Mauremys leprosa) and Stripe-less Tree Frog (Hyla meridionalis).

Red-knobbed Coot (Focha cornuda / Fulca cristata) chick.

On Laguna del Lirio we had another couple of Night Herons, a male Little Bittern, a family of Red-knobbed Coots and adult and immature Western Swamp Hens.

Adult and immature Night Herons (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax).

At 13.00 we left the reserve and Juan drove us back to Granada and then I went home.

Undisclosed site, Granada Province.

Cream-coloured Coursers (corredor Sahariano / Cursorius cursor) another check up.

Cream-coloured Coursers (corredor Sahariano / Cursorius cursor).

I drove out to the site to see if the birds were still on site, on the way  found Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) and House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica).

On site I found the Cream-coloured Coursers (corredor Sahariano / Cursorius cursor) were still there and the numbers were up to 6 as the one pair had hatched a couple of young birds since I was there last. 

Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis).

In the same area I had Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Greater Short-toed (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), Thekla (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Calandra Larks (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) x50+, Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), almost as rare as the Coursers in the area a pair of Carrion Crows (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis) x3, Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Woodchat (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator) and Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and on the way out of the site a hunting Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos).

Sierra Nevada, Granada Province.

Photographing Butterflies on the Old Road down the Sierra.

Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus).

I dropped Jayne at the Sierra Nevada shopping Center and then went up to the Visitor Center and parked there whilst I checked an area of Thistles for Butterflies and found Red-underwing Skipper (Spialia sertorius), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Marsh Fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia), Escher's (Polyommatus escheri) and Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina), Large (Ochlodes venatus) and Small Skippers (Thymelicus sylvestris), Iberian Marbled (Melanargia lachesis) and Small Whites (Pieris rapae).

Escher's Blue (Polyommatus escheri) female.

Further down the road I stopped again by a very dry looking roadside meadow where I found Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Southern Mountain Argus (Aricia montensis), Blue Spotted (Satyrium spini) and False Ilex Hairstreaks (Satyrium esculi), Long-tailed (Lampides boeticus), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Crested Tit (Herrerillo Capuchino / Lophophanes cristatus), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea) and a fly over Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus).

Green-veined White (Pieris napi).

On my way down to the Sanctuary hotel I stopped on the roadside and found a Purple-shot Copper (Lycaena alciphron) lower down the hill than I have ever seen one, Green-veined White (Pieris napi) and loads more Iberian Marbled Whites. 

Southern Mountain Argus (Aricia montensis).

Around the hotel entrance and along the road there I picked up Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Iberian Green Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla) and Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).

Red-underwing Skipper (Spialia sertorius).

As well as Epipactis fageticola which was in flower and some over with spikes of Sword-leaved (Cephalanatera longifolia) and Small-leaved Helleborines (Epipactis microphylla) and Robust Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza elata), Soapwort (Saponaria officinalis), Old-mans Beard (Clematis vitalba), plus Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli), Common / Southern Blue, Iberian Marbled Whites, Small White, Long-tailed Blue, Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus) and Marsh Fritillary.

Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus).

Further on there were more Epipactis fageticola, Marsh and High Brown Fritillary (Fabriciana adippe), Small White, Golden Oriole and Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major).

Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous).

At my last stop before I went to pick Jayne up was down on the side of the Rio Genel where I checked for insects puddling on the damp gravel and found Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Holly and Lange's Short-tailed Blues, Marsh Fritillary, Small Skipper, Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra), Small White, Common Golden Ringed Dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltonii), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris).

Hoverfly Species.

I met up with Jayne at the Shopping Center and then we had some lunch before doing some shopping and then headed home.

Iberian Marbled White (Melanargia lachesis) male.

Large Skipper (Ochlodes venatus).

Epipactis fageticola.

High Brown Fritillary (Fabriciana adippe).

High Brown Fritillary (Fabriciana adippe).

Common Golden Ringed Dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltonii).

Common Golden Ringed Dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltonii).

Undisclosed site, Granada Province.

A checkup on the Spanish Lifers.

Cream-coloured Coursers (corredor Sahariano / Cursorius cursor).

Jayne and I met our friend Juan Pérez Contreras at a spot in the countryside where we were trying to find and confirm numbers of the recently discovered Cream-coloured Coursers (corredor Sahariano / Cursorius cursor) and by the time we were leaving we had seen 3 adults. 

Cream-coloured Coursers (corredor Sahariano / Cursorius cursor).

In the same area we had Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Short-toed (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) and Crested Larks (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus).

Cream-coloured Coursers (corredor Sahariano / Cursorius cursor).

Nearby as we were driving towards Granada we picked up Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica).