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Saturday 16 September 2017

Cazalla watch point and La Janda, Cadiz Province.

Watching the raptor migration and then birding in the Rice Paddies.
John and Sharon, Day Two.

Egyptian Vulture (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus).
Jayne, Barb, Sharon, John and Myself headed down to Tarifa along the coastal toll roads, I dropped Sharon and John off at Cazalla and then Jayne and Barb in Tarifa before returning to the watch point. 
Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus).
Things were a bit slow as it was quite cloudy but once it started to clear things slowly  started to trickle through including Egyptian (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus) and Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Honey Buzzard (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus), Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Booted (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus) and Short-toed Eagles (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia) we also had Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) and Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur).
Egyptian Vulture (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus) and Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus).
As things were a bit on the slowish side we decided to make our way up the coast to La Janda, as soon as we arrived we found Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) and lots of White Storks along the entrance track. 
Egyptian Vulture (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus).
Up on the main track along the main canal we picked up lots of Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) out on the stubble fields as well as Western Cattle Egrets, Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), some large flocks of House Sparrows (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) which we checked through looking for Spanish Sparrows (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis) and later in the day we succeed in finding several in flocks further along the channel.
Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus).
As we worked our way along the track we picked up several immature Montagu's Harriers (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), a couple of Marsh Harriers (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and on a pool created by a flooded paddy Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus) and a couple of Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus).
Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).
On a side ditch we saw several feeding Spoonbills (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) and Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) before we turned off on to the track up to the farm.
Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) male.
Along the track we saw several flocks of Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), good numbers of Lesser Kestrels (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni), Melodious Warbler (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa).
Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) female.
On the way along the track we spent sometime searching under some trees looking for roosting Red-necked Nightjars (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis) but could not find anything so we carried on to the T junction at the far end of road seeing several more Booted Eagles, Black Kites, Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) and at the junction we turned left and parked by the canal where we saw Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), Banded Groundling (Brachythemis impartita), Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator) and a couple of Zeller's Skippers (Borbo borbonica).
Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).
After scanning the fields we turned around and made our way back towards the main canal but decided to have a look for the Nightjar again and within a couple of minutes Sharon had found one right down at the bottom of the back amongst the leaves and branches. 
White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).
We had great views before we moved on back to the canal where we picked up the Spanish Sparrows we had searched for earlier and as we drove back to the entrance we added Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa), Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi), Signal Crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus), Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria), Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope), Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Great White Egret (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), lots more Glossy Ibis, Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala).
Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).
We returned to Tarifa and met up with Jayne and Barb and spent a nice evening around the town having a few drinks and something to eat.
Zeller's Skipper (Borbo borbonica).
Signal Crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus).
Red-necked Nightjar (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis).
Red-necked Nightjar (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis).
Red-necked Nightjar (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis).
Red-necked Nightjar (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis).
Immature Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus).

Friday 15 September 2017

La Malaha and the Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

Birding on the patch with good friends from the UK, John and Sharon Holian.
John and Sharon, Day One.

I picked John and Sharon up at Malaga Airport at midnight and after a short nights sleep we were out birding on the localish patch and started on the fields near La Malaha. We soon started to add birds to the day list including lots of Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) and Thekla Larks (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis), a flock of Honey Buzzards (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus) with a couple of Black Kites (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans) mixed in, Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica).
From here we headed off towards the Cacín Valley and added Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) and a pale phase Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus).
On the ridge between Ventas de Huelma and Cacín we had good numbers of Small Whites (Pieris rapae), several Desert Orange-tips (Colotis evagore) and Long-tailed Blue (Lampides baeticus).
Once we were in the valley we went North to the Contra-embalse de Bermejalis where we spent some time scanning the sand banks and muddy margins seeing Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), an immature Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), White (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Cetti's (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Reed Warblers (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Sand (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia), House (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica) and Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata) as well as Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Lesser (Anax parthenope) and Blue / Common Emperors (Anax imperator), Bath White (Pontia daplidice) and Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa).
We started to make our wa back to the house but stopped briefly a couple of times in the woodlands on the way adding Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and just before we reached the house we had several European Bee-eaters (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) on the wires. John and Sharon finished the list off with a Western Orphean Warbler (Curruca Mirlano / Sylvia hortensis) in the garden and a couple of Orange-winged Dropwings (Trithemis kirbyi) and an Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma) around the pool.

Monday 11 September 2017

Embalse de Cubillas and Padul wetlands (or sewage dumping site), Granada Province.

Birding amongst the picnic garbage and sewage.

Immature Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).
I dropped Jayne and Barb off at the Sierra Nevada shopping centre and then went to the Embalse de Cubillas where as usual the most obvious site was the mounds of filth left behind by the people how visit the place at the weekend. Why do people come into the countryside and destroy it, I will never understand it. I have recently visited Northern Spain and one of the most obvious differences is the lack of rubbish and filth left in the countryside of this beautiful country.
Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea).
I had seen a Pectoral Sandpiper (Correlimos Pectoral / Calidris melanotos) here a few days earlier but after spending a couple of hours looking for it I decided that it must have moved on. I did however see Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), an immature Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Sand (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia) and House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) and several African Grass Blues (Nina esmaltada / Zizeeia knysna).
Immature Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) and Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).
Later I went south of Granada to Padul and walked along the stinking river which must get all the sewage and other foul water from the town of Padul, a great shame for this nature reserve. I did see Willow (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus) and Reed Warblers (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus), Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Common / Southern Blue (Polyommatus icarus / celina) and Clouded Yellow (Colias corcea).
I would probably have seen a whole lot more if the vegetation in front of the hides was removed but as it has not been done for a few years I was not surprised to find the situation was no better.

Sunday 10 September 2017

From the terrace, Huétor Tajar, Granada Province.

Some passage through the fig tree.

Western Orphean Warbler (Curruca Mirlano / Sylvia hortensis) ♂.
Whilst sat out on the terrace I picked up a few bits including Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and 2♂ and 1♀ Western Orphean Warblers (Curruca Mirlano / Sylvia hortensis), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major).