Home near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province.

Year Tick in the Garden.

Winter is on the way so I was out getting some logs in from the pile in the garden and as I was coming back past the pool a cracking male Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus) flew in and had a drink. The Siskin was the 296th species for the year, the 300 is getting closer. I stood and watched it for a minute before it flew into the Quince tree and then off down the barranco. Earler in the day I had good views of a pair of Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes) that came in, I will have to get the hide out and try for some shots.

Home near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Chiffchaffs and Hawfinhes.

Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) male.

Whilst out in the garden today I had good views of a pair of Hawfinches (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes) which dropped into the Almond tree above the pool but did not drop down to the water as I flushed them off. During my time out there I also saw several Common Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) one of which came to within a few inches of me near the pool, Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).

Around the pool there were several Perez's Frogs (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi) which dived straight into the pool as I came through the gate and there was a male Desert Darter (Sympetrum sinaiticum) holding territory.