La Malaha fields, the Cacín Valley and Moraleda Fields, Granada Province.

A day out on the patch with Bent Halfdan Pedersen, Mette, Nanna and Sophie from Denmark.

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

I met Bent and his family at their hotel in the city for the first of three days out and about and we headed south west out on to the fields near La Malaha calling in at a semi derelict Cortijo on the way.

We walked down in to the nearby barranco adding Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica). We also had Blue-winged Grasshopper (Oedipoda caerulescens), Small White (Pieris rapae) and Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus).

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

We moved on and out on to the fields near La Malaha, making several stops on the road before taking to the tracks heading over to Ventas de Huelma, on the way we had good views of around 15 Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Iberian / Southern Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), a distant Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus) which was sat on a pylon surrounded by several Lesser Kestrels (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni) on the wires, Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur) and Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator).

Once we were off the tracks we headed across country to a spot near to Moraleda picking up Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans) and Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus) on the way. We drove slowly along a row of very old roadside Almond trees looking for some of my regular Little Owls (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) but only found one of the youngsters was in but it performed well, giving us all great views and Mette was particularly happy as it was a birds she had wanted to see.

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

We next headed out on to the fields nearby and spent some time searching the fields from the tracks and found Scarce / Spanish Swallowtail (Chupaleches / Iphiclides podalirius / Iphiclides feisthameli), Bath White (Blanqiverdosa / Pontia daplidice), Clouded Yellow (Colias Común / Colias corcea), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and our main target species two Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis), a fine male and his well camouflaged female.

Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus).

Lunch came next down in the bar in El Turro before we headed south along the Cacín Valley to the bridge over the river, here we had a look from the bridge seeing Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Large White (Pieris brassicae), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Garden Warbler (Curruca Mosquitera / Sylvia borin) and House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica).

Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus).

We then walked along the track to the area near the dam picking up Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Bridge Spider (Larinioides sclopetarius), Sriped Shieldbug (Graphosoma italicum), Carpentor Bee (Xylocopa violacea), Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathinerum), White Featherleg (Platycnemis latipes) and a cracking Western Willow Spreadwing (Lestres viridis) which was a really good find by Nanna. 

Our next stop was up at the Contra-embalse de Bermejalis, on the way we saw several European Bee-eaters (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus). From where we parked at the embalse we had a pair of Marsh Harriers (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) over the reed beds and on the water there were loads of Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), 5x Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), 1x Egyptian Goose (Ganso del Nilo / Alopochen aegyptiaca), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Common (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) and Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus).

We headed south to Cacín and then went up over the ridge seeing another very nice Short-toed Eagle on the way but we did not see a great deal during the drive and it was getting very warm so we headed back in towards the city where I dropped Bent, Mette, Nanna and Sophie off at their hotel and headed back home.

Salina La Tapa, Cadiz Province and Gibraltar.

A hot disappointing visit to the Saltpans and a nice afternoon buying some whisky on Gibraltar.

Jayne and I left the hotel in Sanlucar after a cracking evening the night before and headed south towards El Puerto de Santa Maria where I dropped Jayne off at one of the Shopping Centres near to Salina La Tapa where I tried to go and do some birding but between access problems and to many strange people hanging around in the bushes I gave up fairly quickly but not before I found several Curlew Sandpipers (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea), Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Little Tern (Charrancito Común / Sterna albifrons), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and Red-veined Darters (Sympetrum fonscolombii) which were everywhere.

I gave up and went and picked Jayne up and we headed south down the motorway towards Gibraltar going through the Los Alcornocales Natural Park passing Embalse de Barbate and Embalse de Charco Redondo. On the way I saw Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia). 

We parked in La Linea and then walked on to Gib and did some shopping before returning to the car and then driving home.

Los Palacios Y Villafranca, Chipiona, Playa de Montijo and Sanlucar de Barrameda

Two Spanish Lifers and a great evening in Sanlucar.

Laughing Dove (Streptopelia senegalensis).

Jayne and I headed off West along the A92 towards Sevilla and then down to Los Palacios Y Villafranca the El Pantano area just South of the town. On the way I saw Iberian (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) and Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula).

Laughing Dove (Streptopelia senegalensis).

After breakfast we went down to the spot by the El Pantano on the southern side of Los Palacios Y Villafranca where I parked in the shade so that Jayne was comfortable reading and I went for a walk along the main track. I quickly built the day list with some Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus) which were coming into the reed beds on the far side of the site, Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Grey (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and Squacco Heron (Garcilla Cangrejera / Ardeola ralloides), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and a couple of Whiskered Terns (Fumarel Cariblanca / Chilidonias hybridus) which were returning with bills full of small fish.

Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus).

I then had brief views of the target species when an adult Laughing Dove (Streptopelia senegalensis) which flew right passed me and down to the water and then up in to a Tamarisk tree where it joined a second bird before flying over to some Prickly Pears right next to where Jayne was sat in the car.

I moved back around to the car and we spent a while watching the one bird fly across the road in front of us several times, it dropped down into a paddock area and collected seed and nest building materials.

Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

In this area we also had several European Bee-eaters (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Reed (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) and Western Olivaceous Warbler (Zarcero Pálido Occidental / Hippolais opaca), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), a group of aroun 50 or so passing White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and of course the Laughing Doves which showed very well, giving me the chance to get a few distant shots.

European Bee-eaters (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster).

We moved around to the other side of the river and had a look at the wetland area there seeing many more Glossy Ibis, Cattle and Little Egrets, Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), adult and Juvenile Whiskered Terns and loads of Red-veined Darters (Sympetrum fonscolombii).

Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus) and Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

From here we headed off south down to Chipiona and found a parking near the port. We then walked down to the beach where Jayne went for a walk along the prom whilst I tried to get some shots of the

Little Swifts (Vencejo Moro / Apus affinis) from the Grassy area just outside the port walls. In the same area I picked up Pallid (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) and Common Swifts (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and couple of Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus).

Little Swift (Vencejo Moro / Apus affinis).

I met Jayne as she was walking back towards the Port, she said she had found a place just down the way where we could have something to eat which we did. 

Little Swift (Vencejo Moro / Apus affinis).

Later I dropped Jayne off for a couple of hours in a shopping centre whilst I went down to Playa de Montijo where I parked on the beach and scanned the beach and rocks which had just been exposed by the dropping tide. Straight away I could see loads of birds including 100+ Little Terns (Charrancito Común / Sterna albifrons), plenty of Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba) and Kentish Plovers (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus) which were the commonest waders. 

Elegant Tern (Charrán Elegante / Sterna elegans), Sandwich Terns (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis) and Little Terns (Charrancito Común / Sterna albifrons).

They were accompanied by 3x Eurasian Oystercatcher (Ostrero Euroasiatico / Haematopus ostralegus), 4x Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus) were joined by 20 or so more birds as the tide dropped, 1x Bar-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colipinta / Limosa lapponica) which came in with one of the groups of Whimbrel but settled to roost amongst the Gulls, Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), 1x Red Knot ( Correlimos Gordo / Calidris canutus), 1x Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), 2x Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus) and 2x Grey Plover (Chorlito Gris / Pluviali squatarola), a summer plumaged and one winter looking bird.

Elegant Tern (Charrán Elegante / Sterna elegans), Sandwich Terns (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Black Tern (Fumarel Común / Chlidonias niger) and Little Terns (Charrancito Común / Sterna albifrons).

As the tide dropped further good number of Sandwich Terns (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis) started to come in and bath and the roost on the sandbar and rocks, I kept scanning through these birds looking for orange bills but I did not find any so I walked back towards the car and set the scope up again scanning the sea picking up two groups of Scopoli's / Cory's Shearwater (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea / borealis) totalling 13 birds, a single Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) and then a loud calling Tern which came in from the East and passed in front of me going to the roost and I soon picked out the Orange bill it had. 

Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus).

I jumped to an incorrect ID of it being an adult Lesser-crested Tern (Charrán Bengalés / Thalasseus bengalensis) but because I got some distant shots Javi Elorriaga Bts from Birding The Strait was able to say it was an adult Elegant Tern (Charrán Elegante / Sterna elegans). I walked back along the beach to the main area of sand where the Terns were roosting and I found the adult bathing and what was probably it's juvenile hybrid on the sand but as soon as I got there the second bird flew off along the coast but the adult remained and gave me good views. 

In the same flock I also had a Common Tern (Charrán Común / Sterna hirudo) and a immature Black Tern (Fumarel Común / Chlidonias niger). On the beach I also found Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and an immature Audouin's Gull (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii).

3x Eurasian Oystercatcher (Ostrero Euroasiatico / Haematopus ostralegus).

I returned to the car and then picked up Jayne before we made our way to the hotel Los Helechos in Sanlucar where we chilled for a while before heading out on to the town for drinks and tapas. After eating we went for a walk along the sea front to a bar at the far end prom where we had a drink and sit for a while before walking back. On the way we were passed by the towns tourist train so we took a ride around the town with a good crowd of Spanish tourists and enjoyed it very much before returning to the hotel well shattered but after a cracking night.

OK, a bit of an after note. At the time when I saw these Terns on the beach at Playa Montijo I originally thought that they were Lesser-crested Tern (Charrán Bengalés / Thalasseus bengalensis) but from the photo's above Javi corrected me and said the bird in the shot was an Adult Elegant Tern (Charrán Elegante / Sterna elegans). Today (8th Sept) I was looking through the shots and a penny dropped, the immature hybrid would have a dark bill !!! So I looked at  the shots again and in the one photo I have a Lesser Crested Adult flying over the top of the Elegant which makes more sense as I saw two adult orange billed terns when I first saw them but the one disappeared when I was photographing the other.