Rio Pesquera and Arroyo Blanquilla, near Zagra, Granada Province.

In search of Ringed Cascader (Zygonyx torridus) in Granada Province.

Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi) male.

After Lynn and Steve Jones had seen a male Ringed Cascader (Zygonyx torridus) along the Rio Pesquera on the 17th August 2018, Steve and I returned to the spot hoping to see it again and get some photographs. We arrived and walked up stream to the spot where the insect had been seen, the river was unrecognizable after the winter rains and was faster flowing and much more open and rocky. 

The spot where the Zygonyx was seen on 17th Aug 2018.

During the walk up we saw Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi), Keeled (Orthetrum coerulescens) and Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Iberian Barbel (Luciobarbus comizo), Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi), Horse Mint (Mentha longifolia), African Grass Blue (Zizeeia knysna), Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli) and Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas).

Pond Skaters.

We reached the spot and spent a while searching up and down stream from the area where Steve and Lynn had seen it but we could not find the insect, the location did not look quite right for this species so guessing that it was a wandering male looking for a new territory but did not like this area and had moved on.

Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli).

Just lucky that it was seen there when it was about, I did see several other odds and ends including Green (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) and Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Sage Skipper (Muschampia proto), Striped Grayling (Pseudotergumia fidia), Spanish Brown Argus (Aricia cramera) and Small White (Pieris rapae).

Sage Skipper (Muschampia proto).

On the way back to the car I saw Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula).

Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos).

Once back at the car we drove the short distance to the banks of the Arroyo Blanquilla where we spent a while searching up and down stream, new dragons included 2x Common Winter Damselfly (Sympecma fusca), Small Pincertail (Onychogomphus forcipatus), Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator), Copper Demoiselle (Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis) as well as more Orange-winged Dropwing , Keeled  and Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma).

African Grass Blue (Zizeeia knysna).

Over head we had a Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), in the reeds Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and a nice Southern Water Vole (Rata topera / Arvicola sapidus) which Steve managed to get some nice shots of.

Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma).

Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus).

Guadalhorce, Malaga Province.

A Spanish Lifer on the Malaga Coast.

Banded Groundling (Brachythemis impartita) Male.

Jayne, Lynn, Steve and Myself set off heading for Malaga (Plaza Maor and Ikea) where we dropped the girls, whilst Steve and headed just up the road to the pools at the mouth of the Guadalhorce.

The main target was the Pacific Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Siberiano / Pluvialis fulva) which had been hanging around for a while, during the walk out from the church parking area we saw several Banded Groundling (Brachythemis impartita) dragonflies which are always a good find along with Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa), Hummingbird Hawkmoth (Macroglossum stellatarum), Carpentor Bee (Xylocopa violacea), Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli) and Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus).

Banded Groundling (Brachythemis impartita) Female.

The most recent info came from E-bird which said it had been seen on the 15th on the main pool but when we got there we cold only find two Grey Plover (Chorlito Gris / Pluviali squatarola) and after talking to some more birders who had already visited the wader scrape hide and had not seen it I was not very confident about seeing the Plover.

Pacific Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Siberiano / Pluvialis fulva).

Anyway we continued to scan the main lake and found a nice selection for the time of the year which included Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Kentish (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus) and Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica).

Pacific Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Siberiano / Pluvialis fulva).

We left the main hide and walked around to the next hide where we spent some time photographing a couple of Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and saw Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus).

Pacific Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Siberiano / Pluvialis fulva).

Further around at the next hide we missed the 4 reported Ferruginous Ducks (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca) and found nothing new so continued on to the Wader scrape hide and found Little Ringed, Kentish and Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Black-winged Stilt, Dunlin and Greenshank. But not sign of the Plover so we decided to go and check the Rio just in case it had moved there, again there was no Plover but we did add Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres).

Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea).

Our next stop was down at the beach where one of the cyclists had left a nice puddle where he decided to pee in the seating area of the sea watch point, many thanks. Whilst dodging the wet patches we saw a couple of Sandwich Terns (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis) out to sea and a Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) on the beach.

We retraced our way back along the track but having totally given up on the Plover I did not even check the Rio but thought I would have a quick look at the wader pool as we walked passed and was very happy that we did as the first bird in the bins was the Pacific Golden Plover or I was fairly confident it was and once in the scope it was quickly confirmed. When we found it it was right at the back of the pool but the longer we watched it the closer it came and it gave us really nice views in the end. From this hide and during the walk back to the car we added Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca) and a Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata).

Mediterranean skipper (Gegenes nostrodamus).

We went into Plaza Mayor and picked up Jayne and Lynn before going to a spot near to the Campo de Golf Channel to eat our lunch in the shade of one of the trees, once we had finished Steve and I had a quick look in the Channel but it was quiet and we only found Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea), Mediterranean skipper (Gegenes nostrodamus) and Small White (Pieris rapae) before returning to the car and then driving home.

Arroyo Naravieja, near Algarinejo and Arroyo Vilano, Granada Province.

A walk along the Arroyo Naravieja with Jayne, Lynn and Steve and later looking for Dragons with Steve in the Arroyo Vilano.

Small White (Pieris rapae).

We drove across country to Algarinejo and the on to the start of the walk back to the town a few KMs on. The walk was busy as it was still the Spanish summer holidays and there were a good number out enjoying the pools along the river. 

We walked down to a bar just on the edge of the town near some old mill ruins and sat there for a while enjoying a drink or three and some really good tapas before walking back up stream to the car.

Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus).

During the walk the Dragonflies we had seen before were notable by their absence and we only managed to see single males of Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator) and Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens). 

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

We did a little better with the butterflies and recorded good numbers of Holly Blues (Celastrina argiolus) on a patch of river side Horse Mint (Mentha longifolia) along with Small White (Pieris rapae), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Spanish Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli), Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) and Bath White (Pontia daplidice).

Southern Knapweed (Centaurea pullata ssp pullata).

We also had Geranium Bronze (Cacyreus marshalli), Large White (Pieris brassicae), Sage Skipper (Muschampia proto), Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus), Striped Grayling (Pseudotergumia fidia), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Southern Gatekeeper (Pyronia cecilia) and Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina). We also had Southern Knapweed (Centaurea pullata ssp pullata), Pitch Trefoil (Psoralea bituminosa) and Small Fleabane (Pulicaria vulgaris).

White Featherleg (Platycnemis latipes).

Birds seen during the walk included House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Turtle (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur) and Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala).

Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi).

We returned to the car and drove back a short way home and stopped for our picnic lunch before returning to the house where we dropped Jayne and Lynn off. Steve and I headed just down the road and had a walk along the Arroyo Vilano for a KM or so looking for Dragonflies. 

We did better here but numbers were still lower than normal even though the site looked much better than it had done for a few years. 

We recorded Epaulet (Orthetrum chrysostigma) and Keeled Skimmer, Blue / Common Emperor, Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi), Small Pincertail (Onychogomphus forcipatus), White Featherleg (Platycnemis latipes) and Iberian Blue-tail (Ischnura graellsii).

Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens).

We also saw a Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) and Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) before we headed back to the house and then had a nice evening on the terrace.

Moraleda Fields, La Malaha Fields and the Cacín Valley.

A day out on the patch with Ian from Antequera, Malaga Province.

Two male and a female Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis).

I met Ian up at the Hotel Cortijo de Tajar by the A92 and we headed out to the agricultural areas near Moraleda, starting off in amongst the Almond and Olive groves where we started the list with Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and then in amongst a grove of Almonds two male and a female Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis) which showed well whilst walking along between one of the rows of trees. 

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) immature.

We moved up on to the main fields and scanned the stubble for Little bustard but they were in hiding here and everywhere else we looked for them, however we did see 3x Calandra Larks (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), as well as both Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Barn (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and an immature Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator).

We returned to the tarmac and then checked out the old Almonds along the roadside nearby to see if any of the regular Little Owls (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) were sat out waiting to be photographed. As we drove slowly along avoiding the pot holes we found two birds, a juvenile and an adult both of which showed well and pretty much ignored us.

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

We continued on again looking for more species out on the fields near to the Chimineas end of the La Malaha fields area, where we again connected with some more Black-bellied Sandgrouse as well as a female Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) and a Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus). we also saw a few butterflies including Swallowtail (Papilio machaon), Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli), Small (Pieris rapae) and Bath White (Pontia daplidice) and several Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus).

Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi).

We moved off the fields and out onto the area between Ventas de Huélma and Cacín where we parked and scanned the quite quiet skys, after some time we finally found a distant immature Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos), a Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans) and an even more distant Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus).

Small Red-eye (Erythromma viridulum).

We dropped down into the Cací valley and stopped by the river where we had a short walk, we heard and saw Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and a Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) which was soaring over the nearby poplar plantation.

Further up the valley we found several European Bee-eaters (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) sat on the wires before we reached the Embalse where we boosted the list with Egyptian Goose (Ganso del Nilo / Alopochen aegyptiaca), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) and cat calling Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus) which was heard almost continually whilst we were there, as were the many Perez's Frogs (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi).

Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum).

Just down the road we called in at a couple of spots along the banks of the Rio Cacín, one in the broad-leaved section and one in the pines. Between the two spots we added Pied (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca) and Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Crested (Herrerillo Capuchino / Lophophanes cristatus), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and Great Tits (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) as well as Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina), Spanish Brown Argus (Aricia cramera) and Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii).

Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria).

We briefly stopped at the crags below Moraleda but saw nothing new so we continued on to Balsa de Rigedor, (RANT !!!!) where I was appalled by the amount of rubbish that is being dumped there since the pool has been used by fishermen, why is whenever a spot is used for recreation purposes it is almost always turned into a dumping ground for the lazy prats that can not be bothered to take their rubbish to a bin or home with them. I am not sure whether it is because these people are just dumb, stupid, uneducated or lazy, which ever it is it is just unacceptable (RANT OVER).

Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria).

Any way even with all the rubbish on the banks we managed to find quite a few Dragonfly species including Iberian Blue-tail (Ischnura graellsii), Small Red-eye (Erythromma viridulum), White Featherleg (Platycnemis latipes), Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum), Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator), Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope), Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi), Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata) and Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria).

New birds were few but we saw a single Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) and Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) before we returned to the hotel and Ian headed back towards Antequera and I went home.

Sierra Huétor and Alfacar, Granada Province.

The last day with Bent looking for Dragonflies.

Female Broad-bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa).

I again met Bent in Granada and we headed out to the North and into the Sierra de Huétor and on to one of the fast flowing rivers in the area. 

After parking we checked a couple of meadows on the opposite side of the road where we were looking for insects but as it was quite early we only had a quick view of a passing Common Golden Ringed Dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltonii), several Tree Graylings (Hipparchia statilinus), Spanish Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina), Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Spanish Marbled White (Melanargia ines), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) and Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus). 

Common Golden Ringed Dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltonii).

On the bird front we saw pale and dark phase Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus), a single pasing Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Dipper (Mirlo Acuático / Cinclus cinclus), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica).

Beautiful Demoiselles (Calopteryx virgo).

We crossed back over the road and started to walk along the river checking along the margins and in the surrounding Hawthorn Scrub where we soon found the first of many Beautiful Demoiselles (Calopteryx virgo) as well as more Common Golden Rings, a rather elderly female Broad-bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa), Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum), Copper Demoiselle (Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis) and Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator).

Knapweed Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe).

We also recorded more butterfly species including Knapweed (Melitaea phoebe), Cardinal (Argynnis pandora) and High Brown Fritillary (Fabriciana adippe), Large White (Pieris brassicae), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina), Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli), Striped Grayling (Pseudotergumia fidia), Southern Gatekeeper (Pyronia cecilia), Sage Skipper (Muschampia proto), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) and Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera). 

Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea).

Birds seen and heard included Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), a Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) which was singing but remained unseen, Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus).

Mother of Pearl (Plebicula nivescens).

We made our way back to the car and then had some lunch a little way down the motorway before going back into the Sierra above Alfacar and parking by the Botanical Gardens and walking a couple of trails. 

During these walks we picked up Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Goshawk (Azor Común / Accipitor gentillis), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta), Rock Grayling (Hipparchia alcyone), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) and Mother of Pearl (Plebicula nivescens). 

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

We dropped back down the Sierra a short way and made a short stop adding just Oriental Meadow Brown (Hyponephele lupinnus), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura) before heading back to the city where I said goodbye to Bent until next time and headed back home.

Laguna Chica, Salinas, Laguna Grande, Laguna Chica again, Malaga Province and Balsa de Rigedor, Granada Province.

A day looking for Dragonflies with Bent from Denmark.

Common Golden Ringed Dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltonii subsp algirica).

I met Bent at the hotel in Granada and we drove to the furthest point for the day whilst it was still cool and arrived at Laguna Grande, just over the in Malaga just after 10:00. 

We parked and started to walk down to the surprisingly low pool, after the wettish winter I had expected to find more water, Anyway we saw a few insects including Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathinerum), Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Sage Skipper (Muschampia proto), Small White (Pieris rapae), Spanish Brown Argus (Aricia cramera) and Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina). 

On the water there were good numbers of Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus).

All the time we were there we were aware of the number of Hunters shooting in the surrounding scrub and as we did not want to bump into any of the Macho Men out with there shot guns blasting highly dangerous fluffy rabbits to bits to prove their manliness we left the area to return later once they had gone to the bar to tell their friends about their bravery against the savage fluffy bunnies😠😠😠.
We decided to head for some small areas of water near Salinas, on the way we checked an area of irrigation channel finding two extremely active Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi) which spent the whole time we were there in aerial combat over the water and a single Mediterranean Bluet (Coenagrion caerulescens) which was bobbing slowly around amongst the Small Fleabane (Pulicaria vulgaris) flowers.

Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata).

Once were were at the spot near Salinas we checked a small pool which was very quiet except for a single Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), White Featherleg (Platycnemis latipes), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Barn (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Common (Urraca / Pica pica) and Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).
We drove around to the far side of this spot and parked by a surprisingly dried out pool on the track side, there was a small amount of water in the roadside corner but we only found another Red-veined Darter here.
We walked back along the track to the small stream which crossed the track and quickly found a couple of very smart male Southern Skimmers (Orthetrum brunneum), a couple of male Keeled Skimmers (Orthetrum coerulescens), 1x male Mercury Bluet (Coenagrion mercuriale), as well as Spanish Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli) and Swallowtail (Papilio machaon), Sage Skipper, Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Southern Gatekeeper (Pyronia cecilia), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina), Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Bath White (Pontia daplidice) and Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi).
On our way up to the Laguna Grande we stopped on the Arroyo de La Viñuela where Bent had a lifer when we saw a Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) sat up on the tops of some reeds. We also recorded Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Hoopoe, Keeled and Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma).
We drove up the track to Laguna Grande only to find the Bunny blasters had moved across to this area but we parked and walked down to the lake anyway, on the water we again saw Mallard, Eurasian Coot, Common Moorhen, Little Grebe and added Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina) and Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus). In the woods and around the margins European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) were seen.
Over the water and on the twigs in the water we saw several new species of Dragon including Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria), Small Red-eyed (Erythromma viridulum), Scarlet (Crocothemis erythraea) and Red-veined Darter, Orange-winged Dropwing, Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope), Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator),  Black Pennant (Selysiothemis nigra) and Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum).
As we were leaving the site we came across another one of Bents target species, a fine male Common Golden Ringed Dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltonii) which showed well on a track side root.
We moved on and went back around to Laguna Chica which was gun free by this time so we parked by the old ruin and searched the areas around the walls and soon found a couple of Common Winter Damselfly (Sympecma fusca) which were also new for Bent. In this area we also saw several Common Blue Damselflies (Enallagma cyathinerum) and a few Dainty Damselflies (Coenagrion scitulum).

Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator).

After a lunch stop in Salinas we headed for the last stop of the day at Balsa de Rigedor just off the A92 were we saw several stunning male Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata) which was Bents dragon of the trip. We also had Orange-winged Dropwing, Blue / Common Emperor female, Black-tailed Skimmer, Red-veined Darter, Small Red-eyed, Long Skimmer, White Featherleg and Scarlet Darter. We also had a calling Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Common Pochard, Mallard, Little Grebe, Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) before heading back towards Granada and then home.