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Friday, 14 September 2018

Padul Wetlands, Granada Province.

A damp and gloomy walk and drive around Padul but it was not just the weather.

Again all the hides were either boarded up or totally clogged up with vegetation and the smelly canal smelt worse than usual and still had copious amounts of plastic bottles and other rubbish.
Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus).
OK on the down side it was not great to see this but on the up side there quite a few birds around including masses of Reed Warblers (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), as well as Cetti's (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), a single Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild). Also had Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) and Large White (Pieris brassicae).
Female Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra).
It started to spit with rain so I returned to the car and had a slow drive around the loop seeing Yellow Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), 2x Sedge Warbler (Carricerin Común / Acrocephalus schoenobaenus), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and a female Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra).

Thursday, 13 September 2018

Huetor Fields and Sierra de Loja, Granada Province.

A return to the fields and back to the Sierra after a long break.

Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).
We started off the day with a walk along one of the trails out from the town where we started the day list with Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), House (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Tree Sparrows (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus) all sat on a chainlink fence with a female Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra) in the Corn behind them.
Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).
As we walked along we soon added Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and out on the fields to our left we had a good number of Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus).
First train through Huetor in a while.
Further on we had several flights of Woodpigeons (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) which dropped down onto the same fields as the Stone Curlews, Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Yellow Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), a calling Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and 21 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) which merged in on fields.
Spectacled Warbler (Curruca Tomillera / Sylvia conspicillata).
At the furthest point of the track we had a flighty Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and in a distant tree an immature Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator) and a male Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala).
Spectacled Warbler (Curruca Tomillera / Sylvia conspicillata).
We turned around and retraced our way back towards the car but kept adding species all the way including Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Short-toed (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Calandra Lark (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) and good numbers of European Bee-eaters (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) which were passing over high.
Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).
Our next stop was out on the Eastern side of the area where we walked along a reed filled ditch and a fallow field which was full of reeds as well, we added Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica) and Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) and nearby on a more open stretch of the Arroyo Vilano a Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa) and a flyby Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis).
Black-eared Wheatear (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica).
We turned around and crossed the site again heading for Loja but made a stop picking up Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and a Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus) on the way.
Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae).
we accessed Sierra de Loja via the Salar track and crossed through to Loja adding quite a few new species for the day and trip list including Black-eared (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica), Black (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura) and Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Spectacled Warbler (Curruca Tomillera / Sylvia conspicillata), Iberian / Southern Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Mistle (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), a single Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus), Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus viridis), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and just as we started to drop down along the crags a huge shape flew up off some rocks to our left and soared up above us, this Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) gave Ron the chase he had missed on the first day.
Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) in a moody sky towards the end of the day.
We dropped down to the pine woods and stopped for one final time and added quite a few nice woodland species to the list including Crested (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Coal Tit (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata). 
Also seen during the drive across the mountain we also saw Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus), Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous), Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus), lots of Cardinal Fritillary (Argynnis pandora), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) and Oriental Meadow Brown (Hyponephele lupinnus).
Thanks to Bona and Ron for three very enjoyable days in their company and I hope you enjoyed the 117 species as much as I did. 

Wednesday, 12 September 2018

Near Archidona, Fuente de Piedra, Laguna Dulce, Teba, Vulture feeding station and other Campillos Laguns, Malaga Province.

A day around the Malaga Lagoons, some with water some with less.

Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes).
Bona, Don and I headed out West and across into Malaga Province where our first stop was in a Valley near to Archidona, a place I always enjoy. 
We parked and started to walk along the main track but progress was slow as we kept finding new species for Ron to photograph which included Blue  (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia).
Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula).
In amongst the vegetation along the rio we heard Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and as we walked a little further on we saw the first of a few Hawfinches (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes) later we had a bird which showed well for us in the open. 
As we moved on we also caught up with Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), a drumming and calling Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Spotted (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata) and Pied Flycatchers (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca), Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes) and several Robins (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) which called and sang nicely. 
Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata).
As we got back towards the car we scanned the old quarry buildings and found a male Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura) on one of the electrical pylons, a good bird to get before we moved on towards Fuente de Piedra.
Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas).
Just after we got off the motorway we picked up a very smart pale phase Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas) which soared above us just on the edge of town, we continued on after getting some flight shots and parked just below the visitors center on the car park.
Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).
We moved around to the Mirador and scanned the almost empty lake seeing a few Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) and out on the dry part of the lake there was a large flock of Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus). 
In the same area we also saw a good number of Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) out on the mud and in the bushes and general area we added Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Western Orphean Warbler (Curruca Mirlano / Sylvia hortensis), several Rabbits (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus), Carpentor Bee (Xylocopa violacea), Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Small White (Pieris rapae) and Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus).
Red Fox (Zorro / Vulpus vulpus).
We moved around to the hide over looking the back pool where we saw quite a few new species including Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Common (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Green (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), a single Wood Sandpiper (Andarrios Bastardo / Tringa glareola) and 2x Curlew Sandpipers (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea), Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta), Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina) x1, Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala) x4, Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and a very nice Red Fox (Zorro / Vulpus vulpus) which came out of the reeds on the far side of the pool.
Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis).
We walked back to the car and had our lunch, whilst we were stood there a smart looking immature male Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus) and at least two Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis) came into a bush nearby and posed nicely for the camera.
Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis).
We drove across country to Laguna Dulce we saw 3x Ravens (Cuervo / Corvus corax) feeding way out on some fields but little else.
At the Laguna we found good numbers of Greater Flamingo's, masses of Eurasian Coots,  Several waders including  Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Wood Sandpiper and many of the species seen earlier.
Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus).
We next visited the crags near to Teba seeing good numbers of Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) and several calling Red-billed Choughs (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) before going to a nearby Vulture feeding station seeing a couple of Griffons there along with our first Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae).
Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).
From here we did a loop back to Campillos stopping at a Pine woodland on the way where we had good views of several Pied and Spotted Flycatchers, a cracking male Common Wheatear, Short-toed Treecreeper and Common Crossbills (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra). 
Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).
Our last stop of the day was at Laguna Catacete, again seeing more Greater Flamingo's, White-headed Duck, Common Pochard, Avocet, Black-winged Stilt, Ringed PloverRuff, Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Red Knot ( Correlimos Gordo / Calidris canutus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and 3x Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis). From here we headed back to the house.
Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).


Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).











Tuesday, 11 September 2018

Huétor Fields, Cacín Valley and La Malaha, Granada Province.

Enjoying a day showing Bona and Ron from Canada my local patch.
Day one.

Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).
Bona, Ron and I headed out on to the fields to the North of Huétor Tajar where we started off the trip list along the Arroyo Vilano where we saw Iberian  Magpies (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) bathing in the shallow water, Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala). 
Corn Buntings (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).
We crossed over to the Eastern side of the site and again followed the Arroyo down to the railway bridge adding Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), a female Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), several Corn Buntings (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) which sat up nicely on the dry flower heads of the many Milk Thistles (Silybum marianum) and a new species for the site a Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus) which flew away from us along the Arroyo and in to the distance. 
False Mallow / Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus tripolina / alceae).
Further along the track the first of what was going to be the commonest species of the tour was seen, a female Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) which was quickly followed by a smart male. 
Black-eared Wheatear (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica).
In a near by willow tree we had more Iberian Magpies as well as a passing Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), a flock of high flying European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) which passed over head unseen but heard well, a Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), an immature Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild) and as we got out of the car to check the rush fields a flash of blue came passed in the shape of a Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis).
Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur).
We had a walk through the juncus fields having good views of a Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), heard both Dartford (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata) and Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) and once up on the side of the Rio we saw a Melodious Warbler (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta) in weeds on the far bank along with Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), heard Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and saw a False Mallow / Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus tripolina / alceae).
Little Owls (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).
We left the area and headed out over the A92 to Moraleda where we went out on to the fields nearby bt things were geerally quiet but we did add Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Rock Pigeon (Paloma Bravia / Columba livia), Black-eared Wheatear (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica), several flighty Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), a couple of Little Owls (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) and a soaring Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus).
Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos).
On our way towards La Malaha we called in on the regular Little Owls in a row of Almond trees and found two adult birds perched in the shade.
Ocellated Lizard (Lacerta lepida).
Once we were out on the fields near La Malaha we picked up a distant Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) which landed on a large pylon, so we drove towards it and stopped on the track just as it flew off and right over our heads.
Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus).
We dropped back on to the lower fields and soon found good numbers of Northern Wheatears, a few migrating Tawny Pipits (Bisbita campestre / Anthus campestris), a couple of Calandra Larks (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) and as we dropped down to the road we added Ocellated Lizard (Lacerta lepida), Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli) and Bath White (Pontia daplidice).
Southern / Blue Hawker (Aeshna cyanea).
Once down on the road we made a couple of stops by parking on the stubble fields, whilst there we were scanning the skies picking up Sand (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia) and House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) and on a Pylon another Short-toed Eagle.
Southern / Blue Hawker (Aeshna cyanea).
On our way out to the road to the Cacín Valley we picked up a pale phase Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus) and in an area of scrub on the road to Cacín we spent a while searching the brambles and bushes finding Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Garden Warbler (Curruca Mosquitera / Sylvia borin) and a very smart Southern / Blue Hawker (Aeshna cyanea) which sat nicely for the camera.
Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).
We dropped down into the Village of Cacín and then had a walk along the river seeing Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and a Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis) but Bona and Ron missed this I think.
Ferruginous Ducks (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca).
Further down the valley we stopped at the Embalse de Cacín and scanned throught the many wildfowl on the water and I was particullarly pleased to find 3 Ferruginous Ducks (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca) 2 male and 1 female, 150+  Mallards (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), 80+ Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), 10+ Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), 7 Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), 100+ Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and single Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus). In this area we also heard several crocking Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi) and  Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii).