Travelling back to Huétor via La Janda, Soto Grande and Zapata.

A travelling day with some frustrating Dragons on the way.

Kate and Jim Day Five.

Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius).

We set off from the El Paso for the final time saying goodbye to Sandra and her family before headed across to the Benalup track again but we did not see the Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) we had hoped for but there was a Tree Pipit (Bisbita Arbóreo / Anthus trivialis) in the reeds when we arrived but flew off calling after a couple of minutes. 

In the same area we saw White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Little (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) and Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) and just as we were leaving I had very brief views of a small bird flying just above the rice and dropped back in again, my first impression was a Crake but not one I could put a name to but it was defiantly brown and streaky.

We moved on and drove south to Soto Grande where we had a short walk along a track out to the beach, on the way we had a male Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria), African Grass Blue (Zizeeia knysna), Geranium Bronze (Cacyreus marshalli), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Small White (Pieris rapae), Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala).

Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope).

We motored along the coastal toll roads missing the worst of the Costa and had some lunch before we spent the rest of the afternoon at Zapata try to get some shots of the flighty Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope) which were not helpful. I was lucky but Kate and Jim were not. We did see Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea), Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator), Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma), Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata) and a later than expected male Ringed Cascader (Zygonyx torridus).

Bird wise we can up with Green (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) and Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Little Egret, Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) and Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata).

La Janda, Laguna Medina and Bonaza Salt Pans, Cadiz Province.

A morning in La Janda and heading north in the afternoon.

Kate and Jim Day Four.

Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus).

Whilst I was waiting outside the hotel for Kate and Jim I saw several species including Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia) x3 flying over heading to La Janda, Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) and a couple of Lesser Kestrels (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni) up over the town.

Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus) and a single Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia).

The three of us headed back to Benalup picking up a Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus) on the way and once we reached La Janda we headed out on the track were we started on yesterday and almost straight away I picked up a Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) in a distant tree but it soon dropped out of sight before I had the chance to get the scope on it. 

Pheasant (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus).

In the are we also saw Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), a hunting Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus) which was hoovering above the fields and Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

On a wet field just a bit further along we had several Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) and Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus).

My first view of the Red-necked Nightjar (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis) taken with the 90mm macro.

Further up the track we scanned the pool at the roadside again where we again had good numbers of Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus), a single Spoonbill, Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).

Red-necked Nightjars (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis) from the other side of the bush taken with the 400mm.

We drove up through the Olive fields seeing Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) and Pheasant (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus).

We again stopped and spent yet another hour and a half looking for the Red-necked Nightjars (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis) but again failed to find any in the usual area so we again started to photograph the Violet Dropwings (Trithemis annulata), I moved along the track up hill looking for a larger dragonfly which had come in and then whilst photographing move Dropwings I caught a glimpse of a white shape in the corner of my eye which turned out to be on the head of a roosting Red-necked Nightjar which was only a couple of meters away. I backed off and fetched Kate and Jim up with their camera's and from the opposite side of the bush and at a decent distance (more than the two meters I was originally) we got some super photos and showed another couple when they came looking. We left the bird asleep with the other couple watching it through their scope and dropped down towards the main canal across the fields.

Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa).

We came across some of the Lesser Kestrels in the same place as we did yesterday and up at the junction just over the canal Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa), four Egyptian Mongoose (Meloncillo / Herpestes ichneumon) which crossed the track, another Black-winged Kite and both dark and pale morph Booted Eagles (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas).

Dark morph Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas).

We turned around again and retraced our tracks back to the far road again as it was still very wind on the canal side of the site. We made another stop in the area where it had been protected yesterday and got some more photographs of the Zeller's Skipper (Borbo borbonica) as well as several of these we also saw Long-tailed (Lampides boeticus) and Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina).

Zeller's Skipper (Borbo borbonica).

We left La Janda and drove north to Laguna Medina but Kate found it too hot there so Jim and I had just a quick look towards the closest hide but only saw Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Black-winged Stilt, Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Little (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus) and Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea).

Slender-billed Gull (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei).

Further North we visited the Saltpans at Bonanza where the main drive through  was almost birdless except for a few Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Slender-billed (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus).

Out at the furthest pump station there were a few more birds but all were quite distant, these included Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa), Curlew Sandpiper (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Grey Plover (Chorlito Gris / Pluviali squatarola), Kentish (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus) and Ringed Plover, Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Red Knot ( Correlimos Gordo / Calidris canutus), Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Red Kite, Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus), Short-toed Eagle, Lesser Short-toed (Terrera Marismena / Calandrella rufescens) and Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Great (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba), Little and Western Cattle Egret, Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) and Grey Heron.

Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus).

We drove back down to El Paso and later out to Barbate for a meal. I again left my windows open and this time during the night I heard Little (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Tawny (Cárabo Común / Strix aluco) and Eagle Owl (Buho Real / Bubo bubo) x2.

Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

La Janda, Cadiz Province.

Heading down to La Janda Rice Fields for some birding.

Kate and Jim Day Three.

Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus).

Kate, Jim and I headed off along the Motorways down to La Janda where we were targeting the rare Zeller's Skipper (Borbo borbonica) which I had seen in the area. 

On the way down we recorded Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) female.

We drove in from the Benalup end of the site and parked after a few hundred meters, we eventually managed to get out of the car as the wind was so strong it made even opening the door hard going. 

In this area we had Western Cattle (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia) and further along the track near the turning toward the main canal we had a good group of Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus) along with a few Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus) mixed in with them.

Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata) male.

We drove across the Olive fields adding Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and near the farm on the hill we saw Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Pheasant (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata), Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma), Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) and Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum).

Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata) female.

Out on the far side of this track out in the field we found several Lesser Kestrels (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni) which were hunting over a recently ploughed field and a couple of Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) drifted across in the back ground.

Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma) teneral male.

Down by the main canal we picked up a single Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), the first of a few Marsh Harriers (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Red-rumped (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia), an immature Night Heron (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax) which was on some twigs in the center of the canal holding ofn for dear life in the wind, Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos).

Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) teneral male.

We had some Lunch and then headed back across the site but we entered from the Northern end of the main canal where I found the first Zeller's Skippers on some of the track side Sticky Fleabane (Dittrichia viscosa) plants but they were impossible to photograph because the wind was just savage.

Red-legged Partridges (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa) and Pheasants (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus) being feed for the hunters 😟😟😟

As we drove back along the tracks over to the Benalup side of the area again stopping near the farm checking under the trees again for the roosting Red-necked Nightjar (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis) but we failed to find one but found a Little Egret had joined the Glossy Ibis on the pool we had looked at earlier.

White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia) feeding in the rice fields.

Out on the far side we did find an area of Sticky Fleabane plants that were a little more sheltered and managed to get some shots of the target Zeller's Skippers as well as seeing Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina) and Swallowtail (Papilio machaon).

Immature Night Heron (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax).

As we drove back along the track to Benalup we had a small flock of Black Kites (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans) pass over the road, several Yellow Wagtails (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) which flew over on their way to roost, a scolding Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and a Migratory Bird Locust (Acanthacris ruficornis).

Glossy Ibis and a Little Egret.

We stayed near Vejer de la Frontera at the very nice El Paso hotel where Sandra and her family made us very welcome. I left the window open on the room hoping to hear some of the Owl species I have heard call there in the past.

White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia) infront of Benalup.

Zeller's Skipper (Borbo borbonica).

Migratory Bird Locust (Acanthacris ruficornis).

Laguna Dulce, Laguna Catacete, Vulture feeding point, Rio Guadalhorce and Zapata.

Out to the west and into Malaga Province for the day.

Day Two.

7 Black Storks (Ciguena Negra / Ciconia nigra).

I again picked Kate and Jim up before we headed out to the west and made our first stop at Laguna Dulce where I was surprised how much the water had dropped since my last visit. Straight away I was pleased to see a group of 7 Black Storks (Ciguena Negra / Ciconia nigra) out in the middle of the lake amongst the numerous Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) and Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus).

Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

There was also a group of around 30 Avocets (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta) roosting with heads under wings but closer to the hide and feeding hard were several Common Redshanks (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), a Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba) and Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus).

Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

Other species included Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata) and Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina).

Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

Our next stop was at Laguna Catacete where there was still a good amount of water but the same species as at Laguna Dulce so we continued on to the nearby Vulture feeding station where we had good views of several Griffons (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) in flight but none were down on the carcases. 

Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos).

In the same area we also had Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) before heading south to a short stretch of the Rio Guadalhorce where we looked for some dragonflies but we did not stay long as Kate found the heat rather hard going. 

Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

Before we moved on we did however record Violet (Trithemis annulata) and Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi), Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma), Blue / Common (Anax imperator) and Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope), Copper Demoiselle (Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis), Blue-eye (Erythromma lindenii), Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), False Mallow / Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus tripolina / alceae) and several Common Waxbills (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild).

Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

Our last stop of the day was down near Malaga at Zapata where we crossed the ford and parked seeing Western Cattle (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Squacco (Garcilla Cangrejera / Ardeola ralloides) and Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and more Violet (Trithemis annulata) and Orange-winged Dropwing, Blue / Common and Lesser Emperor.

Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma) mating pair.

Huétor Fields, Balsa de Rigedor and Moraleda Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

Out and about locally with Kate and Jim from the UK.

Day One.

 

Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).

I met Kate and Jim (who where here to photograph wildlife) up at the Cortijo de Tajar near the A92 and we headed out on to the fields to the North of Huétor.

Rosy Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus onopordi).

We started off along the irrigation ditches on the Mesia side of the site seeing House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) along with Bath White (Pontia daplidice) and Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus).

Egyptian Grasshopper (Anacridium aegyptium).

Along the Arroyo Vilano we added Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Yellow (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).

Western Willow Spreadwing (Lestres viridis).

In the Juncus patch we found Egyptian Grasshopper (Anacridium aegyptium), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica).

Little Owls (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

On the Small (Pulicaria vulgaris) and Sticky Fleabane (Dittrichia viscosa) plants we had Small White (Pieris rapae), False Mallow / Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus tripolina / alceae) and Rosy Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus onopordi) which was kindly Identified by Ed MacKrill later.

Sage Skipper (Muschampia proto).

We passed through Huétor again and made our way to Balsa de Rigedor, a small lake on the side of the A92 where we were looking for Dragonflies, we soon found quite a nice selection including Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria) x3♂, Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope) x5♂, Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator) x2♂ 2♀, Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum) x4♂, Desert Darter (Sympetrum sinaiticum) x1♂, Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) x10♂ 8♀, Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata) x20+♂ 6♀, Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi) x3♂, Western Willow Spreadwing (Lestres viridis) x1♂, White Featherleg (Platycnemis latipes) x3 and Iberian Blue-tail (Ischnura graellsii) x8♂.

False Mallow / Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus tripolina / alceae).

We also saw Cardinal Fritillary (Argynnis pandora), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Swallowtail (Papilio machaon), Hummingbird Hawkmoth (Macroglossum stellatarum), Carpentor Bee (Xylocopa violacea), Ornate Shieldbug (Eurydema ornata), Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Rock Pigeon (Paloma Bravia / Columba livia), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus).

Oberthür's grizzled skipper (Pyrgus armoricanus).

We crossed the A92 and headed out towards the fields near to Moraleda but called in on the Little Owls (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) on the way seeing just a single bird who sat nicely for us and was a tad too close for Kate and Jim's Kit.

Oberthür's grizzled skipper (Pyrgus armoricanus).

On our wa back to the fields we made a roadside stop by some patches of the Sticky Fleabane where we saw several more Bath Whites and False Mallow / Mallow Skippers as well as Sage Skipper (Muschampia proto), Large White (Pieris brassicae), Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina) and a Oberthür's grizzled skipper (Pyrgus armoricanus).

Large White (Pieris brassicae).

Once we were out on the fields we quickly located a pair of Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis) in some Almonds but as we approached they walked out into a roughly ploughed field and even though they were still quite close we lost the male behind a tussock but the female sat very nice by Sandgrouse standards and gave Kate and Jim chance of some nice shots.

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

Also seen in this area were Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus), Iberian Brown Hare (Liebre ibérica / Lepus granatensis), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli) and Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina).

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

On our way back towards the hotel we made a stop by a section of the Rio Cacín Irrigation Channel where it went under the road and where very surprised by the good selection of Dragons including a new species for Kate and Jim. The new species was a Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma) x2♂ 1♀ and to go with these we added Blue-eye (Erythromma lindenii) to the day list as well as several more Orange-winged x5♂ and Violet Dropwings (Trithemis annulata) x7♂.

BIRD WATCH SPAIN

Great opportunity for some brilliant birding.

Tristram's Warbler.

Good friend Pau Lucio who is the Tour Manager at Birdwatching Spain has contacted me to say he has had a cancellation on his Morocco: Atlas and Sahara Desert tour and now has three places available. 

Desert Sparrow.

If your interested in what should be a cracking tour get in touch with him via his website at http://birdwatchingspain.net/ or me via my contact details on this blog.

More info at:  http://birdwatchingspain.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Morocco-Birdwatching-Spain-2018.pdf

Greater Hoopoe Lark.

Moussier's Redstart.

Pharaoh Eagle Owl.

Thick-billed Lark.