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Saturday 26 January 2019

Playa Guadalmar, Malaga Province.

A productive hour on the beach.

As I drove down towards Torremolinos to pick Jayne up from her hotel I got a call from Andy Paterson to saw that 3x Velvet Scoters (Negrón Especulado / Melanitta fusca) were on the sea off Guadalmar urbanisation.
So once I had Jayne back with me (which was great as she had been missed whilst I was decorating at home) we headed to the beach were I was soon joined by Andy Paterson and we had a walk out along the beach where we had seen a distant flock of Scoters
We walked down to the far Churinghito and the scanned using Andy's scope and we soon picked out around 32 male and female Common Scoters (Negrón Común / Melanitta nigra) but none of the reported Velvets.
As Andy continued to scan the main group I scanned the rest of the sea picking up several Great Cormorants (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), 3x Black-necked Grebes (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) and then I picked up another three Scoters way around to the East of the other flock and these turned out to be our target Velvet Scoters, all of which looked like female or immature birds.
Once we had got the views we had wanted we walked back towards the car and Andy noticed that all the Gulls in front of us were up it the air and straight away he said there will be a Skua amongst them somewhere. Within seconds I had it and as it flew passed us and sat on the sea for a short period we Identified it as an immature Pomarine Skua (Págalo Pomarino / Stercorarius pomarinus).
In the same area we had Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Large White (Pieris brassicae), Clouded Yellow (Colias Común / Colias corcea) and Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria).

Wednesday 23 January 2019

Nerja, Malaga Province.

The Second Lifer for 2019.

Allen's Gallinule (Calamoncillo Africano / Porphyrio alleni).
I picked Jayne up from the hotel in Torremolinos  on the way round to Nerja and when we arrived we parked by the beach and walked back up the Rio Chillar to a spot where we could see a photographer down on the side of the river taking shots of the Allen's Gallinule (Calamoncillo Africano / Porphyrio alleni) which had been on site for a few days. It was a really nice bird to see and we spent the next few hours there except for a quick coffee up the road and left a short while after good friend Juan Pérez Contreras had got to have good views of the bird.
Other species seen included Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba). I also had a single Large White (Pieris brassicae) on the wing even though it was extreamly windy.







Tuesday 22 January 2019

Adamuz, Cordoba Province.

A second day with Agustin from Aspasín Hides.

Spanish Imperial Eagles (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti).
The 09:00 start of yesterday felt much better than this mornings 07:00 start but we needed to be in the hide for the Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti) before fist light.
Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti).
Once we were set up Agustin left us to it and just after dawn a mob of around 100 Iberian  Magpies (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) came in and raided the site for some of the scraps which had been put out.
Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti).
A short while after this first one adult then a second Imperial Eagle came in and landed in a tree on the edge of the clearing and over the next hour or so they sat there, did a few short flights through the trees and then ultimately disappeared with out coming into the rocks and branches that had been baited.
Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).
Other than the stunning Eagles we had Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus viridis), Woodlark (Totovia / Lullula arborea), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus). We also saw a small number of Red Deer (Ciervo común / Cervus elaphus) wander through the undergrowth.
Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).
Agustin collected us at 12:30 and then three of the four of us were set up in the Lynx tent hides but we were again unlucky and all I added Mistle (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Long-tailed Tits (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus) and Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica).
Woodlark (Totovia / Lullula arborea).
Agustin picked us up just before 19:00 and as we walked back to the car we had distant views of a calling Eagle Owl (Buho Real / Bubo bubo) in a tree top.
Woodlark (Totovia / Lullula arborea).
We then headed back to town where I collected the car and drove back home through the rain.

Red Deer (Ciervo común / Cervus elaphus).

Monday 21 January 2019

Adamuz, Cordoba Province.

An amazing day with Agustin from Aspasín Hides.

Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila-azor Perdicera / Hieraaetus faciatus) the Male.
I met    at 09:00 in Adamuz and along with 3 other Spanish Guys and we were taken out to a spot out in the countryside not too far away where we set our selves up and settled down to photograph a pair of Bonelli's Eagles (Aguila-azor Perdicera / Hieraaetus faciatus) and we did not have to wait long before the Male dropped in. 
Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila-azor Perdicera / Hieraaetus faciatus) the Male.
He was later followed by the stunning female, both birds stayed for about 30mins before they flew off.
Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila-azor Perdicera / Hieraaetus faciatus) the big female.
In the same area we had Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus viridis), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia) and Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus).
Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila-azor Perdicera / Hieraaetus faciatus) the female again.
Later in the day two of us went to another hide where we had mazing views of a pair of Golden Eagles (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) and whilst we were there we also had Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) and Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).
Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila-azor Perdicera / Hieraaetus faciatus) the female.
Agustin picked up from the hide at 17:30 and on the drive back to Adamuz we had several Red Deer (Ciervo común / Cervus elaphus). 
Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).
Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).
Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius).
Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula).
Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius) and Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).
Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) female.
Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) female.
Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) male.
Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) male.

Sunday 20 January 2019

Guadalahorce, Malaga Province and travelling to Adamuz, Cordoba Province.

A mixed day to say the least.

Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo).
The day started with bad news when I got a Phone call from friend Jim in the UK to say the Kate and he would not be travelling out for a trip we had planned as Kate had been taken ill at the last moment. We had planned to be away for a while so we had booked Jayne a hotel down on the coast and as it was such short notice we could not cancel it with out loosing the money any way we decided that Jayne may as well go anyway. Part of the trip we had planned was to spend several days with Agustin from Aspasín Hides up in Cordoba Province, So when Kate and Jim rang I rang Agustin and told him the situation, he said why don't you come up anyway and we can go and visit some of the planned hides anyway, so I decided that this was a good idea and after having some lunch with Jayne I started to make my way there.
Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia).
On the way I called in at Guadalhorce at the beach end and picked up a few species there including Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus),  Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and Monk Parakeets (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus).
Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia).
Whilst standing on the beach I noticed that the river had silted up and I was able to walk on to the reserve and visit the main hide so I did and boosted the list whilst sat there with Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Northern Pintail (Ánade Rabudo / Anas acuta) 1x male and 2x female, Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Spotless (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus),
Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia).
Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) x2, Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Little (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and Black-necked Grebes (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax).
Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus).
I then drove north to Adamuz where I met Agustin, on the way I had Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) and Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra). Later in the evening I meet up with Agustin again and a couple of other guys and had something to eat before turning in.

Northern Pintail (Ánade Rabudo / Anas acuta) female.
Northern Pintail (Ánade Rabudo / Anas acuta) male on left and 2 females to right.
Shelducks (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna).
Shelducks (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna).
Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris).
Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus).
Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos).