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Saturday 9 February 2019

Charca Suarez, Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

Steve's last day spent down on the Granada Coast.

Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos).
Steve and I headed south via Granada to Charca Suarez, when we arrived we went straight to the hide over looking Laguna Blanco where we scanned the pool and the reed heaps and found Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), several Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), the regular White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), a pair of Great Tits (Carbonera Común / Parus major) which were picking the heads apart on the reedmace plants, Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and a female Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) which showed well in the reeds below the hide and in the bush beside it. 
White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).
In the sky and in the surrounding bushes we also had Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and a female type Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), a Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) which zipped in and out just as quickly, Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and a male Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus).
White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).
We walked around to some more of the hides seeing 4x Mediterranean Chameleons (Chamaeleo chamaeleon), Stripe-less Tree Frog (Hyla meridionalis), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Small White (Pieris rapae), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Clouded Yellow (Colias corcea), Bermuda Buttercup (Oxalis pes-caprae), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Red-knobbed Coot (Focha cornuda / Fulca cristata), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), 2x Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca) and some heard but not seen Penduline Tits (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus).
Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus).
The reserve closed at 13:00 so we headed back north stopping at a spot on the Rio Guadalfeo on the way where we had a single Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma) and Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea).
Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major).
Once at Granada we cut in across country and made some stops on our way to the Cacín Valley and the back towards the house, at a disused Cortijo we had a couple of newly arrived Lesser Kestrels (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula). 
Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica).
Across on the ridge just above the town of Cacín we had a very smart Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) and Thekla Larks (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and down in the valley at the Contra-embalse Common Pochard, Eurasian Teal, Eurasian Coot, Common Moorhen, Little Grebe and a pair of Northern Pintail (Ánade Rabudo / Anas acuta) which were a nice surprise. 
Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica).
In the same area there were White Wagtail, Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Common Stonechat, Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis).
Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).
Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).
Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).
Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).
Red-knobbed Coot (Focha cornuda / Fulca cristata).

Friday 8 February 2019

Huétor Fields, Granada Province.

Out on the patch with Steve Jones.

Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis).
After a visit Loja with Jayne during the morning and having a coffee and cake in Huétor we returned home to find Steve catching up with his notes from the last three days.
Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus).
Once he was sorted we had a run out on to the local patch and started on the track at the back of Venta Cuatro Caminos where we soon had both Meadow (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) and Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta) x1, Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), a Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) which was sat in one of the chimneys of a nearby Cortijo and off on the fields opposite a group of 21 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).
Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus).
We drove along the track to the Eastern end of the Arroyo where we sat between an area of reeds and scanned the reed bed opposite and soon picked up a nice male Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica), winter plumage male and female Reed Buntings (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus), a couple of Grey Wagtails (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), masses of Common Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) x3, Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), 3x Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) which cruised up and down for a while having a feed on the local bugs and a couple of Cetti's Warblers (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti).
House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus).
Slightly further on we had bathing Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus).
Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis).
At the far end of the track we sat for a while watching a group of around 30 or so Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), a passing Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) as it whizzed along the Arroyo, Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and a big group of 30+ Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and a distant calling Wryneck (Torcecuello / Jynx torquilla).
Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina).
We moved around to the Mesia road end of the site where we walked along the ditches and around the reed bed adding Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), around 250 Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), several Tree Sparrows (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus) and 5x Common Starlings (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris).
Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).
We made one last stop just out side the town and scanned the fields where we found a flock of 41 Golden Plovers (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaria) and 11x Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).
Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).
Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus).
Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).
Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica).
Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).
Golden Plovers (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaria).
Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

Thursday 7 February 2019

La Lancha, Sierra Morena, Jaen Province.

Third day and Success, well we saw it for between 3 and 5 seconds !!!

Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax).
Again we had a good breakfast, several calling Tawny Owls (Cárabo Común / Strix aluco) before we headed out to La Lancha picking up Red Deer (Ciervo común / Cervus elaphus), Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and when we reached our watching point we could hear a distant Eagle Owl (Buho Real / Bubo bubo) away on the cliffs.
Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica).
We set the chairs out again and soon started the day list with Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), 2 Rock Buntings (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), a single fly over Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), lots of tacking Robins (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) in the Turpentine trees (Pistacia terebinthus) along with good numbers of Blackcaps (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla) and down in the deeper scrub calling Red-legged Partridges (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa).
Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).
I went for a walk along the track to scan some rock outcrops where I had seen Iberian Lynx (lince iberico/ Lynx pardina) in the past, on the way I had views of Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) and Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei).
Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti).
Back at the watch point we suddenly had a sighting just along from us so we got there and got directions but it took a while to get on to. In the end I along with Steve got a few seconds view as the male Lynx crossed a small track in the scrub but David missed it. A little later David had a better view of the same male as it chased a Rabbit down a bank and into some scrub.
Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti).
Things were warming up and the Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus) butterflies were on the wing along with Small White (Pieris rapae), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera) and a Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta).
Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti).
The skies were filling up with good numbers of raptors, several European Black Vultures (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus) were up and flying with large numbers of Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), 2 adult and 1 immature Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti), the immature Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) which we had seen yesterday and a soaring Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus).
Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius).
Other species included Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Dartford (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), a fine male Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes), a single male Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and then two Mouflon (Ovis orientalis) which walked up one of the hill side tracks.
Red Deer (Ciervo común / Cervus elaphus).
As the afternoon moved on we decided to make our way off the site we saw the first of two Common Buzzards (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and on a small pool a single Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) as well as a cracking group of Stag Red Deer.
Red Deer (Ciervo común / Cervus elaphus).
Red Deer (Ciervo común / Cervus elaphus).
Red Deer (Ciervo común / Cervus elaphus).
Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).
Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus).



Wednesday 6 February 2019

Presa del Encinarejo and La Lancha, Sierra Morena, Jaen Province.

More birds and Mammals but the Lynx still eludes us.

Otter (Nutria / Lutra lutra).
After breakfast at Caracola Guest house in the woods near to Los Pinos we loaded the car and heard at least 3 Tawny Owls (Cárabo Común / Strix aluco) before we left. We dropped down to the Rio Jándula and drove up to the Dam and spent a couple of hours on the bridge over the river just below the dam wall, almost straight away we had good views in bad light of an Otter (Nutria / Lutra lutra) which watched us from a rock for a little while before swimming along the river heading East.
Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia).
As the light improved we picked up Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), several flights of Great Cormorants (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), a rasping Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Woodpigeons (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), a couple of House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), several Rock Sparrows (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia) which perched up on nearby wires, Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes) and both White (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Grey Wagtails (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea).
Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).
A Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) flew in and started to fish on the bank amongst some rocks, as I watched the Heron stabbed at the water at the same moment as the Otters head came up and both momentarily struggled with the fish before the Otter dived with it.
Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti).
We had a walk down the river on the northern bank and boosted the list with Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Woodlark (Totovia / Lullula arborea), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Woodlark (Totovia / Lullula arborea), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Long-tailed Tits (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus).
Steve getting down with the Daffadils.
I walked back to the car and left Steve and David to continue but I soon caught them up and when I did they showed me several plants of Hoop-petticoat Daffodil (Narcissus bulbocodium).
Provence Hairstreak (Cardenillo / Tomares ballus).
We jumped into the car again and drove down to the end of the track and checked the trees there which I had thought looked good for Lesser-spotted Woodpeckers (Pico Menor / Dryobates minor), as we got out of the car we could hear a couple of Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea) but moments later I heard the first of a couple of Lesser Spots but they took some finding but eventually we found one drumming and had good but brief views, cracking bird.
Provence Hairstreak (Cardenillo / Tomares ballus).
In the same area we also had Iberian Green (Pito Real / Picus sharpei) and Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and a stunning pair of adult Spanish Imperial Eagles (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti).
Yellow Star of Bethlehem species.
Our next stop was at the Los Pinos bar and the back out to La Lancha area looking for the Lynx picking up a Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) on the way in, once there we again set up the chairs and started to watch the area in front of us but then we got the news that the Lynx had showed a couple of times during the morning, TYPICAL.
Hoop-petticoat Daffodil (Narcissus bulbocodium).
However we soon started to see some good stuff including European Black (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus) and Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), another two adult Spanish Imperial Eagles and one immature as well, an immature Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes), Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris).
Red Deer (Ciervo común / Cervus elaphus) doe.
During the afternoon Steve found a couple of Provence Hairstreaks (Tomares ballus) which were settling on the Iberian Milk-vetch (Astragalus lusitanicus) plants, during the day we also saw Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra), Clouded Yellow (Colias corcea), Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni), Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus), Bath (Pontia daplidice) and Small Whites (Pieris rapae).
Red Deer (Ciervo común / Cervus elaphus) doe.
Other species seen included Red Deer (Ciervo común / Cervus elaphus), Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala).
European Black Vulture (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus).
Once the light dropped we started to hear a couple of distant Eagle Owl (Buho Real / Bubo bubo) and as we made our way back to the digs we saw several really smart stag Fallow Deer (Dama dama).
European Black Vultures (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus).
European Black Vultures (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus).