Huétor Tajar and Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

Out on the patch again.

Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

Well this is a touch embarrassing 😕😕😕as I know I went birding but I cannot remember who with and I have lost the messages, Sorry. If you recognise the day please get back to me, thanks Mick.

Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

OK, back to the birding, We met up at the Cortijo de Tajar Hotel and we headed out to the Western end of the Arroyo Vilano where we scanned the fields from the far bank and soon found the wintering Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) flock but what we thought were just 10 or so birds turned out to be 39 when they all flew up and dropped down a few meters further out into the field. In the same area we could hear several singing Corn Buntings (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Crested Larks (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), a single passing Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), a Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) feeding out on the fields, Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), House (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and single Brambling (Pinzón Real / Fringilla montifringilla) which was very difficult to locate in amongst a field of Artichokes.

Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica).

We moved just along the river to the Eastern end and soon found a very smart Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), the first patch Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) of the spring, Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), a good sized flock of Iberian  Magpies (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) came over the river and away down stream and in the Tamarisk bushes Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major) were all seen.

Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius).

Futher along the river near the railway bridge we added House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), 11x Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia) and a huge great big female Northern Goshawk (Azor Común / Accipitor gentillis) which flew west and gave the Woodpigeons a scare in the Poplar Plantation.

On the middle fields we had a Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and several roosting Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) line along one of the field rigdes.

Out on the Mesia side of the site we checked the ditches and irrigation channels where we soon had good views of a male Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) and in the reeds opposite where we added Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) and a couple of Red-legged Partridges (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa).

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

As we passed Balsa de Rigedor on our way to the fields near Moraleda we only found a single Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo).

We drove out on the tracks through the Almond Groves and parked in an area of abandoned trees and had a walk hearing the first of 8 Great Spotted Cuckoo's (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius), in the Almonds we had good views of two male birds.

In the same birds we also saw a male Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Corn Bunting, a soaring Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), 5x Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), 3x Iberian Grey Shrikes (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), 1x Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus viridis), 2 more Common Buzzards, 18x Calandra Larks (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), 21x Skylarks, Zitting Cisticola, 1x Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), 26x Meadow Pipits and a second Brambling.

Coal Tit (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater).

We dropped down in to the Valley and spent some time checking the Pine woodland and the mixed woods near the bridge over the Cacín. During these to stops we found Woodpigeon, Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Iberian  Magpie, Coal Tit (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Cetti's Warbler, Snipe and Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra).

Up at the Embalse we scanned the water for new species for the day list and soon found Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), a pair of Northern Pintail (Ánade Rabudo / Anas acuta), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen, Zitting Cisticola, a pair of  Marsh Harriers (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) and a second female which was chased off, a pair of displaying Common Buzzards, Common Kestrels and a male Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus).

Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila-azor Perdicera / Hieraaetus faciatus).

We dropped further down the Valley and checked the gorge and were soon watching a soaring Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila-azor Perdicera / Hieraaetus faciatus) as well as a few Rock Sparrows (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia).

The day was coming to an end but on our way back towards the hotel we again stopped off at the Embalse where a few new species were Red-rumped (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Crag (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and House Martin, Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), 2x Water Rails (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus) and a male Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica).

Laguna Grande, Malaga Province.

A quick bit of birding after a nice day out.

A roundabout in La Rambla.

Jayne and I were returning home after a really nice day out searching for ceramics in La Rambla and then a nice lunch at Caserío San Benito.

As we drove back we went and had a quick look at the Laguna Grande, I set the scope up and scanned the water finding Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) x1, Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina) x26, Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca) x2M, Great Crested (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus) x3 and Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) x11, Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) x45, Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) x2, Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) x1 and in the woods Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) x2, Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) x2, Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) x5 and Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) x4.

Jayne's Starter of Porra.

La Malaha and Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

A cracking day right across the patch with Judy and Bob.

We headed out of the city in a more roundabout way than usual due to a market which set up whilst I was waiting to meet Judy and Bob as I was rather early.

Our first stop was a semi-ruined Cortjo which is now used as a Goat shelter and storage area but is also a good spot to find the stunning Lesser Kestrel (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni) and after a little while we got some really good views of a fine male in a nearby Almond tree.

In the same area we also picked up Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).

We moved on down the road to the fields near La Malaha picking up Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) on the way and then out on the fields we had good numbers of singing

Calandra Larks (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), a few more Leser Kestrels up on wire,  Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) were everywhere, a distant Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) which was seen badly through a shimmering heat haze and 2 cracking Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) which showed brilliantly for us.

Just up the road we took to the fields and were soon watching at least 25 Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis), the flock started with just 4 but others joined them over the 20 minutes of so we were there. We also heard more Stone Curlews as well as Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and Bath White (Blanqiverdosa / Pontia daplidice), Clouded Yellow (Colias Común / Colias corcea) and Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui).

From the fields we headed out on to the Almond grove ridge on our way to Cacín, on the way we stopped and checked an area of dead trees picking up Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), heard a Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus viridis), had views of a second Common Buzzard and then at a viewing point we had good views of an immature Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) which Bob picked up.

In the same area we had Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Rock Dove (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula).

Once we were over the ridge and through the town we made a quick stop at the river bridge over the Cacín where we added Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea).

We turned South and headed down the valley to the gorge where we dropped lucky and had brilliant views of a male Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila-azor Perdicera / Hieraaetus faciatus) which displayed for us up and down the cliff face opposite for several minutes before flying off down to the South.

Also seen on the rocks below us or in the air were Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Common Kestrel, Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax).

We headed back North passed Cacín and up to the Contra Embalse where we parked and scanned the water finding a pair of Northern Pintail (Ánade Rabudo / Anas acuta), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), 2x Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Crag and House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), 2x Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and plenty of White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) flycatching from the dead branches in the lake.

By the bridge just up the road we added Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes) and Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula).

In the Pines further up the Valley there were some small birds in the canopy including Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater) and Long-tailed Tits (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus).

On our way back towards the city we made one last stop out on Moraldea Fields where we checked an old Cortijo and found a couple of Little Owls (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Iberian Grey Shrike, Large White (Pieris brassicae) and Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera).