A day out on the patch with Bob and Christine.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjephyphenhyphenANcsPpPvz6TaAS331PspHTbgRIjFXNToW9tvCclHh-3p1dtfoBLaGL1GeEBIeMlm4p64HOxdRleIljzIii9UsUclG-lNNdjFokeHcuAe3VqNHvbRh3oHT992a38ZGSy9iW6e2DrA/s640/20th+March+19-6.jpg) |
Lesser Kestrel (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni). |
I met Bob and Christine up in Granada and we headed out to the south and then to the west to a spot where we started the list off with good views of several
Lesser Kestrels (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni) and in the same are
Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), calling
Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula),
Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and as we were leaving the site a couple of
Hoopoes (Abubilla / Upupa epops) flew in and one sat for a picture.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgBXwvuuL3GyroM8N38sXj6-CXd4quvJh2UdE-cUcryIL7_vKYMB1xqyCtErxBhh9-XuQUAp7VMIymjcqlv-p6nyRcPg1zZ5jlMqJd5SMFv4eI9KrY3f0acS9A8e-O0vfg6U0DDaipHpw/s640/image4.jpeg) |
Lesser Kestrel (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni). |
Our next stop was on the fields near to the village of La Malaha, on the way through we saw the first of many
Spotless Starlings (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor),
House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and
Collared Doves (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD-krRI3ZJmdujdaMk0jyw_hIIauCI77BuK2IjBp-n1HSBUhe9IlPynHXRiOekldM0afNeFnsYmpmO2eZsLhWAa-OiRs_qCgGikrU6IWh0smNoXeR3FYqeTLhSELUDn9LszCqj1L28Ldk/s640/20th+March+19-5.jpg) |
Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops). |
Out on the fields we soon started to hear the first
Calandra Lark (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) of the day along with both
Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and
Thekla (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and a couple of fine male
Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), later we also had a female which was being chased down by aother fine looking male.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmrrvER7Ulo19qMYM-gVqQyykj0E-gvbxmM-Q4R55gMrcnfFE0uIEcMna03kQtSip-YiuYomaoXdAQoLCe0FcIBOYt8O-F9b82U0CMbzwwnqTCDbH6JwPTcYVfX_5HhGI_ZRScTGxIoJg/s640/20th+March+19-4.jpg) |
Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax). |
On one of the Almonds we had a smart looking
Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) and several more calling
Corn Buntings,
Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), a male
Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus),
Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica),
House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica),
Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis),
White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba),
Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa) and a fine looking female
Hen Harrier (Aguilucho Pálido / Circus cyaneus) which came up out of a weedy fallow field.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7IGBKspEr66SueoQLsnxC-wTHZqzl_Eazag9SR1h-vm-gETSKHbmGpUYXq2FdnT65F650CbmBMNgDWvJ_WUmlxvD57o-asFhVVVf0YUvcZpcKAhMPFeCzGIGeuzeomukuvPjasu_MRRQ/s640/20th+March+19-3.jpg) |
Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax). |
We moved up on to the top fields adding
Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius),
Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis),
Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos),
Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica),
Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) and an immature
Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) which Christine picked up as it flew across the fields.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5q8eRjU65YmHB3WyEZPrO_LI-Fq4mLPtItM2qGkLhQZT_dY9oNrFwTxfCUhAQC33KK8VUSlOLtPh44uE0H7IYJMOLNgM6aj87RRsvXnLaDQsDKJcDzGmG6ICJ2u68Ww0G3Du3vo_olP4/s640/20th+March+19-1.jpg) |
Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra). |
We cut through to the fields near Morleda and out to the Cortijo and soon found the resident
Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua),
Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), a
Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) which was sat under a tree eating lunch and in the olive plantations large numbers of
Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Serins, Goldfinches,
Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and a few
Rock Sparrows (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNI20o-LwCxoKCQ8BpfXOGM8xPwiCTGpVdMVhZllWzj2Qhdjdbms3wJWJXEZcD_6TvvipAWZ8ntxtvB-A1-1DqPVAGx8rcrBFEz2Jocstde3TqAElWox-H90W9t-VTnOPPzRFN2HwT6_c/s640/20th+March+19-2.jpg) |
Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra). |
We dropped down in to the Cacín Valley we saw a fine male Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and down in the Pines where we soon had a male Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra) at the top of a pine tree along with a few other birds including Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater) and Great Tits (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Common Chaffinch and a couple of Orchids including Ophrys fusca / foresteri and Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera subsp tenthredinifera).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9kzvfrgFL1GXq58rsndPJI3OOutuMlHGhyphenhyphenr8-pdNzUwrPqiVDt8p_K41sBR1HzNlbRaKkuiwQZUNfcAvMPYks7_znZvw-7qjXzr4XJOaqMr9IxkaocbixylKeyce5kHpQCGJzdP_zJD4/s400/20th+March+19-8.jpg) |
Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra). |
Down by the Rio a little further along the valley a calling Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), a fly over Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula).
Just up the road we stopped again by the Contra Embalse de Bermejalis and scanned the water and margins picking up good numbers of Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca) and duck of the day were a group of 21 Garganey (Cerceta Carretona / Anas querquedula) which were the first of the year but right at the far end of the lake.
On the margins there were several Common Moorhens (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), a Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus) and further out lots of Eurasian Coots (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), a single Yellow Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) and several White Wagtails.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSUm9HmCY42SuQDC1KrMxmwo8hL5CvbE9w-epE5NCW5rtyUCRxWqJGDBsNPX_M_WzsbCMTpHjQyVIRc6pAwArSDMjnimjorfauRHPewW59m_b5Qi6PDg6ofAY-LNvNwmmivsikJkXb9LQ/s640/20th+March+19-9.jpg) |
Calandra Lark (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra). |
Other species seen during this stop included Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Marsh Harrier, Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Barn Swallow.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwLagGPVXoeQd-ek_wEOp1sttUMacodOwv3bD3yMIrjTIT5cqGuItPK4LAAVYFPmvr5PrCxqzTaQTDKc4g9d1CxRLn132uMBI5IicMb5PtmE9RMsSkIOfu2e_BNsZxoZwgWd2vS4oh8aU/s640/20th+March+19-12.jpg) |
Calandra Lark (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra). |
Further down the valley we checked the cliffs and turned up a male Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) and a couple of Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Y486m7JjlFtrgKLk9UoaF8wm2dMHiYtHLJwNBQ-vLyneZ_L6M_5PdIdBEN-p4feLUTFaBWk_-aGnuenPoQqbvMVXwswrEQXiQHB4uABP8MFCRKWGa0UBwo4PbRbzPM7ToMRKlD5pMOE/s640/20th+March+19-11.jpg) |
Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis). |
We started to make our way back towards Granada via the road road from Cacín to La Malaha where we only added a couple of Common Buzzards (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) to the list.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirlOrcXq7oHlxvcpvbDfkfZeenq_N0zPVyYxGkXnhfYeaayZra_HH-jKcVZCFz8WxzuvGimqlhMh21booWFHfs6x5Py0XdojKE0yZsjGnKKVGUrn5nEsOkySQX4AJWb1x9mSqiv10MkkI/s640/20th+March+19-10.jpg) |
Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua). |
I dropped Bob and Christine back into the City and I made my way back home.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOMtjAEJ2x6e4EqolM__Urwwbt6zPCDRTyVbxXXZ6A61VYYCxD-v6GvRB6FE0koodOpdlRtcrmVTbCulKMemiKTF0KPs7nNaSHuphugMfP0_U0oI7-JmMr_RCjbWsUOhz1FutnOZBqUBE/s640/20th+March+19-13.jpg) |
Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua). |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9w5WBxSf492YtVq150ua5Pg8YmfBV2mVDyZFG_BeItOdg8tWgFgw1qoOC5q9wUbMYgMyx01pyA_88pNia4fzOh3nX_wA8oqKWpqDH3TBIB2jOVPizITYuupDUnlB5ghfMMGFUziabwqg/s640/20th+March+19-7.jpg) |
Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera subsp tenthredinifera). |