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Saturday 22 June 2019

Santander, Puerto Deportivo, Marismas Blancas, Barrio la Raba, travelling to Fuente de and at Fuente de.

A day along the coast and then into the mountains.
Pico's Day One.

Common Tern (Charrán Común / Sterna hirudo).
After a very nice breakfast at the Hotel Chiqui we had a walk along the sea front seeing the Common Terns (Charrán Común / Sterna hirudo), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and Mediterranean Gulls (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Shag (Cormorán Mondudo / Phalacrocorax aristotelis), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes).
Common Tern (Charrán Común / Sterna hirudo).
We headed just along the coast where we checked out some pools along side the runways of the Santander Airport, on the smaller pool we had a pair of Mute Swans (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor), one of which was sat on a nest, Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), a female type Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) which was carrying prey, House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Reed (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) and Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti).
The Hotel.
On the Causeway between the two Pools we had a Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) and several Spotless Starlings (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor). On the second bigger lagoon there was a group of summer plumaged Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), 3x Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), a single Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), a couple more Mute Swans, Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), 3x Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) and right down at the far end of the pool singles of Common and Gull-billed Terns (Pagaza Piconegra / Gelochelidon nilotica), a young Red Fox (Zorro / Vulpus vulpus) on the far bank amonst the reeds, Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), a fly over Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans) and as we walked back to Van a male Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus) flew passed us and out into the reeds.
View from the sea front.
We moved on down the road to the port where we parked and checked the perimeter fence adding Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), a family of Black Redstarts (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and in an area of grass Green-veined White (Pieris napi), Geranium Bronze (Cacyreus marshalli), Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus), Small White (Pieris rapae), Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi) and as we walked over to the waters edge and scanned the Estuary an Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus) flew over head scattering all the Common Terns
Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor).
We jumped back on to the motorway but were soon off again at a freshwater pool and tidal lagoon called Las Marismas Blancas where we had a look at the largest of the lakes and saw a pair of Mute Swans with four cignets, more Mallards, Common Pochards, Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), a surprising male Tufted Duck (Porrón Monudo / Aythya fuligula) which is normally only a winter visitor, Little Grebe, Eurasian Coot, plenty of Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) flying in to the reedbeds and whilst I waited by the van the others went to have a walk around the rest of the reserve but they did not pick up much new.
Red Fox (Zorro / Vulpus vulpus).
Whilst I was waiting I picked up Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus), Blue / Southern Hawker (Aeshna cyanea), Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Common Mallow (Malva sylvestris), Ragged Robin (Lychnis flos-cuculi), Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis), Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), Musk Mallow (Malva moschata), White Clover (Trifolium repens), Red Clover (Trifolium pratense), Self heal (Prunella vulgaris) and Tufted Vetch (Vicia cracca).
Green-veined White (Pieris napi).
Once the others returned we had a female Red-crested Pochard (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina) out amongst the Eurasian Coots, four Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus) which flew in and over the road on the tidal part of the area we we saw more Common Terns and a summer plumaged Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa) which flew in.
Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans).
We again moved on around the estuary where we had a walk along a track on the southern shore, in the sky above us we had a group of Black Kites with a Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus) soaring with them.
Ragged Robin (Lychnis flos-cuculi).
As we walked we also had Little Egret, Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Black-headed Gull, Carrion Crow, Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Great Tit, a singing Melodious Warbler (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta) and way out on the estuary Shag and a pair of Great Crested Grebes (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus).
Musk Mallow (Malva moschata).
We started our drive out towards Fuente De with Bob seeing a Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) from the van, we stopping for some lunch in Unquera seeing Barn Swallow, House Martin, Common Swift, Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Mallards.
Field Eryngium (Eryngium campestre).
As we dropped south we made a stop along the Rio Deva and found Mouflon (Ovis orientalis), Griffon (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) and Egyptian Vulture (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Song Thrush, Grey Wagtail and Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla).
Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae).
Once we were through Potes we made another stop and found an Immature Dipper (Mirlo Acuático / Cinclus cinclus) further on along the Rio Deva.
Purple Gromwell (Lithospermum purpurocaeruleum).
We arrived at the Hotel in Fuente de and checked in, later we went for a walk across the meadows at the back and down the spring that I am guessing is the beginning of the Deva, on the fields we found Field Eryngium (Eryngium campestre), Purple Bugloss (Echium plantagineum), Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) and a stunning male Red-backed Shrike (Alcaudón Dorsirrojo / Lanius collurio) which showed well for us.
Pyrenean Germander (Teucrium pyrenaicum).
On a back as we walked towards the woods we had Purple Gromwell (Lithospermum purpurocaeruleum), Mediterranean Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria), Pyrenean Germander (Teucrium pyrenaicum), Rabbits bread (Andryala integrifolia), Yellow Rockrose (Helianthemum nummularium) and Man Orchid (Orchis anthropophora).
Comma (Polygonia c-album).
In the woodlands we had  Speckled Wood, Comma (Polygonia c-album), Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni), Cleopatra (Cleopatra / Gonepteryx cleopatra), Nottingham Catchfly (Silene nutans), Wild Carrot (Daucus carota), Wild Strawberry (Fragaria vesca), Hedgerow Cranesbill (Geranium pyrenaicum), Wood Avens (Geum urbanum), Greater Yellow-rattle (Rhinanthus angustifolius), Stinking Hellebore (Helleborus foetidus), White Flax (Linum perenne), Ox-eye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare), Greater Masterwort (Astrantia major), Woodruff (Galium odoratum), Tuberous comfrey (Symphytum tuberosum), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) and Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs). 
Greater Masterwort (Astrantia major).
We returned to the hotel, freshened up and went down for a nice evening meal.

Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria).
Tuberous comfrey (Symphytum tuberosum).
Greater Yellow-rattle (Rhinanthus angustifolius).
Man Orchid (Orchis anthropophora).

Friday 21 June 2019

Laguna de Navaseca, driving North and Santander.

More wetland birding and finishing the drive North.
Pre tour day two with Brian and Jo.

Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus).
Jo, Brian and I headed back out to Laguna de Navaseca and parked by the second hide where we soon had a singing Savi's Warbler (Buscarla Unicolor / Locustella luscinoides) in view along with a stunning male Penduline Tit (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus) which showed well in the Tamarisks and reeds on either side of the road. 
Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (Ganga Ibérica / Pterocles alchata).
Out on the water there were Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Little (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), 2x Black-tailed Godwits (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa), 2x Green Sandpipers (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Cetti's (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Great Reed (Carricero Tordal / Acrocephalus arundinaceus) and Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus).
Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (Ganga Ibérica / Pterocles alchata).
In the air we picked up House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Whiskered Tern (Fumarel Cariblanca / Chilidonias hybridus).
Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (Ganga Ibérica / Pterocles alchata).
We drove around the rest of the pool on the tracks and enjoyed good views of Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser), Red-crested Pochard (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina), Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).
Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (Ganga Ibérica / Pterocles alchata).
We decided to go in to Daimiel and find some food, so after a visit to Lidl we returned to the Laguna again and before we had even got out of the van we had a couple of Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (Ganga Ibérica / Pterocles alchata) flying over and dropping down by the reeds. 
Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus).
We got out of the van and had better views of the Sandgrouse which circled and dropped on to the mud on the margins of the pool giving us some good views next to a Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) and Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos).
Penduline Tit (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus).
As we watched these stunning birds we heard a small flock of Bearded Tit (Reedling) (Bigotudo / Panurus biarmicus) which showed really well for us and had a male Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea) flyby.
Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).
We also saw Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).
Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser).
We drove North towards Tablas and as we drove across the fields heading there we added Short-toed (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla) and Crested Larks (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and along the Rio Guadiana Roller (Carraca / Coracias garrulus), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), a Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus) which only Brian saw, lots of Northern Lapwings, Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) and further along the Rio near to Tablaswe made another stop picking up a breeding plumaged Great Egret (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba), Purple Heron (Garza Imperial / Ardea purpurea), Collared Pratincole (Canastera Común / Glareola pratincola), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Yellow Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa) as well as Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Common / Southern Blue (Polyommatus icarus / celina), Small White (Pieris rapae) and by the Mill bridge at least 3 Rollers.
Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio).
From here we started the long drive North during which we added Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax) and Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus). 
Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio).
The three of us checked in at the Hotel and then went for a walk along the sea front where we had views of Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Black-headed and Yellow-legged Gulls, Common (Charrán Común / Sterna hirudo) and Sandwich Terns (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis) and Shag (Cormorán Mondudo / Phalacrocorax aristotelis).
White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala).
Later in the evening Bob and Sophia arrived and later I picked up Judy and Mick from the Airports.
Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera).

Thursday 20 June 2019

Caleta de Velez, Cerro Gordo, Laguna de Navaseca and Tablas de Daimiel, travelling North.

Travelling North on our way up to Santander.
Pre tour day one with Brian and Jo.

Red-footed Booby (Piquero Patirrojo / Sula sula).
Jo, Brian and myself headed off down to Malaga, on the way we saw Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Iberian  Magpies (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).
Audouin's Gull (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii).
We collected the van for the trip and then went into Malaga center where we dropped Brian and Jo's hire car off and then made our way east along the coast to Caleta de Velez where we visited the port to look for the reported Red-footed Booby (Piquero Patirrojo / Sula sula) which had been around for a while. 
Audouin's Gull (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii).
When we arrived we checked the tallest of the light clusters and found the bird sat on the most western post where it stayed for the whole of our visit but it was great to see this super rare bird with less than 10 records in Spain.
Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus).
In the same area we had a number of Cory's Shearwater (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea) which were following in the fishing boats in to port along with Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls, Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis) and in the port we saw Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) and Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus).
Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).
We continued on east along the coast and called in at Cerro Gordo but dipped on the White-rumped Swift (Vencejo Cafre / Apus caffer) however we did get lots more Pallids, Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica) and Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).
Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).
We drove from here along to Motril and then North past Granada and on towards Daimiel adding Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos), Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax) and Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata).
Red-crested Pochard (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina).
We arrived at the next spot and parked near the hide which looks over Laguna de Navaseca and we soon started to pile on the species including Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), a single female Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), lots of White-headed Ducks (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser), Whiskered Tern (Fumarel Cariblanca / Chilidonias hybridus), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Little (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and Black-necked Grebes (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) and Great Reed Warblers (Carricero Tordal / Acrocephalus arundinaceus), a pair of Little Bitterns (Avetorillo Común / Ixobrychus minutus), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus) and a couple of Avocets (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta).
Red-crested Pochard (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina).
It was getting warm but we decided to have a walk around to the far end of the reed beds adding Small White (Pieris rapae) and Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) on the way. Near the second hide we soon heard and then saw a singing Savi's Warbler (Buscarla Unicolor / Locustella luscinoides), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), a Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), a brief view of a Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio) and a fly over Honey Buzzard (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus).
Whilst we were in this area a car pulled up and out jumped Bob Wright from Caleta de Velez where we had been earlier, we had a chat and got some info before Bob headed around the lake and then we met again on the boardwalk at Tablas.
European Pond Terrapin (Emys orbicularis).
We returned to the van and then went across country towards Tablas checking the banks of the Rio Guadiana where we had flyby Rollers (Carraca / Coracias garrulus), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), lots of Greylag Geese, European Bee-eaters (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia) and Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).
Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica).
We parked up at the main visitors centre and did the short walk out along the boardwalk and back round to Car park, on the walk we came across Bob again and several Bearded Tits (Reedling) (Bigotudo / Panurus biarmicus), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Red-crested Pochard (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), a calling Penduline Tit (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus) as well as European Pond Terrapin (Emys orbicularis), Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi), Black-tailed (Orthetrum cancellatum) and Long Skimmers (Orthetrum trinacria), Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea) and Norfolk / Green-eyed Hawker (Aeshna isoceles).
We drove back into Daimiel and found a place to stay for the after deciding to stay in the area.

Wednesday 19 June 2019

Hacho, Loja, Granada Province.

A short walk with Brian and Jo from Australia.

I returned from the UK and caught up with Brian and Jo, during the evening we had a drive just up the road and then walked up a track along the Northern side of the hill.
During the walk we had good views of a pair of Bonelli's Eagles (Aguila Perdicera / Aquila faciatus), a family party of Common Kestrels (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Bonelli's (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and as we walked back a singing male Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus).