Charca Suarez, Balsa de Regidor and Home near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

A morning birding with good friend Andy.

Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus).

I met Andy at the hotel where he was staying, on the way up to Granada I saw a couple of Little Owls (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) which were sat up on wire before I reached Huétor Tajar.

I met Andy a bit late but at least I got a lye-in, Sorry Andy and once we were masked up we set off south towards Charca Suarez but we arrived a bit early so we checked the track known by some of the birders as Turtle Dove Alley where we had good numbers of Common Waxbills (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), a few Red Avadavats (Bengali Rojo / Amandava amandava), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and several bueatiful Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus) butterflies, one of which sat nicely for us.

Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos).

We made our way around to the entrance of the reserve and after finding a parking place we went in and headed up to the hide over looking the new Lagoon, on the way we had Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and Reed Warbler. 

Mediterranean Chameleon (Chamaeleo chamaeleon).

The hide was full of photographers, not a pair of bin between them so we moved on as we knew they would be sat there all morning and went on around the reserve. In the next hide we did not see much as the light was all wrong so again we continued on towards the main hide, on the way we had good views of Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Willow (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus) and Melodious Warbler (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Great Tit and Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis).

Turtle Doves (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur).

Once in the main hide over looking the main lagoon we started to add a few new species to the list even though the light was really bad including Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) x3, Night Heron (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax) x2, Grey (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) x2 and Squacco Heron (Garcilla Cangrejera / Ardeola ralloides) x1, Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) x3, Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis),  Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus) heard only, Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca) x2 and just outside the hide the first of 4 Mediterranean Chameleons (Chamaeleo chamaeleon). At the next two hide we found Red-knobbed Coot (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur) x2 and 3 more Chameleons.

Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis).

Further round we had Lesser (Anax parthenope) and Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator),
Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) x2, another Turtle Dove and back at the first hide we tried to go in the same photographers who quite obviously had not given anyone else a chance to go in the hide, normally its not a problem as there is plenty of room to stand at the back but as there is a restriction because of the virus of 6 in the hide it meant there was no chance of getting a view. From a gap in the reeds just a little further on we added a White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia) before we headed for the exit.

Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis).

We decided to go and have a look around Cerro Gordo so headed off West along the motorway but this turned out to be a mistake as both ends of the road were closed as a film crew were there filming something or other so we headed back east. 

Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur).

At Almunecar we took a left and headed up into the mountains back to Granada rather than using the motorways, after a few KM we stopped and had some tappas and a sin alcohol beer. Whilst we were sat down we popped a few bits on to the day list including Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) and a couple of very flighty Two-tailed Pashas (Charaxes jasius).

Add caption

We continued on along the roads up through the mountains which were very nice with some stunning views but due to the time of day things were quiet and we only added Pallid (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) and Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) and a calling Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea).

I dropped Andy off at his hotel and then headed back towards home but made a quick stop at Balsa de Regidor on my way, on the waterI only saw Eurasian Coot, Common Moorhen, Mallards, a few Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina) and on one of the dead tree trunks lying in the water I counted 23 Common Sandpipers (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) resting on there way somewhere.

Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea).

I walked along the one bank looking for Dragonflies and had soon found Black-tailed (Orthetrum cancellatum) and Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria), Lesser and Blue / Common Emperor, Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea), Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata), White Featherleg (Platycnemis latipes) and Iberian Bluetail (Ischnura graellsii).

Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria).

I then continued on towards the house but as I came to a spot along the service road where a few years ago we had several  Desert Orange-tips (Colotis evagore) I saw a small butterfly which I was sure was one again so I stopped and after a few minutes I had seen 6 of them but they were very active and did not land.

Pleased with this find I headed home for a few hours. Later I went for a walk along the road from the house in the Loja direction and almost straight away I had a pair of Little Owls (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) cross the road and fly off into the Olives.

Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata).

This was quickly followed by the first of three views of Red-necked Nightjar (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis) and then just as was about to turn round a Eurasian Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo) did a flight right across the ridge infront of me, just a silhouette but still a great view.

Cadiz and Sevilla Provinces, Spain.

Repeating some sites on the way home.

Slender-billed Gull (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei) in the early light.

Slender-billed Gull (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei) in the early light.

Slender-billed Gull (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei) in the early light.

I left the hostel just after 07.00 and drove straight up to Lagunas de Camino Colorado near Bonanza, there was a good deal of coming and goind in the dawn light as the herons and egrets headed out to their feeding areas and as yesterday the Night Herons (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax) were coming back in to rest up for the day. 

Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus).

Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus).

As I scanned the smaller of the pools I found a small wader in the far corner with a couple of Green (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) and a Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) which I instantly thought was a Temmincks Stint (Correlimos de Temminck / Calidris temminckii)but about 2 seconds after I got the scope on it a Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) flashed in from the Pines and flushed loads of stuff including the waders. One Green and the Common Sand came back but the others did'nt, so not being 100% it frustratingly did not get on the trip list.

Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina).

 I continued checking around the pool finding Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).

Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).

As I said at the start of the post there were good numbers of herons and whilst here as well as the Night Herons I had Grey (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Squacco (Garcilla Cangrejera / Ardeola ralloides) and Purple Heron (Garza Imperial / Ardea purpurea), Little (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) and Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and a single Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus).

Curlew Sandpipers (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea) x2, Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina) x2 and Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta) x1.

I checked the pool on the other side of the road but the water level was very low and I added nothing new and did'nt manage to relocate the Stint from Earlier. 

Slender-billed Gulls (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei).

I moved around to the third much healthier looking pool on my way to the Salt pans but again there were plenty of birds but nothing new.

Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus).

I arrived at the Salt Pans and checked the lagoons on my way out to the Pump house area, by the smaller pump house half way along the main central track I made a stop and took some shots of a group of Slender-billed Gulls (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei) in the early morning light.

Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos).

In the same area I had lots of Curlew Sandpipers (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea), several Sanderlings (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), a single almost summer plumaged Red Knot (Correlimos Gordo / Calidris canutus), Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus), Black-winged Stilt, Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina) and a Little Egret.

I continued on and by the time I reached the other pump house I had found Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa), Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta) and several Avocets (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta).

Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii).

Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii).

Out on the large pool infront of the pump house there were large numbers of Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), a single Great Egret (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba), Gull-billed (Pagaza Piconegra / Gelochelidon nilotica), Little Tern (Charrancito Común / Sterna albifrons), Whiskered (Fumarel Cariblanca / Chilidonias hybridus) and Caspian Terns (Pagaza Piquiroja / Sterna caspia), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and more Slender-billed Gulls.

Banded Groundling (Brachythemis leucosticta).

I stood in the shade of the building and scanned the other pools with the scope for a while and found Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Common Sandpiper, Glossy Ibis, Malard, Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans) and a pale morph Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus).

Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).

I made my way off the site finding Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Lesser Short-toed Lark (Terrera Marismena / Calandrella rufescens) x7, Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and as with just about everywhere hundreds of Red-veined Darters (Sympetrum fonscolombii).

Night Heron (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax).

I drove over to Braza del Este again as I really enjoyed the site yesterday but it was quite the opposite to Bonanza where numbers of birds were up today, here things were much quieter. On the way there I had a few new species including Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia) and Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).

The Rice fields.

I came in to the area from Los Palacios and then took one of the tracks out through the rice fields to a canal which bought me up to the slucies at the Northern end of the main track through the area, on the way I had thousands more Red-veined Darters, Common and Green Sandpipers, Purple and Grey Heron, Little and Western Cattle Egrets, lots of Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail, a male Yellow-crowned Bishop (Euplectes afer) and quite a few Black-headed Weaver (Ploceus melanocephalus).

At the slucies there were the usual collection of Night Herons, Little Egrets and Whiskered Terns all sat on the barriers and gates and along the ditch near there I had a large flock of hirundines which appeared to be made up complety of Sand Martins (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia).

Squacco Heron (Garcilla Cangrejera / Ardeola ralloides).

Along this ditch I had several Banded Groundlings (Brachythemis leucosticta) and Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea) in amoungst the massed of Darters.

Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis).

I went back to the main track adding another pale morph Booted Eagle, Western Olivaceous Warbler (Iduna opaca), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Spanish Sparrows (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis) and a female / immature Penduline Tit (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus) before eading along the big track to the first area of water which was quiet.

Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) immature.

On the water there were quite a few Eurasian Coots, Common Pochard, Whiskered Tern but little else so I moved on down to the next area which was considerably better and I found half a dozen or so Collared Pratincoles (Canastera Común / Glareola pratincola), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax), Mallard, Glossy Ibis, Squacco Heron, Gull-billed and Whiskered Terns, a female Red-crested Pochard (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina) and along the river where I had been yesterday a Black-tailed Godwit, Black-winged Stilts, Wood Sandpiper (Andarrios Bastardo / Tringa glareola), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), immature Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Greater Flamingo's and another Great Egret.

Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa).

I returned to the main track and drove off the site heading for the Osuna area adding Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia) and Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) on the way.

Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta).

I reached the Osuna area at completly the wrong time of day which makes it highly unlike I was going to see much and I was right but I did manage a few new species as I drove from the Lantjuela end towards Osuna including Lesser (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) and out on a field next to the road 4 Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) and sat with them a Eurasian Black / Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus) which was most unexpected, later down the road I saw what I guess was the same bird drifting over with a single Griffon.

Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

I reached Osuna and decided that it was time to hit the road home after another good days birding.

Great Egret (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba).

Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans).

Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) 3 of the 4 and Eurasian Black / Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus).

Eurasian Black / Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus).

Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

Ravens (Cuervo / Corvus corax) and Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).

Eurasian Black / Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus).

Sevilla and Cadiz Provinces, Spain.

A couple of days around some wetlands and along the coast.

Day One.

The Moon and Venus in the sky.

The alarm was set for 04.00 but as I was already awake at 03.40 I thought I may as well get up and get going, the drive over was uneventful with not even a Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus) until I reached my first stop at El Pantano where several ran across the track. 

Night Heron (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax) arriving in to the roost.

I parked and walked along the track along side the wetland, it was still dark and I could see the Moon and Venus in the sky and as it started to get light the heron roost started to empty. 

Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) in the early morning light.

The first were Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) which streamed out to their feeding grounds followed by loads of Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus) whilst several Night Heron's (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax) came in to the roost.

Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) immature.

Whilst I walked I heard a calling Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) on the far side of the river bed along with the continous piping from the many Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus). 

White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia) nest just to the west of Los Palacios.

Out on the wetland area I could heard and start to see as the light was improving lots of White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), some Eurasian Spoonbills (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Grey Herons (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), a group of Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) made an early fly passed, Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), several large groups of Common Waxbills (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild) which were also leaving the reed bed roost, Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).

A few of the arriving Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus) at Cerro de las Cigüeñas.

Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus).

As the light got better I became more aware of this sites one big problem, the fact that the locals think its OK to dump loads of their rubbish here, such a shame.

Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) Immature left and adult right.

I started to walk back along the track towards the car and in some pools that remained in the river bed I had a Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) trying to catch it's breakfast and back on the main wetland Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Purple Heron (Garza Imperial / Ardea purpurea), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Whiskered Tern (Fumarel Cariblanca / Chilidonias hybridus), Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) and as on the last time I was there hundreds of Red-veined Darters (Sympetrum fonscolombii).

Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia).

Just before I reached the car I became aware that the sky was full of Hirundines and Swifts, most were Common Swifts (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) but as the light improved more I picked out several Pallid's (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) as well along with good numbers of Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and the odd Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia).

European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster).

I reached the car and then drove round to the opposite bank and checked the pools all the way down the river until the point at which the road swings off left, along here I had an immature Greater Flamingo, Green (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) x2 and Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) x3, Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) x8, Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax) x1, Western Olivaceous Warbler (Iduna opaca), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), a flighty Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and the back end of a Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus) as it flew along the river and away.

Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea) female.

I returned to the bridge and parked for a while scanning the area for the uncommon Laughing Doves (Streptopelia senegalensis) and after around an hour I had had three flight views of single birds and then a pair of birds flew passed me and along the river.

Yellow-crowned Bishop (Euplectes afer) displaying male.

Yellow-crowned Bishop (Euplectes afer) male.

In the same area I also had a Squacco Heron (Garcilla Cangrejera / Ardeola ralloides), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), a male Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus) over the allotments, Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and a Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) which was sat up in one of the trees along the river.

Night Heron (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax).

Night Heron (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax).

Night Heron (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax).

I got back in the car and drove around the town to my next site Cerro de las Cigüeñas a small wetland along the dirt tracks to the west, I dropped down on to the lower track which goes right around the out side edge of the area and had good views of several hundred Glossy Ibis as the spiralled down in to the reeds and bushes.

Female / immature Black-headed Weaver (Ploceus melanocephalus).

Female / immature Black-headed Weaver (Ploceus melanocephalus).

I could also see several Night and Grey Herons, Little and Western Cattle Egrets, Greater Flamingo's, White Storks, lots of Black-winged Stilts, Whiskered Terns, a female Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) which was annoying several Squacco Herons in part of the Tamarisk roost area.

Squacco Heron (Garcilla Cangrejera / Ardeola ralloides).

Squacco Heron (Garcilla Cangrejera / Ardeola ralloides).

Lower down there were Mallards, Little Grebes, Eurasian Coots, Common Moorhens and Western Swamp Hens. Higher up in the bushes and branches I found a couple of displaying male Yellow-crowned Bishops (Euplectes afer), Zitting Cisticola, House Sparrows, Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur) and Cetti's Warbler, Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail, Spotless Starling, Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator) and over head several European Bee-eaters (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster).

Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus).

I drove further west along the tracks through swarms of Red-veined Darters as well a few Black-tailed Skimmers (Orthetrum cancellatum), Scarlet Darters (Crocothemis erythraea) and Banded Groundling (Brachythemis leucosticta).

Whiskered Tern (Fumarel Cariblanca / Chilidonias hybridus).

At the far end of the track I joined the main run across Braza del Este after a bit of a search along several small tracks, At the sluice gates I found several very approachable Night Herons which perched well for the camera. I took a track along a channel where I managed to photograph several female / immature Black-headed Weavers (Ploceus melanocephalus) and had views of Purple Heron, Gull-billed Tern (Pagaza Piconegra / Gelochelidon nilotica) and on my way to the first of the wetland areas along the main track I had a very smart male Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) fly across in front of the car.

Wood Sandpiper (Andarrios Bastardo / Tringa glareola).

At the wetland I saw many of the species I had already see but I did add Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina) and Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis).

Purple Heron (Garza Imperial / Ardea purpurea).

Whilst I was watching this area a Spanish Birder pulled up and we had a chat and he gave me some very good directions to a group of Marbled Duck (Marmaronetta angustirostris) so I quickly made my way to the spot, I soon found Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa), a female Little Bittern (Avetorillo Común / Ixobrychus minutus), Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus) and then a group of 4 Marbled Ducks which motored towards cover and by the time I remembered to take a photo and not just sit admiring them 2 had disappeared.

Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

I turned around and went back to the 2nd area of wetland where again there were lots of the species I had already seen including another Marbled Duck, Great Egret (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Collared Pratincole (Canastera Común / Glareola pratincola), a male Little Bittern and Wood Sandpiper (Andarrios Bastardo / Tringa glareola). 

Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus).

I drove off the site and then across country to Bonanza Salt Pans, where I drove out to the pump house checking the pans on the way and adding Curlew Sandpiper (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea), Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta), a single Red Knot (Correlimos Gordo / Calidris canutus), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Ringed (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) and Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus) and  Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba).

Marbled Duck (Marmaronetta angustirostris).

From the pump house I saw Caspian (Pagaza Piquiroja / Sterna caspia) and Little Tern (Charrancito Común / Sterna albifrons), Slender-billed Gull (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei), Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Lesser Short-toed Lark (Terrera Marismena / Calandrella rufescens), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala).

Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).

I drove back off the site and went and found a room for the night near Chipiona, Cheap but clean and from there I dropped down to the Port where I had views of the Little Swifts (Vencejo Moro / Apus affinis) and also had a couple of Ruddy Turnstones (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres) flyby.

Curlew Sandpiper (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea).

Curlew Sandpiper (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea).

My last stop of the day was at Playa de Montijo, by the time I got there the tide was low and the flats were covered with birds including several new species for the day list, Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus), Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata) x1, Eurasian Oystercatcher (Ostrero Euroasiatico / Haematopus ostralegus), Grey Plover (Chorlito Gris / Pluvialis squatarola), Sandwich (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis) x1, Common (Charrán Común / Sterna hirudo) x1 and  Black Terns (Fumarel Común / Chlidonias niger) x5, Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) and Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) were all seen before I went for some food in Chipiona and then to the hotel after missing the 100 species in the day by just 2, so close yet so far.

Gull-billed Tern (Pagaza Piconegra / Gelochelidon nilotica).

Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus).

Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta).

Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus).

Little Swift (Vencejo Moro / Apus affinis).

Little Swift (Vencejo Moro / Apus affinis).

Little Swift (Vencejo Moro / Apus affinis).