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Saturday 3 October 2020

Peñón de Jolúcar, Playa de las Azucenas and Peñones de San Cristóbal in Almuñécar, Granada Province, Spain.

RAM seawatch and a couple more coastal sites later.

Shag (Cormorán Mondudo / Phalacrocorax aristotelis).
I met Juan and we headed down to the coast and made our way to the seawatch point up on Peñón de Jolúcar, once there we set up in a slightly different place than usual as it was extreamly windy so we found a slight dell. 
As soon as we started to count we found 4x Shags (Cormorán Mondudo / Phalacrocorax aristotelis) on the sea just below the cliffs, one was having a good bath. On the sea we found Cory's (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris borealis) and Balearic Shearwaters (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus), Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), a group of passing Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) and a single Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos).
Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) Juvenile.

During the seawatch we also had some visible passage on the land ward side including several Western Yellow Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava) and Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) as well as Thekla Larks (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus).
We finished the survey and the went to a beach near the Port of Motril, as we approached we too to a track and had several Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) sat on the backs of a couple of Horses, Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), several Reed (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) and a Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti).
Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) immature.

Once out of the car and walking down towards the beach we checked out the cleaner out channel finding several Common Sandpipers (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Kestrel x2 and down on the beach a Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) chasing fish in the surf and a Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) sat on the port wall rocks. Further along the beach we had a single Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and up in the weedy fields ehind the beach we had Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Red Avadavat (Bengali Rojo / Amandava amandava), Greenfinch, Goldfinch and all the time we were there we had good numers of hirundines including Barn Swallow, House (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Sand Martins (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia) and a single Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus).
Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) adult.

As we walked back we bumped up the list with Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Willow Warbler (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto),  White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and as we walked along the concrete sided channel and in amongst some disused green houses we added Spotted (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata) and Pied Flycatchers (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca), Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra), Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus) and Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea).
Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).
We returned to the car and then made our way along the coast to Peñones de San Cristóbal in Almuñécar where we set up our chairs and scanned the sea and the rocks finding a single Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), lots of Yellow-legged, Audouin's and Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a single immature Shag, Northern Gannets, Balearic Shearwater and then birds of the day in the shape of three Sooty Shearwaters (Pardela Sombría / Puffinus griseus) which passed quite close in heading West.
Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

We also had a couple more migrating Western Yellow Wagtails, Barn Swallow and Common Stonechat before packing up and heading back to Granada.

Friday 2 October 2020

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

Bustards.
 
Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).
Just a very quick visit to the fields where I found 6 of the Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) out on a Maze stubble field.
Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).
On the field between me and the Bustards I saw a couple of
White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and a nice Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe).
Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe).

 

Thursday 1 October 2020

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

An 8.5KM stroll around the fields.
 
Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe).
I parked in the town and took a track out towards the railway line, I started the list off with Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus).
Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe).

Once I reached the dead tree I started to scan the fields and soon found the first of 94 Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), 5x Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra) and 5 Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) which were following a plough.
Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra).
I reached the railway and the crossed a couple of Asparagus fields to the road seeing Long-tailed Blue (Lampides baeticus) and Small White (Pieris rapae) as well as Willow Warbler (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica).
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I crossed the Railway via the foot bridge and from the far side I found a flock of 31 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) away on one of the Lucerne fields along with 3 Jackdaws (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), more Western Cattle Egrets and below me in some old vines Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla) and  Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala).
Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).

I dropped down the other side and walked along the main road scanning the fields finding Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).
I went behind the bar and crossed the Arroyo and up on to the bank on the far side where I scanned the Lucerne fields where I had a second Common Buzzard, Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Western Yellow Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava) x250+, Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) 70+, Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) and in some Fig trees on the far fields plenty of Iberian  Magpies (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).
Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

At the far end of the raised trail along the fence and in a small allotment area I saw Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis), the first of several Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus) and as I watched what looked like a 1st winter male bird a very smart winter plumaged male Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) popped up on one of the canes.
Red Avadavat (Bengali Rojo / Amandava amandava).

As I continued on along the track I became aware of two Seprona Guards on motorbikes coming up behnd me, they went passed and continued on a short way before turning around and coming back and stopping next to me. The one guy spoke good English so I soon found they just wanted to check what I was doing with the camera and was pleased to have a look through a few of the shots I had taken. I got some good info from them including the date the Sierra de Loja was to open to cars again which was the 15th October, a day I am again looking forward to.
Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina).

I continued my walk along the roads and then I took the track along the Arroyo towards the Mesia Road where I had a small flock of Red Avadavats (Bengali Rojo / Amandava amandava) which were feeding in a large Maze field along with lots of Goldfinches, Linnets (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and several Common Waxbills (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild). As I continued on along the bank I found a Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), a smart Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) which whizzed passed and out of sight and a fast flying Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) which really upset the flocks of Avadavats and Waxbills.
Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus).
I went under the railwayline and continued on counting at least 100 Collared Doves on the wires, 2x Little Owls (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) on the roof of onr of the farm building, Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs).
I reached the Mesia Road and crossed to follow the Arroyo again where a Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major) flew off in front of me and as I turned to head back towards Huétor the first Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca) and as I crossed the Mesia Road again a Greater Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla) flew up off the track. 
Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild).
I took the lower track along the railwayline again where I had 9x Tree Sparrows (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus) coming down to a damp corner in a field where the irrigation channel was leaking.
I continued on seeing more Western Cattle Egrets, Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and on the model Aircraft area several more Northern Wheatears before I reached the car again.

Monday 28 September 2020

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A 4 hour walk around the patch.
 
Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).
I parked down by the Arroyo Vilano and spent 20 minutes scanning the fields picking up Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) x150, Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) x1 first of the winter, Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) x2, Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) x2, Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) x2, Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) x4, European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) x3, Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) x1, Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) x35, Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) x1, Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) x8, Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) x1, Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) x1, Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) x14, House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) x4, Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) x2, Willow (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus) x1 and Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) x1, Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla) x6, Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) x70, Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata) x1, Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) x2, Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus) x1, Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra) x3, Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) x5, House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Western Yellow Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava flavissima) x100+, White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) x1, Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) x3, Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) x40, Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) x2 and Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) x70.
Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).

Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra) and Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

Perez's Frogs (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi).

Sunday 27 September 2020

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A quick check on the Lucerne Fields for Migrants.
 
Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).
I was on my way down to the supermarket but wanted to have a quick look at the Lucerne fields so I crossed over the dry Arroyo and then parked on the top on the far side and scanned the fields.
Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra).

Species seen included Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), as well as masses of Western Yellow Wagtails (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava flavissima), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) x11, Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Willow Warbler (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica).
Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).
I also had a quick look along the other end of the Arroyo picking up Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and lots of Iberian  Magpies (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).
House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus).

Willow Warbler (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus).