Laguna Dulce, Rio Genal and Finca la Molina in Malaga Province

Travelling over to se friend John Hale and to meet up with Dave Grundy again for some Mothing at Finca La Molina.

 

Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata).

Dave and I both wanted to go down to see John so we arranged a day and Dave traveled up from Tarifa and I drove over from Home but went across country as I had plenty of time and my first stop was at Laguna Dulce near Campillos.

Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma).

I scanned the remains of the pool from the remains of the once nice hide which is now used more as a toilet than for birding unfortunately, I braved the stench long enough to see Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Red-crested Pochard (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax), White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Gull-billed Tern (Pagaza Piconegra / Gelochelidon nilotica), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans) and Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).

Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma).

I continued on passed Ronda and Gaucin but as I was still early I made a stop at the bridge over the Rio Genal where I spent a while walking up and down stream looking for dragonflies and finding several Epaulet Skimmers (Orthetrum chrysostigma), Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea), Small Pincertail (Onychogomphus forcipatus), Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata) and a single Ringed Cascaders (Zygonyx torridus).

Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) immature.

In the same area I also had a couple of immature and an adult Night Herons (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius).

Cooling my feet in the Rio Genal.

The Rio Genal.

The spot for the Ringed Cascader on the Rio Genal.

Along the Rio I also saw a couple of Monarchs (Danaus plexippus), Large White (Pieris brassicae), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris), Striped Grayling (Hipparchia fidia) and Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera).

I arrived at Johns a while before Dave so we sat and had a coffee and a chat, later we had a nice meal and Dave and I set up four Moth lights, two LED, one Actinic and a 125W MV.