Marismas de Cetina and Puerto Real, Cadiz Province, Spain

Birding with Ricky Owen, including a Spanish Lifer (I am not Jammy really Ricky 😀😀😀).

 

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

I left my hotel and drove down to the Salinas again where I parked and did the same walk as yesterday and I saw many of the same species as yesterday but I did add a Spotted Redshank (Archibebe Oscuro / Tringa erythropus) out on the pan and on the small pool a Wood Sandpiper (Andarrios Bastardo / Tringa glareola), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio) and a flyby Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia).

In the same area I also saw Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator), Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi) and Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum).

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

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

I then drove over to Puerto Real again and parked in the same area as yesterday and I was soon joined by Ricky who had bought his inflatable kayak as we were hoping to go out on the river to se if we could get better views of the gulls and more importantly the terns but whilst I was waiting for him I had Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica) and Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).

Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta).

Ricky unloaded the kit and we started to get the it pumped up but we could soon hear a problem and quickly found a puncture which unfortunately proved to be beyond repair so it was back to plan one and after packing the kit away we walked down the river seeing this funny plumage Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).

Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).

We sat on the rocks and scanned the fast disappearing sandy Islands checking through the many birds there which included good numbers of Mediterranean Gulls (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) and smaller numbers of Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Slender-billed (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis). 

Roseate Tern (Charrán Rosado / Sterna dougallii).

Roseate Tern (Charrán Rosado / Sterna dougallii).

Second commonest species was Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis) and these were accompanied by several Common (Charrán Común / Sterna hirudo), Little (Charrancito Común / Sterna albifrons) and Black (Fumarel Común / Chlidonias niger) as well as a few waders including Eurasian Oystercatcher (Ostrero Euroasiatico / Haematopus ostralegus) and Bar-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colipinta / Limosa lapponica)

Roseate Tern (Charrán Rosado / Sterna dougallii) taken by Ricky.

Roseate Tern (Charrán Rosado / Sterna dougallii) taken by Ricky.

We watched as the birds all started to fly inland and setup on the beach a little way up the river, we relocated opposite the flock and scanned through them and after a while Ricky found the front half of a Tern which looked like it could be an adult Roseate Tern (Charrán Rosado / Sterna dougallii) and after a while we managed to get good views of the whole birds and we could see the tail streamers nicely confirming the ID. A good way to end a nce days birding and chatting to Ricky, hope we can get out on the boat at some point.

Marismas de Cetina and Puerto Real, Cadiz Province, Spain

Two new site for today's birding.

 

C-17 Globemaster.

I was supposed to be going on a Pelagic trip tomorrow but unfortunately it had been cancelled due to forecast bad weather, as I had already booked my hotel I thought I may as well go for a couple of days birding anyway.

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

I arrived at the first new site, a set of saltpans call the Marismas de Cetina and the first thing I saw was a low flying US C-17 Globemaster, a plane I have played football in the back of once, they are huge.

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

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

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

I parked by the entrance gate and before I went in I scanned some nearby pylons seeing Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans) and Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus) still perched there after the night, there were also big numbers of Common (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) and Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) feeding low down over the fields.

Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

As I walked in the first greeting I got was from several noisy Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), one of which kept dive bombing me all the way to the first hide.

Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus).

Just inside the I set up the scope and scanned the first area of lagoons finding a good number of Black-tailed Godwits (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa) in various states of plumage moult with some still looking like they were in full summer finery and other in winter garb.

Purple Heron (Garza Imperial / Ardea purpurea).

White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia) just of the few that were sat out on the fields.

Other birds out in the shallows were Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Curlew Sandpiper (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea), Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus), Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) and behind me on the salt marsh type area there were several Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Greater Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla) and a small group of Domestic / Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser).

Lesser Short-toed Lark (Terrera Marismena / Calandrella rufescens).

I reached the first hide and turned right to check a pool further along the track on the right where I had views of Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), lots of White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia) which were resting until a US military helicopter flushed them all by flying too low over the reserve, 2x Grey Herons (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and several Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) which were also flushed, Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and a Little Tern (Charrancito Común / Sterna albifrons).

Wasp species.

I returned to the main track and walked up towards the second of the hides, on the way 4 Lesser Short-toed Lark (Terrera Marismena / Calandrella rufescens) flew up from the Salt marsh type area on my right and then landed on the edge of the salt pans on my left, one of the birds sat up long enough for me to crack off just a single shot.

Sandwich (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis) and  Common Tern (Charrán Común / Sterna hirudo) along with Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) and Slender-billed Gull (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei).

Sandwich (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis) and Black Tern (Fumarel Común / Chlidonias niger).

I continued on adding Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), fly over Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus) and Purple Heron (Garza Imperial / Ardea purpurea) and a Gull-billed Tern (Pagaza Piconegra / Gelochelidon nilotica) which was sat on a small Island with some Black-headed Gulls.

Caspian Terns (Pagaza Piquiroja / Sterna caspia).

Caspian Tern (Pagaza Piquiroja / Sterna caspia).

From the hide I scanned the far lagoons and pools seeing a single roosting Caspian Tern (Pagaza Piquiroja / Sterna caspia), Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), 2x Little Stints (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta) and a passing Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus).

Lesser-crested Tern (Charrán Bengalés / Thalasseus bengalensis).

I returned to the car and then drove a few KM to a spot in Puerto Real which over looks the Rio de San Pedro, it was still low tide but it was coming in and the birds were moving up from the sea to a roost on the far side of where I had Parked.

Lesser-crested Tern (Charrán Bengalés / Thalasseus bengalensis).

I got my chair out and sat ther for the next few hours watching the roost grow finding Eurasian Oystercatcher (Ostrero Euroasiatico / Haematopus ostralegus), Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus), Bar-tailed Godwits (Aguja Colipinta / Limosa lapponica), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Slender-billed, Black-headed, Lesser Black-backed, Yellow-legged and Audouin's Gulls (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Common (Charrán Común / Sterna hirudo), Sandwich (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Black (Fumarel Común / Chlidonias niger), Caspian, Little and star bird for the day a very nice Lesser-crested Tern (Charrán Bengalés / Thalasseus bengalensis) which appeared right to high tide.

Finca La Molina, Malaga Province, Spain.

A morning with the Moths of the Finca.

 

9154 Eublemma candicans first discovered in the area by Penny Hale at the Finca.

Dave and I were up and out checking the Moths that had come in during the night and the photographs below are just a few of the species we found.

8182 Brachyglossina hispanaria.

8979 Zethes insularis.

7725 Menophora japygiaria (Brassy Waved Umber).

8801 Cryphia algae.

5830 Epischnia illotella.

5153 Cydia fagiglandana.

Aproaerema species.

8902 Ophiusa tirhaca.

5595 Hypotia corticalis.

8173 Idaea infirmaria.

8818 Marbled Green (Bryopsis muralis).

5893 Valdovecaria hispanicella.

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.

Above Lanjarón, Alpujarras, Granada Province Spain.

A two Butterfly Lifer day.

 

Iberian Marbled White (Melanargia lachesis).

I left home at a decent time for once but it was still only just getting light as I drove up to met Kiersten Hartley Rowland in Lanjarón, on the way I saw and heard Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) and Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica).

Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus).

Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus).

I reached Lanjarón and after having a coffee I stood on the bridge nearby where I picked up Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), House (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and 3 fly over Hawfinches (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes).

Safflower Skipper (Pyrgus carthami).

Safflower Skipper (Pyrgus carthami).

I met Kierston and we set off up the hills above the town in her 4x4, I was quite quickly very pleased that she had bought it as even though I do abuse my car on some not so great tracks even I would not have attempted this in mine.

False Ilex Hairstreak (Satyrium esculi).

On the way up we had views of Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Cirl (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus) and Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), a Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus) which flew in and landed in a large pine tree and as we were walking up to the site we were going visit, Kiersten picked up another raptor high up on the hillside which I was expecting to be a Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) but I was surprised to see it was a dark looking Honey Buzzard (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus) which flew along the ridge and the down behind the Pines.

Andalusian Anomalous Blue (Polyommatus violetae).

Andalusian Anomalous Blue (Polyommatus violetae).

Andalusian Anomalous Blue (Polyommatus violetae).

Andalusian Anomalous Blue (Polyommatus violetae).

Andalusian Anomalous Blue (Polyommatus violetae).

Andalusian Anomalous Blue (Polyommatus violetae).

Once we were correct area we started to search but to start with we could not find any of the Andalusian Anomalous Blue (Polyommatus violetae) butterflies, however there were hundreds of Iberian Marbled Whites (Melanargia lachesis), Great Banded Graylings (Kanetisa circe), Clouded Yellows (Colias corceua), Meadow Browns (Maniola jurtina), Small Skippers (Thymelicus sylvestris), Gatekeepers (Pyronia tithonus), Small White (Pieris rapae), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) and Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra).

Southern Skimmer (Orthetrum brunneum).

Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens).

We walked a bit further along a track towards an old ruin, just before the ruin we checked out a wet flush and we were very pleased to find the first of at least 5 Andalusian Anomalous Blues (Polyommatus violetae).

Chapman's Blue (Polyommatus Thersites).

Chapman's Blue (Polyommatus Thersites).

Chapman's Blue (Polyommatus Thersites).

In the same area we also had several male Southern Skimmers (Orthetrum brunneum), False Ilex Hairstreak (Satyrium esculi), Cardinal Fritillary (Argynnis pandora) which flew through rapidly and a Spanish Gatekeeper (Pyronia bathsheba).

Lulworth Skipper (Thymelicus acteon).

Very pleased with finding the Blue we started to walk back towards the vehicle when we came across a patch of thyme plants which was covered in Butterflies including another Andalusian Anomalous Blue, even more pleasing were a couple of Chapman's Blues (Polyommatus Thersites) which were the second new species for both of us.

Clouded Yellow (Colias corceua).

Escher's Blue (Agrodiaetus escheri).

In the same area we also saw Lulworth Skipper (Thymelicus acteon) and on our way back down the hill Escher's Blue (Agrodiaetus escheri), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), Purple Hairstreak (Quercusia Quercus) and along side one of the irrigation channels and at a pool near there we had Common Golden Ringed (Cordulegaster boltonii), Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea), Broad-bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa), lots of Perez's Frogs (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi), Melodious Warbler (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius).

Common Golden Ringed (Cordulegaster boltonii).

Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum).

Down by the car Kiersten found a Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus) and we also saw and heard Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli).

Broad-bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa).

By now it was starting to get quite hot, even up in the hill so we dropped back down and we headed home after a great morning, I would like to thank kiersten for her company and for driving up that dreadful road.