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Friday 10 September 2021

Cacín Valley, Granada Province, Spain.

A days birding with Anita along the Cacín Valley.
 
Copper Demoiselle (Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis) female.
I met Anita at Moraleda where we had a coffee before heading out along the Cacín Valley and made our to the first stop which was alloking up at the cliffs to the south of Moraleda but things there were quiet and we only saw Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) before we moved on down the valley to the bridge over the Cacín.
Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathinerum) female.
We parked and walked down the track as far as the fence near the Dam and then back again, on the way we saw Copper Demoiselle (Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis), Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathinerum), Iberian Bluetail (Ischnura graellsii), Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla) and both Spotted (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata) and Pied Flycatchers (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca).
Checking Contra Embalse de Cacín.

Checking Contra Embalse de Cacín.

We also recorded Limonium subglabrum, Chondrilla juncea, Squirting Cucumber (Ecballium elaterium) and
Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera).
Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).

Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).

Just up the road we checked the Embalse where we found 67
Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), 3x Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca), 31x Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), 47x Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), 200+ Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), 8x Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) and Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) all out on the water or on the margin.
Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae).

Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae).

Around the same area we added
White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Sand (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia) and House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) along with Rosy Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus onopordi) and Southern Gatekeeper (Pyronia cecilia).
Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria).
We continued on down the valley and then part of the way to the village of Ventas de Huelma before turning off to Castillo de Tajarja and then out onto the fields near Moraleda, on the way round we saw a very well behaved Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).
Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope) pair.

Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope) Pair.


As we crossed the fields on our way to Balsa de Regidor finding Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Tawny Pipit (Bisbita Camprstre / Anthus campestris), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi).
Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope).
We arrived at Balsa de Regidor and scanned the margins looking for Dragons and we had soon seen Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria), Blue / Common (Anax imperator) and Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope), Blue-eye (Erythromma lindenii), Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata) and several calling Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus).
Wood (Andarrios Bastardo / Tringa glareola) and Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) and Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula).
We returned to our meeting point and had another coffee before we moved on, Anita headed home and I went to have a look at Embalse de Cubillas as Juan Perez had seen a Pectoral Sandpiper (Correlimos Pectoral / Calidris melanotos) during the morning but by the time I had reach the site it had moved on, however I did see Wood (Andarrios Bastardo / Tringa glareola) and Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) and Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula).

Thursday 9 September 2021

At Home, Granada Province, Spain.

From the Terrace and around the Pool.

Male Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma).
I spent a short while up on the Terrace and had a walk around the pool in the garden, from the terrace I saw a couple of Honey Buzzards (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus), Iberian  Magpies (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and European Bee-eaters (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) and down around the pool a couple of male Epaulet Skimmers (Orthetrum chrysostigma).

Monday 6 September 2021

Bonanza Saltpans, Playa de Montijo, Chipiona Port, Cadiz Province and Braza del Este, Sevilla Province, Spain.

Water, water everywhere on my way home.
Day Four.

Curlew Sandpiper (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea).
I started off by going to the Saltpans near Bonanza but as on other visits since the gates stopping you getting to the Pump house lakes has been erected it was disappointing. However I did see Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta), Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa), Curlew Sandpiper (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea), Ringed (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) and Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus).
Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta).
Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta).
Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta).
Also seen in the area were Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Slender-billed Gull (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei), Caspian Tern (Pagaza Piquiroja / Sterna caspia) and Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).
Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina).
I left the Saltpans and made my way to Playa de Montijo where the tide was out and there were good numbers of birds on the waters edge but I was hoping for the reported Elegant Tern (Charrán Elegante / Sterna elegans) that had been around for a while.
Common (Charrán Común / Sterna hirudo) and Elegant Tern (Charrán Elegante / Sterna elegans).
Sandwich (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Common (Charrán Común / Sterna hirudo) and Elegant Tern (Charrán Elegante / Sterna elegans).
Elegant Tern (Charrán Elegante / Sterna elegans).
Before I located the Tern I picked up several new species for the day including Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus), Grey Plover (Chorlito Gris / Pluvialis squatarola), Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and then came the terns which included Black (Fumarel Común / Chlidonias niger), Little (Charrancito Común / Sterna albifrons), Common (Charrán Común / Sterna hirudo), Sandwich (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis) and then the Elegant which came closer as the tide pushed up.
Grey Plover (Chorlito Gris / Pluvialis squatarola).

From the beach I went just along the road to the Port at Chipiona where I had views of a few of the regular Little Swifts (Vencejo Moro / Apus affinis) and a migrating Willow Warbler (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus) before heading off towards Braza del Este to finish off a great few days away.
Little Swift (Vencejo Moro / Apus affinis).
Willow Warbler (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus).
I drove along the main track at Braza where I was pleased to see there was so much water and a great many birds including thousands of
Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus), Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), Great (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba) and Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Great Crested (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus) and Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Marbled Duck (Marmaronetta angustirostris), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Wood (Andarrios Bastardo / Tringa glareola) and Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Western Yellow Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava flavissima), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Whiskered Tern (Fumarel Cariblanca / Chilidonias hybridus) and Black-headed Weaver (Ploceus melanocephalus).
Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus).

Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus).


Sunday 5 September 2021

El Traffico, Tarifa, and Laguna de Leal del Ojo, Cadiz Province, Spain.

Visible Migration day with Ricky Owen.
Day Three.
 
Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus) pale morph.
I left my hotel and drove to the coastal cliffs near to El Traffico watch point where I started my day list off with Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Cory's (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris borealis) and Balearic Shearwater (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus),  Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis) and on the grass above the cliffs there were three Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus) which moved on when a dog walker turned up and flushed them.
Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans).

Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus).

Ricky arrived and we moved a short way along the coast to a nice high watch point over looking the sea and an inland valley where we set up out scopes and waited for things to happen, unfortunatiley it never really started but we did get a dew nice bits including Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and a singing Common / Garden Bulbul (Bulbul Naranjero / Pycnonotus barbatus) which I only heard but Ricky had in flight.
Egyptian Vulture (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus) adult.

Egyptian Vulture (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus) adult.

Egyptian Vulture (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus) adult.

Some raptors did start to move through once things warmed up and included Honey (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus) and Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) and right at the point when I was about to move on we had a couple of groups of Egyptian Vultures (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus) coming through, most were adults but the last was an immature.
Egyptian Vulture (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus) immature.
Egyptian Vulture (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus) immature.
Egyptian Vulture (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus) immature.
I left the site and headed for my hotel in Lebrija but stopped Laguna de Leal del Ojo on the way where I saw Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Greylag Goose (Ansar Común / Anser anser), White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).