Playa de Getares, Algeciras, Spain and on Gibraltar.

A new one for my Spanish List and an afternoon being blagged on Gib.

Sharon, John and Caitlin, Day Two. 

Hooded crow (Corvus cornix).

We were up and out early and making our way down to the South West heading for Gibraltar and Algeciras areas and then finishing up in a hotel in Tarifa.

Hooded crow (Corvus cornix).

As we were getting to the area a bit earlier than planned we went passed the road into La Linia and then to Gib as we decided to go and have a look for a Hooded crow (Corvus cornix) which had been around for a few days, during the journey down we saw Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia) and as we arrived at the parking near the beach at Playa de Getares Sharon had an Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) but the rest of us missed it.

Hooded crow (Corvus cornix).

We walked out to the beach crossing the Rio Pícaro where we saw Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Muscovy Ducks (Cairina moschata), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), lots of Stripe-necked Terrapins (Mauremys leprosa) and masses of Grey Mullet (Mugil cephalus).

Hooded crow (Corvus cornix).

We walked West along the sea front checking the sea, beach and building as we walked finding Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) and as we sat having a coffee a couple of Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus) which were heading for the Straits.

Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris).

Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus).

After the coffee we checked out the other end of the beach and almost straight away we heard the target bird calling and then saw it sat in a tree ahead of us but unfortunately it was flushed by a lady with here dog and flew way off down to the other end of the beach but we followed it and relocated it sat in a large pine tree where we got some nice views and also added Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) and Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) on the walk back to the car.

Barbary Macaque's (Macaca sylvanus).

Barbary Macaque's (Macaca sylvanus).

We then drove back around to La Linia and spent the best part of an hour in the Queue to cross the boarder, we then spent ages trying to pay for parking in the car park near the cable car as the machines are just so complected if they were we working at all, crap system.

Barbary Macaque's (Macaca sylvanus).

Barbary Macaque's (Macaca sylvanus).

Anyway we caught the Cable Car, we paid for the return as this was the only option but were assured by the lady in the ticket office that we could go up and then walk back down to the halfway point and get on again there, so off we went.

Barbary Macaque's (Macaca sylvanus).

Barbary Macaque's (Macaca sylvanus).

We reached the tops and spent some time getting photo's as Caitlin had never been here before but on trying to walk back down we found a barrier across the road and were told that it would cost us more money as this was now run by the government and you have to pay to walk down.

Barbary Macaque's (Macaca sylvanus).

Barbary Macaque (Macaca sylvanus).

We talked to the guy on the barrier and he said that the Cable Car is privately owned and they are always telling the same lies just to make sure you buy the ticket, well we won't get caught out again as very unlikely I will ever feel the need to return to Gib again let alone go up the Rock.

Geranium Bronze (Cacyreus marshalli).

Geranium Bronze (Cacyreus marshalli).

So after an hour or so photographing the introduced Barbary Macaque's (Macaca sylvanus) and then we headed back down, had some lunch, did some shopping, finding a few Geranium Bronze (Cacyreus marshalli) in the flower beds and drove straight off heading for Tarifa.

Looks nice from this high up.

Sharon, Caitlin and John.

We made a quick stop at Cazalla watch point on the way where we saw Booted and Short-toed Eagle, Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) and Red-rumped Swallows (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica) before dropping down into the town and checking into the Hostal Tarifa where we had nice rooms, later we had a good walk around the town and an evening meal.