Granada City, Granada Province, Spain.

A day up in the City.

Sharon, John and Caitlin, Day Five.

 

We spent the day in the City including a visit to Plaza San Nicolás which was a Tad more emotional than expected.

Chipiona Port, Cadiz Province, Spain.

Update on ringed Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) GLJ.

 

Sharon, John, Caitlin and I saw this bird on the 7th October 22 in the Port of Chipiona. It was ringed on Deserta / Barreta Island, Faro, Portugal on the 17th June 22, 132 KM to the west of Chipiona where it has been for a while.

Thanks to Ed MacKrill for doing the work to find this information.

Rio de San Pedro, Marismas de Cetina, Playa Montijo, Puerto de Chipiona. Colorado Pools in Cadiz Province and Osuna area, Sevilla Province, Spain.

Birding or way back to the house. 

Sharon, John and Caitlin, Day Four. 

 

Watching some Lesser Short-toed Larks (Terrera Marismena / Calandrella rufescens),

We had breakfast at the hotel and the went just up the road to check the Rio de San Pedro where we looked at the sandy margins of the river finding Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata), Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).

There were birds everywhere.

Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

Next we headed to the entrance of the Marismas de Cetina Salt pans where we parked and then went through the gate and started to scan the water.

Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia).

Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina).

From our first spot we started the list for the site with Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), lots of Avocets (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa), Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Slender-billed Gull (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei), Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata) and Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo).

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

Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).

Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).

Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia).

We walked further into the site and continued to pick up stuff out on the pans and on the drier salt marsh area, species included Lesser Short-toed Lark (Terrera Marismena / Calandrella rufescens), Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus), Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) and a nice male Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) which sat up nicely so that we could get the scope on it.

Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis).

Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis).

On the freshwater pool along a side track we a couple of Wood Sandpipers (Andarrios Bastardo / Tringa glareola), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Great Egret (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), lots of Red-veined Darters (Sympetrum fonscolombii) and a couple of Vagrant Emperors (Anax ephippiger).

Arctic Skua (Págalo Parásito / Stercorarius parasiticus).

Our next stop was to the North just passed Chipiona at Playa Montijo but the tide was all wrong for Waders and Terns so we only managed Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) and off the point a little way along the beach several Arctic Skua's (Págalo Parásito / Stercorarius parasiticus) were hassling everything coming into the area.

Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

Just down the road we had some lunch in the Port of Chipiona where we had the first of several Little Swifts (Vencejo Moro / Apus affinis) as well as Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Ruddy Turnstone, Lesser Black-backed and a ringed Yellow-legged Gull as well as a much closer fly through Arctic Skua which came right through the Port.

Arctic Skua (Págalo Parásito / Stercorarius parasiticus).

Arctic Skua (Págalo Parásito / Stercorarius parasiticus).

Our last stop in this area was at the Colorado Road Pools, which were in quite a shit condition as the very low water levels show just how much crap is dumped into the pools, even though they were in a bit of a state there were still a few good birds there including Temmincks (Correlimos de Temminck / Calidris temminckii) and Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta), Marbled Duck (Marmaronetta angustirostris), Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Little Egret, Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus), Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser), Night Heron (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax) and a very smart male Black-headed Weaver (Tejedor Cabecinegro / Ploceus melanocephalus).

Marbled Duck (Marmaronetta angustirostris).

Next we had a drive along the central track at Bonanza but it was amazingly quite and we only saw more Greater Flamingo's, Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

We returned to the road and started to make our way back to the House but as we passed Osuna we came off the Motorway and drove along the road out into the fields where we boosted the day list with Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Great Bustard (Avutarda Común / Otis tarda), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Calandra Lark (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) and Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis).

Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus).

Great Bustards (Avutarda Común / Otis tarda) heads down feeding.

Watching the Great Bustards.

Watching the Great Bustards.

 

Tarifa, Mirador del Estrecho, Cazalla Observatorio de Aves, Playa de Los Lances, La Janda and Barbate, Cadiz Province, Spain.

Birding the west of Cadiz Province.

Sharon, John and Caitlin, Day Three.

 

Common Bulbul (Bulbul Naranjero / Pycnonotus barbatus).

We were up and out quite early but went just up the road looking for some breakfast and then the one and only remaining Common Bulbul (Bulbul Naranjero / Pycnonotus barbatus), we eventually got some breakfast and then went for a walk around the car park where the Bulbul usual hangs around picking up Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti) and Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) but we had no luck with the Bulbul so we walked back to the car and packed away our kit and got into the car to leave, just as I started the engine we heard a call from just over the fence and straight away we recognised it as the target.

Common Bulbul (Bulbul Naranjero / Pycnonotus barbatus).

We all jumped out again and were soon watching the Bulbul as it moved between the bushes and trees, after a while it sat and preened for at least 15 minutes giving us some nice views before flying back into cover.

Common Bulbul (Bulbul Naranjero / Pycnonotus barbatus).

We moved on much happier towards the Cazalla watch point but as it is on the other side of the road we had to dive up to the Mirador del Estrecho to turn around but as there were some Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) close to the View point we decided to spent a while there watching them, we also picked up a nice Egyptian Vulture (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus).

Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

Our next stop was at the Cazalla Watch point but it was generally quiet as we had expected and we only added Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) and Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus) to the list before moving on to Playa de Los Lances, where we parked and walked out to the hide over looking the beach pool.

Egyptian Vulture (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus).

We scanned the pool and the beach finding several species of wader including Bar-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colipinta / Limosa lapponica), Red Knot (Correlimos Gordo / Calidris canutus), Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Ringed (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) and Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus) along with Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Western Yellow Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava flavissima), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis).

Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

We went Northish to the La Janda and went in via the Southern and just around the first corner along the main Canal we parked and scanned the fields finding White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus), Grey Heron and Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia).

Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis).

As we carried on along the Canal we had more Griffon Vulture, Common Kestrel, Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), large numbers of Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe).

Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) immature.

We took the track out towards the farm, on the way we had an immature Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila Perdicera / Aquila faciatus) and on the far side along the road towards Benalup-Casas Viejas where we picked up Common (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) and Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus) and plenty of Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) 25+, Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) x14, Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) x4 and Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus) x3.

Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) immature.

Our last stop of the day was out at a very windy Barbate Salt Pans where we found Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Western Cattle Egret, Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) and Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae).

Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) female.

Once we had finished being blown inside out we headed North to the Hotel Restaurante Las Canteras de Puerto Real where we were staying the night, later we went for a walk and had a nice meal before returning to the hotel for a drink.

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 (Corneja Cenicienta / 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 (Corneja Cenicienta / 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 (Corneja Cenicienta / 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 (Corneja Cenicienta / 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 atricapilla), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), lots of Stripe-necked Terrapins (Mauremys leprosa) and masses of Grey Mullet (Mugil cephalus).

Hooded crow (Corneja Cenicienta / 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 Reidora / Chroicocephalus 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 (Aguila Calzada / Aquila 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 (Aguila Calzada / Aquila 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.