Humedal de Padul, Granada Province, Spain.

A mornings Birding with friend Juan Pérez Contreras.

Ebird List. 

Purple Heron (Garza Imperial / Ardea purpurea).

I arrived at the meeting point at Restaurante Montesol and when Juan arrived we went for a walk around the Northen side of the main lake, first of all we went east and quicly found, what for me was bird of the day a very smart Purple Heron (Garza Imperial / Ardea purpurea), in the same area we also recorded Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Sedge Warbler (Carricerin Común / Acrocephalus schoenobaenus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) as well as the first of several Speckled Woods (Pararge aegeria) and Stripe-necked Terrapins (Mauremys leprosa).

Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus).

Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus).

We turned around and walked back to our start point and the walked West along the Northern side, on the way we added Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) along with Small White (Pieris rapae), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) x1 and a nice male Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus).

Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).

Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).

Juan had to be off and I headed off towards the Cacín Valley but just as I was leaving my phone rang to say a delivery was going to arrive at my place during the afternoon so I headed home instead.

Moraleda de Zafayona, Granada Province, Spain.

A check on some interesting Orchids.

Fan-lipped Orchid (Anacamptis collina).

I popped down town for a few bits and to have some breakfast with Belen before heading along the Motorway to a spot near to Moraleda where there is a small area of disused Almonds which holds some interesting Orchid species but today the only ones in flower were 8 spikes of Fan-lipped Orchids (Anacamptis collina) and nearby a dozen or so Somber Bee Orchids (Ophrys fusca / foresteri) and a few more Fan-lipped.

Fan-lipped Orchid (Anacamptis collina).

Birds included my first Wryneck (Torcecuello / Jynx torquilla) of the year along with Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) and Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca / foresteri).

The only butterfly seen was a single Small White (Pieris rapae).

Later I picked up friends Jan and Linda from their place, La Paz and we went out for a very nice bit of Lunch in Huétor, thanks to you both. 

I returned home and sat for a while letting things settle before going out for a walk around the Lucerne Fields and out to the Railway bridge along the Arroyo, high lights included 4x Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) including the splendid looking male who obviously thought he looked splendid the way he was strutting around.

View out to Sierra Nevada from the Fields.

Other species included 2x Black-winged Kites (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis), a single Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes), 5x Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), 1x Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) and 1x Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui).

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

An evening walk.

I headed down to the fields at around 19:00 for a walk but took the bins, High lights were the Calling male Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) and the two Black-winged Kites (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus).

Realenga de Agicampe, Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 18th March 23. 

15W Actinic, min +6

6496 Evergestis isatidalis

9 moths of 8 species including 6184 Eudonia angustea x1, 6496 Evergestis isatidalis x1, 6551 Udea numeralis x1, 8328 Nebula ibericata x1, 9433 Paradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow) x1, 10037 Orthosia incerta (Clouded Drab) x1, 10226 Cerastis faceta x1 and 10351 Agrotis segetum (Turnip Moth) x2.

6551 Udea numeralis

8328 Nebula ibericata

9433 Paradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow).

10037 Orthosia incerta (Clouded Drab).

10226 Cerastis faceta

10351 Agrotis segetum (Turnip Moth).

10351 Agrotis segetum (Turnip Moth).

 

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A short walk along the Lucerne fields.

Ebird List.

Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) female in  the foreground watch a male strut his stuff.

I intending to spend most of the day working in the garden so I went out for a walk earlish and cut it down to just doing the Lucerne fields and going a short way up stream to the dammed off bit of river.

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) giving me the look even though I am way over the other side of the Arroyo.

High Lights included 2x Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), 2x Black-winged Kites (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), 2x Pallid Swifts (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), 3x Sand Martins (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia), 6x Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis), 2x Tree Sparrows (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus) and a fine looking male Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae). 

Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis).

Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia).

 

Chipiona Port, Playa de Montijo in Cadiz Province and El Pantano, Brazo del Este in Sevilla Province and Fuente de Piedra in Malaga Province, Spain.

 Day Two out West.

Playa de Montijo an hour or so before high tide.

I left the hotel in Puerto Real at about 06:30 and headed for the Port at Chipiona, as it was still only just getting light when I arrived I stopped at a bar in the town for some breakfast and a couple of coffee's before going down to the port where I almost instantly saw several of the target Little Swifts (Vencejo Moro / Apus affinis) and in the 45 mins or that I was there I reckoned there were around 18 birds in the area.

Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres).

Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres).

Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres).

I also recorded House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

Ruddy Turnstones (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres) and a Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba).

Ruddy Turnstones (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres) and a Sanderlings (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba).

I moved on and got to Playa de Montio just as the tide was coming in nicely and was pushing the birds in as it came, wader species included Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta), Red Knot (Correlimos Gordo / Calidris canutus), Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Grey Plover (Chorlito Gris / Pluvialis squatarola), Bar-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colipinta / Limosa lapponica), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Eurasian Oystercatcher (Ostrero Euroasiatico / Haematopus ostralegus), Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus) and Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata).

Eurasian Oystercatcher (Ostrero Euroasiatico / Haematopus ostralegus).

Grey Plovers (Chorlito Gris / Pluvialis squatarola).

Grey Plover (Chorlito Gris / Pluvialis squatarola).

Other species seen were Lesser Black-backed, Yellow-legged, Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) and Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Gull-billed  (Pagaza Piconegra / Gelochelidon nilotica), Caspian (Pagaza Piquiroja / Sterna caspia) and Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti).

Riding along the beach away from the Sunrise.

During the time I stood there several guys on horseback in traditional  dress rode passed and off up the beach, guessing there was some sort of fiesta on but no idea what.

Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina) and Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba).

Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba).

Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina).

I moved on and drove to El Pantano near Los Palacios y Villafranca where I parked on one of the tracks where I was hoping to see the uncommon Laughing Dove (Streptopelia senegalensis) which has a small population in the area, I had only walked a few meters and I heard the bird calling from a Eucalyptus tree and then it flew out and landed on a Pylon nearby so I got some nice views through the bins but just when I raised the camera it flew and disappeared across the river.

Sandwich Terns (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis).

Caspian Tern (Pagaza Piquiroja / Sterna caspia).

I hung around the area for a while hoping for another view, as I waited I picked up Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), Red-crested Pochard (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina) and a singing Sedge Warbler (Carricerin Común / Acrocephalus schoenobaenus).

Muscovy Duck (Cairina moschata).

Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

I also recorded Large (Pieris brassicae) x1 and Small White (Pieris rapae) x3 and at least 4 Vagrant Emperors (Anax ephippiger).

Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio).

Little Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius).

White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).

As I walked back to the car the Dove again flew across and landed in the top of a very dead looking Prickly Pear before disappearing into a nearby Olive tree.

Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia).

White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia) tower block.

Yellow-crowned Bishop (Euplectes afer) female.

I moved on again and headed out to Brazo del Este where I drove along the usual track and checked out the three main areas of water, on the first there were lots of Western Swamp-hens (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Muscovy Duck (Cairina moschata), 2x Tree Sparrows (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Avocets, Common Redshanks, Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) and Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna).

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

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

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

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

On the second bend in the river I added Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Eurasian Spoonbill, White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Black-headed Gull, Great Cormorant, a very nice female (ringtail) Hen Harrier (Aguilucho Pálido / Circus cyaneus), Black-winged Stilt, Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) and Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea).

Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus).

Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta).

Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula).

On the third bend there were a couple of Caspian Tern, Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Black Kite, Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and 2 female Black-headed Weavers (Ploceus melanocephalus).

Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata).

Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

As I drove via the track back to Los Palacios y Villafranca I added a flock of what looked like around 20 female Yellow-crowned Bishops (Euplectes afer).

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

White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).

I left the site and headed towards Fuente de Piedra, on the way along the A92 just before La Puebla de Cazalla at a large rubbish dump I saw a huge cloud of Black Kites numbering between 1 and 2 thousand birds. 

Spotted Crake (Polluela Pintoja / Porzana porzana).

Spotted Crake (Polluela Pintoja / Porzana porzana).

My final stop of the trip was at Fuente de Piedra, but I only checked the entrance pool and the board walk nearby, species included some very smart Black-tailed Godwits, Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax), Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus), Common Redshank, Black-winged Stilt, Avocet, Greater Flamingo, House (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Marbled Duck (Marmaronetta angustirostris) and a distant but nice to see Spotted Crake (Polluela Pintoja / Porzana porzana).