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Saturday 18 February 2023

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A good walk around the Fields.
Ebird List, 48 species.

Irrigation waters in the Arroyo.
I parked at the usual spot and then walked up stream or I would have done if there was any water in this stretch, this is the first winter since I have lived in the area where there has not been any natural flow on it. 
The only water flowing is from the outlets of the irrigation channels at a couple of points which is better than nothing, as I walked I started the list with a very nice Brambling (Pinzón Real / Fringilla montifringilla), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and the first of the many Common Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) which seemed to have arrived in big numbers along the Arroyo.
Brambling (Pinzón Real / Fringilla montifringilla).
I turned around and near the car checked the first of the outlets where the whole area was buzzing with Common Chiffchaffs along with 2x Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago) and the single Jack Snipe (Agachadiza Chica / Lymnocriptes minimus) which I had seen a few days ago, the first Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) on the patch for 2023, 1 of 3 Green Sandpipers (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) and Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea).
I continued on along the upper track around the Lucerne Fields, on the way I saw 39x Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), 18x Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaia), 10x Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris) which were feeding as a largish flock on the fields.
Little Owls (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).
I walked the Asparagus fields, turned right and then right again at the Arroyo and back to the car, on the way I saw Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and just as I was leaving I saw a single female type Clouded Yellow (Colias corceua).
I dropped down to the town and went and did some shopping, on my way back I stopped and counted the Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) finding 86 of them roosting there.

Friday 17 February 2023

Parque de Málaga and Guadalhorce, Malaga Province, Spain.

A bit of a Twitch back down to Malaga City.
Ebird List.

Red-breasted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Papirrojo / Ficedula parva).
I got up and decided to pop back down to Malaga again after missing the Red-breasted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Papirrojo / Ficedula parva) a couple of days ago, this time I was parked up early and on site before 09:00.
Red-breasted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Papirrojo / Ficedula parva).
There were a couple of other birders there and another chap turned up who I have met before but unfortunately I cannot remember his name and just as he arrived the bird called and then showed well for quite a while.
Red-breasted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Papirrojo / Ficedula parva).
The photo's are poor and grainy as the light was pretty bad but it was just very nice to catch up with this species after a couple of failed attempts in the passed.
Red-breasted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Papirrojo / Ficedula parva).
Other species seen included Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Rose-ringed (Cotorra de Kramer / Psittacula krameri) and Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).
Red-breasted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Papirrojo / Ficedula parva).
After having nice views of the bird I decided to head for the Pools at Guadalhorce where I briefly met Andy Paterson who kindly gave me a Camera that he no longer used, after a chat and a time fussing Whisky the dog I headed up to the beach from where I planned to walk out to the hide over looking Laguna Grande but as soon as I popped my head up above the bank I decided not to bother as the wind was just far too strong.
Red-breasted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Papirrojo / Ficedula parva).
I had a very quick scan of the beach picking up Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and a few Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba) before returning to the car and heading home where I got the fire going again.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 16th February 23.
15W Actinic, min +4.5.
 
10226 Cerastis faceta.
Again I ran the trap up on the terrace and picked up 5 moth of 3 species including 10226 Cerastis faceta x3, 7694 Agriopis bajaria x1 and a Plume species.
7694 Agriopis bajaria.


Plume species.


Thursday 16 February 2023

Huétor Fields and Granada City, Granada Province, Spain.

A quick walk around the fields before a visit to the City.
Ebird List for the fields.

I drooped down to the usual spot and parked before walking the Lucerne fields stretch of the Arroyo, high lights were 21 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), 2x Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), 7x Golden Plovers (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaia), Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), a Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), 2x Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), 2x Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), 2x Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata) and a Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea).
I went up to the Cortijo de Tajar where I met Jenny and John and after a coffee we headed up to Granada City where we went to the Immigration Office where they were applying for their TIE card, as I waited for them to come back out I walked around the area a saw a couple of Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla) before we headed back to Huétor.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 15th February 23.
15W Actinic, min +2.5.
 
7725 Menophora japygiaria (Brassy Waved Umber).
I ran the trap for the second time since returning to Spain, the first attemptprorduced a nil return but last nights catch was slightly better and included 7725 Menophora japygiaria (Brassy Waved Umber) x1 and 10226 Cerastis faceta x2.
10226 Cerastis faceta.

10226 Cerastis faceta.

 

Wednesday 15 February 2023

Travelling Home via Río Guadaiza and Parque de Málaga, Malaga Province, Spain.

A couple of dips on my way home.

Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).
I had breakfast at John's and we had a sit out on the terrace for a short time, we saw the resident Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and lots of Blackcaps (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla) before I headed back off up the coast.
I called in at Río Guadaiza to see if I could get some more prolonged views of the Eastern Yellow Wagtail (Lavandera de Chukotka / Motacilla tschutschensis) but in the 90 or so minutes I was there I only managed White (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) as well as Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and Monk Parakeets (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus).
Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus).
I cut my looses and headed for Malaga City where a
Red-breasted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Papirrojo / Ficedula parva) had been reported, I arrived and spent around 3 hours looking in the area where it had been seen earlier in the day.
As hard as I searched I could not find the target species, I did see Rose-ringed Parakeet (Cotorra de Kramer / Psittacula krameri), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos).
Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus).
I decided to head back home, unpack and get the fire going but later I found out that this was a mistake as the bird showed well again after I had left. 

Tuesday 14 February 2023

La Janda, Barbate, Vejer de la Frontera, La Janda in Cadiz Province and Finca Molina in Malaga Province, Spain.

A windy days birding with John, 81 species in difficult conditions.
Ebird List for La Janda, 48 species.
Ebird List for Barbate, 41 species.
Ebird List for Vejer, 2 species.
Ebird List for La Janda again, 41 species.

Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia).
After breakfast we headed off down to the coast, then up the motorway passed Los Barios, across to Benalup where we entered the La Janda area via a track in the North bu we were not confident that we would see much as the wind was extremely strong and gusty.
Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).
On the way there we saw Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).
Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).
Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).
On the track in we picked up Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), 6x Eurasian Spoonbills (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), 3x Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus), Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Meadow (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) and Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta).
Northern Bald Ibis (Ibis Eremita / Geronticus eremita).
Northern Bald Ibis (Ibis Eremita / Geronticus eremita).
Passed the turning up to the wild Olives woods and continued on towards Finicas, on the way we picked up Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).
Northern Bald Ibis (Ibis Eremita / Geronticus eremita).
Northern Bald Ibis (Ibis Eremita / Geronticus eremita).
We returned to the turning up to the Olive fields, on our way over to the road along the main canal we saw Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus), 2x Common Buzzards (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Spotless (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and 5x Common Starlings (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and Serins (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).
Friar's Cowl (Arisarum vulgare).
It was quiet along the canal as the wind was at it's strongest there but we still managed to pick up Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and masses of Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus).
Field Marigold (Calendula arvensis).
We left La Janda at the Southern entrance and headed up to the Marismas de Barbate, on the way we saw quite a few more Barn Swallows and as some as we arrived at the Lagoons more Crag Martin's along with House Martin's (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and 2x Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) which flew inland quickly.
Stitchwort species?????
Out on the Lagoons we added Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax), Grey Plover (Chorlito Gris / Pluvialis squatarola), Kentish (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus) and Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa), Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), 2x Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and 2x Great Egret (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba).
Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina).

Around the margins we also saw
Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) and Thekla Larks (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Friar's Cowl (Arisarum vulgare) and Field Marigold (Calendula arvensis) before we had something to eat at a nearby bar and then went for a walk out onto the beach, on the way out we saw a rather worn Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina) and several Northern Gannets (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus).
Barbate Beach.

Barbate Beach.

Next we headed off to the cliffs below the town of Vejer de la Frontera where we saw 4 of the Northern Bald Ibis (Ibis Eremita / Geronticus eremita) from the reintroduction scheme.
Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus).
Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus).
Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus).
We dropped back down to La Janda and went back along the main canal from the Northern end and then retraced our way back across the site to Benalup finishing the list for the off the patch birds with
Pheasant (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus), Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) and an immature Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos).
Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus).
Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus).
Back at Finca Molina we finished the day list off with Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

Monday 13 February 2023

Finca Molina and Casares, Malaga Province, Spain.

A blustery day with John at the Finca and up in the village.

Casares.

After breakfast John and I went up into the Village of Casares to do a bit of shopping and for a walk around as it had been a long time since I had been up there, as we walked we saw Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris).
We returned to the Finca and spent the rest of the day either watching the birds from the terrace of watching Cricket. 
The Finca from the town.
The wind was extremely strong for most of the day but at one point it eased off so John and I went for a walk around the Patch looking for Somber Bee Orchids (Ophrys fusca / foresteri) and even though the Wild Boar (Jabalí / Felis silvestris) had given the area a good roughing up we still found 50+ spikes in flower.
Somber Bee Orchids (Ophrys fusca / foresteri).
Other species seen included Branched Asphodel (Asphodelus ramosus), Field Marigold (Calendula arvensis), Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum), Dutchman's Pipe (Aristolochia baetica), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), a flock of 17 Ravens (Cuervo / Corvus corax) and a couple of Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax).
Branched Asphodel (Asphodelus ramosus).
Later we had something to eat, drank a few beers and watched a bit more Cricket before we sort the kit for a days birding tomorrow.

Sunday 12 February 2023

Guadlahorce Pools and Beach, Parque de la Represa, Marbella, Río Guadaiza and Finca Molina, Casares, Malaga Province, Spain.

A cracking bit of birding on my way to see friend John Hale at Finca Molina with an unexpected Lifer.
Ebird List for Guadalhorce, 55 species.
Ebird List for Parque de la Represa, 18 species.
Ebird List for Río Guadaiza, 18 Species.
Ebird List for Finca Molina, 11 species.

The beach at Guadalhorce with quite a good swell out to sea.
I left home to sound of a couple of calling Little Owls (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) in the nearby Olives and made my way down to Malaga where I called in at the Guadalhorce Reserve, I parked near the beach and walked up onto the bank where I started the list off with Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major).
Bonaparte's (Gaviota de Bonaparte / Larus philadelphia), Slender-billed (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus).
Bonaparte's (Gaviota de Bonaparte / Larus philadelphia), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus).
I dropped down onto the beach and walked out to the reserve, on the way I had 3x Kentish (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus) and 2x Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), 2x Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and the first of a few Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica).
Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).
Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia).
Once I was on the reserve I went to the main hide over looking Laguna Grande where I spent a couple of hours birding and chatting with Blas and Juan seeing Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Black-necked (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis) and Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis).
Great Skua (Págalo Grande / Stercorarius skua).
Looking up the beach.
On the far side of the pool there were a few gulls roosting and bathing, even with just my bin's I could pick up the
Bonaparte's Gull (Gaviota de Bonaparte / Larus philadelphia) that had been around for a few days in amongst the many Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Mediterranean Gulls (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), mixed in with them there was also a couple of adult Slender-billed Gulls (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei) as well as a few Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and Sandwich Terns (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis).
Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) immature.
Other species seen on the reserve included White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) female, Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) and Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris).
Yellow-browed Warbler (Mosquitero Bilistado / Phylloscopus inornatus).
Yellow-browed Warbler (Mosquitero Bilistado / Phylloscopus inornatus).
I walked back to the car along the beach again adding a Great Skua (Págalo Grande / Stercorarius skua) and several Northern Gannets (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) before I headed a bit further along the coast to Parque de la Represa, in Marbella where I was very pleased to bump into Kevin Wade and very shortly after that we picked up the Yellow-browed Warbler (Mosquitero Bilistado / Phylloscopus inornatus) which had been wintering in the same Cork Oak for quite some time.
Yellow-browed Warbler (Mosquitero Bilistado / Phylloscopus inornatus).

Yellow-browed Warbler (Mosquitero Bilistado / Phylloscopus inornatus).


After we got some good views of the bird we had a walk around the rest of the park adding Rose-ringed Parakeet (Cotorra de Kramer / Psittacula krameri), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla) and Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) but missed the Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata) which had been wintering there.
Rose-ringed Parakeet (Cotorra de Kramer / Psittacula krameri).
I left Kevin at the park and armed with directions he had given me I went to look for what had been described as a funny looking Western Yellow Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava) and had been wintering at the site.
Eastern Yellow Wagtail (Lavandera de Chukotka / Motacilla tschutschensis).
Eastern Yellow Wagtail (Lavandera de Chukotka / Motacilla tschutschensis).
Not long after I arrived I got two short view of the bird which certainly did look odd, later in the day I got a message from Andy Paterson saying that the bird had been identified as an Eastern Yellow Wagtail (Lavandera de Chukotka / Motacilla tschutschensis) on calls sent to Magnus Robb of The Sound Approach.
Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres).
Ruddy Turnstones (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres).
I didn't see anything else at this site so I headed for John's at Casares where we had a nice evening and along with some nice food, a couple of beers we saw Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) and several Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).