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Saturday 18 March 2023

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).

 

Friday 17 March 2023

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).

Thursday 16 March 2023

Tarifa, Pinar de Los Lances, Traffico Watch Point, La Janda, La Barca de Vejer, Barbate Marismas, Salina de Cetinas and Puerto Real, Cadiz Province, Spain.

A twitch for a cracking looking bird.
Ebird List for Pinar de Los Lances.

Romulea clusiana.
I was up and on the road by 04:45 to the sound of at least 3 Little Owls (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) calling from the nearby Olives, I set off on my way down to Tarifa and was in the town by 07:30 getting some breakfast.
Two-leaved Gennaria (Gennaria diphylla).

I then walked back to the Car which was parked nearby and listened out for the single remain Common / Garden Bulbul (Bulbul Naranjero / Pycnonotus barbatus), as I waited I picked up Pallid Swifts (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and then I heard a the call I had waited for, the Bulbul was sat in a tree on the edge of the Car Park and then flew off over the wall and in to the town.
Two-leaved Gennaria (Gennaria diphylla).
I tried to pay for the Car Park but for some unknown reason the Guy gave me my money back and opened the barrier so I was on my way to a spot just up the road for the target species, a fine looking male
Brass Buttons (Cotula coronopifolia).
Moussier's Redstart (Colirrojo Diademado / Phoenicurus moussieri).
I arrived on site and parked almost straight away I bumped into Anna Hughes and Charles Wilkins, we walked down to the area where they had been the day before but did not see the bird, when we first arrived Anna showed me several spikes of Two-leaved Gennaria (Gennaria diphylla) and as I walked around I also found Romulea clusiana, Bermuda Buttercup (Oxalis pes-caprae), Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritima) and Brass Buttons (Cotula coronopifolia).
Moussier's Redstart (Colirrojo Diademado / Phoenicurus moussieri) Male.
As I searched for the Redstart with Friend Ricky Owen had told me could be mobile I picked up Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch, Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and Audouin's Gull (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis).
Moussier's Redstart (Colirrojo Diademado / Phoenicurus moussieri) Male.
I walked back along the pines and chatted to Charles for a minute before carrying on a little further South and out into another open area where it was quite a bit more sheltered and less windy, almost straight away I had a bird drop from a dead pine into a narrow pathway between two trees and I soon realized it was the target Moussier's Redstart and what a stunner it was.
Moussier's Redstart (Colirrojo Diademado / Phoenicurus moussieri) Male.
After getting a few seconds on the bird I rushed back and got Charles and Anna followed a few minutes later but the bird disappeared into the trees but as we searched we saw Western Subalpine Warbler (Curruca Carrasquena / Sylvia cantillans) before Anna and Charles relocated the bird again in the original dead Pine and we had some very nice views.
Moussier's Redstart (Colirrojo Diademado / Phoenicurus moussieri) Male.
As we watched the bird two more Brit birders turned up, one was Peter Ashley a birder I have long known by name from social media so it was good to catch up eventually.
Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).
After getting good views of the bird I decide to head for the coast and see if there was anything passing on or above the sea but it was so windy I did not last long and only saw several Sandwich Terns (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis) before I set off North to La Janda where I had a quick drive up the track along the main canal and the out at the Northern end, on the way I saw Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Zitting Cisticola, Common Stonechat, Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Calandra Lark (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus), a very smart male Black-eared Wheatear (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica), several Vagrant Emperors (Anax ephippiger) and a couple of nice clumps of Peruvian Squill (Scilla peruviana).
Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).
My next stop was at La Barca de Vejer where I payed a short visit to the cliffs where the
Northern Bald Ibis (Ibis Eremita / Geronticus eremita) were already sitting on nests along with several Feral Pigeons (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia) and some Jackdaws.
Peruvian Squill (Scilla peruviana).
I moved on again and headed to the salt pans at Barbate, on the first pan there were large numbers of smaller waders, most were Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta), Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba) along with smaller numbers of Common Sandpipers (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Ringed (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) and Kentish Plovers (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus).
Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator).

Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator).

Larger waders were Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Grey Plover (Chorlito Gris / Pluvialis squatarola), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus) and Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa) and other species included Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) and Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia).
Northern Bald Ibis (Ibis Eremita / Geronticus eremita).
Northern Bald Ibis (Ibis Eremita / Geronticus eremita).
Northern Bald Ibis (Ibis Eremita / Geronticus eremita).
I moved up to a point where I could see some more of the pans and added Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail, Zitting Cisticola, Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and as I sat there I could hear a couple of Collared Pratincole (Canastera Común / Glareola pratincola) calling over head but when I got out for a look there was actually a flock of about 60 birds dropping down on to the islands.
Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus).

Collared Pratincole (Canastera Común / Glareola pratincola).

Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia).

Before I left I again had several Vagrant Emperors which I tried to get some pictures of but failed so I headed off North again to Salinas Cetinas, I parked at the gate and walked in and out to the first hide, there were plenty of Avocets, Black-tailed Godwits, Greater Flamingo's and Shelducks (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna) out on the main pans but no smaller waders at all so I took a right and walked along the track checking the fresh water pools where I found Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Snipe, Green Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax) and a single Wood Sandpiper (Andarrios Bastardo / Tringa glareola).
Wood Sandpiper (Andarrios Bastardo / Tringa glareola).

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

Also out on the pools there were a few Northern Shovelers (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus), White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), 2x Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser) and Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).
Barbary Nut (Moraea sisyrinchium).
Other species seen as I wandered around included Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), lots of Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail, Lesser Short-toed Larks (Terrera Marismena / Calandrella rufescens) and more Vagrant Emperors (Anax ephippiger).
Three-Leaved Snowflake (Acis trichophylla).
Marcus-Kochia triloba.
Scilla verna ssp ramburii.
Time was moving on so I headed for my hotel which was in Puerto Real but as I was leaving I made a stop on the track after seeing Barbary Nut (Moraea sisyrinchium), Three-Leaved Snowflake (Acis trichophylla), Marcus-Kochia triloba and Scilla verna ssp ramburii.