Near Huétor Tajar in Granada Province, Driving North and at Laguna Navaseca, Ciudad Real, Castile-La Mancha, Spain.

8 travellers head North for a spot of Birding.

Ebird List for Navaseca.

Day One.

The Laguna.

I was up at 06:00 and getting sorted ready for the arrival of Sonya and Ricky, Barbara and Derek, Barbara and Jerry and Bob but before they arrived I was done so I spent a while stood out side seeing what I could hear calling as it started to get light and I picked up Red-necked Nightjar (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Turtle (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur) and Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).

A low looking Laguna Navaseca.

The others arrived and after loading all my kit into Jerry and Barbara's motor we were on our way, before we reached the motorway we had seen Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus).

Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) Chick.

Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus).

As we continued on North the list grew as we picked up Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) x2, Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) x2, Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans) x4, Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus) x1, Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax).

Whiskered Tern (Fumarel Cariblanca / Chilidonias hybridus).

Whiskered Terns (Fumarel Cariblanca / Chilidonias hybridus).

Whiskered Terns (Fumarel Cariblanca / Chilidonias hybridus).

We reached Daimiel and checked into the hotel before heading out to Laguna Navaseca, we parked and scanned the lake which was surprising at a low level water wise but after talking to a local it sounds like a crack as appeared in the lake bed and they can't put enough water in from the sewage works to keep it full unfortunately.

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

Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina) male.

However at this point there are still good numbers of birds there including Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (Ganga Ibérica / Pterocles alchata) which we only heard, Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser), Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Whiskered (Fumarel Cariblanca / Chilidonias hybridus) and Black Tern (Fumarel Común / Chlidonias niger), White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis) x2, Night Heron (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) and Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).

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

Avocets (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta).

We drove down to the first hide on the back track were we picked up Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Savi's Warbler (Buscarla Unicolor / Locustella luscinoides), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) and European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster).

Barbara L, Sonya, Derek, Jerry, Me, Ricky and Barbara E (Bob's taking the Photo).

At the far end of the Northern track we checked the chain-link fence picking up Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and along the track passed the sewage works we added Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus), Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus) and Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos).

Great Reed Warbler (Carricero Tordal / Acrocephalus arundinaceus).

In the same area we also found Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum), Wild Onion (Allium ampeloprasum). Common Chicory (Cichorium intybus), Common Mallow (Malva sylvestris), Corn (Papaver rhoeas) and Red-horned Poppy (Glaucium corniculatum) and Field Convulvulous (Convolvulus arvensis).

Great Reed Warbler (Carricero Tordal / Acrocephalus arundinaceus).

On the last stretch we added Great Reed Warbler (Carricero Tordal / Acrocephalus arundinaceus), Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Red-crested Pochard (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina), a Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus) which was being mobbed by a Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), Penduline Tit (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus) and a Night Heron (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax).

Wild Onion (Allium ampeloprasum).

We returned to our accommodation via Lidl where we picked up some food for our evening meal.

Cerro Hacho, Sierra de Loja and Balsa de Regidor, Granada Province, Spain.

Back out with friend Bob.

Ebird List for Sierra de Loja.

A bad shot of the Western Orphean Warbler (Curruca Mirlona / Sylvia hortensis).

We were up and out earlish and headed up to Cerro Hacho, on the way we saw Ocellated Lizard (Timon lepidus), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur) and Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).

3963 Zygaena sarpedon.

We parked at the Puddle Car Park and then walked out on the lower loop, as we walked we saw Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and a very smart male Western Orphean Warbler (Curruca Mirlona / Sylvia hortensis) which sang all around us and showed briefly a few times.

3963 Zygaena sarpedon.

Other species seen after we turned around and headed back to the car included Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Crested Tit (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), in some pines just passed the car Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and on the wires above us 2 Common Crossbills (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra).

Black-eared Wheatear (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica) male.

Also seen were Andalucian Gorse (Ulex baeticus), Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas), Eruca (Eruca sativa), Mallow-leaved Convolvulus (Convolvulus althaeoides), Purple Phlomis (Phlomis purpurea), Southern Knapweed (Centaurea pullata), White Rockrose (Helianthemum apenninum) and 3963 Zygaena sarpedon.

Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush (Roquero Roja / Monticola saxatilis) male display flight.

We returned to the car and drove down to Loja for a coffee, on the way we added Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), a male Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and as we sat having our coffee Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica).

Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush (Roquero Roja / Monticola saxatilis) male display flight.

I went inside the bar to pay and whilst I was there I had a chat with 8 Guardia Civil guys that were having a coffee and asked them about access to Sierra de Loja, they all said it was still open so we headed off up and across to the far side where we eventually found our main target the beautiful Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush (Roquero Roja / Monticola saxatilis) which was distant but gave us good views whilst it did several song flights and sang from the highest poing of the crags.

Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush (Roquero Roja / Monticola saxatilis) singing from the highest perch.

Other species seen on the drive over to and during our time at the far end of the site included Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Rock and Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Alpine (Vencejo Real / Apus melba) and Pallid Swifts (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Black-eared (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica) and Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Hoopoe, Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Spotless Starling, Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Little Owl, Western Orphean Warbler, Erodium cheilanthifolium, Blue Hedgehog Broom (Erinacea anthyllis), Navel-wort (Omphalodes commutata), Centaurea prolongoi, Chickweed (Cerastium boissieri), Large Psammodromus (Psammodromus algirus) and Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Capra pyrenaica hispanica).

Erodium cheilanthifolium.

On the way down Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Short-toed Treecreeper and Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina) and Iberian Marbled White (Melanargia lachesis) were all seen.

Centaurea prolongoi.

On the track up to the middle quarry we added Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and in the same area we saw Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator), Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra) x1, Spanish Gatekeeper (Pyronia bathsheba), Southern Marbled Skipper (Carcharodus baeticus), Small White (Pieris rapae), Black Horehound (Ballota nigra), Rusty-back Fern (Ceterach officinarum), Yellow Phlomis (Phlomis lychnitis) and  Carduus granatensis.

Carduus granatensis.

Southern Marbled Skipper (Carcharodus baeticus).

We dropped down off the hill and had some lunch in the same bar as we had seen the Guardia Guys earlier and then later we headed out along the A92 to Balsa de Regidor, here we checked the Pool for birds and dragonflies finding good numbers of Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina) including two broods of 4 and 5 ducklings, Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Stripe-necked Terrapins (Mauremys leprosa), Perez's Frogs (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi), Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea) x4, Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope) x7, Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator) x1, Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) x25+ and Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathinerum) x15+.

Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina) with 5 Ducklings.

Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina) with 4 Ducklings.

We returned to the house, later we went down to Restaurante Asador Panilla and had a good meal before heading back to Realenga but passed the house and parked on the roadside a few hundred meters passed the top of the hill where we were in the right place at the right time when a stunning Eurasian Eagle Owl (Búho Real / Bubo bubo) flew over the road.

Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) male.

Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) male.

We returned to the house and went up on the terrace where we heard 3 calling Red-necked Nightjars (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis), Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Little Owls but the star bird was a Long-eared Owl (Búho Chico / Asio otus) which flew just a few meters away along the Barranco and was picked up in the terrace lights.

Huétor Fields, El Temple area, Cacín Valley and Huétor Fields and Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Out on to the fields into the Valley with Bob.

Ebird List for El Temple.

Ebird List for Contraembalse de los Bermejalis.

Calandra Lark (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra).

We set off and headed down onto the fields near Huétor, on the way we started the list with Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and once on the fields we picked up the calling male Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), a distant Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator) and Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula).

Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus).

We moved on and headed for the area called El Temple, on the way we saw Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) and Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) before we hit the tracks.

Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus).

On the first section we which had a few trees we saw Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Nightingale and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala).

Roller (Carraca / Coracias garrulus).

Once we were out on the more open area we were very pleased to find a good number of Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) along with 2x Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis), plenty of Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) and Greater Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus) and Lesser Kestrel (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni) as well as Bath (Pontia daplidice) x6 and Small White (Pieris rapae) x8+, Clouded Yellow (Colias corceua) x4+ and Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina) x2.

Whilst we were out on the area we watched a good number of Military type aircraft circle several times practicing for an upcoming event in Motril.

We dropped down off this section and as we were driving between spots we bumped into Good friend Juan Perez who was out for a bit of birding as well, after a chat we were on our way and the next species we connected with was a very smart looking Roller (Carraca / Coracias garrulus) which was followed by Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus) and Ocellated Lizard (Timon lepidus).

At this point we got a call from Juan to say he had relocated the female Red-footed Falcon (Cernícalo patirrojo / Falco vespertinus) and that there was a Hobby (Alcotán Europeo / Falco subbuteo) in the same area, so armed with some directions we went to the area and soon found Juan who said the Hobby had gone but both the Male and female Red-foots were in the area but distant.

Juan kindly let Bob and I have views of the cracking birds through his scope, they were some distance a way but with the scope they looked great as they hunted over an area of cereal fields and sat resting in the Olives which bordered the area, whilst in this area we also had Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus) and Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus).

Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus).

After thanking Juan for the call and the use of his scope we headed off for some Lunch and the headed out to the Cacín Valley, on the way out there we saw European Bee-eater, lots more Turtle Doves which seem to be in very good numbers locally, Common Buzzard, Booted Eagle, Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Melodious Warbler (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta) and Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae). 

Melodious Warbler (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta).

Along the Rio Cacín just out side the village we saw Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Golden Oriole, yet another Booted Eagle, Nightingale, Blackcap, Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous) x1, Clouded Yellow x2 and Small White x3 before heading up the Valley to the Contraembalse where we added Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Cetti's (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Reed (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) and Great Reed Warbler (Carricero Tordal / Acrocephalus arundinaceus) which was a year tick, Iberian  Magpie, another Short-toed Eagle and a male Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens).

Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae).

Just before we were about to head off friends Jane and Bob pulled so we had a bit of a catch up before they headed off home and we made our way to a spot in the Pine woodlands a bit further up stream, here we picked up a single Honey Buzzard (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Woodlark (Totovia / Lullula arborea), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra) and Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus).

Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae).

We moved up the Valley again to the cliffs below Moraleda were we looked for but missed Eurasian Eagle Owl (Búho Real / Bubo bubo) but we did pick up Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura) and Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) before we headed for the Fields again adding Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) and Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus).

Looking out towards Parapanda.

We returned to the house and spent a while sat out on the terrace even though it was raining at times.