Travelling South, La Laguna de la Veguilla in Ciudad Real, Spain.

Last day of the trip, heading South again.

Ebird List for the pools.

Ebird List for the Fields.

Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) Male.

We Left the hotel early and Jerry drove South to La Laguna de la Veguilla near to Alcázar de San Juan a good way south of Madrid, on the way we saw Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).

Zygophyllum fabago.

Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) Male.

We arrived at the Laguna's around 30 minutes before the other car and stayed in the first hide until they arrived and picked up Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Black-necked (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), Great Crested (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus) and Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Marsh Harrier, Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Great Reed (Carricero Tordal / Acrocephalus arundinaceus), Reed (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) and Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Purple (Garza Imperial / Ardea purpurea) and Squacco Heron (Garcilla Cangrejera / Ardeola ralloides) and House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica).

Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) and Black Tern (Fumarel Común / Chlidonias niger).

Black Tern (Fumarel Común / Chlidonias niger).

Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).

We moved up to the next hide, the whole area was covered in Zygophyllum fabago, from the hide we added Red-crested Pochard (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina), Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus), Black Tern (Fumarel Común / Chlidonias niger) and at least three Bearded Tits (Reedling) (Bigotudo / Panurus biarmicus) which were a very welcome year tick.

Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica).

Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica).

We returned to the car and drove around to the third hide where we had 5 Marbled Duck (Marmaronetta angustirostris) on the fenced off pool where the introduction birds are put.

White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala).

White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala).

From the hide we found Penduline Tit (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus), Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope), Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum), Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi) and back near the car we had 4 Tree Sparrows (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus) on the roof of the visitors center.

Lavatera Species possibly trimestris.

We had some lunch under some nearby trees where there were a couple of picnic benches, once we had finished Jerry, Barbara, Bob and Myself said goodbye to Ricky, Sonya, Derek and Barbara and then headed to a spot out in some nearby fields to show the others a winter site for a few interesting species but whilst there we added a Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator) before we headed back south to my house where they dropped me off before continuing on to Malaga.

Can't thank the rest of the group for a cracking trip, especially to Jerry (and Derek) for driving all the time which was great for me as I have always driven on all my past trips up to the area.

Belchite, Zaragoza and heading South, Spain.

Starting the trip back South.

Ebird List for Belchite.

Way marker with the bird everyone wants, we didn't find it but we weren't confident as it was too late in the year for the bird to be calling.

We were up and out of the accommodation early and on our way down to the well known reserve of El Planerón on the plains near to Belchite, on the way we saw Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax).

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

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

We arrived in the area and as we approached the turn off onto the dirt tracks we passed a couple of small raodside pools adding Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) and Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis).

Greater Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla).

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

We turned off the road and parked almost straight away and just after we got out of the cars we had the first of several Mediterranean / Lesser Short-toed Larks (Terrera Marismena / Calandrella rufescens) as well as Greater Short-toed (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla) and Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), 2 distant Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis) with 2 more at least being heard later, we also heard Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (Ganga Ibérica / Pterocles alchata) at least 3 times but could not locate the birds, Booted (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus) and Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus), Black-eared Wheatear (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), a calling Western Orphean Warbler (Curruca Mirlona / Sylvia hortensis) which was heard over the road in some Almond trees and just as we were leaving a Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) did a flyby.

Ricky off for a stroll.

Some tracks in the Mud, don't what made them yet.

As we drove around the rest of the site we did pick up Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Black Kite, our first Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) of the trip, Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera) and a good number of Rabbits (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus).

Defiantly seemed to be more agricultural and less wild areas since my last visit.

Bath White (Pontia daplidice).

The rain started to fall so we started off South for our overnight stop in Horche, near Guadalajara, on the way we made a stop at the Civil War ruins in Belchite and picked up Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus) and as we drove down the A2 at KM263 / 4 I saw a big raptor which turned out to be a very smart Cinereous / European Black Vulture (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus).

The Storms starting to build again.

Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans).

We arrived and checked in at the Hotel, wouldn't go there again as there were a few problems with the food and the bill but it did the job for one night. 

Ainso Valley, Aragón, Spain,

Our final day in the Pyrenees, a new site for me with some great birds.

Ebird List for Puértolas.

Looking up at the Vulture Crags.

We were up and around quite early and headed out east again, before we left I saw Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli) and Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

Egyptian Vulture (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus) the first of three Vulture species from the first stop on the way up.

Lammergeier / Bearded Vulture (Quebrantahuesos / Gypaetus barbatus).

Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

We headed for the abandoned village of Garganta de Escuain where the only place open was a visitor's center where you can get information about the wildlife in the area, on the way we saw and heard Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Red (Milano Real / Milvus milvus) and Black Kites (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Red-backed Shrike (Alcaudón Dorsirrojo / Lanius collurio) and Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris).

Watching the raptors.

Lammergeier / Bearded Vulture (Quebrantahuesos / Gypaetus barbatus).

Lammergeier / Bearded Vulture (Quebrantahuesos / Gypaetus barbatus).

Lammergeier / Bearded Vulture (Quebrantahuesos / Gypaetus barbatus).

Lammergeier / Bearded Vulture (Quebrantahuesos / Gypaetus barbatus).

A few KMs before we reached the village we pulled off the road to check a couple of Raptors which were another couple of Common Buzzards but whilst there we also had fly over Griffon and Egyptian Vulture (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Red Kite and our first of a few Lammergeier / Bearded Vulture (Quebrantahuesos / Gypaetus barbatus).

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Large White (Pieris brassicae).

Turquoise Blue (Polyommatus dorylas).

Provençal Fritillary (Melitaea deione).

Also seen were Jay, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Bonelli's Warbler, Nightingale, Carrion Crow and Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax).

Common Twayblade (Neottia ovata).

Common Twayblade (Neottia ovata).

Fly Orchid (Ophrys insectifera).

Lesser Butterfly Orchid (Platanthera bifolia).

A little further on we stopped again near a large water tank where we saw lots more Egyptian and  Griffon Vultures, Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus) and a minimum of 6 more Lammergeier / Bearded Vulture but I suspect that there were a few more birds involved.

Clouded Yellow (Colias corceua).

Swallowtail (Papilio machaon).

Swallowtail (Papilio machaon).

Common Orange-tip (Anthocharis cardamines).

Other species seen were Alpine Swift (Vencejo Real / Apus melba), Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus), Alpine Chough (Chova Piquigualda / Pyrrhocorax graculus), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Dingy Skipper (Erynnis tages), Large White (Pieris brassicae), Turquoise Blue (Polyommatus dorylas), Provençal Fritillary (Melitaea deione) and Clouded Yellow (Colias corceua).

Hepatica (Hepatica nobilis).

We arrived at the village and went straight into the office and got all the info we needed except for the fact that the birds had already been feed and the chances of any thing being at the hide was zero!!!

On the way, worth the walk just for the views.

Ricky, Derek and I started the 1.5 hour walk out to the hide, some of it was hard going, particularly the last few hundred meters but we did it even though we met an English lady on her way down who did tell us that most things we already gone but we still decided to continue just so that we knew what to expect if we were to return.

On the way up we saw we had Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Griffon, Egyptian andLammergeier / Bearded Vulture, Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Yellowhammer (Escribano Cerillo / Emberiza citronella), Red-backed Shrike, Bullfinch (Camachuelo Común / Pyrrhula pyrrhula), Great, Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Coal Tit  (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Carrion Crow, Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos) and Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).

Egyptian Vulture (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus).

Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus).

Plants and butterflies included Common Twayblade (Neottia ovata), Early Purple Orchid (Orchis mascula), Fly Orchid (Ophrys insectifera), Lesser Butterfly Orchid (Platanthera bifolia), Sword-leaved Helleborine (Cephalanathera longifolia), Wood Ruff (Galium odoratum), Stinking Hellebore (Helleborus foetidus), Hepatica (Hepatica nobilis), Cowslip (Primula veris), Wild Strawberry (Fragaria vesca), Linum viscosum, Swallowtail (Papilio machaon), Common Orange-tip (Anthocharis cardamines) and Adonis Blue (Lysandra bellargus).

Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

We eventually got back to the cars and the rest of the group and then started to make our way back down towards the House for our last night, on the way we had good views of a couple of Egyptian's, Red Kite and just before e reached Ansó we made a stop to check a group of Griffon's which dropped in low behind some Pine trees but they were all just having a rest either sat on the track or in one of the Pines.