Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

Late evening walk around the fields.

Ebird List.

Just after 21:00 I decided to go for a walk around the fields, highlights were Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Red-necked Nightjar (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis) x2, Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) and Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).

Padul Wetland and Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

Another cracking year tick with friend Juan's help.

Ebird List for Padul.

Ebird List for Huétor Fields.

The view over the reserve.

After getting a call from Juan Perez last night to tell me that there was an Eleonora's Falcon (Halcón de Eleonora / Falco eleonorae) at Padul Wetland and as it had been around for a couple of days we arranged to meet up at 08:00.

Eleonora's Falcon (Halcón de Eleonora / Falco eleonorae) Just after dawn.

I arrived a little early and saw the bird in the dead trees straight away but I then went into the bar for some breakfast and waited for Juan to arrive, when he did we both saw the bird before dropping down towards the lake but when we came out of the trees the bird had already moved futher out into the more distant trees.

Eleonora's Falcon (Halcón de Eleonora / Falco eleonorae).

Eleonora's Falcon (Halcón de Eleonora / Falco eleonorae).

As we watched it we also saw an adult Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos) in a Bramble patch next to the path which was feeding one of it's youngsters, other species were Grey (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and Purple Heron (Garza Imperial / Ardea purpurea), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Cetti's (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Reed (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis).

Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos).

Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos).

Other species included Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi) and a good numbers of Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa).

Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos).

Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos).

After a couple of hours without the bird doing anything we headed off, I headed home but later I went for a walk around the fields where I had good views of all 5 of the Black-winged Kites (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) and just as exciting was finding 5 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) including the male, a female which had three youngsters with her confirming the first breeding as far as I am aware of on my local patch.

Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus).

Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus).

Other species seen included Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), lots of Turtle Doves (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), Greater Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) and Iberian  Magpies (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).

Some of the many Turtle Doves (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur).

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 8th June 23.
Garden Light, min +16. 

 

9754 Apamea arabs.

1655 Ethmia bipunctella x2, 4855 Epinotia thapsiana x1, 5144 Cydia pomonella (Codling Moth) x1, 5624 Bostra obsoletalis x1, 5830 Epischnia illotella x1, 6551 Udea numeralis x1, 6690 Palpita vitrealis x1, 7725 Menophra japygiaria (Brassy Waved Umber) x2, 9754 Apamea arabs x1.

5144 Cydia pomonella (Codling Moth).

Cydia or Pammene tortrix.

4855 Epinotia thapsiana.

6551 Udea numeralis.

 

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

Walking back from the Mechanic's in Ventanuvea.

Ebird List.

I dropped the car off for a couple of minor jobs and walked back home, once I was through Huétor I started the Ebird list.

High light for the walk was finding 5 Black-winged Kites (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), 2 adults and 3 immatures which confirmed successful breeding for the first time on the patch.

Other good species included Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix), Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus), 4x Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus) x3, Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Greater Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), Melodious Warbler (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta) x4 and Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae).

Huétor Fields, El Temple, Cacín Valley, Moraleda Fields and Balsa de Regidor, Granada Province, Spain.

A days birding around the furthest parts of the Patch.

Ebird List for Contraembalse.

Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

I started off by dropping down onto the fields where I saw the usual species I am lucky enough to have so near to my house, 5x Black-winged Kites (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), the calling male Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Greater Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla).

Thistle species I still need to name.

My next stop was for breakfast at the Cortijo where I met Richard and after a coffee we headed back to the fields pickup all the species above plus Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) and a female Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

After a while we moved on and went East up the Motorway and then out onto the fields of El Temple, as we drove the tracks around the site we had views of several Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Lesser (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Calandra Lark (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), a calling Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius) which we did not find,  at least 2 Short-toed Eagles (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus), another Marsh Harrier and Black-winged Kite, Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), a Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus) on the Oil pits and our last bird as we drove off the site was a very nice Roller (Carraca / Coracias garrulus).

Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus).

We also saw lots of both Bath (Pontia daplidice) and Small Whites (Pieris rapae), Clouded Yellow (Colias corceua), Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli), Rabbits bread (Andryala integrifolia) and Rabbits (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus).

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

We crossed from El Temple to the Cacín Valley, on the way we picked up at least 3 more Booted and 2x Short-toed Eagles, Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) as well as Large White (Pieris brassicae) and Long-tailed Blue (Lampides baeticus).

Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).

We dropped down into Cacín and made a stop at the River which was running muddy after the rains and had a short walk finding Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Holly (Celastrina argiolus) and Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous).

Blue-eye (Erythromma lindenii).

Our next stop was North along the Valley at the Contraembalse where the muddy inflow was very obvious and covered over half the waters surface, species seen here included a very nice Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), 2 more Black-winged Stilts, Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Cetti's (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Reed (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) and Great Reed Warbler (Carricero Tordal / Acrocephalus arundinaceus), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla) and Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathinerum).

Further up stream we stopped by the bridge and walked towards the dam, along the channel we saw and heard Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and in the the channel near the fence Blue-eye (Erythromma lindenii), Common Blue (Enallagma cyathinerum), Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra) and Spanish Gatekeeper (Pyronia bathsheba).

Large White (Pieris brassicae).

In the pines further up stream we saw several Iberian  Magpies (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), calling Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra) before going up on to the fields near Moraleda on our way through to the motorway but the only species we added was a Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and in the irrigation channel a single male Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea).

Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum).

Our last stop of the day was at the man made pool Balsa de Regidor, on the water we saw four broods of Common Pochards, two with 5 ducklings and 2 females with 4 young.

Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina).

Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina).

Dragonflies seen included Lesser (Anax parthenope) and Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator), Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum), Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi),  Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Scarlet Darter and more Common Blue Damselflies as well as lots of Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi) and Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa).

Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi).

We returned to the hotel and Richard headed off back to the coast seeing several more good species on the way. 

Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi).

Marismas del Odiel PNat, Espigón Juan Carlos I, Huelva Province, Spain.

Mega Rarity trip.

Dawn on the Odiel.

Before I went to the Pyrenees for a week the news broke of a Mega rare Ancient Murrelet (Synthliboramphus antiquus) but unfortunately I was not able to get there as I had too much going on getting ready for the trip up North.

Ancient Murrelet (Synthliboramphus antiquus).

After a really good trip I was surprised that the bird was still around so on the Monday morning I was up at 03:00 and on site by 07:30 where I found Julian Thomas who had flown in from the UK for the bird already searching.

Looking up the river.

About 20 minutes later he said I have got a small Auk out on the main channel but sat with it's back to us but going on the size alone it could be nothing but the Murrelet and after a few minutes it turned as it drifted on the dropping tide and we had good views of the bird side on.

Ancient Murrelet (Synthliboramphus antiquus).

The bird drifted quite quickly off down the channel on a quickly dropping tide but before it disappeared it fly up and passed us and then dropped back onto the water near a car park further up stream so the group that had now gathered relocated and from this new point we had good scope views but always into the sun unfortunately.

Ancient Murrelet (Synthliboramphus antiquus).

Other species seen at this spot were Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Little (Charrancito Común / Sterna albifrons) and Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Audouin's  (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii) x5, Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Razorbill (Alca Común / Alca torda), Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres) x5, Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae).

Unfortunately I needed to be back home for a delivery in the afternoon so I started to make my way back home, on the way out I picked up White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia) and then at a small roadside pool I added Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) and Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus).

As I drove back home I added Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus) and Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans).

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.