Punta del Santo, Golf Los Moriscos 2 and Charca de Suárez, Motril, Granada Province, Spain.

A mornings birding with Friend Juan Pérez.

Ebird List for Sea watch.

Ebird List for Golf course Pools.

Ebird List for Charca.

Audouin's Gull (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii) one of several on the beach.

I was up and about early and down on to the coast to meet friend Juan Pérez at Punta del Santo  but instead of staying up on the wooded walk way we dropped down onto the beach as the Palm Trees had grown enough to make viewing difficult and as I have been have a bit of a sciatica flare up so sitting was going to be easier.

Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria).

Anyway during the 2 hours we were there we saw Balearic (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus) and Scopoli’s Shearwater (Calonectris diomedea) with most birds heading West towards the Atlantic.

As we sat there we also saw good numbers of immature Shags (Cormorán Mondudo / Phalacrocorax aristotelis), Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Sandwich Terns (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) x5, Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina) x6, Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) x1, Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild) and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus).

Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata).

Our next stop was just over the road along the side of the Golf course where we were checking the two pools for a Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus) which we soon found on the larger more Manicured pool along with Common Sandpiper, Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Red-rumped (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) as well as Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria), Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea) and a couple of Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus).

Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata).

We returned to the cars and then went just down the road to Charca Suarez and walked around the reserve visiting several of the hides adding Reed (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) and Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Spotted Flycatcher x2, Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans) x5, Barn and Red-rumped Swallow, Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) at Alamo Blanca

Red Avadavat (Bengali Rojo / Amandava amandava).

From the hide over looking the Northern end of Laguna Laguna Taraje where we found Red-knobbed Coot (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata) and a Hybrid between it and a Eurasian Coot, Western Swamp-hen x3, Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis).  

Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia) and Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

Further round at the main hide over looking Laguna de Las Aneas, here we found Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca) x2, Muscovy Duck (Cairina moschata),  Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) x4, Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus) x2, Yellow-legged Gull, Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus) x2 pale morph birds which flew around the lake twice and on their second pass they disturbed an Eurasian Eagle Owl (Búho Real / Bubo bubo) from the Tamarisks.

Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia) and Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

Our final new hide was over looking Laguna del Trébol where we had good views of both female and Immature Little Bitterns (Avetorillo Común / Ixobrychus minutus), other species seen as we walked around the reserve included Monarch (Danaus plexippus), African Grass Blue (Zizeeia knysna), Small Red-eye (Erythromma viridulum), Black Percher (Diplacodes lefebvrii), Blue / Common (Anax imperator) and Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope), Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi), Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa), Yellow-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta scripta) and Brown Rat (Rattus norvegicus).

Brown Rat (Rattus norvegicus).

We went back around to the Main hide where Beatriz joined us and then back to Alamo Blanca but we added nothing new so I headed off home again.

Huétor Fields and near to Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

An early walk around the fields and the a couple of hours on the Terrace.

Ebird List for the Fields.

Ebird List for the Terrace.

Dawn over the Lucerne Fields.

I was down on the fields just after 07:30 where I did a walk out as far as the railway line, taking the road as far as the Huétor road, then down to the bridge, left along the dry arroyo to the Railway bridge and then back.

European Bee-eaters (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster).

European Bee-eaters (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster).

Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) flying past ready to perch in a large willow.

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

Interesting species included a single Black-winged (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) and 3x Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Turtle Doves (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur) which have been common on the patch this, Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Greater Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), Melodious (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta) and Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus) and Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) numbers of which have increased dramatically since my last visit a few days earlier with over a 100 birds seen today.

Iberian Brown Hare (Liebre ibérica / Lepus granatensis).

As I walked I was pleased to see several Iberian Brown Hares (Liebre ibérica / Lepus granatensis) which had escaped the sick retarded gangs of Bunny blasters and a couple of fresh looking Bath Whites (Pontia daplidice).

Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).

Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator).

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans).

Once I was back home I went up onto the Terrace and spent a couple of hours scanning for migrant and picked up small numbers of birds heading out west, these included 5x Booted Eagles (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus) surprisingly 4 of the 5 were Dark Morph birds, Common Buzzards (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) x5 in varied plumage, Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans) x7, Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) x2 and at least 32 other Raptors which passed west but were too distant to Identity.

Looking out to a sunny Sierra de Loja.

Other species were Golden Oriole, Iberian Magpie, Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax) x2, Eurpean Bee-eaters, Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi).

Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).

 

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 16th Aug 23.
Garden Light, min +21.

 

7504 Watsonalla uncinula (Spiny Hook-tip).

4855 Epinotia thapsiana x2, 5144 Cydia pomonella (Codling Moth) x2, 5578 Lamoria anella x2, 5615 Synaphe lorquinalis x3, 5624 Bostra obsoletalis x21, 5830 Epischnia illotella x2, 6001 Euzophera lunulella x1, 6441 Aporodes floralis x2, 6521 Hellula undalis (Old World Webworm) x1, 7504 Watsonalla uncinula (Spiny Hook-tip) x1, 7564 Itame vincularia x2, 7573 Acanthovalva inconspicuaria x1, 7725 Menophra japygiaria (Brassy Waved Umber) x2, 7985 Phaiogramma faustinata x1, 8211 Rhodometra sacaria (The Vestal) x1, 8899 Clytie illunaris (Trent Double-stripe) x1, 9129 Odice suava x4, 9128 Odice pergrata x1, 9142 Eublemma parva (Small Marbled) x4, 9334 Condica viscosa x1 and 10351 Agrotis segetum (Turnip Moth).

9129 Odice suava.

7725 Menophra japygiaria (Brassy Waved Umber).

10351 Agrotis segetum (Turnip Moth).

6441 Aporodes floralis.

Pyralid species.

6441 Aporodes floralis.

5144 Cydia pomonella (Codling Moth).

9128 Odice pergrata.

5830 Epischnia illotella.

9334 Condica viscosa.

7573 Acanthovalva inconspicuaria.

7725 Menophra japygiaria (Brassy Waved Umber).

6001 Euzophera lunulella.

7985 Phaiogramma faustinata.

Symmoca species.

 

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

Some earlier than usual Winter arrivals.

Ebird List.

Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) some of the 15 seen.

I was down nice and early when it was still nice and cool, the main species of interest was a group of at least 15 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) which are back on the patch a couple of weeks earlier than normal.

Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

Other species included Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) x22, Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) x1, Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) x1, Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) x1, Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans) x1, Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and a single Long-tailed Blue (Lampides baeticus).

Marismas de Cetina and the Rio San Pedro in Puerto Real, Cadiz Province, Spain.

Salt pans and River's with Derek and Ricky.

Ebird List for Marismas de Cetina.

Ebird List for Rio San Pedro.

Marismas de Cetina salt pans.

After sorting our kit and John's house we headed off towards a bar up the motorway where we met friend Ricky Owen and after a coffee and some breakfast we made our way across country to the parking spot at the entrance to the Salt Pans at the Marismas de Cetina.

Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina).

Collared Pratincole (Canastera Común / Glareola pratincola) immature.

We went in and walked up to the main track finding Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa), Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus), Grey (Chorlito Gris / Pluvialis squatarola) x1, Kentish (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus) and Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax), Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta), Curlew (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea), Common (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) and Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), an immature Collared Pratincole (Canastera Común / Glareola pratincola), Slender-billed (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Little Tern (Charrancito Común / Sterna albifrons), Greylag Goose (Ansar Común / Anser anser), Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna) and Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) out on the Pans.

Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea) Male.

Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria) Male.

On the other side of the track and along the side spur we recoreded 100+ White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) and Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) as well as Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea) and Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria).

Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).

Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).

Further up the main track on the way to the next hide we found more of the same species and added Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), more White Storks, Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Mediterranean / Lesser Short-toed Lark (Terrera Marismena / Calandrella rufescens), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Red-rumped (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica).

Ricky and Derek at the Rio San Pedro.

We returned to the car seeing the Pratincole again and very nice male Banded Groundling (Brachythemis leucosticta) before heading towards Puerto real and a car park along the side of the Rio San Pedro where we were going hoping to find Tern's and Wader's and during the 2 and a bit hour's we were there we saw Eurasian Oystercatcher (Ostrero Euroasiatico / Haematopus ostralegus) x67, Ringed Plover, Bar-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colipinta / Limosa lapponica) x31, Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres) x34, Sanderling x30, Dunlin x2, Common Redshank x6, over a 100 Mediterranean Gulls (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), along with Yellow-legged and Lesser Black-backed, Sandwich (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis) x11, Common (Charrán Común / Sterna hirudo) x7, Black (Fumarel Común / Chlidonias niger) x17, Little Tern (Charrancito Común / Sterna albifrons) x60+, Little Egret x1, Zitting Cisticola x1, Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus). 

Black (Fumarel Común / Chlidonias niger) and Little Terns (Charrancito Común / Sterna albifrons).

Black Terns (Fumarel Común / Chlidonias niger).

Eurasian Oystercatchers (Ostrero Euroasiatico / Haematopus ostralegus), Bar-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colipinta / Limosa lapponica) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

We returned to the car and then went back to the meeting point and then home.