Albrighton, Donington and Albrighton Nature Reserve and St Cutherts Church, Shropshire, UK

Around the village.

Ebird List for Donington Nature Reserve.

Donington Pool.

I got up and as I sat and had some breakfast and whilst I did this I checked the Garden and saw Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula).

Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria).

Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria).

Later I met David (Jayne's Brother) and Pauline for a coffee and a cake in one of the cafe's in the village which was very nice.

Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) feather.

I then went for a walk down to the villages local nature reserve which was open for the first time during one of my visits, many years ago (80s or/and the 90s) I had been involved with the Village Conservation Society when the reserve was first started so it was nice to walk around the area again.

Very common Beetle Species ??????

Very common Beetle Species ??????

On the Eastern end of the reserve (which is usually locked) I saw Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Willow Warbler (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus) as well as several Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) x9 and a single Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus).

Comma (Polygonia c-album).

I crossed the road and walked the tracks around the meadows where I added Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Common Starling, Blackbird, Dunnock, Robin, House Sparrow, Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Greenfinch, Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Comma (Polygonia c-album), Small White (Pieris rapae) and a single female Beautiful Demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo).

Female Beautiful Demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo).

I spent the afternoon with Mom before going out to the Harp for a few Pints with Martin, Julia and Harry (the Dog).

Albrighton, Shropshire, UK.

A morning shopping and an afternoon at my Mom's.

I was up and about early, later my Mom dropped me over to Telford Town Center where I got a few bits sorted and then caught the bus back to Albrighton where I spent the rest of the day visiting some of Jayne's sisters and then chilled at my Mom's.

Whilst I was sat watching the garden through the window I saw Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris) and a couple of Small Whites (Pieris rapae).

The Midlands, UK.

Another day with the family.

I again had a great day with Al, Becki and the Kids, Al was off to work again and after a bit of playing with the Kids Nerf Guns we went out for a walk through the woods with the dogs.

As we walked I saw Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax) x2, European Herring (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus) and Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Rook (Graja / Corvus frugilegus), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) and Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria).

We returned to the house and then chilled, Al came home and we spent the afternoon chatting before he later dropped me over to Albrighton to my Mom's.

The Midlands, UK.

A day with my family in the UK.

Ryan, Zach, Finn and Granddad.

After a good nights sleep I was up and soon spending time with Alan, Becki and the three Grandkids, Ryan, Zach and Finn.

Al went off to work, Becki took the dogs out and I spent a brilliant hour or so playing with the Kids and their Gliders on the grass in front of the house, whilst I was there I did hear and see Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus).

Later we went out and had some lunch before doing some shopping and then spent some time on the play area at the shops before finishing off with a visit to the Harrybo sweet shop.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province and travelling down to Malaga Airport, Malaga Province, Spain.

A morning in the garden and packing before heading down to Malaga.

On time and ready for the off.

I spent all morning in the house, garden and on the terrace getting things sorted before heading off to Malaga, during the time in the garden I saw Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) and Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus).

Later friend's Chris and Wayne picked me up and dropped me to Loja where I caught a bus down to Malaga Airport, I reached the Ryanair check in desk quickly despite the queue being very long but the security was a different story as the staff were on strike and their jobs were being done by the Guardia which certainly slowed things down but kept it moving.

Anyway by the time I got through all the checks and got to the gate it was time to board and we were on our way bang on time and landed 5 minutes early which meant I had met up with my Son Alan and we were on our way to his by 00:21.

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

Last visit to the fields for a while.

Ebird List.

I was down on the fields for 08:00 to see if there was anything interesting around or moving through but things were quieter than they have been.

Interesting species included Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) x2 but I am sure there were more in the deeper areas of Alfalfa, Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) x31, Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), 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) x4, Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), Cetti's (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and Willow Warbler (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus), Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) and Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).