Huétor Fields, Balsa de Regidor, Moraleda de Zafayona Fields and

Back out on the Patch with Danielle.

Ebird List for Huétor Fields.

The Male Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

We were out early and soon watching the usual suspects on the fields near Huétor including the calling male Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), a single Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) which was sat up on the overhead wires, Turtle Doves (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur) were everywhere, Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Reed (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) and my first two Garden Warblers (Curruca Mosquitera / Sylvia borin) of the year, Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and a good sized flock of European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) flew through.

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

Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina).

We drove through to Mesia and then went across country seeing more Common Waxbills, Turtle Doves, Danielle's first Iberian  Magpies (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), a teneral Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum), Small White (Pieris rapae) x6 and loads of Rabbits (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus) before we reached Balsa de Regidor where we saw Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa) and what I think are Andalucian Wall Lizards (Podarcis vaucheri).

Andalucian Wall Lizard (Podarcis vaucheri).

Andalucian Wall Lizard (Podarcis vaucheri)

We crossed the A92 and went out onto the road to Castillo de Tajarja and then back towards Moraleda Fields, as we drove we saw several nice Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas) patches, Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo),  and had good views over to the Sierra Nevada. 

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

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

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

Once we were out on the fields near Moraleda we scanned for new species and soon had a very nice pair of Montagu's Harriers (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), Greater Short-toed (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla) and Calandra Lark (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra),  Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), at least 3 Hoopoes (Abubilla / Upupa epops) which was another species Danielle had want to see and more surprising was an immature Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) which saw us at the same moment that we saw it perched on a nearby ledge. 

Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans).

Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula).

Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula).

As we were leaving the site and about to finish the birding we picked up a shape on a rock pile which turned out to be a very nice Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) which was a very nice way to finish off.

Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator).

Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).