Sierra de Loja, Granada Province, Spain.

A drive from Loja to Salar along la Carretera Principal on Sierra de Loja.

Ebird List from the Sierra.

 

Very degraded looking Sierra de Loja, cleared to dust by the Sheep.

The three of us headed over to Loja where we took the track called la Carretera Principal up over Sierra de Loja from Loja to the village of Salar, due to fire restrictions all other areas are off limits but I checked with the Guardia Civil and Seprona that we would be OK to stay on the Main track and they said yes.

We did the first half of the drive out to where we usually turned off to go out to Charca del Negro and to the crags beyond but to be honest we saw very little which I think is due largely to the lack of food for the birds due to massive over grazing problems from the far too large population of sheep on the hill these days, NO PLANTS; NO INSECTS; NO WILDLIFE.

Tawny Pipit (Bisbita Camprstre / Anthus campestris).

On the lower slopes near the middle quarry where there is too much gorse for the sheep to eat we started the list with Dartford (Curruca Rabilarga / Curruca undata) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola) and Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa) but as we went high we saw just a couple of Thekla Larks (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and a single Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura).

Tawny Pipit (Bisbita Camprstre / Anthus campestris).

We took the track towards Salar and not too far along here we had a male Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), a couple of Corn Buntings (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), 4 or 5 Northern Wheatears (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) and as we started to drop down on the far side a single Tawny Pipit (Bisbita Camprstre / Anthus campestris), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real / Lanius meridionalis), more Black Whearears and our first of just 3 Western Black-eared (Collalba Rubia Occidental / Oenanthe hispanica), lots of Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina) around the old Marble Quarries, a single adult Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) which flew over us and was seen later having a crack at some Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia) around one of the sheep farms, a single Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Capra pyrenaica hispanica), Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus) x5, Tree (Hipparchia statilinus) x1 and Striped Grayling (Hipparchia fidia) x15.

Striped Grayling (Hipparchia fidia).

We continued on down the hill through a couple of small gorges and more agricultural areas where we picked 3 migrant Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus), European Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca) and Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Western Subalpine Warbler (Curruca Carrasqueña Occidental / Curruca iberiae), Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and European Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Iberian  (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki) and Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), ♂ and ♀ Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), some noisy European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Small White (Pieris rapae) x2 and Desert Orange-tip (Colotis evagore) x20+ on every Wild Caper (Capparis spinosa) plant as we came through the Olives near Salar.

Striped Grayling (Hipparchia fidia).

We went into Huétor and had a coffee before popping into Mercodona for some food for the evening meal back on the terrace.

Puerto de la Ragua and South of Hernán-Valle in Granada Province, Spain.

Birding on our way back to Huétor.

Ebird List for Puerto de la Ragua.

Ebird List for site near Guadix.

 

Castell de Calahorra.

We packed our stuff and then went to the bar below the accommodation for breakfast and then headed back towards Granada but when we reached Calahorra we took the road up to Puerto de la Ragua, on the way we had Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) before we parked at the high pass, John and I had a walk whilst Pam did some drawing.

Castell de Calahorra.

We walked the track through the picnic area but it was fairly quiet and all we picked up Coal Tit  (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Eurasian Jay (Arrendajo Euroasiático / Garrulus glandarius), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

Coal Tit  (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater).

We the crossed the road on to the other side of the area where John picked up 3 birds on a bush which turned out to be a male and 2 female Citril Finches (Verderón Serrano / Carduelis citrinella) which were our main target species but before we could get closer for better views some guys on mountain bikes came rattling through and flushed them.

Coal Tit  (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater).

On the same side of the road we also saw European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala) before crossing back to the picnic area where Pam was still painting, we added Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and a single Cardinal Fritillary (Argynnis pandora). 

Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata) Female.

We all returned to the car and then headed back off down to the motorway and headed towards Guadix, we turned off the motorway and took the cross country route across to Hernán-Valle, on the way we picked up Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) and Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura) x4, Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata) and loads of Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus).

Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata) Female.

We headed back towards the house and after a brief stop for some lunch and a coffee we got back and spent the afternoon chilling before going down town for some food.

Cabo de Gata area, Almeria Province, Spain.

A day around the Cabo area with a bird Lifer for John and a good year tick for me.

Ebird List for the Hide.

Ebird List for Rambla Morales.

Ebird list for Middle Hide.

Looking down the Salinas from the Hide.

We first headed to the hide overlooking the Salinas to the NW near the village of Cabo de Gata, we could see good numbers of birds including several wading species Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Pied Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Kentish (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus), Common Ringed (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) and Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Common Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba) and 2 unexpected Eurasian Curlews (Zarapito Real / Numenius arquata).

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

As we stood in the hide we also saw  Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Slender-billed (Gaviota Picofina / Chroicocephalus genei), Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus) and Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Little (Charrancito Común / Sternula albifrons), Black (Fumarel Común / Chlidonias niger) and Common Tern (Charrán Común / Sterna hirundo), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta), Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala) and Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae).

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

We moved on and went through the village, along the beach to the parking spot at Rambla Morales where Pam and John went for a swim and I went to check the lake where I found Whiskered Tern (Fumarel Cariblanca / Chilidonias hybridus), Slender-billed, Black-headed, Lesser Black-backed, Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Spatula clypeata), Mallard, White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Little (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Black-winged Stilt, Pied Avocet, Kentish Plover, Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba) and on the beach end of the pool  picked up singles of both Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres) and Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina).

Whiskered Tern (Fumarel Cariblanca / Chilidonias hybridus).

Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus).

Other species seen included Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Barn Swallow, Sand (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia) and Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Spiny-footed Lizard (Acanthodactylus erythrurus), Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), after their swim John joined me and I was able to get him on most of the species I had seen.

Audouin's Gull (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii).

Our next stop was for a coffee in Bar-Restaurante Las Orillas Del Mar at La Almadraba de Monteleva on our way to the Faro de Cabo de Gata, when we went over the top of the hill on the way there we could see that it was very busy so we went up to the parking by the unused visitors center instead but it was very quiet and we didn't add anything new so we headed back to the Hide which is called observatorio 2.

Elegant Tern (Charrán Elegante / Thalasseus elegans) the views through the scope were much better than through the Camera.

From this hide we scanned the Salinas in front of us seeing many of the species we had already seen but we did find several Sandwich (Charrán Patinegro / Thalasseus sandvicensis), Little, Black, Common Terns roosting on a narrow row of rocks out on the lagoon to the right of the Hide but as I scanned further right with the scope I picked up the one species I had hoped for, an Elegant Tern (Charrán Elegante / Thalasseus elegans) which had been reported from the area a few times over the last few days.

Audouin's Gulls (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii).

Slender-billed Gull (Gaviota Picofina / Chroicocephalus genei).

From this hide we decided to have a look around the back of the Salinas to see if we could get better views of the Tern but it was not possible, we did see lots more Audouin's and Slender-billed Gull but we didn't add much else so we decided to go and have another look for the Common Tiger Blue (Tarucus theophrastus) in Retamar and we soon found 20 odd flying around the two Ziziphus spina-christi.

Common Tiger Blue (Tarucus theophrastus) ♀♂.

Common Tiger Blue (Tarucus theophrastus) ♀.

Once we had our fill we headed back to the accommodation and then after a short break we went for a walk around town and look at the ceramic shops.

Common Tiger Blue (Tarucus theophrastus) ♂.

Common Tiger Blue (Tarucus theophrastus) ♂.

Sierra de Huétor in Granada Province and Retamar in Almeria Province, Spain.

A Butterfly lifer for John on our way down to Cabo de Gata for a few days.

 

Cardinal Fritillary (Argynnis pandora).

Before Pam and John came up from the accommodation I stood outside on the road and watched what was possibly the first Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major) along with European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki).

Cardinal Fritillary (Argynnis pandora).

Striped Grayling (Hipparchia fidia).

We started the day by driving to the North East of Granada and went to a spot in the Sierra de Huétor to look for butterflies but as with everywhere else at this time of the year the area was burnt off and there were no wild flowers to be found.

Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas).

Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus).

We parked and Pam settled in to do some drawing whilst John and I went for a walk up the valley following the river, species seen included 2 Booted Eagles (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas), Cirl (Escribano Soteño / Emberiza cirlus) and Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito ibérico / Picus sharpei), Eurasian Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Great and Long-tailed Tit (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus). 

Sage Skipper (Muschampia proto).

African Grass (Zizeeria knysna).

Butterflies were thin on the ground but we did find Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) x2, Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) x4, Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera) x1, African Grass (Zizeeria knysna) x1, Holly (Celastrina argiolus) x1 and Spanish Chalk-hill Blue (Lysandra albicans) x1, Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus) x9, Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina) x3, Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus) x2, Rock (Hipparchia alcyone) x1, Striped (Hipparchia fidia) x15+ and Tree Grayling (Hipparchia statilinus) x2, Cardinal Fritillary (Argynnis pandora) x7, Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera) x1 and Sage Skipper (Muschampia proto) x2.

Spanish Chalk-hill Blue (Lysandra albicans).

Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera).

We returned to the car and then headed towards Almeria and into Retamar to a spot I had been to a couple of times earlier in the year where we were hoping to find the locally distributed Common Tiger Blue (Tarucus theophrastus) and when we got there we found at least 30 to 40 individuals on the wing around two large very spiny bushes of their food plant Ziziphus spina-christi but they were very active and difficult to get the camera on.

John checking in on Pam before we head off to Cabo.

Other species seen included Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus) and Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii).

Common Tiger Blue (Tarucus theophrastus)♂.

Common Tiger Blue (Tarucus theophrastus)♀.

After a drink in a nearby bar we contacted the accommodation and then headed to a nearby Mercadona and then onward to Nijar where we would stay in a very nice apartment.

Huétor Fields and the Cacín Valley, Granada Province, Spain.

After a cooler night and a good sleep we headed down to the Fields and along the Cacín for some birding.

Ebird List for the Fields.

Ebird List for the Embalse.

Ebird List for the Roman Bridge.

Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans).

We were up and out and down into Huétor where we had a nice breakfast in Bar Florida and then went out on the fields before moving on down the Cacín Valley, we parked by the Walnut Trees and John and I walked the Lucerne fields while Pam did some drawing near the car, John and I walked as far as the Fig tree along the route and turned around.

Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans).

Species included Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), European Honey Buzzard (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus), Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Southern Skimmer (Orthetrum brunneum).

As we walked we also saw lots of Red-veined Darters (Sympetrum fonscolombii) and a single Southern Skimmer (Orthetrum brunneum).

Red-veined Darters (Sympetrum fonscolombii).

We crossed the A92 and went off down the Cacín Valley to the Contra-embalse de Bermejalis where we parked and spent a while looking out on to the water seeing Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Spatula clypeata), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), a calling Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Common Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia), Barn (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Red-rumped Swallow, Cetti's Warbler and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

Red-veined Darters (Sympetrum fonscolombii).

Next we dropped down to the Roman Bridge just a bit lower down the valley where we had lots of Desert Orange-tip (Colotis evagore) on almost every Wild Caper (Capparis spinosa) all the way from Cacín Village.

Red-veined Darters (Sympetrum fonscolombii).

At the bridge we added Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Eurasian Jay (Arrendajo Euroasiático / Garrulus glandarius), Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada) and a Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata).

Desert Orange-tip (Colotis evagore).

We moved on again but headed back up the valley passed the Embalse and to the Channel below the Dam but only managed to added Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata) x4 so we returned to the start of the track and did a bit of a walk finding another Spotted Flycatcher and Common Chicory (Cichorium intybus).

Desert Orange-tip (Colotis evagore).

we returned to the house and chilled for the rest of the day and had a nice meal up on the terrace and then turned in.