Chipiona Port, Pelagic Off Chipiona, Algaida Pine Woodland and Marismas de Trebujena, Cadiz Province, Spain.

Out on a Pelagic in the morning and then into the woods later.

Ebird List for Pelagic 1.

Ebird List for Pelagic 2.

Ebird List for Pelagic 3.

Ebird List for Pelagic 4.

Ebird List for Pelagic 5.

Ebird List for Algaida.

 

Getting loaded up ready for the off.

Ricky and I headed out early for the Port at Chipiona where we were going to be going out on a Pelagic with Manuel Bárcena (Oxyura Birdwatching), on the way we stopped for some breakfast and then went down to the Port where we met Manuel and the others before we headed to the Boat.

Sunrise off the back of the Boat.

Leaving Chipiona behind.

Whilst we were waiting to get to the boat we saw Little Swift (Vencejo Moro / Apus affinis), Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

Parasitc Skua (Págalo Parásito / Stercorarius parasiticus).

Parasitc Skua (Págalo Parásito / Stercorarius parasiticus).

Great Skua (Págalo Grande / Stercorarius skua).

Great Skua (Págalo Grande / Stercorarius skua).

Great Skua (Págalo Grande / Stercorarius skua).

On the way out to the drift area we picked up a small flock of Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Mareca penelope), a couple of Parasitc Skua's (Págalo Parásito / Stercorarius parasiticus), several Great Skua's (Págalo Grande / Stercorarius skua), Balearic Shearwater (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus), Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Mediterranean, Lesser Black-backed and Yellow-legged Gull, Sandwich (Charrán Patinegro / Thalasseus sandvicensis) and Common Tern (Charrán Común / Sterna hirundo).

Balearic Shearwater (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus).

Balearic Shearwater (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus).

Great Shearwater (Pardela Capirotada / Ardenna gravis).

Great Shearwater (Pardela Capirotada / Ardenna gravis).

Great Shearwater (Pardela Capirotada / Ardenna gravis).

Out along the drift we saw much the same species but added a fine Great Shearwater (Pardela Capirotada / Ardenna gravis).

Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) Juvenile.

Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) Juvenile.

Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) Juvenile.

Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) immature.

Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) immature.

Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) immature.

Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) Adult.

Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) Adult.

Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) Adult.

On the way back in, again we saw many of same and only added a couple of Great Cormorants (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo).

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) adult.

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) immatures.

On the run back to port.

 

Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres).

Back on dry land we saw a few Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres) in the port before we headed out to the woods at Algaida where we spent some time watching the movements around a small pool, we recorded Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus) x3, Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Eurasian Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs).

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui).

Other species seen included December Clematis (Clematis cirrhosa), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) x1, Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) x5, Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta) x6, Common (Sympetrum striolatum) x4 and Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) x2.

December Clematis (Clematis cirrhosa).

We returned to the car and headed along the side of the Marismas de Trebujena where we saw a few new species including Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Spatula clypeata), Common Crane (Grulla Común / Grus grus), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Common Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Pied Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia) and Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).

Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum).

We were by now loosing the light so we made our way back down to La Linea where Sonia had prepared us a very nice meal which went down nicely with some Cider and Red Wine.  

Huétor Fields in Granada Province and Parque Princesa Sofía in La Linea and Desembocadura Palmones, Cadiz Province.

A morning on the patch and the afternoon birding with Friend Ricky Owen.

Ebird List for the Town Fields.

Ebird List for the Lucerne Fields.

Ebird List for Desembocadura Palmones.

 

Eurasian Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus).

I started the morning by popping into Combustibles Gómez for some breakfast and I then checked the Town Fields and found 12 of the Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Eurasian Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), my first European Golden Plovers (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaia), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata).

Eurasian Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus).

I moved up to the Lucerne Fields and soon found the 2 regular Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Eurasian Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Cetti's (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti) and Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Curruca undata), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

Common Crane (Grulla Común / Grus grus).

Common Crane (Grulla Común / Grus grus).

Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Come 10:00 or so I set off down to La Linea where I was going to spend a couple of nights with friends Sonia and Ricky, I arrived and went into Parque Princesa Sofía first as Ricky didn't finish work until later in the afternoon, as I walked around the different sections of the park I picked up Black Redstart, European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), White Wagtail, Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) and Small White (Pieris rapae).

Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus).

Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus).

Once Ricky arrived we headed back to the car and then off along the coast to Desembocadura Palmones where we were hoping to see a female Common Eider (Eider Común / Somateria mollissima), as we arrived we quickly spotted the Eider out on the water so we walked towards it but on the way we got side tracked watching a Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus) dive into the bay in front of us and come up with a nice looking Grey Mullet (Mugil cephalus).

Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus).

Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus).

The Osprey then flew inland and came in a wide circle back around the beach and flew right passed us giving us great views.

Female Common Eider (Eider Común / Somateria mollissima).

Female Common Eider (Eider Común / Somateria mollissima).

Female Common Eider (Eider Común / Somateria mollissima).

We went down to the beach and watched the Eider for a while and then walked back along the river checking the muddy areas that were starting to become exposed as the tide dropped, species seen included Grey (Chorlito Gris / Pluvialis squatarola) and Common Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Bar-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colipinta / Limosa lapponica), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Common Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Thalasseus sandvicensis), Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia) and several Grey Herons (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea).

Female Common Eider (Eider Común / Somateria mollissima).

Female Common Eider (Eider Común / Somateria mollissima).

We returned to the car and made our way back to Ricky's where we had a really nice meal before a good nights sleep. 

Balsa de Regidor and Pico del Caballo (Sierra Nevada), Granada Province, Spain.

A short visit to Balsa de Regidor and a wonderful afternoon in Sierra Nevada with good friends.

Ebird List for Balsa de Regidor.

Ebird List for Pico del Caballo.

 

Balsa de Regidor.

I started the day with Breakfast at Combustibles Gómez and did a few tasks in Huétor before going to Balsa de Regidor where I met another birder who had done a walk around the lake and was just leaving but we had a brief chat.

On our way up and it only keeps getting better.

Whilst there I saw 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), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Cetti's (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

I then made my way up to the village of Nigüelas where I met up with Friends Kiersten and Richard and we set off on a drive into the mountains to a spot which they new well, on my way I saw Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica) and Common Buzzard.

Looking up to the snow line.

Kiersten and Richard in their natural habitat.

Me, a attitudinal Migrant at slightly higher altitude than normal.

I was pleased we went in their 4x4 and that Richard was driving as it was quite a track but it was so worth it as the views on the way up were just amazing, on the drive up we saw Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Chiffchaff, Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia) and White Wagtail.

Bearded Vultures (Quebrantahuesos / Gypaetus barbatus).

Bearded Vultures (Quebrantahuesos / Gypaetus barbatus).

Bearded Vultures (Quebrantahuesos / Gypaetus barbatus).

Once we reached the final stop Kiersten got the coffee out and we spent a while scanning the crags and ridges and we were over the moon to see two distant adult looking Bearded Vultures (Quebrantahuesos / Gypaetus barbatus), after our coffee we walked along a trail and then on up to one of the amazing Acequia's which are Moorish designed irrigation channels built into the mountainsides carrying water down on to the lower agricultural areas.

Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Capra pyrenaica hispanica).

Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Capra pyrenaica hispanica).

We spent an hour or so standing by the Acequia watching the Vultures picking up bones and dropping them on a distant ridge, even though it was distant it was just brilliant to watch the behavior of the rare birds as well as seeing a passing group of Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Capra pyrenaica hispanica) and more surprisingly a Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) at this height in late November.

Looking down stream along the Acequia.

and looking up stream along the Acequia, up to the snow which feeds these channels.

On our way back down to the vehicle.

Looking out towards Sierra de Loja and home.

We returned to the vehicle and we started to head back down but fairly soon after leaving Kiersten shouted stop I have just seen something blue growing on the side of the track, when we checked we were very surprised to see half a dozen flowering Snow Gentian's (Gentiana sierrae) in flower.

Snow Gentian (Gentiana sierrae).

As we dropped further down we saw more Ibex, a single male Ring Ouzel (Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus), Eurasian Jay (Arrendajo Euroasiático / Garrulus glandarius) and last new species of what was a great and unexpected day was a fine male Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura).

On the way back down.

We reached the town again and I said goodbye to Kiersten and Richard after  a superb visit to a great part of our Province, can't thank them enough as I would never have got there on my own.