Loja Wildlife, Granada Province, Spain.: 2025-02-16

Saturday, 22 February 2025

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A walk around the Fields as far as the Poplars.

Ebird List for Lucerne Fields.

Ebird List for the Mesia Road.

Looking forward to some of this.

I popped down to the fields and parked at my usual spot and did a walk out as far as the Poplar plantation and then came back to the crossroads turned left and then right along the Arroyo back to the car.

During the walk Interesting species included a female Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius) which I saw hunting Meadow Pipits (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) and Eurasian Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) on the far edge of the Lucerne strips.

Other species were Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

I moved around to the Mesia road Irrigation ditches but added nothing new bird wise but did find Bath (Pontia daplidice) x1 and Small White (Pieris rapae) x4, Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) x1 and Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) x1.

I also noticed that the local Asparagus was well on it way to being ready to be picked, looking forward to trying some soon.

Friday, 21 February 2025

La Janda, Costa Ballena, Chipiona Port and Playa de Montijo, Cadiz Province, Spain.

A windy day around Cadiz Province.

Ebird List for La Janda.

Ebird List for Costa Bellena Parque de Los Lagos.

Ebird List for Costa Bellena Laguna Norte.

Ebird List for Chipiona Port.

Ebird List for Playa de Montijo.

A couple of Great Egrets (Garceta Grande / Ardea alba)just as it was starting to get light.

I started the day with breakfast just down the road to the Hotel and then went back to the spot for the Black-faced Bunting (Escribano carinegro / Emberiza spodocephala) but it was much windier this morning and the birds were keeping their heads down and if the did come up they were blown passed very quickly so I was not surprised that I didn't find the bird.

Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea).

However I did see White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Great (Garceta Grande / Ardea alba) and Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta), Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Common Crane (Grulla Común / Grus grus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Thinornis dubius), Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Western Marsh (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) and a fine male Hen Harrier (Aguilucho Pálido / Circus cyaneus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) and a Weasel (Mustela nivalis) which ran across the road.

White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala) male.

Just after 09:00 I decided to move on as the wind was getting stronger by the minute and I wanted to get to a few more sites before heading home so I set off for Costa Bellena and for the Parque de Los Lagos where I parked and walked out to the Lagoon.

White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala) female.

As I did a loop I found a group of 3 White-headed Ducks (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), the 2 males were all far too busy getting amorous with the single female that they took no notice of me which allowed me to get some decent shots.

Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos).

Common Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia).

Other species seen included Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Common Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Common Kestrel, Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum).

Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres).

Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus).

I went down to the nearby Laguna Norte, there was loads of work being carried out and there weren't many birds about but I still added Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Spatula clypeata), Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), Audouin's Gull (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii) and Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) before I moved on to the Port at Chipiona.

Little Swift (Vencejo Moro / Apus affinis).

After parking I walked to the dog walking spot where after dodging all the dog S**t I had really nice views of 30 odd Little Swifts (Vencejo Moro / Apus affinis) and loads of Gull.

One or two Gulls at the Port.

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

My final stop of the day was just up the road at Playa de Montijo, the tide was dropping and as I stood there scanning the beach I saw 3x Western Ospreys (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus), Eurasian Oystercatcher (Ostrero Euroasiático / Haematopus ostralegus), Grey (Chorlito Gris / Pluvialis squatarola), Kentish (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Anarhynchus alexandrinus) and Common Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus), Bar-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colipinta / Limosa lapponica), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Great Skua (Págalo Grande / Stercorarius skua), 3x Caspian (Pagaza Piquiroja / Hydroprone caspia) and several Sandwich Terns (Charrán Patinegro / Thalasseus sandvicensis).

Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus).

Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta).

Caspian Tern (Pagaza Piquiroja / Hydroprone caspia).

I also saw Vagrant Emperor (Anax ephippiger) x1, Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) x2, Large White (Pieris brassicae) x3, Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) x1 and Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) x1.

Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres).

Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina).

Eurasian Oystercatcher (Ostrero Euroasiático / Haematopus ostralegus).

Grey Plover (Chorlito Gris / Pluvialis squatarola).

As I drove home I saw Red (Milano Real / Milvus milvus) and Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops) and Northern Raven (Cuervo grande / Corvus corax).

Thursday, 20 February 2025

La Janda and the Marismas de Barbate, Cadiz Province, Spain.

A cracker of a Spanish Lifer and a few other nice bits.

Ebird List for Canal East.

Ebird List for La Mediana.

Ebird List for Rio Celemin area.

Ebird List for Canal East again.

Ebird List for La Barca de Vejer.

Ebird List for

A very very bad record shot of the Black-faced Bunting (Escribano carinegro / Emberiza spodocephala).

I set off from home at just after 04:00 and was having Breakfast at Restaurante Apolo XI where I bumped into Garry Pearson who had been at the spot for the Black-faced Bunting (Escribano carinegro / Emberiza spodocephala) for the last two days but had been unlucky, I messaged him yesterday to say I was going to be on site for 08:00 and instead of heading home he said he would meet me at the site but we both decided to call in for breakfast.

After breakfast and just as it was starting to get light we headed for the spot and after parking we went through the gate on the track to the right along the main canal and set up the scopes, after a while Garry went for a walk further along the track.

After a little while for some reason I turned around and scanned the track back through the gate and saw a couple of Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and a European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris) feeding on the track next to a bush about 70 meters away and then another bird which flew down for just a second but I was sure this was the target so I called Garry back and we went just through the gate and waited.

Another equally bad shot.

A bird with a grey head sat amongst the branches but this turned out to be a Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina) and I suddenly started to doubt my initial Id but thought the tail was so distinctive It can't have been a Linnet, then a few seconds later another bird flew and landed in a smaller bush on the left of the track and this was 100% the Bunting and it sat there for a while before dropping down onto the track along the side of the Rice fields and fed for a few minutes but still distant but great through the scope.

It then flew up and dropped down towards the canal, a few minutes later two Spanish birders turned up and we explained what had gone on and they dropped down onto the bridge and scanned the mud whilst Garry and I kept checking the bushes but after a few minutes the Spanish Guys called us down and we had good but distant views for at least another 10 minutes as it fed along the bottom of the reeds on the mud with a

If only the twigs were not there 😀😀😀😀

Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) and a couple of Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), after a while it flew up into the bush again and then off back to the ditch where it was usually seen.

Other species seen whilst we were in this area included Common Crane (Grulla Común / Grus grus), Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta), Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix) heard only, Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Eurasian Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis).

Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo).

Garry headed off out to the main road but later I caught up with him again around at the Rio Celemin area, as I started to make my way along the main canal I picked up Vagrant Emperor (Anax ephippiger), Egyptian Mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Common Pheasant (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) and on a flooded field near the right turning over to Celemin a single unexpected Eurasian Curlew (Zarapito Real / Numenius arquata).

Atlas Long-legged Buzzard (Busardo Moro / Buteo rufinus).

I turn right and headed over towards the farm where friend Eva Bratek had pinned a spot where I might find the long staying Atlas Long-legged Buzzard (Busardo Moro / Buteo rufinus) and as I drove to the pin I saw the bird sat almost exactly where she said it would be on to of one of the Pylons.

Atlas Long-legged Buzzard (Busardo Moro / Buteo rufinus).

In the same area I also saw Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius) before I moved on over to the Celemin area where I again saw Garry and we spent a while scanning for more rare Buntings but we didn't manage to find anything.

Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus).

Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus) having a mid air scratch.

We did however see Little and Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Grey Heron, Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus), 100+ Common Crane, White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), quite a few Little Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Chico / Thinornis dubius), lots of Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus) and Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Western Marsh Harrier and Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).

Black Stork (Cigüena Negra / Ciconia nigra).

Garry headed off on his long drive home back to Almeria but happier than if had gone early this morning as planned and I headed back around to the spot where we had seen the Bunting as I wanted to try and find Black Stork (Cigüena Negra / Ciconia nigra) and just after I parked I had one circling the fields and a fly over Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) so I pressed on and headed towards Barbate, on the way I passed La Barca de Vejer and made a brief stop adding Northern Bald Ibis (Ibis Eremita / Geronticus eremita) to the year list.

Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus).

I checked into my accommodation and then went for a visit to the Marismas de Barbate where I drove the track along the eastern edge of the area seeing Common Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Eurasian Spoonbill, Grey Heron, Western Cattle Egret, Eurasian Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Pied Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta), Grey (Chorlito Gris / Pluvialis squatarola), Kentish (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Anarhynchus alexandrinus) and Common Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Black-headed, Lesser Black-backed, Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and Audouin's Gull (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii) and a fast moving Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus) which upset most of the waders out on the laguna's.

Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus).

I headed back to the Hostal but later in the evening I went for a walk through the town and then back along the sea front before I turned in.

Looking East along the beach.

Looking back up the river.

SIERRA de LOJA.