Huétor Fields, Rio Genil in Loja and Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

A check on the fields followed by a look at a spot near Loja.

Deb and Ian, Day Thirty.

Ebird List for the Fields.

Ebird List for Rio Genil, Loja.

 

Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus).

We had a fairly easy start and after breakfast we dropped down to the fields for a short walk along the side of the Lucerne Fields where we saw Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), European Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Cetti's (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Western Yellow Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Small White (Pieris rapae) and Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas).

Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus).

Once we returned to the car we went down Mercodona for some shopping and then took it back up to the house where we unloaded and then went up on to the Terrace for a coffee before heading over to Loja where we were going to do a walk along the river, when we arrived we met friends Juan and Beatriz along with Chika.

Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus).

After chatting for a while they continued on and we did a walk along the River seeing Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Cetti's Warbler, Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Nightingale, Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), European Greenfinch, European Serin, Mammoth Scoliid Wasp (Megascolia maculata), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) and Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa). 

Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus).

On the way home we went the top road and as we turned onto the road down to Realenga Deb spotted several spikes of Candlestick Bugloss (Echium boissieri) which we stopped and photographed.

Candlestick Bugloss (Echium boissieri).

Later Deb and I did a bit of gardening whilst Ian did some cooking, once we had done the bits and pieces we spent the rest of the day chilling up on the terrace where we saw and heard Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Eurasian Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Woodlark (Alondra Totovía / Lullula arborea) and on dusk at least two calling but unseen Red-necked Nightjars (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis).

 Mammoth Scoliid Wasp (Megascolia maculata).

Accommodation to the Airport, flight back to Malaga and Home, Spain.

Our last day on Fuerteventura and travelling Home.

Deb and Ian, Day Twenty Nine.

 

Looking out to Tindaya Plain.

We spent the morning packing and cleaning the Cacita before we headed down to the Airport for our flight back to Malaga, at the Cacita we saw or heard Eurasian Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) heard, Northern Raven (Cuervo grande / Corvus corax), Great Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Norteño Koenigi / Lanius excubitor koenigi), Berthelot's Pipit (Bisbita Caminero / Anthus berthelotii), Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis) and Trumpeter Finch (Camachuelo Trompetero / Bucanetes githagineus).

Looking North.

We made a brief stop at the Mirador de Vallebrón and the continued on seeing Egyptian Vulture (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus) before we arrived and handed the car back.

Our flight was a little delayed and our last birds before we left were Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus dacotiae) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

Our last look down the valley towards the accommodation.

We arrived back in Spain a bit late but the uneventful and probably the smoothest landing I have ever known.

Fuerteventura Airport.

We were soon out onto the car park where good friend Derek Etherton picked us all up and took us up to his place where we caught up with Barbara, had a drink and some very nice Lemon Drizzle Cake before heading home via the Bar 3 Calles for drinks and food.

As we got home the storm that had been rumbling for a while arrived and it put on a bit of a show for a while but then the rain just got too heavy and we retreated to the house.

Llanos de Tindaya and to the North, Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Spain.

A full day out on the plains but our last day in the Canaries.

Deb and Ian, Day Twenty Eight.

Ebird List for Llanos de Tindaya.

 

Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis) male.

We started the day with and early breakfast out on the terrace and then went down to Tindaya again hoping for better views of Cream-coloured Coursers (Corredor Sahariano / Cursorius cursor) which we had seen but they were always distant and later in the day when the heat haze was horrendous.

Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis) female.

Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis) female.

Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis) the pair.

We arrived on Dawn and spent a while tootling along the main track to the cliffs, on the way we came across a pair of Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis) which totally ignored us and carried on feeding whilst Deb and I took loads of pictures.

Houbara Bustard (Avutarda Hubara / Chlamydotis undulata).

Houbara Bustard (Avutarda Hubara / Chlamydotis undulata).

Mediterranean Short-toed Lark (Terrera Marismena / Alaudala rufescens).

Mediterranean Short-toed Lark (Terrera Marismena / Alaudala rufescens).

On the drive we added Houbara Bustard (Avutarda Hubara / Chlamydotis undulata), Mediterranean Short-toed Lark (Terrera Marismena / Alaudala rufescens), Berthelot's Pipit (Bisbita Caminero / Anthus berthelotii), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Great Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Norteño Koenigi / Lanius excubitor koenigi), Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Northern Raven (Cuervo grande / Corvus corax) and Spectacled Warbler (Curruca Tomillera / Curruca conspicillata).

Laughing Doves (Tórtola senegalesa / Streptopelia senegalensis).

Laughing Doves (Tórtola senegalesa / Streptopelia senegalensis).

Laughing Doves (Tórtola senegalesa / Streptopelia senegalensis).

Laughing Doves (Tórtola senegalesa / Streptopelia senegalensis).

Laughing Doves (Tórtola senegalesa / Streptopelia senegalensis).

Laughing Doves (Tórtola senegalesa / Streptopelia senegalensis).

It was quite windy when we reached the coast so we turned around and went for a coffee in Tindaya, we then returned but just as we were heading out of the houses I saw a dark coloured Dove fly into an area of animal pens so we went closer for a look and soon found several Laughing Doves (Tórtola senegalesa / Streptopelia senegalensis) in amongst the Eurasian Collared (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).

Eurasian Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus).

Eurasian Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus).

We spent quite a while here, sat in the car waiting for the Doves to perch in a Prickly Pear plant but they never did, during this time we watched several Eurasian Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) including a couple of young birds.

Red-billed Tropicbird (Rabijunco Etéreo / Phaethon aethereus).

Red-billed Tropicbird (Rabijunco Etéreo / Phaethon aethereus).

We drove out to the coast again and spent a couple of hours sat on one of the headlands to the south of the restricted area watching the beautiful Red-billed Tropicbirds (Rabijunco Etéreo / Phaethon aethereus) again which as usual passed by heading North towards the restricted area but always well off shore and a good number of Cory's Shearwaters (Pardela Cenicienta Canaria / Calonectris diomedea borealis) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

Red-billed Tropicbird (Rabijunco Etéreo / Phaethon aethereus).

Red-billed Tropicbird (Rabijunco Etéreo / Phaethon aethereus).

After a couple of hours we suddenly saw two birds flying much closer in and they did a couple of circuits of the cliffs nearer to us and showed very well, very happy we stated to make our way back along the track slowly looking for the Cream-coloured Courser on the way.

Cream-coloured Courser (Corredor Sahariano / Cursorius cursor).

Cream-coloured Courser (Corredor Sahariano / Cursorius cursor).

We again saw a single Courser but as usual it was distant and I only managed hazy shots but still a great bird to see, as we continued we had a female Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), another / same male Black-bellied Sandgrouse show close to the track and another Houbara which was sheltering behind a small bush from the wind which was building.

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

Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis) male.

Houbara Bustard (Avutarda Hubara / Chlamydotis undulata).

When we reached the crossroad we took a left and we drove the tracks almost as far as El Cotillo but apart from a few plants we saw nothing new so we returned to the main track again and the headed back up to the accommodation.

Out to the North of Tindaya.

Out to the North of Tindaya.

The plants seen included Canary Samphire (Astydamia latifolia) and another species which still needs a name.

Canary Samphire (Astydamia latifolia).

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Salinas del carmen, Barranco de la Torre, Another area nearby and Llanos de Tindaya, Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Spain.

Back out with Sharon and John for a Mornings Birding and the another visit to the Plains.

Deb and Ian, Day Twenty Seven. 

Ebird List for Barranco de la Torre.

Museo de las Salinas del Carmen.

Deb, Ian and Myself met up with Sharon and John over on the eastern side of the island at the Museo de las Salinas del Carmen car park, once there we all headed over to Barranco de la Torre where we parked and walked the barranco.

The beach at Barranco de la Torre.

Immature Trumpeter Finch (Camachuelo Trompetero / Bucanetes githagineus).

Immature Trumpeter Finch (Camachuelo Trompetero / Bucanetes githagineus).

Near the start we had a small group of immature Trumpeter Finches (Camachuelo Trompetero / Bucanetes githagineus) which showed nicely.

Palms along the Barranco.

Egyptian Vultures (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus) adult.

Egyptian Vultures (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus) adult.

As we walked on the first of several smart adult and immature Egyptian Vultures (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus), this one was an adult and flew right passed us and landed on a pylon next to a couple of Immature birds.

An old Pillbox.

Sodom’s Apple Milkweed (Calotropis procera).

Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus).

We continued on staying quiet as the signage requested seeing another adult Vulture sat on the cliffs, also seen was a single female Spectacled Warbler (Curruca Tomillera / Curruca conspicillata), Great Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Norteño Koenigi / Lanius excubitor koenigi), Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis), Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus), Small White (Pieris rapae), lots of Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus) butterflies which seemed to be attracted to the many Sodom’s Apple Milkweed (Calotropis procera) plants.

Spectacled Warbler (Curruca Tomillera / Curruca conspicillata) female.

Spectacled Warbler (Curruca Tomillera / Curruca conspicillata) female.

Great Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Norteño Koenigi / Lanius excubitor koenigi).

We reached the point where the signs change to no entry so we turned around and made our way back towards the car adding Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus canariensis), Northern Raven (Cuervo grande / Corvus corax), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and more Trumpeter Finches.

Sharon at the turn around point, signage was useful as we didn't want to be in areas that are sensitive.

Immature Trumpeter Finch (Camachuelo Trompetero / Bucanetes githagineus).

Immature Trumpeter Finch (Camachuelo Trompetero / Bucanetes githagineus).

From the beach we had several Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) before Sharon and John took us out to a spot nearby where they had seen Barbary Partridge (Perdiz Moruna / Alectoris barbara) earlier in their trip but we couldn't find them, we did however see Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria) and Barbary Ground Squirrel (Atlantoxerus getulus).

Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus canariensis).

Sharon and John headed off to have a chilled afternoon whilst Deb, Ian and I continued to check the area as it looked good but we found nothing new so we decided to head back across the island and check out the Tindaya Plain again.

Looking South along the Cliffs.

Looking North along the Cliffs.

We drove out to the far side of the town but took the left hand track down to the coast, we saw nothing interesting but the views at the cliffs was nice.

Looking back towards Tindaya from the southern track.

We turned around and drove back to the cross track up to our usual track, just as we reached the usual track we had amazing views of a stunning male Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis) which showed brilliantly and just walked around feeding whilst Deb and I took far too many photographs.

Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis).

Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis).

Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis).

Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis).

Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis).

Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis).

We spent quite a while with the Sandgrouse before we continued on along the track towards the coast finding Berthelot's Pipit (Bisbita Caminero / Anthus berthelotii), Mediterranean Short-toed Lark (Terrera Marismena / Alaudala rufescens) and a single Houbara Bustard (Avutarda Hubara / Chlamydotis undulata).

Mediterranean Short-toed Lark (Terrera Marismena / Alaudala rufescens).

Mediterranean Short-toed Lark (Terrera Marismena / Alaudala rufescens).

Mediterranean Short-toed Lark (Terrera Marismena / Alaudala rufescens).

Berthelot's Pipit (Bisbita Caminero / Anthus berthelotii).

Houbara Bustard (Avutarda Hubara / Chlamydotis undulata).

We turned around before we reached the end of the track and made our way back to the accommodation seeing the again in the same place we had seen them on a couple of occasions before, we also stopped to take some shots of the terraces on the hillside near Vallebrón.

The Terraces.

Looking down the valley to our accommodation near Vallebrón.