Rio Genil West and Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A Morning walk at Huétor and then a visit to the fields to check on the wagtail situation.

Ebird List for the Genil.

Ebird List for the Fields.

 

Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

I started the morning with a walk around the usual part of the Ring Road but as I reached the far side of the bridge I heard a call that I had been wanting hear on the Patch and I was soon watching a fine male Lesser-spotted Woodpecker (Pico Menor / Dryobates minor) at almost eye level in one of the dead parts of a White Poplar (Populus alba) to the west of the Bridge, a patch lifer.

Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and Spotless Starlings (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).

While I was continuing the walk I also picked up a nice male Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oropéndola Europea / Oriolus oriolus) before I got back to the car.

Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

I popped into the bar at Comustables Goméz for a coffee and then made a stop out on the fields where I was giving the probable Citrine Wagtail (Lavandera Cetrina / Motacilla citreola) sighting from yesterday another go but all I managed were loads of very varied Western Yellow Wagtails (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava) including at least three different races.

Western Yellow Wagtails (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava).

Western Yellow Wagtails (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava).

Other Species included Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) x5, Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Greater Short-toed (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla) and Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Barn (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), 800+ Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator).

Huétor Fields in Granada Province and Malaga in Malaga Province, Spain.

Sue and Dave's last day.

Sue and Dave, Day fifteen.

Ebird List for the Fields.

 

The flooded Lucerne Fields.

After breakfast we popped down to the fields for a look to see what was about and we found that two sections of the Lucerne fields were being flooded and they were attracting some interest from the local birds and the migrants that were now passing through the area.

I dropped Sue and Dave on the track and went along to the Walnut trees where I parked and walked back, as I got closer Dave beckoned me to hurry but these days that doesn't happen easily, when I got there I looked through the scope at what looked very much like a 1st winter Citrine Wagtail (Lavandera Cetrina / Motacilla citreola) but within a few seconds it was off and mixed in with a group of other Wagtail and was not seen again unfortunately, Sue and Dave, who have experience of the species were pretty sure of the Identification but as we didn't get any photo's and could not relocate it, it will have to go down as one that got away.

Western Yellow Wagtails (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava).

Western Yellow Wagtails (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava).

Western Yellow Wagtails (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava).

In the same and on the surrounding dryer fields we picked up large numbers of Western Yellow Wagtails (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava), Spotless Starlings (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) as well as smaller numbers of Corn Buntings (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra), 5x Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Crested (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and Greater Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Sand (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia) and Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Red-rumped (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis).

Western Yellow Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava).

Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator).

We returned to the house and then later we headed down to Malaga Airport for Sue and Dave's flight out Doha, after saying goodbye I headed to Meet Barbara, Derek and Andy for some lunch before heading home.

Veleta and El Purche in Sierra Nevada, Granada Province, Spain.

Some high altitude sucess on the Sierra.

Sue and Dave, Day Fourteen.

Ebird List for Valeta.

Ebird List for Hoya de la Mora.

Ebird List for El Purche.

 

Sue and Dave at the Refugio.

We headed off up and around Granada to the Albergue Universitario de Sierra Nevada near the car park at Hoya De La Mora where we caught the Minibus up to a point at 3100m along the road up to Valeta, once there we checked out a side track starting the list off with Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Eurasian Crag (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Western House Martins (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) and Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina).

We returned to the main track and walked up to the Refugio Vivac La Carihuela at 3205m, on the way we saw the first of at least 12 Alpine Accentors (Acentor Alpino / Prunella collaris) which showed well down to a couple of meters making me regret not taking my camera as I was carrying the bag with the food and water in it..

We spent some time at the Refugio seeing more Accentors as well as Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia).

Looking towards Veleta.

We dropped down to the side track again and as we looked over the edge an immature Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) came up and was seen flying off being mobbed by Red-billed Chough.

Sue in the Refugio.

In the same area as we waited we added Alpine Swift (Vencejo Real / Apus melba) before we caught the bus back down to the Albergue where we had a coffee while Sue and Dave listened to the commentary of an important Adelaide Crows in AFL finals game.

Waiting for the bus and listening to the game.

In the area around the Albergue we picked up Coal Tit  (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and  European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) which were new for the day list.

Dave getting some shots of the Stunning Scop's.

Getting some more shots of the Owl.

We dropped down the hill and then checked out the Walnut Groves up at El Purche where we did a short walk but managed to add several species including European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Great Spotted (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major) and Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito ibérico / Picus sharpei), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Spotted (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata) and European Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca),Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus) and then one of the best finds of the trip a beautiful grey morph Eurasian Scops Owl (Autillo Europeo / Otus scops) which when I picked up the shape in the tree I thought was going to be a European Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur) but pleased it wasn't as were Sue and Dave but again kicking myself for leaving the camera at home..

The Paella.

After spending a good while watching and photographing this stunning little bird we dropped down the hill and back to the house, later we went down town for a paella and a few drinks as it was Sue and Dave's last night. 

El Temple and the Cacín Valley, Granada Province, Spain.

A hard days birding on the far side of the Patch.

Sue and Dave, Day thirteen.

Ebird List for Realenga de Agicampe.

Ebird List for Chimeneas.

Ebird List for  El Temple.

Ebird List for GR-3310, Ventas de Huelma.

Ebird List for Gorge of the Cacín.

Ebird List for Contraembalse de los Bermejales. 

Ebird List for Contraembalse de los Bermejales.

 

Sierra Nevada from the Terrace.

We started off by having breakfast up on the terrace and having 2 fly passes from a Red-necked Nightjar (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis) before heading out to the Chimenears area and took to the fields again.

Out on the fields looking for Hoopoe's.

In the area to the North of the site we drove several different tracks finding Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), European Turtle (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur) and Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Crested (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and Greater Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Willow Warbler (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus), European Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

The Field.

We crossed to the other side of the site and picked up a small group of 5 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Booted Eagle, Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real / Lanius meridionalis), Greater Short-toed Lark, Barn Swallow and Northern Wheatear.

In the area we also saw Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) and Rabbits (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus).

We moved on and called in at Bernardo Restaurante for a coffee before heading across towards Cacín, we made a stop on the way and scanned the skies for raptors and were rewarded with an immature Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti) which was involved in areal combat with an immature Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos).

We also saw European Honey Buzzard (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus), Booted Eagle, Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Barn Swallow and Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum).

We dropped down into the Cacín Valley and went down to the south towards the Embalse de Bermejalis but stopped above the gorge where we had some food and scanned the cliffs and skies finding Short-toed Snake Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus), Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), European Bee-eater, Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), lots more Western House Martin which neast naturally on the cliffs here, Sardinian Warbler and Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia).

Sue and Dave on the Roman Bridge.

We moved up the valley again and made a stop at the Roman Bridge seeing several Desert Orange-tips (Colotis evagore) but nothing else so we moved on up to the Contraembalse de Bermejalis where we parked and found Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Spatula clypeata), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Pallid Swift, Booted Eagle, Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), European Bee-eater, Common Kestrel, Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica) and Barn Swallow, Western House Martin, Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa) and Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii).

We moved around to the track near the Dam and walked between the bridge and the fence near the Dam adding Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Long-tailed Tit (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis) and European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

We drove further up the Valley and checked the cliffs below Morelada but added nothing so we crossed the fields between El Turro and the Motorway but it was again quiet so we headed back to the house and chilled. 

West of Albacete, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain.

Bustard Hunting further to the North East.

Sue and Dave, Day twelve. 

Ebird List for Bienservida. 

Ebird List for East of Albacete 1.

Ebird List for East of Albacete 2.

Ebird List for East of Albacete 3.

Ebird List for East of Albacete 4.

 

3 of the 7 Great Bustards (Avutarda Euroasiática / Otis tarda).

We were off before the crack of Sparrows and heading to the North east where we were trying for a second time to find one of Sue and Dave's big targets the Great Bustard (Avutarda Euroasiática / Otis tarda), we covered the distance fairly quickly and about an hour and a half before we reached the spot we were heading for we said that the area along the A32 was starting to look good and within seconds of us crossing into Albacete I picked up a group of 7 Bustards off to the Left and fortunately there was a spot to park quite quickly after that on the right.

We got nice views but as usual with this species they are very easily spooked and were soon off over the ridge so we continued on again to the original place we had planned to visit, on the way we saw a good number of Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) on a couple of irrigated grass fields.

We reached the main area we were going to and started to drive the fields but it was hard going, however we did add Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Eurasian Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) x16, Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica) and Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator).

Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator).

Further around the site we stopped and scanned the trees and skies picking up 2 adult Iberian Imperial Eagles (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti), Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), European Honey Buzzard (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus) x8, Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo insularum), Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito ibérico / Picus sharpei), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real / Lanius meridionalis), Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis).

We relocated to another area of agricultural fields and after a bit more searching we came upon a group of 20 Great Bustards on a field of small cabbage type plants, we watched these birds for quite a while but the heat haze made getting photo's difficult and then after a while another car came along the track a little too quickly for the Bustards liking and they were off.

Great Bustards (Avutarda Euroasiática / Otis tarda).

Other species seen during this part of the drive included a very nice and unexpected Red-necked Nightjar (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis) which Sue discovered in a area of the intensively planted Olive trees, this was followed by a group of 8 Collared Pratincoles (Canastera Común / Glareola pratincola), a big flock of 380+ Northern Lapwings, Western Marsh (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) and Montagu's Harrier, European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Common Kestrel, Carrion Crow, Barn Swallow, Northern Wheatear, Western Yellow Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava) and European Goldfinch.

Great Bustards (Avutarda Euroasiática / Otis tarda).

Other species included Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Bath (Pontia daplidice) and Small White (Pieris rapae), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) and Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus).

We had got the target species so we decided to start to make our way back south as we still had a long drive ahead of us (which was uneventful), on the way off the site we finished the day list with a couple of Rock Sparrows (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia) and several Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina).

Cuevas Bajas, Guadalhorce and Hoz de Marín in Málaga Province and near Huétor Tajar in Granada Province, Spain.

Dip, Dip and another Dip, a hard days birding.

Sue and Dave, Day Eleven.

Ebird List for Cuevas Bajas 1. 

Ebird List for Cuevas Bajas 2. 

Ebird List for Hoz de Marín.

Ebird List for near Huétor Tajar.

 

We made our way over the border into Malaga Province for what turned out to be a difficult days birding with three dips.

European Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca).

We started by heading out west again into Malaga Province to a spot where I had seen Lesser-spotted Woodpecker (Pico Menor / Dryobates minor) or as Dave calls it the Never-spotted Woodpecker and unfortunately this is the way it remained even though just minutes after arriving a bird called.

Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla).

Species seen included Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oropéndola Europea / Oriolus oriolus), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Northern Raven (Cuervo grande / Corvus corax), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Eurasian Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Common Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Cetti's (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti) and Willow Warbler (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Spotted (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata) and European Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca) and Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild).

We didn't have any luck so we went to another spot just a bit further along the river but only managed to add Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis).

Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous).

Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous).

During the time at the two sites we also recorded Iberian Bluetail (Ischnura graellsii) x5, Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathinerum) x2, Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator) x1, Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) x13, Bath White (Pontia daplidice) x3, Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) x2, Long-tailed (Lampides boeticus) x1 and Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous) x2, Small White (Pieris rapae), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi) and Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus).

When we were about to leave we got some news from Andy Patterson about a Eurasian Dotterel (Chorlito Carambolo / Eudromias morinellus) on the beach at Guadalhorce, he said it was extremely windy and conditions weren't great but we decided to give it a shot but unfortunately as hard as we searched it turned out to be the second dip of the day so we headed back inland and headed for the Marin Valley where I drove part of the way along the track before parking and continuing on foot as far as the Arroyo and then back along the bank of the Arroyo to the car.

Coal Tit  (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater).

Coal Tit  (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater).

As we walked we picked up Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Eurasian Hoopoe, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito ibérico / Picus sharpei), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Iberian  Magpie, Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater), European Crested (Herrerillo Capuchino / Lophophanes cristatus) and Eurasian Blue Tit, Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Red-rumped Swallow, Western Subalpine (Curruca Carrasqueña Occidental / Curruca iberiae) and Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Curruca undata), Common Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapilla), Eurasian Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Short-toed Treecreeper, Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Spotted and European Pied Flycatcher, European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra) and European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) but unfortunately as hard as we tried we couldn't find the target Hawfinch (Picogordo Común / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes).

Desert Orange-tip (Colotis evagore).

Desert Orange-tip (Colotis evagore).

We also saw Sage Skipper (Muschampia proto) x1, Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli) x2, Desert Orange-tip (Colotis evagore) x3, Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra) x1, Long-tailed Blue x2 and Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina) x5, Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina) x4, Southern Gatekeeper (Pyronia cecilia) x9, Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) x3, Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera) x1 and a smart young male Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Capra pyrenaica hispanica).

Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Capra pyrenaica hispanica).

We returned to the house and chilled on the terrace, whilst we sat there a group of 5 European Honey Buzzards (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus) dropped in over the house and into the Olives for the night.

Another very nice one of Dave's meals up on the Terrace.