Huétor Fields, Town Fields and Realenga, Granada Province, Spain.

Around Huétor Tajar and at home.

Ebird List for the Lucerne Fields.

 

Forgot to put the sheet on the car.

I started the morning by getting some more logs before going for a walk along the Lucerne Fields but starting from the Walnut Trees as the new crossing has already been washed away.

Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Common Woodpigeons (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).

As I walked up to the gate at the far end and back again I recorded Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Iberian (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki) and Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Crested (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and Eurasian Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), House (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Eurasian Tree (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus) and Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis), White (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra) 

Bird of the walk was my first Jack Snipe (Agachadiza Chica / Lymnocriptes minimus) of the winter which I accidently flushed whilst trying to get better views of a Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) which dropped into a damp patch of Lucerne in a damp corner of one of the fields along the Arroyo Vilano.

I also saw Iberian Brown Hare (Liebre ibérica / Lepus granatensis), Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus) and Small White (Pieris rapae) x2. 

Fuente de Piedra, Laguna Dulce, Near Campillos in Malaga Province, Sierra de Loja and Huétor Fields in Granada Province, Spain.

Another day's birding with Nikki from the Netherlands.

Ebird List for Fuente de Piedra.

Ebird List for Laguna Dulce.

Ebird List for Sierra de Loja.

Ebird List for Huétor Fields.

 

Looking along the boardwalk back to the Visitor Centre.

I met Nikki at Loja Railway station and we made our way out to Fuente de Piedra but when we first arrived it was a tad foggy so we went to Bar Panymá for Coffee and a Mollete and then went down to the reserve where we parked and checked out the pool along the entry road and the boggy area on the opposite side of the road finding Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Spatula clypeata), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), a Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), a skulking Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) and a Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta).

Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs).

We walked the back track around to the boardwalk and then over to the track around to the Mirador, as we walked and crossed the Boardwalk we saw Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Cetti's (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis) and European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris).

We walked along the row of Tamarisks where we added Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) and a group of feeding Spanish Sparrows (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis).

Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

From the Mirador we saw some Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) which was a new species for Nikki, we also saw Common Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus), Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus) and Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada) and European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula).

We moved around to the two hide behide the visitor's Centre, from Observatorio El Laguneto we saw Gadwall (Anade Friso / Mareca strepera), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus).

From the Observatorio de las Palomas we saw the most unexpected species of the day when a Eurasian Curlew (Zarapito Real / Numenius arquata) flew over.

The metal work near the visitor centre.

and more.

We returned to the car via the Visitor Centre and then headed off across country to Laguna Dulce, on the way we checked the main laguna through the gap in the Tamarisks seeing Common Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) and a smart Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real / Lanius meridionalis).

Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real / Lanius meridionalis).

Around at Laguna Dulce we picked up Common Shelduck, Mallard, Common Crane, Black-winged Stilt, Pied Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Greater Flamingo, Common Buzzard x2, Common Kestrel, Crested Lark, Common Chiffchaff, European Robin, House Sparrow, Squirting Cucumber (Ecballium elaterium) and Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus).

Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

Common Crane (Grulla Común / Grus grus)

Common Crane (Grulla Común / Grus grus)

Just up the road we stopped again and had great views of a stunning Long-eared Owl (Búho Chico / Asio otus) which I had seen a few days earlier with friends and was a lifer for Nikki.

 Long-eared Owl (Búho Chico / Asio otus).

 Long-eared Owl (Búho Chico / Asio otus).

We headed back out to the east and up Sierra de Loja as there were a few new species up there for Nikki, on the way up we had several Red-legged Partridges (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa) a target for Nikki, Common Woodpigeon, Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Eurasian Hoopoe, European Stonechat, Sardinian Warbler, Iberian Grey Shrike, Meadow Pipit and Thekla's Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae).

Thekla's Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae).

Thekla's Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae).

Around past Charca del Negro we checked the crags where we had the first Black Wheatears (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia) and Corn Bunting.

We drove down through the Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) trees and saw the first of around 23+ Ring Ouzels (Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus), as well as a single Redwing (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus illacus), Black Redstart, Eurasian Blackcap and Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia).

After some time we decided that Nikki had more chance of seeing a Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) up and around Granada so we headed down the hill to head off to Huétor Fields for species we still needed but on the way we had a group of male Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Capra pyrenaica hispanica), a pair of Peregrine Falcons (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus) and just before we reached the Pine Woodlands we picked up a male Blue-rock Thrush on the rocks below the crags.

Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Capra pyrenaica hispanica).

Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Capra pyrenaica hispanica).

Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Capra pyrenaica hispanica).

Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Capra pyrenaica hispanica).

Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Capra pyrenaica hispanica).

Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Capra pyrenaica hispanica).

Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Capra pyrenaica hispanica).

Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Capra pyrenaica hispanica).

On the fields we checked the Lucerne stripes near the town where we were pleased to find 200 odd Eurasian Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) which were a big target for Nikki, along with Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), European Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaia), Meadow Pipit, Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and Small White (Pieris rapae) x2 before we moved up to the top Lucerne fields.

At the top fields we scanned the area hoping for Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) but we didn't have any luck and didn't add anything new, so I drove Nikki back to Loja Train Station where we said goodbye after a second good day's birding.

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

A morning on the Patch, 4 layers to start in the fog and down to a T-shirt by lunchtime.

Ebird List for the Rio Genil.

Ebird List for the Fields.

 

A foggy start to the walk.

I started the morning by getting a few jobs done as it was a tad foggy but just before 10:00 I decided to go down to Huétor and have a walk along the Rio Genil as far as the service area and back again.

Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops).

Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops).

As I walked I recorded Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Common Kingfisher (Martin Pescador Común / Alcedo atthis), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Eurasian Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), a late Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) which was feeding over the Asparagus, lots of Common Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), 

Squirting Cucumber (Ecballium elaterium).

Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki).

Common Woodpigeons (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).

European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola).

Long-tailed Tit (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), a couple of Eurasian Siskin (Jilguero Lúgano / Carduelis spinus), Squirting Cucumber (Ecballium elaterium) and Common Mallow (Malva sylvestris).

Spotless Starlings (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).

Common Waxbills (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild).

Common Waxbills (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild).

Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus).

Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis).

European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola).

House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus).

House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus).

On my way back towards the house, I parked at the Walnut trees and walked the track above the Lucerne Fields where I added Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Eurasian Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Eurasian Tree (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus) and Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

The Clearing Fog on the Fields.

The newly constructed crossing after a couple of day's rain, it didn't last long.

When I returned to the car I moved just up the road a short way and parked by the weed patch where I sat for a while to see what came in but I only managed shots of a male House Sparrow.

Looking out East.

I also recorded Small White (Pieris rapae) x5, Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) x1, Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) x1, Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) x1 before I headed home.

Fuente de Piedra, Laguna Dulce, Campillos and Laguna de Capacete, Malaga, Spain.

Another good day's birding with Friends Barbara and Derek but with a sticky end !!!

Ebird List for Fuente de Piedra.

Ebird List for Laguna Dulce.

Ebird List for Campillos.

 

The roadside pool through the fog.

I drove over to Mollina where I met Barbara and Derek, we had some breakfast and a coffee before heading to Fuente de Piedra and after parking we checked out the roadside pool and the swampy area on the opposite side, through the fog we managed to find Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Spatula clypeata) on the pool and Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala) and Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti) and through the fog we saw a single White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia) sat on it's nest on the old chimney stack.

The roadside pool again still through the fog.

We took the track around the back of the marshy area to the far end of the boardwalk and then came back towards the visitors centre end, as we walked we saw Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), European Stonechat, House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola).

The Pool along the side of the Boardwalk.

Barbara and Derek on the Boardwalk.

Along the Tamarisks heading towards the Mirador we were pleased to see a small flock of Eurasian Siskin (Jilguero Lúgano / Carduelis spinus), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis) and on the pool at the far end of the Tamarisks a male Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca).

Looking out from the Mirador over the Main Laguna.

From the Mirador we scanned the main Laguna which was now starting to become visable as the fog was lifting, through the scope we saw a small number Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Common Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Pied Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Black-headed  (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis).

Female House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus).

Around at Observatorio El Laguneto we found Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus), Northern Shoveler, Gadwall (Anade Friso / Mareca strepera), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Common Kingfisher (Martin Pescador Común / Alcedo atthis), Dartford (Curruca Rabilarga / Curruca undata) heard only and Sardinian Warbler.

At the Observatorio de las Palomas seeing White Wagtail and we also heard some distant Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus).

We walked back around to the car and then drove around to another viewing point out onto the main laguna where we scanned the water between the Tamarisk trees adding Common Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and a very smart Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real / Lanius meridionalis). 

Pied Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta) and Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) in Flight.

Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus) and Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus).

Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus).

Our next stop was at the hide overlooking Laguna Dulce, there was still a decent amount of water there and we soon picked up Northern Shoveler, Mallard, Greater Flamingo's, Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), 60 or so Common Cranes, Black-winged Stilt, over a 100 Pied Avocet, Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Green Sandpiper, Black-headed Gull and Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).

Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus).

After finishing at the hide we drove a loop track around the back of the laguna adding Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Crested, Calandra (Calandria Común / Melanocorypha calandra) and Eurasian Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Squirting Cucumber (Ecballium elaterium), a single Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) and several Desert Darters (Sympetrum sinaiticum) x8 some in tandem egg laying in a small pool.

Long-eared Owl (Búho Chico / Asio otus).

Long-eared Owl (Búho Chico / Asio otus).

At a spot not too far away we checked an area of trees and quickly located a very smart Long-eared Owl (Búho Chico / Asio otus) which was sat nicely in a Mulberry Tree. 

We decided to go and have a look at Laguna de Capacete but this turned out to be a bad move, luckily I left my car at the start of one of the tracks and jumped in with Barbara and Derek but we didn't get very far before we hit problems in the mud but we found we couldn't back out so with quite a bit of pushing we struggled down to what we had hoped would be a better take off to the left around to a nearby farm but it had been partly Ploughed and was even more impassable.

Derek managed to turn the car around and we hoped that we could get some momentum up and drive back out but we were soon bogged, I walked back to my car and drove to a nearby farm where I managed to get a very kind farmer to come with his tractor and two the car out, Derek offered him some money for his help but he refused it and said he was just happy to be able to help, a true Gentleman.

After Derek did a drive and dislodged some of the mud but not enough so they headed straight to a local jet wash and I went off home.