Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

An evening visit.

Ebird List.

 

We again met down at the Walnut trees and then checked the Lucerne fields before dark, species seen included Red-necked Nightjar (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis), Eurasian Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) x28, a Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta) and Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) x4, Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis).

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

An early visit to the fields with Paqui.

Ebird List.

 

Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus) with Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

I met Paqui down on the fields at 08:00 and we walked up as far as the gates and then back again interesting species included European Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Eurasian Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), a surprise Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus) in amongst a flock of Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Willow Warbler (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus), European Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

Later in the evening we met up again down at the Walnut trees and spent a while sitting on the road watching what arrived at the Lucerne fields before dark, species seen included Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) x34, a Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), an immature Black-crowned Night Heron (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax), a Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta) and Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) x4 and a couple of fly through Grey Herons (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea).

Laguna Navaseca and Tablas de Daimiel in Ciudad Real and then back Home, Granada Province, Spain.

A wetlands Morning then back home.

Ebird List for Laguna Navaseca.

Laguna Navaseca.

We left the Hotel early and got to the Laguna as it was getting light, we spent a while scanning the pool from the hide first, here we found Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser), Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Spatula clypeata), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Mareca strepera), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), European Turtle (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur) and Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Thinornis dubius), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Ruff (Combatiente / Calidris pugnax), Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum) and Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti).

Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus).

European Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca).

Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata).

Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).

After a while I returned the scope to the car and we went for a walk along the road and around to the hides on the far side of the water, just as we set off we saw a Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus), which was followed by Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica), Common Reed (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) and Willow Warbler (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus), Spotted (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata) and European Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca), Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis), a flyover Tree Pipit (Bisbita Arbóreo / Anthus trivialis) which called several times and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis).

Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (Ganga Ibérica / Pterocles alchata).

Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (Ganga Ibérica / Pterocles alchata).

Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (Ganga Ibérica / Pterocles alchata).

We turned around at the second hide and walked back towards toe hide near the car park but sat for a while at the small screen hide along the road, as we sat there we heard the first of around 30 Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (Ganga Ibérica / Pterocles alchata) but I couldn't see them.

Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (Ganga Ibérica / Pterocles alchata).

Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (Ganga Ibérica / Pterocles alchata).

Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (Ganga Ibérica / Pterocles alchata).

Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (Ganga Ibérica / Pterocles alchata).

Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (Ganga Ibérica / Pterocles alchata).

A short while later I picked up a couple which appeared to drop in near the main hide, Paqui said she thought we should go back up to the hide but as I had always done well from the spot where we were I said I wanted to wait there, as time went on more birds dropped in and I had to admit that Paqui was probably right and we would be better of up by the hide so we moved.

Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (Ganga Ibérica / Pterocles alchata), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) and Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus).

Once there we got the scope out again and watched the Sandgrouse on the shoreline, to prove the point that Paqui was right about being here the birds then started to leave and several flew close to us and away.

Other species seen during our time at the Laguna included Blue / Common (Anax imperator) and Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope), Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta), Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Cardinal Fritillary (Argynnis pandora) and Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus).

Marbled Ducks (Cerceta pardilla / Marmaronetta angustirostris).

Marbled Duck (Cerceta pardilla / Marmaronetta angustirostris).

Marbled Duck (Cerceta pardilla / Marmaronetta angustirostris).

We headed into Daimiel where we had some breakfast before going up to the visitors centre at Tablas de Daimiel and walked the red loop, on the way we saw Marbled Duck (Cerceta pardilla / Marmaronetta angustirostris), Little, Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis) and Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Grey (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and Black-crowned Night Heron (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax), Little, Western Cattle Egret and Great Egret (Garceta Grande / Ardea alba), Glossy Ibis, Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Common Reed Warbler, Zitting Cisticola and Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae).

Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus).

Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus).

Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta).

Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta).

Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus).

White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).

Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra).

Other species seen included Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta), Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum Cancellatum), Red-veined Darter ♂♀, Southern Darter (Sympetrum meridionale) ♀ and Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea), Clouded Yellow, Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus), Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina), Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi), Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa) and a Sea Lavender species.

Southern Darter (Sympetrum meridionale) ♀.

Transporting the cut reeds.

Part of the Boardwalk.

We returned to the car and made our way south and after about 3.5 hour we were back in Huétor Tajar, later I got things sorted at the house.

Driving back South as far as Daimiel, Ciudad Real, Spain.

Heading South via Ávila and Toledo to Almagro for the night.

Paqui and I were off heading South early in the Morning as we wanted to stop off at Ávila on the way, as we drove we saw Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas), Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Northern Raven (Cuervo grande / Corvus corax), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus).

la Muralla de Ávila.

We reached Ávila and parked before having a walk along part of the City Wall (la Muralla de Ávila) which were very impressive and had a drink, we then continued on south around Toledo and on to  Laguna Navaseca just to the North of Daimiel.

We were fairly tired so it was just a brief visit as we planned to return tomorrow, we saw Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Mareca strepera), Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Spatula clypeata), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Thinornis dubius), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus), Little (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta) and Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Western Marsh Harrier, Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Common Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Other species included Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator), Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta), Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Small White (Pieris rapae), Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi), Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa) and Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus).

We returned to the car and then headed to the accommodation the Retiro del Teatro where we had a comfortable night.

Astorga and Molinaseca in Castile and León, Spain.

A morning in Astorga for Paqui's Birthday with lunch and an evening drink in Molinaseca.

Osborne Bull (Toro de Osborne de Pradorrey). 

We set off to Astorga which was about 50 minutes, on the way we passed the Osborne Bull (Toro de Osborne de Pradorrey) before finding a large free car park next to the City Walls (Muralla de Astorga), we parked and walled into the town seeing the Cathedral of Santa María de Astorga, the Palace of Gaudí Astorga, Cathedral of Santa María de Astorga and the Celda de las Emparedadas.

Around the town we saw Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis).

Muralla de Astorga.

Palace of Gaudí Astorga.

Cathedral of Santa María de Astorga.

Celda de las Emparedadas.

As we walked we reached the Plaza España where we had a drink before having another walk, by the time we decided to eat things had got very busy and as neither of us like crowds we decided to return to Molinaseca.

Plaza España.

We parked and went to De mamá Hostel & Cervecería where we had a drink and some food, which turned out to be much better than expected as the food in the area in general had been ordinary to be kind.

After the meal we returned to the room and chilled for a while before heading out for a walk and a drink, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my beautiful Girlfriend Paqui.

Peñalba de Santiago and Lago de Carucedo, Castile and León, Spain.

A visit to a beautiful mountain village and a return to the lake we enjoyed.

Ebird List for Lago de Carucedo.

Sweet Chestnut (Castaña / Castanea sativa).

We decided to visit the village of Peñalba de Santiago as it was said to be a very beautiful spot and it certainly was but with a rather interesting drive there through the mountains, on the way we picked up Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteño / Emberiza cirlus).

Peñalba de Santiago.

Peñalba de Santiago.

As we approached the village we saw a parking area, after sorting the car we walked down into the village which was surrounded by lots of Sweet Chestnut (Castaña / Castanea sativa) and then had a good look around this very picturesque mountain Pueblo.

Another Coffee and Cake stop in the Village.

One of the many beautiful Slate roofs up in this area.

Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus).

Shaggy Soldier (Galinsoga quadriradiata).

As we walked we saw Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus) x1, Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera) x1, Greater Celendine (Chelidonium majus), Ivy-leaved Toadflax (Cymbalaria muralis), Shaggy Soldier (Galinsoga quadriradiata), Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Eurasian Crag (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum) and House Sparrows (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus).

House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) ♂.

House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) ♀.

Looking down onto the Village as we were leaving.

After a good look around the village we stopped off for a coffee which I was rather pleased came with cake as tapas, once back at the car we decided to have an afternoon chilling at the Lago de Carucedo where we had been a couple of days ago.

On the way there we refuelled the car and popped into a supermarket where we got a few bits for some lunch, once we were at the pool we found some shade and got the chairs out and chilled whilst we had some Lunch. 

Cardinal Fritillary (Argynnis pandora).

Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina).

As we eat our food we saw and heard Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Eurasian Jay (Arrendajo Euroasiático / Garrulus glandarius), Carrion Crow, Northern Raven (Cuervo grande / Corvus corax), Eurasian Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica), Iberian Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Ibérico / Phylloscopus ibericus), European Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca), Black Redstart, Common Chaffinch and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis).

American Mink (Neovison vison).

American Mink (Neovison vison).

American Mink (Neovison vison).

American Mink (Neovison vison).

American Mink (Neovison vison).

We put the chairs back in the car and went for a walk up to the top part of the Lago where as I approached the water there was a splash and I saw a small Mammal swimming away, at first I didn't know what it was but as it climbed up into an overhanging bush where I had better but not great views, however it was good enough to ID it as an unwelcome American Mink (Neovison vison).

Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea).

Birds species seen around this area included Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito ibérico / Picus sharpei), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Eurasian Blue Tit, Barn Swallow, Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

Cardinal Fritillary (Argynnis pandora).

Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina).

Other species recorded on the walk here, around the lower pool and along the boardwalk included Red-eared Terrapin (Trachemys scripta elegans), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Cardinal Fritillary (Argynnis pandora), Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina), Iberian Bluetail (Ischnura graellsii), Blue-eye (Erythromma lindenii), Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator), Vagrant Emperor (Anax ephippiger), Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), False Meadow Saffron (Colchicum montanum), Gypsywort (Lycopus europaeus), Wild Teasel (Dipsacus fullonum) and Red Clover (Trifolium pratense).

Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata) ♂.

Blue-eye (Erythromma lindenii).

Iberian Bluetail (Ischnura graellsii) ♂.

Gypsywort (Lycopus europaeus).

False Meadow Saffron (Colchicum montanum).

Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna).

Red Clover (Trifolium pratense).

We returned to the car and chilled for a while again before heading back to Molinaseca and then after resting and having showers we headed out in to the town again.