Rio Genil near Moraleda and Balsa del Regidor, Granada Province, Spain.

A walk along another stretch of the Genil with an unexpected catch-up with Friend Juan Perez.

Ebird List for the Genil.

Ebird List for Balsa de Regidor.

 

I started the day by getting a few jobs done around the house while the fog cleared, later I went along the A92 to the Moraleda area and then down to the Rio Genil near there, as I was parking I notice a vehicle that looked like my friend Juan's so I sent him a message and found that he was at this site but a bit further along the track.

Whilst I was getting my kit sorted I saw a large raptor drop from a pylon on the hillside which when it banked proved to be an immature Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) my first of the year. 

Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila Perdicera / Aquila faciatus).

As I started to walk along the Rio I picked up Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Eurasian Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and then a stunning Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila Perdicera / Aquila faciatus) came over the ridge being pursued by a group of Western Jackdaws and circled above the valley for the next few minutes. 

Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila Perdicera / Aquila faciatus).

I continued on and soon bumped into Juan who told me about a few bits he had seen including Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis) and Eurasian Eagle Owl (Búho Real / Bubo bubo), both of which I dipped.

As I walked on I did find Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Long-tailed Tit (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala) and Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Curruca undata), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

Egyptian Geese (Ganso del Nilo / Alopochen aegyptiaca).

I returned to the car and went just up the road to Balsa del Regidor where after parking I walked out on to the Concrete Pier and scanned the pool, the first species of note were a couple of Egyptian Geese (Ganso del Nilo / Alopochen aegyptiaca) which was followed by the winter plumage Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis).

Egyptian Geese (Ganso del Nilo / Alopochen aegyptiaca).

Other species seen included Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Spatula clypeata), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Western Jackdaw, Eurasian Crag Martin, Common Chiffchaff, Cetti's Warbler, Eurasian Blackcap and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Spatula clypeata) and Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina).

Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis) and Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina).

I headed back to Huétor and to Mercodona, I had planned to go and check the Fields but by the time I got out of the supermarket it was throwing it down so I just headed back home and got the fire going.