Osuna area, Sevilla Province, Spain.

Out birding with a group of friends from the Coast.

Ebird List for Osuna Fields.

Ebird List for Laguna de La Ballestera.

Ebird List for Laguna Calderón Grande.

 

Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus).

I started the day by driving over to Café Bar Las Vegas on the western side of Osuna, on the way I stopped off for coffee and Breakfast at Restaurante El Hacho II near Casariche where I bumped into Barbara and Derek Etherton, Andy Patterson, Luis Alberto and Mariaje, thanks to Luis for Breakfast.

We continued on and met the rest of the Group which included Ricky and Sonia Owen, Kevin Wade, Steve Powell, Hans Börjesson and Barbara and Jerry Laycock.

Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus).

After saying hello and getting sorted we headed off along the road that follows the railway line and out to the first of the bridges that cross the railway, on the way we started the day list off with House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) but our car missed it, Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real / Lanius meridionalis), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Curruca undata), Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and as we came up onto the bridge we had a couple of Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) fly out of the Broom bushes, the first flock of Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis) we were to see lots and a couple of Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa).

From the bridge Hans found the first Great Bustard (Avutarda Euroasiática / Otis tarda) which was out on its own, but another group of 10 birds were soon found in another field.

In the same area we saw Red Kite, Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Northern Raven (Cuervo grande / Corvus corax), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Eurasian Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Crested (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and Calandra Lark (Calandria Común / Melanocorypha calandra), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis).

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

Then Hans came up trumps again when he found a distant flock of around 24 Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis) not a species that is easily seen in the area.

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

We dropped back down to the road seeing a very smart ♂ Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) on the way, we drove up towards the second bridge but stopped once we were level with the Sandgrouse where we counted them again, I think Derek found 31 birds in all.

Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus).

We went up onto the second bridge but continued on out on the tracks towards the Preformed Concrete factory a few Kms out, on this drive there was a second Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus), a big ♀ was seen sat on a pylon, but it was flushed before we got there by another car coming the other way, Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola) and European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus). 

European Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaia).

We reached the A-407 and crossed to the fields on the other side, after a few KMs we turned left and returned to the A-407, as we drove this section of tracks we 40 odd European Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaia), 200+ Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus), Red-legged Partridge, Eurasian Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) and Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis).

The Observatorio ornitológico de la laguna Ballestera.

Once we reached the A-407 again, we headed to Lantejuela and out the far side on the SE-8201 but before long we turned off and went to check the Observatorio ornitológico de la laguna Ballestera, on the approach we saw three trees full of the beautiful and very often underappreciated Spanish Sparrow, some of the ♂ birds were in nice plumage.

♂♀ Spanish Sparrows (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis).

♂ Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis).

On the lake we picked up Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Common Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Mareca strepera), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), another 19 Common Crane, Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Pied Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Red Kite, Crested Lark, Black Redstart, European Stonechat, White Wagtail, European Goldfinch, and over 500 Spanish Sparrows. 

♂♀ Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis).

♂ Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis).

We started to head back south towards Osuna but made a roadside stop on the A-351 at Laguna Calderón Grande, viewing is difficult, but we did find 20 odd Common Cranes, a Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) and ♀♀ of both Western Marsh and Hen Harrier (Aguilucho Pálido / Circus cyaneus).

We continued on down the A-351 and back to the cars at the Café Bar Las Vegas and then we all headed off after an excellent days birding in nice company.

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

Out on the Patch where I had a new bird species for the area, later bumped into a couple of Guys from Germany as well as a new Mammal species for the Year.

Ebird List for Genil East.

Ebird List for Huétor Fields.

As it was still raining, I started the morning by going down town and doing a couple of chores before spending a little while at a spot along the Rio Genil watching the River and some dead trees from the car to stay dry, as I stopped I looked straight down onto the sandy shingle margin for the far bank of the River and was surprised but pleased to get a couple of second view of a White-throated Dipper (Mirlo Acuático Europeo / Cinclus cinclus) before it flew off up river to the east.

As I sat there I also picked up Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Iberian (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki) and Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), 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), 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 Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), 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 (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis) and European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

The Lucerne Fields.

The Lucerne Fields.

Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

I moved up to the Lucerne Fields and did a short walk along the Arroyo where I added Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) x6, Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Eurasian Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Curruca undata), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), 2 sizeable flocks of Common Waxbills (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), close to 50 Eurasian Tree Sparrows (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Eurasian Tree Sparrows (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus).

Eurasian Tree Sparrows (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus).

Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild).

Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild).

Common Waxbills (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild).

Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

I decided to head around to the Mesia irrigation channels, when I arrived I found Franz Amberger and Norbert Geisperge from Germany who were looking for a couple of species I had just seen, so I took them over to the Lucerne fields where we soon found both Little Bustard and Black-winged Kite but shortly after getting their two targets I was very happy that I had returned to the spot when I spotted an Otter (Nutria / Lutra lutra) coming upstream along the Arroyo Vilano.

Franz and Myself.

Norbert and Myself.

Otter (Nutria / Lutra lutra).

Otter (Nutria / Lutra lutra).

Otter (Nutria / Lutra lutra).

Otter (Nutria / Lutra lutra).

The Otter swam around and then came out onto the mud and then swam towards us for a while, but then it became aware of our presence and turned around and after spending a while by a small weir that had been created when the Arroyo was cleared it headed back off down stream.

Otter (Nutria / Lutra lutra).

Otter (Nutria / Lutra lutra).

Otter (Nutria / Lutra lutra).

Otter (Nutria / Lutra lutra).

Otter (Nutria / Lutra lutra).

Otter (Nutria / Lutra lutra).

I then said bye to Franz and Norbert and headed off home for the rest of the day. 

El Purche, Restaurante Ruta Del Purche and in Sierra Nevada, Granada Province, Spain.

A morning birding with friend Juan Perez in the Hills.

Ebird List for El Purche.

Looking North from my first stop.

After checking the Moth Light I set off and made my way around Granada and up into the Sierra Nevada and then out to El Purche, I was early so I checked out an area a KM or so from the point where I was meeting Juan.

One of the Locals chilling in the sun.

As I checked the Walnut (Juglans regia) groves and Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) bushes finding Great Spotted (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major hispanus) and Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito ibérico / Picus sharpei), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real / Lanius meridionalis), Eurasian Jay (Arrendajo Euroasiático / Garrulus glandarius), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Woodlark (Alondra Totovía / Lullula arborea), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteño / Emberiza cirlus).

A dark breasted Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major) subspecies hispanus.

♂ Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteño / Emberiza cirlus).

♂ Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteño / Emberiza cirlus).

As it was getting closer to our meeting time I went to the spot and then checked that area out, here I saw the first of the day's Ring Ouzel (Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Eurasian Jay (Arrendajo Euroasiático / Garrulus glandarius).

When Juan arrived, we did a walk-up through some Walnut Groves and then out across some grassland to the Hawthorn woods below a cliff which was still casting shadow over the woods, on the way up we saw good numbers of Eurasian Magpie, Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Thekla's Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Black Redstart, European Robin and European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola).

♂ Ring Ouzel (Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus).

♂ Ring Ouzel (Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus).

Along the bottom of the cliffs in the Hawthorns we had a few hardy Ring Ouzels, which were still feeding in the cooler shaded areas, Sardinian Warbler and as we came back out into the sun, we started to find more as well as lots more Red-legged Partridge, Ring Ouzels, the first Redwing (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus illacus) of the day, Iberian Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Curruca undata), Great, Eurasian Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and Long-tailed Tit (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus), Woodlark, Common Chaffinch, the odd Cirl and flocks of Rock Buntings.

♂ Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteño / Emberiza cirlus).

♂ Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteño / Emberiza cirlus).

Down on the lower areas of fields along the side of the trees, we relocated the Iberian Grey Shrike I had seen earlier and added Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis). 

We reached the road and walked back towards the cars adding Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), more Woodlarks, House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and in the Pines near the car Eurasian Blue, Great, European Crested (Herrerillo Capuchino / Lophophanes cristatus) and Coal Tit  (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater) and Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla).

European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris).

Juan then came up with the best idea of the day, he said did I like the thought of some food and a drink in Restaurante Ruta Del Purche, we went in and ordered a couple of bocadillo's, one of Chorizo and the other Morcilla which we split, these with a Tostarda beer went down extremely well.

We walked back to the cars and then headed to another spot a bit further up the hill, just as we were leaving we saw an immature Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos), we arrived at a spot on the old road down towards Güéjar Sierra where we checked an area of Pinus sylvestris woodland with some more Hawthorn scrub but it was generally quiet, we only saw and heard Robin, Common Blackbird and Common Chaffinch so we walked back to the cars.

A rather Icy track up through the Pines.

At this point Juan headed off and I called Jayne's brother David back as he had tried to call whilst I was driving and as I spoke to him I had 3 Eurasian Siskin (Jilguero Lúgano / Carduelis spinus) fly past and a Eurasian Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea) which was calling from the trees below me.

After we finished our call I headed off home and chilled.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 14th January 26.

15W Actinic on the terrace, +4.

2 Moths of 2 Species.

Any corrections, PLEASE send me a comment on the post, thanks.

Licence from Junta de Andalucia.

 

8328 Nebula Ibericata.

Just 2 moths, 6496 Evergestis isatidalis x1 and 8328 Nebula Ibericata x1.

Golf Los Moriscos, Golf Los Moriscos 2, Punta del Santo, Playa de la Cagadilla, La Vinuesa near Charca and Playa de Carchuna, Costa de Granada, Granada Province, Spain.

A not so Wild ??? Goose chase down the coast.

Ebird List for Golf Los Moriscos.

Ebird List for Golf Los Moriscos 2.

Ebird List for Punta del Santo.

Ebird List for Playa de la Cagadilla.

Ebird List for La Vinuesa.

Ebird List for Playa de Carchuna west.

Ebird List for Playa de Carchuna east.

 

The Barnacle Geese (Barnacla Cariblanca / Branta leucopsis) heading along the coast.

As it was raining when I got up, which meant I didn't need the heater / blower which had not beeen working for a couple of days (but the damn thing was on full blast and wouldn't turn off) and the car started, I headed for the coast to try and see a couple of Barnacle Geese (Barnacla Cariblanca / Branta leucopsis) which had been knocking around for a few days, possibly first seen out east in Almeria or at least one of them was but where they actually came from is not known, possibly from a feral population from up in Northern Europe but at this point of unknown origin ??

Barnacle Goose (Barnacla Cariblanca / Branta leucopsis).

I arrived in the area early, it was still dark so I had some breakfast and coffee at bar Estrella del Mar before going along the coast to the larger of the Pools on the Golf Los Moriscos course but it was not light enough to see properly so I went for a bit of a walk.

Just as I arrived back and grabbed the bins I saw both of the Geese in flight and heading off east towards Charca, on the pool I did see a good number of Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), a single Egyptian Goose (Ganso del Nilo / Alopochen aegyptiaca), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

Barnacle Geese (Barnacla Cariblanca / Branta leucopsis).

Barnacle Goose (Barnacla Cariblanca / Branta leucopsis).

As It had got a bit lighter, I moved down to the road to the other end of the golf course and checked out another pool where I found the Barnacle Geese again, which were feeding out on the fairway but soon moved one of the Grounds Staff came to rack the bunkers they were off, circled and dropped back in as far from them as possible.

Barnacle Geese (Barnacla Cariblanca / Branta leucopsis).

On and around the pool I also saw 2 ♂ Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Spatula clypeata), Mallard, Little and Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot, a fly over Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), good numbers of Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) which passed high overhead, Little (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta) and Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), a Common Kingfisher (Martin Pescador Común / Alcedo atthis), Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Cetti's Warbler, Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtail and lots of Meadow Pipits (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis).

Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus).

As I walked back towards the car I went along the road checking the scrub where I added a calling Eurasian Wryneck (Torcecuello / Jynx torquilla), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Sardinian Warbler, Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Blackbird, European Robin, Black Redstart, Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild) and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus).

Looking along the coast towards Motril Port.

When I got to the car I picked up the scope and went out to the beach at Punta del Santo where I did a sea watch for 3/4 of an Hour, during this time I recorded a good number of Balearic Shearwaters (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus), a few Northern Gannets (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), a single Razorbill (Alca Común / Alca torda) which flew fast heading west, Great Cormorant, Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Yellow-legged and Lesser Black-backed Gull and Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Thalasseus sandvicensis).

Razorbill (Alca Común / Alca torda).

Razorbill (Alca Común / Alca torda).

On the rocks and around the beach I saw a small group of Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia) and Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata).

Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba).

Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba).

I decided to head just along the coast to Playa de la Cagadilla where after parking and walking to the beach I walked west as far as the Rio Guadalfeo, species added to the day list along here included Common Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), 2 Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) which didn't look happy in the cold wind, European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola) and a Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta) which was feeding on the larger of the pools with White Wagtails.

Looking west along Playa de la Cagadilla.

A hazy view of Sierra Nevada from Playa de la Cagadilla.

As I walked back I didn't add any birds but along the track back from the beach to the car I could hear a couple of Stripe-less Tree Frogs (Hyla meridionalis) and saw a single Small White (Pieris rapae) my second butterfly species of the year, along with Yellow horned Poppy (Glaucium flavum), Bermuda Buttercup (Oxalis pes-caprae), Seaside Daisy (Asteriscus maritimus) and Purple Bugloss (Echium plantagineum).

Common Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula).

My next site was to be a bit further east along the coast at Carchuna but as I cut across country I stopped at a spot where I usually go for butterflies when I saw a dark morph Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas) in flight, whilst I was watching this I also saw another Barn Swallow and a mixed flock of both Spotless (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris).

Dark morph Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas).

Dark morph Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas).

I reached the western end of Carchuna beach, I walked a little to the east and down on the stony beach I had a group of 8 Kentish (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Anarhynchus alexandrinus) and a single Common Ringed Plover and a Sanderling.

Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Anarhynchus alexandrinus).

Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Anarhynchus alexandrinus) and a Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba).

Common Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula).

Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Anarhynchus alexandrinus).

Also seen were Yellow-legged and Audouin's Gull (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Great Cormorant and Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus).

Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis).

I returned to the car and drove up to the eastern end of the beach and did another short walk but I didn't add anything new for the list, so I returned to the car and headed off toward home but took the old road seeing a couple of Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Capra pyrenaica hispanica) on the roadside, I planned to call and check on the White-throated Dipper (Mirlo Acuático Europeo / Cinclus cinclus) but it looked like the area has been totally gutted by the pipe laying works.

By now I was starting to flag from the early start, so I continued on home and chilled.