Loja Wildlife, Granada Province, Spain.

Alhambra Woodlands/General Life and El

2012-01-22T15:57:00.004+01:00

Hoping for a Province tick.

After getting a text from Juan Perez yesterday I went up in to Granada for a walk around the Alhambra gardens to try and see the Tawny Owl (Cárabo Común / Strix aluco) he sees fairly regularly. I parked in the main car park and walked down the hill through the mixed woodlands which surround the famous attraction till I was just above the city and then looked into the hole where the bird had been yesterday to find it empty as I had the last time when we met Juan and Beatriz at the site. I did manage to see the almost completely albino Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), along with more normal coloured birds. High up in the trees I also picked up several Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotraustes), a couple of Redwings (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus iliacus) and lower down there were singing Blackcaps (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla) and Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).
I then returned to the car and headed up the Sierra Nevada to the area called El Purche which is an area of open grassland and Hawthorn scrub with some Walnut and fruit tree plantations where in the past I have seen some large flocks of finches and bunting but not today. Unfortunately the snow from the beginning of the week was still covering most of the ground below the fruit trees so birds were a bit thin on the ground. I did get some nice views of Cirl (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus), Corn (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and Rock Buntings (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia) together in the same Hawthorn bush. Also seen were a few Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and a cracking really brightly plumaged Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus viridis) which yaffelled it's way through the Walnut trees. I then moved down the hill a little and added Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Southern Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) and a flock of about 6 more Hawfinches. I then drove back to the city to meet Jayne but I was a tad early so I walled back to the Owl site from the opposite direction from this morning but the result was the same, just an empty hole perfect for a Tawny Owl.
Photographs from the top: Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus and Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

El Faro, Fuengirola, Malaga Province.

2012-01-16T22:13:00.006+01:00

A few winter waders.

I had a hour or so to go down and have a look at the coast near Fuengirola in between different stops on a days shopping and sorting on the coast (taking a damaged door back to Ikea amongst other things) so I decided to go and have a look for some waders for the year list. I parked by the large rock on the sea ward side of the coastal motorway and started to walk back along the path to the west. On the very first group of rocks I found all the species I had expected with around 20 each of Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres) and Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba) which were accompanied but 3 Purple Sandpipers (Correlimos Oscuro / Calidris maritime). I watched and photographed they flock for quite a while before a male Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus) did an all to close flypast and flushed the lot. They all moved on to the rocks down but car but were to far out to get any decent views. I also saw Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo).
Photographs from the top: Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), 2x Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba) and 2x Purple Sandpiper (Correlimos Oscuro / Calidris maritime).

Sierra Morena, Anduja, Jaen Province.

2012-01-14T15:31:00.005+01:00

A Day of not looking looking in the right direction or being in the wrong place.

I met Juan Perez at the usual place in Granada and we set off north for a change heading for Sierra Morena looking for the Pardel Lynx (Lince Iberica / Lynx pardina. We were meeting Manu, Silvia and Marisa at a bar near to the site at 09:00 which was why we set off a bit later than normal at 07:00. I had met Manu on several occasions doing the RAM sea bird surveys but it was the first time I had seen Silvia or Marisa. Whilst we were waiting for them to arrive we picked up a couple of Hawfinches (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotraustes) in a tree nearby, heard and eventually saw a Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus viridis) and watched lots of Azure-winged Magpies (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cyanus) as they fed on the far side of the road. When the others arrived we drove the 14km or so to the site, which was easier than the last visit as the road had had some work do on it. Once we were on the dirt track all eyes were peeled as we were really getting into the area for the Lynx, I was looking off to the right and slightly behind when Juan had a Wildcat (Felis silvestris) run across the road in front of the car which I missed. A little further on we picked up a fine Stag Fallow Deer (Dama dama) lying down under the Oak trees watching several females nearby. We decided to drive down to the dam first and have a look for the Wallcreeper (Treparriscos / Tichodroma muraria) which had been wintering in the area for the last few years but there was no sign, but we had good views of Blue Rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), more Hawfinches, Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major) and Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).
After a while we want back up to the Lynx area and settled down and searched the valleys and rocky outcrops nearby. After a while I had a walk back down towards the dam to see what birds were around, almost straight a way two Black Vultures (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus) flew passed very low and headed up towards Juan and the others. In the area I also picked up a Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia) and along way off on a ridge a male Mouflon (Ovis orientalis). On the walk back up the hill an immature Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti) did a low fly past and a single Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) circled over a nearby hill.
Once back with the other we picked up Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Great (Carbonero Común / Parus major) and Long-tailed Tits (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Southern Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis). An adult and two young Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) came up the valley to the side of us giving good views, more Fallow Deer were picked out and Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) and Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) were added to the Mammal list. I then had a walk off in the other direction and had a chat with to English birders and soon wished I had not as ignorance was bliss till they told me that at 09:00 they had had the Lynx down to 25 metres and had the shots to prove it and they showed me some crackers. I went back to the others with the news and the two lads who showed the shot around again. It was well into the afternoon by now and the cloud cover was just starting to break which meant that the Vultures started to get airborne, several Blacks and Griffons were picked up as was a stunning adult Spanish Imperial which showed well for at least 10 minutes. Eventually the clouds completely cleared but by this time they were casting very long shadows and a short while later we had to call it a day and admit defeat in our hunt for views of the Lynx but there are always the memories from my last three visits and the thoughts of the next. On the way back we stopped for a drink and after a chat we said our goodbyes and headed home.
Photographs from the top: 3x Black Vulture (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus) and Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

Rio Guadalhorce, Malaga Province.

2012-01-11T17:08:00.005+01:00

Tying things in with a trip to Ikea.

Jayne and I headed down towards Malaga to go and collect the last two cupboards needed to complete our kitchen from Ikea, on the way I dropped Jayne off at the Larios shopping centre and then drove on wards to Guadalhorce. As soon as I parked I was greeted with cracking views of a Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) which was fishing from some of the riverside rocks along with a Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta). On the sandier margins there was a single Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), around 20 Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba) and at least 12 Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus). Out at sea I quickly picked up around half the flock of 30 Common Scoters (Negrón Común / Melanitta nigra) Andy Patterson had reported earlier in the month (www.birdingthecosta.com), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) and Balearic Shearwater (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus). I then walked along the beach to the entrance track into the reserve, on the way I picked up Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus). I walked on to the reserve and to the hide overlooking the main pool, White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis) and Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber) were all very quickly on the list as was a nice Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus) which was pointed out to me by a Spanish birder who was already in the hide. Also here were Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo). Mick Smith then joined us in the hide just before a group of school kids came in. We then decided that we would move around to the next hide where it was a little quieter and as soon as we arrived I picked up a single Purple Swamp-hen (Calamón Común / Porphyrio porphyrio) right at the back of the pool just before it disappeared out of sight behind some reeds. A couple of Spanish birders then joined us in the hide just as I picked up a distant Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus) way out over the far side of the coastal motorway. Mick and I then went off, he headed back towards the coast and I went around towards the wader hide. I went straight past the first hide on the way down to the sea watch point but had a good look from the second where I picked up several Little Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Green (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) and Common Sandpipers (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula) and Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica). Further along the track to the sea watch point a couple of Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia) were roosting on a small patch of mud and several Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) and Black-winged Stilts were all franticly feeding on the far shore of the last pool before the beach.
As the sea watch point was full of fishermen and their kit I went straight down on to the beach and started to wall back towards the car, as I reached the bank on the far side of the river I bumped into Mick again and we had another chat and I managed to get some quite nice shots of the Kingfisher which was still fishing from the rocks. We then had a quick look out over the sea before heading off to meet Jayne for some lunch.
Photographs from the top: Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta), Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus), White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala) and Purple Swamp-hen (Calamón Común / Porphyrio porphyrio).

Laguna Herrera, And Fuente de Piedra, Malaga Province.

2012-01-09T17:07:00.008+01:00

A trip over into Malaga Province.

Jayne had a late in the day appointment over in Fuente de Piedra so we decided that we would have a look in at the Shopping Centre at Antequera on the way and as we were in the area Laguna Herrera and the main lagoons at Fuente. Our first stop was at the bar at junction 149 off the A92 for a coffee and tostada, which went down very nicely. We then headed up the Cordoba road towards Laguna Herrera, on the track into the site there were as usual good numbers of finches, buntings and sparrows including Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer Domesticus), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus). Further out in one of the winter cereal fields 2 male and 1 female Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) were feeding amongst a large flock of Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) and a few Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaia). On the lagoon the most obvious species were gulls with hundreds of Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) bathing in the shallow water. On the margins Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus) numbers had risen from the last time I visited and had reached at least 30, a couple of Green (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) and a single Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) were feeding amongst a few more Northern Lapwings. Southern Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) were all perched on the overhead cables whilst Azure-winged Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cyanus), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) were all in the reeds.
On the flooded fields on the opposite side of the track from the lagoon there were a good three thousand gulls either on the marginal mud or out in the water, almost all were Lesser Black-backed along with a few Black-headed.
We then went on to the Shopping Centre and then Fuente, I started with a look around the small lagoons near the wooden walk way and was very happy to find a couple of winter plumaged male Reed Buntings (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus) mixed in with a flock of at least 3 male Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis), a good number House Sparrows and a few Corn Buntings. While I was watching the Spanish Sparrows a fine male White-spotted Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) was seen feeding on an open area of mud. Also in this area were Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata) and Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus). On the next larger lagoon a small flock of 5 Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa) were a nice find in their silvery winter plumage, also on the water were a pair of Eurasian Wigeon (Silbón Europeo / Anas Penelope), lots more Northern Shovelers and Eurasian Teal and a few immature Greater Flamingo’s (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber). On the margins a couple of Water Pipits (Bistita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta) were strutting around with a single Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and lots of White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba). I then moved up to the mirador below the Oak tree from where I successfully scanned through the thousands of Greater Flamingo’s and located the long staying Lesser (Phoenicopterus minor) a much redder bird with an obvious all dark bill. Also on the main lagoon I added Avocet (Avoceta Común/ Recurvirostra avosetta) a small group of 5 birds were roosting in the shallow water, 30+ Common Crane (Grulla Común / Grus grus), Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta).
I then continued on around to the two hides overlooking the freshwater pools, there were lots of bird but almost all were either Lesser Black-backed Gulls or Northern Shovelers. While I was there a female Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) came in low over the trees and flushed all the smaller duck before snatching a male Eurasian Teal in flight, almost immediately the bird escape but was badly injured and dived straight for a small clump of rushes and weeds out in the water. The Harrier followed it in to the vegetation and must have eventually found its catch as I could see it plucking the bird. Also in this area I picked up Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis). I then walked back around towards Jayne in the car seeing a single Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago) on the way. We were still a little early for Jayne appointment so I went around to the first hide on the eastern side of the main lagoon, from here I had better views of the Lesser Flamingo and added Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) and Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta) to the year list.
Photographs from the top: Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis), Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa), 2x Lesser Flamingo (Phoenicopterus minor) and the female Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).

Cacín Valley and La Malaha, Granada Province.

2012-01-08T17:06:00.011+01:00

3rd time unlucky.

After a call a couple of days earlier from birding friends John and Jenny Wainwright, Jayne and I headed down to the Embalse de Bermejalis to try and catch up with the three Egyptian Geese (Ganso del Nilo / Alopochen aegyptiaca) that they have recorded there on a few occasions now but I could not find them even with quite a long drive and walk around the shoreline. I did get views of at least 6 Great Crested Grebes (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala). Whilst I was birding Jayne had collected two large backs of cones off the pine trees which we were hoping might stop the ****** cats from dumping in every bodies plant pot!!!
We then started the drive back towards home via the Cacín Valley, the gorge was still very quiet as none of the breeding birds had returned to there nests and the wind kept most other species down low in the cover. We did pick up Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis).
Once we reached Cacín we made the decision to turn east and head for Ventas de Huelma along a winding mountain road looking for the larger raptors but we dipped totally and had to be happy with some nice views of a female Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius), a male Hen Harrier (Aguilucho Pálido / Circus cyaneus), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), a Southern Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) which sat well for the camera and a Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) which stayed long enough for one shot. We then stopped and had a baguette in the bar on the main junction in Ventas de Huelma (Meson Banardo’s or something similar) and what a baguette, the olive which were given as tapas were fantastic but the baguette was out of this world, mine was huge and stuffed full of very nice pork and Jayne’s cheese and onion was equally as good and all for less than nine euro!!!
Our next stop was a little further on towards Granada at a Harrier and Owl roost, when we arrived there was an empty car but no people but I soon discovered that the occupants were Spanish wildlife photographers (I use the description loosely) as all they did was make loads of noise and kept any birds that were approaching the roost well away in the distance. No Short-eared Owls (Búho Campestre / Asio flammeus) showed at dusk and as we have already seen birds here this winter I can only guess they these pillocks had flushed / disturbed any birds there. I got distant views of at least 3 male and 3 female Hen Harriers (Aguilucho Pálido / Circus cyaneus) but to make things worse just as the birds needed to get into the roost the photographers decided to pack up there hides and made even more noise.
Photographs from the top: Southern Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), a view of the Sierra Nevada from above Cacín and The Moon from the roost site.

RAM, Motril Fish Port, Charca de Suarez and inland drive home.

2012-01-07T17:05:00.005+01:00

More new birds on the year list and the first of the Orchids.

I met Juan Perez as usual on the Aki car park in Granada and we headed off down to Cabo Sacratif just to the east of Motril to carry out the January RAM sea bird survey. We arrived a little early but this was great as we saw a cracking sun rise from the top of the cliffs. The sea birds we were hoping for were again a bit thin on the ground, Northern Gannets (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) were by far the commonest species recorded followed by Balearic Shearwater (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus) and Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo). Half a dozen or so Razorbills (Alca Común / Alca torda) whirled past on their rapidly moving short wings and a single Great Skua (Págalo Grande / Catharacta skua) went west. Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) were common, Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) less so and there was just a single immature Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii). Other species recorded here included Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).
We then had a quick look at the Port in Motril but as with last month there was a lot of activity and the gulls were very jumps so no rings were seen but I added Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba) and Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta) to the year list.
Our next stop was a rapid look at Charca de Suarez just to catch up with a few more species for the year list, from the first hide we heard but did not see Penduline Tit (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus) but did add Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus) and Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti). On the way round to the second hide we caught up with the adult Night Heron (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax) which has been roosting in the willow scrub along the main track. Once in the hide Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and Purple Swamp-hen (Calamón Común / Porphyrio porphyrio) were so picked up along with Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus). A very quick stop was made in the next small hide and then we had a few minutes in the main hide where a couple more species were picked up, Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus) and Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata). We then quickly made our way around towards the exit via the last small hide were a Purple Swamp Hen posed nicely so it would have been rude not to get a couple of shots and as we were leaving we saw two of the earlier elusive Penduline Tits just briefly.
We then made our way back towards Granada but went on the old road and then across country on a route that Juan had done some years ago to look for Orchids and wildflowers. We stopped in a small car park on the roadside and walked out to a small picnic site in the pines woods on the far side of a small stream and started to look for Orchids and wildflowers, I quickly found several spikes of the very early flowering Orchid Ophrys malacitana which was only the second time I have seen it and the first time in Granada Province. Also found were several bushes of Balearic Box (Buxus balearica) which was not flowering but it had hundreds of small buds on the branches so I think it was not going to be long before it flowered. Also seen here were Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Great Tit (Carbonero Común / Parus major), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs). We pushed on and we next found an Erica species which I have still to identify, we continued on along a track which linked with the road from the coast up to Padul which Juan had forgotten was getting on for 20kms of rough driving, so this took some extra time. I dropped Juan off at his car and then headed back home, on the way along the A92 I again picked up a single Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), a couple of Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), one of which was being mobbed by at least 8 Common Magpies (Urraca / Pica pica).
Once I was back on the local pitch I decided to go back home via the fields north of Huetor Tajar where I picked up a Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), 40 odd Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) and a couple of hundred Stone-curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) all lined up along the deep furrows in an asparagus field keeping out of the wind.
Photographs from the top: The Sun rise, Purple Swamp-hen (Calamón Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Ophrys malacitana and Erica species.

Alhama de Granada, Granada Province.

2012-01-01T09:52:00.004+01:00

Royal British Legion Walking Group.

Jayne, Carole and myself, followed by Allan and Lesley in their car drove down to the small lake just south west of Alhama where the walk was due to start. Whilst we were waiting for a couple of the group to arrive I had a look on the Pantanteta de Alhama, on the water there were small numbers of Common Pochards (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Mallards (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), a couple of Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), several of both Eurasian Coots (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and Common Moorhens (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus). In the surrounding trees both Great Spotted (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major) and Green Woodpeckers (Pito Real / Picus viridis) were heard and Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus) and Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla) were all seen. 20 mins late the group of twelve set of on the walk along the Rio Alhama through the gorge, on the first stretch I got views of a male Great Spotted Woodpecker, Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula), Great Tit (Carbonero Común / Parus major) and Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes). Further along the track nearer to the town I saw the only butterfly of the day which was a very good conditioned Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui). On the return trip Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Southern Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) and Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) were added to the new year list. We all then went into the bar near the lake hoping for some food but all the tables were booked so the five of us from Realenga headed back into Loja and had a meal at the Terrace bar in the San Francisco part of the town.
Other species seen during the drive there and back again included Azure-winged Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cyanus), Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Stone-curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).
Photographs from the top: The colour of the sky, Southern Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Alhama town and a view down the gorge.

The end of year totals.

2011-12-31T20:01:00.002+01:00

I have had a good year in most areas of the wildlife I look for, Orchids have probably been the best with 8 new species being added to my Spanish list and a total for the year of 46 full species plus a few subspecies and a couple of impressive hybrids.
The Bird list was about average with 238 species being seen including some special ones which will remain in the memory for a long time including Greater Spotted Eagle (Aguila Moteada / Aguila clanga), Pallid Harrier (Aguilucho Papialbo / Circus macrourus), Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti), White-rumped Swift (Vencejo Cafre / Apus caffer) and Great Black-backed Gull (Gavión Atlantico / Larus marinus).
I saw more species of Dragonfly in 2011 than in any year to date but missed quite a few expected insects. I ended the year with a total of 27 but it could easily have been over 30. The only new species for the year Small Spreadwing (Lestes virens) and Migrant Spreadwing (Lester barbarus) were both seen quite locally on a small agricultural area pool.
The same could be said for the Butterflies with over 70 species being recorded including 12 new ones. I looked through the list of what I had missed and there were at least another 10 that I should have seen.
All in all a good year but hope to catch up with a few more lifers in 2012.

Happy New Year and thanks for reading.

Granada City, Granada Province.

2011-12-31T09:51:00.005+01:00

Stroll around the Alhambra Gardens.

Jayne and I went to the Saturday market on the southern side of the city and then went for a walk around the gardens surrounding the Alhambra looking for a hole in a tree where our friend Juan had seen a roosting Tawny Owl (Cárabo Común / Strix aluco). We were not sure we had found the right hole as we could not see any sign of an Owl so I gave Juan a call on his mobile to check we were at the right spot. He answered and said that he was close by himself and he and his wife Beatriz would come up and show us the right spot. Unfortunately we were in the right spot and the Owl was not showing. We then had a wander around the gardens together looking for other species but it was quite quiet and we did not catch up with any of the Redwings (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus iliacus) or Hawfinches (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotraustes) he had seen the morning before. We did see Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Great Tit (Carbonero Común / Parus major), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer Domesticus), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba). We also saw a single Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) and a tailless Iberian Wall Lizard (Podarcis hispanica).
Photographs from the top: 3x views around the gardens.

Cacín Valley and El Temple area, Granada Province.

2011-12-30T09:49:00.006+01:00

Winter birding.

Well I say winter but the weather here is fantastic at the moment so I was in a short sleeved shirt all day until I was at the raptor roost in the evening. I started off at a site near El Turro where the first bird seen was a flyby Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) which perched briefly in an Almond tree before moving out of site behind the mass of solar panels. Once out on the fields the Larks started to flush up from the track side fields, most were Calandra's (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) and Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) but there were also some Thekla (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and Crested Larks (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) in the flocks along with good numbers of Rock Sparrows (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia) and Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina). I stopped and had a scan from the highest point near a derelict Cortijo and had brief views of 6 Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis) as they disappeared from view over the nearby ridge, several Common Kestrels (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus) which were perched up on the no hunting signs and a Southern Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) which was surveying the area from a dead tree on a distant field edge. In the trees and scrub along a nearer margin Mistle Thrushes (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) were scolding something that they did not like and a pair of Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) leapt around and dived at what ever it was that had upset them. Other birds out on the fields included a Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) catching some sun from the top of a rock pile along with good numbers of Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Meadow Pipits (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis) and White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba). I then moved on down in to the Cacín Valley to the small Embalse but it was fairly quiet. The best bird was a male Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) which flew around over the reedbeds for at least half an hour before dropping down into cover. Out on the water several male Northern Shovelers (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata) dabbled and upended along the reed margins whist around 20 Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina) were feeding out in the deeper water with a few Little Grebes (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis). Five Great Cormorants (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo) were roosting on a dead tree stump surrounded by a dozen or so male Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca) all sat with their heads tucked in under their wings. A couple of Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) were feeding above the tangle of dead branches in the shallow waters while dozens of Common Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) flitted around in the thicket. From here I headed to Cacín and onwards to a site nearer to Granada where I was meeting friend Juan Pérez Contreras to watch the raptor roost. I arrived an hour or so early and as I drove into the site the first bird seen was an immature Pallid Harrier (Aguilucho Papialbo / Circus macrourus) which was perched on the perimeter fence. I had a quick look through the bins just to confirm the identification and then went on past the bird turned around and came back so that the scope which was already mounted on the window was on the right side. I focused in on the bird and had a good look before grabbing the camera which was my main mistake as just as I was lining the shot up the bird flew off along the fence line and away. After a few well chosen words of disappointment I relocated to the usual watch point just in time to get some nice views of a male Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius) flying over the next field, for some reason this bird must have forgotten how small it was and tried without success to take down a Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa) which just ruffled its wings and threw the small falcon off before walking a few steps and starting to feed again. A few minutes later whist still watching the falcon on the ground next to the Partridge I picked up a larger raptor approaching the spot, this time it was a female Hen Harrier (Aguilucho Pálido / Circus cyaneus) which also tried to have a go at the partridge but again this lucky bird slipped away but this time flew low and quickly away over the nearby ridge. The next bird was a female Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) which flew low between the dead spikes of thistle plants flushing large numbers of smaller birds ahead of it. At 17:00 Juan arrived and things went quiet for a while but as the light began to drop the Hen Harriers started to arrive in the roost area and after the first couple of males and a female were seen the immature Pallid showed up and landed on a field some distance away. It made a couple of short flights before dropping on to some sort of prey, it then spent some time eating it before flying straight towards us and giving good views in the dropping light. As dusk arrived the next highlight of the evening gave us some fabulous views, a single Short-eared Owl (Búho Campestre / Asio flammeus) cruised around the site for the remaining 15 minutes before it was to dark to see anything worth while. Juan and I were just about to leave when we notice the Merlin come in quite close; it was a nice view with the bird flying through the orange glow of the sunset at the same moment as a male Hen Harrier. A good end to a good days birding.

Loja, Granada Province.

2011-12-26T09:50:00.007+01:00

Royal British Leigion Walking Group.

Today was mainly a reason to walk off some of yesterdays exesses, eight members of the walking group met at the Bar Alamo in the San Francisco area of Loja for a coffee before we started our walk up to wards the railway station. Whist we were having our drinks a male Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) was seen on one of the nearby roads chasing a group of House Sparrows (Gorrión Común / Passer Domesticus) around and right underneath one of the parked cars. On the walk up the hill out of town I also added a Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla) which was climbing the out side wall of one of the old engine sheds, Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala). Once at the top of the hill we skirted the lower slopes of Hacho and walked on towards the fish farms below the Frontil Industrial estate. Along here I had some fleeting glimpes of a male Blue Rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), loads of Serins (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Goldfinches (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and a pair of Thekla Larks (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae). Along the track there were also several plants of the early flowering Wide-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia). Down by the fish farms there is a cristal clear stream which is packed full of Iberian Barble and smaller fish, birds included Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and a couple of nicely plumaged Grey Wagtails (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea). We then walked out towards the Los Infiernos water Falls, crossing the fields we flushed up a huge flock of several hundred Goldfinches, Linnets and Serins plus a few Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis). We then started to make our way back along some tracks from Esperanza via the old railway station to the Bar Alamo, on the way I added Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra). We finished the walk with a very nice beer before heading back home.
Photographs from the top: Wide-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia) and the Walkers.

Realenga de Agicampe, Granada Province.

2011-12-25T12:07:00.007+01:00

Happy Christmas to all the readers.

Thank you very much for taking the time to read this blog, I hope to keep it going and keep it as interesting as possible. Please make comments, as I would like to know what people think about the content.

Here's a photograph of Lola and her son our Spanish neighbours who paid us a visit at 9:30 last night singing Spanish Carols and handing out edible Acorns and other fruit. We did them a swap and gave them some Liquorice Allsorts which Lola took a particular liking to.

Again thanks for reading and have a great Christmas and New Year.

Mick.

Coin and Fuengirola, Malaga Province.

2011-12-21T19:00:00.003+01:00

Last Orchid of the year.

After hearing that Kevin Wade had found some Ophrys malacitana down near Marbella I decided that I would try a site that Ian Phillips had taken me to a couple of years earlier for the species to see what was flowering. We arrived at the location near to the town of Coin in Malaga Province but the wind was quite stronge and cool which if anything was in flower meant that getting shots would be hard going. Eventually I found just two spikes but they were in perfect condition just on the road side. The wind did cause some problems as did the deep shade that the plants were flowering in, below a small Carob tree. In the same area I saw Friar's Cowl (Arisarum vulgare), a male Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus) and a very vocal Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla).
We continued on down to the coast to Fuengirola where I had a quick look on the river adding Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Mediterranean Gulls (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), one of the latter in full breeding plumage. Both White (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Grey Wagtails (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) were present along with masses of Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and several fly over Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus) which were heard well before they were seen.
Photographs from the top: Ophrys malacitana and Friar's Cowl (Arisarum vulgare).

Laguna Herrera, Antequera, Malaga Province.

2011-12-19T19:11:00.005+01:00

Life again at Laguna Herrera.

Jayne and I popped off the motorway at Antequera to call at the garden centre on the old Cordoba road; we arrived to find it was shut so we had a look at the lagoon near by. As we drove up the track there were large flocks of small passerines flushing up from the dead thistle and fennel stalks. these included lots of Serins (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Goldfinches (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), a few Greenfinches (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Linnets (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) were also among the numbers. On the recently planted winter crop fields there were good numbers of Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), a single Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaia) and a male Hen Harrier (Aguilucho Pálido / Circus cyaneus) which I missed but Jayne saw it drop into a deeper area of vegetation. I was pleased to see that the Laguna had started to fill with water and held a few birds, most were Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus) but on the muddy margins at least 5 winter plumaged Little Stints (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta) were feeding along with singles of both Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) and Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus) plus a few more Northern Lapwings.
I had a look out over the surrounding fields from the bank at the side of the track and could see that the fields opposite the lagoon were also flooded again and a couple of thousand Gulls were scattered across the shallow water and mud. Also seen were a couple of Mallards (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), many White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Meadow Pipits (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis) and Crested Larks (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata). On the banks of the ditch a single Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata) flicked through the thistle stems along with a couple of Sardinian's (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), hordes of Common Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and a couple of Zitting Cisticola's (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis). On our drive back to the Cordoba road we added a very dark Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) perched right on top of one of the telegraph poles, a Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus) which was hovering over a crowd of Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) which were following a ploughing tractor and a female Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius) which zipped along side the car and dropped into the ditch and disappeared fro view as quickly as it had arrived. Other birds seen included Calandra Lark (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) and Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).
We then headed back towards home but returned via the fields to the North of Huétor where we picked up the wintering flock of Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) or about 70 of them, 100+ Stone-curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), a large flock of around 90 Azure-winged Magpies (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cyanus) which were feeding in the vegetation below the trees in one of the Poplar plantation and another Green Sandpiper feeding on the river.
Photographs from the top: Laguna Herrera and Burning off the Asparagus tops at Huétor Tájar.

Barbate and La Janda, Cadiz Province.

2011-12-13T21:14:00.017+01:00

A day to remember!!!

I contacted Steve Daly of Andalucian Guides a week or so ago and asked him for some information on the Pallid Harriers (Aguilucho Papialbo / Circus macrourus) he had been seeing in his area as I was planning a visit. He replied saying that we could meet in one of the bars near the area and he would very kindly take me out in to the La Janda area and show me around and with some luck the birds.
So on this very foggy Tuesday morning we met up, had a coffee and headed out towards Barbate to escape the fog and hopefully see some of the free flying population of Bald Ibis (Ibis Eremita / Geronticus eremita) from the reintrodution program. On the way over we picked up Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis), Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis), masses of Serins (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Collared Doves (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto). We arrived and after seeing a few of the Ibis on the roadsides where we could not stop we pulled into an area of small holding and in less than 5 minutes we had counted over 30, a great species to see but not the most handsome looking chaps (even I have a better hair do than them but not sure who's the better looking) we were going to see on this fantastic day. Also on the damp fields were some nice pure looking Rock Pigeons (Paloma Bravia / Columba livia) and Spotless Starlings (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor). We then moved on up the road towards Barbate past the lagoons and over the bridge into the town, on the way I saw Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta), along with Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis). Once we were back out on the main road between Traifa and Vejer de la Frontera we headed south picking up some more of the Ibis in a road side field before pulling off into a park area where we quickly added Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus viridis), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) to the list.
We moved out onto the farmland areas near by and following the main canal into La Janda, a large expance of drained lagoons which are now mainly rice paddies or crop fields. Almost immediatly we stopped and had a look into the reeds that lined the water we picked up Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer Domesticus) and a male Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), whilst over head there were a pair of Ravens (Cuervo / Corvus corax) calling as they fly away over a nearby ridge. On the fields opposite there were the first of the days many White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), a male and female Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) and a small family party of Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus). We continued on along the banks of the main canal which contained quite a few Willow trees and this was where we picked up a couple of immature Night Herons (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax) and these were followed by a pair of Penduline Tits (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus) which showed well on top of the marginal reeds. Pheasants (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus) and Grey Herons (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) were every where out on the fields and in the reedbeds there were impressive numbers of Purple Swamp-hen (Calamón Común / Porphyrio porphyrio) with there being at least 30 birds in one short stretch of canal. We saw the first Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) of the day which was picked up way off on one of the distant electricity cables, a little later a second bird was seen on the wires along side the track but it was straight into the sun so getting any shot was not possible. We pushed on along the track towards the southern exit back on to the Tarifa road, along the way we saw large numbers of Common Cranes, lots more Marsh Harriers, a single Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), the only wildfowl of the day a few Mallards (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), Crested (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis). We headed south and then turned back into the fields again into a more restricted access area of La Janda, after a couple of Kms we came across another Black-winged Kite, this time the light was perfect. The bird flew over some rough ground just to the side of Steve; his camera must have been red hot by the sound of the machine gun like shutter. The bird hovered then dropped to half its height before dropping down into the grass and coming up with it lunch of a large mouse or small rat. It then flew to one of the larger posts in the track side fence and started to feed on its prey which allowed us to get quite close using the vehicle as a moving hide, I was quite surprised to see the Kite gut the mouse before eating it, I was expecting it to go down in one! We spent quite some time watching this cracker of a bird before moving on along the track checking all the pylons on the way, this paid off quite quickly when Steve spotted the first of the days Spanish Imperial Eagles (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti) which was a nice clean looking 1^st winter bird. Whilst we looked at the distant Eagle a male Hen Harrier (Aguilucho Pálido / Circus cyaneus) was seen quartering the far side of a thistle covered field and a Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila-azor Perdicera / Hieraaetus faciatus) passed high over head. Further on we picked up a 2^nd winter type Spanish Imperial Eagle in flight over some nearby oak trees; we had some nice views of this bird before it dropped out of sight. Just a bit further on we stopped to check out a good looking area for raptors when Steve looked back towards the spot where we had just seen the Eagle and said that it was showing again but we soon realized that this was a different species all together. This one was an immature Golden (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) which gave very nice views and was joined after a short while by a Spanish Imperial but not the same birds as a few minutes ago as this was a 1^st winter bird. We then climbed slightly up into an area of scattered trees, any open ground was carpeted with the young shoots of Asphodels, after a few minutes we picked a couple of Ringtail type Harriers a little further along the road so we jumped back into the van and moved ½ Km further on. The first bird flew out of one of the trees and was quickly ided as a female Hen Harrier but a second bird flew in from where we had been and right in front of us and this one was very obviously the bird I had come to see a Pallid Harrier. We had good but all too brief views of this bird but Steve still managed to crack off some shots as it went by. After seeing this bird I am now 100% convinced that the bird Juan Perez and I saw back in Granada was also a Pallid. Also in this area we had Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), another nice male Hen Harrier, Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Mistle (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and Song Thrushes (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa). We continued on along this track back to wards the main Canal on the way we had another Black-winged Kite (dam they are common here), loads more Pheasants, Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus). Once back at the main canal we had a chat with a couple of Spanish birders and had some nice views of the male Penduline Tit again before retracing out steps the long way back. In the area where we had seen the Pallid Harrier we had brief views of a Short-eared Owl (Búho Campestre / Asio flammeus) as it was being harried by several Jackdaws and Cattle Egrets. On the return drive we had good views of male and female Hen Harriers and 100s of Common Cranes coming into their roost fields. Other birds recorded during the drive around the area included Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) and Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus). Just as the sun was going down we returned to the bar where we had started out from. I can not thank Steve enough for giving me one of the best days birding I have had since coming to Spain. We ended up with 70ish species with some fantastic views of some special birds; I will remember this day for a long time.
All the photo's highlighted in blue below were taken by Steve Daly of birds we saw on the day and he has kindly given me permission to use them on my blog, more of Steve’s shots can be seen at www.andalucianguides.com and www.andalucianguides.blogspot.com
Photographs from the top: Bald Ibis (Ibis Eremita / Geronticus eremita), male Penduline Tit (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus), female Penduline Tit, 2x Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti) on Pylon, Spanish Imperial Eagle in flight, Spanish Imperial Eagle with Ravens, 2x Pallid Harrier (Aguilucho Papialbo / Circus macrourus), Steve Daly and Mandrake (Mandragora autumnalis).

My Orchid sightings in Granada and Malaga Provinces 2011.

2011-12-08T15:58:00.019+01:00

A review of my Orchid year.

Well what a year I have had, the winter was much drier which gave me chance to get the vast majority of the jobs done on the house and this freed up more time in the spring. Things started towards the end of February with Giant Orchids (Barlia robertiana) on the first visit of the year to an area near Zafarraya. The grassy slopes produced around 20 spikes of varying colour shade just starting to bloom and later that day I had several more plants along with a few Fan-lipped Orchids up on Sierra de Loja.
At the beginning of March I went for a walk on a ridge just above Granada City to see a show of Narcissus cantabricus but whilst in the same area I also found several spikes of Fan-lipped Orchid including the white/green variety flavescens, the early flowering variety of Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera var tenthredinifera) and lots of Somber Bee Orchids (Ophrys fusca subsp fusca). Towards the middle of March I returned to the site where I had the first Giant Orchids of the year to locate a white plant that another birder had found. Once there I counted at least 100 flowering spikes of Barlia with 5 albino /white plants eventually being seen. Conical (Orchis conica) and Small Early Purple Orchids (Orchis olbiensis) were also flowering in good numbers. The 19th March was the first real organized Orchid trip and on this very enjoyable but busy day I had the pleasure of Juan Pérez Contreras and his wife Beatriz for company. This was the day that I think Juan was well and truly hooked on orchids; he had been interested before but mainly in the Ophrys group. Our first stop was in the Mijas area in Malaga Province where in the roadside pine woods we built up quite a list of species which included Woodcock (Ophrys scolopax subsp scolopax), Yellow Bee (Ophrys Lutea), Mirror (Ophrys speculum subsp speculum), Pink Butterfly (Orchis papilionacea), Sawfly Orchid and then Juan came up with the star find which was a hybrid between the Woodcock and Mirror Orchid (Scolopax X speculum) and as far as we can find this hybrid has not been recorded in Spain before. We moved on to the second site where we were looking for the rare Atlas Orchid (Ophrys atlantica) and after a good search around we found three plants with good flowers and several spikes still in bud. Here we also found a couple of plants of Ophrys dyris before we moved down the road towards Coin. At a site which is right on the edge of a working quarry we add two more species to the year list which were Italian Man Orchid (Orchis italica) and the much rarer Two-leaved Gennaria (Gennaria diphylla). We then headed over towards Embalse de Iznajar, doing some birding on the way at Laguna Dulce. Here we were looking for a show of the uncommon Bumblebee Orchid (Ophrys bombilyfolia) which I had seen a few days earlier but on this visit we found the 30 or so plants that I had already seen along with around a 100 new spikes. We had a good search here but the only new species for the day were a couple of plants of the delicate Small Woodcock Orchid (Ophrys picta). Right at the end of the month I revisited the Izanaja Lake site following directions Ian Phillips had given me to see a cracking hybrid between Italian Man and Man Orchids (Orchiaeras bivonae) and several spikes of Dark Spider Orchid (Ophrys incubacea).
Once a month Juan and I go to a site near Motril on the Granada coast to count sea birds, so once the April survey work was over with we went to have a look for a species already seen this year but this time it was in Granada Province Two-leaved Gennaria. We found several spikes but most were well pasted their best but In amongst the pine woods we also picked up Champagne Orchid (Orchis Champagneuxii) the first time either Juan or myself had seen the species in Granada Province. The next day (3rd) I again meet Juan and Beatriz but this time we were on a guided walk in the hills near Illora, a small town near Granada where we were hoping to see Lady Orchid (Orchis purpuera). We saw several plants but all needed a couple of weeks growing time before they would be in flower, all the other species seen have already been listed. The next species came whist I was at work doing a walk in the area around the Ardales Lakes and El Chorro, in the Pine woodlands hundreds of both Dense-Flowered (Neotinea maculata) and Man Orchids (Flor del Ahorcado / Aceras anthropophorum) were found in perfect condition. On the same walk I was pleased to find several spikes of Pink Butterfly Orchid in full bloom at a location I had not found them in before but I was totally dismayed later in the year to find the site had been destroyed to put in an access track to some new electricity pylons. The 12th found us in a small valley on the edge a large urbanization in Granada looking at some beautiful spikes of Dark Spider Orchid; around 20 plants were found in good condition. On the 15th Juan and I were back up in the Sierra Parapanda (Illora) area with Jose Luís Esteban looking for and this time seeing some stunning spikes of Lady Orchid with 5 plants being seen growing amongst some Gorse bushes which made for a painful hard earned set of photographs. Jose Lous also showed us some flowers of Wild Tulip (Tulipa sylvestris ssp australis) nearby. Next day we were on the slopes of another Sierra on the outskirts of Granada City were the main target was Early Spider Orchid (Ophrys sphegodes), Juan’s brother had joined us today which gave us another set of eye for the search. We found hundreds of Pink Butterflies and Man Orchids, a few spikes of Small Woodcock (Ophrys picta) and a new species for my Granada list Ophrys dyris. After a couple of hours I had to leave the others searching and head back to Granada, on my drive back down the track I found several early flowering Pyramidal Orchids (Orquidea pyramidal / Anacamptis pyramidalia), the leaf rosettes of Lizard Orchid (Himantoglossum hircinum) and then right on the road side 20 or so spikes of the Spider Orchid. I went back, picked Juan up and we all managed some nice photographs. On the 20th I was out again but this time guiding 12 members of the English in Loja group in the Oak woodlands near Zafarraya. We did not get the best weather for the walk but managed 16 species of Orchid including the first Sword-leaved Helleborines (Cephalanthera longifolia) and Lange's Orchids (Orchis langei) of the year. Right at the end of the month I was again working, leading three ladies around some interesting woodland near Antequera. We saw several species but the only new Orchid for the year was the variable Bee Orchid (Flor de abeja / Ophrys apifera) some having pink sepals and other being white and pale green.
I then had a quieter patch but returned back to the Zafarraya area on the 10th May to see the taller / later flowering variety of Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera var ficalhoana); some plants were almost a meter high with nice large flowers. Several of the less showy Small Tongue Orchid (Serapias parviflora) were also seen at the same site. The next day I was down on the coast picking up a birder for a weeks guiding but before I meet him I went to a spot near the Las Chappas Hotel, Marbella for Heart-flowered Tongue Orchid (Serapias cordigera), Ian Phillips had seen a couple of plant a day or two earlier and he gave me some very good directions to what was another new species for my Spanish Orchid list. The next week was all birds as the client had quite a wish list this left little time for looking in a downward direction but whilst we were up in the Sierra Nevada I did catch up with the rare Orchis cazorlensis. I got back to the Orchids on the 20th on another trip out with Juan into the hills near Granada where we located several more plants of Orchis cazorlensis and its hybrid with Orchis Langei which Juan had found a few days earlier, new species included lots of Barton's Orchid (Dactylorhiza insularis) and some flowering Lizard Orchids (Himantoglossum hircinum). At another site we quickly added Robust Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza elata) to the year list and soon afterwards found the first of many Common Twayblades (Listera ovata). The next day again found me looking for a new species with Juan and Beatriz, this time we were looking for Burnt-tip Orchid (Orchis ustulata). Juan had already tracked them down a few days earlier so the plants were easily found and they were well worth the walk, also recorded was a very convincing plant of Early Purple Orchid (Orchis mascula) and some flowering Lizards. On the 25th I was at Refugio de Juana in Malaga Province seeing one of the most beautiful species we get down here the Red Helleborine (Cephalanthera rubra), I was a little earlier than last year but was pleased to find a couple of the many spikes had nice new flowers on them. I also found more Barton's Orchid, Fragrant Bug Orchid (Orchis coriophora subsp fragrans) and several plants of Epipactis tremolsii.
We were now into June and on the hunt for a species that I had long wanted to see, so the 10th found Juan and me on a Sierra near Granada looking at a private site we had been given information about and permission to visit. We soon started to find spikes of an orchid which was not yet in flower but we could tell this was the target plant Algerian Butterfly Orchid (Platanthera algeriensis), eventually we located a single plant with a single flower which was open. On a track side nearby we also saw several spikes of the uncommon Purple Limodore (Limodorum abortivum). The 19th June found me back in the same area looking for more Red Helleborines but this time they were in my home Province of Granada, Jayne and I reached the site and located the plants but could not continue on as the power steering on the car went wrong. A few days later after a visit to the car mechanic I was in the hills again this time with Juan. We started the day by having a look at the Red Helleborines before moving onto the site were we had found the Algerian Butterfly Orchids a couple of weeks earlier hoping that they would be in flower and we were not disappointed as they were just about perfect. We did a quick count and found around 40 spikes of this rare plant. Three days later we were back but this time Ian Phillips had joined us for the day, again we started at the Red Helleborines but they had gone past their best so we moved on to a spot just down the road for Small-leaved Helleborine (Epipactis microphylla), we eventually the found a few plants Juan had seen earlier but not being the boldest spikes they took some finding. We then headed to a new site that Juan had found for Algerian Butterfly Orchids where we found another 40 or so spikes along with loads of Robust Marsh Orchid and a few Common Twayblades. In a Poplar woodland nearby we easily found some of the hundred plus spikes of Epipactis fageticola and three more Algerian Butterflies.
Well that was about it for plants seen in flower but on a trip out with Juan later in the year we found dead / dry spikes of Epipactis cardina. Juan discovered sites for Epipactis Kleinii and White Helleborine (Cephalanthera damasonium) with dead spikes still in place and other information he has received has given us good leads on where to find Marsh Helleborine (Epipactis palustris), Birdsnest (Neottia nidus-avis), Greater Butterfly (Plantanthera chlorantha), Fragrant (Gymnadenia conopsea) and Ophrys castellana, so a good 2012 is on the horizon. I need to say a big thanks to Juan for getting a lot of the information to gether for our trips and for all the leg work he has done during 2011.
Photographs from the top: Giant Orchids (Barlia robertiana), Atlas Orchid (Ophrys atlantica), Hybrid between Woodcock and Mirror Orchid (Scolopax X speculum), Two-leaved Gennaria (Gennaria diphylla), Bumblebee Orchid (Ophrys bombilyfolia), hybrid between Italian Man and Man Orchids (Orchiaeras bivonae), Dark Spider Orchid (Ophrys incubacea), Lady Orchid (Orchis purpuera), Ophrys dyris, Heart-flowered Tongue Orchid (Serapias cordigera), Red Helleborine (Cephalanthera rubra), Burnt-tip Orchid (Orchis ustulata), Algerian Butterfly Orchid (Platanthera algeriensis), Purple Limodore (Limodorum abortivum) and Epipactis fageticola.

Loja to Zafarraya and back again, Granada Province.

2011-12-07T13:52:00.003+01:00

A mornings birding and looking for early signs of 2012s Orchids.

I meet Juan just of the A92 at Huétor Tajar and because of a thick layer of fog we decided to head off towards Loja and then down the valley to the west of the sierra towards Zafarraya. Our first stop was on a road side bank just before we reached Puerto de Los Alazores where we found lots of leaf rossetes of Giant (Barlia robertiana) and Pyramidal Orchids (Orquidea pyramidal / Anacamptis pyramidalia), along with at least 3 Spanish Ibex (Capra pyreaica hispanica). We then went up to Puerto de Los Alazores where Juan pointed out several good spots for Amphibians, along this stretch of road we recorded Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Song (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) and Mistle Thrushes (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis) and Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).
We continued on down the main road towards Zafarraya for a few more Kms before parking in the Oak woodlands and having another look for early signs of next years orchids. The first thing we saw was the remains of some spikes of this years Epipactis Tremolsii plants, followed by more Barlia and several dead Orchis type spikes with new leaves at there base. Birds included Azure-winged Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cyanus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), singing Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Great Tit (Carbonero Común / Parus major), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula).
Further down the road we added Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus).
Our next stop was on the road side near Alhama de Granada to look at more dried Trmolsii along with several spikes of Sword-leaved Helleborine (Cephalanthera longifolia) and a couple of Common Buzzards (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo). At the small lake called the Pantanteta de Alhama we saw several Common Pochards (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo) out on the water whilst in the woods we had nice views of a male Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major) and heard a Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea). On a grassey bank nearby Juan showed me some Epipactis fageticola plants, they were as expected well over with but at a new site for me. Our next stop was at Embalse de Bermejales but we saw very little at the site and only adding a single Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) and Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea).
From here we started to make our way back towards Huétor Tájar along the Cacín Valley stopping at the Embalse on the way up. It was again very quiet but we got a male Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), several Northern Shovelers (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) before heading back to the A92 and then home.
Photograph: Early morning heat in the Oak Woods.

RAM, Motril Port and Charca de Suarez, Granada Province.

2011-12-03T20:30:00.008+01:00

A quiet sea but the birds posed at Charca.

Juan Pérez and I again made our way down to the Coast to carry out Decembers RAM sea bird survey. The weather did not look too good as we left but improved a bit by the time we reached the coast but with the wind blowing off shore we were not confident of there being many birds close in. Our original thoughts were right and numbers were indeed low, but we managed a 100+ each of Balearic Shearwaters (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus) and Northern Gannets (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), a few Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo) and a couple of Razorbills (Alca Común / Alca torda) but no Tern’s, Skua’s or Cory's Shearwater (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea) were seen. The usual Gulls turned up including Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).
Other birds seen included Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis).
We later went down to the port but there was so much activity that the Gulls were very weary and were not allowing us to approach close enough to read any rings, we did add Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Little (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta) and Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) to the day list.
We next went to Charca and as the sea bird survey had been quiet we arrived a bit earlier than usual and managed to have a good look around. From the first hide we got some nice views of a pair of Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), several Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus) and in the trees a little further along the track we had an immature and adult Night Heron (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax). The second hide was by far the most productive and had the best light. As soon as we walked in there was a Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) showing well on the margins right next to the hide and a cracking Purple Swamp-hen (Calamón Común / Porphyrio porphyrio) feeding not to far away on the opposite bank. Ducks included Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata) and Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca) plus several Little Grebes (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and a single winter plumaged Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis). A Water Pipit (Bistita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta) and a couple of Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago) were also seen around the margins along with at least four Purple Swamp-hens. Also on the margins were loads of Common Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), a Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula) which posed nicely and calling but not seen Penduline Tits (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus). We moved on around the reserve picking up Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), a single Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Black Redstart and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer Domesticus). We returned to the second hide as the light was so much better there and spent the rest of our time there trying to get some more shots of the birds. On the way out we picked up a single Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) and the only dragonfly of the day a Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope). We arrived back at the entrance at the same time as the warden and he showed us a bat which was roosting on the side of his office (still to be identified).
We then carried on back to Granada where I dropped Juan off at his car and continued on home, on the way I saw a single Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) along the edge of the A92 and a small group of around 20 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) in a nearby field. On the northern side of Huetor I stopped to have a look through a flock of Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) and discovered a small flock of 6 Stock Doves (Paloma Zurita / Columba oenas) feeding amongst them, I am informed that the Doves are quite rare down here in Granada Province. Also seen were a group of 18 Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaia), 177 more Little Bustards, Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) and lots of Azure-winged Magpies (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cyanus).
Photographs from the top: Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica), Purple Swamp-hen (Calamón Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula), Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), the Bat, Stock Dove (Paloma Zurita / Columba oenas) and Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaia).

Frontil Industrial Estate, Loja, Granada Province.

2011-12-01T16:47:00.003+01:00

Lots of birds but none seen.

I was making a quick visit to Santiago the mechanic we use in Loja to get the Speedo sorted out; when I arrived there was a note on the door saying "be back in 20 mins". Well 45 mins later he arrived towing a car in which had broken down some where down the way, but straight away he got to work and the Speedo was sorted in a few seconds and I was on my way. Just as I was pulling out of the garage I heard the loud calls of some Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus) from the dark skies over head so I parked up and listened. The birds continued to pass for some time and the noise just got louder and louder as more birds came over, it was so noisy that some of the workers in other units came out to see what it was. I guess that there were well over a hundred birds, if not several hundred as it’s hard to judge in the dark but the noise was incredible.

El Temple, Granada Province.

2011-11-30T20:43:00.005+01:00

Birding at a raptor roost.

I arrived at a site in the area known as El Temple near Granada where I was meeting Juan Pérez Contreras for a spot of birding. I was an hour or so early so I set up the scope and made a start, first a male Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) came in to view from behind a small row of trees and quartered the weedy area right in front of me. A few seconds after the bird arrived a cracking adult Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) shot into view and started to mob the harrier until after some 10 minutes the harrier pushed off in the same direction that it had come from but did not disappear before it flushed a single Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) into the air. The Kite then started another fight with one of the Common Kestrels (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus) which were around; this battle went on for some time before the Kite settled down in a distant tree for a well earned rest. I decided to try and get some better views of the bird so I relocated along the road some way which reduced the distance down considerably, as I was re-setting the scope Juan arrived and we enjoyed some cracking views of this fine bird. Whilst we were viewing and getting some shots we also recorded at least 4 Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris) in amongst the Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) flock, loads of Corn Buntings (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and both Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) and Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis). We later moved back to my original spot where we located a male Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus) sat out on one of the nearby ploughed fields and a couple of Dartford Warblers (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata) which were seen flicking between the dead Thistle plants that cover the area. As the light started to drop at least 4 male and 3 female Hen Harriers (Aguilucho Pálido / Circus cyaneus) arrived at the site and spent sometime flying around together probably looking for a late evening snack of one of the Meadow Pipits (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis) or Serins (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) which were in amongst the weeds. Other species seen during the afternoon were Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Southern Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa).
Photographs from the top: 2x Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) and a faceless Common (spotty) Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris).

Rio Velez, Malaga Province and North of Zafarraya, Granada Province.

2011-11-28T20:15:00.004+01:00

Loads of strange people and just a few birds.

I made the wrong choice and went down to have a look at the river on the Malaga side of Torre-del-Mar but found little but people who should really keep their clothes on and other more sinister people hanging around the bushes.
Anyway down to the few birds I did see, in the riverside vegetation and on the shingle banks I picked up a single Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus) which was the only wader seen, several Cattle (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and a couple of Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta) stalked the reeds, Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus) were all on the water and while a single Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) flushed up from the reeds calling noisily. From the beach the sea watching was not up to much with just a single Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) and the four commonest species of Gull being recorded, Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis). On my way back up the river I added little else with the highlights being Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) and Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris).
On the way back towards home I had a quick search around the fields just North-East of Zafarraya and found some far more interesting birds which included Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), Thekla (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Azure-winged Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cyanus) and Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus). Things got even better as I got back on to the local patch when we again bumped into the Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) flock and counted at least 400 Stone-curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) on a field where they have roosted during the day since winter arrived.

On the beach near Motril and Charca de Suárez, Granada Province.

2011-11-21T21:56:00.003+01:00

An afternoon by the sea.

Jayne and I set off for an afternoons walk down on the beach at Motril and to have a look at Charca de Suarez nature reserve nearby. We started the walk from near the entrance to the reserve and walked west away from the port for the next couple of hours. On the way I had nice views of several small groups of winter plumaged Sanderlings (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba) running up and down the shingle like wind up toys, with them there were several Ringed (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) and Kentish Plovers (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus) and three Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina). On the sea there were good numbers of Gulls including Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis). Further out large flocks of birds were following a couple of fishing boats feeding on the scraps and escapes, most were Gulls but they were joined by lots of Northern Gannets (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), a few Balearic (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus) and Cory's Shearwaters (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea) all of which were being harried by good numbers of Great Skua’s (Págalo Grande / Catharacta skua). In one flock alone I counted 11 Skua’s and saw at least another ten individual birds and all of them were giving the other sea birds a real pounding. Other birds seen out to sea were Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo), Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus) and Sandwich Terns (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis). On the beach I was surprised to find a very late female Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) feeding amongst the tide line debris along with several White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Crested Larks (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata).
We eventually arrived back at the entrance to Charca after a nice stroll. We went in and worked our way around the main track in an anti clockwise direction. The first hide was as usual quiet so we pushed on to the second getting nice views of an adult Night Heron (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax) which was roosting in the track side willows on the way. Here the first bird was a Water Pipit (Bistita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta) in exactly the same place Juan and I had photographed one a couple of weeks ago, today it was joined by a Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) and a very smart Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago). Out on the water there were Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus) and Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis). In the air there were several Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) feeding on the plentiful flying bugs, they were joined by at least a couple of late / wintering Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and in the reeds swarms of Common Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) flicked around with a few Blackcaps (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla) and Cetti’s Warblers (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti). We then moved around to the main hide where there was a tour party just leaving, we settled down and picked up a single Purple Swamp-hen (Calamón Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) and from here we counted at least 6 Barn Swallows feeding low over the water. We then made our way back towards the entrance adding Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus) to the list. Insects included Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) and Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) butterflies and Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum), Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope) and Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta) dragonflies.
Photographs from the top: Night Heron (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax), 2x Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) and 2x Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago).

El Temple, Granada Province.

2011-11-17T21:12:00.009+01:00

Second try for the rare Harrier.

I headed out towards the site where the Harrier had been seen but this time cut across country and covered several areas on the way picking up several big flocks of both Calandra Larks (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) and Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) but the numbers of these species were dwarfed by the huge numbers of Corn Buntings (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) which were everywhere. One flock of Buntings must have numbered well over a 1000 individuals. Also seen were several Hoopoes (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula).
Once on site I had a male Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius) flash past within a few feet of the car followed by a nice but much more distant Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) and a Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and that was it for raptors. I spent another couple of hours in the area and did not even manage any of the Hen Harriers seen on the last visit, in fact I saw very little else of interest so I pushed on down to Embalse de Bermjalise to see what was about and not a lot was the answer, I picked up a couple of Great Cormorants (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo), Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus) and a Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major) and that was about it. I then started to move north up the Cacín Valley back towards home. In the lower gorge I had some nice views of a pair of Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila-azor Perdicera / Hieraaetus faciatus) and a male Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus) which sat and called nicely right up till I was about to take its photograph. Further on up the Cacín road I stopped at the smaller Embalse which by normal standards was also quite quiet and held just a few Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), lots of Little Grebes (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), both Green (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) and Common Sandpipers (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) and a noise but shy Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti). I finished off at a site near by where I had nice views of at least 24 Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis), a huge female Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus), another Merlin and a couple of Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus) which helped to boost the raptor list. Also seen in this area were Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Southern Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and dozens of Black Redstarts (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).
Photographs from the top: Great Cormorants (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo) and Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

Huétor Fields, Granada Province.

2011-11-15T21:38:00.001+01:00

A couple of hours on the local patch.

I spent a couple of hours on the fields just to the north of Huétor Tajar just having a look at some of the species that were about. On the track along the Arroya I was hoping for the Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) flock we had seen a couple of days ago but found a tractor ploughng up the cut Lucerne fields. Around 30 Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) were following his plough picking off any thing that was disturbed. Good numbers of Crested (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), Sky (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) and Thekla Larks (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) were joined by lots of Meadow Pipits (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis), Linnets (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and Tree Sparrows (Gorrión Molinero / Passer Montanus) on the rougher stubble areas. Several smal flocks of Azure-winged Magpies (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cyanus) and Spotless Starlings (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) were in the Poplar plantations along with at least 25 Mistle (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and equal numbers of Song Thrushes (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos). Corn Buntings (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) were everywhere and some birds were perched up high singing (well rattling) just like a spring morning. In some small drainage ditches on the side of the Mesia road Cetti’s Warblers (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) were also blasting out their notes and over head the songs of both Calandra and Skylarks could be heard. Other species seen included Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula), Southern Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).
Photographs from the top: Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Corn Buntings (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus).

El Temple, Granada Province.

2011-11-12T11:38:00.004+01:00

First real dip in Spain.

Got the car back (thanks Santi) this morning and went with Jayne to a craft fair / market at one of the local hotels. I enjoyed it more than expected as we bumped into several friends that we had not seen for a while and Bernie and Carol who we had not seen all year, so it was good to have a chat and catch up with what had been going on. Later we went back home and had some lunch before I headed out on my first real twitch since I have been in Spain, an immature Pallid Harrier had been seen in an area near to Granada so I headed over to see if I could locate the bird again. I arrived at the spot but it was very windy, this did not bode well. I almost immediately had a cracking male Hen Harrier (Aguilucho Pálido / Circus cyaneus) pass behind me flushing loads of Meadow Pipits (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis), Serins (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Goldfinches (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) as it battled with the wind. I then sent a text to Juan Perez just to confirm I was in the correct place, he rang me a few minutes later say that I was in the right spot and that he would be joining me shortly. On the near by fields I added Crested (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and Calandra Lark (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) to the days list, one flock of the latter must have numbered over a hundred birds and over the olives a Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) soared away towards the Cacín Valley area. Juan arrived and almost immediately so did a ring-tail type Harrier which flew very low and erratically, landed a couple of time briefly before disappearing as quickly as it had arrived over the olive trees to the west, I am convinced that this was the immature Pallid Harrier but in the wind and with the distance to the bird we could not be 100% sure, so the wait continued. We had some more views of the male Harriers, a female Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius), Southern Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) and a single Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) before we decided that we would change location and hope for another pass by the earlier bird. Out in the fields we picked up Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor). As the light started to drop we made our way back to the original spot as the harriers seemed to be closer. We again picked up what I believe was the Pallid but lost it amongst the vegetation which blocks the view of low flying birds. We did not see the bird again but had some cracking views of at least 4 male and 2 female Hens. Well this was my first twitch and dip in Spain.

El Purche, Sierra Nevada, Granada Province.

2011-11-09T11:33:00.003+01:00

Mountian birds and a broken clutch.

I dropped Jayne and our neighbor Carole off in Granada City, went and had some new tyers put on the front of the car and then headed off up Sierra Nevada to have a look around the El Purche area. As soon as I arrived I got some stunning views of a small flock of Woodlarks (Totovia / Lullula arborea) which scuttled around in the short grass near the road side. In the top of one of the nearby Pine tree a nice male Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra) gave its distinctive chip call and on the next branch down was one of the species I had come for, a winter plumage male Yellowhammer (Escribano Cerillo / Emberiza citronella). It was good to get the prolonged views I had of this bird as the rest of the possible birds seen were all female / 1st winters and did not hang around long enough for me to get good views of. I walked around in this area for some time checking the finch / bunting flocks which were coming down to feed in the fallen leaves below the Sweet Chestnut trees. I picked up a couple of Rock Buntings (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), a cracking male and several female Cirl Buntings (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus) in amongst the more numerous Common Chaffinches (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).
I then moved up the road a short way to have a look under the Walnut trees plantations, here I quickly discovered my first Bramblings (Pizón Real / Fringilla montifringilla) of the winter, around 5 birds feeding amongst the more common Chaffinches and Corn Buntings (Triguero / Emberiza calandra). Under the trees I also saw Common Magpies (Urraca / Pica pica), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor). I then turned around to scan the grassland area behind me and picked up several Rock Sparrows (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia) a bird I had expected to see and then I found the most unexpected bird of the day a male Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), it was quite a distance away near the rocks on the far side of the grass area but the clean white breast and flanks stood out so well sexing it was easy.
I moved further along the road and spent some time checking out the Hawthorn bushes on the hillsides back towards the main road up to the summit. Here I added Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Great Tit (Carbonero Común / Parus major), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and heard but cold not locate a Ring Ouzel (Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus). At the high point just before the drop down to the main road I stopped and spent some time getting some shots of Black Redstarts that were perching on some concrete picnic tables, also seen here were a number of Jays (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius) along with a couple of species of butterflies, the most interesting was a very fresh looking Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychlorus) which flew around the spot a few times but did not settle. Time was getting on so I decided to start to make my way back down towards the city when it all went wrong, I pulled away from the parking by the picnic tables heard a bang a lot of noise and then the car stalled and I soon realized that the clutch had gone. After some thinking I decided to try and limp down to the city to meet Jayne and Carole and ring the breakdown people from there, so I started the car in first gear and managed to roll all the way down to the outskirts and then managed to do some gear changes using only the accelerator and the engine speed to make my way to the arranged meeting place where I called for help.

Huétor Fields, Granada Province.

2011-11-07T11:29:00.002+01:00

Found the missing birds at last.

Jayne and I went down to Huétor to get some shopping and to order some more building materials and made our way home across the fields to the North of the town looking for the elusive Bustards. Along the tarmac section of the drive we picked up a small flock of the locally less common Common Magpies (Urraca / Pica pica), several Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata). On the track along the river I was pleased to find a flock of 105 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) around half the number we usually get but at least they had turned up at last or had come out of hiding. They were on a recently cut Lucerne field amongst around 200 Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), equal numbers of Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) and probably getting on for 500 Spotless Starlings. Other species seen included Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).
Photographs from the top: White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

Along the A92, Granada Province.

2011-11-06T18:48:00.004+01:00

Catching up with yesterdays photographs.

After a mornings walk around the market in Granada we returned home via the A92 and called in at the area where I had seen the Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) yesterday. We arrived to find the birds still present and I quickly did a count (40) and then took some shot but they were never going to be much good as the sun was in the wrong direction and there was no way of getting to the other side of the flock. I also took some shots of a Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) which stayed nice and still for a while.
Photographs from the top: Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) and Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus).

Motril Area, Granada Province.

2011-11-05T18:35:00.006+01:00

Novembers RAM, a visit to the Port and Charca.

Juan Perez and I again made our way down to what I had expected to be a wet and dull coast for Novembers RAM but we were both pleasantly surprise when it was nice and sunny but windy when we arrived. On the way I saw a small flock of Hirundines from one of the motorway bridges, most of the birds were Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) but there was at least one House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) amongst them.
After parking up we made our way out to the headland and set our selves up for the next couple of hours of breezy sea watching. Numbers of birds were up due mainly to the wind blowing things closer in to the shore, Northern Gannets (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) were probably the commonest species counted, several hundred birds of all age groups being seen. Both Balearic (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus) and Cory's Shearwaters (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea) passed in small flocks and at least three Great Skua's (Págalo Grande / Catharacta skua) were seen usually harassing the Shearwaters. Other birds recorded included Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) but not a single Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii) was seen here or at the port later. More land based birds included Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis), Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus) and a swift fly-by by a Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus).
In the port we were disappointed with Gull numbers but there was a lot of activity with more of the large concrete storage areas where the Gulls usually roost being full. We did get numbers of a couple of Yellow-legged Gulls and also added Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta), Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer Domesticus) to the list.
Our final stop was a brief rush to a couple of the hides at Charca del Suarez, here got some cracking views of a winter plumaged Water Pipit (Bistita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta), loads of Common Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), a couple of Purple Swamp-hens (Calamón Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) and a very nice Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus) which passed low over the hide. Three species of dragonfly were still on the wing, Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum), Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope) and Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta).
Other birds recorded here included Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Crag Martin and Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).
Juan dropped me off at the car park near Aki and instead of going on the motorway I went back across country to Santa Fe and joined the A92 there mainly due to the traffic at the roundabout exiting the car park. On the way I saw a male Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius) another Booted Eagle, Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), a small flock of around 40 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) and a single Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus).
Photographs from the top: ringed Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), adult Yellow-legged Gull, Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), 2x Water Pipit (Bistita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta) and Purple Swamp-hen (Calamón Común / Porphyrio porphyrio).

Huétor Fields, Granada Province.

2011-11-02T21:01:00.001+01:00

Still the Bustards elude us.

On our way down to the supermarket Jayne and I had a quick tour around the fields again to try and locate the missing Bustards, the female Hen Harrier (Aguilucho Pálido / Circus cyaneus) again showed very well as did the Azure-winged Magpies (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cyanus) and Black Redstarts (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros). On the fields by the river we spent some time searching through the flocks of Spotless Starlings (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) looking for any Common but with out any success. In this area we also recorded around 90 Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), a couple of hundred Woodpigeons (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), 80+ Collared Doves (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and a flock of 32 Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) which were just sat in the center of a newly cut Lucerne field resting. We continued on around the area but again we failed to hind no sign of the Bustards but did add Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula).

Loja to Zafarraya Road, Granada Province.

2011-11-01T20:59:00.007+01:00

In search of later Orchids but only finding ones for next year.

After a brief visit to the English in Loja meeting I headed off down the valley towards the town of Zafarraya to look for some Orchids. On the way down a small group of 8 or so Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) were soaring in the fantastic blue skies over the western slopes of Sierra de Loja and at several points along the road Southern Grey Shrikes (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) were perched up high looking for their next meal. Once in the area I started to find the leaf rosettes of Giant Orchids (Barlia robertiana) by the dozen this looked good for next years show. In the Oaks surrounding this site I could see and hear Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Great Tit (Carbonero Común / Parus major), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) which along with White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) at this time of year are almost constantly on view where ever you are. I moved a little further on towards Zafarraya and stopped in a lay-by and walked for a KM or so back towards Loja. During this walk which was on a nice sunny length of road I picked up quite a few species of butterfly including Bath White (Blanqiverdosa / Pontia daplidice), Brimstone (Limonera / Gonepteryx rhamni), Clouded Yellow (Colias Común / Colias crocea), Large White (Pieris brassicae), Small White (Artogeia rapae) and Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) not bad for the first of November! In all the areas visited the commonest wildflower was the Southern Autumn Crocus (Crocus serotinus) which grew in therir hundreds. Birds included Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Azure-winged Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cyanus), singing Blackcaps (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina).
On the way home I went back across the fields north of Huétor Tajar to see if I could find the late arriving Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) flock which for the last five years had been on site by now. I did not find the Bustards but I had some stunning views of a female Hen Harrier (Aguilucho Pálido / Circus cyaneus), lots more Azure-winged Magpies, Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and a snoozing Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) which look very happy having a nap in the nice warm sun.
Photographs from the top: Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and Southern Autumn Crocus (Crocus serotinus).

Albrighton, Shropshire, UK

2011-10-27T20:08:00.001+02:00

A day with my brother and his family.

Today I spent some time (as usual not enough) with my brother, his wife Nicky and boys Jeffery, Thomas and Jamie. See you all again soon.

Worlds End and North Wales coast.

2011-10-26T23:58:00.007+02:00

A days birding with another birding friend.

John Morgan arrived in Albrighton a 07:00 to pick me up for another days birding, this time we were heading for the North Wales coast via Worlds End near Llangollan. As we arrived at Worlds End we stopped just clear of the Pine woods and started our search for the two species of Grouse that are in the area. In the area around the woods we could not hear or see any sign of either but we did pick up Pheasant (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Coal Tit (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus viridis), Goldcrest (Reyezuelo Sencillo / Regulus regulus), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis) and Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula). Once we located the correct area we soon picked up several Red Grouse by call and then three birds flew directly overhead, probably flushed by the female (ringtail) Hen Harrier (Aguilucho Pálido / Circus cyaneus) which was quartering the nearby ridge. Also on the ridge were Carrion Crows (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis) and Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus). A little further along the single track road we stopped for a coffee and some breakfast on a wide passing place and immediately located two male Black Grouse (Lyrurus tetrix) moving slowly through some deep grass, three more birds were seen in flight distantly as they flew over the moorland. Here we added Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes) and Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) to the day list. We then made our way up to Rhos-on-sea picking up Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris) and Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major) on the way. Once we were on the coast our first stop was on Colwyn Bay where we saw our first Red-throated (Colimbo Chico / Gavia stellata) and Black-throated Divers (Colimbo Ártico / Gavia arctica) of the trip, along with Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), a couple of Common Guillemots (Arao Común / Uria aalge), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo), a couple of hundred Common Scoters (Negrón Común / Melanitta nigra) and one or two Shag (Cormorán Monudo / Phalacrocoax aristotelis). On the water closer in and on the sea wall we also recorded Herring (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus), Great Black-backed (Gavión Atlantico / Larus marinus) and Common Gulls (Gaviota Cana / Larus canus). We continued the short distance into Rhos and parked on the front where we viewed the birds roosting on the breakwater. Here we saw Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), Pied Oystercatcher (Ostrero Euroasiatico / Haematopus ostralegus), Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Eurasian Curlew (Zapapito Real / Numenius arquata) and on the beach and sea front Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer Domesticus) and Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto). We moved further west along to Llanfairfechan where we again saw Red-throated Divers, Great Crested Grebe and most of the already mentioned waders. We decided to have a walk along the track from the town passed the boating lake and out to the salt marshes beyond. On the way we added Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor), Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba subsp yarrellii), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta) x4, Bar-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colipinta / Limosa lapponica), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) and Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) to the growing list. At the furthest point we came to a pool in the marsh which held quite good numbers of wildfowl including Goosander (Serreta Grande / Mergus merganser), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Eurasian Wigeon (Silbón Europeo / Anas Penelope), Northern Pintail (Ánade Rabudo / Anas acuta) and Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata). On the walk back we had nice views of another one of the species I was hoping for, a cracking Rock Pipit (Bisbita Costero / Anthus petrosus) which bimbled around on the rocks along the tide line. Once we reached the car we made a move on to Conway RSBP reserve and spent some time wandering around the hides. Before the rains started we picked up Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus), Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula), Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax). On the way back home we stopped in at Colwyn Bay again but the only new species was Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus). We then started the trip back to Albrighton via a pub for some food and to let the worst of the traffic disperse. Thanks John for a cracking day.
Photographs from the top: Worlds End, John at Worlds End, Herring Gull (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus) 1st winter, 2nd winter and Adult, Llanfairfechan sea front and Rainbow off Colwyn Bay.

Bilston and Chasewater, UK.

2011-10-24T18:39:00.001+02:00

Visiting an Old friend and meeting another again later.

This morning was spent with another of my old birding mates, Frank Dickson who I started my twitching years off with back in 1979/80. We spent some time chatting and looking through some photographs of some of the rarities we had seen together over the many years and there were quite a few.
Later I decided to walk back from Franks house in Bilston to near New Invention, these walks always turn out to be longer that the car journey there seemed.
I got back to Barbs and almost straight away John rang to say he would pick me up in twenty minutes so that we could go and have another crack at the Caspian Gulls at Chasewater. We arrived to a windier but warmer Chasewater, the Gulls were already starting to arrive so we set the scopes up (thanks for lending me yours Sharon) and started to work through the flock. The results were much the same as the last visit with the Caspians not arriving or at least not till it was to dark to see, we did again get a couple of Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), small numbers of both Great Black-backed (Gavión Atlantico / Larus marinus) and Common Gulls (Gaviota Cana / ), along with hundreds of Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Herring (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus) and Lesser Black-backs (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus). Other birds seen were 6x Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) and Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor).
John and I then went back to his house were Sharon had done us some food, a nice way to end the day and the Wednesfield part of the trip as in the morning we were relocating to Albrighton for the last few days of the holiday.
Photographs from the top: Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo) and Herring Gull (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus).

Travelling back to Wednesfield, West Midlands.

2011-10-23T21:01:00.003+02:00

The day after the night before.

On the Sunday morning we packed and after Breakfast I went for a quick walk around the grounds and found the suspension bridge which crossed the river. For here I picked up Dipper (Mirlo Acuático / Cinclus cinclus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea) and Goldcrest (Reyezuelo Sencillo / Regulus regulus). On the drive back to Albrighton I saw several more Red Kites (Milano Real / Milvus milvus), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax) and Common Buzzards (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).
Photographs from the top: The river from the bridge.

At the Caer Beris Manor Hotel (The Wedding), Builth Wells, Mid Wales.

2011-10-22T20:59:00.010+02:00

The Wedding.

The Morning of the Wedding was dry, mainly sunny but breezy; this did not matter much as most of the day was spent in the Hotel. The ceremony went very well as did the afternoon meal and night do. An Elvis impersonator was the evening’s highlight, even for a person who is not an Elvis fan this chap was a true entertainer and every one had a laugh and enjoyed his show very much. Thanks to Sarah and Matt for inviting us to the big day.
Photographs from the top: Matt, Signing the register, Louise and Jim (Mother and Father of the Groom), Bride and Groom with the best Men, Bride and Groom with the Silcock side of the Family, The Silcock brothers and sisters and ELVIS.

Travelling to Builth Wells, Mid Wales.

2011-10-21T20:58:00.007+02:00

Making our way to the wedding.

We were all up and about quite early this morning as we had to be over in Albrighton for 11:30 to meet up with Jayne Sister Brenda and Keith her husband who were kindly taking us down to Buithwells. Some of us felt better that others, Jayne had sensibly said no to the offer from the owner of the Indian restaurant of a third special coffee the night before, Barb and I did not. W got over to Albrighton on time and all got into Brenda and Keiths car and we started off down into Wales via Leominster where we stopped for lunch. On the way down we saw several Common Buzzards (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and at least three of the original Welsh population of Red Kites (Milano Real / Milvus milvus). We arrived at the hotel mid afternoon which gave me time to go and have a walk along the river and in the surrounding woods and grounds. On the river I spent quite some time watching three Goosanders (Serreta Grande / Mergus merganser) fishing. After some time the Goosander were joined by a male Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) which decided there feeding method was good and joined in and was diving along side and for almost as long as the Goosanders. In the woods I got some nice views of a tit flock which also contained several Treecreepers (Agateador Norteño / Certhia familiaris), Goldcrest (Reyezuelo Sencillo / Regulus regulus) and a single Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita). In the woods I picked up Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea) and Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).
Photographs from the top: The bridge in to Buithwells and A statue on the river.

Belvide Res, Gaily Res, Yoxall and Chasewater, Staffordshire, UK.

2011-10-20T20:53:00.009+02:00

A days birding with good friend John Holian, followed by a cracking Indian meal.

I meet John Holian out side Barb’s house and we headed out for a days birding in the county of Staffordshire and started at one of my old haunts Belvide Reservoir. Once I had worked out that the gate was not locked we parked up in the car park and made our way through the woods to the first hide, on the way we had a couple of Goldcrests (Reyezuelo Sencillo / Regulus regulus), Great (Carbonero Común / Parus major), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Long-tailed Tits (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and a calling Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major). From the hide we were soon seeing birds which used to be familiar sights to me but which I had not see for some time (up to 7 years). On a spits some distance away we could see a single Common Gull (Gaviota Cana / Larus canus) amongst the many Black-head’s (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Herrings (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus) and a couple of Lesser Black-back’s (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus). On the water there were several flocks of one of my favorite ducks, around 30 Goldeneye (Porrón Osculado / Bucephala clangula) could be seen including several stunning males. Also on the water were Canada (Barnacla Canadiense / Branta Canadensis) and Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser), Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata), Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor) and Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo). On the margins we added Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus) and Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), plus a Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) which showed well from a post just on the edge of a reed-bed. In the reeds a couple of Robins (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula) chased each other around and a group of three Reed Buntings (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus) sat up high calling.
We then made our way around to the next hide calling in at a spot along one of the tracks cut out by the local ringing group to view a roosting Long-eared Owl (Búho Chico / Asio otus) which showed well in the lower branches of a willow tree. Here we also had Bullfinch (Camachuelo Común / Pyrrhula pyrrhula), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis) and heard a Marsh Tit (Carbonero Palustre / Poecile palustris). From the hide we added Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba subsp yarrellii), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Pheasant (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) which had become incredibly common since my leaving the UK. On the way out we missed the gazebo hide and continued on to the furthest point getting good views of the Marsh Tit on the way. From the hide here we picked up the first Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera) and Eurasian Wigeon (Silbón Europeo / Anas Penelope) of the day and added Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaia) to the list. On the way back to the car park we popped into the Gazebo hide to look at the feeding station where we had close views of several Tree Sparrows (Gorrión Molinero / Passer Montanus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and a single Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) butterfly. Once back in the car park John got out the flash and we had a welcome cup of coffee, as nice as the weather was it felt really cold and I could not even focus my bins easily. Whist we drank our nice hot coffee I picked up a dragonfly which dropped down onto the small bird tables mounted on nearby fence posts, it flew before I could get a shot but I managed to Id it as an Emerald species and going on distribution I can on guess that it was a very late tatty looking Downy Emerald (Cordulia aenea). A cracking Southern/ Blue Hawker (Aeshna cyanea) also did a fly passed and landed in a clump of Brambles and was very confiding and allowed some nice photos to be taken. On the bird tables we also got some nice views of a beautiful Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea) as it picked around for food.
Our next stop was at Gailey Res just down the road, we only add Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and Tufted Duck (Porrón Monudo / Aythya fuligula) so we decided to continue on to Yoxall where John had seen a Great White Egret (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba) a few days earlier. We arrived and quickly located two Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta) on the banks of the river and our second Kingfisher of the day which caught quite a large Perch and eventually after a lot of bashing managed to turn it and swallow. Also seen in this area were Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Rook (Graja / Corvus frugilegus), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone) and a large mixed flock of Fieldfare (Zorzal Real / Turdus pilaris) and Redwings (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus iliacus). Our next port of call was at Whitmoor Hay and Croxall Pool, out on fields at Whitmoor Hay we were hoping to catch up with Grey Partridge (Perdiz Pardilla / Perdix perdix) but there was a lot of construction work going on so the noise and disturbance was to much and we did not get any sightings of these now rear birds but we did record a pair of Yellowhammers (Escribano Cerillo / Emberiza citronella) on one of the barn roofs, several Stock Doves (Paloma Zurita / Columba oenas) out on the fields and a Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes) in the bottom of a Hawthorn hedge which contained the second flock of Tree Sparrows of the day.
On Croxall pool we added singles of Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago) and Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) to the list along with Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) and more delightful Bullfinches. An old Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) was also added to the Dragonflies for the day.
Our final stop was at Chasewater for the Gull Roost, a couple of Caspian Gulls (Larus cachinnans) and I quite fancied seeing one of these birds as it had been many years since my last view and they are now being recorded regularly in Spain. Gull numbers grew and included hundreds of Black-headed, Lesser Black Backed, Herring, a few Common and four Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) but unfortunately there were no Caspian’s seen. John returned me to Barbs only to pick me up again along with Jayne and Barb a few minutes later so that we could all go and have a cracking Indian meal with his wife Sharon at the local restaurant called Chili peppers.
Photographs from the top: John and another birder watching the Owl, A poor shot of the Long-eared Owl (Búho Chico / Asio otus), Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser), Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer Montanus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), Southern/ Blue Hawker (Aeshna cyanea), Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) and John freezing his bits off at Chasewater.

Wednesfield, West Mids, Not so Great Britain.

2011-10-19T20:43:00.003+02:00

Travelling to Barbs from Birmingham Airport.

Jayne and I travelled back to the UK for a few days to go to a family wedding in Builth Wells in Wales. After an uneventful flight and train journey to Wolverhampton we meet Jayne sister Barbara and caught the bus back to her house where we were staying for the first part of our stay. On the way I picked up several Carrion Crows a bird that I do not see back home very often, these were seen along side Jackdaw, Common Magpie, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Mallard, Common Moorhen, Northern Starling and in the garden a male Sparrowhawk flushed out a couple of the local Blackbirds.

Realenga de Agicampe, Granada Province.

2011-10-12T19:02:00.001+02:00

Moth Trapping.

The trap was again run over night and another couple of new species were recorded with a couple more needing to be identified. The new species were Agrochola lychnidis (Beaded Chestnut) and Dryobotodes tenebrosa x3. Another species I do not catch often was Watsonalla uncinula which is very similar to the Oak hook-tip back in the UK. These were caught along with more usual species including Palpita vitrealis, Ethmia bipunctella, Uresiphita polygonalis, Menophora japygiaria, Rhodometra sacraria (The Vestal), Pseudozarba bipartite and a shed load of Earias insulana (Egyptian Bollworm) in different colour forms.
Photographs from the top: Agrochola lychnidis (Beaded Chestnut), Dryobotodes tenebrosa, Watsonalla uncinula and Palpita vitrealis.

Malaga City, Malaga Province.

2011-10-11T22:15:00.006+02:00

A visit to the Glass museum and Tyssen Art Gallery.

Carol (our neighbour) Jayne and I meet several other members of the English Group for a coach trip down to the Glass Museum in Malaga (link on right hand side of blog), Jayne and I had been before but had really enjoyed it. We arrived and strolled through the streets of the City passing the Cathedral to the Museum where we were to meet Ian Phillips one of the owners and our guide for the visit. On arrival Ian gave us all a brief history of the building and it past uses before splitting us into two groups for the tour. The exhibits were varied and very interesting just to look at but with all the information supplied by Ian about the Glass, furniture and paintings the visit was made so much richer. Later we made our way though the City, had a coffee and eventually found the Tyssen Art Gallery. I enjoyed this but much preferred the earlier part of the day. After having a nice lunch we spent some time around the shops and then had a stroll along the tree lines areas near the port, here we saw both Ring-necked and Monk Parakeets.
Later we had another drink before meet the coach and the journey home, a long but very enjoyable day.
Photographs from the top: Group around the Museum, Viewing the painting, Glass cabinet, fountain in the park and government building in Malaga.

Granada and the Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

2011-10-08T23:16:00.000+02:00

Bargins and Birds.

Jayne and I set off up towards the City of Granada to visit the large Saturday market as we were hoping to do a car boot sale on the Sunday morning when the other Granada market is on. On the way up I saw a small flock Azure-winged Magpies (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cyanus) which were raiding the remains of next doors grape vines, a very dark Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) which flapped low over the road by the A92 and a small flock of around 20 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) on a motorway side field.
We spent the next 2 ½ hours having a wonder around the market and both picked up a couple of bargins!
On the way home we went via La Malahá and Ventas de Huelma on the way over to Cacín, on the way I added Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and another Common Buzzard but this time right at the other end of the colour scale as it was almost white below with just two dark brown bars.
We dropped down into the Cacín Valley and headed North stopping at the Embalse for a while, here I picked up Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo) and 3 Grey Herons (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea). In the surrounding fields and bushes I caught up with Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Thekla (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and Crested Larks (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).
Our last stop was out on the El Temple agricultural area nearby, here we only managed to pick up 3 new chat species for the day list, these were Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe).
Photographs from the top: Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra).

Realenga de Agicampe, Granada Province.

2011-10-08T20:28:00.005+02:00

Moth Trapping.

Another three new species caught on what was a nice warm October night, moth numbers were up possibly due to a thin layer of cloud.
The new species were Euchromius vinculellus, Hydriris ornatalis and Euchrognophus murcidaria with a few more still to ID. Other intersting species were singles of both Autographa gamma (Silver Y) and Trichoplusia ni (Ni Moth), plus loads of Rhodometra sacraria (The Vestal) 30+, Cladocerotis optabilis, Episema glaucina, Leucochlaena oditis (Beautiful Gothic) 10+, Ethmia bipunctella, a second Peribatodes umbraria after the first on the 6th and Pyrausta aurata.
Photographs from the top: Euchromius vinculellus, Hydriris ornatalis, Euchrognophus murcidaria, Autographa gamma (Silver Y) and Trichoplusia ni (Ni Moth).

Realenga de Agicampe, Granada Province.

2011-10-06T17:10:00.003+02:00

Moth Trapping.

As usual I decided to run the 15w trap and was pleased to find a drastic drop in the number of the black beetles which had been infesting the trap recently. Along with a few beetles there were a number of new species for the garden, these included Cynaeda dentalis, Peribatodes umbraria, Scopula ornata (Lace border) and Stilbia andalusiaca.
Other species were Trichophaga tapetzella (Tapestry Moth), Hellula undalis (Old World Webworm), Microloxia herbaria, Cladocerotis optabilis, Leucochlaena oditis (Beautiful Gothic), Episema glaucina, Pseudozarba bipartita, Idaea degeneraria (Portland Ribbon Wave), a dozen or more Earias insulana (Egyptian Bollworm), Coscinia cribraria f. chysocephala (Speckled Footman) and Utetheisa pulchella (Crimson Speckled).
Photographs from the top: Cynaeda dentalis, Peribatodes umbraria, Scopula ornata (Lace border), Stilbia andalusiaca and Earias insulana (Egyptian Bollworm).

RAM, Motril Port and Charca del Suarez, Granada Province.

2011-10-01T21:52:00.007+02:00

Sea bird survey, Ring checking and a quick look at Charca.

Today it was an early start; it was still dark as I was leaving the house which was the reason for me getting a new bird for my seen from the garden list. As I was walking out to the car an Eagle Owl (Buho Real / Bubo bubo) flew off my neighbor’s roof and out into the Olives. Dave Jackson a friend from the UK had seen one from the terrace a couple of years earlier but I had not recorded it which is surprising as they breed just up the road.
I met up with Juan at the usual place on Aki car park and we made our way down to the headland just to the east of Motril. We arrived a little early so we had a scan around the local scrub first picking up Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Tawny Pipit (Bisbita campestre / Anthus campestris), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla).
The sea watch started well it two Great Skua’s (Págalo Grande / Catharacta skua) chasing each other and a flock of Balearic Shearwater (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus) passing to the west. We also recorded 2 more Great Skua’s, many more Balearic’s along with a single Cory's Shearwater (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea), Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Audouin's Gulls (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii).
After the sea watch we made our way around to the fish port to check through the Gull flocks which roost there to see if we could find any birds that were ringed. On the drive round we picked up Common (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) and Pallid Swifts (Vencejo Pálido / Apus pallidus) both still moving along the coast in small numbers, House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Red-rumped (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica) and Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and both Cattle (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta).
Once we were in the port we located a largish flock of Gulls which contained all the species of Gull and tern mentioned earlier. We found several Lesser Black-backs with rings along with a single Yellow-legged.
Our last stop was at Charca where we called at several of the hides and did a full loop around the site. The first small hide was quiet but we did add Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus) and Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) to the bird list and started the dragonflies off with Lesser (Anax parthenope) and Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator), Broad Scarlet (Crocothemis erythraea), Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma) and Small Red-eyed (Erythromma viridulum). We pushed on further round to the next hide where several Little Grebes (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) were seen and a nice Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) performed and posed until we got the cameras ready and then disappeared. As we were leaving the spot for the main hide we picked up a couple of male Red Avadavat (Bengali Rojo / Amandava amandava) which quickly dropped from the reed tops out of sight.
At the main hide we picked up the only Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo) of the morning, 4 more Little Egrets, a single Purple Swamp-hen (Calamón Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), a couple of squabbling Grey Herons (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata) for the bird list and Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria), Black Percher (Diplacodes lefebvrii), Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) and Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum) for the dragons.
We continued on passed a newly dig scrap which looks as though it will be interesting once it is completed and into the last hide by the long pool. Here we added females of Red-crested Pochard (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca) and Eurasian Wigeon (Silbón Europeo / Anas Penelope).
Photographs from the top: Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Ringed Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Ringed Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) and Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra).

Sierra de Loja, Granada Province.

2011-09-29T22:44:00.005+02:00

A morning in the mountains seeing some of my favorite birds.

Got up to a nice morning with a few more clouds around than usual but the sun was trying hard to brake through, so I decided to carry on with last nights idea of a trip up Sierra de Loja. On the way over I started the list with a small flock of around 25 Azure-winged Magpies (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cyanus), several Common Chaffinches (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica).
Just as I started to make my way up the Sierra from the town of Loja I picked up 2 late Honey Buzzards (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus) moving west along with the first of 11 Marsh Harriers (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) seen during the morning (all female of immature birds). Once I was clear of the pine woods I started to see the expected Thekla Larks (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Rock Sparrows (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia) and Common Stonechats (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) either perched on rocks or making use of the road side barriers. Along the crags good numbers of both Jackdaws (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and Red-billed Choughs (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) called noisily as they chased around the cliff faces. Once up on the more level areas I pushed on to the first of the water collection buildings to have a look for any remaining Rufous-tailed Rock Thrushes (Roquero Rojo / Monticola saxatilis) that may be hanging around. I parked right next to the building and got some nice views of several Rock Sparrows, Black Redstarts (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and several Northern Wheatears (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe). After about 10 minutes a bird jumped up on to a rock and sat there for some time, giving me chance to roll down the hill, park right across the road and get some nice views and a couple of shots. Also around here I added a late skulking Spectacled Warbler (Curruca Tomillera / Sylvia conspicillata) moving though the low thyme plants, Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) which was screeching from a nearby rock pile and a small flock of Corn Buntings (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) which flew by. I then continued on up to Charca del Negro and on to the Goat Cave where Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Blue Rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa) were added along with a migrating flock of Sparrowhawks (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), I counted 19 birds over a few minutes.
On the way down I saw two large Spanish Ibex (Capra pyreaica hispanica) moving through one of the mountain top fields, Several flocks of Spotless Starlings (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and around 10 Whinchats (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra) all in a small track side field. A Southern Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and a male Blue Rock Thrush were all seen perched in the same large Hawthorn bush, with the Shrike right on top singing its head off. On my way back down passed the crags I eventually saw the first Black Wheatears (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura) of the morning and added Great Tit (Carbonero Común / Parus major), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca) and Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla) to the list. On the track up to and at the disused Quarry Dartford (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata) and Sardinian Warblers (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) were seen, along with Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and a single Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis).
Photographs from the top: Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Common Stonechats (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Rufous-tailed Rock Thrushes (Roquero Rojo / Monticola saxatilis) and Spanish Ibex (Capra pyreaica hispanica).

Realenga de Agicampe, Granada Province.

2011-09-25T16:37:00.003+02:00

Moth Trapping

Last night I made the decision to run the 125w MV lamp, what a mistake. I got up to find the trap, nearby plants and all the walls were swamped in small black beetles, literally 10s of thousands had been attracted in along with a few moths. New species or first time identified moths included Heliothis armigera (Scarce Bordered Straw) x2 and a single Clostera pigra (Small Chocolate-tip). Other species of note were Coscinia cribraria f. chysocephala (Speckled Footman), Leucochlaena oditis (Beautiful Gothic) and Tiger species Cymbalophora pudica.
Photographs from the top: Heliothis armigera (Scarce Bordered Straw), Clostera pigra (Small Chocolate-tip),Coscinia cribraria f. chysocephala (Speckled Footman) and Leucochlaena oditis (Beautiful Gothic).

Realenga de Agicampe, Granada Province.

2011-09-22T16:36:00.004+02:00

Moth Trapping

Ran the 15w trap again and had a reasonable spread of species including around 20x Agrotis puta puta (Shuttle Shaped Darts), Utetheisa pulchella (Crimson Speckled), 4x Eupithecia centarueata (Lime-speck Pugs) and Spodoptera exigua (Small Mottled Willow). New species or ones I identified for the first time included two pyralids Acrobasis romanella, Oxybia transversella and a Macro Xestia kermesina.
Photographs from the top: Eupithecia centarueata (Lime-speck Pugs), Acrobasis romanella, Oxybia transversella and Xestia kermesina.

Padul Wetlands, Granada Province.

2011-09-21T16:25:00.007+02:00

Getting lost in a nice place.

I parked at the far end of the reserve away from the visitors centre thinking that if they do get any kids visits I would be unlikely to bump into them and started to make my way down to ward the hide on the board walk. Around the first bridge there were large numbers of hirundines feeding up before moving on south, they included large numbers of Sand Martins (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia), Red-rumped (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica) and Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) a few House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and several of the resident Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) had come in to feed on a large hatch of some small insects. On the adjacent thistle field’s good numbers of Goldfinches (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinches (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Serins (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Linnets (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) were joined by a large flock of House Sparrows (Gorrión Común / Passer Domesticus). In the reedbeds along the path there were continuous scolding calls from Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scirpaceus) and the loud blasting song from the resident Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) population.
I was surprised to find that the hide was open and that the water level in the ditch along the track was low enough to be showing a nice muddy margin. Here there were plenty of Common Moorhens (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus), Eurasian Coots (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and at least 5 squealing Water Rails (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus) which eventually gave me some nice if not brief views. From the hide I could see that some ringing was in progress but was behind the locked gates, so I thought that if I made my way to the far end of the ditch track I might see who was there. I started off around the nice newish boardwalk trail, on the way I picked up a female Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and a new bird for the year a Wryneck (Torcecuello / Jynx torquilla) which was drinking at one of the small pools on the track side. As I approached the lake I picked up a couple of Grey Herons (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), several Great Crested Grebes (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Mallards (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina) and around 50 Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis). This was where it all started to go wrong, first I ended up in a private garden by mistake but I did add Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) to the growing list. Later I took the wrong track through the fields and ended up with a shoe full of something very nasty whilst trying to cross a ditch to get to the right track. Once back on course I managed to find the far end of the middle tack but could not find any ringers so I continued on around the reserve, On the more agricultural western side I picked up Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and a nice male Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus). I then made it back to the car and was much earlier than I had thought so returned to the hide were the only new species added were singles of both Wood (Andarrios Bastardo / Tringa Glareola) and Green Sandpipers (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus). I then made my way back home via the City and some lunch.
Later In the day I went for a couple of drinks with friend Bernard in El Turro but stopped off for a few minutes at the Balsa de Regidor just as the Cattle Egrets were starting to arrive, I only saw 23 but more flew over while I drove towards Bernard’s. Also seen were 8x Grey Herons, Common Pochard, 1x Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta), Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata), Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica).
Photographs from the top: Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus) Adult, Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus) not quite an adult, Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra).

Moraleda Area, Granada Province.

2011-09-18T17:44:00.001+02:00

Sunday morning run round.

Jayne and I went for a drive out to the local English car boot sale at Moraleda, except for a chat with John and Jenny Wainwright there was little of interest to see so after a few minutes we were on our way down to see Bernard a friend who was over from the UK working on his house. We had a coffee around at the bar and sorted an evening when we were all free to meet up for a drink.
The last stop of the morning was on an agricultural area nearby where I did half an hours birding. The first bird seen was a cracking Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus) which circled overhead before heading off west. Also moving through were lots of Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), along with good numbers of Tawny Pipits (Bisbita campestre / Anthus campestris). I dipped on the Sandgrouse that are usually around but did added Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Spectacled Warbler (Curruca Tomillera / Sylvia conspicillata), Azure-winged Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cyanus), Southern Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus).
On the way home we had a look for the first of the expected Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) with out any success. The only birds seen were Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), more Azure-winged Magpies and Spotless Starlings (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) which were raiding one of the roadside fig trees and a male Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus) which flew across the road and disappeared into a hedge.

Laguna Dulce, Fuente de Piedra, Teba Gorge and Laguna Herrera, Malaga Province.

2011-09-16T17:37:00.004+02:00

91 species, no woodland and 4 hours of daylight to spare!

I was meeting Andy Mountford for a days birding over at Laguna Dulce near Campillos which was abut the best site near to the halfway point for travelling. I had some good luck as soon as I left the house as with in 100 metres I flushed an Eagle Owl (Buho Real / Bubo bubo) up off the road.
I arrived at Dulce around and hour early and started to scan through the birds, Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) numbers had greatly reduced since my last visit but bird numbers were still very good and were soon increased by a large flock of mainly Mallards (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) and Common Pochards (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), some 1000+ birds. Other common birds included Black-necked (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), Great Crested (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus) and Little Grebes (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) some of which were still sat in their roost trees but most had left, Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus) and well over 350 White-headed Ducks (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala). I then picked up a single female Red-crested Pochard (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina) and two male Ferruginous Ducks (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca), one of which disappeared straight back into the vegetation and the other flew right over to the far side of the lake and settled in with some Common Pochard.
A large female Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus) then did a fly through upsetting some of the smaller wildfowl before heading out towards the town. A male Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) then moved along the eastern side of the Lagoon before plunging into the reeds and coming out with an immature Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), he was soon followed by the misses who came along the same route and then out over the water to the western margins.
Andy then arrived and we continued to pick up some nice species including Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber), Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) which showed particularly well in the Tamarisk just out side the hide window, Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata), Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) and just as we were leaving a cracking Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus) which did not stop for more than a couple of minutes before continuing on South.
Our next stop was at the view point over Fuente de Piedra on the western side, on the way round we stopped and had some nice views of two migrating Honey Buzzards (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus) one with a standard plumage but the other with the nice fine barring replaced by much heavier bold lines.
. Here we soon picked up some new birds for the growing day list including a pair of Purple Swamp-hen (Calamón Común / Porphyrio porphyrio) on the nearest patch of water along with both Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus), Southern Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), a small number of White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and the first of the retuning Meadow Pipits (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis).
Our next stop was for a coffee in the town before making our way back to the visitors centre and having a look at the surrounding pools. First new species for the day were Northern Pintail (Ánade Rabudo / Anas acuta) with three females being seen, a female Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina) x4, Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax) x2, Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus) x2, a single Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta) and then the stars of the site two Temmincks Stints (Correlimos de Temminck / Calidris temminckii) all of which were just too far for any decent shots. On the main lake we added a couple of hundred Avocets (Avoceta Común/ Recurvirostra avosetta) to the list along with a smaller number of Black-tailed Godwits (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa). On the pools behind the centre we did not add any birds but we did see several species of dragonflies, the commonest were Lesser (Anax parthenope) and Blue / Common Emperors (Anax imperator), Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) and Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata). On the return walk we picked up a single Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis), several Common Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), Yellow Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava), Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus), Melodious Warbler (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta), a female type Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus), Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra), Red-rumped (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica) and Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and a couple of late Pallid Swifts (Vencejo Pálido / Apus pallidus). We then returned to Dulce and spent a little while having a second scan of the site seeing one of the male Ferruginous ducks quite close in the reeds accompanied by a nice female this time. Also added were Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scirpaceus), Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus).
We then changed habitat a bit and went down to Teba Gorge which was a new site for Andy. As soon as we arrived a pair of Rock Buntings (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia) flew up and disappeared in to gorge, they were followed by a nice male Blue Rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), a pair of Black Wheatears (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila-azor Perdicera / Hieraaetus faciatus), Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) and Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris). Several Orange-winged Dropwings (Trithemis kirbyi) and Epaulet Skimmers (Orthetrum chrysostigma) were seen along with a single Small Pincertail (Onychogomphus forcipatus) during he gorge walk. As we walked back towards the car a small butterfly caught our eye and we soon sorted out that it was a plain but nice Mediterranean Skipper (Gegenes nostrodamus), also seen were Clouded Yellow (Colias Común / Colias crocea), Common Blue (Icaro (Dos Puntos) / Polyommatus icarus), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina ssp hispulla) and Scarce Swallowtail (Chupaleches / Iphiclides podalirius feisthameli).
We quickly called in at the Raptor view point back at the junction with the Malaga road but only picked up Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula). Andy then headed back south and I went on back towards Antequera where I had a swift look in at the dry remains of Laguna Herrera. On the right hand side of the track there is a small stream, along here I picked up another Common Whitethroat and a fine male Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica), along with a couple of Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe). A total of 91 species were seen and when I tallied up the easier species that we had not seen we could quite easily have cleared 100 and been close to 110 for the day. Thanks Andy.
Photographs from the top: Ferruginous Ducks (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca) x2, Temmincks Stint (Correlimos de Temminck / Calidris temminckii), Orange-winged Dropwings (Trithemis kirbyi) and Mediterranean Skipper (Gegenes nostrodamus).

Realenga de Agicampe, Granada Province.

2011-09-06T17:11:00.005+02:00

Moth Trapping.

Again I set the trap up out in the same place in the garden and had a much more interesting haul and again I decided to use the 15 watt actinic as it does not seem to be affected as much as the MV by the new much brighter street lighting now fitted. There were still high numbers of Eublemma parva (Small Marbled), Pyralis obsoletalis and Palpita vitrealis. Also there were many more Agrotis lata, Spodoptera exigua (Small Mottled Willow), Rhodometra sacraria (The Vestal), Microloxia herbaria, Tyta luctuosa (The Four-spotted), Acontia lucida (Pale Shoulder), Pseudozarba bipartite and Aetheria (Hecatera) dysodea (Small Ranunculus) then a few nights ago. Smaller numbers of Metachrostis velox, Raphia hybris (New Species), Actenia brunnealis, Mythimna putrescens (Devonshire Wainscot), Idaea manicaria, Idaea degeneraria (Portland Ribbon Wave) and Symmoca nigromaculella were also caught. Several species still need to be sorted out but a nice catch.
Photographs from the top: Microloxia herbaria, Raphia hybris and Idaea degeneraria (Portland Ribbon Wave).

Embalse de Cubillas, Granada Province.

2011-09-04T18:43:00.004+02:00

A few waders.

I popped in to have a quick look at the dry margins on the eastern side of the lake on the way home from the Sunday market. The birds were few but the most common sight was rubbish, I was appalled at the amount of crap that the people leave behind. I do not understand the mentality of going to a beautiful place for a day out and picnic and leaving the place looking like a stinking rubbish dump.
Anyway after my little rant I did see a single Curlew Sandpiper (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea) and a Grey Plover (Chorlito Gris / Pluvialis squatarola) both of which were in winter dress, plus around 70 adult and immature Little Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) on the mud. Also seen were Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) and Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra).

Realenga de Agicampe, Granada Province.

2011-08-29T20:06:00.007+02:00

Moth trapping.

After a long break I decided after a prompt from Penny Hale down in Casares to dig the Moth trap out and give it a go. On the night of the 26th / 27th I ran a 125MV light which turned out to be a total waste of time so on the night of 28th / 29th I ran the small 15W Actinic trap that I also have. The results were not fantastic but much better then the last attempt. The most common species by far was the Small Marbled (Eublemma parva) with around 70 being in or around the trap, next came Palpita vitrealis with around 25 insects present and Pyralis obsoletalis with around 30. In lesser numbers (1 to 3) were Stibaromacha ratella, Ancylolomia tentaculella, Eastern Nycteoline (Nycteola asiatica), Actenia brunnealis, Antigastra catalaunalis, Menophora japygiaria, Microloxia herbaria, Codling Moth (Cydia pomonella), The Vestal (Rhodometra sacraria), The Four-spotted (Tyta luctuosa), Eutelia adulatrix, Spotted Sulphur (Emmelia trabealis), Pale Shoulder (Acontia lucida), Pseudozarba bipartita, Metachrostis velox, Small Ranunculus (Aetheria (Hecatera) dysodea), Mythimna scirpi, Agrotis lata and a few more which I have still got to send down to Penny for sorting.
Photographs from the top: Eastern Nycteoline (Nycteola asiatica), Actenia brunnealis, Microloxia herbaria, Codling Moth (Cydia pomonella), Small Ranunculus (Aetheria (Hecatera) dysodea), Mythimna scirpi and Agrotis lata

Laguna Herrera and Torcal, Malaga Province.

2011-08-27T20:05:00.003+02:00

A dry lagoon and lots of rocks.

I started off a bit early on my way over to work and called in at Laguna Herrera as I had not been there for a week or so. I was very surprised to find that the Lagoon was no more, just two damp patches of soil remained of the once very productive wetland. On the drive out along the track I saw a couple of Montagu's Harriers (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) including a really nice bright immature bird. Also seen were Stone-curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Lesser Kestrel (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and a nice pale phase Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus) which flew over the track.
I then made my way to the Hotel and then out to Torcal with the RFH guests for the usual Saturday morning walk. On the way around my group had some cracking views of a herd of about 15 Spanish Ibex (Capra pyreaica hispanica) which took very little notice of us and continued to feed on the very sweet Blackberrys. I also saw Ocellated Lizard (Lacerta lepida) and Large Psammodromus (Emys orbicularis) scramble away over the rocks and good numbers of butterflies including Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Striped Grayling (Pseudotergumia fidia), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Southern Gatekeeper (Pyronia cecilia), Scarce Swallowtail (Chupaleches / Iphiclides podalirius feisthameli), Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus), Grayling (Hipparchia semele), Clouded Yellow (Colias Común / Colias crocea) and Bath White (Blanqiverdosa / Pontia daplidice). Birds included Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula), Orphean Warbler (Curruca Mirlona / Sylvia hortensis), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Bonelli’s Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Blue Rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) and loads of Black Redstarts (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).
Photographs from the top: The dry Lagoon, Rock at Torcal and Spanish Ibex (Capra pyreaica hispanica).

Sierra Huétor, Granada Province.

2011-08-26T20:02:00.004+02:00

Six Hunters 1 - 1 Goldfish.

I met Juan Pérez, his wife Beatriz and friends José María, Agustín and Juanra at a site in the sierra where we were going to a small deposito (Alberca de Botones) out in the woods to try and remove a couple of Goldfish which had been released in to the site. The main reason is that the fish eat the spawn and smaller tadpoles of the endemic Midwife Toad (Sapo partero bético / Alytes dickhilleni) that breeds at the site. On arrival we soon caught the darker of the two but the much paler fish was much quicker and more difficult to see and it managed to elude capture all evening. The single fish caught was released next morning in one of the ornimental pools in the Lorca Park down in Granada. While we were there we heard an immature Goshawk (Azor Común / Accipitor gentillis) calling from some pines.
Photograph: Two of the hunters.

Above Lanjaron, Cerro Gordo and Guejar-Sierra, Granada Province.

2011-08-24T14:41:00.006+02:00

Three new Butterflies.

I met Juan at the car park at Aki on the outskirts of Granada before we headed off south towards Lanjaron and then up into the Sierra Nevada Mountains above the town. On the way up the long dirt track we had several views of a Nightjar species but due to the quickness of the sightings and the altitude we were unable to decide which of the two species present was involved. As the light started to improve we also saw Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius). We reached the finca at Ballesteros and started to look around near the entrance and on the track towards the buildings, soon we were met by a pack of none to happy dogs and the farmer who at first was a little suspicious of us but was soon happy to show us around the farm. Juan spent some time chatting to the chap whilst I had a look amongst the vegetation in one of the wet flushes on the hillside. I found lots of female Wasp Spiders (Arana Tigre / Argiope bruennichi) one which was in the process of wrapping up a newly caught grasshopper. By about 09:00 the sun had moved above the ridge and had started to warm things up, which meant the butterflies were starting to fly. On the walk back to the car I got some shots of or had seen Bath White (Blanqiverdosa / Pontia daplidice), Brown Argus (Aricia agestis), Clouded Yellow (Colias Común / Colias crocea), Striped Grayling (Pseudotergumia fidia), Grayling (Hipparchia semele), Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina ssp hispulla), Rock Grayling (Hipparchi alcyone), Scarce Swallowtail (Chupaleches / Iphiclides podalirius feisthameli), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Southern Gatekeeper (Pyronia cecilia) and the three news species for me, Black Satyr (Satyrus actaea), Carline Skipper (Pyrgus carlinae) and Tree Grayling (Neohipparchia statilinus). Once we were back at the car we started off back down the hill and then turned towards another of the mountain finca’s, on the way we added Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Southern Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Melodious Warbler (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Spectacled (Curruca Tomillera / Sylvia conspicillata) and Orphean Warblers (Curruca Mirlona / Sylvia hortensis) to the list. We left the car at the end of the track and continued on towards the river on foot. More butterflies were seen on the steep walk down to the river including Cardinal Fritillary (Pandora / argynnis Pandora), Common Blue (Icaro (Dos Puntos) / Polyommatus icarus), Purple Hairstreak (Quercusia Quercus), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) and Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera). New birds included Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus).
Along a small irrigation channel just above the main river we also saw a single female Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta) and a pair of Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) in tandem. Along the track we found several spikes of the tall Autumn Squill (Urginea maritime) from the very dry soil.
We returned to the car and drove down the track back to the motorway and then down to the coast and on to Cerro Gordo hoping to get views of the White-rumped Swift (Vencejo Cafre / Apus caffer) we had seen at the start of the month. We arrived but could not locate any Swifts at all. Good numbers of Red-rumped Swallows were still about along with a pair of Black Wheatears (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Blue Rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Crested Tit (Herrerillo Capuchino /Parus cristatus), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis). Whilst we stood looking for the swifts several Spanish Ibex (Capra pyreaica hispanica) ran across the road and during the visit we noted several Large Psammodromus (Emys orbicularis) Lizards.
We next headed back north and into the Sierra Nevada via Granada and Guejar-sierra. Here we were looking for some dead spikes of Epipactis tremosii which Juan had found a few days earlier. All together we found six spikes and a further couple of Small-leaved Helleborine (Epipactis microphylla).
Photographs from the top: View down to the coast, Wasp Spiders (Arana Tigre / Argiope bruennichi), Striped Grayling (Pseudotergumia fidia), Black Satyr (Satyrus actaea), Carline Skipper (Pyrgus carlinae), Tree Grayling (Neohipparchia statilinus), Grayling (Hipparchia semele) and Epipactis tremosii.

Rio Genil, Huetor Tajar, Granada Province.

2011-08-22T14:45:00.003+02:00

New bird for the local patch list.

Jayne and I were heading out of Huetor Tajar and as we crossed the Rio Genil Bridge Jayne picked up a bird stood on a log in the centre of the water and said that she had some thing worth looking at. I turned in to the small tack on the far side of the river from the town and got the bins quickly onto a cracking Squacco Heron (Garcilla Cangrejera / Ardeola ralloides) which was fishing from the log and then flew over to the far bank giving us some nice flight views.

El Chorro and near Laguna Dulce, Malaga Province.

2011-08-14T17:16:00.002+02:00

RFH Walk.

Today’s walk was around the route in El Chorro, on the way over I picked up both male and female Montagu's Harriers (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax). We started the walk up through the pine woods and then out onto the more open slopes as we made our way up to the lower view point which looked out over the gorge and away to the far end of the Kings walk. On the way I added Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Black (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura) and Black-eared Wheatears (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica), Blue Rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Cirl (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus) and Rock Buntings (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Coal Tit (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Dartford (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Orphean (Curruca Mirlona / Sylvia hortensis), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Subalpine Warblers (Curruca Carrasquena / Sylvia cantillans), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and a Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus) which passed over low. On the way down part of the group split off and did a short walk with Trui the other guide before going for a swim and three of us decided to do the longer route and miss the swim. On the way out to the start of the Kings Walk we saw several Spanish Ibex (Capra pyreaica hispanica) making their way along a very narrow ledge. Also seen were Ocellated Lizard (Lacerta lepida), Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Striped Grayling (Pseudotergumia fidia), Spanish Gatekeeper (Lobito listado / Pyronia bathsheba), Southern Gatekeeper (Pyronia cecilia), Sage Skipper (Muschampia proto), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina ssp hispulla), Grayling (Hipparchia semele), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla) and Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti).
We got back to the vehicle in time for me to grab a quick coffee before we set off back to the Hotel. On the way we drove past Laguna Dulce, which is always hard and just a little further on near the working of the new high speed rail link I picked up a huge raptor. It was at first flying along the road over the olives and then turned just as we got to it and gave me fabulous views enabling it to be identified as an immature Spanish Imperial Eagle. It continued to head off to the South West and very quickly out of view.
Photograph: Eimear and Jorge at the start of the Kings Walk.