Lichfield, Staffardshire, Britain.

A day with the Kids, the Son and the youngsters.

The youngest Finn.

I drove over to see Alan, Becki, Ryan, Zach and Finn, Becki was at work so the rest of us went for a walk out into the countryside for an hour or so. 

As we crossed the fields we or should I saw the youngsters did a bit of Tree climbing and running around, during this time I saw and heard Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Fieldfare (Zorzal Real / Turdus pilaris), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Eurasian Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis) and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus).

Zach, who has no fear.

Later I spent some time playing football and the pushing the younger two on the swings until my arms were feeling they were going to drop off.

In the evening we had a nice meal before the Lads went off to bed and I headed back to Mom's having had an absolutely brilliant day.

and Ryan, the eldest of the three.

West Park, Wolverhampton, West Midlands, Britain.

Looking for Gulls in the cold fog.

 

West Park in the grey.

I drove up to West Park on the outskirts of Wolverhampton where I was hoping for a Caspian Gull (Gaviota del Caspio / Larus cachinnans) which had been around for a while but unfortunately I could not find it, partly due to being rubbish with Gull Identification.

West Park.

I did however see Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), European Herring (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus) and Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor), Canada (Barnacla Canadiense / Branta canadensis) and Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Tufted Duck (Porrón Moñudo / Aythya fuligula), Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Spatula clypeata), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Eurasian Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Pied Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla yarrellii).

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

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus).

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus).

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus).

Perton, Staffordshire, Britain.

Out for Lunch with Mom and John.

 

After a morning visit to Aldi, Mom, John and I went for Lunch at the Pear and Partridge in Perton where we had a nice meal and a pint.

Cannock Chase and Lichfield area, Staffordshire, Britain.

A lovely day with the Family.

 

Fin, Zach, Ryan and Alan.

I  spent the morning at Mom's and then headed off over to Cannock Chase where I met up with Alan, Becki, the boys and the dogs, we parked at Birches Valley Forest Center and then walked out to Stony Brook and to the stepping stones where we had a great time in the water.

Whilst there  heard and saw Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Eurasian Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Eurasian Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos).

We returned to the cars and then I followed them back to their house where we had a very nice evening with the kids and their Christmas presents and plenty of food, thanks Becki.

Albrighton and Donington Nature Reserve, Albrighton, Shropshire, Britain.

A Christmas Morning Walk before a nice day at Mom's.

Ebird List for the Reserve.

Ebird List for Green Lane.

 

Hazel Catkins.

I started the day with a walk up to Donington Church Yard where I checked all was good with Jayne's plaque and then went for a walk around the Nature Reserve and later the pond, as I walked I saw Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Fieldfare (Zorzal Real / Turdus pilaris), Redwing (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus illacus), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), Eurasian Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater), Eurasian Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and a nice Marsh Tit (Carbonero Palustre / Poecile palustris), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) and a Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta) which I thought was going to land but it was flushed off by a couple of Woodpigeons.

Marsh Tit (Carbonero Palustre / Poecile palustris).

Marsh Tit (Carbonero Palustre / Poecile palustris).

Marsh Tit (Carbonero Palustre / Poecile palustris).

Once I returned to Mom's we chilled for a while and then had a very nice Christmas Lunch along with a bottle of my favourate Marques de Caceres wine.

Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris).

Later I went for another walk up to the end of Green Lane as I was rather full, along the way I saw House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Common Pheasant (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus) and Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), Pied Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla yarrellii), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Stock Dove (Paloma Zurita / Columba oenas) and a large female type Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus).

Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus).

Once I was home we chilled and had a nice evening of Cards and drink. 

Whitttington, Staffordshire, Britain.

A day with the family.

 

I spent most of the day with my Son Alan, his wife Becki and the three Grand kids, Ryan, Zach and Finn and had a great time.

Out for a walk.

On the way over I picked up Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica) and Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus). 

Whilst I was with the family we went for a walk and as we crossed the woodlands, fields and golf course I saw Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Fieldfare (Zorzal Real / Turdus pilaris), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs),  Common Pheasant (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Long-tailed (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus), Eurasian Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis). 

I headed home in the late afternoon and got back just before dark and then chilled at my Mom's for the rest of the evening.

Priorslee Lake, Telford, Shropshire, Britain.

An hour checking out Priorslee Lake from the car.

Ebird List.

 

I started the day by filling the car up at Sainsburys and the popping just down the road to one of my old birding spots at Priorslee Lake but when I got there I decided to do the count from the car as it was cold and breezy.

Great Egret (Garceta Grande / Ardea alba).

As I scanned the water I picked up Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor), a single Canada Goose (Barnacla Canadiense / Branta canadensis), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Tufted Duck (Porrón Moñudo / Aythya fuligula), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Mareca strepera), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus) and just before I was about to leave 2x male Goosander (Serreta Grande / Mergus merganser) flew in.

Other species included good numbers of Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), European Herring (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus) and Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus).

Great Egret (Garceta Grande / Ardea alba).

Around the margins and in the reeds there were a few more species including a Little (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta) and 2x Great Egret (Garceta Grande / Ardea alba), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) and Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica).

I finished birding and then went up the road to see Sue (Jayne's Sister) and Peter before returning to the Village where I popped in and saw Barbara (another of Jayne's Sisters) and finally Brenda (you guessed it, another of Jayne's Sisters ) and Kieth.

Malaga Airport, Canal de Sacaba (Malaga) in Malaga Province and Huétor Fields in Granada Province, Spain.

A drive down to Malaga to take my Mom to the Airport, later I walked down the fields.

 

Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus).

It was Moms last morning, they had an midday flight so at 08:30 we set off and by 9:45 I was saying goodbye to them after a very nice visit and looking forward to seeing them again in a few weeks.

Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos).

Until I heard from Mom to say all was well with there flight I stayed in the Malaga area and visited the rather minging spot called the Canal de Sacaba which was filthy with litter and rubbish that had been fly tipped there by many selfish scumbags.

Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos).

Even though it is a site I will not revisit in a hurry I did manage to see Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Little (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta) and Great Egret (Garceta Grande / Ardea alba), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus) and Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Thalasseus sandvicensis), Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) x2, Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala) and Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata).

Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Thalasseus sandvicensis).

During the walk I also saw Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) x3, Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) x2, Large (Pieris brassicae) x2 and Small White (Pieris rapae) x4, Long-tailed (Lampides boeticus) x1 and Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous) x5.

I returned to the house and on the yard in front of the house I added Geranium Bronze (Cacyreus marshalli) x1 and Desert Orange-tip (Colotis evagore) x1. 

Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Later I went for a short walk along the Lucerne field but turned around before the Crossroads as there was lots of mud on the road, as I walked I saw Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina) and Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti).

European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola).

Outside just after dark and with the bins I managed to pick out Comet Tsushinshan / A3 well after most people have managed to see but this was our first cloud free night in a while.

Riofrio, Granada Province, Spain.

A short walk along the Riofrio near Loja.

Ebird List for the walk.

Mom and John in Riofrio.

We decided to go down to Riofrio for a walk and a coffee, we parked and walked along the side of the river seeing Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Iberian  (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki) and Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Cetti's (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), European Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and a nice Hawfinch (Picogordo Común / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes).

Sturgeon.

Other species seen were Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) x3, Small (Pieris rapae) x2 and Large White (Pieris brassicae) x1 and Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus) x1.

Sturgeon.

We checked the man made pools where there used to be large numbers of trout reared, however today they were all full of Caviar producing Sturgeon.

After a coffee we drove back towards the house going through Loja, then to Mercodona for some shopping before later spending sometime up on the terrace. 

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

A few hours up on the Terrace.

Ebird List for the Terrace.

 

Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).

After a day of travelling Mom and John just wanted a day to rest, so apart from a trip down to Mercodona and a meal out in the evening we spent most of the day up on the terrace.

Whilst up there we saw Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Eurasian Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Woodlark (Alondra Totovía / Lullula arborea), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris) and Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina).

Malaga Airport, Malaga Province, Spain.

A trip down to Malaga to pick up my Mom and John with a bit of birding on the way.

Ebird List for the Airport.

 

Eurasian Dotterel (Chorlito Carambolo / Charadirus morinellus).

I got the last of the jobs done before I headed down to Malaga where I was going to collect my Mom and John from the Airport later in the evening, my first stop was at the eastern side of the airport near runway 2 where friends had seen a couple of Eurasian Dotterel (Chorlito Carambolo / Charadirus morinellus) a couple of days ago.

Eurasian Dotterel (Chorlito Carambolo / Charadirus morinellus).

I arrived at the Pin Derek and Barbara had sent me and quickly found the two birds feeding in a very dry looking grass area, in the same area I also saw Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula). 

Eurasian Dotterel (Chorlito Carambolo / Charadirus morinellus).

I later went into Ikea and Leroy Merlin before parking up and waiting for Mom to arrive, they were a little late but once they were through the airport we made our way up to Huétor and then to the house where after a chat and a quick drink we all turned in.

Eurasian Dotterel (Chorlito Carambolo / Charadirus morinellus) x2.

Fuengirola and Ronda, Malaga Province, Spain.*

A day out to Ronda.

I collected Brenda and Keith and we headed out along the coast and then inland up through the mountains on the winding road to the tourist town of Ronda, on the way I saw Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).

We parking on the edge of town and walk the main street down to the Bull Ring having a coffee on the way, after having a look at the bull we went for a walk along the Alameda del Tajo around to the Puente Nuevo and on to Mirador de Aldehuela.

Next we went up into the town on the Southern side of the Tajo and walked to the Plaza de María Auxiliadora where we sat and listened to a guy there playing his Spanish Guitar which bought back some memories and when he started to play Memories of the Alhambra (one of Jayne's all time favourate pieces of music) the memories got a little overwhelming for a minute but they were good memories.

We continued on to Plaza Duquesa de Parcent where we sat for a while before heading back to the main street and had some lunch in Plaza Del Socorro before we returned to the car and then drove back to Fuengirola via Ardales and Malaga after a very nice day.