RAM and Charca de Suárez (Motril), Granada Province.

RAM seabird survey.

White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala).

Juan Pérez Contreras and I set off from Granada at 06:15 on our monthly visit to cabo Sacratif to the East of Motril, where we carry out a sea watching session which is also carried out at many other coastal sites in Spain at the same time on the same day each month.

Generaly the time spent during the survey was quiet but several Cory's (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea) and Balearic Shearwaters (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus) were seen along with a single Imm Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), 2x Common Shelducks (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna). Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta) and 2x Peregrine Falcons (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus) were also seen.  

Pallid Swifts (Vencejo Pálido / Apus pallidus) flew around the cliffs and Sardinian Warblers (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) called from the surounding scrub.

Little Grebe (Zapullin Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis).

We later moved to the docks at Motril where four Audouin's Gulls with rings were recorded, the information will be forwarded to the ringing groups for further information.

The next stop was at Charca de Suárez, a group of lagoons on the coast near Mortil. I added a couple of new species to my small but growing list for Granada Province which were Garganey (Cerceta Carretona / Anas querquedula) and White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala) both males. 

Garganey (Cerceta Carretona / Anas querquedula).

Also seen were Little Bittern (Avetorillo Común / Ixobrychus minutus), Squacco Heron (Garcilla Cangrejera / Ardeola ralloides), Western Swamp-hen (Calamón Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Whiskered Tern (Fumarel Cariblanco / Chlidonias hybridus), Little Grebe (Zapullin Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus) and Common Reed Warblers (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scirpaceus).

Charca de Suárez, Granada Province.

Broad Scarlets (Crochemis erythraea).

Male Broad Scarlet (Crochemis erythraea).

Teneral ♂ Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea).

The weather while we were at Charca de Suárez was quite dull, so not many insects were flying, a teneral ♂ Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea) was found settled in a clump of rush and was photographed. Several ♂ were seen at the site later as the sun broke through and warmed things up.

Right place at the right time, Guadix, Granada Province.

European Rollers.

European Roller (Carraca / Coracias garrulus).

A last minute trip to an area near Guadix allowed me to get the chance to get some shots of European Roller (Carraca / Coracias garrulus) a fantastic bird which breeds in old dead tree stumps. Five birds were seen in the valley and this bird allowed me to approach in the car as it sat preening in a road side tree. 

European Roller (Carraca / Coracias garrulus).

Also seen in the same area were Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator glandarius), Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis), Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) and Eurasian Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus).

Rio Guadalahorce, Malaga Province.

Out of Province experience. 

Common Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scirpaceus).

Jacko's last day birding was spent at the coastal nature reserve of Guadalhorce on the edge of Malaga, where we first had a look over the largest of the fresh water pools, and it seemed quite quiet, several White-headed Ducks (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Black Winged Stilts (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus) and Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina) were the only birds to be seen. 

We made our way around to the second hide overlooking a long narrower pool where Jacko picked up a bird which was on his wanted list a Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio) was seen crunching on vegetation at the far end of the pool along with Whiskered Tern (Fumarel Cariblanco / Chlidonias hybridus), Purple Heron (Garza Imperial / Ardea purpurea), Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scirpaceus) and Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus).

Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio).

 

The third hide was on the raised bank along the main river which overlooked another small reed fringed pool, again this was fairly quiet except for the rattlings of a couple of Great Reed Warblers (Carricero Tordal / Acrocephalus arundinaceus). 

Further along the same track there is a view over a bow shaped pool where a collection of terns and gulls were roosting along with a Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), these included Little (Charrancito Común / Sterna albifrons), Whiskered, Sandwich (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Gull-billed (Charrán Piconegro / Gelochelidon nilotica) and Caspian Terns (Pagaza Piquirroja / Sterna caspia), Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus Audouinii), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patimarilla / Larus michiallis), Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus) and Lesser-black backed Gulls (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus). 

Also seen here were a single Collared Pratincole (Canastera Común / Glareola pratincola), Curlew Sandpiper (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea), Black-winged Stilt Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta), Little Ringed (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) and Common Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Common Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba) and Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina).

Caspian Tern (Pagaza Piquirroja / Sterna caspia).

We then made our way to the sea watching point picking up Squacco Heron (Garcilla Cangrejera / Ardeola ralloides) and Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta) on the way. 

On the sea 20+ Cory's Shearwaters (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea) were floating close to shore and a couple of Northern Gannets (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) past West a little further out. 

On the return journey to Loja we picked up 4 Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) and a couple of Booted Eagles (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas) in the hills near to Salinas on the A92.

Laguna de Fuente de Piedra, Malaga Province.

The Waders.

Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta).

Jacko and I spent most of the day at Laguna de Fuente de Piedra and had some of the best wader watching I have ever had in Spain.
On the wooden causeway over the newer of the scrapes we had close views of several species in their summer plumages, Curlew Sandpiper (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea), Red Knot (Correlimos Gordo / Calidris canutus) and Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax) all looking in peak condition and the latter displaying to several females.
Little (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta) and Temmincks Stint (Correlimos de Temminck / Calidris temminckii), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Grey (Chorlito Gris / Pluvialis squatarola), Common Ringed (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) and Kentish Plovers (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus) were also present. Along with some larger species including Pied Avocet (Avoceta Común/ Recurvirostra avosetta), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus) and Bar-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colipinta / Limosa lapponica).

Curlew Sandpiper (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea).

The Flamingo's.

Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber).

Several Thousand Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber) could be seen on the main lagoon and on the fresh water lagoons at the rear of the visitor's centre.

It was a great sight seeing so many birds here and nesting, due to the low water levels last year it meant that the birds had not bred. 

Four Lesser Flamingo's (Phoenicopterus minor) could also be found out on the main lagoon, with another two birds reportedly sitting on eggs.

Other Birds.

Whiskered Tern (Fumarel Cariblanco / Chlidonias hybridus).

Whiskered (Fumarel Cariblanco / Chlidonias hybridus), Gull-billed (Pagaza Piconegra / Gelochelidon nilotica) and Black Terns (Fumarel Aliblanco / Chlidonias leucopterus) were all seen hawking over the pools and nearby fields and Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus cachinnans), Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Larus ridibundus) plus a few lingering Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) were on the main lagoon.  

Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Red-crested Pochard (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina), Common Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadoma), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera) and a single male White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala) were all seen on the fresh water areas along with a couple of White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).
Several pairs of Spanish (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis) and House Sparrows (Gorrión Cumón / Passer domesticus) were nesting in the old visitors centre walls.

Padel Area, Granada Province.

Cytinus (Cytinus hypocistis).

Cytinus (Cytinus hypocistis).

Several clumps of this bizarre looking plant were found parasitizing Cistis plants on an area of scrub above Padel Lagoons to the South of Granada City.

El Turro and the Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

Quality and quantity (92 Species).

Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla).

Dave Jackson a birding friend for nearly 25 years and I started the day in the Poplar plantaions near the village of Mesia where we heard several Eurasian Golden Oriole's (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus) singing and saw a pair of Eurasian Wryneck (Torceuello / Junx torquilla) displaying. 

Both Common (Urraca / Pica pica) and Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotraustes) were seen in the woods.

Next we headed to an area of mixed agricultural fields near Moraleda de Zafayona, the first birds seen were a female Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) and Greater Short-toed Larks (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla) along with a Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix) calling in the nearby crop field. Moving just a few hundred yards down the road and on to a track out into the fields, the next bird seen was a fine male Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) in full breeding colours. 

Whilst we admired him four Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis) did a fly past and several Great Spotted Cuckoos (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius) chattered nosily in the nearby almond groves and whilst more Calandra and several Greater Short-toed Larks performed above us.

Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe).

We then move further along the Cacín Valley picking up Bonelli's (Aguila Perdicera / Aquila faciatus) and Short-toed Snake Eagles (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia). 

At the Embalse de Cacín Common Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringe nebularia), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) and six Black winged Stilts (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus) were all feeding on the muddy shore line.  

Sand (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia), Eurasian Crag (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Western House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Barn (Golondrina Cumón / Hirundo rustica) and Red-rumped Swallows (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica) as well as Pallid (Vencejo Pálido / Apus pallidus), Common (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) and Alpine Swifts (Vencejo Real / Apus melba) all hawked for prey over the lake.
The next stop was Sierra de Loja for a few of the upland species. Rufous-Tailed Rock (Roquero Rojo / Monticola saxatilis) and Blue Rock Thrushes (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia) and Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia) were all added to the growing day list. 

Also seen were all three species of Wheatear, Black (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Western Black-eared (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica) and Northern (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) expected in the area, Tawny Pipit (Bisbita Campestris / Anthus campestris), Spectacled (Curruca Tomillera / Sylvia conspicillata) and Dartford Warblers (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata).

Rufous-Tailed Rock (Roquero Rojo / Monticola saxatilis).

We finished the day off back at the house with a drink and Red-necked Nighjars (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Camprimulgus ruficollis) calling in the olives.

Cacin Valley and Zafarraya area, Granada Province.

Along the Rio Cacín.

Several stops were made along the pines in the Cacin Valley between Moraleda de Zafayona and Embalse de Cacín, Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), European Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) were the commonest species seen and heard. 

Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica).

Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla) was nesting in a crack in a disused building, Western Subalpine Warbler (Curruca Cassasquena / Sylvia cantillans), Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura) and Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator) were also noted.
Further on at the point where the road passes over the Rio Cacin Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus) was heard, Melodious (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta) and Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica) and Eurasian Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur) all showed well.
On the Lake Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Common Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina) were found. 

Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius).

In the reeds Common Reed (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scirpaceus) and Great Reed Warblers (Carricero Tordal / Acrocephalus arundinaceus) scratched away and European Bee-eaters (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Eurasian Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) all feed over head. 

Just as we were leaving the site, a Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator glandarius) was seen in an Almond Tree along the roadside.
We then moved across to the area near to Zafarraya picking up Greater Short-toed (Terrera Común / Calandrella brchydactyla), Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) and Crested Larks (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) on the way.
In the Oak woodlands Giant (Himantoglossum robertiana), Sawfly (Ophrys tenthredinifera) Yellow Bee (Ophrys lutea), Conical Orchid (Neotinea conica) and Sword-leaved Helleborine (Cephalanthera longifolia) were all in flower.
Further along the valley on the way back towards Loja two pairs of Montagu's Harriers (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) were seen displaying over a large cereal crop field.

A day amongst the white villages in Cadiz Province.

Spring Orchids.

Orchis X gennarii.

I spent the day in the area around the villages of Grazalema and Zahara in the Province of Cadiz looking for orchids, the first stop was at a grassland site call La Rana a few Km's South West of Grazalema on the road to Ubrique. 

Where in one area Champagne Orchid (Orchis Champagneuxii) covered the ground in there hundreds, along with the hybrid between it and Pink Butterfly Orchid (Orchis papilionacea) = (Orchis X gennarii) they made quite a show.

Also at the site several bird species were noted including European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Iberian Grey (Alcaudón Real / Lanius meridionalis) and Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Western Orphean (Curruca Mirlona / Sylvia hortensis), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Western Subalpine Warblers (Curruca Carrasquena / Sylvia cantillans)and over head a Short-toed Snake Eagle (Culebrera Europea / Circaetus gallicus) passed by.

Small Woodcock Orchid (Ophrys picta).

Later Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys lupercalis), Yellow Bee (Ophrys Lutea), Sawfly (Ophrys tenthredinifera), Mirror (Ophrys speculum), Lange's (Orchis Langei) and Italian Man Orchids (Orchis Italica) were all seen on the road between Grazalema and Zahara. 

On the return route along the shores of the lake near Zahara I saw Small Woodcock Orchid (Ophrys picta) in all three of the colour forms (pink, white and green petals), Small-tongue Orchid (Serapias parviflora) and a lot of Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum robertiana) which was well over with. 

At the view point along the road Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia) and Western Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli) were all seen, along with a Large Psammodromus (Lagartija colilarga / Psammodromus algirus) and a couple of Moorish Geckos (Tarentola mauritanica).

Orchids near Ronda, Malaga and Cadiz Provinces.

Another new species.

Sulphur Orchid (Dactylorhiza sulphurea).

I spent the morning with Brenda Jones from Ronda searching for Orchids in the Genil Valley and at the Botanical Gardens in El Bosque, at the first site (information given by Ian Philips of Malaga) we had amazing views of 200+ spikes of Sulphur Orchid (Dactylorhiza sulphurea) in full bloom. 

Along with several Champagne Orchid (Orchis chanpagneuxii), Dense flowered Orchid (Neotinea maculata) and Sword-leaved Helleborine (Cephalanthera longifolia) it made quite a show.

We then made a bit of a mistake and drove the winding roads all the way to El Bosque which took a long time and the Violet Limodore (Limodorum abortivum) we were hoping for were there but need another week before they were to be in flower. 

We would have been better spending the morning in the Genil Valley looking for other species.

 Sulphur Orchid (Dactylorhiza sulphurea).

On our travels we picked up Griffon Vulture (Buitre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Golden (Aguila Real / Aquila chrysaetos), Short-toed Snake (Culebrera Europea / Circaetus gallicus) and Booted Eagles (Aguila Perdicera / Aquila faciatus), Western Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli) and Iberian Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Ibérica / Phylloscopus brehmii) was heard at the Botanic Gardens.

Another day in the mountains and valleys, Granada Province.

Starting them Young.

Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax).

Bernard again joined me for a day in the countryside around Loja, we were joined today by Kevin and his son a very good little birder called Matthew, who at 10 years old has already learned a lot of good identification skills and field craft and has seen some very good species. 

We started the day near El Turro seeing Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator glandarrius), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila Perdicera / Aquila faciatus), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura) and Blue Rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) around the embalse.

Kevin, Bernard and Mathew.

On the lake there were several Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) and Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus) heard only. 

In the reed beds, the year's first Common Reed Warblers (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scirpaceus) were singing alongside the resident Cetti's (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and Sardinian Warblers (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala). 

We then moved up in to the hills and started to see more new species for Matt, including Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común/ Lanius senator) and a species he had said was at the top of his wanted list a cracking Golden Eagle (Aguila Real / Aquila chrysaetos).

Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia).

Later further up the sierra we picked up 4 Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Western Black-eared Wheatear (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) and Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris). 

By the end of the day the list neared 70 species and I think Matt had seen a good few new birds.

On the local patch, Granada Province.

Searching in the olive groves.

European Bee-eaters (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster).

Whilst there I also had the first European Bee-eaters (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) of the year, a group of about 30 heading North and a couple of Eurasian Hoopoes (Abubilla / Upupa epops).

A little further along the track there is a small area of oak woodland where I also saw three species of orchid, Mirror (Ophrys speculum), Yellow Bee (Ophrys lutea) and Fan-lipped Orchid (Anacamptis collina).

Snakes-head Fritillary (Fritilaria hispanica).

After a tip off from one of our dog walking neighbours, Garry, I headed along one of the many tracks amongst the olives in search of a Fritillaria species he had seen in some scrub.
With his good description of the site, I soon found four plants growing in the track side vegetation, unfortunately, they had started to go past their best but still be identifiable as Snakes-head Fritillary (Fritilaria hispanica).

A walk along Nívar Valley to Cortijo de Cariafaqui, Sierra de Huetor, Granada Province.

SEO Sierra Nevada Visit.

Adonis vernalis.

A truly international group of birders (Spanish, French, Italian and English) led by Jorge Garzón, set off on a 12km walk to Cortijo de Cariafaqui in the Nivar Valley in Sierra de Huetor. 

The weather at the start did not look promising, but it brightened up nicely as the morning went on and got quite warm by mid-afternoon but let us down by pouring with rain right at the end of the day.

The first sighting was of a group of three Cirl Buntings (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus) feeding under Olive trees at the side of the track, seen whilst we were looking at some Grape Hyacinths (Muscari neglectum). 

A little further along the track, several spikes of Fan-lipped Orchid (Orchis collina) were found along with Wild Clary (Salvia verbenaca) and Scrambling Gromwell (Lithodora diffusa). 

Continuing on we saw Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Coal Tit (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), European Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and a new bird for my Granada list a Eurasian Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea). 

Many Spikes of Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys lupercalis) and Southern Early Purple Orchid (Orchis olbienis) were found along the track edges along with two much rarer plants, Adonis vernalis and Narcissus triandrus subsp pallidulus, both of which were new for me.

Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotraustes).

Just as we arrived at the spot where we were to have lunch Andy Mountford the other English lad on the walk picked up Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotraustes) in the nearby pine trees and whilst we were having lunch a pair of Bonelli's Eagles (Aguila Perdicera / Aquila faciatus) put in an apperance, along with Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra) and a heard but not seen Western Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli). 

Narcissus triandrus subsp pallidulus.

We returned by much the same track adding Blue Rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Rock Bunting (Escribano montesino), Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Eurasian Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), European Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubicola) and we briefly heard a Eurasian Scops Owl (autillo Europeo / Otus Scops). This is only a brief account of a very good day, thanks to Jorge and all the other pleasant people who took part.

Birding on the local Sierras, Loja, Granada Province.

Summer Arrivals.

Giant Orchid (Himanthoglosum robertiana).

Bernard, Dave and I spent the day birding the hills around Loja, the first stop was not for the birds but to have a look at a nice group of Giant Orchid (Himanthoglosum Robertiana) growing on the embankment at the side of the A92 motorway, whilst here we did see our first Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator) of the day, several European Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and a male Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melancephala). 

Moving up higher we walked along one of the many tracks through the gorse scrub to a small disused quarry where we picked up Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) and Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata). 

Western Black-eared Wheatear (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica).

Again we moved further up the sierra and picked up Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia) and both Western Black-eared (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica) and Northern Wheatears (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe). 

At a spot about 1500 meters up we searched an outcrop of rock for plant species and found a single Sierra Nevada Crocus (Crocus nevadensis) also many plants of Narcissus bugei (kindly identified by Sue Eatock from Wildside Holidays in Grazalema). 

Whilst we were here a pale phase Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus) made a brief pass over head and Blue Rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia) and Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) were all added to the days list. 

Narcissus bugei.

On the way down we picked up Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila Perdicera / Aquila faciatus), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) and Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata). Sawfly (Ophrys tenthredinifera) and Southern Early Purple Orchid (Orchis olbienis) were also seen on the way down.

A day wondering in Jaen, Jaen Province.

The Provincial Capital.

In the City.

Jayne and I set off North to spend the day in the city of Jaen, we arrived a little earlier than we had expected as a large amount of repairs has been carried out on the motorway between Granada and Jaen. Parking was no problem and quite near the centre. 

We headed straight for the Cathedral, whilst I do not think it was quite as impressive as Sevilla or Granada it was well worth a visit, it took a good hour and a half to have a good look around. 

Several Lesser Kestrels (Cernicalo Primilla / Falco naumanni) were seen around the towers and good numbers of both Common (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) and Pallid Swifts (Vencejo Pálido) screamed along the streets.

One of the many great buildings.

We then walked through the narrow streets to the Palacio de Villadompardo which was built in 1592 over the top of the Arab Baths, they were rediscovered in 1913 and have now been well restored. 

In the part of the Palacio there is an art gallery which had a display of modern works from Spain and Portugal. 

From the galleries, you can make your way down to the Arab baths and into a museum of agricultural equipment. 

The whole two and a half hours spent here was worthwhile, there were so many things of interest that we will be back there again.

We then made our way back though the streets, calling at several more smaller Churches and monuments before finding our way back to the car.