Huetor Fields and Granada City, Granada Province.

The return of the Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

Church in the centre.

I went down town to meet Bob Wright and two people who were visiting him this week, I first had a walk along the track opposite northern end of the high street. Along here at least one male Subalpine Warbler (Curruca Carrasquena / Sylvia cantillans) was pushed up from the weeds at the sides of the fields and two Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) were also seen flying over a harvested Lettuce field which contained several Stone-curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and House Sparrows (Gorrión Común / Passer Domesticus). We retraced the walk once Bob had arrived and added Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica).

View of the Sierra Nevada from Plaza de San Nicolas.

We then headed around to the fields where the Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) were, they disappeared for a couple of weeks while the fields were very wet but turned up again a couple of days ago. There were about 50-60 birds on the ploughed up Lucerne crop and they were being flushed a few at a time by a farmer hand spraying his field. Here we also had Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis). One of the friends who was with Bob very kindly gave me the loan of his spare Kowa scope while mine is away for repairs at Leica, Thank You.

Fountains in the Jardine de Truinto.

I then left the trio birding while I returned home with the intention of doing some gardening but we decided to go up into the city of Granada instead, even though the shops would mostly be closed. We had a really nice wander around the Moroccan shops and something to eat in the few hours were stayed and were surprise by the large numbers of people visiting on a cold winters Spanish Holiday. On the way back to the car we passed a small park called Fuente Nueva in amongst the apartment blocks which was closed due to wind damage. In the trees around its edge a couple of

Firecrests (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus) were singing along with Serin and Coal Tit (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater).

Grazalema, Cadiz Province.

The reopening of the Pueblo's Tourist (Wildlife) Information Centre.

Sue, Clive and Sam.

Sue and Clive of the Iberianature forum and the Grazalema guide web sites have dived in with both feet and taken on the Visitors Centre in what is probably the best know and most beautiful of the famous White Villages, Grazalema.

Inside the shop.

Jayne and I made our way over for their first weekend of business and went to completely the wrong building, thinking that they had got the small shop near the church. They have in fact got the big and shiny fairly new centre on the main car park, a very nice spot with some fantastic views from the terrace at the rear.

Inside the shop.

The main room of the centre houses the book shelves with a good collection of titles, ranging from field guides for birds and other wildlife to books about the local area, Spain in general and maps. Sue and Clive will be increasing the number of title in the near future and they can order just about any title that is in print. Also in the main room is a selection of LOCAL artisan products, from woven Esparto Grass and leather goods, ceramics and hand made soaps, all of which are produced in the village or locally. On the walls is a display of some of the local art group’s work and a lot of Sue and Clive’s own photographs of the local area and wildlife, which are also to be seen as slide shows on two screens in the other ground floor room.

Inside the shop.

Upstairs is not in use at the moment but I know that they have many more plans in the pipeline and I am sure that this space will soon be in use and will be as interesting as the ground floor.

We went and had a drink with Sue, Clive and Sam in one of the cafés on the square and had nice chat and made a fuss of Sam. Later we bought a few bits including a copy of the new Collins Guide which I had wanted.

I wish Sue and Clive all the very best and hope that people who are in the area make use of what will be a great asset to the village.

GOOD LUCK.

Sierra de Grazalema, Cadiz Province.

The Wildlife.

Narcissus fernandesi.

After visiting the centre in Grazalema Jayne and I went and had a look at a show of Narcissus fernandesi along the road to Ubrique. The sides of the road had been sprayed but the fields were full of plants but the wind made getting shots difficult. We passed several clumps of Paperwhite Narcissus (Narcissus papyraceus) as we headed back to the main road and some lunch. 

Paperwhite Narcissus (Narcissus papyraceus).

I also picked up several Giant Orchids (Himanthoglosum robertiana) and some strange looking Dull Bee Orchids (Ophrys fusca)?? Birds included loads of Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Blue Rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax) and Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia).

Dull Bee Orchids (Ophrys fusca).

After lunch we passed the Laguna Dulce on the way home and added several White-headed Ducks (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), about 50 Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber), a small flock of 30+ Common Crane (Grulla Común / Grus grus) and 33 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) which did a very timely fly past. For a flying visit we collected a nice list of species.

Rio Guadalhorce, Laguna Dulce and El Torcal, Malaga Province.

A good morning but the weather puts pay to the afternoon.

Laguna Dulce, Campillos.

I drove down to Benalmadena to collect two very nice ladies, Viv and Margaret for a days birding, we started the day at the Guadalhorce Nature Reserve near Malaga. The first stop was at the river mouth where the Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus) seen earlier in the week was still present along with a single Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos). A nice female Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus) perched on the Giant Reed debris allowing Margaret her first chance to use the camera. Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) where also on the beach and Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) out on the sea.

A foggy Torcal.

We then moved around to the main reserve picking up a very pale pale morph Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus), we then made our way to the hide looking over the main pool where we saw our first White-headed Ducks (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala) both the males with their bright blue bills and the less colourful females. Other ducks included Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata), Little (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and several Black-necked Grebes (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis). White blobs could be seen through the tamarisk scrub and were identified as Spoonbills (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia) on the margins of the lagoon there were good numbers of Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and a few Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta). 

More foggy Torcal.

We had a look on the long pool from the hide picking up good numbers of all five expected Hirundine species, Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and Northern Pintail (Ánade Rabudo / Anas acuta). We then walked back towards the car and headed off north to wards Campillos and to Laguna Dulce where we bumped into the Axarquia Bird Group. On the lagoon there were a few Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber), more Northern Shoveler, Common Pochard, Northern Pintail, Mallard and large numbers of Hirundines.

We stopped and had some lunch and while we were there the heavens opened and it did not stop all afternoon. We drove up to El Torcal and straight into low cloud and heavier rain. The only birds seen here was a pair of Rock Buntings (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia). We spent the rest of the afternoon taking a slow drive back across country to malaga seeing very little except for a few plants and a very nice group of Red-rumped Swallows (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica). Plants included White Hoop Petticoat Narcissus (Narcissus cantabricus) and Dull Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca).

Rio Guadalhorce, Malaga Province.

Day Five, The journey home. 

 

It is John and Sharon’s last day, it seems to have gone very quickly but it was time to drop them back down to Malaga for there evening flight back to the Midlands. We set off early and planned to spend some time at Guadalhorce before going to the airport. We dropped Jayne off at the shops and headed for the beach, the carcases had all been cleaned away and a start had been made on cleaning up the massive amounts of debris. The Eurasian Oystercatcher (Ostrero Euroasiatico / Haematopus ostralegus) and Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus) were both still there and John also picked up a Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) on the rocks in front of the view point. Again there were plenty of the four commonest Gulls about, along with a couple of Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis) flying long the beach towards the port. We then went out on to the main reserve and made our way to the hide over looking the main pool, on the way we picked up several Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis)which we eventually had good views of as a pair sat up in a Caster-oil plant. The main hide was quiet, but White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Black-necked (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis) and Little Grebes (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) were seen. Over the lake five species of hirundine were seen feeding low over the water and a single Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus) passing over higher, to high and fast to be sure whether it was the northern race bird. Also we seen were Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba). Between the main pool and the hide over looking the long pool we picked up Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) and five Eurasian Spoonbills (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia) flew in and dropped in to the back of the main pool. The hide was quiet and no new species were added so we moved around to the viewing hump which gives views over a reed fringed pool. The first bird seen was a cracking Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) which flew across the pool and perched in a Tamarisk bush, more Pochard and several Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) were on the water and a female Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) quartered the far shore of the river. We then move around towards the hides on the far side of the lake on the track to the sea watch point. Just before we arrived at the hide I heard the high pitched thin call we had been waiting for and very soon we picked up a group of four Penduline Tits (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus), one of the birds sat and posed for a short while in one of the near by Shrub Tobacco trees. From the hide we again saw very little, so we pushed on down to the sea watch point where we managed to see a single, very early Tawny Pipit (Bisbita Campestre / Anthus campestris) feeding on the edge of a small pool with a couple of Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius). Down on the beach five Audouin's Gulls (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii) were sitting by the river. Out on the sea there were huge numbers of gulls including Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), along with a few Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) and Balearic Shearwater (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus) further out. We then made our way back and eventually picked up the Booted Eagles (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus) I had expected much earlier, Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata).

Rio Velez, Malaga Province and Charca del Suarez, Granada Province.

Day Four, Lots of water down on the Costa.

Audouin's Gulls (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii).

We set of after a leisurely start and made out way passed Zafarraya and down the slope towards the coast, on the way down we pulled off the road to check out a couple of raptors, one was a Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus) and the other a passage Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus). The rest of the journey was uneventful and when we got to Torre del Mar Sharon and Jayne went to the shopping center and John and I did some birding down on the river.

There was so much water in the river today that the birds usually found bobbing about on a gently meandering stream were quite understandably absent, except for a few Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus). We walked down the eastern bank of the river and found what was left of the reed beds and searched for the wintering Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) after just a couple of minutes a fine male with a very obvious white spot in the center of a crisp blue throat was picked up. 

Bermuda Buttercup (Oxalis pes-caprae).

Also seen before we went down to the beach were Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago) and Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos).

We then waded through the mud to the beach where we had some great views of five adult Audouin's Gulls (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), loads of Mediterranean Gulls (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) probably 200+, along with Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis). Out on the sea singles of Arctic Skua (Págalo Parásito / Stercorarius parasiticus), Balearic Shearwater (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus) and Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) were all seen. 

Hollow-leaved Asphodel (Ashodelus fistulosus).

On the beach a Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus) and a small group of Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba) were feeding. As we walked back towards the car another Bluethroat was seen this time with a solid blue chest, three Common Waxbills (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild) called from the reed tops and three Monk Parakeets (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus) flew over calling nosily as they usually do.

We then picked the girls up and went for lunch at the Chinese Restaurant on the beach before heading off towards Motril and the nature reserve of Charca del Suarez which only opens for 2 hours in the afternoon in the winter. We arrived a few minute early so we went and had a look on the beach just as it started to rain again, we stuck it out and I managed to see a new species for my Granada list, a couple of Kentish Plovers were feeding with some Sanderling and a single Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres). We had search through the gull flocks on the sea and again picked up 5 Audouin’s, Mediterranean, Black-headed, Lesser Black-backed and Yellow-legged. We then went on the reserve which was very wet and all the pools were full, from the first hide we watched half a dozen Red-rumped Swallows (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica) feeding low over the water. Further round a single Immature Night Heron (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax) was again found roosting in almost exactly the same place as a week ago. We then went in to the main hide and soon added Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Eurasian Wigeon (Silbón Europeo / Anas Penelope), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina) and Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) to the duck list. 

Night Heron (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax).

Also seen here were Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia), Black-necked (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis) and Little Grebes (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo), Greater Flamingo’s (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber) x3 and Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea). 

We then went to the last hide which was were quiet, so we went back to the car and had a coffee before a quick run back around to the main hide via the last hide. Here this time we could hear a Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio) but it did not want to show. We went to the main hide again and added a single Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) but nothing else. Sharon and I then walked back towards the car and John rushed around to the one hide we had not looked at and jammed in on a Western Swamp-hen sat out in the open. We then returned home via Granada.

Osuna area, Sevilla Province and Fuente de Piedra, Malaga Province.

Day Three, Could not find the Bustard.

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

Jayne, Sharon, John and I left our house later than planned as the day before had taken it’s toll. We were heading for the Osuna area in Sevilla Province, hoping to see some of the very few Great Bustards (Avutarda Común / Otis tarda) that survive in Andalucia. The weather was not looking to good but we have got quite used to that these days, we were not going to let a thunder, lighting and a major cloud burst stop us, were English (well there might be a bit of Welsh and Irish in there somewhere as well). As we turned of the motorway for the third time (Osuna has far to many junction) and found the right road we started to pick up good birds. The first were a small group of Lesser Kestrels (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni) hunting along the slip road, later several Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans) some of which were loafing around on the ploughed fields and a single Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus) passed over quite high. Moving on we checked the fields for the Bustards from the tops of the new bridges put in for the high speed rail link between Granada and Sevilla but with out any sightings of either species of bustard. 

Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius).

We did pick up several fine Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) and a couple of Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus), also seen along this drive were good numbers of Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and a single unexpected Alpine Swift (Vencejo Real / Apus melba). 

Several species of lark were also picked up including Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), Crested (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Thekla (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis). Further on we came to a very wet area with a large pool in a waterlogged field, on the pool there were about 40 Greater Flamingo’s (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber) feeding and several hundred Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaia) and Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) with a couple of Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina) in the mix. 

The lunch time shower.

As we turned and headed for Marchena to find some thing to eat we came across another wet area which held several Little Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus). Just before we reached the town Jayne picked up two Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus) feeding on more very flooded fields. Other birds seen before lunch included large numbers of Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Stone-curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) were heard but not seen, Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).

Avocet (Avoceta Común/ Recurvirostra avosetta).

As we arrived at the bar for lunch the skys were full of lighting and the thunder was rumbling a way well and as we ate the heavens opened and the streets filled with water in a few seconds. After our well timed stop we climbed back into the car and drove through the flooded streets and headed back along the same road to Osuna. Just as we started back along the railway line John picked up a raptor flying towards us which turned out to be a nice adult Egyptian Vulture (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus). The rest of the run to Osuna and onward to Fuente de Piedra was quiet mainly because all but the drive (me) had an afternoon snooze, with Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) being the only new species added. At Fuente a group of Greater Flamingo’s was the first species seen, about 50 birds were on the pool to the left of the drive along with a few Black-winged Stilts. We then went into the new visitors centre where John and Sharon bought a badge of the Lynx we had seen yesterday. Out on the reserve large numbers of Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata) were by far the commonest species, along with Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina) and Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos). Several Avocets (Avoceta Común/ Recurvirostra avosetta) could be seen chasing around and a small flock were seen swimming a long way out on the main very full lagoon. On the pools at the rear of the center several Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago) were roosting on one of the islands, Little Grebes (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) called loudly and displayed and a Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) feed under the Tamarisk trees.

Near Andujar, Jaen Province.

Day Two and they don’t get much better that this.

View of the area.

We set off for the 3 hour drive to a site in Sierra Morena at an unearthly hour of the morning to try and catch up with the extremely rare Iberian Lynx (Lince Ibérico / Lynx pardina). We started to approach the site just as the dawn was breaking and the car lights on the frost indicated that the road was a bit slippery. During the slow drive we picked up several Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) and a few Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) but little else. Once at the prime site we set up the chairs and waited for the sun to come up over the mountains, almost immediately a 1st winter Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti) flew almost over head and landed in a tree on a ridge a few hundred meters away and was mobbed by the local Common Magpies (Urraca / Pica pica) as soon as it touched down. 

Angles Teardrops (Narcissus triandrus ssb pallidulus).

A mini bus then pulled up and out climbed the noisiest group of French so call naturalist I have ever heard in my life. Banging doors, laughing and talking as loud as possible they soon made sure that the chances of seeing anything, let alone the Lynx were doomed. Once they had set up their equipment things did not get any better as they continued to make a racket and when one of them nearly launched John’s scope down the bank, words were exchanged and the error of their ways explained, things fortunately quickly quietened down. Things then started to appear including Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), several Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei) could be heard calling all day and good numbers of Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotraustes) flew over giving the distinctive high pitched note. 

Common Jonquil (Narcissus jonquilla).

A second Spanish Imperial Eagle then flew along the ridge, this time it was a cracking adult with a bulging crop. Sharon stayed by the car and John and myself had a wander along the track, passing a few other observers on the way. Several wildflowers were seen including two species of Narcissus, Common Jonquil (Narcissus jonquilla) and the beautiful Angles Teardrops (Narcissus triandrus ssb pallidulus) and Iberian Milk-vetch (Astragalus lusitanicus ssp lusitanicus). A pair of Dunnocks (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) were all added to the day’s species. 

Wallcreeper (Treparriscos / Tichodroma muraria).

A large raptor was the picked up and this was soon identified as our second Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) in two days, it circled in our view for a 15 minute before drifting off to be replaced by another adult Imperial. John set off back to the car and I took a few minutes to get some shots of the Narcissus on the way back, whist doing this I had a chat with a group of the lads at the site and they mentioned that there had been a Wallcreeper (Treparriscos / Tichodroma muraria) at a site nearby. Armed with the direction it seem like too good an opportunity to miss, so I left John and Sharon looking for the Lynx and went to check the site out. I parked the car and within 15 seconds I had picked up the Wallcreeper in flight along the crags and had some great views of this fantastic bird, a new species for my Andalucía list. I went back up to the main site and John and Sharon returned back to the cliffs and we managed to relocate the bird feeding while on a large man made stone wall and watched it for at least half an hour before it flew higher and out of sight. 

Group watching the Lynx.

We then went back to the Lynx watching but stopped a few hundred yards before our usual spot, parked up and started to have a chat with a Spanish chap that was there. He knew an awful lot about the individual Lynx recorded in the area and gave us a great tip of watching the rock crags behind us. Whilst chatting, a pair of Great Spotted Cuckoos (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius) flew around calling nosily and were later joined by at least one more bird. The temperature had risen and the sun enticed good numbers of Vultures into the air, there were dozens of Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) and several Blacks (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus) all of which soon drifted off along the distant ridges. John then picked up three male Mouflon (Ovis orientalis) sitting on the tops of some distant rocks, they are introductions at the site for the hunting fraternity. The time was now going on and I was feeling less and less confident of seeing the target species. John then picked up another Spanish Imperial Eagle in front of us but for some reason I looked in totally the other direction and there they were, a pair of Lynx, the female sat out on top of a crag about 100 meters away. The male dropped down the instant we saw it but the female sat there for a full minute giving the most fantastic views through the scopes. 

Two very happy people, John and Sharon.

She then disappeared as the crowds from further along arrived. They all continued further around the corner of the track hoping for views and for the first time all day we were grateful for the big mouths of the French group because we could tell from the noise being made several 100 meter away up the track they had got the Lynx again. John and Sharon went on ahead and I packed up the kit and followed on. Both animals were jumping and walking around in full view on the rear of the crags. What a way to end what had already been a great day. Other species seen during the day included Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus) and Crested Tit (Herrerillo Capuchino /Parus cristatus), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Woodlark (Totovia / Lullula arborea), Blue Rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Barn (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Red-rumped Swallows (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica) and loads more.

Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

Day one, A good start.

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

Sharon and John came out from the Midlands in the UK to stay in our accommodation for a few days birding. During their stay we had four good days and one which was probably the best day I have had since getting to Spain. Today we were staying localish and headed off down the Cacín Valley looking for Raptors and Steppe species. 

We first stopped in an agricultural area just above the valley, the tracks were very wet so we parked the car and before we left it 20+ Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis) flushed from a field nearby and dropped a couple of hundred yards away just out of sight over a ridge. A couple of birds stayed, which allowed use to get some good views, before they went and joined the rest of the flock. 

Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos).

We got out of the car and made our way to a nearby ruin from where we had good views of a single Sandgrouse as it fed amongst some weeds in the crop fields. A mixed flock of Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) and Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) then flew passed and a Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) was seen flying from the rear of the old Cortijo. Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Crested (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and Thekla Larks (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) were all seen at this site.

Red-knobbed Coot (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata).

We then moved down into the valley and as the weather had worsened we decided to drive down to the furthest point at Embalse de Bermejales, We stopped on the west side of the main dam and had a look amongst the pine trees and around the shoreline. On a stream that was flowing into the lake we picked up a cracking Dipper (Mirlo Acuático / Cinclus cinclus), a good find as they are not a common species in the area and as we watch it John glanced up a identified our first of 17 raptor species to be seen in the next five days an immature Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos). Several Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and a single Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia) were hawking low over the water and an adult winter Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) flew by. 

The only other species seen out on the lake were Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) and Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), on the shoreline large numbers of Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Meadow Pipit and White Wagtails picked around in the tamarisk vegetation. As we returned to the car several spikes of Dull Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca) were seen and Black Redstart and Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) flew from the wall of the out flow channel.

Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis).

The next spot was a group of low crags where we were hoping for a roosting Eagle Owl (Buho Real / Bubo bubo) which we picked up in a hole in the cliff, not great views but the bird was seen moving around just back from the entrance hole. 

Also seen here were Great Tit (Carbonero Común / Parus major), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala).

The next stop was at a place where we watch a female Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila Perdicera / Aquila faciatus) but the wind was biting so we soon moved on to a bar in Cacín for a coffee and a sandwich.

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca / foresteri) site.

Later we moved back north to the Embalse de Cacín and scanned the lake and the reedbeds picking up Black-necked (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis) and Little Grebes (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus). We moved to the other end of the lake and looked for a male Red-knobbed Coot (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata) which had been seen some weeks before, checking all the Coots John eventually found the bird which appeared to be collecting nest material and showed very well.

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca / foresteri).

Just a few hundred meters further on we parked and had a look at the swollen river, several Redwing (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus iliacus) and Blackcaps (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla) were seen along with calling Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and a single Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla). 

A dead Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) was seen lying on the verge but a short while later a very active alive one was seen scampering around on the ground before bolting up a pine tree out of sight.

Another stop was made further along the road to El Turro to look at some better Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca / foresteri) plants, here we also saw a female Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) and several calling Common Crossbills (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra).

On the way home we stopped at the crags below Moraleda adding Blue Rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) and Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura) and just before arriving back at the house several Stone-curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) and a flock of noisy Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) finished the day off nicely.

Rio Guadalhorce, Malaga Province.

Collecting some good friends from Malaga Airport.

Guadalhorce beach with debris.

We travelled down to Malaga about mid day ready to pick John and Sharon up from the Airport later in the evening. While Jayne went and had a look around Plaza Mayor I spent a couple of hours at the Guadalhorce River Mouth and Pools. The destruction on the beach was amazing; the water had carried massive amounts of debris and rubbish down stream and washed it out to sea. The tide had then washed it all back on to the beaches, piling it up 2 or 3 meters deep, several animal carcass were floating around in the shallows, including cattle, goats, sheep and several dogs.

Well that was the bad news, now for the birds, there were literally hundreds of Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus) feeding in the muddy waters at the mouth of the river. 

Dead Animals washed down from the fields.

A great many Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) were floating around further out to sea with several Great Cormorants (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo) and a single winter plumage Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis).

On the beach on the opposite side of the river there were single Eurasian Oystercatcher (Ostrero Euroasiatico / Haematopus ostralegus), Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus) plus a small number of Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), all shuffling around between the tons of reed canes lying about. I then moved up to the reserve and as I was crossing the bridge the first of at least 4 Booted Eagles (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus) flew out of the Eucalyptus trees, this one was a very dark morph bird.  

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

Later I would see another bird which was lighter in colour and 2 pale phases in the air together. On the main poolthere were a couple of White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), several Little (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and Black-necked Grebes (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis) and loads of Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina) and Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata). Then 2 Peregrine Falcons (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus) flew in together and landed on the dead tree on the opposite side of the lagoon. The one bird was the standard immature but the second was the northern race bird (Calidus) mentioned on Andy Pattersons Birding the Costa blog which caused a few problems for several birds. 

Mediterranean Gulls (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus).

The bird was much sandier than the standard bird and the head much paler. Both birds then flew off in the direction of Malaga and were soon replaced by some of the many Great Cormorants using the trees to roost and dry off. The long pool was very quiet, just a few hirundines whizzing low over the water and loads of Stripe-necked Terrapins (Mauremys leprosa). I had a quick look from the hump but a gain nothing new was added except for a load but well hidden Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti).

I then went and picked Jayne up and we had a late Menu del Dia at one of the places on the industial estate near the Airport and then went and picked up John and Sharon.