Loja, Granada Province.

The ********* Car again.

Brown Rat (Rattus norvegicus).

I dropped the car off at the mechanics for yet another set of shock absorbers, wish they would tarmac the dirt tracks around here, while the lads were working on it I had a walk around the industrial estate and along the stream side. 

Around the estate I picked up House Sparrow Gorrión Común / Passer Domesticus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), European Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis).
I then walked along the stream and found several Brown Rats (Rattus norvegicus) feeding in a Pomegranite bush, all of which totally ignored me. 

Along the stream and at the side of the fish farm I added a couple of Grey Wagtails (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus), a pair of Common Kingfishers (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) and Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

Los Infiernos.

The next stop was at the view point overlooking the Los Infiernos, waterfalls on the outskirts of Loja. The first bird seen was a cracking male Black Redstart, several more Meadow Pipits were seen in an unploughed field along with large numbers of European Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) along with a few Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs). 

On the walk back to the Industrial Estate I added a European Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and a couple of Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris) mixed in with some Spotless birds. 

Several butterflies were seen during the walk including Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Small White (Artogeia rapae) and Mallow / False Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus alceae / tripolinus).

Laguna Herrera, Antequera, Malaga Province.

Thing were looking up.

Sun rise.

I arrived at the Laguna this morning and found it as it usually is on a weekend surrounded by macho action men with big guns blasting anything that moved, I was pleasantly surprised to find good numbers of birds had arrived since my last visit and were not moving on even with all the noise probably due to the lousy weather.
The new birds included 20+ Little Stints (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta), 18 Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina) of mixed plumages states and extremes in bill length. Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) x8, Common Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) and Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago) had risen to at least 20. 

Regular species included Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) x2, Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber) x3 and Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus) x8. 

Also out on the water were 30 odd Lesser Black Backed Gulls (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus) which were all flushed up as a midair battle took place between the 2 regular Common Buzzards (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and a ♀ Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).

A group of feeding Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago).

Other species seen around the margins included hundreds of White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Northern Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer Domesticus), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), European Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), European Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) and Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata).

Laguna Herrera, Antequera, Malaga Province.

Ups and Downs, not just on the walk.

Before the walk at Nacimiento just to the south of Antequera I had a look at Laguna Herrera and some oil pits near the Hotel. On the Laguna the bird numbers were very low now that the hunting season had really started and the fact that the hunters do not respect the boundaries of the lake and shoot from the reed beds does not help. 

I understand that they should not be shooting nearer than 50 meters to or over the water. The only birds seen were Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus) x6, Pied Avocet (Avoceta Común/ Recurvirostra avosetta) x3, Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago) x4, Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) x2, Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber) x5, Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) x2 and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) x 30+. 

On the surrounding margins and fields I added Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), European Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) to a poor list.

Just to the rear of the hotel, a small farm track leads to a collection of Oily pits, waste from the Olive Oil Industry. 

In the area I picked up Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer Domesticus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and a single brave Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus).

At the hotel Antonio and myself meet today’s guests and headed out on the mornings hike around the Nacimiento area, near Torcal. 

New birds for the morning included Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) x20+, Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blue Rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba). Two butterfly species were seen, Bath White (Pontia daplidice) and Clouded Yellow (Colias crocea).

Torcal de Antequera, Malaga Province.

More Winter Migrants.

One of the more spectacular rocks.

David and I lead a small group on the usual Saturday morning hike around Torcal, we went off the normal trails a bit today and were soon overlooking Antequera from a very high vantage point. 

On the slopes we walked amongst some berry laden Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), good numbers of the local Common Blackbirds (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) were feeding on them, they were joined by several of the newly arrived wintering Song Thrushes (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) and at least 6 Ring Ouzels (Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus). 

More Rocks.

Along the trail there were also Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), European Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula), European Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), European Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Eurasian Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Rock Pigeon (Paloma Bravia / Columba livia), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and loads of Common Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita). 

Late Crocus (Crocus serotinus).

From the view point we had some cracking views of the Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) as they flew along the ridge to with in about 10 meters of our point.

Wild flowers were few, Late Crocus (Crocus serotinus) was everywhere.

Laguna Herrera, Antequera, Malaga Province.

Cold mists morning.

Sun Rise.

After I had scraped the first frost of the winter off the car, I set off towards the Laguna and then onwards to work at the Hotel Eslava. 

The dawn was just breaking on the water as I arrived, it was already light enough to see the 16 Greater Flamingo’s (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber) that were still present, all the adults left as soon as the hunters arrived and just a single Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) remained. 

As things brightened up the waders became identifiable, they included 5x Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax), 4x Green Sandpipers (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), 43x Pied Avocets (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), 1x Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa), Kentish (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus) and Common Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula). 

The Green Sandpipers started to get some what distressed and took to the air when a ♀ Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius) dropped in onto the mud bar which now divided the lagoon. It was merely interested in the water on this visit and she was soon on her way back out over the fields. 

Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea).

On the muddy margins White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis) and Crested Larks (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) all fed. In the reeds and on the wire I added Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), European Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), European Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops). 

On the lagoon, most of the birds were alert as 2 ♀ Western Marsh Harriers (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) passed slowly over and on one of the pylons were the 2 resident Common Buzzards (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) still to make a move on this cold morning.

San Roque and Tarifa Area, Cadiz Province and Guadalhorce, Malaga Province.

Late season Orchid hunting.

Autumn Lady’s Tresses (Spiranthes spiralis)

I meet Ian Phillips on a busy roundabout in the centre of Malaga, we headed south-west toward San Roque down near Gibraltar were hunting for the rare (in the south) Autumn Lady’s Tresses (Spiranthes spiralis) and our first site was in pine woodlands to the north of San Roque.

Ian had seen these delicate little plants at this site some five years earlier so we already had a location in what is a huge area of woodland.

After just a few minutes searching, we started to find a few plants, one of which was a fine specimen and well worthy of a few photos. 

Autumn Lady’s Tresses (Spiranthes spiralis).

We initially found about 12 plants in the first location, but on the way back to the car, Ian spotted two of the best spikes we could ever hope to have seen, these plants were over 40 cms tall and all the flowers were perfect. 

In the area we noted Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Great (Carbonero Común / Parus major) and Coal Tits (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater) plus a couple of Common Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus).
Our second port of call was in another pine woodland, this time near Tarifa, a bit further along the coast and here we found many more plants, well over a hundred but none came close to the two seen earlier. 

Ian at San Roque.

A nice Red-veined Darter (sympetrum fonscolombii) perched for a while in the damper area of the woods, a single Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope) passed by along the beach, few birds were seen including Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and European Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula).
We parked up a little further along the road and walked out onto the boardwalk which continues all the way into Tarifa, from the first hide we picked up Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus), Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus) and Audouin's Gulls (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii) all sat out on the sand and several Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis) sitting on log posts. 

There were a few waders feeding in the channel between the dunes and the beach including 3 Bar-tailed Godwits (Aguja Colipinta / Limosa lapponica), several Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Common Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), a single Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta) stalked fish out in the channels while a couple of hundred Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) followed tractors out in the nearby fields. 

Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii).

On the walk back to the car we picked up European Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Crested (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and Eurasian Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), European Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) all in the dunes. 

On the fields we added House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer Domesticus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), European Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis).

All of a sudden we noticed that the sky had filled with several hundred Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) wheeling around trying to gain height on the building thermals, mixed in were good numbers of Short-toed Snake Eagles (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus), Black Kites (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Booted Eagles (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus), a single immature Egyptian Vulture (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus) and a few White (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia) and Black Storks (Ciguena Negra / Ciconia nigra).

Razorbill (Alca Común / Alca torda).

Things were looking good for a bit of late migration so we headed down towards the Mirador, Café to see what was passing there and to get some rather pricey food.

The sight was amazing, in the air in three very large groups we estimated there to be at least 3 / 4000 Griffon Vultures all trying to gain height for the crossing of the straights and on into Africa. 

We added singles of Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus) and Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) while we watched this spectacle.  

Ian had to be back for a meeting during the evening so we made our way steadily back towards Malaga but to save me the stress of driving into the busy city Ian suggested that I drop him at the nearest train station and he would get back from there.

Sickly looking Black Tern (Fumarel Común / Chlidonias niger).

I then had a quick look at the Guadalhorce nature reserve on my way past, from the beach I quickly picked up several Mediterranean Gulls (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) and a single winter plumage Razorbill (Alca Común / Alca torda) which were both new for the day. 

On the river there was a sickly looking Black Tern (Fumarel Común / Chlidonias niger), perched on the sand, several Grey Herons and a Little Egret. I then walked along the beach and in via the track to the main hide, which was fairly quiet, the only new species were Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina) and a ♀ Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus). 

The second hide was a little livelier with a couple of White-headed Ducks (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Little (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and Great Crested Grebes (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Common Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scirpaceus) and Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus). 

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

The third hide was deadly, but the wader hide was very good with three fine Eurasian Spoonbills (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia) showing very well along with Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), 4x Common Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), 2x Curlew Sandpipers (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea) and a Common Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis). From the sea watching point, a small group of 3 male and 2 female Common Scoter (Negrón Común / Melanitta nigra) were seen before they were flushed by a passing boat.

One of the Malaga fishing fleet was returning to port and was being followed by masses of gulls and a few Balearic Shearwaters (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus), Northern Gannets (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) and a single Great Skua (Págalo Grande / Catharacta skua) giving them all a bit of stick. 

Eurasian Spoonbills (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia).

Other species seen included Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus).

Only three species of Dragonfly were seen, Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator), Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope) and Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii).

Rio Velez, Malaga Province.

A few winter visitors.

Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

I parked a little further along the track on the eastern bank of the Rio Velez than I normally do, as I wanted to have a good look at the birds out at sea today, I walked straight out on to the beach and found a place to sit, well away from any of the nudists. 

Loads of gulls were sat out on the water, most seemed to be either Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) or Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus). Smaller numbers of Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) were also present along with just a couple of adult Audouin's Gulls (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii) and a dozen or so Sandwich Terns (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis). 

Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

On the beach and the margins of the pool there were a few waders, singles Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina) were on the pool and another single Dunlin flew along the beach with 3 Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba). 

One of the fishing boats from Torre-del-mar came quite close in shore on its way back into port, in its wake there were large numbers of Gulls and a few Northern Gannets (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Balearic Shearwater (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus) and a single winter plumaged Common Tern (Charrán Común / Sterna Hirundo) scavenging for scraps. 

Closer in amongst the waves there was a group of 5 Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis) diving for small fish which tried escaping by leaping clear of the water in their hundreds.

Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii).

I then walked back through the sedges and reeds towards the car, on the way I heard and eventually briefly saw a pair of Eurasian Penduline Tits (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus), a nice ♂ Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) popped out of cover for a few seconds. On the river there were at least 15 Western Cattle (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and 2 Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta), 3 Grey Herons (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus), 3 Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata), and a Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo).

Several species of dragonfly were still about, the commonest was the Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope), along with a few each of Broad Scarlet (Crocothemis erythraea), Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Migrant Hawker ( Aeshna mixta), Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator) and a single Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria).

Migrant Hawker ( Aeshna mixta).

Large White (Pieris brassicae), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Clouded Yellow (Colias crocea) and African Grass Blue (Zizeeia knysna) were the only butterflies noted.

A group of 6 Monk Parakeets (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus) flew over nosily, a couple of Common Reed Warblers (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scirpaceus) skulked in the rush tussocks and Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) scolded me from the reed plumbs. 

Other species seen included European Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula), White (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis), Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), European Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

On the way home we passed through the agricultural area west of Zafarraya and added Common (Urraca / Pica pica) and Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) and Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae).

Ogíjares, Granada, Granada Province.

Winter roost census of Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

I meet up with Juan Pérez Contreras and his wife Beatriz Pérez Machado at the usual spot on the AKI car park in Granada and from there we made a short trip to a site on the edge of the city. 

Once we were on site we were joined by José Mª González Cachinero a local birder and María José Ortega Ortiz and her son Pablo Vera Ortega. In between houses and industrial buildings there was an area of Giant Reeds where the birds roost, birds approaching from the vega de La Zubia and la Vega de Granada were counted by Juan and Jose and birds coming in from the vertedero de Alhendín were checked by Beatriz. 

As I had not got a counter I just pointed out and counted smaller groups, Beatriz got the hard job as she totted up well over 2000 of the total count of 3761 Western Cattle Egrets and I managed to pick out the only Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta) of the night. 

We had a good evening, which would have been a bit better if it had not heaved it down with heavy rain for most of the time.

Other birds seen included Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica).

Granada, Cacín Valley, Huetor Fields, El Turro and Bermajais, Granada Province, Spain.

Beaten by the weather in the end.

Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

Today’s guests were Derek and Mary who I collected from the edge of the Albazin area of Granada. We headed back to an agricultural area near to Moraleda to start the day, we did this first as the weather was looking a bit dodgy and this site soon becomes very muddy when it rains. 

Along the approach road we picked both Crested (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and Thekla Larks (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus) and Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis). 

We turned on to the track and headed straight for the ruin where we parked and started to scan the fields, we got flight views of a Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) and found lots of adult Crimson Speckled (Utetheisa pulchella) moths and also the caterpillar. 

We then drove a little further out on to the fields picking up several Calandra Larks (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) and masses of migrating Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae). 

We returned to the ruin and immediately picked up a small group of a dozen or so Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa) and what I was sure were at least 2 Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis). Sure enough when we got the scope on the birds there were 2 Sandgrouse, a few moments later the grouse were in flight calling and 2 turned into 7. 

They flew around for a couple of minutes, giving us some great views before settling just out of sight just over a ridge, as they usually do. 

Other birds seen here were European Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), European Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).

We next visited the fields just north of Huetor Tajar, Derek and Mary were very pleased when we found the flock of 180 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) which were feeding and leaping around in one of the Lucerne fields. 

Crimson Speckled (Utetheisa pulchella).

Several Eurasian Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) were our next good find on a field which by mid-winter will hold several hundred of these curious looking birds. Other species seen included Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer Montanus), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and 5 Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) which were the first for the winter.

As we started to make our way up Sierra de Loja the weather started to take a turn for the worst, we were talking to the warden from Loja about some of the local birds when the heavens opened and this was how it stayed for the rest of the afternoon. On the hill we did see Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Eurasian Crag (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Western House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), plus we heard Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus) and Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs).

To try and drive out of the rain we headed back to the Cacín Valley and to the Embalse de Cacín, it was still raining, English birders are used to it so we plodded on. 

On the water there were Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Northern Pintail (Ánade Rabudo / Anas acuta), Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis). 

A couple of winter plumaged Black Terns (Fumarel Común / Chlidonias niger) were perched on sticks out in the lake and a single Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) flushed up from the reeds and moved further down the lake.

Crimson Speckled (Utetheisa pulchella) Caterpillar.

Down at Embalse de Bermejales we stopped at the out flow end and added a couple of Grey Wagtails (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and Eurasian Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius). Unfortunately the afternoon was a bit of a wash-out but we still saw some interesting species during the tour.

Torremolinos, Malaga Province.

A stroll along the prom.

Jayne's sister Brenda and her husband Keith were visiting from the UK and on the day we went back down to the Airport at Malaga we spent some time having a walk along the sea front. 

During the walk I noted several species of some interest, including a nice male Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi) which flew quickly past. 

In one of the rather smelly streams which run out to the beach, a small Viperine Snake (Culebra viperina / Natrix maura) was seen hunting some of the many small Iberian Water Frogs (Rana Común / Rana Perezi).
Birds included Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer Domesticus), Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), European Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

Laguna Herrera, Antequera, Malaga Province.

A quiet, misty morning.

Immature Black Stork (Ciguena Negra / Ciconia nigra).

The Laguna was generally much quieter today, mainly due to the hunters surrounding the place shooting anything that moved out on the fields, a nice surprise was a single immature Black Stork (Ciguena Negra / Ciconia nigra) roosting out in the shallow water along with a couple of Whites (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia). 

Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber).

Other birds seen were Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax), Pied Avocet (Avoceta Común/ Recurvirostra avosetta), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Common Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata) and Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis).