Home near Huétor Tajar and Huetor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

First of the winter bird's atlas days.

This was the first day's atlas work for the 2010 /11 winter period, this is an ongoing survey and can take up as little as four hours over the 3-month duration. 

Details of the survey can be found at http://www.seoprogramas.org/__htdocs/sacin/index4.php. I do three itineraries and this take just over six hours plus the travelling, but I find it makes you look at and enjoy all the birds, even the very common one.
Today’s walk started from the front door and took me down the road through the Olive groves, out on to the agricultural fields and along the local river. The birds seen are just listed below with their totals and are in the order they were seen.

House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer Domesticus) x 270, White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) x56, Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) x12, Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) x29, European Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula) x11, European Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) 94, Eurasian Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) x1, Great Tit (Carbonero Común / Parus major) x7, Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) x95, European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) x15, Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) x57, European Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) x86, Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) x12, Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) x137, Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) x3, Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) x6, Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla) x17, Western Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) x41, Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) x35, Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) x8, Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) x18, Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) x11, Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) x8, Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis) x23, Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) x33, Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) x6, Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) x211, Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) x3, Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa) x3, Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer Montanus) x7, Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) x1, Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) x7, Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) x171, Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) x9, Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) x2, Calandra Lark (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) x1, Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) x123 and Eurasian Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) x25.

Laguna Herrera, Antequera, Malaga Province.

Silent but deadly, a Lifer for my Spanish List.

Short-eared Owl (Búho Campestre / Asio flammeus).

As usual, I called in at the Laguna on my way over to the hotel for today's walk. I know that it has been raining, but I was surprised by the amount of water that was about, several of the local fields were flooded and actually held more birds than the lagoon. 

On the top end of the nearest field to the track I picked up a single Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) as it flew up from the margins, 70 or so Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) were also on the muddy edges and at least 200 Mallards (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) were out on the water. 

A bit further along the track I again viewed the flooded field from the raised back and added at least 3 male Northern Pintail (Ánade Rabudo / Anas acuta), a few Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Eurasian Wigeon (Silbón Europeo / Anas Penelope) and about 20 Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina). 

Also on the water were a couple of thousand Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

On the Laguna there were 6+ Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), a couple of Pied Avocet (Avoceta Común/ Recurvirostra avosetta), about 20 Little Stints (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta) and 2/3 Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina). 

As I watched these birds a pair of White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia) drifted over and landed in the flooded field and a Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius) flashed along the track chasing off all the White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) feeding on the shoreline. 

Short-eared Owl (Búho Campestre / Asio flammeus).

Other birds in this area included Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), European Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), European Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer Domesticus), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti).

I then drove further around the tracks towards the motorway and stopped to look at a small flock of about 10 Eurasian Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) and noticed in the background a huge flock of Calandra Larks (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) which must have numbered over 250 birds. 

Whilst I was watching these birds, a shape flew in very low and dropped amongst the Eurasian Skylark flock, flushing them and the Calandars up. 

It was a magnificent Short-eared Owl (Búho Campestre / Asio flammeus), it sat on the roadside for a few seconds allowing me to get some OKish shots before it flew off a short distance. 

I thought the bird had missed its target but when it flew a small bird was in its left talon, it landed in the roadside ditch some 30 meters further on. It was unfortunate time to go to work, or I would have like some more views of the bird.

Laguna Dulce,

A morning of unexpected birding.

Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata) Male.

Today was to be a bit different, with just one guest for the walk and knowing that Dot had an interest in wildlife, I was given the option to ask her if she fancied a morning birding instead of the usual El Chorro walk. 

She was happy with that idea so we made our way to Laguna Dulce near the town of Campillos, where the water was carpeted in birds. The most obvious birds were several hundred Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), good numbers of Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) and Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis).
White-headed Ducks (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala) probably numbered close to 80, quite an impressive site in their small groups, a few Black-necked Grebes (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis) were seen diving along the far shore along with good numbers of the larger Great Crested (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus).

Eurasian Coots (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and Greater Flamingo’s (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber).

Just in front of the hide we saw the only Gadwalls (Anade Friso / Anas strepera) we could find and several Common Moorhens (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus) and Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago) were in the reeds. 

A female Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) then flew in low and flushed an immature Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) from the same reed bed. 

In the distance a couple more Western Marsh Harriers quartered the edges of the marsh including a cracking male bird and just behind them a small flock of about half a dozen Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus) were picked up feeding with a good number of Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis). 

On the screens and in the Almonds near the car we added Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra). 

Just as we were leaving a single Common Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna) flew in over the fence, a Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and several White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) flew along the road.
On the way to the visitors centre at Fuente de Piedra we added a couple of largish flocks of Spotless Starlings (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Common Woodpigeons (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), along with Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus), Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis).

Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).

On the road along the eastern side of the Lagoon we got our first views of the Greater Flamingo’s (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber) a couple of hundred birds were in a tight group some way out in the water with many other scattered about. 

Whilst we were watching them a large group of Eurasian Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) flew up from the field between us and the water, in total we saw at least 200 birds here and on the reserve. 

More Common Cranes were seen as we drove around to the entrance, on the walk around the centre we picked up loads of Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Northern Shoveler, Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) and a female Hen Harrier (Aguilucho Pálido / Circus cyaneus). 

From the large hide we added a single Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), at least 2 Water Pipits (Bistita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis). 

As we watched the Water Pipits every thing started to fly and get upset, just at that moment the female Hen Harrier made another appearance but this time it landed in the thistle scrub between us and the water, even though it was obscured we still had great views through the scope. 

We then went to the smaller hide which was quite quiet, but we did add a single Common Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo) and a couple of fly over Northern Ravens (Cuervo / Corvus corax).

Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).

Other birds seen included Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer Domesticus) and Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti). On the way back to the hotel we paid a quick visit to Laguna Herrera and added Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Pied Avocet (Avoceta Común/ Recurvirostra avosetta) and Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus) to a great day list.

Albrighton, Shropshire, UK.

A walk around the village and more time with family.

The gate into St Cuthberts Church, Donington.

In the morning Brenda dropped Jayne and me in to Wolverhampton to pick up the last bits we needed before our return flight tomorrow. By lunchtime we were back in Albrighton, we had a walk-up to the Chuch at Donnington via the village pool, so that Jayne could visit the family stones and plaques, we later went to St Marys Church to check on my father's Plaque. 

St Cuthberts Church grounds, Donington.

It was nice to have a walk around the area that I had grown up in but as always it is quite depressing when you see all the changes. 

As with most places most changes have not been for the better but I think that the most notable thing was the amount of rubbish everywhere, the worst example was around the St Cuthberts well and Donnington Pool areas. 

St Cuthberts Church, Donington.

These spots had away been kept nice and well preserved.

Later we again visited Mark, Nicky and the boys before getting ready and going for a meal with my Mother and her partner John, we had a nice evening and then went back to Brenda's. 

Donington Pool.

During the walk around the village I picked up Fieldfare (Zorzal Real / Turdus pilaris), Redwing (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus iliacus), Song (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) and Mistle Thrushes (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus), Common Pheasant (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus), Eurasian Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris) and European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris).

St Cuthberts Well, Donington.

Albrighton, Shropshire, UK.

Time with the family.

I spent most of the today with my brother and his family but popped in to see a few other friends in Albrighton, we had a nice lunch in one of my old drinking haunts and then went back to his house to await the arrival of the kid from school. 

After a nice day I wandered back to Brenda and Keith's house, on the way I noted a few bits including European Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula), more Dunnocks (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), Rook (Graja / Corvus frugilegus), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Eurasian Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Great (Carbonero Común / Parus major), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater) and Eurasian Blue Tits (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba subsp yarrellii), Herring (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) amongst others

Ironbridge Gorge, Telford, Shropshire, UK.

Visiting a favorate site.

The Iron Bridge.

Today we spent the morning in the town of Ironbridge with Jayne’s sister Brenda and her husband Keith. We parked and had a walk through town towards the world heritage site The Ironbridge, building was started by Abraham Darby the 3^rd in 1779 the bridge opened in 1781 on New Year's Day. 

The town and River Seven from the Iron Bridge.

It still looks as impressive today as it away has, spanning the River Seven deep in the bottom of the gorge. We had a walk and did a bit of nic-nac shopping and then went into one of the many cafés for a Hot Chocolate and a warm.

Looking back up to the Bridge.

On the way around I either heard or saw several Eurasian Nuthatchs (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Eurasian Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Coal Tits (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris).

The Towns war memorial.

Looking back across the bridge to the main town.

Various Sites near Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK

Another day with UK Birds.

Goosanders (Serreta Grande / Mergus merganser).

Jayne and all three of her sisters arranged a day's shopping at Telford town centre and as tempting as it was to join them I was talked out of it by a friend and spent a day visiting some of my old birding haunts when I live in Shropshire.
John Morgan kindly gave up a day's work so that we could catch up on things and do some birding, we met at Priorslee lake which is just off junction 4 of the M54 on the edge of Telford new town. 

While we were there, I picked up another very common species in the UK which I had not seen for some time, a European Herring Gull (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus). 

In the far corner there was a largish flock of Tufted Ducks (Porrón Monudo / Aythya fuligula) and Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), along with a single Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor), several Mallards (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus).

Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis).

We then went towards Shrewsbury and called in at Venus Pool, one of the best sites in the county, but today it was fairly quiet. From the main hide the highlight was a single Marsh Tit (Carbonero Palustre / Poecile palustris) which was feeding on the dried out heads of Teasels along with several European Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis). 

Out on the pool the commonest duck was Eurasian Wigeon (Silbón Europeo / Anas Penelope), closely followed by Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata) and Common Pochard, with a pair of Northern Pintail (Ánade Rabudo / Anas acuta) and a single Common Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna). 

I was quite surprised to find just a single Greylag Goose (Ansar Común / Anser anser) as in the past there were usually large flocks of both them and Canada Geese (Barnacla Canadiense / Branta canadensis) present. 

We then had a walk to the woodland hide where several feeders hang and large numbers of passerines come to take advantage along with several Grey Squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis). Eurasian Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Great (Carbonero Común / Parus major), Marsh and Long-tailed Tits (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus) were all there along with Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), several Dunnocks (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major) and European Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula). 

Canada Geese (Barnacla Canadiense / Branta Canadensis).

Later we had a walk along the hedges of the top field towards the fishing pool, here we picked up good numbers of Yellowhammers (Escribano Cerillo / Emberiza citronella), Eurasian Tree Sparrows (Gorrión Molinero / Passer Montanus) and a single Common Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus). 

Other species seen here included Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus), Great Crested (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus) and Little Grebes (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) and Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba subsp yarrellii).

Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor).

We then carried on towards a small pool just on the outskirts of Shrewsbury called the Mere, hoping for some views of some reported Goosanders (Serreta Grande / Mergus merganser). 

They were almost the first birds we saw, 3 males and 5 females were swimming on this quite unlikely site in the middle of a housing estate along with Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor), Canada Geese (Barnacla Canadiense / Branta Canadensis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata).

Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra).

On our way back towards Telford we stopped on the verge to look at a flock of Swans some way off on a Beet field, all but one were Mute but there was a single adult Whooper (Cisne Cantor / Cygnus Cygnus) amongst them.

Our final stop was at our starting point at Priorslee Lake for the Gull Roost, the best bird turned out to be an adult Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis). 

Not very exciting for me, I was much happier watching the few European Herring Gulls there, accompanied by hundreds of Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus).

What had been a great day had come to an end all too quickly and John dropped me back to Albrighton, Thanks John for a great day.

Whooper Swan (Cisne Cantor / Cygnus Cygnus) middle bird.

Various sites around the Midlands UK.

UK birding with some good friends.

Bohemian Waxwing (Ampelis Europeo / Bombycilla garrulus).

John Holian picked me up, and we headed over to Wombourne to collect friend Brian Marsh before going on to Dudmaston Hall to have a look at the two pools. The pool near the road held just a few Tufted Ducks (Porrón Monudo / Aythya fuligula) and Mallards (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos). Opposite the pool entrance there was a well hidden public footpath which led through some woodland down to another larger, more open lake. 

As we approached 5x Goosanders (Mergus merganser) flew over us and disappeared towards the lake we had just left, a larger flock of Tufted Ducks was seen out in the middle of the water, numbering 30+ birds. 

A flash of bright blue gave away the first of the day's Common Kingfishers (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis). 

We were at the site for a bird which John and Brian had already seen, a hybrid between a Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and a Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus). 

We eventually found the Coot flock and very quickly picked this bird up, it was intermediate in size between the two species, had a pink/orange bill and lacked the white under-tail covets of the Moorhen. Whilst I was there the bird swam and behaved very much as a Coot but John and Brian said that they had seen it swimming in a manner more typical of a Moorhen. 

Two more Common Kingfishers flew past and disappeared behind some Willows, Rooks (Graja / Corvus frugilegus) called from the Rookery in the Beech trees on the far bank and a couple Common Buzzards (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) drifted overhead. 

In the woods on the way back we added Eurasian Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), European Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Pheasant (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus) and eventually we got views of a calling Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major). 

From the gate where we parked we picked up Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), a male Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) and a single Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo) dived on the upper lake. The next stop was at Essington pool where John had seen a pair of Red-crested Pochards (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina) but the fog was so thick that we could not see a great deal, but we picked up a nice ♀ Common Goldeneye (Porrón Osculado / Bucephala clangula) again a bird I had not seen for at least six years or so. 

Bohemian Waxwing (Ampelis Europeo / Bombycilla garrulus).

Also, here Eurasian Wigeon (Silbón Europeo / Anas Penelope), Tufted Duck, Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata), Mallard, Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and more Dunnocks (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis) were seen. 

I had mentioned to John and Brian that I would like to see Bohemian Waxwing (Ampelis Europeo / Bombycilla garrulus), if there were any about, so when the phone went and a message came in that 20 birds had been seen in Stafford we diverted from our drive towards Cannock Chase. 

Luckily the site was on the outskirts of the town in the direction that we were travelling (not very often that happens), so we were soon on site and after about 20 minutes searching John spotted them in a tall tree some distance away. 

We drove as near as we could and walked towards the gates of a local school and the birds were all perched in the top of a semi dead tree and were dropping down lower to feed on Rowan berries. 

We soon realised that the reported flock of 20 birds in fact numbered somewhere between 80 and 100. 

 About 5 minutes after we arrived the birds were flushed by a Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) and flew off strongly across the housing estate; we had a look around several of the roads locally but could not find the birds again but thought that we would give the original tree another look.

Just as we arrived back, so did the now very jumpy flock of birds, we continued to watch them for the next hour or so before they flew off again. 

We also saw Eurasian Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and Coal Tit (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater). 

Our final stop was near the rifle ranges on Cannock Chase, where we were looking for a reported Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotraustes) and the regular Great Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Norteno / Lanius excubitor). 

We did not see either of the two above, but I was very happy with the cracking ♂ Bullfinch (Camachelo Común / Pyrrhula pyrrhula) which was feeding in some birch trees with a flock of Lesser Redpolls (Pardillo Sizerín / Carduelis flammea). 

Bohemian Waxwing (Ampelis Europeo / Bombycilla garrulus).

We continued our stroll through the woods seeing large numbers of Thrushes including Mistle (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Redwing (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus iliacus), Song (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Fieldfare (Zorzal Real / Turdus pilaris) and Common Blackbirds (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula). 

A large flock of birds then passed through the pines, which included the three tit species already mentioned, plus Great Tit (Carbonero Común / Parus major) and Goldcrest (Reyezuelo Sencillo / Regulus regulus). 

On the way back to the car, we passed a bird feeder which was covered in Coal Tits, but more interesting were the five ♂ Yellowhammers (Escribano Cerillo / Emberiza citronella) feeding on the ground below it. 

After a cracking day, John dropped me back at Barbs house, took Brian home before returning to Barbs and picking Jayne and me up again to go out for a curry. A brilliant day thanks John, Sharon and Brian.

Wednesfield, West Midlands, Great Britain.

Staying at Barb's.

Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor).

The first day in the UK started with a morning's gardening for Jayne’s sister Barbara, as I tatted around in the back garden I was regularly dragged away from my tasks by birds flitting around in the Hawthorns (Crataegus monogyna) along the towpath of the canal running along the rear of the garden. 

These included a few highlights, a pair of Dunnocks (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis) which I have only seen on a couple of occasions back in Spain, a small flock of Fieldfare (Zorzal Real / Turdus pilaris) and a low flying Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor) heading along the canal.

View along the canal.

Later I had a stroll along the canal, but the fog made taking any worthwhile photos hard to get. I did see Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula), Eurasian Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Great (Carbonero Común / Parus major) and Long-tailed Tits (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Rook (Graja / Corvus frugilegus), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus).

Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos).

Torremolinos and Malaga Airport, Malaga Province.

Travelling back to the UK.

Travelled down to the sea front at Torremolinos before going to the Airport for our tip back to the UK. Near the Plaza Mayor shopping centre, a nice pale phase Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus) circled over the Eucalyptus trees along the motorway. 

Along the sea front I added Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer Domesticus), Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), 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) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba). 

On the airport as we taxied out to take off Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and European Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) were all added to the list as we rumbled down the tarmac.

Balsa de Regidor, Moraleda de Zafayona, Granada Province.

Cattle Egret Census.

Unfortunately I did not make it back in time to get up to the Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) roost for the evenings count with Juan and Beatriz but did get to the small pool on the side of the A92 and did a count there. 

During the time I was there I tallied up 181 Egrets and over 50 Northern Shovelers (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata). There were also at least 3 Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), several Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus) and Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) out on the water. 

A small flock Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) wheeled around the fields at the far end of the pool, while hundreds if not thousands of Western Jackdaws (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) flew towards Granada to their roost.

Huetor Fields, Granada Province.

Getting the car washed.

After getting the car well and truly covered in mud, I thought that I had better give it a quick jet was. I decided that as the car was already dirty that I may as well have a quick look on the track through the fields to see what was about, the first bird seen was a female Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus) which was sat on a track side post and stayed there till I was about 3 meters away (yet again they can tell when the camera is in the house). 

She eventually flew up after giving me some cracking views and flew away low over the river and circled around the fields for a few more minutes before moving off. 

Another raptor was then seen on the deck, this time feeding in a newly sown crop field, I drove closer and was surprised to find it was a very late Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans).

Other birds seen included Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) x 30+, Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), European Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer Domesticus).

Torcal de Antequera, Laguna Herrera, Malaga Province and Huetor Fields, Granada Province.

Saturday Stroll.

Spanish Ibex (Capra pyreaica hispanica).

I did the birding in reverse today, with the walk at Torcal coming first and then a quick visit to the Laguna afterwards. 

At Torcal we did the Yellow route through the fantastic rock formations, on the way around several Blue Rock Thrushes (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) were seen, as were good numbers of Ring Ouzels (Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus), Common Blackbirds (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), European Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), European Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), along with a few Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor). 

We also had good views of several groups of Spanish Ibex (Capra pyreaica hispanica) and two species of butterflies, Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera) and Bath White (Pontia daplidice).

On the Laguna there were quite good numbers of birds about, with over 50 Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), along with Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Kentish (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus) and Common Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta) and Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) made for a nice selection of waders. 

Other species seen included Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), European Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

On the drive home I stopped briefly on the fields near the house and added over 400 Eurasian Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) and around 150 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) to a good list.

Rio Guadalhorce, Malaga Province.

A flying visit.

Monk Parakeets (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus).

I had just a couple of hours for a quick look around the reserve so I headed straight for the beach and had a scan from the sea watch point first. 

A single female Common Scoter (Negrón Común / Melanitta nigra) was seen diving quite a distance out and at least two Black-necked Grebes (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis) passed west stopping breifly on the sea only about 20 metres out. 

The usual gulls were all present including 100s of Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus), 100+ Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), lots of Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and a few Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis). 

I then walked along the beach to the far sea watch point, on the way I added several flocks of Monk Parakeets (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), a female Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and a single Common Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia). 

Spoonbills (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia).

From the sea watch point Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo) and Mediterranean Shearwater (Pardela Mediterránea / Puffinus yelkouan) were all seen. 

I then moved on to the reserve and walked along the embankment towards the wader hide, on the way Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus) and Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus) were seen.

From the hide things looked grim for a short while with just a single Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta) and a few Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina) on view, then things started to appear from the reeds and side channels. 

The first were two Eurasian Spoonbills (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia) and a small group of Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), followed by a single late passage Curlew Sandpiper (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea) which flew in and joined the Dunlin. Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Common Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) soon showed up along with a cracking male Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) which showed well for the next ten minutes on the mud to the left of the hide. 

Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber).

On the walk around to the next hide overlooking the reed fringed pool I had some very good views of a couple of Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), European Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula), Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).

From the hide Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).

Pied Avocets (Avoceta Común/ Recurvirostra avosetta).

I missed the next hide-out and had a look over the main pool, adding White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), a small group of five Pied Avocets (Avoceta Común/ Recurvirostra avosetta) were roosting in the shallows and a single Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber) eventually woke up for a few minutes before tucking it's head back under its wing again. 

Good numbers of Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta) and Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) dragonflies were still on the wing along with a couple of Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus), Clouded Yellow (Colias crocea) and Bath White (Pontia daplidice) butterflies.

Other birds included Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer Domesticus), European Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), European Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).

Laguna Herrera, Antequera, Malaga Province.

Numbers are up again.

Just a brief visit this morning as I am running a bit later than usual, the number of Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina) had increased to around 70 birds, Little Stints (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta) were steady in the mid-twenties, Kentish (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus) and Common Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) had doubled and 3 Pied Avocets (Avoceta Común/ Recurvirostra avosetta) had reappeared. 

A couple of winter plumaged male Common Reed Buntings (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus) were new for my site list, they were part of a much larger finch and bunting flock which was made up of 50+ Corn Buntings (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), well over a hundred European Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Linnets (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), European Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris).

Other birds seen included 8 Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) the very pale bird was one of 5 birds, White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber) x1, Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus) and Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus).