Osuna Area, Sevilla Province.

David and Steve's Spanish trip (Day Five).

Bustards, the little ones and the big chaps as well! 

Great Bustard (Avutarda Común / Otis tarda).

We headed off in the same direction as yesterday but continued on the A92 as far as Osuna in Sevilla Province. Once we had left the Autovia we stated to pick up interesting species. Common Buzzards (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and Red Kites (Milano Real / Milvus milvus) were seen both in flight and perched on some of the many electric pylons, we continued to see both species all day in good numbers. All the fields edges, fences and just about any other perch seemed to have a Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) singing from it which made picking out the song of the many Larks in the area difficult but Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), Crested (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Thekla (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) were all seen and in quite decent numbers. 

As we arrived at the first planned stop we picked up a Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax) which was chasing off a Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius). The site gave us views over an extensive area of agricultural fields on which we quickly picked up a group of four Great Bustards (Avutarda Común / Otis tarda) that were some distance away but were marching towards us at pace because of a group of hunters in some olive trees nearer to them than us. We watched these birds for a few seconds and were then aware of five more Bustards flying towards us which must have been flushed by the same hunters; they flew close by and continued on to the fields to the west. We continued to watch the four birds on the ground and had some excellent views while the birds settled down and started to preen. 

Great Bustards (Avutarda Común / Otis tarda).

Also seen in this area were Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa) and Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus).

We continued on and stopped a couple more times adding large numbers of Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaia) and Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) to the day list. A little further along our route we viewed a small area of water with a large numbers of birds on or around it including a 100+ White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), many Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus), 20 or so Greater Flamingo’s (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Avocet (Avoceta Común/ Recurvirostra avosetta) and all being circled by several more Red Kites. We continued on into the town of where we picked up some food for lunch and continued on to Laguna Verde de Sal where we were treated to great views of a Ringtail Hen Harrier (Aguilucho Pálido / Circus cyaneus) which was sweeping over the cereal fields near by, while a second bird was seen from the same place but this bird just sat on the ground some distance away. 

David and Steve watching and digiscoping the Bustards.

The Laguna was very quiet compared to my last visit but during a scan with the scopes we sorted out two pairs of Red-crested Pochard (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata), Little (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and Black-necked Grebes (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis). We called at a second Laguna called Consuegra, here we did not add any new species but there were good numbers of Greater Flamingo’s and 100s of Northern Shovelers. On the way to the next stop we picked up our only Black Kites (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans) on David and Steve’s trip, two birds were seen which was a bit of a surprise as most had move on ages ago to Africa. 

On the next Laguna we again did not add any new species for definite but Steve thought that he may have glimpsed a Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) just as it leapt back into cover. There were several flooded fields near by which held several Shelducks (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), a flock of roosting Avocets, Black-winged Stilt, 3x Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), a single Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa) and at least 4 more Marsh Harriers. We then started to retrace our steps back to Osuna, on the way we upped the number of Great Bustards to 10 for the day and stumbled across a flock of about 15 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), it was nice to have both species in view at the same time. 

Sun set at Fuente de Piedra.

A fabulous male Hen Harrier was dipping up and down between the olives quite some distance away but with in seconds a second Male had appeared quite close to us giving much better views. In the Osuna area during the day we also had Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula), Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

On the way home we briefly called in at Fuente de Piedra but saw nothing we had not seen the day before.            64 bird species seen.

Laguna Herrera, Campillos and Fuente de Piedra, Malaga Province.

David and Steve's Spanish trip (Day Four).

A day for Lagoons.

David and Steve birding at Laguna Herrera.

This morning was a slightly later start after yesterdays marathon in Jaen, we headed west towards Antequera to our first stop of the day at Laguna Herrera were we hoped to add to the wader list. We scanned the newly flooded fields on the right of the track and picked up good numbers of Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna) 30+ birds, several hundred Mallards (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) and Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus). We then continued on to the Laguna where the first birds seen were a flock of at least 26 Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta) feeding out on the newly flooded eastern shoreline, there were also a few Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) and half a dozen more Green Sandpiper. Down amongst the reed stems 3 Reed Buntings (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus) fed on the mud, Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) perched up higher and lots of Spotless Starlings (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) were up on the wires. 

Distant Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus).

We then viewed the fields again further down the track and added over 100 Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), several Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus) and Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata). On the fields there were very good numbers of Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) and Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus). On our way to the next site at Laguna Dulce Steve picked up some birds on the side of the motorway which turned out to be a sizable flock of Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax). On the way over to the laguna we stopped to have a look at a group of 20 or so Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus) on one of the crop fields.

We arrived at the Laguna and I was surprised by the lack of birds after my last few visits. Instead of the hundreds of Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) the surface was covered in Black-headed Gulls. One large flock of Eurasian Coot was on the far side of the lake and in the tamarisks two male Tufted Duck (Porrón Monudo / Aythya fuligula) and a male Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca) managed to make themselves difficult to see. Other birds seen on the water included Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Great Crested (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Black-necked (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis) and Little Grebes (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber).

On the surrounding areas we picked up White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba),

Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).

Laguna Dulce, Campillos.

On another Laguna nearby we added White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala) and got cracking views of several Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis).

Our last stop was at the salt lake at Fuente de Piedra, we saw thousands of Greater Flamingo’s (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber) and at least 70 Stone-curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) on our way around to the visitors centre. On the pools near the centre we saw more Black-winged Stilts, Eurasian Teal, 8+ Marsh Harriers (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) and Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax). On the pools at the back of the centre there were plenty of Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Gadwall, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot and a single male Eurasian Wigeon (Silbón Europeo / Anas Penelope).

With an early start the next morning we called it a day and drove home.    66 bird species seen.

Sierra Morena, Andujar, Jaen Province.

David and Steve's Spanish trip (Day three).
A Foggy start but it all worked out in the last of the days light.

On the road in to the main Lynx area.

The three of us set off from Huetor at an unearthly hour to make our way up to the north of Jaen Province and into the Sierra Morena area. We travelled through some quite thick fog on the way up but I was happier as we approached the site as the sun came through but just as we got there our hopes were dashed as the mist drifted back in and did not clear until after 2 in the afternoon. We parked up and were soon joined by more Iberian Lynx (Lince Iberica / Lynx pardina) hunters who were all confident that the mist would clear (eventually) as it did. 

David and Steve watching the Blue Rock Thrushes (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius).

While we were waiting several Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) could be heard bellowing from down in the valley and calling birds included Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), 4x Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula). As the fog was lingering we decided to have a drive back along the road the way we came in until we broke out of the cover, just before the mist cleared we got a view of the partial eclipse of the sun which would not have been possible in good light. We got views of a flock of Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) feeding out on the field with some Mistle Thrushes (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus). We did see a couple more mammals for the list, several Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and an Iberian Hare (Lepus europaeus subsp capensis) which all flushed from the road side.

Iberian Milk-vetch (Astragalus lusitanicus).

We returned to the site which was still in the fog so we continued on down to the nearby Embalse where I had seen a Wallcreeper the year before but the closest we came this year was being told by a Spanish birding couple that it had been there two days earlier. Around the dam we picked up a pair of Blue Rock Thrushes (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), a single male Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus) a single out on the lake and 3 Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotraustes) perched up high in a dead eucalyptus. We later went back up to the site for the Lynx and settled down for a wait for the fog to lift. We could hear a flock of Iberian  Magpie moving through the oaks below. Eventually the fog started to clear and the birds were soon in the air, Black (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus) and Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) were soon flying along the distant ridge near the Embalse. A few Black Vultures drifted closer and a single adult Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti) flew over head and off into the valley below, it was later seen circling up out of the area and then it perched in a very distant tree. In the trees and bushes around the site we also saw Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Crested Tit (Herrerillo Capuchino /Parus cristatus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica).

Iberian Lynx (Lince Iberica / Lynx pardina).

Steve had been for a walk earlier in the day and had found some Scats (Poo) that he thought might be from the Lynx (still not sure whether it was), so the three of us walked back down and photographed the jobbies and some Iberian Milk-vetch (Astragalus lusitanicus). On our return I was very perplexed to find a total lack of people at any of the watch points along the road we could see, this could only mean one thing the Lynx had been seen and we were not in the right place at the right time. We jumped in the car and drove very quickly around to the watching crowd, just as the ******* Lynx had disappeared from view. We waited and after a few minutes one of the cubs that had been seen earlier was lying out on a large flat rock. After getting great views of this animal things just kept getting better, next a second cub, then the male and female appeared followed by the third of the youngsters. We continued watching these animals for the next 40 minutes. This is the third time I have managed to get views of the magnificent cats and I still get the same thrill as on the first trip (May control the excitment better now). Once the light had dropped to the level where the viewing was difficult we left the family group and made our way home. What had looked like a fog out of a day turn out to be very memorable in the end.  54 bird species and 5 mammal species seen.

The Cacín Valley and Sierra de Loja, Granada Province.

David and Steve's Spanish trip (Day two).

Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina).

Day two started with fog covering the vega so we headed out towards the Cacín Valley but found that the higher areas were not much better so we pushed on down to the Embalse hoping it would clear and it did. The water in the lake was muddied by recent heavy rains so bird numbers were not too good but we saw 50+ Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), a few Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), a fraction of the normal Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus), several Little (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and the single long term resident Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis) now in it’s black, white and grey winter colours. On the dead stumps at the southern end of the water there was just a single Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and a white bellied immature Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo). On the fields surrounding the lake we added Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros). On the over head wires several Common Magpies (Urraca / Pica pica), a Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus) and Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) were all perched.

Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis).

We carried on past Cacín and headed along the gorge, we stopped at a bend in the road to view a flock of finches which was mainly made up of Serins (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Goldfinches but while we watched these we added male Blue Rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) and Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura) to the day list.

We then continued on a little further along the valley but just as we reached our next stop the fog rolled in again. We did get brief views of two Bonelli’s Eagles (Aguila Perdicera / Aquila faciatus) one of which perched on the cliff directly opposite us but by the time the fog had cleared a bit the bird had moved on. On the bank opposite us we notice a sudden fast movement as a Weasel (Mustela nivalis) broke cover and scampered along the roadside for a few yards before it saw us, it then darted back under the tree roots where it had come from but not before we had some nice views.

Other birds seen along the road included Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridional, Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), a male Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus) which dropped into cover before David and Steve got on to it but a couple of wintering Bramblings did perch nicely in the Poplar trees.

Blue Rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius).

We then called at the bridge crossing the Rio Cacín were we picked up Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater), Great (Carbonero Común / Parus major) and Long-tailed Tits (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Redwing (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus iliacus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) and Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra).

Our last stop in the valley was on the agricultural areas where the fog still lingered but through the breaks were managed good views of at least 18 Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis), Rock Pigeon (Paloma Bravia / Columba livia), Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) and Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis).

After collecting some lunch from one of the bars in Moraleda we headed up the Sierra de Loja for the afternoon but things were quiet and we only managed to add a few new species including Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) and Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata) but we also got much better views of Black Wheatear and Common Crossbill.   58 bird species seen.

Rio Guadalhorce, Malaga Province and Huetor Fields, Granada Province.

David and Steve's Spanish trip (Day one).

Sandwich Terns (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis).

Today was the first day of David and Steve’s trip to Spain, I was due to pick them up at Malaga airport at 11:00 so I popped into the sea watch point at Guadalhorce for an hour or so. On the walk out to the sea I picked up a small flock of Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Linnets (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) all feeding on the dead thistle heads along the track. Resting up on the rocks on the sea front there was a group of Sandwich Terns (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis) and a couple of Ruddy Turnstones (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), along with loads of 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).

I set the scope up and had a scan over the waves seeing good numbers of Northern Gannets (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), a couple of Common Scoter (Negrón Común / Melanitta nigra) and single Black-necked (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis) and Great Crested Grebes (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus).

Along the river I added Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus), Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and a Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus).

On the other side of the bank in a small weedy storm drain I flushed up a Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) and a Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea).

I then went and picked up David and Steve from the airport, once we found our way back to the car (forgot I had gone up one level) we returned to Guadalhorce for the afternoon.

From the sea watch point we added most of the species I had seen in the morning except for the two Scoters but these were more than made up for by a group of 6 Balearic Shearwaters (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus) which passed quite close to shore and a Great Skua (Págalo Grande / Catharacta skua) which spent some time sat on the sea giving nice but distant views. The Common Sandpiper was still on the mouth of the river and the Greenshank had gained a partner. Other species seen from here included a female Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) which was quartering the reed beds on the main reserve, a Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus) which was perched on some of the canes that made up a big part of the storm blown grot that lined the beaches and several Crested Larks (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) that were running around on the sand.

We then drove down to the main entrance to the reserve and while I went and parked the car in a better spot (after all the robberies) David and Steve started the walk to the bridge and into the reserve. On my way from the car I picked up an immature Night Heron (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax) in one of the eucalyptus trees on the far bank, by the time David and Steve had reached the bridge I was back with them. On the river we picked up a couple of Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and had great views of at least three Booted Eagles (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus) including one dark phase bird. Once on the reserve we headed towards the far sea watch point and then worked our way back finishing off at the main hide. 

Sandwich Terns (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis).

The only new species added from the watch point was an immature Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber) which passed from east to west but kept on going down the coast and a couple of Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres) on the rocks at the river mouth. The water levels were high on the reserve so waders were nonexistent but we did track down several Zitting Cisticola’s (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula), Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus) but frustratingly we only heard Penduline Tit (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus) on our way around to the main hide. From the hide we saw large numbers of Great Cormorant, a few White-headed Ducks (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), more Black-necked Grebes, Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca) and several Grey Herons (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea). I was quite surprised at the numbers of Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope) and Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta) dragonflies still on the wing, dozens of each were seen. We then made our way back to the car picking up the Night Heron on the way and headed up to the Loja area. On the way to David and Steve’s accommodation we called at a couple of sites near Huetor Tajar and picked up good numbers of Stone-curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) and Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) which was a nice way to end day one. 59 bird species seen.

Loja mountain, Loja, Granada Province.

Royal British Legion New Years day walk.

Wide-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia).

I was not surprised to find that I was one of only four people who could drag themselves out of the New Years day pit. At 11:30 we set off for a near two hour walk around the mountains at the back of the town of Loja. It seemed we were walking up hill for ever but it was through some very pleasant countryside and farmland. On the way around we saw good numbers of Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis) and Black Redstarts (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros). On one of the rocky out crops on the higher part of the walk a single male Blue Rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) kept watch while a pair of Black Wheatears (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura) chased each other around the broom bushes. 

View over the fields.

On the slopes Thekla Larks (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and several Spotless Starlings (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) fed amongst the grass tussocks and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) called from the gorse bushes. Other birds seen included Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus). 

View at the end of the walk.

All the way around the walk the track side had plenty of Wide-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia) giving the banks a nice splash of early colour.

Western Slopes of the Sierra Nevada, Granada Province.

Buntings, Finches and Larks Galore.

Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia).

We had got back what is our normally faithful little puddle jumping Fiesta back from the mechanics and decided to give it a test run up to the Sierra Nevada, after dropping Jayne for some last minute bits and pieces of shopping in the city I drove up to a site on the western slopes of the Sierra. 

The road up to the ski resort was fine but on the side routes the ice and snow was still quite a problem, so I spent a posterior twitching last 20 minutes of the drive going very slowly along some bendy sloping roads with considerable drops to the side to reach the site but it was well worth it. Most of the birds coming up will not get the blood pumping for the British birders but I was very pleased with some of them. 

As I choose an ice free and dry parking place a small flock of birds flew in and landed right in front of the car on a girt bank, as I scanned through them I counted at least 20 Woodlarks (Totovia / Lullula arborea), 15 Rock Sparrows (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia) and a single 1st winter male Yellowhammer (Escribano Cerillo / Emberiza citronella) a good start. 

View of the site.

Strolling further along the road I started to scan in and below an area of nut and fruit trees, there were loads of Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) some really bright birds, Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and about 25 Brambling (Pizón Real / Fringilla montifringilla), with most of them being cracking males. 

A Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei) then flew across the road and into the same trees and the first large flock of Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) seen flew over head and it must have contained at least 300 birds. 

On the flatter area at the highest point of the site I saw two female Spanish Ibex (Capra pyreaica hispanica), as I started to walk down the hill I past amongst berry laden Hawthorn bushes. As I walked between them thrushes exploded from their cover and flew off towards the fruit trees, there were several Redwings (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus iliacus), loads of Blackbirds (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Mistle (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and Song Thrushes (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) but none of the hoped for Ring Ouzel (Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus) which Juan Perez and his wife had seen a week ago. 

Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotraustes).

Good numbers of Rock Buntings (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia) were seen and photographed, also seen here were Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Great (Carbonero Común / Parus major) and Blue Tits (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), 20+ Jackdaws (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and a couple of Jays (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius). 

On the walk back up the hill a small flock of about 12 Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) flew over calling and more Corn Bunting flocks past over, in total there must have been well over a 1000 of them in the small area I had covered. 

The finch / bunting list just kept growing, first came a nice male Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotraustes) which sat nicely in a leafless Walnut tree, then the second 1st winter male Yellowhammer, a small group of 5 Linnets (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and a few Serins (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) flew up from the roadside and a party of 4 female and 2 male Cirl Buntings (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus) all perched up neatly on a small Cherry tree. 

Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus).

As I reached the car again I still had the best part of an hour before I needed to get back down to the city so I just set the scope up on the road side and waited to see what turned up. 

A Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla) was the first species and quite unexpectedly it dropped down onto the ground and spent the next ten minutes scrambling around in the grass and scampering over rocks. 

More Rock Buntings and Woodlarks showed well and then an adult male Yellowhammer flew in to a small tree with a flock of about 30 Rock Sparrows, the Yellowhammer looked as though it was in almost full breeding plumage. 

The last three and a half hours had shot by and it was time to drive back down to meet Jayne, the car had behaved well but the birds had performed even better. I had seen only about 30 species but 13 of them were Finches, Buntings or similar.

Guadalhorce and Near Fuengirola, Malaga Province.

A shopping and birding day.

Purple Sandpiper (Correlimos Oscuro / Calidris maritime).

Jayne and I set off down to the coast to get the shopping for over the holidays while we have still got the hire car as we are not sure when the Fiesta will be back with us. The first stop was at the massive DIY store Leroy Merlin which is conveniently just opposite the Guadalhorce Nature reserve. I just fancied a look at the beach on the way further down the coast and was quite pleased with the birds seen on this very brief visit. The first things picked up were three separate flocks of Common Scoters (Negrón Común / Melanitta nigra) with a total of 22 birds between them, also seen were large numbers of Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis). 

Purple Sandpiper (Correlimos Oscuro / Calidris maritime).

With a quick scan along the shoreline I added 6 Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), several Sanderlings (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), a Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta) and a few Great Cormorants (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo) which were diving in the waves. A small number of Northern Gannets (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) fished further out and a Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) was also trying hard for a meal from the rocks just off the watch point. The only birds noted over the reserve were a single female Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) which was being mobbed by a flock of about 50 Spotless Starlings (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).

Sea or Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritime).

I then dropped Jayne off in the centre of Fuengirola and then continued further on along the coast to try and find some reported Purple Sandpipers (Correlimos Oscuro / Calidris maritime), eventually I located two birds a little further along the coast road than I had seen them in the previous year. I had just got set up and had taken some not so great shots when two more birders turned up from the opposite direction and the birds were flushed. They relocated further out on some rocks but eventually move back to the large blocks of concrete where they had been first. Again I was just setting up and a police helicopter flew over the site very low and flushed them again and that was to be the last I saw of them that morning. The only other new birds for the day were Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

Seaside Daisy (Asteriscus maritimus).

The coast line along the stretch was covered in white patches of Sea or Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritime) and dotted with the yellow flowers of both Seaside Daisy (Asteriscus maritimus) and Rock Marigold (Calendula suffruticosa), adding some nice colour at this time of the year.

Granada Airport and back, Granada Province.

Trip to collect a hire car.

After the third break down the ***bleeping*** car was left at the mechanics to be sorted out yet again. Garry one of our neighbours was kind enough to take me up to the airport to collect a hire car and on the way I picked up a few species.

On the fields along side the Autovia near Lachar I spotted a small flock of about 15 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) and a perched Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus). Both Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and a Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus) were also seen on the roadside fencing.

Other birds seen during the journey were Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Stone-curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).

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

A stroll down to the Bar.

Ladder Snake (Culebra de Escalera / Etaphe scalaris).

We got all the jobs done and decided to have a walk down to Huetor and then back over the fields as it was a nice sunny day. We started off down the hill pursued by some of the local campo hounds barking, yapping and generally being a pain. Good numbers of the locally common Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) were feeding in and around one of the farm cottages with at least 30 birds being seen in a tree at the same time.  

Ladder Snake (Culebra de Escalera / Etaphe scalaris).

Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer Domesticus) and Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) were all seen before we headed out into the open fields. On the fields and along the side of the barranco birds were plentiful, large numbers of finches and sparrows fed on the dried off thistle tops, White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Crested Larks (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) seemed to be popping up on the tops of all the field ridges and there were loads of Collared Doves (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and Spotless Starlings (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) on the wires. 

Further down the road toward the town Jayne suddenly stopped and I walked into the back her, when I sort of said why did you do that she pointed at the road just ahead of us at a rather large but dopey looking Ladder Snake (Culebra de Escalera / Etaphe scalaris). The snake really should have been curled up some where but had obviously been disturb from its winter slumber and had decided to take the rather dangerous route along the road side, after some coaxing the reptile moved off into the undergrowth. We continued a little further on and found the wintering flock of Stone-curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) on the normal field, about 200 birds were in view, along with small numbers of both Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) and Golden Plovers (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaia). 

The Arroyo Vilano.

Our next stop was at one of the local bars were we had a drink before setting off on the return walk on the road across the fields. When we reached the railway bridge we stopped and had a good scan over the fields picking up a small group of Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), a second flock of just over a hundred Stone-curlews, Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), a pair of Calling Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax) and a mixed flock of Crested (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis). On the final part of the walk an unexpected bird was added to the list, a Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) was perched low down in one of the Almond trees along the side of the barranco, which at the time only had a small tickle of water in it.

Other species noted included Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Hoopoe, Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina). We also picked up Small White (Artogeia rapae), Large White (Pieris brassicae) and Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) butterflies, a single Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) and a couple of Iberian Brown Hares (Lepus europaeus / poss subsp capensis).

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

First of the winter birds atlas days.

This was the first days atlas work for the 2010 /11 winter period, this is an on going 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 there 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, Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) x29, Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula) x11, Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) 94, Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) x1, Great Tit (Carbonero Común / Parus major) x7, Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) x95, Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) x15, Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) x57, 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, Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) x6, Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla) x17, Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) x41, Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) x35, Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) x8, 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, 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, Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer Montanus) x7, Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) x1, Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) x7, 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 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 small number of 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 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), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), 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 Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) and noticed in the back ground 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 down amongst the Skylark flock, flushing them and the Calandars up. It was a magnificent Short-eared Owl (Búho Campestre / Asio flammeus), it sat on the road side 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 road side ditch some 30 meters further on. It was unfortunaley time to go to work or I would have like some more views of the bird.