Valencia City, Day Two.

Sightseeing around the City.

Basilica de la Virgen de los Desamparados.

Today was a general wander around the City with a mix of sightseeing and shopping. We started by going to the Mercado de Colon, an old market which had been unsympathetically done up with some not so great looking places to eat. As it was still not raining we headed down to the old river bed parks, the river was moved a few Kms down the road after some very bad floods in the 1950's and the area is now being used for walking and a great many other recreational activities. 

Lace Stalls.

We followed the parks up as far as the Torres de Serranos the Northern gateway into the City and then moved south through the winding back streets until we found our selves passing the Palau de la Generalitat and back in the Plaza de la Virgen. 

Doorway to Palace of the Marquis of Dos Aguas.

We went inside the Basilica de la Virgen de los Desamparados and the Cathedral which was close by, both fantastic buildings surrounded by nice public areas.

Torres de Serranos.

Our next stop and for me the highlight of the day was the Mercado Central, what a place to do you shopping, Vegetable, Meat, Fish and many other stores selling what looked like some of the freshest and unmessed with food I had ever seen. 

Mercado Central.

The herb and spice stalls made the place smell great; it was spotless, friendly and just a great experience. Lunch was taken back at La Sardinaria; the menu del dia was very good and set us up for an afternoon in the shopping part of the City. 

Stall in the Market.

After a quick doze in the afternoon we again went out on the town till late on, eventually found a place to eat and the retired back to the room with aching feet.

Valencia City, Day One.

Jayne’s Birthday!!!!

Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia building.

Plan one for today was to get lost just wandering around the City streets, but the rain was heavier that we had hoped so plan two was put into action. We caught the bus down to the Ciudad de las Artes Y las Ciencia’s which was what we had planned to do the next day. We arrived and purchased a ticket for the Science Museum and the Aquariums, the buildings in this area are very futuristic and modern looking. 

Jayne and friend.

We entered the Museum and made our way to the top floor and started to explore, we soon came across the one thing I had wanted to visit. I quickly took off my Naturalist anorak and put on the Star Trek version. The exhibition was great with loads of info and items of clothing from the many different versions of the program/ films. 

Jayne on the Enterprise bridge.

We continued to work our way around this attraction and before we knew it we had used the whole of the morning up and so we decided to head over to the Sea life Centre as we were told that this would take us a lot longer than the museum. 

Star Trek costumes.

The only faults with the Science building was a lack of signage and the only loo's being down on the ground floor by the entrance which is one hell of a trek from the third floor, but a good morning.

We started in the Oceanográfic (Sea life centre) by going through the Tropical and Mediterranean tunnels and tanks, it was fantastic with so much to look at we found we had spent another hour and a half just in this area and our stomachs were telling us it was time to find some food. 

Sunfish.

We visited the cafe on site which was reasonable and not too expensive. On our way around the to next tunnel we called in at the bird enclosure, where there was a collection of water birds including Night Heron (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax), Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca), American Green-backed Heron and Rosy Spoonbill amongst others not really the way I like to see birds, but it was a fairly good for a captive collection. 

Green-backed Heron.

We then continued through the Caribbean area and then into the tunnel with all the large Sharks. We finished of by going into the Arctic and Antarctic areas; here we saw Walrus, Beluga Whales and Penguins.

Tropical Fish.

It was early evening by the time we caught the bus back to the hotel, we had 40 winks and then headed out for the night and to find some where nice for a meal. We eventually decided on a small restaurant called La Sardineria which was very popular. 

Male Walrus.

We enjoyed the meal and would fully recommend a visit, the food was good and the owners were very pleasant.

From Loja, Granada Province to Valencia, Valencia Province.

Travelling to Valencia.

We made a fairly early start to our long journey up to Valencia, we travelled via Granada, up past Guadix, Basa and out of the Province into Murcia. The trip as far as here had been pleasent execpt for some rain and fog, we stopped for some breakfast and then pushed on to Alicante. This was where one wrong turn got us onto a pay motorway by mistake heading towards Benidorm, we decided to stay on the toll road till we cleared Benidorm and then drop on to the coast road. It was a lot slower but quite a pleasent drive.

On the way I picked up Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Western Cattle (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

I was pleased that we reached the city during the afternoon as the traffic was light and with just a single stop to ask for directions to the hotel we arrived and settled in. We later went out and had our first walk around this fine city.

Los Barrios area, Cadiz Province.

Two new raptor's for my Spanish List.

Long-legged Buzzard (Busardo Moro / Buteo rufinus).

An early start was required for today’s trip, so Jayne and I were on our way at 07:00 (Ok I class that as an early start these days!!) heading toward Gibraltar. The journey was uneventful and I had dropped Jayne at the border and I was birding at Los Barrios by quarter to 10. Before I had even stopped the car I had seen the first of the days highlights sitting on one of the many electrical pylons. 

Long-legged Buzzard (Busardo Moro / Buteo rufinus).

I parked and walked back to find the Long-legged Buzzard (Busardo Moro / Buteo rufinus) had disappeared, good numbers of Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) about 150 birds could be seen circling over a near by hill side and a couple of Common Kestrels (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus) hovered over the marshes on the opposite side of the road. The Buzzard then reappeared on one of the more distant pylons, so I jumped back into the car and drove down a dirt track to get a bit better view. 

Paper-white Narcissus (Narcissus papyraceus).

The bird sat nicely but was on the far side of the pylon behind some of the metal work so views were not great but I took a few shots, as I was checking them the bird again flew and made its way back to original perch back by the road. Paper-white Narcissus (Narcissus papyraceus) formed some nice large clumps in the fields and along a small stream at the side of the track, also in the ditch were flowering Lesser Celandine (Ranunculus ficaria), Hollow Stemmed Asphodel (Asphodelus fistulosus), Bidens aurea, White Asphodel (Asphodelus albus) and Crown Daisy (Chrysanthemum carinatum var discolor). 

Hollow Stemmed Asphodel (Asphodelus fistulosus).

I then moved back up to the road and got much better views of the bird and some slightly better shots, on the marsh there were lots of Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), a few Grey Herons (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus) and on the fences Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and Linnets (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina).

White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).

After reading on Rare Birds In Spain that a Ruppell’s Vulture (Buitre Moteado / Gyps rueppelli) had been seen in the area a few days earlier I thought that I would try and get closer to the circling birds on the hillside. On the drive round I took some photos of some White Storks on the nest, I stopped to have a look at the flocks of birds but could only pick out Griffons and Storks, which made me think are these birds more difficult to separate than I had suspected? Any way I continued around the hill to the far side where I came to a sharp halt at the sight of a very large Eagle perched on one of the middle distance pylons. 

Crown Daisy (Chrysanthemum carinatum var discolor).

A quick scan with the bins and I was getting quite excited, it was a plain, very pale brown bird which I could not put a name to at this point. I was sure it would fly before the scope was set up but it was still there and a few seconds later I found another new species for me Decoyus plasticus (Large plastic Eagle) and I was left feeling rather pleased to be birding alone today. The feeling very quickly passed as a small looking mainly dark Vulture appeared a few hundred meters away and flew right over my head. The question I had asked earlier was fully answered, if you only think it might be a Ruppell’s then it is almost certainly a Griffon because as soon as this bird was seen it was obviously with out any doubt an adult Ruppell’s. 

Decoyus plasticus (Large plastic Eagle).

Now feeling rather pleased I set off back around to the site for the Buzzard to see if the dismal light had improve any but it had not so I had a drive around the marshes picking up a Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus) sitting on a fence post, Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).

Winter Atlas work, Mesia area, Granada Province.

Another day with the local birds.

Visigoth graves.

Today I was surveying a route near the town of Mesia (Itineraries 1-5) and a small stretch of broom scrub near El Turro (6-8). Again I have just put in a list of the birds with the total for the day, pretty much in the order I saw them.

The only detour of the day was when I meet a Spanish gentleman call (I hope I am spelling this right) Manuel López Orten who lead me on a walk over some of the nearby fields to a large rock which we climbed up to the top of. On the highest surface there were two Visigoth graves hacked out of the solid rock, later he also showed me a ruin that he said could be an old Moorish baths. These little detours made the morning a lot more interesting.

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The Birds recorded.

Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus) x6, Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) x15, Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) x13, Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) x6, Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) x35, Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) x110, Great Tit (Carbonero Común / Parus major) x13, Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) x5, Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) 3, White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) x19, House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer Domesticus) x61, Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula) x6, Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) x3, Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) x4, Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) x68, Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei) x1, Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis) x25, Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo) x5, Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) x1, Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla) x2, Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) x3, Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) x2, Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) x44, Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) x1, Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) x4, Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) x5, Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) x1, Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa) x2, Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) x7, Brambling (Pizón Real / Fringilla montifringilla) x126, Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) x8, Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) x25, Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) x4, Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major) x 2, Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla) x1, Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes) x2, Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) x13, Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus) x1, Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) x5, Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) x8, Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) x1, Blue Rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) x3, Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra) x1, Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura) x4, Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia) x1, Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus) x1, Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) x1, Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus) x3 and Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) x3.

Arab Baths.

Later in the evening I meet up with Beatriz and Juan at a site near Ogíjares where we spent the next hour counting Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) coming in to roost. Just before Juan and Beatriz arrived I had seen a single White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia) pass south heading down towards the coast, 2x Hoopoe, Black Redstart and large numbers of Jackdaws (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) which were heading in the right direction to join the large roost at the Airport. I counted 1400ish Egrets coming in from the North but Juan and Beatriz had about 3400 come in from the South, they could be seen heading towards us as two large clouds each containing over a thousand birds.

Cabo de Gata, Punta Entinas/Roquetas de Mar and Canada de las Norias, Almeria Province.

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

Water, more water and even more water.

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

David and Steve’s last day had soon come around and after a fairly early start we found our selves viewing an area of fields to the north of Cabo de Gata in Almeria Province. 

On the way down we had seen the only Carrion Crows (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone) of the trip, 4 birds were perched on wires at the side of the Autovia just south of Guadix. 

We were now looking for a species that I had not yet caught up with in Spain and armed with directions from a friend in Granada we were searching for a small flock of Eurasian Dotterel (Charadrius morinellus) which have wintered in the area for some years. 

The site had been fallow for a long time but back in 2010 the area was ploughed and this had made the birds less reliable at the site as we were finding out. 

The only birds seen were Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and lots of European Serins (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus). 

Lycium intricatum.

We moved on south and called at the first hide on the Northern end of the salt pans. Good numbers of Greater Flamingo’s (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber) were immediately obvious, along with several Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta) and at least 50 Slender-billed Gulls (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei). 

Once the scopes were set up we started to add a few waders to the trip and day list, these included Pied Avocet (Avoceta Común/ Recurvirostra avosetta), 20+ Black-tailed Godwits (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), 10+ Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), 2x Common Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), 10+ Grey Plover (Chorlito Gris / Pluvialis squatarola), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) and 2x Common Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula).

We then moved down the seaward side of the pans and called at the first hide, we did not see anything new from here but decided to leave the car on the road and walk down to the next hide which I thought was the large main one, but that one was quite a way on. 

We had a scan from here and added both Eurasian Stone-curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) x8 and Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus) on the small pool to the side of the hide. I then decided that I would go and fetch the car and meet David and Steve at the main hide, thinking that it might make it a long circuit with David and his broken toe. On my way back I started to pick up numbers of finches in the dune area between the road and the sea and then I dropped on four cracking Trumpeter Finches (Bucanetes githagineus), 3 females and a male all of which were hanging around with a good-sized flock of European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris). 

One of the females perched nicely on a wooden fence pole and I managed to get a couple of OKish shot before racing off to the car and returning a few minutes later with the lads. 

Trumpeter Finch (Bucanetes githagineus).

We eventually got some nice views of the three females but the male was only seen once more in flight, then he disappeared. 

After the cracking Trumpeters had moved along the road a bit we returned to the main hide and had a look from there adding a single Spotted Redshank (Archibebe Oscuro / Tringa erythropus) to the list and also picked up a couple of Sandwich Terns (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus), Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata) and Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis).

We then took a drive out to the lighthouse but it produced nothing except a chance to pick up lunch which we ate in the hide back on the northern shore where we saw the same birds as earlier on plus a couple of Eurasian Wigeon (Silbón Europeo / Anas Penelope).

We then drove around the city of Almeria and went to the lagoons and salt pans near Roquetas del Mar, the numbers of Northern Shoveler were huge with there being a couple of thousand on the first lagoon alone. 

The wind was getting quite strong by this point which made birding hard going but we persisted and eventually found a single Red-knobbed Coot (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata) in amongst the Eurasian Coot flock and at least three Western Marsh Harriers (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) could be seen patrolling over the reed beds. 

A single Greater Flamingo flew along the back of the lake, several Great Cormorants (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo) were drying out their wings on some dead tree stumps and 50+ Eurasian Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) bounced around in the wind.

We moved on to Canada de las Norias another lagoon, but this one is surrounded by miles upon miles of plastic covered greenhouse which does not make this site the most pleasant to visit. Any way we had a walk along the causeway at the eastern end and got good views of some of the 300+ White-headed Ducks (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala) we picked up. 

A little further along Steve got views of an adult Black-crowned Night Heron (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax) in the low tamarisk trees out in the water, while we were watching it, the bushes suddenly erupted with Black-crowned Night Herons going up from every where. 

Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris).

There was a flock of at least 60 birds which circled for a couple of minutes before dropping back in to the trees and giving us more excellent views. 

At the far end of the pool a small flooded area had a small flock of waders on it, they included three Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax), a few Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Black-winged Stilt and a couple of Dunlin. On the walk back to the car we found several Little (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Great Crested (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus) and Black-necked Grebes (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Northern Shoveler and loads more Eurasian Crag Martins getting battered by the wind.

We started the journey home but called briefly at Charca del Suarez on the way past. 

The reserve was about to shut so we only had a walk along the boundary track but we saw both Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) well.       

75 bird species seen.

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.