Fuente de Piedra, Laguna Dulce and surroundings, Ardales, and Coin area, Malaga Province.

A few new Birds and Orchids for the year.

Lesser Flamingo (Phoenicopterus minor).

On my way down town I went via the fields and had a look along the river picking up a pair of Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor). 

Lesser Flamingo (Phoenicopterus minor).

On a flooded field which reminded me somewhat of the rice paddies over at La Janda I added a couple of Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and what for my local patch is an uncommon bird a single Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta). 

On my way up to the town I also had very close views of a Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) which was perched in a road side Poplar.

Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax).

I meet Juan Perez at the Hotel just off the A92 exit 203 and we headed out to Fuente de Piedra to see if we could catch up with the couple of Lesser Flamingo’s (Phoenicopterus minor) which had been reported on Andy Patterson’s Blog www.birdingthecosta.com Our first stop was by the hide on the west shore where we scanned through the Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber) looking for the Lesser’s but the water level was quite a bit lower that the last time I was there and the Flamingo’s were more over towards the Eastern shore but we did picked up a few Avocets (Avoceta Común/ Recurvirostra avosetta), a Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Crested Lark, Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and a Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).

Wood Sandpiper (Andarrios Bastardo / Tringa Glareola).

We arrived at the entrance to the main centre and Juan immediately picked up a pair of Stone-curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) on the field to the right of the track and on the pool to the left we saw good numbers of Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata) and Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus) along with Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca) and Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos). 

Juan photographing the Champagneuxii

In the air good numbers of migrating Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Pallid Swifts (Vencejo Pálido / Apus pallidus) were joined by the newly arrived Gull-billed Terns (Pagaza Piconegra / Gelochelidon nilotica). We parked and went out on to the board walk where we soon started to add some waders to the list, several Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax) were present including a male which looked like he would be a fine sight in full breeding plumage, a single Wood Sandpiper (Andarrios Bastardo / Tringa Glareola), half a dozen Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta), Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus), Little Ringed Plover and Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus). 

Ophrys Bilunulata / subfusca

We then continued around towards the Mirador viewing the second much dryer than normal pool, here we picked up Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and more of most of the species already seen. From the Mirador we scanned the close and mid distance flocks of Greater Flamingo’s and eventually we located a pair of the Lesser Flamingo’s and a few minutes later a second pair. 

Our next stop was in the right hand hide over looking the smaller of the pools, again there were loads of Northern Shovelers, a few Mallards, new birds for the day included a female type Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica) and Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis).

Ophrys malacitana

Around in the hide over looking the bigger pool we had soon located several Whiskered Terns (Fumarel Cariblanca / Chlidonias hybridus) including at least to birds in none breeding 1st summer plumage. Also seen here were Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Lots more Northern Shovelers, Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina) and Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus).

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca / foresteri).

We retraced our steps back towards the car and had another look out on the board walk adding Yellow Wagtail, Water Pipit (Bistita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Lesser Kestrel (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Serin, Linnet, Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).

We then made our way across country to Laguna Dulce, on the way we called at a viewing point above the Eastern shore of the main lagoon and got much better views of the one pair of Lesser Flamingo's, we then scanned a little further to the left and found 3 more birds roosting and further out in the main flock we picked up another pair giving us a grand total of 7 Lesser's. Further on along the drive we saw another Common Buzzard and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus).

Fan-lipped Orchid (Orchis colina).

Once at the Laguna I was searching hard for the Ferruginous Ducks (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca) I had missed a few days earlier and after a while we found five skirting the edges of the reed beds off to the right. Also around the same area were good numbers of Eurasian Coots, Red-crested Pochard (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina), Gadwall, Black-necked (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), Little and Great Crested Grebes (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), the usual Northern Shovelers, Eurasian Teal, Mallards and a single male Tufted Duck (Porrón Monudo / Aythya fuligula). Also on the water were a few White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), lots of Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina) and Black-headed Gulls. 

On the margins a couple of Greater Flamingo’s were feeding along with at least 3 Purple Swamp-hens (Calamón Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Moorhen, Common Snipe, Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), a Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) and several White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba). 

O. x gennarii

In the air the species were much the same as at Fuente but there were a lot more Common and Pallid Swifts and just a few hirundines. We moved on to Laguna Salada, here the species were much the same and the only new birds added were a couple of Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta). The same could be said for Laguna de Capacete but there were a few of the waders here that we had seen including Ruff, Kentish Plover, Black-winged Stilt and Avocet.

We continued on past the first of the Ardales lakes to one of the sites I had been to a few days earlier with Ian Phillips and Michael Lowe looking at Orchids, Juan had unfortunately had not been able to join us. Here we found several spikes of Ophrys Bilunulata / subfusca and Ophrys malacitana, we both took quite a few photographs before moving to the second orchid spot just the other side of Ardales where we soon found Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca / foresteri), Ophrys subfusca and Fan-lipped Orchid (Orchis colina).

Ophrys x peltieri.

We collected some lunch and headed off south towards Coin where our first stop was to try and find Atlas Orchid (Ophrys atlantica) but we failed to find and plants in flower, this we suspect is mainly down to the low temperatures this winter and the lack of rain. Every where was bone dry so we were pleased to find Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera), Mirror Orchid ( Ophrys speculum), Champagne Orchid (Orchis champagnuxii), and Ophrys dyris all nicely in flower. At our last site of the day we were hoping to find a plant that we had seen last year, a hybrid between Ophrys scolopax and Ophrys speculum but we had no luck but we did well with the Woodcock Orchid (Ophrys scolopax) which were in perfect condition, more Speculum, tenthredinifera and one or two spikes of Orchis papilionacea which were just coming into flower. 

At the same sit we found the hybrid between Orchis papilionacea and Champagneuxii (O. x gennarii) and another strange little Ophrys which we are still checking out which turned out to be Ophrys x peltieri. Thanks Juan, yet another cracking day.

The Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

A pleasant days birding and a Granada Province tick.

Paul and Frances.

I met Paul and Frances at the Cortijo de Tajar Hotel, they had travelled over yesterday from Aguadulce area near to Osuna for a days birding. We set off heading towards the Cacín Valley passing Moraleda and straight out on to the agricultural areas nearby, on the way we picked up a Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) which was perched on some of the fly-tipped builders rubbish which seems to be one of the most out standing features of this part of Moraleda these days and a roosting Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) which was perched on the remains of a half built swimming pool! Once out on the fields we soon added Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Calandra Lark (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Rock Pigeon (Paloma Bravia / Columba livia), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) to the day list. 

We parked by the derelict Cortijo and scanned the fields and Almond groves nearby, several Great Spotted Cuckoo’s (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius) could be heard then a couple of birds started to chase each other through the trees before one perched in the top of one amongst the blossom. A Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) then flashed across the field and into the same grove of Almonds and back near the car a male Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) flapped right across the site giving us much better views. Just as we were getting back into the car our second Little Owl flew up from inside the Cortijo and dropped down into the field nearby. 

Ophrys forestieri.

We drove down one of the other tracks on the site where we had flight views of a male Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) which unfortunately dropped down behind a ridge out of view, also here we added Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata). 

On the way to the crags below Moraleda we picked up a couple of Hoopoe’s (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer Domesticus), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and a pair of Common Crossbills (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra) which came up off the road just In front of us which gave nice close views of the male in his nice red/orange plumage. Along the crags there were good numbers of Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), several Common Kestrels, males of both Blue Rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) and Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), calling Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus).

Bath White (Blanqiverdosa / Pontia daplidice).

We then retraced our tracks back to El Turro and continued on down the Valley towards the Embalse de Cacín stopping on the way to look at some Ophrys forestieri which were growing on the roadside but in much reduced numbers due to the council scrapping the verges. 

Here we had brief views of 3 Short-toed Eagles (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus) as they moved behind the trees, Coal Tit (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and Great Tit (Carbonero Común / Parus major). Our next stop was at the bridge over the Rio Cacín just below the dam, here we heard a Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major) drumming and it was soon located hammering away on one of the telegraph pole along the river. We also saw and heard Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus).

The water level was very low at the Embalse and bird numbers were well down, we did add Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo), a displaying male Marsh Harrier, Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) and Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea).

Small White (Artogeia rapae).

Considering the low level of the water I was quite surprised to find just singles of Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) and Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus) on the mud. We continued further on down to the roman bridge that crosses the gorge, here Blue Tit was the only new bird for the day list. We continued a little further on along the gorge before stopping and having our lunch in the now quite warm sunshine. Paul then spotted a male Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila Perdicera / Aquila faciatus) coming in low along the cliffs, it showed very well before turning and heading back towards the bridge. Here we also had several Red-billed Chough’s (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), better views of a male Blue Rock Thrush and several species of Butterfly including Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Swallowtail (Papilio machaon), Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra), Clouded Yellow (Colias crocea) and Small White (Artogeia rapae).

Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera).

After lunch we headed to the furthest point south we were going which bought us to the shores of Embalse de Bermejalis where we parked and looked for some Orchids in the Pine woods. We found more Ophrys forestieri, a single very smart plant of Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera) and a nicely flowering spike of Giant Orchid (Himanthoglossum robertiana). As usual the lake was devoid of birds so we pushed on back north along the road to Ventas de Huelma and then we took the road back to Cacín from there. I had told Paul and Frances how good this road was for large raptors so I was very a little disappointed when we had done a drive along the first track that the biggest thing we had seen was a single Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and a Kestrel. We were back on the main road when I was pleased to pick up a big raptor off to our right and was even more pleased when I realised that it was an immature Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti) a new bird for my Granada Province list. The only down side was that the bird disappeared very quickly and by the time we reached the near by high point we could not relocate it. From this point we did add 3 Golden Eagles (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) and 2 more Common Buzzards to the list. We then dropped back down to the Cacín Valley and had a second look at the Embalse where we picked up a small flock of at least 6 Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), a female Marsh Harrier and the only Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula) of the day.

Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum robertiana).

Next we had a second bash at getting the Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis) we had missed earlier but again we had no joy, we did see 2 Lesser Kestrels (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni), Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis) and I heard a Stone-curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) calling from some olives nearby. We drove around the site and exited via a different route and added a single Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) and a male Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

We returned to the Hotel via Mesia where a pair of Little Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) were seen on the river and Huétor Fields where we added Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and a pair of Stone-curlews but dipped on the wanted Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).

A total of 67 species of birds were seen during the day.

Laguna Dulce, Laguna Salada, Ardales area and back to Laguna Dulce.

A day out with the Orchid experts.

Michael and Ian.

Today was a trip I had been looking forward to for a while, after hearing so much about and reading so many of his papers on the Ophrys fusca group I was at last going to meet Michael Lowe. 

Ian Phillips an Orchid expert from Malaga , Michael and I were meeting in Ardales but not until 10:30 so I thought that I would make the most of the day and start out a little early and have a look at Laguna Dulce on the way over. 

Just before I pulled into the slip road down to the hide I picked up the first nice find of the day a Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) which was perched in a road side Almond tree preening. 

I parked and walked to the hide in the surrounding trees several Corn Buntings (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) were rattling out their song, along with a Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), a couple of Common Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), several Serin’s (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and a nice Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula) which was perched on one of the posts holding up the screening singing for all he was worth. 

Garganey (Cerceta Carretona / Anas querquedula).

From the hide there were good numbers of birds to be scanned through, the commonest were probably Eurasian Coots (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Common Pochards (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina). 

Also plentiful were the smarter of the two Pochards the Red-crested (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina) variety, with around 50 birds off to the right of the pool and on the far shore, mixed in with these birds were at least 6 Tufted Ducks (Porrón Monudo / Aythya fuligula) 4 males and 2 females but as hard as I tried I could not find any of the 4 reported Ferruginous Ducks (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca) seen a few day earlier. 

Ophrys Malacitana.

During the scan along the right side of the pool I picked up 2 male Garganey (Cerceta Carretona / Anas querquedula) and 2 female types but at the distance I was viewing them they could have been Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca) as there were a few about including a group of 6 cracking looking males. Continuing the scan I added 6 male Northern Pintail (Ánade Rabudo / Anas acuta), Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Little (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Great Crested (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus) and Black-necked Grebes (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus) and Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo). 

Down the left hand side I then picked up a group of 4 Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus) which were preening before they pushed on probably over to wards the Donana and at least 7 Purple Swamp-hen (Calamón Común / Porphyrio porphyrio) a species I had not seen at the site before.

Ophrys subfusca.

On the margins just Infront of the hide a couple of pairs of Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus) were feeding along with singles of Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) and Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) and on the far shore there was a flock of 13 Black-tailed Godwits (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa) getting ready to move on further North (well they had gone by the time I got back in the afternoon).

A few Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Common Swifts (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) were all in the air. Other birds seen included Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Crested (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and Calandra Larks (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer Domesticus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus).

Fan-lipped Orchid (Orchis collina).

I still had some time so I made my way around to Laguna Salada where I was pleasantly surprised to see that the water level was still quite good even after this very dry winter. 

On a small spit around 30 Greater Flamingo’s (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber) were roosting while a few were out in the deeper water Feeding, along with lots of Black-Headed Gulls, Northern Shoveler, Common Pochard, Mallard, Eurasian Coot and Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis). In the surrounding Tamarisks good numbers of Common Chiffchaffs were in full song as were the resident Cetti’s Warblers.

My next quick stop was at Observatorio Penarrubia just off the main road to Teba, Here I found a single Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) sat on the cliffs and another which just drifted past, Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and on the Embalse a single Great Crested Grebe.

I then made my way to the meeting point in a bar (now there’s a surprise) just before the town of Ardales, I arrived first and had a coffee and then Michael and Ian came in and we sat and chatted for some time before heading out to a site near the Embalse del Conde de Guadalhorce. 

Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi).

On a slope in a fairly dense area of Pine woodland we quickly started to find some of the Ophrys fusca group of Orchids we had come to look for, the first was Ophrys Malacitana which was quickly followed by Ophrys subfusca and a couple of Fan-lipped Orchids (Orchis collina). Whilst we walked around we saw a couple of Green Hairstreaks (Callophrys rubi), Large (Pieris brassicae) and Small White (Artogeia rapae), Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina) and Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera).

We next went back to Ardales and out on the road towards El Burgo where on a roadside bank we came across a colony of the other Orchid we were looking for Somber-bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca subsp fusca), along with Wide-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia), Iberis pectinata, Field Marigold (Calendula arvensis), Common Stork's-bill (Erodium cicutarium) and White Mignonette (Reseda Alba). 

We continued on along this road and turned towards Casarabonela but stopped at the highest point along this road and had a short walk in the pine woods finding very little before having a drive around the tracks on the mountain opposite. 

Somber-bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca subsp fusca).

Along here we found no Orchids mainly due to the hard frosts and lack of rain but we did see Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Great Tit (Carbonero Común / Parus major), another Green Hairstreak, several Cleopatra’s (Cleopatra / Gonepteryx cleopatra) and a couple of plants of Narcissus cantabricus.

I then said goodbye to Ian and Michael and headed back to Ardales and then called back in at Laguna Dulce where new species for the day included a calling Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and a flock of around 20 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) which flew over the fields to the rear of the laguna.

The day lists ended on, 82 species of bird and 4 species of Orchid.

La Malahá, Embalse de Bermejales and back to La Malahá, Granada Province.

A few more Orchids for the year.

Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs).

I drove over to the area near La Malahá and stopped at Cortijo del Marchalejo where I caught up with my first Lesser Kestrels (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni) of the year with around 15 birds being seen out on the fields nearby and a couple coming into the roof of the Cortijo. Also there were several Jackdaws (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común /

Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).

Galerida cristata), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and lots of Feral Pigeons (Columba livia domestica). I then moved on to where I was meeting Juan and started to set up my scope just then Juan turned upa nd surgested that we should go to Embalse de Bermejales to look for some early Orchids which might be in flower. 

Feral Pigeon (Columba livia domestica).

We drove down there in Juans car as mine was full of fencing for a job to be done over the next few days. We arrived and parked by the main dam and statred to search amongst the pine trees, we quickly started to find plenty of Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca), along with a few Giant Orchids (Himantoglossum robertiana) and just a single half eaten Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera). 

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca).

There were also a few birds about including Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Sardinian Warbler, Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), a single Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus), House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), 2x Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus) and Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo).

Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum robertiana).

We later returned to the spot where we had met and spent some time looking over the fields and waste ground to see if any of the winter raptors were still around. The first bird to whizz through was a Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius) which flashed along the lefthand fence line and disappeared as quickly as it had arrived, a couple of Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus) were nocking around and to finish off we picked up a single Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus) which again briefly displayed over on the left hand side of the site. Other birds seen included Calandra Lark (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) and Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).

Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera).

Huétor Fields, Granada Province.

Winters movers and Spring arrivals.

Out on the fields today the changes were quite obvious, the Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) flock has dropped down in numbers over the last week and all I could find this morning were a remnant group of 7 birds. The three males were going the game though, trying their hardest to impress the 4 remaining girls. The Stone-curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) were in much the same state with around 30 birds on the usual fields down from a winter high of nearly 700. Along the river much smaller numbers of White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Common Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and Meadow Pipits (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis) could still be found, while Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaia) and Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) numbers had actually almost doubled, I guess due to birds coming back North from Africa.

New arrivals or species in transit included lots of Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) which were pushing through in small groups, several of our local birds were also back on territories down near the town as were lots of House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica). The first two Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) flew up from the side of the road and a male Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) was perched on the roof of one of the small field huts where for the last few months there had been Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

There were a couple Black Redstarts still about but most birds had gone, as had all the local Song Thrushes (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) and Green Sandpipers (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus). Along the river there was a single pair of Little Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) chasing each other around, Steve Daly of Andalucian Guides (see link on right hand side) had told me that down his way near Barbate he had a pair of Plovers already sitting on eggs a week ago!!!

The resident birds were quite active as well, Crested (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and Thekla Larks (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) were singing and they will hopefully be joined by the summer visiting Short-toed Larks (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla) in the next few days. Several groups of Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) were moving nosily through the still bare Poplar trees which in a week or two will echo to the superb call of the many Golden Orioles (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus) that come to here to breed. In amongst the Olives and scrubby verges the cracking Sardinian Warblers (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) can be heard along with the almost continuous oop-oop-oop of the beautiful Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).

Spring has not fully arrived here yet (-3 last night) but its well on its way and for a trip down to the supermarket this was not a bad hours birding.

Between Barbate and Tarifa, Cadiz Province.

Birding along the Atlantic Coast.

Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres).

After a fairly good nights sleep (which was a surprise as I had been coughing most of the evening) Jayne and I headed out for a days Birding, Shopping and sightseeing, leaving Steve to carry out an urgent repair on his roof. We first stopped at the disused salt pans just South of Barbate where I got the scope out and started to scan through the waders present, they included a single Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), Grey Plover (Chorlito Gris / Pluvialis squatarola), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Kentish (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus) and Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus) and Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba). Other species included Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata). 

Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

We carried on down the coast and on to Traifa where we had a coffee before a much more pleasant that expected walk around the town. There were a lot of empty shops, most were closed down Surfing places but there were still loads open.

Later we headed back North and then turned off left to Bolonia and on up to Sierra de la Plata, on the run down into Bolonia I picked up another year tick a couple of very nice Short-toed Eagles (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus) which were flying low hunting over the fields next to the road. On the climb up to the Sierra Jayne picked up a couple more BIG BIRDS as she calls them which turned out to be the birds of the trip for me, two fine adult Egyptian Vultures (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus) which circled the lower crags before departing over the main ridge. We continued on to the cave and parked at the view point, from here we saw several Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Blue Rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes) and Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris). I walked a little way down the road where I met two Spanish birders, the first was from Algeciras and the girl (sorry I am useless with names) with him was from Extremadura, we had a chat about the local birds and about my visits to Extremadura before we departed for something to eat back down in Bolonia. 

Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).

After a very nice lunch we went back to the main road and headed to La Janda for a drive along the main canal and then cross country to Benalup. On the main canal and the surrounding fields birds were few and far between but Steve had already warned me that the rice paddies were dry (to stop the weeds growing) and that things were a bit quiet. We picked up a few of the resident Purple Swamp-hens (Calamón Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) and an absolutely cracking plumaged male Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) which flew along side us for a while.

We turned off the main track and headed out over the lower fields and then up on to the ridge on the far side passing through a small farm yard and then out into an area of wild Olives. On the way the commonest species were the male Pheasants (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Northern Lapwing, Common Stonechats and Black Redstarts (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) but the best bird was a splendid sub adult Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) which was hunting low over the ridge before dropping swiftly down along one of the field edge drainage ditches try with out success to take one of the male Pheasants hiding there. 

Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago).

Once we were past the farm we picked up two stunning Black-winged Kites (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) hovering over the breaks in the olives, another male Marsh Harrier and several distant Griffon Vultures which were soaring way off over the mountains. I then had a walk along the road and flushed a Short-eared Owl (Búho Campestre / Asio flammeus) and Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius) from a road side Olive trees; I did not get great views but two nice birds even so. Other birds included lots of Song Thrushes (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).

Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus).

We then continued on down to the point where the road turns to tarmac heading for Benalup, I thought that this would miss out the rough roads back across La Janda but how wrong can you be, there were more potholes along the road than on any other I have found in Spain so far. On this slow twisting drive we did add a few more species including a single Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago) feeding in a road side puddle, 4 Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca) on a small pool not much bigger that the last puddle, singing Calandra Lark (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaia), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus) and Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea).

We passed through the town of Benalup and headed back to Steve’s for the evening, where we chatted again over a few more beers. The only other birds recorded was a Tawny Owl (Cárabo Común / Strix aluco) which was heard but not seen. It was a very good job that Steve carried out the repairs on his roof as we had quite a storm in the night with some heavy rain, thunder and lightening.

Travelling to Gibraltar and onwards to Barbate, Cadiz Province.

A days travelling to see some friends.

Jayne and I set off down towards the A92 at Huétor Tájar to begin our trip down the coast West, stopping at La Linia and Gibraltar on our way to stop with Friends Steve and Patty Daly near Barbate. Birds started to be added to the list as soon as we got underway with a couple of Little Owls (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) still out and about in the early morning light, along with lots of Spotless Starlings (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Crested (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and Thekla Larks (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and around 90 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) which were moving from their roosting fields to the larger areas of Lucerne where they are regularly seen during the day. 

The Stone-curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) were already back and settled down on their favorite ridges in the fields just North of the town and a good number of Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and a single Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) were following a tractor which was out ridging up the soil around the early tips of the World Famous Huétor Tájar Asparagus. 

We got on the motorway and travelled down to Malaga and on past Fuengirola, Estapona to La Linia where Jayne wanted to visit the weekly market, remembering from the last time we were there that some of the stalls did nice cotton fabrics which she needs to do her patchwork / quilting with. We had a good walk round and she found what she was after and we left there heading to Gibraltar quite pleased. There was just a very short queue so I was dropping Jayne of for her walk along the main street and I went and did a bit of birding. I did not see a lot but picked up good numbers of migrating Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) mixed in with very large numbers of migrating / resident Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and a couple of Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus). 

Due to the cloud cover there was no visible raptor movements so I headed up to the car park near the cable car and then went and met Jayne before we carried on out of the border and on down towards Tarifa and then North to between Barbate and Vejer. On the way we saw Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus), Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), more Western Cattle Egrets, Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti).

We arrived at Steve’s and Patty’s (who both run Andalucian Guides, see the link at the side of the blog) a little later than planned but as usual when you are running behind you meet the only three Spanish drivers on the road that stick to the 80km speed limit set along most of the road between Tarifa and Vejer.

After the long drive it was a pleasure to sit down and have a chat (well more me picking Steve’s brain) over a couple of beers, whist we were sat here good numbers of Black Kites (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans) were passing over head along with several groups of Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido / Apus pallidus) also pushing on North as the light was starting to drop.

A little later we had a very nice meal and then we continued to chat over a few more beers before spending a night in the very comfortable Hoopoe Cottage.