Padul Wetland, Granada Province.

A few hours birding in the first rain of the Autumn.

Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis).

Jayne and Barb again fancied a few hours around the City of Granada (and who can blame them it is a great place) so I dropped them off and headed down to Padul wetland just to the South where I had been a few days earlier looking for three female Mandarin Ducks (Pato mandarin / Aix galericulata) seen by good friend Juan Perez. 
I again headed for the hide which looks out over the main lake but again there was no sign of the Mandarins but I did find quite a few nice species even though the rain at times was quite heavy. On the margins large numbers of Goldfinches (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and Serins (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) were coming down to drink and the they we siting up in some nearby bushes where they spent sometime preening and sorting them selves out which gave me the chance to get a few shot. 

Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

They were joined by a few House Sparrows (Gorrión Común / Passer Domesticus), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and a female Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus).
Out on the lake there were around 8 Grey Herons (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), a few Western Cattle (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and a single Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) and on the near bank a least 3 Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago). 

Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis).

In the bushes behind the hide I added a Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) and a male Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) to the list as I went back to the car and started to drive a little further around the reserve.
In the area along the drainage ditches I picked up the first of around 15 Whinchats (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra), a male Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and a nice male Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe). I then made a stop on the track side near a few small little elotiment type areas when I saw a small group of birds fly up out of the weeds on the back edge of one of the fields.

Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra).

The group turned out to be a party of Ortolan Bunting's (Escribano Hortolano / Emberiza hortulana) a new species for my Granada list, it consisted of 2 males, 1 female and an Immature. Also in this area were a few more Whinchats, Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and a small flock of Yellow Wagtails (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava) of mixed races. 

Ortolan Bunting (Escribano Hortolano / Emberiza hortulana).

I had some good views of the Ortolan's so I decided to have a look at the hide which was on the side of the smelly canal on the other side of the lake. I did not find the Mandarins here either but I did get nice views of a Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), some migrating Sand Martins (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia), Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scirpaceus) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).

Ortolan Bunting (Escribano Hortolano / Emberiza hortulana).

I then decided as I still had some time to go back to the site where I had seen the Ortolan's to see if I could get some better views, as I pulled up the flock again flew up into one of the dead fruit trees in the hedge at the back of the small fields but this time I counted 10 Ortolan's amongst the finches and bunting flock. Other birds included Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and a single male Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus). 

Ortolan Bunting (Escribano Hortolano / Emberiza hortulana).

I then made my way back into the city and we headed home, the weather was not to good so we were forced to sit inside for the first time in Barbs stay.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Around the Fig Tree.

A quieter day spent at home, after sorting out some outstanding jobs we again settled down on the terrace. It was a bit cooler with a thin layer of high white cloud so spotting the higher flying birds would be easier but there were only a few today which included 2x Common Buzzards (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), 3x Short-toed Eagles (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus) and a single Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus). Also seen in the garden were Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus) and Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) these were all seen along with a constant flow of Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) moving South. Other wildlife noted included Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi) and Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii).

Embalse de Cubillas, Padul and Home near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Birding the Granada area wetlands.

Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca).

I started by dropping Jayne and Barb off at the large Market on the outskirts of Granada City and then headed off towards Embalse de Cubillas which lies just to the north of Granada. In the North east corner where the Rio Cubillas and Blanco enter the lake, I spent a couple of hours watching some interesting species. As I got out of the car I immediately picked a calling Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), several Long-tailed Tits (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus) and a Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla) making its way up a nearby Pine tree. I made my way down to the side of the water which was at a much lower level than the last time I was there but with the lack of rain last winter it is not really surprising. 

On the margins there were quite good numbers of waders, most were either Ringed (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) or Little Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) along with a few of both Green (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) and Common Sandpipers (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos). 
Amongst the waders there were lots of Wagtails most were White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) but in the more vegetated areas there were also quite a few Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) of three different subspecies (flavissima, iberiae and flava). 

Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus).

On the water I could see a small group of birds which was made up mainly of Eurasian Coots (Focha Común / Fulica atra) but there were also a couple of female Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca) and a single female Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) in the mix. Further back from the water's edge there was a small group of roosting Grey Herons (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) resting along with a few more birds dotted around the area, in total there were about 25 birds on view. I walked along the margins towards a few dead pine trees which had fallen over in to the water as there were quite a few small birds flitting around in their branches. 
The commonest specie here was by far Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) with at least 30 birds in the three trees, these were seen along with a couple of Pied (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca) and a single Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Great (Carbonero Común / Parus major) and Coal Tits (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Willow Warbler (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis). 

Down on the waters edge I added a pair of Grey Wagtails (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) which were chasing each other around amongst the rocks, several European Serins (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) which were coming down to drink and a little further away there was a single Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta) feeding. I then had a scan out across the water a picked up several hirundines including Barn (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Red-rumped Swallows (Golondrina Dáurica /

Red Squirrels (Sclurus vulgaris).

Hirundo daurica) and Sand (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia), House (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Eurasian Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and on a dead stick a Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus) no doubt one of the 3 birds Juan Perez had seen yesterday. 

I then started to walk back towards the car, seeing several Red Squirrels (Sclurus vulgaris) in the pines along with 3 Honey Buzzards (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus) and a Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus) all moving down the lake towards the dam.

I then went back into the city and picked Jayne and Barb up, we were going to have some lunch but the place was not opening for an hour, so I suggested that as we had some time to kill we might just pop down the motorway to Padul where Juan had seen three female Mandarin Ducks (Pato mandarin / Aix galericulata) earlier in the morning. 
We arrived at the spot where he had seen them but found quite a few people were unfortunately walking around the margins and all the birds had flushed. 

We spent some time in the hide and picked up 5x Great Cormorants (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) all new for the day list. 

We then made our way back to Granada and had lunch before heading back home to spend the rest of the afternoon on the terrace. Almost as soon as we sat down a cracking male Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) came drifting up from the fields over the Olive trees, we also saw Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), 3x

Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea).

Short-toed Snake Eagles (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and during the few house we were up there was a constant passage of hirundines along with dozens of Alpine Swift (Vencejo Real / Apus melba).

Torremolinos, Malaga Province.

A day on the beach.

We set off from home and drove down to the sea front at Torremolinos where we were going to spend the day on the beach getting some sun. So when we arrived to a grey overcast sky we were unsure what to do but eventually we just went and got some sunbeds and braved it. It certainly was not cold and a distant crack of blue in the grey gave us some hope. I had a very nice dip in the see which was not as cold as I thought it might be and then we went and had some lunch in the bar behind us. As we were eating the sun came out and that was the way it stayed until we venchered off the beach at about 18:30 for the trip home. I did take the bins but its hard birding with so many people half dressed on the beach but I did see Balearic (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus) and Cory's Shearwaters (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea), Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Audouin's Gulls (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii). While we were lying the I also noticed a good passage of House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Barn (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Red-rumped Swallows (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica) heading west along the coast.

Guadalhorce, Malaga Province and Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

A Morning with the Axarquia Bird Group.

Eurasian  Oystercatcher (Ostrero Euroasiatico / Haematopus ostralegus).

I set off from home at around 07:00 to get down to Guadalhorce nature reserve a while before the start of the Axarquia bird group meeting so that I could spend some time on the beach at the first sea watch point. I arrived just after 08:00 and set the scope up at the end of the embankment and immediately started to pick up some interesting species including Balearic (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus) and Cory's Shearwaters (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea), Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), a single Eurasian Oystercatcher (Ostrero Euroasiatico / Haematopus ostralegus) which I could hear ages before it landed on the main beach with a Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), a couple of Ringed (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) and Kentish Plovers (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus).

Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus).

Up the river there was a small group of around 50 gulls but all 5 species I would expect to see were there, Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis). On the margins a Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta) was feeding, a Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) sat on one of the larger rocks and a male Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) darted around on the track.

Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus).

I then started the walk down towards the bridge where the group were meeting, on the way I saw a single Little Tern (Charrancito Común / Sterna albifrons) which was feeding in the pool near the beach, Cetti’s (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and Sardinian Warblers (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus), Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticolajuncidis), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Willow Warbler (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus), Great Tit (Carbonero Común / Parus major), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur).

Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus).

I reached the meeting point in plenty of time and was soon joined by John and Jenny Wainwright from Salar who were also a bit early, while we were waiting for the others to arrive we picked up several more species including an Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus) which was perched in one of the distant dead trees, Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla) and Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica).
At just after 09:30 20 more birders arrived for the walk around the reserve including Bob Wright, Andy Paterson and Steve and Elena Powell just to name a few, after the customary chinwag we set off and made our way over the bridge and out towards the first of the hides which over looks the reed fringed pool on the track out to the far sea watch hide. Straight away we started to see new species including 3 Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera) and a Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) on the river, a female Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) over the main lake and just before the hide we had the first of half a dozen Honey Buzzards (Aberjero Europeo / Pernisapivorus) pass over head. From the hide we saw Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca) before moving on to the wader hide where we added a single Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus) and a Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scirpaceus) to the list.

Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus).

In some small bushes a few yards further on we started to locate a few small brown jobs flicking between cover, these included Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca), another Common Redstart, a Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos) which was heard but not seen and on the opposite side of the track an immature Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator) showed well from the top of a tall Shrub Tobacco (Nicotinana glauca) plant. We moved on down towards the beach scanning the wet area off to the right of the track where we saw several move Black-winged Stilts, a couple of Sanderlings (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba) and a calling Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia).
Next we had a look from the sea watch point but the sea had now gone flat calm and we only managed to locate a few gulls all of which I had seen earlier, the Eurasian Oystercatcher did a fly-by and the only Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber) of the day flew up the river. We then made our way along the beach towards the track back onto the

reserve, during the track through the sand we added a single Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and a couple more Sanderlings. Once back on harder ground we made our way to the main hide where we quickly busted the list with Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia) and just as we were leaving 3 Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus) flew around but did not land.

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

We moved onto the last hide over the narrow pool where I eventually caught up with White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala) and picked up a single Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) which flew up from the margins. After a while Bob and the birders that were left decided to walk back to the car, I went back via the beach and had another quick look at the main hide on the way but only added a second Osprey to my list before heading back to the car and driving home.

I spent the rest of the afternoon on the terrace with Jayne and Barb, while I was there I saw several new species for my day list including Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), an adult Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos), 3x Sparrowhawks (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), a good number of passing Alpine Swift (Vencejo Real / Apus melba) along with several late Commons (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) and a scattering of Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) amongst the flocks of other hirundines.

I finished the day off on 82 species.

Medina Azahara and Codoba City, Cordoba Province.

A day out with Jayne's sister.

Aljama Mosque.

Jayne, Barb and I set off quite early and headed west then north up to the famous Medina Azahara a place we had wanted to visit for some time. We made good progress and after weaving our way through the western edge of the city we arrived at the visitors centre. We first of all watched a film about the site and then had a walk around the museum area before catching a bus up to the main site on the slopes above. We spent the next 2 1/2 hours around the ruins and gardens, there was a lot of work going on so some areas were shut to the public but there was certainly plenty to see.

Cooking Oven.

On the wildlife front I picked up several species including Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Western Cattle Egret Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Alpine Swift (Vencejo Real / Apus melba), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), a stunning male

Blue Rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), singing Corn Buntings (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca), Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional /Lanius meridionalis) and Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla).

Jayne and Barb.

Later we caught the bus back to the carpark and headed into the city and parked in a free spot near the river. We were by this time quite hungry so we stopped and had lunch before walking along the river and crossing into the city via the reformed Roman bridge, on the walk I saw Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Lesser Kestrel (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni), Common Sandpiper Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) and Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris).

Courtyard of the Pillars.

We spent a pleasant couple of hours around the back streets of the historic section, had a very nice ice-cream before wandering back to the car and heading home, on the way adding a few Common Buzzards (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo). 

Arch ar the far end of the Cordoba Roman Bridge.

The Roman Bridge.

Home near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

A bit more Migration over and through the Fig tree.

Pale morph Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus).

The day started off OK, Jayne and Barb headed down into Huetor to have a look at the market and do some food shopping whilst I waited at home for a Log delivery ready for the winter. By 12:00 there was no sign of the Logs so I gave the chap a ring and in my broken Spanish asked why he had not delivered the load, I understood that he was eating and would get to us asap , but not the load I was expecting as this was the wrong log man but I did not know this at the time. So just as Jayne and Barb got back the load of logs arrived and I carried them in and stacked them. We then had some lunch and while we were sat up on the terrace in what can only be described as overcast conditions I started to pick up a few Short-toed Eagles (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus) which due to the conditions were coming through quite low. These were followed by two Booted Eagles (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus) one of each colour morph and shortly afterwards a duo of Black Kites (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans). Short-toed Eagles continued to come through and by the end of the couple of hours of scanning the skies 14 had passed over along with another 26 Black Kites which came through in one flock and a single Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus).

Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca).

At lower levels a couple of Pied Flycatchers (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca) stopped off to spend some time feeding up and a single Subalpine Warbler (Curruca Carrasquena / Sylvia cantillans) was also seen briefly down in the barranco. Up to this point the day had gone well but then the bell rang and I went and met another Spanish chap with an even bigger load of logs on a trailer, I asked him what he wanted and he replied that you rang earlier and asked for a log delivery, I said that I had not but he showed me my number at the time I thought I was talking to the first log guy. Anyway to cut a long story short we ended up unloading another great big load of logs, this time Jayne and Barb gave me a hand (Sorry) and we had it done in just over an hour. We have now got enough wood to last us until the new year but the yard does look a little full! This will teach me to check that I am ringing the right chap the next time!!!!!

Home near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

A bit of Migration over the Fig tree.

Jayne and I set off down to Malaga Airport to pick up her sister who was coming over for a 10 day break. We met Barb and then came straight back up to the house as she had been up since 03:00 and just fancied a quiet afternoon on the terrace. We arrived back at about 12:30 and sorted out some drinks and a snake and went up on the back and spent the rest of the day there relaxing and watching the world (and a few birds) go by. The local residents were all knocking around in the garden including Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer Domesticus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Great Tit (Carbonero Común / Parus major). Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Red-rumped (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica) and Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) were all seen flying over the olives.
During the afternoon several Raptors were recorded including three different Golden Eagles (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos), two immature birds (one with a couple of primaries missing) and a very smart looking adult. Other species seen were Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) x2, Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans) x1, Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus) x2 and a single Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) which was mobbing one of the immature Golden Eagles. Whilst we were sat there I also saw a couple of male Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi), a female Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Geranium Bronze (Cacyreus marshalli), Small White (Artogeia rapae) and a Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros).

Later we had a nice meal sat out and just as it was going dark two Red-necked Nightjars (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis) did quite close fly-bys.

Travelling to and at Rio Velez, Malaga Province.

Lots of visible bird migration.

Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus).

Jayne and I set off down to Torre del Mar on the cross country route via Salar and Venta de Zafarraya on the way we saw several Lesser Kestrels (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni) which were still in the usual spots along the way along with Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), Crested (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and Thekla Larks (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).

Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba).

I dropped Jayne off in Torre and went down to the Rio Velez for a couple of hours birding, straight away I stared to see interesting species including Green (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) and Common Sandpipers (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) and Melodious Warbler (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta). I then walked down stream towards the beach for a while adding Reed (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scirpaceus), Great Reed (Carricero Tordal / Acrocephalus arundinaceus), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Cetti’s Warblers (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos) and Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula).

Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba).

I then went back up on to the track and walked down as far as the pump house and then started to have a look across the fields from some of the many tracks. Here migration was quite obvious with large numbers of Red-rumped (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica) and Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) moving west through the site along with a lot of House (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and just a sprinkling of Sand Martins (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia). There were a couple of fields which had been left fallow for some time and were now covered in quite a dense growth of weeds / wildflowers and amongst them I located a couple of Dartford Warblers (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), a single Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis), several Willow Warblers (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus), a single male Subalpine (Curruca Carrasquena / Sylvia cantillans) and in one of the fruit trees the first of at least 3 Orphean’s (Curruca Mirlona / Sylvia hortensis).

Immature Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).

Also seen out in the more open areas was a single male Black-eared (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica) and 4x Northern Wheatears (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), a flock of 9 Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), the more usual Thekla and Crested, 5x Common Waxbills (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild) and Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).
I then made my way out onto the beach and immediately found 3 Sanderlings (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba) running with the waves. I then set the scope up and scanned through the birds out to see and quickly counted over 90 Cory's Shearwaters (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea) most of them sat on the sea in a couple of rafts, a couple of Balearic’s (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus) flew through heading east along with quite a few Northern Gannets (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) and Sandwich Terns (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis).

Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer Montanus).

After a few minutes a lot of the Shearwaters and the loafing Gulls flew and gathered around an area of what looked like newly discharge sewage just off the coast which gave me chance to get some nice views, while I was scanning through the flock I was surprised to pick up a Sparrowhawk in amongst the scrum. Gulls included Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus) and of course Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis). I then ad a look at the beach pool but apart from a few Lesser (Anax parthenope) and Blue / Common Emperors (Anax imperator) it was empty, not even a Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra).

Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus).

I then made my way slowly back along the Rio looking for more Dragons as I went adding Black Percher (Diplacodes lefebvrii), Broad Scarlet (Crocothemis erythraea), Iberian Bluetail (Ischnura graellsii), Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma), Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) and a single male Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta). New bird species included Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Spanish (Yellow) (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), White (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Grey Wagtails (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), a small flock of Tree Sparrows (Gorrión Molinero / Passer Montanus), 2x Squacco’s (Garcilla Cangrejera / Ardeola ralloides) and a single Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), two Garden Warblers (Curruca Mosquitera / Sylvia borin) which were a bit of a surprise, Western Cattle (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta), 3x Kingfishers (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), Pied (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca) and Spotted Flycatchers (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata) and just as I was getting back to the car a single Honey Buzzard (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus) which was making its way west.

A total of 81 species of birds were seen during the trip there and back and at the Rio, a very pleasing total.

Marbella and Coin area, Malaga Province.

Checking the aftermath of the Malaga / Marbella Fires.

Some distant burnt of woods.

Ian Phillips and I went for a drive around a loop following the coastal motorway from Malaga to the edge of Marbella and then north past Ojen and around west via Monda, Coin and then down to the top of Sierra Mijas to look at which areas had been devastated by the horrendous fires of the previous week. We could seen no signs of any damage as we drove along the coast and this stayed the same until we reached Ojen on the road north, here the hillsides to the east of the town were totally burnt off and there had also been a sizable fire just to the south which jumped the road and continued on west for a short distance.

Some more burnt off areas.

We then drove along the northern edge of the area but could see very little from the road or at any of the special wildlife sites we called at on the way. We then reach Coin and took the road down towards Mijas, this was the area we had thought would show the worstdamage and when we looked off to the west from one of the ridges we could see totally scorched hill sides but the areas of pine woods we had thought had been burnt (from the maps and information in the papers) had remained untouched.

Huétor Tájar, Granada Province.

Zoco, Andalusí

The Event poster.

Jayne and I went down to the Zoco as we have done for the past 6 years and again we really enjoyed the fantastic atmosphere as the Spanish families were having a great time. We particularly enjoyed the Medieval dancing which was performed by around 40 people in the afternoon heat and was well worth watching.

Eagle Owl (Buho Real / Bubo bubo).

I also had an interesting talk with the falconer who had bought a  couple of Harris and a Red-tailed Hawk along but these were easily out shone by the beautiful 15 year old female Eagle Owl.

Bread stall.

We had a couple of drinks in the local bars around the Plaza de Andalucía and spent a very enjoyable 4 hours at this local event.

Crate climbing.

Kids on the Dragon Swing.