Rio Alhama Gorge, Alhama de Granada, Granada Province, Spain.

A morning of two halves (Loads of birds before 10:00 and a lot less later)!!

Pantaneta de Alhama.

I set off from home and made my way down to Alhama de Granada and then on to the small pool called Pantaneta de Alhama where I was meeting Sheila and Bill Nicol from Loja and the Daughter and her partner for a walk along the Gorge. On the way down I picked up a few bits which were seen along the road, these included Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) and Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus). I arrived at the pool quite early so I spent some time scanning the pool and the trees near the hide on the car park. On the water I picked up several Common Pochards (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), two male Mallards (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), two female Northern Shovelers (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata), several Little Grebes (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus) and at least three Great Cormorants (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo). The margins are made up of reed beds and willow trees in this area Cetti’s Warblers (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) could be heard calling regularly and were seen darting from one patch of cover to the next, Reed Warblers (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scirpaceus) were also heard but remained elusive as did a SINGING Iberian Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Ibérico / Phylloscopus ibericus) unlike the dozens of Common Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) which were flicking around in the trees. 

Autumn colours.

Also seen in the trees around the car park were Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula), a cracking pair of Firecrests (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotraustes), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and Great Tits (Carbonero Común / Parus major), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla) and Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius).
A Red Squirrel (Sclurus vulgaris) was also seen cracking Walnuts it was pinching from down near the dam. Sheila and the others then arrived and we had a look at the species out on the lake which were pretty much the same as I had been watching except the Northern Shovelers had drifted out of sight. We then set off along the Gorge and on the slopes to the right we had some not so great views of a couple of male Blue Rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), several Rock Sparrows and a nice male Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) due to the fact that we were looking almost straight into the sun. We continued on down to the bridge adding Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and Rock Pigeon (Paloma Bravia / Columba livia) up on the crags. As things warmed up we started to see a few butterflies and during the walk we complied quite a nice list including African Grass Blue (Zizeeia knysna), Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina), Grayling (Hipparchia semele), Large White (Pieris brassicae), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Small White (Artogeia rapae), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) and Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera). Dragonflies also featured with the rarest being a single Western Willow Spreadwing (Chalcolestes viridis) which sat nicely on a fennel stalk, other species included Red-veined (Sympetrum fonscolombii) and Common Darters (Sympetrum striolatum), Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator), Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma) and Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta).

Western Willow Spreadwing (Chalcolestes viridis).

We continued on along the gorge but birds were few and far between with just Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Woodpigeon, Willow Warbler (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus),  Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) being added. We had a coffee up in the town and then made the return journey seeing much the same species as on the walk out but managed a single female Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) just before we reached the dam, a very large Spanish Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa) sat on the dam top and a Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata) in the car park. Sheila and the others then went across the road to have some lunch and I headed back towards home.

Other species seen during the walk included Iberian Wall Lizard (Podarcis hispanica) and wildflowers included Ballota hirsuta (dry), Cliffhanger (Chaenorhinum villosum), Mediterranean Daphne (Daphne gnidium), Delphinium gracile, Dianthus broteroi, Euphorbia nicaeensis, Heliotrope (Heliotropium europaeum), Putoria calabrica, Hoary Mullien (Verbascum pulverulentum) and Xanthium spinosum.

Embalse de Cubillas and back home near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province.

A dip at Cubillas.

Update, these birds were later identified as Lesser Crested Terns (Charrán Bengali / Sterna bengalensis).

After a phone call from friend Juan Perez about a reported sighting of two Royal Terns (Charrán real / Sterna maxima) seen on Tuesday at the Embalse I headed over there this morning (Wednesday) to try and see them. I arrived and started to scan the lake, paying particular attention to the buoys floating around the Yacht club but drew a blank, so I had a look in the area where the Rio Cubillas comes into the lake but that was also quiet. 

I could not find a single wader and only picked up Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus), 4x Grey Herons (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and a few Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina). 
I stayed on site for another couple of hours and scanned the lake several times but the birds had obviously just been passing through and were only seen and photographed (cuaderno-campo "Aves granadinas) by one very lucky observer. In the area I also saw Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra) and a male Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) which passed through heading south.

I then headed home and spent a couple of hours up on the terrace where things were also quite quiet but I did get a fly over Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotraustes) which was another new speices for the garden, distant views of an adult Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) and had the pleasure of watching hundreds of Barns Swallows moving through heading south with a back drop of the first snow of the winter on Sierra Nevada!!!!

La Zubia, Granada Province.

Día de las Aves with SEO Sierra Nevada.

Poster.

Jayne and I headed up to Granada and made our way to the largish shopping center in the La Zubia area of the City where SEO Sierra Nevada had a display of photographs and a couple of tables with information to promote bird conservation and SEO / Birdlife. There were also a couple of tables with lots of things for the younger children to do. It was good to see Juan Francisco and Jorge Garzón again after quite some time and catch up with things that had been going on and to see Juan Perez and his with Beatriz there as well. After having a good time with the birders we had a look around the centre and headed home. On the way I picked up two small flocks of Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) along the A92 along with a single Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus).

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.