Laguna Herrera, Malaga Province.

A few more year ticks.

After having a look around the Garden centre on the Cordoba road out of Antequera we had a quick look at the lake near by called Laguna Herrera. The water levels were still very high which prevented us driving along the full lenght of the lake but we were able to get views over the flooded fields on the right hand side of the track from the bridge. The commonest species were Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), followed by Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata), Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadorna tadorna) and at least a dozen or so Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina). In the surrounding fields singing Corn Buntings (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) could be heard from all directions and over head both Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) passed over in mixed flocks with loads of Meadow Pipits (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis). On the main lagoon there were hundreds more Gulls, a couple of dozen Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), more Mallards and a few Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus). We then turned around and retraced our steps ack to the Cordoba road, on the way we added Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and a Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallingao gallinago) which was feeding out on the flooded road.

We then took a track off into the agricultural area to the south of the lake and soon had Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus). Right at the far end of this track nearer to Mollina we scanned some more flooded fields and picked up a small flock of Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), also along this stretch we saw Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros). It was quite suuny along this track and it had a verge that was covered in wildflowers which had good numbers of Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) and Small White (Artogeia rapae) butterflies feeding on them.

Huétor Fields, Granada Province.

New Years day walk with the Loja RBL.

Just 6 of us dragged our selves out for this walk but I was not surprised when I saw the weather fist thing. We started from near the bridge over the Rio Genil in Huétor Tájar and headed off anti-clockwise around the town until we turned right just after the duck bar and contined out into the fields to the east of the town. On this first stretch I picked up few species including House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and a small group of five Siskins (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus) which were feeding in some Alder type trees near the duck bar. Out on the fields the commonest species were the Larks including Thekla (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis).
We then skirted a poplar plantation and coninued on along the banks of the Arroya del Vilano, the mud along here made walking a bit more intresting but the birds were quite good. The best were Brambling (Pizón Real / Fringilla montifringilla), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla) and Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus). We then made our way back along the far bank and then onwards to Mesia where we had a coffee in one of the local bar. On the way we saw Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus).
We had a lukewarm coffee in a bar which oviously ignores the no smoking ban as at least three chaps playing cards in the one room had them lit up. We continued on through the town and then on along the river to the bridge where we crossed and headed off into the campo back towards Huétor. On the return march we added Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos). We arrived back at the cars at about 14:00 and we all made our way home

What went on in 2012.

A review of my wildlife year.

Ophrys Tenthredinifera X O. Scolopax.

In general 2012 was a cracking year for new species and totals in general with one main exception to this being Orchids. After the extremely dry and cold winter, the numbers of plants were down by around 90% in a lot of sites, with some species just not flowering at all. 

Embalse de Iznajar was a classic example, in the summer of 2011 the number of plants was so high that to reach some spots you had no choice but to walk on the odd spike of another species or two but in 2012 there were virtually no plants with just a handful of the common species showing up and most of the rarer plants not bothering to flower at all !! 

Even with Juan Pérez Contrera's help I failed to see any new species but did add a couple of Hybrids to my list including a spike of Ophrys Tenthredinifera X O. Scolopax down near Mijas which was nice but even better was a spike of Ophrys Tenthredinifera X O. Picta found on the Andalucian Bird Society meeting at Sierra de Loja in Granada Province. Two more Orchid highlights for the year were seeing the very rare Ophrys Atlantica (Atlas Orchid) and Spiranthes Spiralis (Autumn Ladies Tresses) in Granada Province for the first time.

Rufous Bush Robin (Alzacola / Cerotrichas galactotes).

The birds were right at the other end of the scale, as I saw more species in 2012 than in any other year since arriving in Spain, reaching 251 by the end of December. 

New species seen during the year included Baillon's (Pollueta chica / Porzana pusilla) and Little Crakes (Polluela bastarda / porzana parva) both seen at Charca del Suarez during the spring Northward migration, Rufous Bush Robin (Alzacola / Cerotrichas galactotes) and Desert Wheatear (Collalba Desértica / Oenanthe deserti) a fine adult male and Eurasian Dotterel (Chorlito Carambolo / Eudromias morinellus) both seen down at Cabo de Gata. Eurasian Dotterel was added to my Granada Province list later in the year, other new Granada Province species included Collared Pratincole (Canastera Común / Glareola pratincola), Common Scoter (Negrón Común / Melanitta nigra), Iberian Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Ibérico / Phylloscopus ibericus), Ortolan Bunting (Escribano Hortolano / Emberiza hortulana), Eurasian Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus) and a cracking immature Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aguila Imperial / Aguila adalberti).

Niobe Fritillary (Fabriciana niobe).

Butterflies were also seen in good numbers and by the end of the season I had identified over 90 species in 2012. July and August were by far the best and the Sierra Nevada was the place to see them, on a visit I made with Steve Powell and his wife Elana we had 50 species in a single day. 

Some of the new species we saw were Niobe (Fabriciana niobe), Dark-green (Speyeria aglaja) and Lesser Spotted Fritillary (Melitaea trivia), Escher's Blue (Polyommatus escheri) and Mountain Argus (Aricia artaxerxer montensis). Other species which were new were Great Banded Grayling (Brintesia circe) and Spanish Purple Hairstreak (Laeosopis roboris) both of which were seen up in Andujar area whilst searching for the Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardina). 

Other interesting species seen included Nevada Blue (Polyommatus golgus), Spanish Brassey Ringlet (Erebia hisania), Panoptes Blue (Pseudophilotes panoptes), Lorquin's Blue (Cupido lorquinii) and Black Satyr (Satyrus actaea).

Pronged Clubtail (Gomphus graslinii).

Dragon and Damselflies also featured highly during the year with several new species being found, some of these records being new species for the sites and the Provinces, which is less surprising than it sounds as the coverage in this part of Andalusia has been quite thin. 

One of the better finds was a small number of Black Pennant (Selysiothemis nigra) dragonflies which were found at Laguna Chica on the Granada / Malaga borders. Also found at the same site were good numbers of Dainty Damselflies (Coenagrion scitulum) and Long Skimmers (Orthetrum trinacria) the latter was a new species for both Sue Eatock from Grazalema and Steve Jones over from Cornwall. 

I visited Sue over in Grazalema at the end of June where I added several more species to my Spanish list including a cracking Orange-spotted Emerald (Oxygastra curtisii) on the river in her garden. 

We visited several other sites, where I added Pronged Clubtail (Gomphus graslinii) and Orange Featherleg (Platycnemis acutipennis).

Natterjack Toad (Bufo calamita).

The Moth trap was also run on a regular basis and new species were added almost every night, these included Crassicornella agenjoi, Eastern Bordered Straw (Heliothis nubigera), Metopoceras felicina, Aplasta ononaria and Gnopharmia stevenaria. There is a lot more work to be done on the moths in this area, it is made harder by needing a permit to trap outside your own garden. 

This is difficult as the Spanish environmental authorities do not seem to want to make it easy to get one.

Mammals were as usual difficult to find, with just the regular species being seen. 

I only made a single trip up to Andujar area this year for the Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardina). But it was at the wrong time of the year (June) so I was not surprised when only one member of our group had views, although brief.

Amphibians are something that I do not see a lot of, so when Sue Eatock showed me a few species during our second visit of the year in November I was very pleased. 

We found several Natterjack Toads (Bufo calamita), lots of young Fire Salamanders (Salamandra salamandra) and Parsley Frog (Pelodytes punctatus) which we did not see but heard during some very wet and blustery weather.

Over all, I had a cracking year and look forward to 2013, not only for the species I will see but also for the fact that Granada Wildlife my new venture goes online offering Wildlife tours here in Western Granada Province.

All the very best to all and thanks for taking the time to read my ramblings, regards Mick.

Embalse de Bermejalis and the Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

A cone collecting trip !!!!

After doing a few bits in Loja Jayne and I set off through Salar and made our way to the Pine woodlands which surround Embalse de Bermijalis, on the way we picked up a few species on the journey including Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Mistle (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and Song Thrushes (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Woodlark (Totovia / Lullula arborea), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis).
We parked near the dam, Jayne immediately started searching for cones while I started birding and looking for Orchid rosettes, on the large concrete gully which had water flowing rapidly into the Embalse where I found a pair of Grey Wagtails (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) which were feeding along side several White Wagtails and lots of Common Chiffchaffs.
On the far bank a single Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) was roosting in one of the small Tamarisk trees and further across the far side of the lake there were around a dozen Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) also roosting in some larger dead trees. In the trees around me there were good numbers of Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Coal Tits (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus). On the ground there were loads of Leaf rosettes of next seasons Wild Orchids, these included Yellow Bee (Ophrys lutea), Ophrys foresterii and Giant Orchids (Himantoglossum robertiana).

Jayne had filled her bag with cones so we started to make our way back towards home via the Cacín Valley, the first stop was on the cliff tops above the main gorge. Here I had distant views of a soaring Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila-azor / Hieraetus faciatus) away over the Olives, also seen were Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia) and Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus).
We moved on up the Valley stopping at the Embalse de Cacín where I found 50+ or so Common Pochards (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), several Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Mallards (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Little Grebes (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) and on the mud there was a small group of feeding Green Sandpipers (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus).

Our last stop was above El Turro but this site was very quiet, however I did see a couple of Little Owls (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), several Bramblings (Pizón Real / Fringilla montifringilla), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) and nice female Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus) which zipped throught the site in just a couple of seconds. We then headed home.

Huétor Fields, Granada Province.

Quick look at the local Patch.

After dropping our son Alan back down to Malaga for his flight back to the UK yesterday to spend the new year with Becky his girl friend I had a couple of hours spare today to have a look around the fields. I started by checking the stunted Almond and Pomegranate trees on the way down to the local bar where I had some cracking views of a small flock of Bramblings (Pizón Real / Fringilla montifringilla) which included a couple of smart looking males. In the same trees there were large numbers of Common Chaffinches (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Linnets (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Goldfinches (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Serins (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Greenfinches (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), House Sparrows (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Corn Buntings (Triguero / Emberiza calandra). 

I then went and parked on the track behind the bar and scanned the fields along the river where I added White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) and Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita). I then moved on along the river seeing several more Green Sandpipers, Bramblings and adding Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and a female Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) which was perched on the top of an irrigation channel. 

The Mesia road fields were the next port of call, along the river I found even more nicely plumage Bramblings and a male Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) which fed in the reeds which had been flattened in the river. Along here I also found Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra). 

I then went back via the river fields and added one of the Black-winged Kites (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) which was perched in a track side fig tree and a very big female Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus) which had just taken one of the many feral Pigeons which hang around in the area and was sitting in the middle of a nearby field watching me watching her. I then headed back to the house. 

During the drive around I saw several Butterflies including Small Whites (Artogeia rapae), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) and a Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus).

Loja, Granada Province.

Annual Boxing day walk.

Boxing day found me on my own doing the annual Boxing day walk with 6 other members of the Loja RBL walking group as Jayne and our son Alan were both down with stinking colds. We started as usual from the Alamo bar and headed up hill towards the railway station and then out on to the bottom side of the local Sierra Hacho. Along this part of the walk we saw a very nice pair of Black Wheatears (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura) which showed very nicely on the ruins which line the track, in the same area we also saw Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).
We then dropped down past the fish farm where we saw lots Iberian Barbel in the very clear stream which runs down to the farm, also seen on the margins were Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) and Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata). Our first bar stop came next at a small place in Esperanza where we took on some caffine and then continued on our way heading back towards Loja, we decided that the walk down to the waterfalls was likely to be very muddy so we cut it out.
On this stretch I picked up Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus). We then made our second stop in Bar El Cerro where we topped up the caffine before we headed back to the Alamo where I headed off home, on the way I saw a nice flock of Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and several Bramblings (Pizón Real / Fringilla montifringilla) mixed in with large numbers of Common Chaffinches.

Happy Christmas.

Huétor Tájar, Granada Province.

Christmas morning trip to the bakery.

Just a quick trip down to the town to grab some fresh bread to go with the cheese we had picked up earlier in the week. On the way back I returned across the fields and along the river, during this short drive I saw Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Brambling (Pizón Real / Fringilla montifringilla), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis).

Rincon del la Victoria, Malaga Province.

A walk along the Prom.

Jayne and Alan on the sea front walk.

Jayne, Alan and I headed down to the coast and stopped in Rincon where we first had a look in a Patchwork shop where Jayne was hoping to get a cutting board for her work. After this we started to walk West long the promenade, towards the western end of the walk we went round the coastal paths rather than going through the tunnels.

Purple Bugloss (Echium plantagineum).

At sea around here I saw Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), several Northern Gannets (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedo ra / Larus ridibundus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

Sand Reichardia (Reichardia Gaditana).

Up on the rocks Black Redstarts (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) were very common and only out numbered by Common Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) in the bushes and Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) in the air over the apartment blocks. Several species of wildflower were also in bloom on the rocks amongst all the rubbish and crap left behind by past visitors, this walk is a great way to see this area and Rincon is a smashing place but is let down by this sight. I do not get why people come to a beautiful area and ruin it by leaving their litter behind and spoiling it for future visitors.

Rubbish on the cliffs.

Anyway after a little moan the Wildflowers were Wild-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia), Purple Bugloss (Echium plantagineum), Sand Reichardia (Reichardia Gaditana), Sea Daisy (Asteriscus maritimus), Mallow-leaved Bindweed (Convolvulus althaeoides) and Sea Alyssum (Lobularia maritima). 

Withania frutescens.

We reached the river bed near the large concrete works which stands right on the coast, here there were several Serins (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Linnets (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and a group of Crested Larks (Cogujada / Galerida cristata).

Mallow-leaved Bindweed (Convolvulus althaeoides).

At this point we turned around and started to walk back towards the car stoppin for a bit of lunch on the way.

Laguna Herrera, Fuente de Piedra and Laguna Dulce in Malaga Province and Huétor Fields, Granada Province.

A day with the Axarquia Bird Group.

Sun rise.

I started out from home at around 07:30 and headed for Laguna Herrera which is not too far from Antequera over in Malaga Province. The area was still sodden and many of the fields were extremely water logged, the Lagoon was full to over flowing which meant doing the circular route that I used to do was not possible as the track on the northern edge was flooded. Anyway on the drive along the track to the lake I could hear Lark species calling and singing constantly, these included Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) which were joined by Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and surprisingly by a displaying Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) which was performing aerobatics over the first pool on the right of the track. In the ditch a couple of Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) were chasing each other around and harassing a nice male Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and a pair of Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus).

Out on the flooded field good numbers of both Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) were loafing around on the mud while several Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) and hordes of White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) were feeding on the margins. The main Lagoon was quite quiet, there were lots more Gulls, loads of Eurasian Coots (Focha Común / Fulica atra), a few Common Moorhens (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) and a single Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) which flew in from the fields and landed in the remains of the reedbeds.
At this point I discovered that the track was flooded so retraced my way back to the main road and went around the site from the other direction, on my way back out to the road I added Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris). Once off the road again I started to see Larks again with a couple of nice big groups of Calandras flying over the track. Along the first stretch I also picked up a couple of Little Owls (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) siting on the tops of the water outlets in the fields, a Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallingao gallinago) which flushed up from a ditch,  House Sparrow (Gorrión Común  Passer domesticus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla) and Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa).

Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis).

I then turned back along the track towards the Lagoon and in the large trackside ditch found a couple of Green Sandpipers (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), lots of Song Thrushes (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) which came up out of the reeds, a Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) which was sat on a wire along with a group of Linnets (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and a Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus). Down near the pool a Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) dipped across the road and a Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) flew along perching on the wires infront of me. On the pool the only new birds were a small flock of Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), a single Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris) in with around 20 or so Spotless Starlings (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and a couple of Shelducks (Tarro Blanco / Tadorna tadorna). I then came to the flooded part of the track so I turned around and went back to the junction in the track but went straight on instead of turning left and followed the large drainage ditch out towards Mollina, along here there were several flooded fields which had large numbers of Gulls on them which were joined by several other species including 8 Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina) and a dozen or so immature Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus).

Other species seen before I reached the motorway were Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti).

I then made a quick stop of at a picnic area near Humilladero where I checked out an area of Pine woodland near the entrance and quickly added Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilargo / Sylvia undata), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia) and a flock of 5 or 6 Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus) which appear to be much commoner this winter than usual.

I was by now running a little late for the bird group meeting so shot off to the visitors centre at Fuente de Piedra where I met up with the rest of the birders, we went up and around the side of the centre and scanned the main lagoon from the side of the building. From here we could see some of the several thousand Greater Flamingo's which were on the site, along with huge numbers of Northern Shovelers (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata),a couple of dozen Shelducks, a female Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and a group of 3 Black-necked Grebes (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis) which were diving out on the main Lagoon.

Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

We then moved on around to the main view point with the oak tree where we were swamped by a very noisy group of school children who were soon quietened down with a few strong words of Spanish from Andy Patterson, from this watch point we did not add any new species so we headed around to the smaller of the two hides. On the small pool we saw Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) before moving around to the hide which gives views over the larger lake, here we picked up 4 Tufted Ducks (Porrón Monudo / Aythya fuligula), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), plus more nice Black-necked Grebe and lots of Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca). I then walked back to the view point and along the pool margins birding with Andy Patterson, we did not add any new species but had a good chat and put a few parts of the world to rights !! From the far side of the board walk we started to find good numbers of passerines including several small flocks of Corn Buntings and House Sparrows which had small numbers of Reed Buntings ( Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus) and a single male Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis) mixed in with them.

View from the south end.

We walked out to the road and then turned back and added singles of both Western Cattle (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) the day list. We then went back to our cars and started to make our way anti-clock wise around the reserve, I was just out on the road when Andy rang me to say he had relocated the Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax) which John Wainwright had seen earlier so I turned around and had a look at this bird which was on the far shore of the pool on the exit road along with a couple of Snipe. On the largish pool to the west of the lagoon I had driveby views of a flock of Northern Lapwings with around 30 or so Golden Plovers (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaia) mixed in with it along with a couple of feeding Avocets (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta). We then moved around the lake between the Olive groves and cerial fields until we came upon a flock of Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus), in the same area we picked a Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) before we moved off to the nearby view point. A couple more Marsh Harriers were seen from here including a nicely plumaged Male bird which sat in on of the willow near the reed beds for some time. From this point we also saw Purple Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Woodlark (Totovia / Lullula arborea), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax) and Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula).

I then spilt off from the party and while they went for some lunch I headed for Laguna Dulce which was quite disappointing, the lagoon appeared almost devoid of birds but with a quick scan I did manage to locate a small flock of White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), a Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and a very distant Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) perched up on a dead tree on the far shore.

Laguna Dulce.

I then headed back towards home, on the way I picked up a couple of Great Cormorants (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) perched in a dead tree near Archidona and several flocks of Woodpigeons (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) which flew over the motorway. Once I was back on the local patch I added a few more species to my day list including a very smart male Brambling (Pizón Real / Fringilla montifringilla) which perched in a leafless fig tree along with several Iberian Magpies and a male Blackcap. I then had a look along the river and scanned the fields on the northern back where I found the immature male Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus) which Juan Perez and I had seen a few days ago but the star birds were a flock of 28 Stock Doves (Paloma Zurita / Columba oenas) which were mixed in with larger numbers of Woodpigeons. I then headed off home and picked up the final and 80th species of the day a Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major) which was on the feeder in my garden.

I saw 80 species of bird during the day topped by the Stock Doves which are quite a rare species down here in Andalucia. Thanks Bob for organising the day which I greatly enjoyed.

Huétor Fields, Huétor Tajár, Granada Province.

Two visits to the fields.

The first visit was just a drive through on my way back home from the supermarket in Huétor, but it produced some nice species. On the newly harvested Lucerne fields just out side the town I relocated part of the wintering Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) flock which had been quite elusive for the past two weeks or so. They were mixed in with around 700 Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) and 30 or so Golden Plovers (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaia). In a small tree quite some distance away I could just make out one of the two Black-winged Kites (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) and in some very dry tatty looking Pomegranate trees there was a good flock of around twenty Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki). On the drive back up to the house I added Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).

Later in the afternoon Juan Pérez Contreras and his wife Beatriz came over to ours and whilst Jayne and Beatriz did some language studies Juan and I went Birding. We started down by the river picking up a few decent species including a cracking male Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) and Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula). Our next stop was along side one of the Poplar plantation where we heard a Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major) and saw Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla). We then moved on to the fields where I had seen several good species earlier in the day but everything had been flushed buy a farmer ploughing in an area of Maize stubble, the whole area was very busy possibly workers trying to get some of the jobs done before the weekends predicted rain. There were dozens of fires burning in the fields where the Asparagus tops had been cut which made the air quite smokey and unpleasant.

We moved on and had a look on the main Montefrio road for the wintering flock of Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) but this year the numbers are extreamly low and we only found a very poor 15 birds. In the same area we did see Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata). We crossed to the Northern side of the railway line and scanned the fields there finding more Northern Lapwings, Common Magpie, House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and a nice adult Black-winged Kite which was perched on a pole near a small farm building in the fields, later it flew from here to a willow tree nearer to the road and we managed to get some nice views from another track.
We next went to the eastern side of Huétor on the Loja road to check some more fields for the Bustards but they were not at that site either but we did see Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) before heading back to the bar and crossing the river at the ford. On the fields on the far side we soon found an immature male Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus) sat on the end of one of the larger furrows and another Common Buzzard in the same Pomegranate tree I had seen the Iberian  Magpies in earlier. We then headed out on to the Mesia road looking for the Little Bustards but only added Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa) and a small flock of Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) which were heading off to the nearby roost along the A92 at Morelada. Juan and I then headed back up to the house and continued with our Spanish Lesson (sorry Juan and Beatriz I know this is hard work!!).

Guadalhorce, Malaga Province.

A very quick look on the beach.

Jayne and I spent the morning around the City of Malaga but could not find the material shops she was looking for. We then went up to the Larios centre and had some lunch before I then disappeared for a couple of hours birding at Guadalhorce but did not bother going onto the main reserve but sat at the end of the raised walkway near the sea. From here I soon had all the Gulls I had expected to see on the list including Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and just a single Audouin's Gull (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii) which landed briefly on the rocks in the river mouth. Also out to sea there were good numbers of Northern Gannets (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), a few Balearic Shearwaters (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus) along with a single group of three Cory's (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea) all of which passed away to the West.
On the river behind me at least 3 Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) were fishing  and half a dozen or so Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) were roosting in the reeds. Also on the river there we Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo). Other birds around the beach were Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus) and on the reserve an Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus) which was sitting up in one of the usual trees.
I then drove down to the entrance bridge, as soon as I got out of the car I picked up a group of 3 soaring Booted Eagles (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus) one of which flew towards me and landed in a nearby Eucalyptus tree which gave me a chance of some great views. On the river a single Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis) put in a brief apperance and whilst I was stood on the bridge I also added Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and several Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) which were feeding up over the far side of the reserve. I then went back into the City to pick Jayne up before we headed on to our next stop.

Around Trabuco, Malaga Province.

More wintering birds.

Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra).

Jayne's craft group had moved to one of the ladies house today due to the Holiday so I dropped Jayne off there and headed out into the hills above the town. My first stop was in the valley between two parts of Sierra del Jobo where there was a very nice looking temporary pool which looked perfect for Amphibians but was behind a barbed wire fence with lots of keep out signs. After spending some time listening to try and confirm whether there were any Frogs or Toad present I started to walk up and over into the valley on the opposite side to Trabuco and quickly picked up a small flock of 4 circling Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) away in the clouds.

Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla).

This group grew steadily until there were 17 birds in total soaring in and out of view amongst the low clouds that were scurrying along the vally in a stiff breeze. In the Oaks closer to me there was a flock of Long-tailed Tits (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus) numbering around 30 birds, a couple of Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia) were calling from trees above me on the ridge and several Common Crossbills (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra) were perched high on wires which crossed the area, some singing and displaying.

Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla).

I then dropped down the hill to the denser Oak woods adding Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs).

Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus).

I then headed along the lower track towards the Fuente de los Caños but before this site I stopped and sat on the road side and spent sometime watching a small group of bushes where a pine tree had fallen, in this area I saw several Cirl Buntings (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), a couple of Nuthatchs (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) and lots of Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla) some of which I got some shots of but they were not great as the light was poor. In one of the nearby Pine trees a cracking Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus) spent quite a long while in view whilst it was flycatching from its lower branches.

Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus).

I then moved out on to the fields around the motorway which were still very wet from the earlier rain which caused a lot of damage in the general area, birds included Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and a small number of Brambling (Pizón Real / Fringilla montifringilla). 

Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula).

I did a drive around towards the new prison (nice to build but not got the money to open it !!! and back to Trabuco to pick up Jayne.

Huétor Fields, Huétor Tajár, Granada Province.

Good numbers of wintering birds on the local patch.

Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus).

I headed down to the fields at the end of our road for a couple of hours birding on the local patch. I started on the track behind the bar and sat on the side of the river and scanned the fields, on the river there were several Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) bathing on a shallow spit and White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) could be picked out all the way along the margins off into the distance.

Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).

There were a lot more Northern Lapwings out on the fileds, in total during the couple of hours I must have noted getting on for a 1000 birds. They were joined by flocks of finches which flushed up on a regular basis allowing the different species to be picked out, they included Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) but surprisingly the commonest species with about a 100 birds was Brambling (Pizón Real / Fringilla montifringilla) a wintering species that turns up in varying numbers each year. Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) were also on the fields in good numbers along with a few Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Thekla (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and half a dozen Calandra's (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra). Both Spotless (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Common Starlings (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris) were on the wires and feeding in the Ponigranete bushes, they were joined by hordes of House Sparrows (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Blackcaps (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla).

Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallingao gallinago).

I then checked the fields down towards the town and noticed that all the Northern Lapwings down that way were up and some were mobbing a mid sized Raptor which turned out to be one of the three regular female Hen Harriers (Aguilucho Pálido / Circus cyaneus) which are wintering here. On the side of the irrigation canal there were lots of Common Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) feeding amongst the Horsetail plants and a cracking male Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) which was bobbing its tail on the concrete edges.I then moved a little further along the river down one of the many dirt tracks, new species seen included a decent sized flock of about 30 Iberian  Magpies (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), a couple of Green Sandpipers (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) and on the return drive along the same track there was a couple of Hoopoes (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis). I then drove down the track towards the Mesia road and just after crossing the railway bridge I saw another Green Sandpiper on a small pool on the side of the track, on this same pool I found several Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallingao gallinago) some of which showed well, a winter plumaged Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta) and in a nearby Fig tree a pair of Common Stonechats (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallingao gallinago).

I spent quite a while here taking a few shots of the Snipe and hoped to get the Water Pipit but it stayed just out of sight of the camera. After a while I moved on to the fields on the Mesia side of the site and continued to follow the river back around to Huétor, on the way a Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) flew along infront of me, a Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) flushed out from a stand of Poplars along with a Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major) andjust as I reached Huétor a Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) flapped lazily over the fields. I then made my way back across country to the railway bridge and parked there for a while and scanned the fields, mixed in with a nearby flock of Northern Lapwings I counted at least 19 Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaia) which were my first sighting of the winter for this species. I then drove back along the river and towards home, on the way a few more species were added including Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus).