Around Bonanza Saltpans, Cadiz Province and travelling Home.

Goodbyes in Grazalema and a longish round trip home.

Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax).

Again we were all up and about fairly sharpish to be ready in time to walk down to the bus with Sam and say bye to him as we were heading off before he would be home. We then went back up to the house, packed the car and said thanks and goodbye to Sue, we had a great time staying with them both as we always do. 

Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres).

We then drove over to Jerez and found the very large shopping center on the western side of the city where I dropped Jayne and then headed off to Bonanza Salt Pans.

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

I was surprised to find that it only took me 25 minutes to get there, on the way I picked up several species including Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus), Calandra Lark (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).

Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula).

Once I was in amongst the pans I quickly started to increase the list with a good many wader species including Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax), Kentish (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus) and Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta), Common (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) and Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa), Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta) and Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina).

Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa).

Also on the main drive way but on pans further back I could see good numbers of Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Slender-billed Gulls (G aviota Picofina / Larus genei), Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), a small number of Black-necked Grebes (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis) and and at least two roosting Caspian Terns (Pagaza Piquiroja / Sterna caspia) mixed in with lots of Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).
At the T junction at the far end of the main drag I turned right but unusually this track was very quiet and except for a few Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) I only saw more the same species. So I turned around and went the opposite direction which I usually find to be quite but on this occasion it turned out to be the best spot on the site. I took the side track and had some much better views of a small flock of Greater Falamingo's and added Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), Great White Egret (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba) and Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus) to the day list.

Lesser Short-toed Lark (Terrera Marismena / Calandrella rufescens).

On my way back the species just kept coming with a pair of Lesser Short-toed Larks (Terrera Marismena / Calandrella rufescens) showing well on the track, three Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus) roosting on a back off to the right of the track, Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) on the wire fences and a low flying Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus) upsetting everything. In the drainage ditch along side the track I also saw a couple of Dragonflies, a single male Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) and a couple of Lesser Emperors (Anax parthenope). 

I had wanted to try and get some shots of the Slender-billed Gulls but so far they had all been out of range on the working pans, as I drove back along the main track I saw someone working in one of the pump house so I stopped for a word with him. In my broken Spanish I got over what I wanted and he opened the chain and said as long as I stayed in the car and put the padlock back on when I had finished I could go and get my shots, which I did thanks to this very helpful chap.

Slender-billed Gull (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei).

Once I had secured the chain I left the site and went to try and find some small pools in amongst all the green houses and small holding nearby, after a couple of wrong turns I found them and considering the amount of rubbish and mess that surrounded the pools they had some good birds in residence.
The commonest by far was Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) followed by Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala) and Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser). The best finds were singles of both Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio) and Red-knobbed Coot (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata), the latter being bird of the day.

I then headed back towards Jerez to meet Jayne, taking the cross country route and getting well and truly lost. Eventually I found my way out of the maze of farm tracks on to a wider track heading in basically the right direction and ended up back on the road that I had arrived on in the morning.

Red-knobbed Coot (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata).

On my way along this wider track I had seen more Glossy Ibis, another Great White Egret and several Red Kites (Milano Real / Milvus milvus). Once back at Jerez I quickly found Jayne by Ikea and we started to make our way home taking the route North towards Sevilla and then east along the A92.
At Antequera I called in and checked the fields around Laguna Herrera after Jose Rafael Garrido messaged me of Facebook asking me to check whether the Great Bustard (Avutarda Común / Otis tarda) I had seen a week or so early was still there.
We spent some time checking the fields but could not see the Great but we did find 9 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) on the fields and on the Laguna good numbers of Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) and a couple of moulting Water Pipits (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta) on the muddy margins. From here we headed home and hit the pit.

Grazalema and Montecorto areas, Malaga and Cadiz Provinces.

Another day in the beautiful countryside around Grazalema with Sue and Jayne, (day three).

View of the hills with Branched Asphodels (Asphodelus ramosus).

Today we were all up and about a bit earlier as Sam was off to school and we need to be at the venta just down the road by 08:40 for him to catch the bus up into Grazalema.  Once Sam was safely on his way we got our kit together and went out for the day, our first stop was on a cracking little area of grassland right on the side of the road a few KM from Grazalema village.

Branched Asphodels (Asphodelus ramosus).

The commonest plant here were the beautiful, tall Branched Asphodels (Asphodelus ramosus) which covered the small hillside and attracted lots of Carpentor Bees (Xylocopa violacea), we also found several spikes of Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera), Paperwhite Narcissus (Narcissus papyraceus) and Lesser Celendine (Ranunculus ficaria). Butterflies included Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Small Heath (Coenonympha), Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) and Swallowtail (Papilio machaon).

Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera).

In the surounding bushes and in the sky over head we saw Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

Two-tailed Pasha (Charaxes jasius) Caterpillar.

From here we went a short way up a track and parked on the verge before taking a short up hill walk to a nice sunny meadow area where we were looking for butterflies. Straight away we had several Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina) chasing each other around the area along with several Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra) and Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus).
A little further along the track I managed to find a Festoon which was willing to sit still for a while and let me get a few photographs.

Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina).

In this area we also had a couple of Long-tailed Blues (Lampides boeticus) and a single Common (Icaro (Dos Puntos) / Polyommatus icarus), plus Woodlark (Totovia / Lullula arborea), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius).
Our next stop was down at Sue's old house where we raided the Orange and Lemon trees in the garden (with the permission of her old landlord) so that when we went home Jayne could make some Marmalade with them.

Narcissus cerrolazae.

Whilst there we had a quick walk around the garden which was almost unrecognizable due to the severe pruning of some of the trees and heavy strimming that had gone on. Some large trees had fallen down in the storms as well which really opened the place up.

Jayne.

We did record Large (Pieris brassicae) and Small Whites (Artogeia rapae), more Festoons and a Two-tailed Pasha (Charaxes jasius) Caterpillar in the Strawberry Tree but not a lot else.

Paperwhite Narcissus (Narcissus papyraceus) and a Hummingbird Hawkmoth (Macroglossum stellatarum).

We continued on to the roadside bar near Montecorto where Jayne and I had stopped on the first day and had some lunch. Later we went out on the road back towards Grazalema to an area of meadow which has recently been used to hold some horses, on the way we saw several spikes of Giant Orchids (Himantoglossum robertiana) on the roadside banks.

Narcissus cerrolazae.

Most of the plants had been chewed off in the field but fortunatully they did not seem to like the Daffs, so on the one side of the field there was a really nice show of Narcissus cerrolazae (formaly fernandesii) and Paperwhite Narcissus (Narcissus papyraceus) growing amongst the rocks.

Sue.

A fast moving hungry Hummingbird Hawkmoth (Macroglossum stellatarum) was visiting the Paperwhites but totally ignoring the Cerrolazae and in the scrub higher up the bank there were also several bushes of Stinking Bean Trefoil (Anagyris foetida) and more Branched Asphodels. 

Paperwhite Narcissus (Narcissus papyraceus).

From here we headed back to the house via Grazalema, Sam and Clive arrived a little later. Sam and I then set to work on making him a swing to fit on the frame in the garden.

Between Grazalema and Montejaque, Cadiz and Malaga Provinces.

A day in the countryside with friends, (Day two).

Narcissus cuatrecasasii.

Sue, Sam, Jayne and I had a nice steady start to the day and before headed out to the Dolmen La Giganta on the road back towards Ronda from Sue's. We parked and walked along a farm track to the gate of the site.

Somber / Dull Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca sbbsp fusca).

During the windy walk we saw a couple of spikes of Giant (Himantoglossum robertiana) and quite a few Somber / Dull Bee Orchids (Ophrys fusca sbbsp fusca).
Birds included the almost omnipresent Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Common Toad (Bufo bufo).

Once at the Dolmen site Jayne and Sam were invited through the gate which is normally locked and walked down the ice dry track to the site but Sue and I took the muddy route as we wanted to check a Spring where Sue had seen some Amphibians a few days earlier.
We got to the spring and checked the pool and the stream but only found a nice big fat female Common Toad (Bufo bufo) after a while we went and saw the Dolmen and then walked back to the gate.

The Dolmen.

On the way Sue spotted a small hole in the ground and soon showed me a female Wolf Spider (Lycosa tarantula) hope that's the right one Sue??? From here we made our way back to the car seen a very nice Ocellated Lizard (Lacerta lepida) on the way. 

Our next stop was at a lake in amongst the Cork Oaks (Quercus suber) where we met up with local Walking and Wildlife Guide Eva Bratek and headed in to the woods.
We started by heading for the furthest point of our walk and having a look at several more plants of the beautiful Hoop-petticoat Daffodil (Narcissus bulbocodium) before having a look for some Amphibians in some nearby pools. 
We did not see any adults but again found loads of Natterjack Toad (Sapo Corredor / Bufo calamita) spawn.

Wolf Spider (Lycosa tarantula).

There were also a few birds about and they included Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Woodlark (Totovia / Lullula arborea), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Crested (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Blue Tits (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major) and several Blackcaps (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla) which were singing beautifully from the scrub.
Butterflies seen included Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Large White (Pieris brassicae), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) and Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera).

Hoop-petticoat Daffodil (Narcissus bulbocodium).

On the return walk we heard a Stripe-less Tree Frog (Hyla meridionalis) in a damp area below the dam of the lake, saw several Iberian Water Frogs (Rana Común / Rana Perezi) and I had fleeting view of a Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata).
Back at the car we could hear a singing Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus) from nearby trees and also saw Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and several more Griffon Vultures.

Iberian Water Frog (Rana Común / Rana Perezi).

During the time we spent here Sam and Jayne we wandering around the woods collecting bone, by the time we were leaving Sam had quite a collection.
All but a very nice piece of Deer antler were left in a pile at the site when we moved on. Just as we were about to go for lunch Peter Jones pulled in so we stopped and had a chat for a while and the drove to Montejaque where we had a snack in one of the bars before heading back along the road to check some Orchids we saw as we drove through the gorge.

At the gorge we found several spiked of the beautiful Southern Early Purple Orchid (Orchis olbiensis) along with the large flowered Buttercup which I am still trying to put a name to and several Broad leaved Iris (lirio de invierno / Iris planifolia).Our next and final stop was at the head of the Libar valley where Sue and Eva showed me several clumps of the uncommon Narcissus cuatrecasasii which was flowering on the crags but luckily there were several plants lower down as well. 

Natterjack Toad (Sapo Corredor / Bufo calamita) spawn.

In the same area we had views of Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia) and heard Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia).
Other wildflowers included Common Stork's-bill (Erodium cicutarium), Branched Asphodel (Asphodelus ramosus) and Intermediate Periwinkle (Vinca difformis). After taking the photo's we said goodbye to Eva who walked back down the road to the village and the rest of us headed off back to the house.

Laguna Dulce, Malaga Province and Campobuche, Cadiz Province.

A trip over to Grazalema to see Sue and Sam (Day one).

Red-crested Pochards (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina).

Jayne and I started our day a little later than planned but hit the road heading for Grazalema via Laguna Dulce and Setenil on the way. As we travelled west towards Campillos we saw a few bits from the motorway including Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) and Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) around Huétor and Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) and Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna) on some flooded fields near Coloniade Santa Ana.

Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra).

Once at the pool I went and checked the area from the hide, the wind was keeping most of the birds on the near shore which made things a little easier than the last time I visited. The commonest species by far was the Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), several hundred of them were being herded around between the Tamarisks and reeds by several immature Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus).

Lesser Kestrels (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni).

Also in amongst all the Coot I located several Red-crested (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina) and Common Pochards (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), 6x Tufted Ducks (Porrón Monudo / Aythya fuligula), a pair of Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), a small number of White-headed Ducks (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Little (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Great Crested (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus) and Black-necked Grebes (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata) and Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo).

Jayne and Sam at Campobuches.

Other species seen and heard here were Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Crag (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) and Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).

Hoop-petticoat Daffodil (Narcissus bulbocodium).

From here we headed on past Campillos to Setenil, one of the many white villages in the area and one which I had until now not visited. By the time Jayne and I had spent a very pleasant couple of hours we wanted to move there it was that nice. Whilst we were walking around the was the continuous calling of Lesser Kestrels (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni) over head and every time I looked up to see them there were several Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) passing through. Also in the town we saw Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula).
We continued on towards Sue's put called in at the Roman Ruins of Acinipo where we walked up to the main amphitheater and around the two other sites, it was interesting but as with many special site in Spain the fencing and other bits had seen better days. Birds here included Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila-azor / Hieraetus faciatus), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax) and Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus).

Sam.

We continued on again and stopped for some lunch at a place just outside Montecorto on the side of the main Ronda to Sevilla road before heading to Sue's house. 

We arrived and spent some time chatting with Sue and playing games with Sam before we all headed out to an area nearby to look for Amphibians. We parked at Campobuches and walked along the river checking some small pools on the way where we found loads of Natterjack Toad (Sapo Corredor / Bufo calamita) tadpoles. A little further on we saw lots of spawn in another pool and a freshly dead female toad. We continued on a short way and found one of the plants I have very much hoped to see on this visit, the Hoop-petticoat Daffodil (Narcissus bulbocodium). 

Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros).

In the same area we were checked out by a nice Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros) which sat and sunned itself a few times between energetic flights. After checking a few slower moving pools in the river and only turning up several Iberian Water Frogs (Rana Común / Rana Perezi) we retraced out steps but stayed slightly higher up the bank out of the swampy bits and found several flowering Narcissus cerrolazae (formaly fernandesii), Romulea bulbocodium, Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) and Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus).
Birds in the area included Great Spotted (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major) and Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Woodlark (Totovia / Lullula arborea), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala). Well into the evening we made our way back up to the house, had a nice meal and relaxed with Sue and Sam.

Huetor Fields and Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

A days birding with Steve and Elena Powell.

Great Spotted Cuckoo's (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius).

I met up with Steve and Elena at the Cortijo de Tajar hotel just off the A92 near Huétor Tajar and we had a quick coffee before making our way out onto the nearby fields. 

Our first stop was on the track out to Mesia where a week or so earlier I had seen a single Jack Snipe (Agachadiza Chica / Lymnocriptes minimus) in a track side ditch.

Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae).

On the way we checked a couple of other fields and soon started the list off with Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and a calling flight of 7 Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaria). 

When we reached the first spot we checked the ditch before having a walk along a narrow irrigation channel which crossed the fields, as soon as we started off we had a couple of Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago) go up along with Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).
At about the half way point we flushed up the first Jack Snipe which dropped in to the crop fields a short distance off to our right and then a few meters further on a second bird went up and flew around behind us and away to the other side of the track. 

Pleased with our sightings we retraced our steps to the track where we had a chat with one of the local farmers and explained to him what we were up to and that we were only hunting with our camera's.

Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

I was pleased that he took the time to find out what we were doing and that he seemed a little bit interested in the birds as well. Anyway we then checked out the damp fields on the opposite side of the track where we saw a female Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and another fine male Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail.

We returned to the car and made our way through Mesia and on to the service road along side the A92 heading for Moraleda, along here we scanned Balsa de Rigedor and picked up Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) and on the nearby wire both Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica).

Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

From here we made our way up to the agricultural area near to Moraleda where we searched the fields from several of the farmer tracks, on the way in we picked up a Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and a flying Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis). 

Once out on the fields we could hear Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) and Crested Larks (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) singing all around us along with Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica). 

Near the large ruin of an old Cortijo we saw two Swallowtails (Papilio machaon) and several Bath Whites (Pontia daplidice).

We drove down to the area around the Solar Panels and Elena picked up a nice male Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) walking across a crop fields nearby and then we heard and saw (breifly) a cracking adult Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius). 

Continuing on we checked out the Almond groves and as things were warming up even more butterflies were on the move, in this area we added Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), a single Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) and Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera). 

Again we moved on around the site adding Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Feral Pigeon (Columba livia) and both Common (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and Iberian Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Ibérico / Phylloscopus brehmii).

Province Hairstreak (Tomares ballus).

Our last stop at this site was in a large Almond plantation where we were looking for and found several Province Hairstreaks (Tomares ballus) a cracking quick flying difficult to photograph insect which was a new species for Steve and he got some very nice shots as well. In the same area we also had a second Little Bustard and 3 Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus).

From here we dropped down in to the valley and had our lunch at the small bar in El Turro before pushing on down the Valley to the bridge across the river where we walked along the river up to the dam, on the way we saw several spikes of Ophrys forestieri on the roadside in the pines. 

New species at the bridge included Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Great  Tits (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla) heard only and Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos). 

We continued on again but just as far as the small Embalse a KM or so further along the road, here we saw much the same species as on the small pool earlier but new species included Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), a pair of Marsh Harriers (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and a calling but unseen Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei). 

Lesser Kestrel (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni).

Our final stops in the valley were south of the village of Cacín, the first was in the gorge where we had really nice views of a female Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila-azor / Hieraetus faciatus), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes) and heard Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia). 

On our way back North we stopped at the Roman bridge and soon had a male Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura) on the list along with a nice male Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra) butterfly. 

We continued on North and took the Ventas de Huelma road in Cacín hoping to see some raptors during the drive there bu we were unlucky. 

Once in Ventas we took a minor road across country heading back to the agricultural areas where we had started the day, just after we left the village I picked up two Great Spotted Cuckoo's in flight which landed in a tree not to far from the roadside and gave us great views and Steve managed to get some cracking photographs. 

Further on we stopped near an abandoned Cortijo and had good views of a group of at least 8 Lesser Kestrels (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni). From here we made our way back to the motorway and then on back to the meeting point a the hotel.

Thanks Steve and Elena for yet another great day out in the field and for the use of some of your shots.

Padul Wetland, Granada Province.

A very windy morning and an unexpected meeting with two Spanish birding friends.

Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta).

Yesterday, Tuesday I went to Zagra to get a boot full of logs from the Olive factory just to keep us going but arrived to find the pile had gone. As we were very low we decided to go to a place up on the out skirts of Granada to get some next morning.

As we were going we thought that we may as well make the most of it, so Jayne went into the city for a few hours whilst I visited Padul wetlands.

Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).

I parked by the entrance to the reserve near the smelly river section and walked along the track a spent some time sat on the new ridge near the bridge and watched the wintering Water Pipits (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta), Bluethroats (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica), Reed Buntings (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus) and Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago) and the resident Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus) which apart from a fleeting scamper across a gap in the reeds were heard reather than seen. After a while I decided that lying on the damp soil in the cold strong wind was not such a good idea and returned to the car. I drove the car a short way along the same track and parked along side the smelly stream and waited to see what would come in to range of the camera.

Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

From this spot I saw, heard and photographed (some of) Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla) and Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).

Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

I sat there for some time then I noticed that Juan Perez had just arrived so I go out of the car and had a chat with him for a while. I took the car off the track and parked next to Juan as we we were going have a walk out to the hide, as we were about to start Manuel Cayuela López arived and he joined us as well. We walked down to the bank but saw nothing more than I had earlier so we continued on down to the hide where we added Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) and Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) to the list before heading back to the car well and truly blown inside out.

Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta).

We gave into the wind then and made our ways home.