Sierra de Loja and Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

A photography day with Dutch birders Gilbert and Elly.

Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae).

I met Gilbert and Elly at the motorway services just above Loja on the A92 from there we headed off up Sierra de Loja and quickly saw a nice spike of Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum robertiana), on the drive up to the small quarry we started the list off with a small flock of Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major).
We parked by the quarry and walked in and soon located a pair of calling Rock Buntings (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula).

Black-eared Wheatear (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica).

It was early and the sun had not got up over the crags but hell it was cold so we decided to head up higher and get our selves in to some sun, once we were on the flatter higher ground and in the sun we started to see some more species including Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Black-eared Wheatear (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa) and Spectacled Warbler (Curruca Tomillera / Sylvia conspicillata).

Red-billed Choughs (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax).

We made it to Charca Negra in quick time as we were only looking for a few target species, here we had a walk up on to the crag to look at the beautiful and rare Narcissus Bugei which were in full flower. We also saw a couple of Rock Sparrows (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia) in flight but we did not get good views as they did not land, in the same area we had a nice male Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) singing from a nearby rock and a flash by view of a male Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius). It was still cold so we started to drive back down the hill, on the way we added a male Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) to the list along with a good number of Red-billed Choughs (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) down on the crags. 

Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis).

Once we were down at the bottom again we headed along the A92 to Moraleda area where went out on to the fields, on the way we had good views of a Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) at the entrance to it nest hole, Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica). Once out on the fields we very quickly picked up a couple of singing but distant Calandra Larks (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) and the first two Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis) of the day, a little later Gilbert managed some very nice photo's of a flock of six birds that passed by silently.

Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

A very high Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus) passed over the site just as we moved on towards the far fields where we had good views of a flock of Lesser Kestrels (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni). We retraced out way back to the area around the Solar panels where we had a couple of Iberian Grey Shrikes (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) on the security fences, Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and a male Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla) in the Almond trees.

We went back to the point where we had entered the site where we heard a male  Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) raspberry calling at us, we scanned the field and located a female and then from on top of the ridge some way off two males flew up and passed Gilbert and Elly as they walked back to the car. 

Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila Perdicera / Aquila faciatus).

We then headed off the site and through Castillo de Tajarja and headed for Ventas de Huelma, on the way we had views of more Lesser Kestrels. Just out side Ventas we picked up a dark phase Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus) and a little further on a Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo). We did not see much else on the drive down into the Cacín Valley, once down by the river we headed south and were soon having stunning views of a pair of Bonelli's Eagles (Aguila Perdicera / Aquila faciatus) and in the fields behind us I could hear a Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) calling. We moved back up the valley slightly to the bridge where we heard a singing Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes) and saw a male Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenoides) butterfly but nothing else so we again headed further north to the Embalse.
We parked on the side of the road and walked down the bank and scanned the water where we found several Northern Shovelers (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), a single male Red-crested Pochard (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus).

Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus).

The water level was quite low and on the muddy spit there were 20 odd Green Sandpipers (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), 15 Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus) and a pair of Little Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius). Gilbert and Elly stayed by the waters edge trying to get some shots of the Sandpipers whilst I had a short walk back along the bank where I was pleased to find at least three Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus) feeding on the mud, one of which showed well and continued to do so when Gilbert and Elly got to me.
In the same area we saw or heard Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), 3x Common Buzzards, a single Whiskered Tern (Fumarel Cariblanca / Chilidonias hybridus) which had been at the site for a few days and House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica). The bridge site was our next stop but it was very quiet and the only bird species added was a calling but unseen Coal Tit (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater), we did however also see Large (Pieris brassicae), Small (Artogeia rapae) and Bath Whites (Pontia daplidice), Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra) and Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus).
We headed back towards the Sierra where we had started just to see if the Eagle Owl (Buho Real / Bubo bubo) was going to show but we did not see it. We then dropped back down to the service area, Gilbert and Ellie then made there way back down to there accommodation and I went home.

A very good days birding which I was pleased to share with Gilbert and Elly, thanks for your company.

Fuente de Piedra, Laguna Herrera and Arroya Marin, Malaga Province.

A few hours birding in Malaga Province.

Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera).

Jayne and I travelled over to a spot near Salinas looking for some Orchids which had been see by the Iznajar walking group a few days earlier, I did not find the species I had hoped to see but found several nice spikes of Sawfly (Flor de avispa / Ophrys tenthredinifera) and Somber Bee Orchid (Abejera oscura / Ophrys fusca subsp fusca) plus several Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and a Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea).

Later whilst Jayne was at the craft group in Villanueva del Trabuco I went and had a look at a few nearby sites. I started off at Fuente de Piedra and was pleased to see some water in the wader pools along the entrance road and around the board walk.
As I drove in I checked the pool on the left of the road and soon started the list off with Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax) x 11, Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa) x17, Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) x4, Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus) x5, Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), a single Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) and the other two expected subspecies, 4+ Whiskered (Fumarel Cariblanca / Chilidonias hybridus) and quite a few flyover Gull-billed Terns (Pagaza Piconegra / Gelochelidon nilotica), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), a male Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus).

Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago).

I parked up and then had a walk out along the board walk and around the track towards the view point, around here I saw a couple of Wood Sandpipers (Andarrios Bastardo / Tringa glareola), Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), a Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), lots of Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Barn (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Red-rumped Swallows (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).

Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata) male.

On the board walk pool I also recorded a few Dragonflies, most were Red-veined Darters (Sympetrum fonscolombii) with a few in tandem oviposting, the rest were Lesser Emperors (Anax parthenope).

I did not bother going to the rear hides as a coach party had just headed around there so I decided to head for Antequera and have a look at Laguna Herrera, On the way I saw a group of at least 9 Lesser Kestrels (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni) hunting over a motorway side fields and just as I came off the motorway at exit 149 I added 2 Black Kites (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), a Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) and pale phase Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus) all trying gain height over the fields.

Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata) female.

On the way in to the Lagoon on the track I had nice views of a Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa) and a fly over Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus). On the water there were a few Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), a few more Gull-billed Terns and another single Whiskered, 20+ Grey Herons, 15+ Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) along with several wader species that I had already seen at Fuente.

Whiskered Tern (Fumarel Cariblanca / Chilidonias hybridus).

I continued on around the loop passing the pool and ending up back at the main road, along this drive I saw Calandra Lark (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), a single male Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and two flying Great Cormorants (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo).

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

I started to make my way back towards Trabuco but called in at Arroya Marin for a while on the way, I parked and had a short walk throgh the riverside woodland and picked up Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and Long-tailed Tits (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major) and Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla) before heading to Trabuco and picking Jayne up and heading home.

The Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

In and around the Valley with Monique and Paul.

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

We started the day just after we left the A92 at Moraleda where we made a roadside stop for a nice view of a Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) which performed well on a nearby  gravel area.
We also had views of a female Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and just as we were about to get back into the car a Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius) which was calling from a fruit orchard amongst the houses.
We moved on through the urbanisation and out on to the fields, on the way we had smashing views of a Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) which sat on a shed roof, Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica).

Province Hairstreak (Cardenillo / Tomares ballus).

Once on the fields we soon had good views of up to 7 male Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) flying around together and in the fields nearby we could hear at least another two calling. Whilst watching the Bustards we were also given a nice display of hunting stoops and turns by a male Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).
Our next stop was at the ruined Cortijo, as soon as we got out of the car we located a small group of 7 Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis) but before I could get the scope on them they saw us and were away over the ridge.

Purple Heron (Garza Imperial / Ardea purpurea).

As we stood scanning the fields we could hear and see Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) and Crested Larks (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), in the distance there was the screeching of a Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), another Great Spotted Cuckoo also did a flyby and a very well behaved Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) sat on a tall plant spike.
We moved on around the fields adding Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Lesser Kestrel (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni), Rock Pigeon (Paloma Bravia / Columba livia) and a nice hovering Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus) on the way.

Monique and Paul at Embalse de Cacín.

It had been very productive at this site but it was very cold with a brisk breeze, due to this I was surprised to see a dozen or more Province Hairstreaks (Cardenillo / Tomares ballus) in the areas amongst the Almonds.

We then dropped down in to the Valley where it was a touch warmer and made a stop in the pine woods to look at the many spikes of Ophrys forestieri flowering on the roadside. We moved on down to the bridge over the Rio Cacín and had a walk along the track towards the dam and also scanned the trees from the bridge, along the track we picked up Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Great Tits (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and heard Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti).

Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).

As we reached the fence around the dam wall we had very nice views of a flying Purple Heron (Garza Imperial / Ardea purpurea), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula). We retraced our steps back to the bridge, on the way we saw a pair of Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) on the river and in the air singles of both Northern Goshawk (Azor Común / Accipitor gentillis) and Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila Perdicera / Aquila faciatus). Back at the bridge a male and Immature Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra) sat in a small poplar tree and several House Martins and a single Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica) did flybys with a good number of Crag Martins. 

Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus).

We moved just up the road to the Embalse and scanned the water from the roadside bank, the first thing we picked up was a nice Whiskered Tern (Fumarel Cariblanca / Chilidonias hybridus), followed by a male Red-crested Pochard (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and a Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei) which we could hear but not see on the far shore. We moved up the road slightly but only got glimpse of a small flock of Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) which moved through the Olives and scrub and eluded both Monique and Paul unfortunately.

Monique and Paul in the Cacín.

By this time we were truly frozen so we headed for a bar in Cacín village where we had a coffee and a sandwich before heading further down the gorge, part way along the road we stopped to check a large rock in a field which had a nice male Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) sat on it, in an Almond tree nearby we saw our only Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia) of the day and then just as we were about get to get back in the car an Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus) put in a surprise appearance and flew north up the valley.
A little further on we saw a second Bonelli's Eagle, Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) and I had brief views of a male Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) which dropped before I could get Monique and Paul on to it.

Next stop was at the roman bridge, before we got out of the car we took a few shot of a nice Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) which sat on the parapet and watched a Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) fly up the river.

We made our way back to Cacín and had a walk along the river side woods and here we had good views of a Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla) and another surprise came when we had a singing Willow Warbler (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus) the first time I have heard this in Spain.

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

From here we headed out towards Ventas de Huelma, on the way we saw a Red Fox (Vulpus vulpus), a single Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), another Short-toed Eagle and a dark morph Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus) which was followed a little further along the road by a displaying dark and pale phase pair. 

Time was moving on so we started to make our way back towards Granada but before we finished the day we picked up a nice Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) and several more Lesser Kestrels on the way in.Once back in the city I dropped Monique and Paul off and headed home. On my way back I added Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) and both Western Cattle (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).

Thanks to Monique and Paul for their company on what turned out to be an outstanding days birding.

Coin area, Alhaurin del la Torre and Torremalinos, Malaga Province.

Shopping and Orchid hunting.

Two-leaved Gennaria (Gennaria diphylla).

Jayne and I got up early and headed down to Coin in Malaga Province to the Sunday car-boot sale that is held there. We spent some time walking around and actually bought something, a smart blue vase. As usual 99.9% of the stuff there had either come out of a local skip or should have been in one. From the car-boot we headed out into the campo to spend some time looking at orchids at a few sites between Coin and Malaga.
The first was just a few KM down the road and before I had even got out of the car I could see several spikes of the beautiful Naked / Italian Man Orchid (Orquídea italiana / Orchis italica) on a roadside out crop.
Near the foot of this rocky wall I also found several dusty spikes of the uncommon Two-leaved Gennaria (Gennaria diphylla), several Yellow Bee (Orquídea Abejera / Ophrys lutea) and a couple of well over with Sawfly Orchids (Flor de avispa / Ophrys tenthredinifera).

Two-leaved Gennaria (Gennaria diphylla).

In the woods nearby I heard and saw several Crested Tits (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus), a Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus) and Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius).
As I reached the car a Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus) was heard and then seen on the cliffs of a small quarry near the road and in a stand of Eucaliptus I could hear both Common (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and Iberian Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Ibérico / Phylloscopus brehmii) singing. Our next stop was along the road to Puerto de los Pescadres where last year the site was scrapped off for some reason, this year there were next to no Orchids to be seen.
Three years ago this was a good site for 8+ species of Orchid and each could be found in good numbers but this year I found 5 spikes of Sawfly Orchid and nothing else.

Woodcock Orchid (Ophrys scolopax).

Again we moved on to another site on the road to Mijas were I soon found several spikes of Woodcock Orchid (Ophrys scolopax), along with Pink Butterfly (Orchis papilionacea), Mirror Orchid (Ophrys speculum subsp speculum), Yellow Bee and Sawfly.
We then dropped down to Alhaurin del la Torre to the Garden center there, I dropped Jayne off and went back to a site near by where I was hoping to see the rare Atlas Orchid (Ophrys atlantica).
I arrived at the spot to find that half of Spain had decided to go there as well, parking was fun but eventually I found a spot and went for a walk.
After quite a while I managed to find three spikes, none of which were in good condition.
There were alot of still to flower plants there, so I am guessing that a visit in a couple of weeks would be much better. I did however also see another couple of spike of Woodcock Orchid and my first Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenoides) of the year.

Pink Butterfly (Orchis papilionacea).

I next went back to the garden center and met Jayne were we picked up a few plants before going down to Torremalinos for a late lunch and a walk along the sea front. Lunch was a very nice Paella in one of the Chiringuitos on the sea front.

The Paella.

Later we stopped at the Golf course nearby and had a look for and found Pepe the Superb Starling (Lamprotornis superbus) along with Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus) and my first Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) of the year

Superb Starling (Lamprotornis superbus).

Near Padul, Granada Province.

A couple of hours Birding and Orchid hunting with Juan. 

Fan-lipped Orchid (Orchis collina).

Juan Pérez Contreras and I headed out in his 4x4 to a site not too far from Padul where in the past we have both seen the locally rare, possible close to extinct in the Province Dupont's Lark (Alondra Ricotí / Chersophilus duponti).
The entrance track was every bit as bad as Juan thought it would be which was why he suggested we should take his car and not mine. As we drove up the track we saw Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and the first of many Fan-lipped Orchids (Orchis collina) this one was the standard deep pink colour.

Fan-lipped Orchid (Orchis collina).

We parked the car and walked one of the tracks off to the western side of the site and did a loop around to a gorge on the eastern side before returning to the car.
On the first stretch we saw lots more of spikes of the common Fan-lipped Orchid, a couple of the equally common Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum robertiana) and several Common Grape Hyacinths (Muscari neglectum).

Fan-lipped Orchids (Orchis collina).

During the walk several different colour varieties of the Fan-lipped including an almost gold coloured plant. There were also a few butterfly species in the area including Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus), Province Hairstreak (Tomares ballus), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) and Bath White (Pontia daplidice).

As we reached the far side of the site we saw a fine male Black-eared Wheatear (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica) which was quickly followed by a male of the Northern (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) relative.

Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum robertiana).

We dropped down in to a small gorge at the furthest part of the area and then made our way back to the car passed a small pool which was full of Natterjack Toad (Sapo Corredor / Bufo calamita) tadpoles. Birds along this stretch included Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).
On the last stretch of the walk we picked up the most fantastic smells as a large flock of goats moved through the herbs.

Huétor Fields, Granada Province.

Curse of the Jack Snipe !!!!

I started to catch up on a few jobs and needed to pop down to Huétor Tajar for some bits, whilst I was at the builders yard on the edge of town I could hear a couple of Great Spotted Cuckoo's (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius) calling from the trees at the back of the yard. On my way back home I had a very slow drive along side the irrigation channel where Juan Pérez Contreras, Steve Powell and I had seen the Jack Snipe (Agachadiza Chica / Lymnocriptes minimus) on several occasions over the last few weeks. A as I had not got my bins or the camera you could almost guarantee that the dam thing would be there and it was, sat right out in the open showing beautifully. It was great to sit and watch this uncommon bird but as soon as I could drag myself away I shot home and got the camera and returned as quickly as I could. I arrived back just after a young lady had walked along the edge of the ditch with loud music playing from her mobile phone so I was not optimistic and my fears were right as I could not find the bird. To make things worse as I approached the spot a small Crake species, either Little or Baillon's disappeared into a large clump of reeds and did not reappear. The bird was far more patient or just had less jobs to catch up with than I did and remained hidden.After a short while I made my way home seeing Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) and Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) on the way.

Huétor Fields, Granada Province and Laguna Herrera, Malaga Province.

A quick scan of the lagoon and fields.

Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

I needed a few things from Huétorso I spent a short while out on the fields and picked up a couple of year ticks, a single Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla) and on the river a couple of Little Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius). Other species included Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).

Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

Jayne and I headed over to Antequera to have a look at the garden centres and whilst we were there we popped in to Laguna Herrera to check what was about.
On the track in we saw a nice male Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) hunting low over the crop fields, a couple of Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) sitting on the tops of telegraph poles and several Lesser Kestrel (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni) hovering over the same fields.
Once on the track we flushed up several Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) from the ditch along with the first of several Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus).
On the lagoon there were lots of roosting Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), a few Black-heads (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and a couple of Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), along with a small flock of Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), half a dozen Shelducks (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), several Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), more Green Sandpipers and a single first for the year Wood Sandpiper (Andarrios Bastardo / Tringa glareola).

Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

We then moved on around the fields and added Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and a couple of Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

Charca de Suarez and surrounding fields, La Malaha and Ventas de Huelma areas, Granada Province.

A morning down on the coast and an afternoon on the fields.

Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos).

I got up and out early to travel up to Granada to meet Juan Perez for a days birding, on the way I saw Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo).

I picked Juan up from his address on the outskirts of Granada and we headed off down to Charca de Suarez on the Granada Coast near Motril.

Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca).

The reserve was not open when we arrived so we checked out the agricultural area to the north west, as soon as we arrived a Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) flashed across the road and when parked we could hear a calling Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix) in amongst the sugar cane and pampas grass plants.

Sedge Warbler (Carricerin Común / Acrocephalus schoenobaenus).

Next came a fine male Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), several noisy Zitting Cisticola's (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), fly over Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata).

Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa).

A little further on we watched a couple of mating Hoopoes (Abubilla / Upupa epops) at it on a fence, heard a couple more Common Quail and added Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), a calling female Red Avadavat (Bengali Rojo / Amandava amandava), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) and Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) to the list. 

Stripe-less Tree Frog (Hyla meridionalis).

After a while we went around to the reserve and met Manu the warden and headed for the main hide for a quick check there to see what was about on the large pool, out on the water there were a few Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), a female Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis).
On the island there were several Great Cormorants (one of which was ringed), a single Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), a Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago) and around the margins Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) and Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio).

Lesser Kestrel (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni).

We moved on around the reserve to Laguna del Taraje where we soon picked up several Sedge Warblers (Carricerin Común / Acrocephalus schoenobaenus) and one of the wintering Moustached Warbler (Carricerin Real / Acrocephalus melanopogon). After some time we both caught a glimpes of a small Crake species as it flashed across a channel in the reedbeds but could not put a name to it at that point, a little later Juan picked up the bird again and was identified as a male Little Crake (Polluela Bastarda / Porzana parva).

Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos).

We saw the bird breifly a couple more times along with a Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus) which was equally elusive flashing betewwen the reeds at speed. Laguna del Lirio was quiet and I only added Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca) and introduction Red-knobbed Coot (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata) at Laguna del Trebol.
Between the main hide and the side gate we saw Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Viperine Snake (Culebra Viperina / Natrix maura) and Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa).
We returned to Laguna del Taraje hoping for better views of the Crake but there was no sign of the bird, we did see several Yellow-eared Sliders (Trachemys scripta scripta). 13:00 came around all to quickly and we had to leave the reserve, on our way around to the exit we found a Stripe-less Tree Frog (Hyla meridionalis) on a leaf of the flowering Yellow flag-iris (Iris pseudacorus).

We made our way back up to Granada and I dropped Juan off at his home before heading back via the fields near La Malaha and Ventas de Huelma.

Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula).

On the way I had great views of a couple of Golden Eagles (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos), several Lesser Kestrels (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) and Thekla Larks (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) and Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina).

Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius).

Back on the local patch I finished the list off with Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) before reaching the house.

Huetor Fields, Granada Province.

A couple of hours on the loacl patch with Juan Perez.

Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild).

Juan and I headed down onto the fields to see if we could see the Jack Snipe (Agachadiza Chica / Lymnocriptes minimus) again, we arrived at the spot and walked the irrigation channel along side the track and crossed the road to Mesia and checked the continuation of the channel on that side of the road.
We saw a single Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), a single Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), lots of Goldfinches (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Serins (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), 2x Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), a few Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and just as we turned around a single Alpine Swift (Vencejo Real / Apus melba) did a fly over.

Alpine Swift (Vencejo Real / Apus melba).

We made our way back to the small pools and followed the ditch across the fields but all we saw were 5/6 more Snipe, Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) but no Jack Snipe this time. Back at the car we noticed a good number of hirundines feeding low over a nearby field, the flock included Red-rumped (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica) and Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia).

From here we had a quick look along the Rio Vilano on the lower stretch and added Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis). We then decided to head back up to the house for a brew.