Rio Grande and other spots above Malaga, Malaga Province.

Attempted Dragonfly trip but with out much success with the camera.

Southern Skimmer (Orthetrum brunneum).

I dropped Jayne and Alan in the city and headed out towards the Rio Grande where I spent a while just checking the dry river bed near the bridge but did not see a lot except for thousands of dead and dying fish and a very full looking Viperine Snake (Culebra Viperina / Natrix maura) so I drove further on and stopped by another small river.

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

I parked in a new spot and dropped down to the river with Chika, straight away I found good numbers of Epaulet Skimmers (Orthetrum chrysostigma), Broad Scarlet (Crocothemis erythraea), Orange-winged (Trithemis kirbyi) and Violet Dropwings (Trithemis annulata), single Small Pincertail (Onychogomphus forcipatus) and Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator) and several Copper Demoiselles (Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis).

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

Birds included a small flock of Common Waxbills (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and a very nice adult Night Heron (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax) which flew along the river.

Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius).

I dropped back to the Rio Grande area but went to a new part of the river which was recommended by Christophe Brochard from Holland who visited the site a few weeks ago. Chika and I wandered around the area for around three hours and saw at least two Faded Pincertails (Onychogomphus costae) but it was so windy at the site that the insects were not settling for the camera.

European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster).

In the same area I had two very nice Long Skimmers (Orthetrum trinacria) which as with most other species just whizzed by along with Southern Skimmer (Orthetrum brunneum), Iberian Blue-tail (Ischnura graellsii), White Featherleg (Platycnemis latipes) and Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) all of which were new for the day. All of the species seen at the first site were also seen here except for the Small Pincertail.

Chika.

Birds at the site included Little Ringed (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) and Kentish Plovers (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Little  (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) and Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Cetti's (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and Reed Warblers (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Pallid (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) and Common Swifts (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Barn (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Red-rumped Swallows (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris).

Blue Water Speedwell (Veronica anagallis-aquatica).

My last stop was back by the bridge where I parked on the track side and took some shots of a group of European Bee-eaters (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) and also added White (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) to the day list.

Exuvia probably from a Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii).

Other species seen during the day included Blue Water Speedwell (Veronica anagallis-aquatica), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), African Grass Blue (Zizeeia knysna), Bath (Pontia daplidice) and Small Whites (Artogeia rapae), Mammoth Wasp (Megascolia maculata), Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa), Iberian Water Frog (Rana Común / Rana Perezi), Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and Iberian Brown Hare (Lepus europaeus / capensis).

Travelling to and from Baza and at Venta del Molinillo, Granada Province.

A run out with Jayne and son Alan.

Male Beautiful Demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo).

For a while we had been meaning to visit this part of Granada Province and thought that we would have a run up there for a day out whilst Alan was with us. On the way I saw a couple of Carrion Crows (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone) on pylons and just as we entered the town we saw three more mobbing a pale phase Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus). Whilst we were travelling there and back I also saw Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur) and Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).

Female Beautiful Demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo).

The town was not what we had expected, I will say no more but whilst walking around I did see Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus).

We spent a while walking around and then headed off to Purullena where Jayne looked around the ceramic shops before we went and had some lunch. After eating we headed back towards Granada as Alan wanted to get a new camera before he headed off on hoilday to Italy, on the way we stopped at Venta del Molinillo and I had a walk along the river.

Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros).

Whilst here I found several Beautiful Demoiselles (Calopteryx virgo) and a couple of Large Pincertails (Onychogomphus uncatus). Birds included Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus) and Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla). Whilst I was getting some shots of the Beautiful Demoiselles a Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros) landed nearby and allowed me to get a few shot which was very nice as I have not got a decent upper-wing shot before. From here we headed in to the City and then home.

Balsa de Regidor and Moraleda Fields, Granada Province.

A few hours birding with friend Andy Mountford from the UK.

Roller (Carraca / Coracias garrulus) immature.

Unfortunately Andy and I only got to spend a few hours birding during his trip to Spain this year but we saw a few really nice species whilst we were out. We started off from the house and headed out to the small pool on the side of the A92 called Balsa de Regidor and found a few pairs of Common Pochards (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina) with young, along with at least 2 families of Little Grebes (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and several Mallards (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos). Other breeding species on and around the lake were Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus) and Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).
Due to the wind dragonflies were scarce but we did see several Red-veined Darters (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator), along with a few Broad Scarlets (Crocothemis erythraea), Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum), Iberian Blue-tail (Ischnura graellsii) and a single Small Red-eyed (Erythromma viridulum). In the water and on the dead trees around the margins we saw lots of Stripe-necked Terrapins (Mauremys leprosa) and Iberian Water Frogs (Rana Común / Rana Perezi).

We moved on through Moraleda and out on to the nearby fields taking a roadside track through a large area of Almond Groves. Just after entering the grove we located a beautiful adult Roller (Carraca / Coracias garrulus) followed a few seconds later by an immature bird both of which flew off before I could get the camera pointed in the right direction.

Roller (Carraca / Coracias garrulus) adult.

We continued on through the trees to a field on the far side, on the way through we saw Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei) and Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops). 

From here instead of going back to the road we crossed a harvested field to the track near the disused cortijo seeing the Rollers again on the way across as well as Pallid (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) and Common Swifts (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis).
Once we were up on the track we passed the cortijo and dropped down towards the Solar Panel farm picking up the Rollers yet again but this time they sat a little longer and allowed a couple of shots, on the way we also saw Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) and Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina).

Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).

At the far side of the site we picked up what we were guess was a second family of Rollers in the Almonds along with Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis). We dropped down out of the site through yet more Almond trees and parked on the track side and had a walk through one of the groves, on the way we saw two Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), a Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus) and three cracking Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis) which were the main targets of the morning.
During the walk we saw a few butterflies including Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Sage Skipper (Muschampia proto), Small White (Artogeia rapae), Spanish Brown Argus (Aricia cramera) and  Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus).

We returned back to the car and headed back to the house for some lunch before Andy continued on down to Malaga Province for the last few days of his Spanish break.

Arroyo Vilano bridge, Granada Province.

An afternoons walk with Chika along the river.

Chika.

Chika and I went down to the river and parked just North of La Fabrica and walked the river looking for Dragonflies but they were few and far between. 

However I did see a couple of Southern (Orthetrum brunneum) and Epaulet Skimmers (Orthetrum chrysostigma), Broad Scarlet (Crocothemis erythraea), Orange-winged (Trithemis kirbyi) and Violet Dropwings (Trithemis annulata), Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator), White Featherleg (Platycnemis latipes) and Iberian Blue-tail (Ischnura graellsii). 

Birds were scarce due to the time of day but I did see several Little Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator). 

During the walk I also saw lots of Iberian Water Frog (Rana Común / Rana Perezi), Water Messurer (Hydrometridae), Carpentor Bee (Xylocopa violacea), Swallowtail (Papilio machaon), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Bath White (Pontia daplidice) and African Grass Blue (Zizeeia knysna).

Sue´s, Road to Zahara, Zahara, below Palomes and travelling home, Cadiz Province.

A morning at the Corpus Christi parade in Zahara and a bit of plant hunting.

Phyllodesma suberifolia.

Just after 07:00 I got up and went out in to the garden and checked the moth Trap which I had set up near the house the evening before, I was very pleased to find two Oak Hawkmoths (Marumba quercus), Phyllodesma suberifolia, Oak Hooktip (Watsonella uncinula), Chinese Charactor (Cilix algirica), Portland Ribbon Wave (daea degeneraria), Jersey Emerald (Pseudoterpna coronillaria), Euproctis chrysorrhoea chrysorrhoea f. punctigera, Idaea ostrinaria, The Four Spotted (Tyta luctuos), Euzophera pinguis, Idaea lutulentaria and Purple Marbled (Eublemma ostrina).

Oak Hawkmoth (Marumba quercus).

Later Sam, Sue, Jayne and I went to Zahara via Grazalema to watch the parade which moves between temporary shrines around the town which has been decked with reeds, sedges which covered the roads and on the walls they had Oleander (Nerium oleander) and Retama (Lygos sphaerocarpa).
We spent some time walking the streets and watching the last couple of Shrine blessings before walking back down to the car which we parked on the outskirts.

Church in Zahara.

Also seen whilst we were in the town were Lesser Kestrel (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni), Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Feral Pigeon (Columba livia), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Geranium Bronze (Cacyreus marshalli).

Jayne, Sue and Sam in Zahara.

Once we reached the car we drove back up over the hill dodging muppets on racing bikes who think is fun to come around hairpin bends in gangs on the wrong side of the road which is fine but it scratches the paint work on the bonnet when you fatten them. Just below the Pañomes pass we made a stop and checked the roadside out for plants finding Curry Plant (Helecrisum stoechaes), Woolly Lavender (Lavandula lanata), White stonecrop (Sedum album), Cliffhanger (Chaenorhinum villosum), Putoria (Putoria calabrica), Sedum amplexicaule, Yellow flax (Linum tenue), White Flax (Linum suffruticosum), Rock phagnalon (Phagnalon rupestre) and several others plus Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) and on the way back to Sue and Sam´s Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura) and Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius).

Woolly Lavender (Lavandula lanata).

Once back at Sue´s we packed our stuff into the car said our goodbyes and headed home, on the way we saw Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), Calandra Lark (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) and Lesser Kestrel (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni) over the fields and Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala) and Alpine Swift (Vencejo Real / Apus melba) as we passed Laguna dulce.

Sue´s Garden, Puerto de los Presillas, Grazalema crags and Sewage works, Near Sue´s at Sue´s again, Cadiz Province.

A walk in the mountains and some Dragon,s nearer to Sue´s.

Sam checking his bug pot.

During the earlier part of the morning I spent some time around the garden whilst Jayne and Sue had a good chat, down in the far paddock I soon relocated the family of Subalpine Warblers (Curruca Carrasquena / Sylvia cantillans) that I had seen yesterday and they were joined in the same Quince tree by a family of Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), a Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla) and Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus).

Pistorinia hispanica.

On the opposite side of the patch there were some more mature trees and in this area I quickly located Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Crested Tit (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius) and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus).

Southern Campanula (Campanula velutina).

As things started to warm up some butterflies started to fly including Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina ), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), False Ilex Hairstreak (Satyrium esculi) and Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus).

Just after 10 Sam and Clive arrived and we all had a bit of a chat before Clive headed back to Grazalema and the four of us got sorted and went out for a walk along a track up towards a spot called Puerto de los Presillas where we were going plant hunting.

White Stonecrop (Sedum album).

Right by the place where we parked we were soon watching several species of Butterflies including Small (Thymelicus sylvestris), Marbled (Muschampia lavatherae) and Lulworth Skippers (Thymelicus acteon), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Iberian Marbled White (Melanargia lachesis), Sage Skipper (Muschampia proto), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera) and an almost dead Fritillary which Sue rescued from a water trough which still needs a name but it was in such bad condition it will not be easy.

Sedum sediforme.

Plants seen in this area were Fragrant Bug Orchid (Orchis coriophora subsp Fragrans), Spanish Oyster Thistle (Scolymus hispanicus), Rabbits bread (Andryala integrifolia), St. Johnswort (Hypericum perforatum), White Flax (Linum suffruticosum) and Great Mullein (Verbascum giganteum). We continued on up the track until we reached a nice area of crags, on the way up we saw a family party of Firecrests (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), a Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax) being mobbed by a pair of Red-billed Choughs (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) and Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra).

Bitting Stonecrop (Sedum acre).

Plants included Pyramidal Orchid (Orquidea Pyramidal / Anacamptis pyramidalia), Candle-stick bugloss (Echium boissieri), Curry Plant (Helecrisum stoechaes), Grey-leaved Cistus (Cistus albidus), Iberis pectinata, Clinopodium vulgare subsp. arundanum, Mediterranean Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria), Oleander (Nerium oleander), Pistorinia brevifolia, Sedum sediforme, White stonecrop (Sedum album), Pistorinia hispanica and Blue lettuce (Lactuca tenerrima). Butterflies were also seen and included most of the species seen earlier plus Spanish Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Large White (Pieris brassicae), Cardinal Fritillary (Argynnis Pandora), Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) and Blue Spotted Hairstreak (Satyrium spini) which Sue saw but I missed.

Hoplia bilineata.

At the furthest point I did a bit of scrambling around on the rocks and eventually found a couple of the rare endemic Grazalema Poppy (Papaver rupifragum) and in the same area I also had Sedum brevifolium, Bitting Stonecrop (Sedum acre), Putoria (Putoria calabrica), Campanula specularioides, Cliffhanger (Chaenorhinum villosum) and Clematis (Clematis vitalba). We continued on a little way before turning around and returning to the car seeing Mountain Catchfly (Silene Andryalifolia), Rosy garlic (Allium roseum), Spiny Restharrow (Ononis spinosa), Rusty-back Fern (Ceterach officinarum), Reversed Clover (Trifolium resupinatum), Melancholy Toadflax (Linaria tristis) and Viper's Bugloss (Echium plantagineum).

Melancholy Toadflax (Linaria tristis).

From here we headed back through Grazalema to a bar near Sue and Sam´s but made a quick stop to photographs Southern Campanula (Campanula velutina). We had lunch and then went back up to there house, later I drove down to the sewage works nearer to Grazalema where I checked the rocks on the way down and saw males of both Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura) and Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) before parking near the Rio Guadalete. On the pools I saw just two male Broad-bodied Chasers (Libellula depressa), several Blue-eye / Goblet-marked Damselflies (Erythromma lindenii), Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa), Iberian Water Frog (Rana Común / Rana Perezi) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

Sam enjoying a sweet from the barman.

I moved on to another site not too far from the house where I saw Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) and Summer Lady's Tresses (Spiranthes aestivalis). 

Trapdoor spider (Bothriocyrtum californicum).

After an hour or so I went back up to the house where we set up the Moth Trap, whilst we were doing this we saw or heard Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila-azor / Hieraetus faciatus), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Jay, Short-toed Treecreeper, Crested Tit (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus), Trapdoor spider (Bothriocyrtum californicum) and Huntsman Spider (Eusprassus dufouri). Later we had a nice meal and settled down.

Laguna Dulce, Ronda and Grazalema area, Cadiz Province.

A couple of days with Sue and Sam near Grazalema.

Adult male Subalpine Warbler (Curruca Carrasquena / Sylvia cantillans).

Jayne and I hit the road early and made our way over towards Ronda, on the way we made a stop at Laguna Dulce where I spent half an hour scanning the pool. As usual the commonest species was Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), followed by White-headed Ducks (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Little (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Great Crested (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus) and Black-necked Grebes (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) and on the margins Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) and Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae).

Immature Subalpine Warbler (Curruca Carrasquena / Sylvia cantillans).

In the air and around the margins there were a good number of species seen and heard including Alpine (Vencejo Real / Apus melba) and Pallid Swifts (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Red-rumped (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Crag (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Gull-billed Tern (Pagaza Piconegra / Gelochelidon nilotica), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Great Reed (Carricero Tordal / Acrocephalus arundinaceus) and Reed Warblers (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Lesser Kestrel (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni).

Once I had finished in the hide we drove on to Ronda where Jayne wanted to look at a couple of shops so I went down to the Gorge and had a look at what was about there, the commonest species seen by far was the tourist which was a good sign for Ronda and Spain.
Birds recorded were Lesser Kestrel (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia) and most surprising was a flock of 3 Spoonbills (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia) which appeared to be moving North / South, possibly coming from Embalse de Zahara-El Gastor and heading down to the coast.

Orange Featherleg (Platycnemis acutipennis).

After lunch Jayne and I headed to Sue´s house where I had a quick look around the garden before Sue arrived, species seen included Subalpine Warbler (Curruca Carrasquena / Sylvia cantillans), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Crested (Herrerillo Capuchino / Lophophanes cristatus) and Great Tits (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus).

Summer Lady's Tresses (Spiranthes aestivalis).

Insects were also every where and included Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina), False Ilex Hairstreak (Satyrium esculi), Southern Marbled Skipper (Muschampia baeticus), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Small White (Artogeia rapae), Spanish Gatekeeper (Pyronia bathseba) and Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera). Sue arrived and we all went in and had a drink and a chat out on the terrace before I went for a quick look around a quickly drying out river bed not far from the house.

Female Western Willow Spreadwing (Chalcolestes viridis).

As I arrived I flushed a Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) from its perch on one the pools and also soon had Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus), Woodlark (Totovia / Lullula arborea), Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus) and Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus).

Male Western Willow Spreadwing (Chalcolestes viridis).

A little further along the more open stretch of water I found several very nice spikes of Summer Lady's Tresses (Spiranthes aestivalis) which were growing just above the water line on tussocks in the remaining pools, all the other plants that we had seen last year had been eaten by the larger number of cattle that now graze the pasture. At the same spot I also had a couple of dozen newly emerged Western Willow Spreadwings (Chalcolestes viridis) and the rush stands in the river at this point were covered in their exuvia. 
I continued on down the river picking up a few more birds species on the way including Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and a surprisingly aggresive Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) which when I came around a bend flew at me squawking and landed a couple of meters away giving me abuse and then flew off.

Exuvia of  Western Willow Spreadwing (Chalcolestes viridis).

On the larger pool in the woods and in the Cistus scrub on the banks I saw several Orange Featherlegs (Platycnemis acutipennis), Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathinerum), Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina), Adonis Blue (Lysandra bellargus), Spanish Brown Argus (Aricia cramera) and Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria). On my way back to the car I added another couple of bird species before headed back to Sue´s which were Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes) and Wryneck (Torcecuello / Jynx torquilla). Also seeen during this walk were Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa), Large Psammodromus (Lagartija colilarga / Psammodromus algirus) and Iberian Water Frog (Rana Común / Rana Perezi).

Laguna Chica, Malaga Province.

A couple of hours in the water with the camera.

Small Red-eyed (Erythromma viridulum).

Whilst Jayne was at the Trabuco Craft Group I went and had a look around the margins of Laguna Chica for Dragonflies. I parked the car under some very convinient Oak trees and made my way down to the waters edge, on the way I saw several False Ilex Hairstreak (Querquera / Satyrium esculi) nectering on Curry Plants (Helecrisum stoechaes), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina ssp hispulla), Sage Skipper (Muschampia proto), Spanish Marbled White (Medioluto Inés / Melanargia ines) and Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris).

Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata).

Once I was down by the water I was surrounded by dozens if not hundreds of Dainty Damselflies (Coenagrion scitulum), a few Broad Scarlets (Crocothemis erythraea) and Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma), Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata) and Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator).

Broad Scarlets (Crocothemis erythraea).

On and around the pool there were several Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Pallid (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Common (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) and Alpine Swifts (Vencejo Real / Apus melba), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster).

Dainty Damselfly (Coenagrion scitulum).

I walked right the way around to the Eastern end of the pool passing the ruin and did the return walk away from the water amongst the bushes, I like this site but the ticks this year are really bad and I must have knocked 20 odd of my legs thankfully before they dug in. They were probably a bit slower digging in due to the gallons of insect repellent I had sprayed on my legs.

Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii).

On the way out and back again I recorded more Violet Dropwings, Broad Scarlets, Epaulet Skimmers, hundreds more Dainty Damsels and Blue / Common Emperors plus a few new species Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathinerum), Small Red-eyed (Erythromma viridulum), Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum), Red-veined (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) and Desert Darter (Sympetrum sinaiticum).

Desert Darter (Sympetrum sinaiticum).

The whole time I was walking around the margins Iberian Water Frogs (Rana Común / Rana Perezi) were leaping from cover into the water and the odd Viperine Snake (Culebra Viperina / Natrix maura) slunk away and swam for cover in the blanket weed.

North of Malaga, Malaga Province.

A few Dragonflies.

Small Pincertail (Onychogomphus forcipatus).

I dropped Jayne off in Malaga and made my way North to a small tree lined river that I had visited a week or so earlier.

Broad Scarlet (Crocothemis erythraea).

I parked and walked up the dry river bed until I reached a point where there was a small trickle which got stronger as I walked further on, on the way I saw a Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor),

Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos).

House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) and just as I reached

Adult male Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma).

the main Dragon area a Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) flushed up. In the main area of water I soon located Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma), Broad Scarlet (Crocothemis erythraea), Copper Demoiselle (Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis), Iberian Blue-tail  (Ischnura graellsii), Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator), Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi), Small Pincertail (Onychogomphus forcipatus) and Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata). Also seen during the walk I also saw Viperine Snake (Culebra Viperina / Natrix maura), Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa) and Iberian Water Frog (Rana Común / Rana Perezi).

Teneral Male Epaulet Skimmer.