Huétor Fields, Granada Province.

A few hours birding on the local patch with Manuel Cayuela López from Zaragoza area.

Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

I started the morning by having a look at the fields which are favoured by the Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) flock but the area was surrounded by several gun totting hunters who as far as I could see were blasting branches of Asparagus plants but hitting little else. I had a quick scan of the area but only saw Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and several Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) which were disappearing in to the distance.
I moved on around to the far side of the town and out on to the Mesia fields but this was where I made the big mistake of the day by parking at the start of the ditch where I have seen a Jack Snipe (Agachadiza Chica / Lymnocriptes minimus) several times in the last week or so to set up the camera which was still on the back seat in a rucksack.

Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica).

As I stopped I glanced down in to the ditch and there right in full view was the Snipe, I reached over got the bag and started to grab the bits I needed and just as I was ready and I pointed the camera out of the window the bird flushed and dropped down in to the ditch 20 meters or so further on but into a dense patch of reeds. I again approached the spot but it flew off and dropped into the small ditches which crosses the fields and out of sight.
I checked the rest of the ditch, fields and the two small pools where I found a fine male Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula). 

White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

I next moved over towards the river and checked the fields and pylons in the area and soon added Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), 40+ Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), my first Song Thrushes (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) of the winter, Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), a couple of Common Starlings (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulg aris) in a mixed flock with Spotless and a single Stock Dove (Paloma Zurita / Columba oenas) which were all feeding on a newly ploughed field. 

Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

I next checked out the other end of the river which had recently been dredged so I did not expect to find much but did manage to add a Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), a calling Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major) and a Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) which was perched on a concrete well top.

As I was returning along this track when Manuel gave me a ring and we met a few minutes later down by the ditch where the Jack Snipe had been earlier. We checked the area and had a couple of brief views of the Jack, a couple of Green Sandpipers, Bluethroat, Kingfisher, Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and then the bigest surprise two Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix) which flushed up from the edge of a Lucerne field as we checked the far ditch. We finished off at this spot and went to check the fields

Flocks of Woodpigeons (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) seen during the morning.

 along the river but we did not see any thing new here so we checked the fields again for the Bustards but there were still hunters there so we checked another track out in to an area of Lucerne fields and found just a dozen of the scattered Little Bustard flock. Our next stop was up at the house and then we made our way back to Manuels car and both made our way off after a good morning.  51 species on the local patch, not back in just 3 hours.

Padul Wetlands, Granada Province.

A morning with Padul Ringing Group.

Penduline Tit (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus).

I again dropped Jayne off in the city and went down to Padul where I met up with several ringers and spent the morning seeing some cracking birds in the hand including 3x Penduline Tits (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus) with 2 males and a female being caught, 2x Water Pipits (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta), 3x Bluethroats (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica), lots of Common Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Blackcaps (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta).

Whilst we were in the area we also saw a Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula).

Penduline Tit (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus).

I also saw African Grass Blue (Zizeeia knysna), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Large (Pieris brassicae) and Small White (Artogeia rapae) and a Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta).

Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).

I left after a while and went to the smelly canal where I sat for a while and added Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo).

Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica).

I also saw lots of Red-veined Darters (Sympetrum fonscolombii) some trying to ovipost in the sewage water.

Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta).

Sierra de Loja and Huétor Fields, Granada Province.

A few hours on the best hill in Andalucia !!

Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

Jayne was in Loja having here hair done so I headed up on to the lower slopes just above the town. On the track up I saw a small flock of very nice Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).

Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa).

On the slopes above the town I had some nice views of Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Dartford Warblers (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula). Also seen on the gorse plants there were several butterflies including Bath (Pontia daplidice), Large (Pieris brassicae) and Small Whites (Artogeia rapae), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) and Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus), the latter were paticulary common.

Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata).

In the quarry I saw a pair of Black Wheatears (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), several Black Redstarts (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and a singing male Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius).

Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus).

As I dropped back down towards the town I added Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater) and Great Tits (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) and Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).

Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus).

I met Jayne in Loja with her very smart new hair do and we headed off home but called in at a large field of Lucerne on the way where we saw 30+ Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), 70+ Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), 80+ White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Spotless Starling and Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata).

Guadalhorce and El Faro, Malaga Province.

Birding down on the Malaga coast.

White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala).

We headed down to Malaga and I dropped Jayne off at the Larios centre and continued on the short distance to the beach at Guadalhorce where I spent a while scanning the sea and the river picking up Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Mediterranean  (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), 3x Black-necked Grebes (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) and just as I started to walk back in land slightly a single Eurasian Oystercatcher (Ostrero Euroasiatico / Haematopus ostralegus) flew over me and carried on along the beach.

White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala).

Down in the bushes to the side of the track I picked up a couple of Reed (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Sardinian  (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and a single Garden Warbler (Curruca Mosquitera / Sylvia borin), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and on the nearby buildings Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus).

Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres).

On the river there was very smart Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), a Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and in the tamarisks there were several Common Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) and Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata). As I walked down to the bridge I added Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla) and Blue / Common (Anax imperator) and Lesser Emperors (Anax parthenope), Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa) and Iberian Water Frog (Rana Común / Rana Perezi). 

Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba).

Once I was on the reserve proper I made my way to the main hide over looking Laguna Grande but things were quiet, I did however see a single pale phase Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus), a female Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) and Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus).

Common Scoters (Negrón Común / Melanitta nigra).

My next stop was at the Long Pool, I soon located White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) along with Penduline Tit (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus) which I only heard a couple of times.

I continued on around the reserve as far as the pool near the sea watch hide, on the way I picked up a few more new species for the day including 5 Greater Flaming's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Kentish (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus) and Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and on the furthest part of the last pool there were 4 Eurasian Oystercatchers.

Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis).

On my way out of the reserve I again heard Penduline Tits but this time I managed to get brief views of 2 birds as they flew in to the reeds on the far side of the river.

I went back in to the city where I met Jayne and we had a very nice menu del dia in the shopping center and the headed along the coast a little further to Fuengirola where again Jayne did some shopping and I went to El Faro to sea what was at sea from the roadside hide. I was there for around two hours and during this time I saw Black-headed, Mediterranean, Lesser Black-backed, Yellow-legged and Audouin's Gull (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Northern Gannets (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) adults, immatures and Juvenile birds, a single Cory's (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea) and 5+ Balearic Shearwaters (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus), a flight of 7 Common Scoters (Negrón Común / Melanitta nigra), a dozen or so Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), a couple of Sanderlings (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba) and both Ringed and Kentish Plovers.

Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus).

A Kingfisher came along the coast and landed on some rocks in front of the hide and then flew out to sea and disappeared off towards Morocco. I next went back and met Jayne again and we did a bit more shopping before heading home.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 19th October 2014.

15W Actinic on the terrace.

Any corrections, PLEASE send me a comment on the post, thanks.

7598 Petrophora convergata.

3842 Dichomeris acuminatus, 4391 Acleris variegana (Garden Rose Tortrix), 6604 Pyrausta aurata, 7598 Petrophora convergata was the only new species for the garden, I also had good numbers of 9100 Acontia lucida (Pale Shoulder), 10038 Orthosia gothica (Hebrew Character), 10335 Agrotis lata and others.

6604 Pyrausta aurata.

4391 Acleris variegana (Garden Rose Tortrix).

Huétor Fields, Granada Province.

A couple of hour's bimbling around the local fields and ditches.

Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

Jayne dropped me off at the start of the road out to Mesia and I started to walk further out of town towards the fields checking the ditches along the way. On this first stretch I picked up Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and on the first water filled ditch a single Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) which flew off calling loudly.
Next came a very smart Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) which sat on a low stump in the mud and a couple Meadow Pipits (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) which came up from a roadside Lucerne field.
A little further along the road I turned off on to the right hand track and checked the ditches, first up came a couple of Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago) which flew off calling and dropped down into the Arroyo Vilano nearby. In the ditch I also found a fine male Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica), Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) and a couple of Zitting Cisticola's (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).
On the track on the far side of the track I saw Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki). I followed the bank of the Arroyo around to the road adding Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), a second male Bluethroat and Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) to the list.
I walked along the road and then along the track back towards the railway checking the ditch and pools on the track side, the first bird seen was the Jack Snipe (Agachadiza Chica / Lymnocriptes minimus) which had turned up again a few days earlier. I saw it in the ditch for a few seconds before it saw me and flushed off across the fields and dropped down in the far ditch, I also saw 2 more Kingfishers, Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Zitting Cisticola, Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Small (Artogeia rapae) and Bath Whites (Pontia daplidice), Long-tailed Blues (Lampides boeticus) and Iberian Water Frogs (Rana Común / Rana Perezi).
I walked further along the track crossing the railway line and the Huétor road and on up to the banks of the Arroyo Vilano where I scanned the fields on the far side picking up a small flock of 25 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), a Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) and a Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo). In a small garden with several Fig trees there was a flock of about 40 Iberian  Magpie, lots of Blackcaps, Tree Sparrows and a very nice Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes) which was feeding on the ground below a small Walnut tree.
I passed the bar and headed off up to the house, I did not see any new species of bird but I was very pleased to see a cracking Southern / Blue Hawker (Aeshna cyanea) which flew around my feet for a few seconds before heading off in to our garden and a couple of Western Willow Spreadwing (Chalcolestes viridis) which were in a large Ivy hedge in a friends garden.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 16th October 2014.

15W Actinic on the terrace.

Any corrections, PLEASE send me a comment on the post, thanks.

9051 Macdunnoughia confusa (Dewick's Plusia).

I ran the trap for the first time up on the terrace and caught three new species. Singles of 7985 Chlorissa faustinata, 9051 Macdunnoughia confusa (Dewick's Plusia) and 10156 Eugnorisma glareosa (Autumnal Rustic). 

7985 Chlorissa faustinata.

Also in the trap were varying numbers of 6619 Uresiphita polygonalis, 6690a Palpita vitrealis, 8211 Rhodometra sacraria (The Vestal), 9142 Eublemma parva (Small Marbled), 9621 Episema grueneri, 9628 Leucochlaena oditis (Beautiful Gothic) and 10326 Eucoptocnemis optabilis.

10156 Eugnorisma glareosa (Autumnal Rustic).

10326 Eucoptocnemis optabilis.

9628 Leucochlaena oditis (Beautiful Gothic).

9621 Episema grueneri.

Rio Grande and Parque Tecnologico, Malaga Province.

A mornings with Javier Ripoll watching Dragonflies and Birds.

Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).

I drove down to the Rio Grande just to the North of Malaga where I was meeting Javier Ripoll Rodríguez to have a look for some dragonflies along the river.

Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata).

I was a bit early so I had a look along the river near the bridge and found several Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), a couple of Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Green  (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) and Common Sandpipers (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra),  

Badger Tracks in the mud.

Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Cetti's (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and Sardinian Warblers (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and 2 Ravens (Cuervo / Corvus corax).

Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea).

Once I met up with Javier we went for a walk along the Rio up passed the places where I had been before and checked an interesting stretch of water, almost straight away we started to find the first dragon species including a nice male Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta) on a small pool away from the main river and a little further up stream we found Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea), Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope), Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma) and both Orange-winged (Trithemis kirbyi) and Violet Dropwings (Trithemis annulata).
On our way back to the bridge we added  Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator) to the list. In the same area we also saw Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Iberian Water Frog (Rana Común / Rana Perezi), Large Psammodromus (Lagartija colilarga / Psammodromus algirus), Small White (Artogeia rapae), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) and Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus).

Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii).

Our next stop was back down the main road towards Malaga at the Parque Tecnologico, on the entrance pool we saw Common Moorhen, Grey Heron, Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Red-veined Darter, Scarlet Darter, Lesser Emperor, Epaulet Skimmer and both Orange-winged (Trithemis kirbyi) and Violet Dropwings and Iberian Blue-tail (Ischnura graellsii). We then moved in to the Parque and checked out a couple more areas of water were we saw Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina) and several Black Perchers (Diplacodes lefebvrii).

Just as we were making our way back towards the car it started to rain and did it rain, it hammered down for the next hour or so. We decided to call it a day at this point and we both headed off. 

Thanks Javier for a cracking morning and it was good to meet up at last. Also thanks for the extra info and help.

RAM and Charca de Suarez, Granada Province.

Good number of sea birds and a good charca visit.

Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator).

Juan Pérez Contreras, Manuel Cayuela López and I met on the outskirts of Granada and made our way down to Peñón de Jolúcar just to the east of Torrenueva where we set up for a sea watch. 

We were only doing the watch for one hour but the numbers of Balearic Shearwaters (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus) was fantastic and by the finish we had recorded 1023 of which 986 were heading east.

Red-knobbed Coot+ (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata) and Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos).

We also saw 4+ Med / Yelkouan shearwaters (Pardelas Mediterráneas / Puffinus yelkouan), a single Arctic Skua (Págalo Parásito / Stercorarius parasiticus), Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae).

Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).

The three of us then made our way down to Charca de Suarez wetlands where we made our way around the reserve in an anti-clockwise direction calling in at the hide which over looks Laguna del Lirio where we had views of Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) and the first of the reintroduction Red-knobbed Coots (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata). 

Over the water there were good numbers of both Lesser (Anax parthenope) and Blue / Common Emperors (Anax imperator), Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea) and on some floating weed there were several Small Red-eyes (Erythromma viridulum).

Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope).

We continued on around to the reopened hide at the Southern end of Laguna del Trébol passing the Dunas area where we had a male Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma) sat on the cros beam of the wooden fencing and several Migrant Hawkers (Aeshna mixta). From the hide we saw two more of the Red-knobbed Coots, Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Red Avadavat (Bengali Rojo / Amandava amandava) and Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula). We continued on around the reserve picking up 2 Booted Eagles (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) and Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa).

Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus).

From the northern hide overlooking Laguna del Trébol which was quiet but we did see Common Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major). We carried on around to the main hide where we scanned Laguna de las Aneas picking up the female Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla) and Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo).

Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus).

We moved on around to the newish Laguna del Alamo Blanco and added singles of Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) and 3 Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina) and 4 Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago). 

In this area we also saw a couple of Long Skimmers (Orthetrum trinacria), Iberian Blue-tail (Ischnura graellsii) and Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii). Our last stop was at the Laguna del Taraje hide, on the way around, I saw several Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca) and lots of tracks of Wild Boar (Jabalí / Felis silvestris) in the mud. 

From the hide we saw a fishing Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) and on my way out I added a Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Small White (Artogeia rapae) and heard Stripe-less Tree Frog (Hyla meridionalis).

Huetor Fields and Sierra de Loja, Granada Province.

Day two with Jane Wise.

Leucistic Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).

We headed out on to the fields along side the Arroyo Vilano where we started the day list off with Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and on a pylonwe picked out a nice female Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus).
Next we checked out the ditches where we had seen the Jack Snipe (Agachadiza Chica / Lymnocriptes minimus) yesterday. We dipped the Jack Snipe but we managed two Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), a single Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Reed (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Sedge (Carricerin Común / Acrocephalus schoenobaenus) and Cetti's Warblers (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa).

Leucistic Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).

We next went over to the far side of the area where we soon had 65 or more Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) in the scope along with Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Collared Doves (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) including a lucistic bird, Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Later we drove over to Sierra de Loja where we had time before Jane had to catch the train, up near the lower quarry we had good views of Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), 3x Short-toed Eagles (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia). On our way back down the track we had good views of a couple of Spanish Ibex (Cabra pyreaica hispanica).

Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae).

From here we went up along the crags and out as far as the Paragliding track, here we found a superb immature Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush (Roquero Roja / Monticola saxatilis), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Northern Wheatear, Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) and Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris).
Later I took Jane up to the train station in Loja where we had a couple of Red-rumped Swallows (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica) and several House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) before she got on the train.