Grazalema and Montejaque areas in Cadiz and Malaga Provinces.

Ring Ouzels and Dragons near Montejaque.

Ring Ouzel ( Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus).

Whilst Jayne and Sue got young Sam ready for school I had a quick look in the garden and almost straight away picked up a Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) which upset all the local passerines including Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus) and Crested Tits (Herrerillo Capuchino / Lophophanes cristatus), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla) and Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs).

Western Willow Spreadwings (Chalcolestes viridis).

I walked a little way down the garden and added Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

Western Willow Spreadwings (Chalcolestes viridis).

Once Sam was ready we had a walk down to meet the bus at the nearby bar with Sam on his little plastic motorbike.
We returned to the house briefly for Sue's second breakfast and then headed out to wards the Libar Valley as I was hoping to see my first Ring Ouzel (Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus) of the year.
We parked just a KM or so up the valley with a slope of Hawthorn bushes on our left and a small pool on the right, within seconds the first of around 30 Ouzels did a fly passed followed by small groups over the next twenty minutes or so.

Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum).

We walked a little way up the track seeing more Ouzels all the time and adding new species to the day list including Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) and Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura) as well as seeing more Goldfinches, Griffon Vultures, Black Redstarts and a Iberian Green Woodpecker.
On the walk back I went a little ahead of Sue and Jayne and found what looked like a newly arrived Ouzel which was more interested in a drink than in me and allowed me to get some nice shots.
In the same area we also had singles of Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous) and Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) plus several Painted Lady's (Vanessa cardui).

Egg Yolk Fungus (Yema de huevo / Amanita cesarea).

We left the bird by the pool and headed off through Montejaque to a track on the far side of the village and drove as far as we could along it before leaving the car and walking for an hour or so along the Rio Campobuche.
On the walk out to the Presa we had more Blue, Great, Long-tailed and Crested Tits, Nuthatch, Short-toed Treecreepers, Sparrowhawk and added Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Southern / Blue Hawker (Aeshna cyanea), Desert Darter (Sympetrum sinaiticum) and dozens of Western Willow Spreadwings (Chalcolestes viridis).
At the dam Sue showed me some over with spike of the uncommon Autumn Lady's Tresses (Spiranthes spiralis) and we found several more Desert, a couple of Common Darters (Sympetrum striolatum) and hundreds of Western Willow Emeralds. 

Mediterranean Scorpion (Escorpión Amarillo / Buthus Occitanus).

Another intriguing insect was seen which Jayne spotted on the far side of the pool which flew towards us briefly before whizzing off down the pool never to be seen again, intriguing due to it's very deep blue colour.
In the same area we had nice views of a Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), two Little Grebes (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa), Iberian Water Frog (Rana Común / Rana Perezi), Andalucian Wall Lizard (Podarcis vaucheri), Small White (Artogeia rapae), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), lots of Hornets (Vespa crabro), Mediterranean Scorpion (Escorpión Amarillo / Buthus Occitanus), Sticky Fleabane (Dittrichia viscose) and Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium).
During the walk back we recorded Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata). 

Southern / Blue Hawker (Aeshna cyanea).

Whilst we were walking amongst the Oaks we also saw several species of Fungi but the only one named so far is Egg Yolk Fungus (Yema de huevo / Amanita cesarea). 

 Just before we got back to the car we saw a very nice Southern / Blue Hawker which perched in a tree and let me get some shots but at a funny angle. 

Once we were back at the car we headed towards Grazalema to collect Sam from Clive and Ellies but on the way we stopped to have a look at some Southern Crocus (Crocus serotinus).

We got to the Village and picked up Sam and as he had some homework from the school we headed back to the house to give him time to work on it.

Narcissus cavanillesii.

Once there I headed back out for a hour down the Campobuche river but from the near end, in amongst some Hawthorn trees near the track I had brief views of several more Ring Ouzels, Common Chiffchaffs, Chaffinches, Spotless Starling, Grey Wagtail, Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus) and Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata).
I continued on along the track a bit further and saw several Corn Buntings (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), a single Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) and a small flock of Woodlark (Totovia / Lullula arborea) before spending some time searching for the very small Narcissus cavanillesii.
Most of this uncommon little plant were in seed but I did manage to find three or four which were just about hanging on.

Laguna Dulce, Malaga Province and Grazalema area in Cadiz Province.

A quick visit to see friends Sue and Sam over near Grazalema. 
Day one.

Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

Jayne and I headed off over towards Grazalema at around 11:00 after a couple of appointments in Loja during the morning. On the way I saw House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki),  White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), female Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) and Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris).

Fungi Species.

Our first stop was for a coffee and toast at a BP garage just the far side of Antequera and the second was for 20 minutes or so scan of Laguna Dulce near Campillos. The Laguna was surprisingly quiet but after some hard searching I did pick up a few nice species out on the water or around the margins including White-headed Ducks (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala) 2 females and a single male, Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina) 1 female, Red-crested Pochard (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina) 1 female, Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Anas penelope) 1 female,  Ferruginous Ducks (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca) 2 males, Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera) 20+, Northern Shovelers (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata) 50+, Mallards (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Little (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) x20+, Black-necked (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis) x15+ and Great Crested Grebes (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus) x1, Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio) x2, Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) x6 immatures, Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus) x2, Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago) x8 and Kentish Plovers (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus) x2. In the surrounding vegetation I picked up Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and a very fresh looking Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta). 

Fungi Species.

We continued on over towards Grazalema via a market in Campillos seeing Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax).

Round-leaved fluellin (Kickxia spuria).

We had lunch just outside Ronda and then headed in to Grazalema where we met Clive, Sam, big and little Ellie and their new little chap Antonio having their lunch in the town. We sat and spent some time chatting with them before heading to Sue's with Sam. We spent the rest of the evening there catching up and g entertained by Sam. In the garden I saw or heard Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Crested (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus) and Long-tailed Tits (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei) and Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius). We also saw several Fungi and a small patch of  Round-leaved fluellin (Kickxia spuria).

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.