Travelling to and in the El Hondo area, Alicante Province.

Second trip out of Andalucia this year, this time for some special Eagles.

Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis).

The group set off early and made our way up the motorways through Granada, Almeria, Murcia and in to Alicante to the well known wetland reserve of El Hondo. On the drive we picked up Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) and Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) and near the reserve whilst we were searching the small lanes of the site we also picked up Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) and the first Booted Eagles (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus), Common Buzzards (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and Marsh Harriers (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).

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

As with so many Spanish reserves El Hondo has very restricted entry time but we were booked in on the visit sheduled for tomorrow morning so we spent the rest of this morning around the south gate and the two hides nearby. We parked on the roadside and walked out to the first hide, on the way we saw Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and the first of dozens of Kingfishers (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) we were to see over the two days here.

Great Spotted Eagle (Águila Moteada / Aquila clanga).

Once we were in the hide we got good views of 200+ Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), an Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus) which was perched on a post in the water, plenty of Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), and in the trees on the far side of the reeds dozens of Woodpigeons (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) and a single Stock Dove (Paloma Zurita / Columba oenas).
I went for a stroll back to the road, on the way I had two male Penduline Tits (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus) in the reeds along with a male Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) which was skulking around on the mud at the side of the lake. In the trees by the road I located a Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), a Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) flushed up from a ditch at the side of the road and two Bramblings (Pinzón Real / Fringilla montifringilla) flew over calling.

Great Spotted Eagle (Águila Moteada / Aquila clanga).

Next came lunch and after we had eaten we headed back to the hides but this time I checked out the second one which was a little further along the track. From here I had views of Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa), Eurasian Curlew (Zaoaito Real / Numenius arquata), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), two more Western Ospreys, Great Crested (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus) and Little Grebes (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis). In the ditches and around the pools I also saw several Insect species included Migrant Hawkers (Aeshna mixta) which were quite common, Vagrant (Anax ephippiger) and Lesser Emperors (Anax parthenope), Red-veined Darters (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Bath  (Pontia daplidice), Large (Pieris brassicae) and Small Whites (Artogeia rapae) and a butterfly lifer a very smart Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus).

The towers.

We wondered back to the first hide adding Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).
At around 15:00 we decided to have a drive around the south west corner of the reserve where we some how or other found our way to an abandoned visitors centre near Santa Agueda where some of the group checked out two towers at the site whilst some of us keep a check that the gate was not going to be locked behind us, whilst I was on gate watch I saw two cracking Bluethroats, more Reed Buntings, Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei) and then the bird of the day TONN the Great Spotted Eagle (Águila Moteada / Aquila clanga) complete with defunked transmitter. The rest of the group saw the bird just as it landed in a large pine tree which was where we watched the bird preen for a while before it again flew heading for the trees in the centre of the reserve. Whilst it was in the tree we moved around to a track to get a better view, here we met a nice Spanish chap who told us the gate to the centre was never locked so we all returned there and checked the towers again. Species seen from here included a fine Wood Sandpiper (Andarrios Bastardo / Tringa glareola), 2 Little Stints

Great White Egret (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba).

(Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta), Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Snipe, Black-winged Stilt, several Great White Egrets (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba), Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus), Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta) and in the scrub behind us a Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata).
Once it was getting towards dusk we headed for the hotle near Elche which was found quite easily, just as we were unloading two of out friend Juan Perez and his wife Beatriz turned up along with Chika there lovely little dog. We got the rooms sorted and then all went out for a meal in a local bar.

During this days birding we saw a total of 82 species of bird which was a good total considering the weather had been very dull but thankfully dry.

Travelling to Malaga and Huétor Fields, Malaga and Granada Provinces.

Meeting the birders and some local birding.

I drove down to Malaga and met the birders I was spending the next few days with, on the way down I pulled off the motorway at Loja to watch a very nice pair of Bonelli's Eagles (Aguila-azor / Hieraetus faciatus) which were soaring over the fields along side of the Rio Genil. Also seen in the area and on the way down to the coast I saw White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Rock Pigeon (Paloma Bravia / Columba livia), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus).

We drove back up the motorways and then did some birding around the fields to the North of Huétor Tajar where we boosted the list with some of the special species we have wintering on this area which is just 2 or 3 KM from the house. Species seen included Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta), Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Jack Snipe (Agachadiza Chica / Lymnocriptes minimus), Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) and Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) these cracking species were seen along side the commoner Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Thekla (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina). 

As the afternoon was heading on towards dusk we headed to the accommodation for an early night so that we were ready for our early start next morning.

Aqualate Mere and Belvide Res, Staffordshire, Great Britain.

A cracking day with three very good friends / birders back in the UK.

Brian, Sharon and John.

John, Sharon and Brian picked me up from Albrighton and we headed off up the A41 to Newport and then out to Aqualate Mere. We arrived and parked before walking out to the hide which over looks the main Mere and has a feeding station right out side the window.

Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus).

On the way out on a very muddy track we saw Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Pheasant (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus) and Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).

Marsh Tit (Carbonero Palustre / Poecile palustris).

Once we reached the hide we had great views of Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Marsh Tits (Carbonero Palustre / Poecile palustris), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) all of which came in to the feeder.

Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus).

Out on the water and in the reeds we saw good numbers of wildfowl including 10+ Goldeneye (Porrón Osculado /Bucephala clangula), 30+ Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Anas penelope), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor), Greylag (Ansar Común / Anser anser) and Canada Geese (Barnacla Canadiense /Branta canadensis), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Little (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) and Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea).

Coal Tit (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater).

Other species seen and heard included Redwing (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus illacus), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), European Green Woodpecker (Pito Real euroasiático / Picus viridis), Rook (Graja /  Corvus frugilegus), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica). 

Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus).

From Aqualate we headed back to the A5 and then across to Belvide Res, we parked and walked through the woods having a quick look at the feeder hide but saw much the same species as at Aqualate. We next went into the hide in the first bay where I bumped in to Steve Nutall, a birder who I have in the past seen some interesting rare birds with on lots of twitches but had not see for some time. On the water from here we saw more Goldeneye, Mute Swan, Pochards, Tufted Duck, Teal, Mallard and Great Crested Grebe. We then decided to walk around the res to the far corner, on the way we saw several Goldcrests (Reyezuelo Sencillo / Regulus regulus), Bullfinch (Camachuelo Común / Pyrrhula pyrrhula), Reed Bunting, Fieldfare, Black Bird, Common Starling and Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba yarrellii).

Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major).

Around in the far bay we had good but distant views of a female / immature Smew (Serreta Chica /Mergus albellus) which had been at the site for a while along with two female type Goosanders (Serreta Grande / Mergus merganser), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and a very nice fly by Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus). On the way back around to the first hide we called in at the lake side feeder hide and had good views of Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Pheasant, Reed Bunting, Marsh Tit and in a nearby bay a cracking Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) which fished from the marginal Willows.

Pheasant (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus).

Once back at the first hide we picked up Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Buzzard and out in the Gull roost which had started to form 10+ Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) as well as Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Great Black-backed (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus) and Herring (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus). The light was now dropping quickly so we headed back towards Albrighton where Sharon, John and Brian dropped me off in time to get ready for the nights fancy dress party to celebrate Martins 50th Birthday.

Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea).

Thanks to Sharon, John and Brian for a memorable days birding and particularly to John for driving us around again, see you soon.

Priorslee Lake, Trench Pool and Venus Pool, Shropshire, Great Britain.

A days birding with friend John Morgan around some old haunts.

Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus).

After arriving in the UK ysterday I got Jayne and Barb to drop me off at Priorslee lake where I had a look around the pool and in the first area of woodland near the M54.

Canada Goose (Barnacla Canadiense /Branta canadensis).

On the water I picked up several Mute Swans (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor), dozens of Tufted Ducks (Porrón Monudo / Aythya fuligula), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Anas penelope), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and in the air and around the margins I added Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Rook (Graja /  Corvus frugilegus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus) and Blue Tits (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo). 

Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus).

A shower then drifted in and I walked back to the parking area and met John who turned up just in time to prevent me getting soaked.

Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea).

We had a chat and then headed a short way down the queens way to Trench Pool where there had been (and as I do this post it is still present) a Long-tailed Duck (Pato Havelda / Clangula hyemalis) but during the time we were there it had obviously moved to one of the many nearby smaller pools as we did not see the bird.

Rook (Graja /  Corvus frugilegus).

We did however see more Tufted Ducks, Great Crested and Canada Geese (Barnacla Canadiense /Branta canadensis), Little Grebes (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coots, Common Moorhens, Lesser-black Backed and Black-headed Gulls, Mute Swans, Canada Geese (Barnacla Canadiense /Branta canadensis), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major).

After spending some time searching the site we headed to Venus Pool, a site I have visited in the past many times.

Yellowhammer (Escribano Cerillo / Emberiza citrinella).

We arrived and checked out the main hide which looked over the main pool, here we saw Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Tufted Duck, Mallard, Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Great Crested Grebe, Black-headed Gull, Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), Grey  (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba yarrellii), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo).

Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus).

Our next stop was at the feeder hide but it was fairly quiet but we did see Blue, Great, Long-tailed and Coal Tits (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Dunnock, Common Chaffinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus).

We continued on around the reserve checking the two other hides but did not see anything new so we went and had a look out on the fields above the reserve.

Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs).

We walked along a long Hawthorn hedge where we saw very pleasing numbers of Yellowhammers (Escribano Cerillo / Emberiza citrinella), Reed Buntings (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus), Redwings (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus illacus) and Fieldfares (Zorzal Real / Turdus pilaris). 

Thanks John for running me around during the day and the lift back to Albrighton, good to do some birding together again and hope it will not be as long before we meet up again.

Huétor Fields, Granada Province.

A couple of hours down on the fields with Juan Francisco Jiménez López and Sergio Martin.

Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

I headed out on to the fields waiting for a text from Juan when they arrived, whilst I was waiting I had a look along the river and started the list off with Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) and a small group of distant Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus).

Whilst I was watching the Bustards the text came through and I made my way over to the nearby garage where I met up with Juan and Sergio. We got into my car and we went just up the road to a field where we counted a group of around a 100 or so Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), 50+ Northern Lapwings (different to the 100+ seen earlier), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis).

Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

Just as we were about to leave the first site a small group of dogs came across the fields where the Curlews were and flushed them all up and they all settled in the open and we did a second count and found that there had actually been well over 200 of these incredibly well camouflaged birds in the stubble. 

We moved on and checked the fields along the river and checked the fields adding Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis). 

Again we moved on and went to the farside of the site and checked out a couple of ditches and pools. We had great views of a very nice male Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica), Cetti's Warbler, Common Stonechat, Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), lots more Tree Sparrows, Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) and eventually the target Jack Snipe (Agachadiza Chica / Lymnocriptes minimus) which got up out of the ditch and flew low round a corner and out of sight all to quickly.

Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

We continued on down the ditch seeing another Bluethroat, Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) and Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra). In this area we had several Small Whites (Artogeia rapae) which were still on the wing.

Our final stop was on the oposite side of the area where we had nice views of the Little Bustards on the ground in one of the many Lucerne fields, we watched these cracking birds for a while and then headed back to where Juan and Sergio had parked and then headed our own ways.

Juan and Sergio.

Near Villanueva del Trabuco, Malaga Province.

A few hours in the new hide.

Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia).

I went with Jayne to Trabuco where she went to the Craft Group meeting whilst I went up into the hills nearby and did a bit of photography from the new hide. In the woods there were good numbers of Crested (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Great Tits (Carbonera Común / Parus major), along with Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes) but nothing came in close enough due to the very strong wind which was ripping branches off the trees above me so I thought it was a good idea to move after a while.

Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris).

 I dropped down the hill to a more sheltered area and in an area of Hawthorn bushes found several Ring Ouzels ( Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), a nice male Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) and masses of Meadow Pipits (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis).

Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus).

I again moved on along the valley towards the Loja road and out on to the western slopes where I checked the roadside Hawthorns and the skies.
In this area I added Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila-azor / Hieraetus faciatus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Cirl (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus) and Rock Buntings (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), a single fly over Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes) and Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus).

Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla) female.

As I walked along the road I picked up large numbers of Sparrows out on a freshly ploughed field and I spent the best part of an hour searching the flock after raising my bins for the first view and finding a fine male Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis) perched on a barbbed wire fence on the edge of the field.
I had hoped to find more but it turned out to be the only one but there were 200+ House (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), 60+ Rock (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia) and at least 45 Tree Sparrows (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus) in the flock with a good scattering of both Rock and Cirl Buntings thrown in it was quite an impressive gathering.

Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago).

Other species seen at this end of the walk were Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax) and Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata).

Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta).

At around 16:30 I went back and met Jayne, on the way home we called at one of the ladies houses that she had been at craft group with and then headed off home. On the way home we crossed the fields to the North of Huetor Tajar and added Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago) and Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus).

Cañete la Real, Malaga Province.

A visit to a Vulture feeding station that has no food as usual !!!

Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

Jayne and I were heading back home today after our short visit to Sue and Sam's, so once Sam was off to school we went back to the ouse briefly and said thanks and goodbye to Sue before heading into Ronda for a morning around the shops.

Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

Once we had done what we wanted in Ronda we started to head back towards the house but called in at the feeding station on the outskirts of Cañete la Real but as expected there was not food at the site t there were still a few Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) flying passed the site heading along the nearby ridges towards Ronda. I also saw a single male Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) but liitle else.

From here we headed to Antiquera and the home.

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).