Padul, Charca Suarez, Rio Velez, Zafarraya and Sierra Loja, Malaga and Granada Province.

Wetlands and mountains of Granada and Malaga Provinces.

Moustached Warbler (Carricerin Real / Acrocephalus melanopogon).

Liz and I set off up the Motorway towards Granada and then headed south to the wetland reserve of Padul, but today we were just paying it a brief visit to look at the feeding station in the woodlands next to the visitor's centre. We arrived and with in seconds had a very nice Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis) which was feeding on the ground below the feeding tables, we saw just the one bird, but there are meant to be a couple of this uncommon wintering species here, a few pairs breed up at high altitude in the Sierra Nevada.

Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).

At the same spot we also had a female Eurasian Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), European Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Eurasian Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) and Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula). 

Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis).

After a while we went back to the car and dropped down the motorway to Charca de Suarez wetland reserve arriving about 09:30 and made our way straight around to the small hide overlooking Laguna del Taraje and after a short wait we had very nice views of the wintering Moustached Warbler (Carricerin Real / Acrocephalus melanopogon) which sat in the open for several minutes preening. 

On the same pool we also saw Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba). 

Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo).

After a while we moved on around to the main hide where we scanned Laguna de las Aneas picking out a nice male Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Anas penelope), several Common Pochards (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), the female Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca) and her two hybrid youngsters from last year's mating with a male Common Pochard. 

On the island there were several Great Cormorants (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), two Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), a Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Western House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus) and Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).

Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea).

Again we moved on around the reserve calling in at the two hides overlooking Laguna del Trebol where we added Red-knobbed Coot (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata), Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus) heard only, European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris).

Red-knobbed Coot (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata).

We called in at Laguna del Lirio but saw nothing new so we went back around to the hide over looking Laguna del Taraje where we waited for quite some time but eventually our patience paid off when we had views of a male Little Bittern (Avetorillo Común / Ixobrychus minutus) which flew low over the reeds. Just after the Bittern David Jefferson came in to the hide and told us that there was a Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa) on the new pool so we had a walk up and had some nice views, heard but did not see a Eurasian Penduline Tit (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus) and added a nice little flock of Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca). 

On the reserve we also recorded several species of butterflies including Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Small  (Artogeia rapae) and Large White (Pieris brassicae) and a very nice Monarch (Danaus plexippus).

Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).

We watched the Godwit for a while before exiting the reserve and checking out the fields on the edge of the reserve where we located several Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), a pair of Red Avadavat (Bengali Rojo / Amandava amandava) and at least two well hidden but heard Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix). 

Our next stop was at the mouth of the Rio Velez, we parked about halfway down the east bank from the motorway bridge and walked down to the beach checking the reed clumps for the Spotted Crake I had seen a few days earlier but with no luck. 

We did, however, soon pick up Common Ringed (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) and Little Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) on a small ribbon of water against the reed-beds on the far side of the river.

European Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

Before we reached the beach we had also seen Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), a male Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) which this time showed it throat off nicely, Meadow (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) and Water Pipits (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta), Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Mallard, Eurasian Coot, Common Moorhen, Western Cattle Egret, Grey Heron and Zitting Cisticola. The beach was busier than usual and the birds were all out on the sea but we did add Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus).

Once we were back at the car we headed inland and made for the mountains and had a walk along the disused railway line near Zafarraya and were soon watching a very nice pair of Black Wheatears (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), followed by a nice male Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), a couple of dozen Red-billed Choughs (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) and a very nice Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus). 

Just up the road we made a quick stop to look at some spikes of not so big Giant Orchids (Himantoglossum robertiana) and lots of the beautiful blue Broad leaved Iris (lirio de invierno / Iris planifolia). 

Spanish Ibex (Cabra pyreaica hispanica).

We continued on up the Valley towards Loja seeing a small herd of Spanish Ibex (Cabra pyreaica hispanica) on the way and a nice flock of Iberian Magpies (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cyanus) near the motorway.

Our final stop of the day was on the low track up to the quarry on the lower Northern slopes of Sierra de Loja, on the track we did not see anything except for more Eurasian Crag Martins and a couple of Red-billed Choughs. 

As we dropped back down we checked the trees by the turning point and had great views of a pair of Common Firecrests (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus) and a fly over Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra) before heading back to the hotel.

La Malaha and the Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

Day one with Liz Walsh from El Paso, Texas.

Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes).

We set off along the Motorway and then on to the road out towards La Malaha calling at a semi derelict Cortijo where we started the list off with a few newly arrived Lesser Kestrels (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni) which showed well on the roof amongst a mix of Feral (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia) and some quite convincing Rock Pigeons (Paloma Bravia / Columba livia). We left the car and had a short walk along a near by dry barranco where we had views of several Serins (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), dozens of Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) coming in from the large roost in Granada, Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and as we walked back towards the car we had brief but good views of two cracking newly arrived Great Spotted Cuckoos (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius). Once we were at the car we had a small flock of White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) feeding in a seepage from the farm building. We continued on up the road to the very large rubbish dump where we had large numbers of Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) circling, a nice Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).

Our next site was an agricultural area on the western side of La Malaha where we had very good views of several Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) and Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) and Corn Buntings (Triguero / Emberiza calandra). We moved on towards Ventas de Huelma and into the Cacín Valley seeing Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and a couple of Common Starlings (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulg aris) amongst a group of Spotless.

Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius).

Once down in the Valley we had a very productive walk along the Rio Cacín and almost straight away had exceptional views of a pair of Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) with the male of this noisy but secritive species displaying in a broom bush to his mate. We continued on adding Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Song (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) and Mistle Thrushes (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major) and a single Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes) which showed very well in a nearby poplar tree. On the return walk we added a singing male Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus) and a Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) before we reached the car.

We turned left and dropped down into the gorge where we parked and checked the cliffs seeing several Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), a couple of noisy Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala). 

After a while we made our way back up the valley passed Cacín to the Embalse where we quickly located a displaying pair of Marsh Harriers (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) showing well over the reedbeds. On the water there were good numbers of Common Pochards (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), several Northern Shovelers (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and fly passed Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) and Green Sandpipers (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus). We move on down to the nearby bridge over the river where we checked the muddy margins from the road and flushed up a Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago) and saw lots more Blackcaps and Common Chiffchaffs before going for a walk down towards the dam. On the way we heard Coal Tits (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater) and Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra) before getting good views of a feeding Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla).

We made a very brief stop a little way up the valley to see several spikes of Ophrys forestieri on the roadside before going through El Turro and out on to a large agricultural area looking for the Black-bellied Sandgrouse but we dipped on this species. On the way in we had a Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) sat on a ruin and several Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) feeding low over the Almond trees. In the same area we had quite a few more Calandra, Crested, Sky and Thekla Larks (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) along with several Meadow Pipits (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis). On our way off this site by the dirt tracks we were very pleased to get very good views of a stunningly blue backed Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius) in amongst the small Almond trees. 

Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

We stopped off at Balsa de Rigedor but did not add any thing we had not already seen at the Embalse earlier so we moved on to the Fields at Huetor via Mesia adding a Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) on the way. 

Our first stop was along the ditches where we soon located one of thetwo wintering Jack Snipe (Agachadiza Chica / Lymnocriptes minimus) and eventually picked up one of the three male Bluethroats (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) but it did not show well and the blue throat remained unseen by Liz. We moved on along the Arroya Vilano seeing my earliest ever Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) on the site, another Green Sandpiper, a single flying Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) and a Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius). On the central fields we came across the main targets in the shape of a 20 strong flock of almost all male Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) which showed well. Our next to last stop of the day was on the far side of the area where we were looking for Stone Curlews but some one must have been out on their fields and flushed them earlier in the day so we continued on to the furthest fields to see if any had relocated there but did not find them but did find a 30+ flock of Golden Plovers (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaria), a nice finish to a great days birding. We went up to the Cortijo de Tajar and Liz checked in and we sorted the start time for the next morning and then I headed home.

El Faro and Rio Fuengirola, Malaga Province.

A productive walk on the beach.

Sanderlings (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba).

Whilst Jayne was having a walk around the Miramar shopping centre I had a walk on the beach at El Faro.

Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres).

I spent a peasant couple of hours with the camera and managed to see and photograph 30+ Sanderlings (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), 1x Purple Sandpiper (Correlimos Oscuro / Calidris maritima), Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and 15+ Audouin's Gulls (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) and Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus). 

Audouin's Gull (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii).

On the landward side I also saw Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).

Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis).

Aso whilst I was on the beach I saw singles of Cleopatra (Cleopatra / Gonepteryx cleopatra) and Swallowtail (Papilio machaon) and on the far side of the coastal motorway there were 15+ Small Whites (Artogeia rapae).

Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba).

A little later I had a quick look at the revamped Rio Fuengirola but did not see a lot except for Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba).

I met up with Jayne and we headed off home adding a flock of 8 Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) to the list as we crossed the Rio Guadalhorce on the new motorway.

Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus).

Padul Wetlands, Granada Province.

A quicker visit than planned due to the wind.

Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla).

Jayne and I drove over to Padul to have a walk around the reserve, when we left home the sun was out and all was warm and calm. By the time we reached the reserve it was blowing one hell of a gale and it was a very cold wind coming straight down off the snow covered Sierra Nevada. On the way over I picked up a few species including Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cyanus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus).

Once we parked we had a walk from the centre to the woodland feeding station where we immediately found the wanted species a Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis) an incommon winter visitor this far south and even rare breeding species with just a few pars staying here in the Sierra Nevada. Also seen were a few Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) and Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).

Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla).

We continued along the track out to the lake and around the short loop, we wanted to go further but the wind was just howling through the area and it made birding hard going and it was just unpleasant.

Along the track and by the lake we added Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and a Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus) which made a couple of attempts to take one of the Martins but failed due to the wind. 

On our way back to the car we came through a nice little dell where the wind had no effect and as we got there the sun came out and it was quite warm which bought out a few butterflies including 5+ Small Whites (Artogeia rapae), a single Large White (Pieris brassicae) and 3 Speckled Woods (Pararge aegeria). We got to the centre where I dropped off a bag of Mist nets that Bob Wright had kindly let me have for the reserve to use before heading home via Melchor bar for a drink to warm us up.

Huétor Fields, Granada Province.

An hours birding with Juan Pérez Contreras on the local patch.

Jack Snipe (Agachadiza Chica / Lymnocriptes minimus).

Juan and Beatriz arrived at our's about 16:30, Beatriz and Jayne stayed at the house while Juan, Chika and I went out for an hours birding down on the fields. We started on some fields near the Northern edge of the town and were soon watching a small group of 16 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), 25 or so Golden Plovers (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaria), Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), 2x Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), 30+ Linnets (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), 20+ Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

Jack Snipe (Agachadiza Chica / Lymnocriptes minimus).

We moved on and had a drive along the Arroyo Vilano, we parked on the to of the far bank and scanned the far fields and along the banks of the Rio seeing Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), good numbers of both House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cyanus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major).

From here we move out to the pools and ditches on the far side of the town where we soon had a couple of Reed Buntings (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus), Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

We started to walkalong the ditch and soon had brilliant flight views of a Jack Snipe (Agachadiza Chica / Lymnocriptes minimus) as it whizzed passed us fairly close and in perfect light. We walked back along the ditch to the track where we found the first of 3 Bluethroats (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica).

White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

We walked along the main ditch down to the road and then checked the shot stretch on the other side but we only added Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa). 

Once we were back at the car we headed back towards the house to have a chat with the girls, on the way we made one last stop when we picked up a single Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica) flying amongst a large flock of other hirundines. We also saw Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and a single Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) on the wires before we arrived back at the house.

Rio Velez and Rio Guadalhorce, Malaga Province.

Two coastal sites in one day.

Spotted Crake (Polluela Pintoja / Porzana porzana).

Jayne and I drove down to the coast at Torre del Mar, on the way down I picked up a few species including Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) and Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula).

Spotted Crake (Polluela Pintoja / Porzana porzana).

I dropped Jayne off in the center of town and went down to the river for a few hours birding, as soon as I arrived I met a Spanish birder (Antonio) who told me that the Spotted Crake (Polluela Pintoja / Porzana porzana) seen a few days earlier was still in the area and gave me directions. 

After a few minutes of searching I had cracking views of this cracking little bird which showed very well on a boggy patch of weeds right in the center of the river.

Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo).

Whilst watching this bird I also had a couple of Little Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), a single Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), several Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Eurasian (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and a single collared Red-knobbed Coot (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).
After a while I walked down to the beach and soon notice the large numbers of Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) on the sea, lazing on the beach and bathing on the freshish water pool which was being topped up from the sea by a rather heavy swell. 

Also amongst the Meds if found several Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), a small goup of Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and a single Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii).

Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus).

Also in the same are I saw several Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), a Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Western Cattle (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) and Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos).

I walked back up to the spot for the Crake and stood watching it with four other birders before having a walk with Antonio and another chap up the track back towards the motorway bridge checking the trees for some Siskins (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus) they had seen earlier but we did not locate them and once we reached there car they headed in to Torre and I continued on up the river adding Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus).

I walked back down to the Crake spot after ringing Bob Wright to tell him it was still about and he said I will be there in half an hour so I walked slowly back down the track checking the trees again. 

Just before I reached the two birders still there I heard a watched a stunning male Penduline Tit (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus) which flew off just as I got the bins on but the reason it flew was that a fine male Siskin chased it off. 

I continued on and added Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia) before Bob arrived.
We watched the Crake for a while and then had a short walk up the river again and located single Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina) and Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta) before walking back and had a last look at the Crake, a male Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) and a couple of Water Pipits (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta).

Male Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus).

During the three hours here I also saw several Small Whites (Artogeia rapae), 2 Large Whites (Pieris brassicae), 2 Clouded Yellows (Colias croceus) and a Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta).

I said goodbye to Bob and walked back to the car and went and met Jayne for Lunch which we had in a very nice little place on the main road through Torre called Restaurant Vintash. 

We then headed along the coast and called in at Brico, Leroy Merlins and Worten looking for a few bits, later I dropped Jayne at Plaza Major and went and had a quick look at Guadalhorce. 

I first of all had a look at the beach where I was much the same species as at the morning site but I did add a Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and a Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax). I then moved on to a fairly quite reserve, from the main hide I picked up Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), 3x Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) and a single Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui).

Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

From the next hide I saw several Little Grebes (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), 2 White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus) and a small flock of very nicely plumaged Greenfinches (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris). 

I then went back to the car via the far pond but it was totally empty and then made my way over to Jayne and we made a quick second visit to Leroys before heading home via Loja.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

A couple of newly arrived summer visitors.

Just a quick trip down to the supermarket in Huétor produced a couple of nice sightings, the first was a group of 5 Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and a single Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia) all perched on a roadside wire in the heavy rain looking well hacked off. The next nice bird was an immature Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila-azor / Hieraetus faciatus) which was hasseling a flock of Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) and Spotless Starlings (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 12th February 2015.

15W Actinic on the terrace.

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

6496 Evergestis isatidalis.

After four empty traps it was nice to get three moths of three different species all in one go. The first I sorted very quickly, a 6496 Evergestis isatidalis and 9565 Agrochola lychnidis (Beaded Chestnut) x2.

9565 Agrochola lychnidis (Beaded Chestnut).

Huétor Fields, Moraleda and Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

A days birding with Pernille and Graham.

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

I met Pernille and Graham at the Cortijo de Tajar and we went and had a look on the fields just to the North of the town where we were checking an area of fields for the wintering flock of Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) but all we found were several Crested Larks (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).

We continued on around the site to a small partly disused Cortijo where we had very nice views of a pair of Little Owls (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) which showed very nicely. Just a short way along a nearby track we located the flock of around 50 or so Little Bustards mixed in with around 40 Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaria), a few Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

Again we moved on after getting good views of all the species and made our way over to the far side of the Arroyo Vilano and checked the fields, there was not a lot on the fields but we did manage to see a Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cyanus), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

Pernille and Graham.

Our next stop was on the Eastern side of the site where we checked out a couple of ditches, just as we parked we had brief views of a fine Jack Snipe (Agachadiza Chica / Lymnocriptes minimus) as it popped up out of the ditch and stood on the top of the concrete irregation channel and the dropped off into the field. We got out of the car and had god views as the bird flew and landed in the nearby ditch.
We got out of the car and checked the ditch and damp areas around the small pools where we soon had views of a male Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) but it took quite a while to get decent views of the breast. In the end we managed it and also saw Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus).

Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).

Our final stop in this area was at the day time roost of the wintering Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) where we had good views of quiet a few of these birds along with a couple of Common Starlings (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulg aris).

From here we headed a few KM South East to the fields near to Moraledawhere we took a couple of the tracks across the fields and soon had Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and four more Little Bustards for the list for the day. Further on we caught up with more Golden Plovers, Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) and Skylarks.

Female Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala).

We moved around the site before moving down into the Cacín Valley proper and collecting some lunch from the bar there before heading down to the bridge over the river where we ate our food and then had a walk. Along here we had views of or heard Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Redwing (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus illacus), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and a rapidly moving Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) which zipped through the pines and away.

Next stop was along side the nearby Embalse de Cacín, on the water we picked up good numbers of  Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus). Over the reeds we had good views of two male Marsh Harriers (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) whilst behind us on the bank there were more Crag Martins and several Woodpigeons (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus). Further down the valley we checked the cliffs of the gorge and the area around the Roman bridge adding Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus) and Rock Pigeon (Paloma Bravia / Columba livia).

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

From here we headed back to Cacín and then we took the road across country and had good views of an immature Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo). 

On our way back to the hotel we came across two cracking Little Owls in a road side tree but they were on the wrong side of the road for me to get the camera on them so Pernille took a couple of nice shots with my camea.

From here we headed back to the hotel and then made our way homes from there.

Balsa de Regidor, Granada Province.

A quick drop in at the local pool.

Jayne and I had a nice morning wondering around the very interesting Sunday market on the Northern side of Granada City where we got around 15Kilo's of fruit and veg for the week. On the way back we picked up a few species including Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) and Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris).

At the pool I scanned the water and margins and soon added Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and a Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).

On our way back to Huétor we went through Mesia, on the way I picked up a very nice soaring Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala).

From here we went to a nice bar in the town and had a Sunday lunch of Tapa's before heading home and putting the fire in.