Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 19th March 2015.

15W Actinic on the terrace.

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

1525 Plutella xylostella (Diamond backed Moth).

A few more species in the trap last night including a 1525 Plutella xylostella (Diamond backed Moth) x1 without the usual markings (thanks Dave Gundy, I would never have sorted that one).

10351 Agrotis segetum (Turnip Moth).

9436 Caradrina flavirena (Lorimer's Rustic) x2 and 10351 Agrotis segetum (Turnip Moth) x 1.

9436 Caradrina flavirena (Lorimer's Rustic).

 There were also several moths which I had originally identified as 10343 Agrotis puta (Shuttle Shaped Dart) but Dave thinks that they could be 10342 Agrotis catalaunalis (Grouville Dart).

10343 Agrotis puta (Shuttle Shaped Dart) or 10342 Agrotis catalaunalis (Grouville Dart).

Also in the trap there was a 10445 Nycteola siculana a new species for the garden.

10445 Nycteola siculana.

El Faro, Fuengirola, Malaga Province.

A couple of hours dodging the surf on the beach watching waders.

Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres).

During a day of shopping I managed to slip away and have a couple of hours on what was left of the beaches at El Faro just to the west of Fuengirola.

Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo).

Pretty much all the rocks were swamped by a strong tide / surge and bird numbers were low, however I did see a dozen or so of both Ruddy Turnstones (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres) and Sanderlings (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba) but not other waders.

Ruddy Turnstones (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres) and
Sanderlings (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba).

Out to sea it was also quiet but I did see several Northern Gannets (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Balearic Shearwaters (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), a single adult Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres).

Other species seen included Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).

Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres).

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 15th March 2015.

15W Actinic on the terrace.

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

10343 Agrotis puta (Shuttle Shaped Dart).

Ran the trap last night and had 13 insects in the egg boxes but all of them were 10343 Agrotis puta (Shuttle Shaped Dart).

Huetor Fields and the Cacín Valley, Western Granada Province.

Birds, Butterflies and Orchids on another good day in the Cacín.

Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti).

I met John Webster at the Cortijo de Tajar hotel just off the A92 at exit 203 and we headed out on to the fields starting by checking the ditches on the Eastern side of the local patch. 

As we left the car we had fleeting views of a Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) as it flew away from us and then I picked up a new species for my local patch a Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus) which flew through high and off towards the Rio Genil. 

A little further along the ditch we had nice views of a Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), several Greenfinches (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and Tree Sparrows (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius).

We checked the two small drainage pools where we had cracking views of a male Bluethroat with a full blue throat, along with a couple of Reed Buntings (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus) which flew away low and rapidly. 

On our way back up to the car we picked up a single Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and  Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata). 

We moved on and had a look along the lower stretch of the Arroyo Vilano and soon bumped the list up with Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major).

Almond flowers.

We moved on around to the higher stretch of the Arroyo seeing several Iberian Magpies (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cyanus) on the way and down by the water we had a rather rough looking Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta) which was part way through its moult as looking rather shabby. 

We also had several more Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail, Little Ringed Plovers and Green Sandpipers on this upper stretch. 

Our next stop was on the central fields where we looked for but did not find the Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), we did however have several Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) and Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula).
Again we moved on this time to the far fields where we found just a single male Little Bustard on the furthest point of the field. 

We walked along the edge of the field watching a chap pick some very nice looking Asparagusand getting some much better views of the Bustard and a nice male Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

Great Spotted Cuckoo's (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius).

We left the Local Patch and headed for Balsa de Rigedor a small pool on the side of the A92 between Mesia and Moraleda adding Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica) on the way. 

Once at the lake we scanned the water and we soon counted 27 Common Pochards (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), 17 Northern Shovelers (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), 21 Little Grebes (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus). 

On the rotting branches around the margins there were dozens of Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa) basking in the sun and several Small Whites (Artogeia rapae) and Speckled Woods (Pararge aegeria) flew under the near by Almonds.
In the same Almonds we saw several Common Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Blackcaps (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla) and a couple of Song Thrushes (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos).

Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).

Our next stop was on the fields near Moraleda, we approached the site from the Northern tracks and parked near an area of old abandoned Almond groves and straight away I noticed that there were lots of butterflies on the wing including Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Bath  (Pontia daplidice) and Large Whites (Pieris brassicae), Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Province Hairstreak (Tomares ballus), Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) and Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina).
As we started to walk amongst the Almonds we heard several Great Spotted Cuckoo's (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius) approach and soon had views of two stunning birds sat in a nearby tree. 

There were probably around 6 birds in the flock and all were calling loudly and at the same time we could also hear Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus). 

We walked out on a track where we picked up Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and a single Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia) which flew over quickly.

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca / foresteri).

In the groves we found several spikes of Fan-lipped Orchid (Orchis conica) along with lots of Field marigold (Calendula arvensis), Common Grape Hyacinth (Muscari neglectum), Crown Daisy (Chrysanthemum carinatum var discolor), Henbit Deadnettle (Lamium amplexicaule), Purple Bugloss (Echium plantagineum), Southern Knapweed (Centaurea pullata ssp pullata), Western ramping-fumitory (Fumaria occidentalis) and Southern Daisy (Bellis cordifolia). 

We made our way steadily round the tracks until we reached Cortijo Capitana where we scanned the fields, on the way we had views of Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Calandra Lark (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and amongst the Olives several Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and an Iberian Brown Hare (Lepus europaeus / capensis). 

Fan-lipped Orchid (Orchis colina).

Near the Cortijo we had several more butterflies including Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Swallowtail (Papilio machaon) and Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli) along with Carpentor Bee (Xylocopa violacea) and a calling Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix). 

We continued on the track and then down into the Cacín Valley via the bar in El Turro where we collected a sandwich for lunch later and had a coffee, in the town we had a group of House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica).

We made a stop at a couple of points in the Pine woods on our way along the river and picked up Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla) and both Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei) and Coal Tits (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater) were heard and found several spikes of Ophrys forestieri.

Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila Perdicera / Aquila faciatus).

We moved on down to the bridge over the Rio Cacín where we checked the bushes and reedbeds where we added Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), a single male Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra) and a dark phase Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus) which passed down the valley, this was followed a couple of minutes later by a female Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) which was moving back up to the lake and two Common Buzzards (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) which were circling over the pine woods. 

We got back to the car and went up to the lake where we saw three Marsh Harriers, two males and a female, on the water we saw more Common Pochards, Northern Shoveler, Mallard, Common Moorhens, Eurasian Coot, Little Grebe, Little-ringed Plovers, Green Sandpiper and a very smart Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus) on the muddy margins.

Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila Perdicera / Aquila faciatus).

We moved on down the valley to the gorge and soon we were having great views of our first Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila Perdicera / Aquila faciatus) of the day, this bird was hunting over the fields over the fields above the gorge. In the same area we had distant but identifiable views of Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and four Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax).
We retraced our way back down the valley and took the turning through Cacín but stopped by the river and had a walk, on the way up stream we picked up lots more Blackcaps, another Grey Wagtail and several Whites, Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Cetti's Warbler and Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula). At the furthest point along the river I heard a call which confused me for a moment but then I saw a male of a Penduline Tit (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus) which was a species I had not seen in the valley before. On the walk back we had very nice views of a singing male Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus). We went up through Cacín and on to the ridge above picking up a second Bonelli's Eagle which was sat on a pylon and being mobbed by several Jackdaws.

Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila Perdicera / Aquila faciatus).

Further along the road we parked and scanned the nearby ridges looking for raptors and as we watch two Jacdaws come over a nearby hump we realized they were mobbing a female Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius). 

The Merlin dropped low and soon gave its pursuers the slip and on a slightly more distant ridge we picked up a nice pale phase Booted Eagle as it soared over the Olive trees.
We continued on along the road to Ventas and took the road towards Moraleda, on the way we had good but distant views of an adult Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) which was being mobbed by a Common Buzzard. Just a little further along the road we stopped near two abandoned buildings and had a couple of Lesser Kestrels (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni) and then set off for the hotel picking up a Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) in a road side tree which was the last bird of the day. 

The total for the day was 82 species either seen or heard.

Sierra Jobo and Woods above Trabuco, Malaga Province.

A couple of hours birding whilst Jayne was at Craft Group.

Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla).

I dropped Jayne off at craft and went up into the woods and hills abover the town but as I was in a friends car I stayed on the tarmac however I did managed to find Crested (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Long-tailed Tits (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) before I went back to pick up Jayne.

Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).

Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea).

Osuna Area, Fuente de Piedra, Laguna Dulce, Teba Gorge and Laguna Herrera, Sevilla and Malaga Provinces.

A day of fields and wetlands for Liz Walsh's last day.

Great Bustards (Avutarda Común / Otis tarda).

We set off early from the hotel and made our way along the A92 to Osuna at exit 80, once through the small industrial estate we pulled in on the side of the road near the first of the newish bridges over the under construction high speed rail line between Sevilla and Granada.

Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans).

Our first bird was a nice male Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) which came in over the live railway line, other species included Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa) and Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata).

Black Kites (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans).

Our next stop was up at the next bridge where we parked and scanned the large fields from this elevated position and found several more Marsh Harriers sitting on the deck, a single Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus) which flapped across nearby fields, several singing Calandra Larks (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) and on the road we had an Iberian Brown Hare (Lepus europaeus / capensis) run away from us. We drove down the track on the far side of the bridge heading towards a large barn in the distance, as we drove there two huge Great Bustards (Avutarda Común / Otis tarda) came in to view flying towards the barn where they landed just out of view. We continued on along the track and found the two birds in a swede type field, they stood for a while then started to walk away and then flew.

Black Storks (Ciguena Negra / Ciconia nigra).

We checked the fields around the barn before turning around and turning right a little way back down the track where we had the first Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) of the day. At the end of this track we came to the second bridge over the rail line and soon had a couple of Black Kites (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), a pair of Ravens (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica). We continued on along the road to the third bridge where we scanned the fields again and picked up a distant male Great Bustard, so we drove along the road and got a bit close for some nice views.

Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Along this road we also saw Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) and in a group of Eucalyptus trees we had views of a couple of Spanish Sparrows (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis).

We retraced our way back across the bridge and turned right, after a few KM we stopped to check out a couple of raptors and soon found the second Black-winged Kite of the day sat in a large Oak tree. Whilst we were watching this bird we had a largish flock of Black Kites pass overhead but soon realized that they were not all Kites as we picked out at least 6 Black Storks (Ciguena Negra / Ciconia nigra) migrating with the raptors. We moved a little further down the road where we added White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia) to the trip list, plus Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaria), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) and lots more Black Kites.

Black-tailed Godwits (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa).

We again stopped a little further on by a small stream and some Eucalyptus trees, here we had another Black-winged Kite, Red Kite and our first Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus) which was a pale phase bird. Within a few seconds the pale phase bird was joined by a nice dark phase birds and another flock of about 20 Black Kites. We made our way through La Lantejuela to the Laguna de la Ballestera but the water levels were low so birds were few and far except for good numbers of small waders including Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Kentish Plovers (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus) and Little Stints (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta).

Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa).

There were also smaller numbers of Greater Flamingo's, Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Lesser Black-backed  (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba). 

We checked out several more of the Lagoons but most were dry as we have had very little rain this winter but on the road down to Osuna we found a quite large area of water which was covered in birds so we stopped on the entrance to a field and set the scope up and scanned the flocks. Most of the birds were gulls and flamingo's but there were a few Black-tailed Godwits (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa) and some Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus).

Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Anas penelope).

We decided to move on back towards home calling in at Fuente de Piedra, on the samll pool along the entrance road we had good views of around 70 Black-winged Godwits, Several Black-winged Stilts, a Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), a Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) and  Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra).

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

We parked and went for a walk around the reserve starting with the board walks where we added a female Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Anas penelope), Water (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta) and Meadow Pipits (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and on the next pools around towards the Mirador we found Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) and Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca). From the Mirador we saw a few Greater Flamingo's, several Golden Plovers and lots of Gulls but little else so we moved around to the two back hides.

Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

From the larger hide we picked up a single White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala) and a pair of Red-crested Pochards (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina) and from the smaller one we just added Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera). We made our way back to the car and drove down the western side of the lake and soon found a dozen or so Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus) and yet another Marsh Harrier.

Red-crested Pochards (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina).

We again continued on to Laguna Dulce but it was incredably quiet, the only common species was Black- Headed Gull. There were just small numbers of Little Grebes, Northern Shovelers, Gadwall, 3 male Red-crested Pochards, a few Eurasian Coot, Common Moorhen, 2 Black-Winged Stilt and a small flock of Greater Flamingo's.

Our next stop was at the raptor watch point on Sierra Peñarrubia where we instantly had 4 Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) overhead along with a few Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) and Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris). In the trees around us we saw Sardinian Warbler as well as 3 Bath Whites (Pontia daplidice), a Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra), 3 Clouded Yellows (Colias croceus), 10+ Small (Artogeia rapae) and 2 Large Whites (Pieris brassicae).

Male Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca).

Down on the Embalse below we had good views of several Great Crested Grebes (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus). Our last visits of the tour were to some more of the Lagoons around Campillos but all were mostly bird free except for a single Greater Flamingo, A few Black-winged Stilts, a Green Sandpiper and lots of Northern Shovelers. 

From here we made our way back along the road to Antequera and then on to Granada City where I said goodbye to Liz after three very nice days birding, thanks Liz.

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.