Sierra de Loja, Granada Province.

A rest day for Deb and Renate and a day with Paul and Muriel Speak on the hill.

Ladder Snake (Rhinechis scalaris).

I meet Paul and Muriel just down the road and then we headed through Loja and then up the Sierra, our first stop was just short of the motorway bridge where we started the list off with Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs).

Near the lower quarry we heard a singing male Orphean Warbler (Curruca Mirlano / Sylvia hortensis) but only got brief views, Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), a little further down the track we saw a couple of Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala).
Along the track we also saw Blue Spotted Hairstreak (Satyrium spini), Spanish Gatekeeper (Pyronia bathseba), Mallow / False Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus alceae / tripolinus), Red-underwing Skipper (Spialia sertorius), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Panoptes Blue (Pseudophilotes panoptes), Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenoides) and Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina).

Black-eared Wheatear (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica).

In the same area we saw Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalia), Brown Bluebell (Dipcadi serotinum), Common Stork's-bill (Erodium cicutarium), Ground-pine Germander (Teucrium pseudochamaepitys), Mediterranean Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria), Navel-wort (Omphalodes commutata), Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum umbellatum), White Rockrose (Helianthemum apenninum) and White Mignonette (Reseda Alba).
On the cliffs we could not locate the Eagle Owl (Buho Real / Bubo bubo) but we did catch up with Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus). We dropped back down to the main track and started to head further up the hill seeing a couple of Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) in the last of the pines and a Ladder Snake (Rhinechis scalaris) which was trying to warm up on the track.

Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia).

Once we were out on to the flatter tops we started to see Thekla Larks (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Black-eared Wheatear (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa) and Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina). We made a shortstop on the way up in the broom scrub and soon had a singing Spectacled Warbler (Curruca Tomillera / Sylvia conspicillata) on the list. We eventually reached the pools at Charca del Negra, over the pool we saw Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator), Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) and Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum).

Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

We also checked the low crags nearby and had the days first Rock Buntings (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Rock Sparrows (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius).
In the pools we saw Sharp-ribbed Salamander (Pleurodeles waltl) and on the rocks we saw a juv Ocellated Lizard (Lacerta lepida). On the rocks below the crags we had a couple of Andalucian Wall Lizard (Podarcis vaucheri), in the air there were several noisy Red-billed Choughs (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) and a late Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina). We moved on around past the Goat cave and checked the cliffs further on and eventually got nice views of a male and female Rufous-tailed Rock Thrushes (Roquero Roja / Monticola saxatilis).

Pyramidal Orchids (Anacamptis pyramidalia).

From here we went back along the track past the cave and the pools and decided to go right across to Salar and during the first part of the drive we had a Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) flash across in front of us and away around a nearby peak.
A few minutes later we had the first of ten Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) a little further down the track we stopped near a large Marble quarry and the 10 Griffon circled above us and in the same area we saw a male Subalpine Warbler (Curruca Carrasquena / Sylvia cantillans), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes) and Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops). As we dropped down towards Salar we stopped a couple of times and added Lizard Orchid (Himantoglosum hircinum), Montpellier Snake (Malpolon monspessulanus), Bath (Pontia daplidice), Black-veined  (Aporia crataegi) and Large Whites (Pieris brassicae), Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus), Spanish Marbled White (Melanargia ines), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata) and Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus).

Lizard Orchids (Himantoglosum hircinum).

Once we were down near the town we stopped for the last time near a small stream and heard or saw Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus) and Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur). We went through Salar and back to the house.

Bonanza, Chipiona, La Janda and Tarifa area, Cadiz Province.

The second day across in Cadiz Province.

Deb and Renate Day Five.

Little Tern (Charrancito Común / Sternula albifrons).

We left the hotel at around 07:00 and headed back to Bonanza where we were hoping to get some more wader species photographs but we were disappointed by the numbers of birds but still managed to get a few good shots.

Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina).

Species included Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba) including a couple of summer plumage individuals, Curlew Sandpiper (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea), Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus) and Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos).

Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula).

We took the track out towards the river and had a Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus) do a flyby and saw a couple of pairs of Red-crested Pochards (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina) and Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera) before turning off and skirting the fences checking the pools where we saw several Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Curlew Sandpiper, Grey Plover (Chorlito Gris / Pluviali squatarola) and a couple of better behaved than yesterdays Lesser Short-toed Larks (Terrera Marismena / Calandrella rufescens) along with the commoner Short-toed (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla) and Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata).

Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba).

We then made our way out to the larger pools and added Night Heron (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax), Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Slender-billed Gull (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei), Little Tern (Charrancito Común / Sterna albifrons), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) and Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta). We retraced our way back down to the main track and then back towards the entrance but as we drove we noticed a big gathering of Slender-billed Gulls and Little Terns so we slowly rolled up to them and started to get some shots.

Slender-billed Gull (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei).

The gulls were just preening and roosting in the new water being pumped in to the pans while over head the Terns were hovering and diving in for small fish giving us superb views. After ages and a phone call from Debs husband Ian who was unforgettably looking after things back in Australia this time we pushed on and headed along the coast to Chipiona stopping for a coffee on the way (I think Deb and Renate were well addicted to Spanish Coffee by this point).

Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) and Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus).

Once the Caffeine was in place we continued down to the spot for some of the best birds in Spain the Little Swifts (Vencejo Moro / Apus affinis) which were on the list before we had even left the parked car. 

Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus).

Once we were at the site the camera were clicking at full speed try to get a decent shot of these very quick little birds as they zoomed around with both Pallid (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) and Common Swifts (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) for company.

Little Swift (Vencejo Moro / Apus affinis).

In the same area we had Red-rumped (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica) and Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), 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) and a singing Melodious Warbler (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta) back where we had parked.

Little Swift (Vencejo Moro / Apus affinis).

We stayed at this spot for a couple of hours totally engrossed in watching this special species before heading down to the south and to the cliffs below Vejer de la Frontera where we had good views of a rare but not so beautiful bird the Northern Bald Ibis (Ibis Eremita / Geronticus eremita) which were breeding in good numbers again.

Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis)-

We also took some shots of the nearby Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) before again moving on down to La Janda but its was very quiet and we only had Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus), White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Pheasant (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur) and European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster).

Northern Bald Ibis (Ibis Eremita / Geronticus eremita).

As the area was quiet we moved on, our next stop was on the edge of Tarifa where we were hoping to see the Common Bulbuls (Bulbul Naranjero / Pycnonotus barbatus) which are seen in the area. We dipped on the Bulbuls but did get Lesser Kestrel (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla) and Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos).
We tried a second site just down the road but again we did not find the Bulbuls here either so we started the drive back to the house. along the coast but using the toll roads. Once we were back home we could hear the local Red-necked Nightjars (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis).

Osuna, Brazo del Este, Trebujena Salt Pans, Bonanza Salt Pans and nearby pools, Sevilla and Cadiz Provinces.

The first of two superb days away in the west of Andalucia.

Deb and Renate Day Four.

A mass gathering of Black Kites (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans).

The three of us got up early and headed along the A92 to the fields just to the west of Osuna, we were not doing a full run around the site but thought it would be good for the trip list to get a few species under the belt from the area.

Sun rise near Osuna.

We pulled off the motorway and took to the smaller roads and tracks, we parked near the first bridge and started the day list off with Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), Short-toed (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla) and Crested Larks (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Gull-billed Tern (Pagaza Piconegra / Gelochelidon nilotica), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) and Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa).

Male Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

We moved on down the road a few KM, on fences along the railway we saw Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) and just as we drove up on to the bridge a couple of  Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) flew over and landed in the next field so we had good views of them once we had parked on the second bridge.
We scanned the fields and picked up Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) and Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax). 

We then drove along the track towards the large distant factory building checking the fields as we went and soon started to notice larger and larger numbers of Black Kites until we reached a large rock sticking up from a crop field which near 30 birds perched on it and on surrounding fields we counted well over 100 more.

Collared Pratincole (Canastera Común / Glareola pratincola).

In this same area we had Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Melodious Warbler (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos) and Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo). 

We retraced our way back towards the second bridge but turned off right and headed for the third bridge, on the way we stopped and scanned the fields and soon had the scope trained on a group of 12 Great Bustards (Avutarda Común / Otis tarda) which were striding across a distant field but closer than the last time Deb had seen them here. 

We moved on to the third bridge where Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), a nice male Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) which sat nicely and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).

Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus).

We dropped down from the bridge and took the track out in to the fields adding Lesser Kestrel (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni), Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula).

Again we retraced our steps an the turned towards the fourth bridge, on the way we stopped on the roadside and watched a group of Collared Pratincoles (Canastera Común / Glareola pratincola) on the field and in the air, this species is one that looks like it flies just for the fun of it and is enjoying it's self at the same time. 

We drove up and over the bridge and down to the Sparrow plantation where we had really good views of several Spanish Sparrows (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis) dust bathing on the track as well as several move Lesser Kestrels and lots of Black Kites.

Deb and Renate.

Just around the corner we pulled up by a disused Cortijo and soon had nice views of a pair or two of Rollers (Carraca / Coracias garrulus), lots more Lesser Kestrels, Jackdaws and a surprise Tawny Owl (Cárabo Común / Strix aluco). 

We returned to the fourth bridge and then continued on along the road to a bridge a little further on where we checked the dry river bed area and saw several nest loads of White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).

From here we dropped back south to the A92 and then on two other roads making our way out to the not so wet wetlands of Brazo de Este. Most of the ditches out in the areas around the fields were dry and we only managed to pick up a fine male and several female Black-headed Weavers (Tejedor Cabecinegro / Ploceus melanocephalus), Great Reed Warblers (Carricero Tordal / Acrocephalus arundinaceus) and more Collared Pratincoles on the dusty drive out to the main canal sluces.

White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).

Once we were at the sluices we took another track and checked an area of Tamarisks and reed beds nearby and very soon had another lifer for Deb and Renate in the shape of a very smart male Penduline Tit (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus) which we could hear calling almost constantly but it took some time to get good views. Here we had singles and a couple of flocks of Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus), Night Heron (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax), Cetti's (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Reed (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) and Willow Warbler (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus).
We continued on along the track and stopped at the first area of water where there were good numbers of White Storks, Spoonbills (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), Grey Herons (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Western Cattle (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Avocets (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) and a very nice Squacco Heron (Garcilla Cangrejera / Ardeola ralloides).

Marbled Ducks (Cerceta Pardilla / Marmaronetta angustirostris).

On the opposite side of the road there were more Grey Herons, a few Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhens (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) and Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio). We moved down to the second area of water and boosted the trip list with a very nice summer plumaged Grey Plover (Chorlito Gris / Pluviali squatarola), Purple Heron (Garza Imperial / Ardea purpurea), as well as more Glossy Ibis, Spoonbills, White Storks, Great Reed Warbler, lots of Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Whiskered Tern (Fumarel Cariblanca / Chilidonias hybridus), Collared Pratincoles and the first of only two species that I saw and niether Deb or Renate got on to during the whole trip a Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago).
We continued on along this same road checking some more wet areas on the way, amongst a roost of Little Egrets we picked out a single Great White (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba) as well as Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Black Tern (Fumarel Común / Chlidonias niger), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus) and Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina).

White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).

At the end of the track we turned back towards the spot where we had turned out on to the fields and left this good site behind us on our way out to the Trebujena Saltpans, on the way we had nice views of another Night Heron in the roadside ditch. We passed around the side of Trebujena and took the road out to the Rio Guadalquivir, just before the river we stopped and checked some pools, we did not see much new but we did get some nice shots of a very close flying White Stork.

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

We continued on along the side of the river heading pretty much east until we reached the large saltpans which had a good number of Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Red-crested Pochards (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera) and then birds of the day 3 superb Marbled Duck (Cerceta Pardilla / Marmaronetta angustirostris) after watching these cracking birds for a good while and getting some nice shots we dragged our selves away and continued on to the end of the track and made our way through the Algaida Pine woods making a short stop near the entrance and adding Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Great Tits (Carbonera Común / Parus major), heard a Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei) but again did not see it, Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata) and lots of Swallowtails (Papilio machaon) and Clouded Yellows (Colias croceus). 

Slender-billed Gull (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei).

Once we were through the woods we dropped down passed Bonanza Salt Pans and checked out the three pools in amongst the Green Houses and fields nearby, here we added White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and Little Bittern (Avetorillo Común / Ixobrychus minutus) as well as Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator), Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea) and Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata).

Little Tern (Charrancito Común / Sterna albifrons).

Our final stop of the day was at Bonanza where we checked the road side pans, the river and the larger pools, we were soon watching good numbers of Little Terns (Charrancito Común / Sterna albifrons), Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Curlew Sandpiper (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea), Little Ringed (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) and Kentish Plovers (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus), Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Slender-billed (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei), Black-headed  (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Gull-billed Tern (Pagaza Piconegra / Gelochelidon nilotica) and two not so helpful Lesser Short-toed Larks (Terrera Marismena / Calandrella rufescens) which would just not give us good views.

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

Down by the river we came up with just Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) before we made our way into the town of Sanlucar and found rooms at a nice small hotel in the center which was very reasonably priced.

Near Gorafe and Sierra Huetor, Granada Province.

Birding the Granada bad lands and the greener mountains.

Deb and Renate, Day three.

General view of the area near Gorafe.

We headed out along the A92 passed Granada, through the Sierra Huétor, passed Guadix and in to the dry countryside side around the village of Gorafe. As we drove along the motorway we saw the first of a few Carrion Crows (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Jackdaws (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) and Woodpigeons (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) and from the motorway towards the village we found a couple of Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans) that were still down in the fields.

Renate in the same area.

Next we dropped down in to the gorge near the village and parked at a view point half way down where we soon had a singing Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) in the scope and this was followed by a Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) that dropped in on the far side of the valley where it had obviously caught some thing and started to eat it. Renate then came up with a Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) which was sat on the sky line and a pale phase Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus) which flew down the valley.

We continued on to the village and then out into the countryside taking the wrong track the first time but this produced some good birds and some quite amazing views.

Black-eyed Blue (Glaucopsyche melanops).

Birds included Black-eared Wheatear (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica), Tawny Pipit (Bisbita campestre / Anthus campestris), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), lots of Calandra Lark (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and several more Griffon Vultures. At the far end of the track where we guessed we had taken the wrong turn we had superb views of the desert type landscape and in the distance out to the Embalse de Negratín.

Deb and Renate photographing the superb views.

As we walked around here taking a good number of photographs we saw several Black-eyed Blue (Glaucopsyche melanops) butterflies as well as Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) and Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus).

We retraced our way back to the starting point picking up Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Short-toed (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), Thekla (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and Crested Larks (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) on the way.

Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia) showing yellow spot.

Once we were out on the proper track we soon reached the required spot and started to search the surrounding areas where we saw European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and a pair of Spectacled Warblers (Curruca Tomillera / Sylvia conspicillata). We then found that there was a very very small amount of water in a pit hole where the goats and sheep drink from, there was barely an inch left in the bottom forming a puddle of less than 20cm.

Trumpeter Finch (Camachuelo Trompetero / Bucanetes githagineus).

We parked about 30m away from the pool and waited and after about 20 minutes a flash of pink came flying into the pool for a drink and we had our first Trumpeter Finch (Camachuelo Trompetero / Bucanetes githagineus). When the bird had flown off we dropped to the opposite side of the puddle and parked a little closer and again in about 20 minutes the the same or another bird dropped back in again and again after it had flown off we dropped right down next to the puddle on the track and again waited. This time a pair dropped in and one bird showed nicely for us and the camera. Whilst here we also had good numbers of Rock Sparrows (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia) come in to drink.

Roller (Carraca / Coracias garrulus).

Once the Finches were under the belt we drove back to the village where Deb had good views of a Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus) as it disappeared into a poplar tree. We headed back to the motorway and had some lunch in a bar there, this took longer than expected and wasted a bit of time but eventually we were on our way to a nearby site where we found a cracking Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius) sat in a roadside walnut tree. A little further along the road we had a pair of Rollers (Carraca / Coracias garrulus) in some poplar trees which had several dead or dying branches and we had superb views of these stunning birds.

Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius).

We again continued on down the same road to a small pool surrounded by low cliffs, here we found a single Stock Dove (Paloma Zurita / Columba oenas), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris).

Orchis cazorlensis.

We again moved on and drove back towards Granada pulling off in to the woodlands of Sierra Huétor to look for birds and orchids. Once out of the car we could hear and eventually saw a Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), a Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius) but the Coal Tit (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater) and Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea) stayed on the heard only list for today.

Barton's Orchid (Dactylorhiza insularis).

We searched around in the under growth and soon found several orchid species including Dense-flowered (Neotinea maculata), Yellow Bee (Ophrys lutea), Barton's (Dactylorhiza insularis) and Orchis cazorlensis along with a couple of Large Red Damselflies (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) just as we reached the car. From here we headed back to the house and later we went down to Huétor Tajar fro a drink and some Tapas in a local bar and on the way back heard both Scop's Owl (Autillo Europeo / Otus scops) and Red-necked Nightjar (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis).

Charca de Suarez, near Almuñécar and the Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

A day on the coastal wetlands with a bonus species.

Deb and Renate, Day Two.

Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos).

We set off at around 07:00 so that we could spend a few hours down at Charca hoping for Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca) and Mediterranean Chameleon (Chamaeleo chamaeleon) neither of which we managed to track down but this was more than made up for by an unexpected flyby. 

We arrived a bit early so we checked the cane and pampas fields around the back of the reserve first and soon tracked down good friend Juan Pérez Contreras who had just been lucky enough to have great views of a calling Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix) which he had got photos of, we only managed to hear them. In the same area we recorded Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), a couple of small flocks of Red Avadavats (Bengali Rojo / Amandava amandava), European Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Eurasian Collared (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and Eurasian Turtle Doves (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Western House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica).

White-rumped Swift (Vencejo Cafre / Apus caffer).

A little later we made our way around to the gate where we were let in by the warden of the site Manuel and we checked out the hide on Laguna del Trébol and added to the day list by see Red-knobbed (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata) and Eurasian Coots (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Common Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) and Common Swifts (Vencejo Común / Apus apus). 

Our next stop was at the main hide where we spent some time trying to locate the resident female Ferruginous Duck but decided she was probably on a nest sitting eggs some where. 

We did however find Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Western Cattle  (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis). 

We moved on around the reserve and in the corner where the sugar cane grows where we saw a couple of female type European Pied Flycatchers (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and then bird of the day a male pale phase Eleonora's Falcon (Halcón de Eleonora / Falco eleonorae) which passed over giving Deb, Renate and Juan good views, I was a bit slow off the mark and got on to it a little late but as soon as I had it in the bins I said Eleonora's as the bird was quite distinctive. 

Just after seeing the Falcon we bumped in to friends Steve and Elena Powell, Bob Wright and his friend Marieke.

White-rumped Swift (Vencejo Cafre / Apus caffer).

Next we had a look on the new scrape and found a small number of waders including both Common Ringed (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) and Little Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), 2x Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), 6x Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus) and more Common Sandpipers. 

In this area we also heard Melodious Warbler (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta) and saw Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator), Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope), Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Iberian Blue-tail (Ischnura graellsii), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Swallowtail (Papilio machaon), Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina) and several Iberian Water Frogs (Rana Común / Rana Perezi).

Around at the small hide over looking Laguna del Taraje we could hear a crocking Little Bittern (Avetorillo Común / Ixobrychus minutus) which we eventually had nice views of along with Common Nightingale, Great Reed Warbler (Carricero Tordal / Acrocephalus arundinaceus), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata) and Stripe-necked Terrapins (Mauremys leprosa). We worked our way back around the reserve but we did not pick anything new so we went out and with Juan guiding us we made our way to a spot where we were soon watching a pair of White-rumped Swifts (Vencejo Cafre / Apus caffer) amongst the more normal Common and Pallid Swifts (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus). 

In this area we also had good views of Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) and a Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus) which was being mobbed by a Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus). 

On the roadsides in the area we also photographed the tall and beautiful Spanish Iris (Iris xiphium). 

Spanish Iris (Iris xiphium).

We returned Juan to his car and said goodbye before heading down to the beach nearby but it was as expected quite busy. 

We scanned the sea and picked up a single Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), a couple of Audouin's Gulls (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii) and several Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) before heading back up the motorway towards Granada.

After leaving the Motorway we started to made our way back to the house via La Malaha and the Cacín Valley, during this drive we boosted the list by picking up Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila-azor / Hieraetus faciatus), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Iberian (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cyanus) and Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) and Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Later we again had calling Red-necked Nightjar (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis) from on the terrace whilst doing the checklist and comparing photographs.