Woods North of Siresa and Refugio de Gabardito, Aragón, Pyrenees.

Our first day in the mountains above the Hecho Valley.

Deb and Renate Day Ten.

Wild Aquilegia (Aquilegia vulgaris).

We got up and went down for a nice breakfast before heading north along the road from Hecho towards the head of the valley a good few KM further on but did not get very far before we stopped in a small lay by to photograph the stunning blue Wild Aquilegia's (Aquilegia vulgaris) which was growing commonly in the woods.

Red-backed Shrike (Alcaudón Dorsirrojo / Lanius collurio).

We also found a couple of spikes of Lesser Butterfly Orchids (Platanthera bifolia), Sword-leaved Helleborine (Cephalanatera longifolia), Bastard Balm (Melittis melissophyllum), White Rockrose (Helianthemum apenninum), Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone),  Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica),

Wallcreeper (Treparriscos / Tichodroma muraria).

Common Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Bonelli's (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli) and Garden Warbler (Curruca Mosquitera / Sylvia borin), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) and Small White (Artogeia rapae).

Alpine Gentian (Gentiana alpina).

Just a short way up the road again an we turned off on to the road up to the Refugio and parked on the side on the grass to check another specie of Orchid, this time the Green-winged Orchid (Androrchis morio) the Northern counterpart to our Androrchis olbensis.
In the same area we had very nice views of a male Red-backed Shrike (Alcaudón Dorsirrojo / Lanius collurio) which watched us from a nearby Hawthorn bush and had very distant views of an adult Bearded Vulture (Quebrantahuesos / Gypaetus barbatus) as it flew along a distant high ridge along with a Short-toed Snake Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus).

Hepatica (Hepatica nobilis).

We again continued on up the hill stopping again to look at several spikes of Langes Orchid (Androrchis langei).
Once we were at the car park we followed a largish group out towards a rock face a couple of KM away but soon lost them as we were soon at work with the cameras on the many wildflowers on the track side.

Spring Gentian (Gentiana verna).

These included Alpine Gentian (Gentiana alpina), Spring Gentian (Gentiana verna), the first of hundreds of Elder-flowered Orchids (Dactylorhiza sambucina), Hepatica (Hepatica nobilis), Cowslip (Primula veris), Oxslip (Primula elatior) and Pyrenean Rock-rose (Helianthemum nummularium ssp. pyrenaica).

Pyrenean Rock-rose (Helianthemum nummularium ssp. pyrenaica).

After a while we turned a corner and came across the group who had headed off ahead of us, most of who were watching a large chimney of rock looking for the Wallcreeper (Treparriscos / Tichodroma muraria) and after just a few minutes we were watching two birds clinging to the side of the large slab of rock. 
They flew in to the cliff several times passing over our heads each time giving us really nice views and whilst we were watching these little beauties a second Bearded Vulture came in along a nearby ridge along with good numbers of Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) some carrying nest material and a soaring Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos). 

Lammergeier / Bearded Vulture (Quebrantahuesos / Gypaetus barbatus).

In the same area we heard Black Woodpecker (Picamaderos Negro / Dryocopus martius), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) and a barking Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus). 
The group headed back down the hill but we decided to carry on up the hill and we were soon seeing both yellow and red varieties of the Elder-flowered in large numbers and Pale-flowered Orchid (Orchis pallens), Rock Soapwort (Saponaria ocymoides), Rock Jasmine (Androsace villosa) and Creeping Globularia (Globularia repens).

Pale-flowered Orchid (Orchis pallens).

In the bushes near a mountain stream I heard a couple of singing Dunnocks (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis) along with Alpine Swift (Vencejo Real / Apus melba), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus), Northern Raven (Cuervo grande / Corvus corax), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) and Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros).

Fairy Foxglove (Erinus alpinus).

We reached the bottom of the waterfall where I left my scope at the bottom of the slope before we checked out the rockery above us, there were loads of Elder-flowered Orchids and many other species, half way up the slope I decided that I would have to drop back down to the scope but Deb and Renate carried on to the top of the slope and out on to the Alpine meadows above.

Elder-flowered Orchids (Dactylorhiza sambucina).

After a while they returned after seeing a Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) and we had very nice views of a male Citril Finches (Verderón Serrano / Carduelis citrinella) next to the stream.
We started to drop down the track towards the car adding Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Eurasian Nuthatch, Common Treecreeper (Agateador Norteño / Certhia familiaris), Eurasian Jay, Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and once back at the car we had another small group of Citril Finches which were feeding around the car park.

Elder-flowered Orchids (Dactylorhiza sambucina).

After getting some nice views of these birds we dropped back down towards the road in the bottom of the valley, during the drive we had a Black Woodpecker flash across the road and away amongst the trees not to be seen again, whilst we were searching for this bird we picked up Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Coal Tit (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris).

Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas).

From this spot we headed back down to Hecho and had a couple of coffees to top up the cafine levels, whilst we were sat out side we had nice views of a pale phase Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

Globularia punctata.

After the drink we drove back up the valley to Boca del Infierno and straight away we found several spikes of the stunning Pyrenean Saxifrage (Saxifraga longifolia) flowering on the main cliffs with Fairy Foxglove (Erinus alpinus) plus several more species which still need names and a couple of Marsh Fritillaries (Euphydryas aurinia).

Pyrenean Saxifrage (Saxifraga longifolia).

We also had views of another Bearded Vulture which flew over head, White-throated Dipper (Mirlo Acuático Europeo / Cinclus cinclus), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Eurasian Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus).

Pyrenean Saxifrage (Saxifraga longifolia).

Hoces del Duratón, Castillo y León, near Caseda in Navarra and Siresa in the Hecho Valley, Aragón.

Dupont's for Deb and Southern White Admiral for me as we continue North to the Pyrenees.

Deb and Renate Day Nine. 

The river and gorge.

We were all up and out quite early, too early for the hotel owner who showed us how to let ourselves out the night before as he did not want to get up. We made our way across country to Hoces del Duratón, on the way we noticed that all the Pine trees in a large woodland we past were taped for resin something I had never seen before. We also saw a dead Eurasian Badger (Meles meles) and several live Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus) before we reached the same spot as we had been at the night before.

Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris).

This time we could clearly hear a singing Dupont's Lark (Alondra Ricotí / Chersophilus duponti) and had a very good idea where it was so we crossed the small ravine and started to very slowly make our way towards the spot scanning every rock on the way.

Panoptes Blue (Pseudophilotes panoptes).

During this time we had Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Short-toed (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), Thekla (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and Woodlarks (Totovia / Lullula arborea), Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Rock (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia) and Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus), Black-eared (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica) and Northern Wheatears (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Orphean Warbler (Curruca Mirlano / Sylvia hortensis) and then the star attraction a singing Dupont's.

Priorato de San Fruitos de Duratón.

We watched the bird for a short while before it dropped from its rock and disappeared from view and turned up a few minutes later singing well off to the right of us but we did not see it again. Well happy with this bird we made our way back towards Renate who had stayed near the car, on the way we saw both Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera) and Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) and the first of many Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

Sarcocapnos enneaphylla.

We continued on down the track to the carpark at the start of the walk down to the Priorato de San Fruitos de Duratón, on the way we saw several Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) and Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Tawny Pipit (Bisbita campestre / Anthus campestris) and a nice male Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius).

Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs).

We walked down the hill to the crags above the river and then down to the Priorato, the views were stunning as were the many wild flowers that covered the rocks at the side of the track. Around the buildings we saw large numbers of Griffons, Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Rock Pigeon (Paloma Bravia / Columba livia), a single Stock Dove (Paloma Zurita / Columba oenas), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur) and Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) and during the walk we photographed a Panoptes Blue (Pseudophilotes panoptes) and Sarcocapnos enneaphylla which was growing on the Priorato walls.

Field of Corn Flowers (Centaurea cyanus) and Tufted Vetch (Vicia cracca).

We got back to the car and set the sat-nav to take us to the Hecho Valley by the shortest route and not the quickest as we had plenty of time and felt like staying off the motorways a bit. During the journey we made a couple of stops, the first was to photograph a stunning field full of Corn Flowers (Centaurea cyanus), Corn Poppies (Papaver rhoeas) and Tufted Vetch (Vicia cracca) along with Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix) and Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), another stop was near a very large irrigation canal where we saw some Pyramidal Orchids (Anacamptis pyramidalia) in flower on the roadside and whilst at the spot we had Ophrys Riojana (one of the sphegodes group) and a stunning Southern White Admiral (Limenitis reducta).

Pyramidal Orchid (Orquidea Pyramidal / Anacamptis pyramidalia).

The next stop was much closer to the Pyrenees, again for some more Pyramidal Orchids turned up Lady Orchid (Orchis purpurea) as well but they were well over with so as we went up and over this ridge and down on to the northern slopes we were very pleased to find several plants in perfect condition. Birds seen during the drive included Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Marsh (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) and Montagu's Harriers (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus), Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla).

Southern White Admiral (Limenitis reducta).

Late in the afternoon we arrived at Siresa just above Hecho and booked in to the hotel for the next four nights, Renate stayed there and unpacked whilst Deb and I went for a walk up a nearby farm track. Straight away we were seeing some very nice Red Kites (Milano Real / Milvus milvus), Egyptian Vultures (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Carrion Crows (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) and Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros).

Ophrys Riojana.

Lady Orchid (Orchis purpurea).

Tablas de Daimiel, Castilla la Mancha and Hoces del Duratón, Castilla de León.

From Wetlands to dry hill tops as we start to head North.

Deb and Renate Day Eight.

Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus).

The three of us set off early hearing Red-necked Nightjar (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis) as we left the house, we went past Granada and up to Tablas, once we were there we went out on to the board walk trail. Right from the start we could hear Penduline Tits (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus) and the first bird we saw from the small platform was a fine male which was collecting nesting material.

Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus).

This little pool was quiet except for singing Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Grey (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and Purple Herons (Garza Imperial / Ardea purpurea), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) and Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus). From the first island top we scanned the surrounding pools picking up Red-crested (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina) and Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) and a fly over Black / Cinereous Vulture (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus) which later when we spoke to one of the guides was a rare bird at the site.

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

We continued on along the board walk getting views of Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), our only Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus) of the trip, Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and as we were photographing a very nice Great Crested Grebes Deb picked up a female Bearded Tit (Reedling) (Bigotudo / Panurus biarmicus) as she dropped into the reed across the pool. 

Penduline Tit (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus) in a nest.

This bird was followed by a second female and a nice male but they all disappeared as soon as they landed. 

Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).

As we had already seen Penduline we did not go on to the larger island but turned left and made our way out to the hide, on the way we heard Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), had flight views of several Night Herons (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax), more Purples and Greys as well as another male Bearded Tit, Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Whiskered Tern (Fumarel Cariblanca / Chilidonias hybridus) and in the Tamarisks several Melodious Warblers (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta), Tree Sparrows (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus) and Great Reed Warbler (Carricero Tordal / Acrocephalus arundinaceus).
In the hide there were several nests of Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), the young had fledged but were still in the hide and the adults returned to feed them sometimes through a small Crake at the top of the door.

Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica).

Here we also had a Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) which was trying to eat a largish Crayfish, Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia) and the frst of several Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia).

Corn Flowers (Centaurea cyanus).

We carried on around the board walk back towards the visitor centre adding only Viperine Snake (Culebra Viperina / Natrix maura), Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa), a single Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope) and Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser).

Corn Flower (Centaurea cyanus).

We went back to the car for drinks and a bit of Renate's German Chocolate cake before taking the second trail which included several hides and a larger tower hide at the furthest point which gave a nice view over the wetland. Just before the first hide we stood on a small boat jetty and listened to a Savi's Warbler (Buscarla Unicolor / Locustella luscinoides) out in the reeds but we did not see it so we continued on. Just as we approach another one of the hides Deb had fleeting views of a Moustached Warbler (Carricerin Real / Acrocephalus melanopogon) which dived into cover before Renate and I could get on to it but a few seconds later I had equally fleeting views of the bird as it disappeared in to the larger reedbed.

Deb in the Cornflowers.

From the next hide we were very pleased to see a nice male Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca) which showed well but did not come close enough for a decent shot. We had spoken to a warden earlier in the day and he had been very helpful with info about the Savi's and Moustached Warblers but had said that there were no Ferruginous on this part of the reserve with the whole population being on a part of the wetland that was restricted with no access, this made this bird all the better.
Deb commented that the bird looked a bit like their Hardhead (Aythya australis) but it is a different species. During the walk back to the car park we had views of Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) and a male Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii). 

A ruined Barn.

Just as we reached the turn for the car park we again heard the Penduline Tit in the same area as earlier so we scanned the Tamarisks and soon located a part built nest with a fine male bird adding some more material to the structure.

We returned to the car and had another drink and added European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) and Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) to the day list before putting Hoces del Duratón in to the sat-nav and heading onwards.

Shepherd and his dogs.

We stopped a couple of times during the journey but we did not add any thing to the list except for a couple of Monk Parakeets (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus) as we drove around Madrid. Another one of the stops was on the roadside next to a corn field full of the most beautiful blue Corn Flowers (Centaurea cyanus).

Shepherd and his dogs.

We reached the Hostel, booked in and unloaded before having some thing to eat in a near by bar, later Deb and I headed out to the first part of Hoces del Duratón whilst Renate had a break. On the way we made a quick stop at a group of ruined farm buildings and had a walk around seeing Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla) and Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).

Shepherd and his dogs.

We arrived and parked along side the main track where we soon had several Woodchat Shrikes (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator) in view along with Thekla (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Short-toed (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Sky (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) and Woodlarks (Totovia / Lullula arborea), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Orphean Warbler (Curruca Mirlano / Sylvia hortensis), Black-eared (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica) and Northern Wheatears (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) and Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).
The whole time we were at this spot there was the lovely sound of bells ringing from a large flock of sheep, the shepherd was bringing them back in towards their night time home just as the sun was starting to drop. He had two really beautiful Pyrenean Mountain Dogs with him and the whole scene was very nice and was recorded in lot of our photographs from the day.

Shepherd and his dogs.

As the light dropped we could hear the one species we had come to try and find but the two or three Dupont's Larks (Alondra Ricotí / Chersophilus duponti) we could hear were quite a long way off across a small ravine so we did not see them, we also heard Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) and Red-necked Nightjar (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis) before we called it a day and went back to the accommodation.

Ronda, Indiana, Caves of the Cat and Oak woods near Montejaque, Malaga Province.

Jayne and Renate spent the day in Ronda whist Deb and I caught up with a couple more interesting species.

Deb and Renate Day Seven.

Olivaceous Warbler (Zarcero Pálido Occidental / Hippolais opaca).

We all drove over to Ronda where Jayne and Renate got out and spend from all acounts a very pleasant day around the town sightseeing and having a nice meal over looking the Taco. Deb and I made our way out into the country and to out first stop near the Rio Guadiaro at Indiana where we soon had the target Western Olivaceous Warbler (Zarcero Pálido Occidental / Hippolais opaca) in the bins and the camera lens.

Olivaceous Warbler (Zarcero Pálido Occidental / Hippolais opaca).

We had great views of this difficult species singing from several different trees around us. In the same area we picked up Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), several Black Kites (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Rock Pigeon (Paloma Bravia / Columba livia), Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica) and Melodious Warbler (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta).

Olivaceous Warbler (Zarcero Pálido Occidental / Hippolais opaca).

We moved along the river a short way and found another pair of Olivaceous on a side stream and in the wood near there a calling and drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus).

Alpine Swift (Vencejo Real / Apus melba).

As we were walking back towards the car we were surprised to get a Ring-necked Parakeet (Cotorra de Kramer / Psittacula Krameri) flash along the river through the Poplar trees.

We moved on but just along the river a short way to the Cave of the Cat, the first stop was at the Hotel there where we had a coffee whilst we listened to Golden Orioles and Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla).

Deb getting some shots of the Swifts.

On the river we watched at least two more Olivaceous Warblers and hordes of Alpine (Vencejo Real / Apus melba) and Pallid Swifts (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) as the wheeled around abover the water and flew in and out of the cave. Whilst we were trying to get some shots of the swifts we had Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), 50 or so Honey Buzzard (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus) pass down the Valley along with good numbers of Black Kites (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus) and a Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus).

Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis).

We crossed the river on the clapsed bridge and on around the board walk under the railway out to the Cave where deb spent some time trying to get some shots of the Apline Swifts as they left and approched the entrance, in the same area we had several fleeting glimpes of the Dipper (Mirlo Acuático / Cinclus cinclus) as it flew along the river. 

Wader flock in flight.

We spent quite a while here and finished off with another coffee before going up through Benaojan and Montejaque and stopped in the Oak woods on the drop down to the Ronda road lookng for woodland species. We walked along the roadside picking up Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes), Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), heard Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Long-tailed Tits (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei).

Wood Sandpiper (Andarrios Bastardo / Tringa glareola).

Once we got back to the car we headed back into Ronda and picked Renate and Jayne up at the Bullring before drivig over to Fuente de Piedra on the way home to try and get better views of the Lesser Flamingo's (Flamenco Enano / Phoenicopterus minor) but they were in almost the same place and there was a lot less water so the were unlikey to come any closer. On the way in we checked the roadside pool again and had great views of a good number of Curlew Sandpipers (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea) some looking very smart in their summer plumage, other still looking completly grey.

Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta).

Also on the pool were Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Common (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) and Wood Sandpipers (Andarrios Bastardo / Tringa glareola), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Gull-billed Tern (Pagaza Piconegra / Gelochelidon nilotica), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), White (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Lesser Kestrel (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata).

Curlew Sandpiper (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea).

From the view point we had the two Lesser's and a few hundred Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Great Reed Warbler (Carricero Tordal / Acrocephalus arundinaceus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).

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

We had a look from the small hide on the rare trail and saw several Dark Spreadwing (Lestes macrostigma) in the Clubrush stands along with Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator) and Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii). From the large hide we boosted the day list with Red-crested Pochard (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera) and Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).

Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

We returned to the car and spent some time photographing the waders on the entrance road pool again before heading back to the house seeing Common (Urraca / Pica pica) and Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) and once we were back at the house we had the usual calling Red-necked Nightjars (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis).

Huétor and Moraleda Fields, Cacín Valley, Sierra de Loja and Zafarraya Road, Granada Province, Spain.

A day mopping up a few local species before we moved North.

Deb and Renate Day Six.

Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis).

Deb, Renate and I set off to the fields near Moraleda where we were hoping to catch up with a few gaps in the trip list, on the way there we picked up some of the regular species including Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala). 

Almond-tree Leaf skeletonizer Moth (Aglaope infausta).

Once we were out on the fields we took the first track and I had the first Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator) of the trip but for now it remained a guide only sighting but soon enough we were starting to fill some of the gaps when we heard and saw a nice male Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) and 2 distant Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis) on a stubble field. We got back to the car and made our way back along the track and took the next one back out to where the grouse were but they as usual saw us before we saw them but we had good flight views.

Almond-tree Leaf skeletonizer Moths (Aglaope infausta).

We carried on around the site but apart from Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) and Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) we did not see a great deal. On the way off the site we stopped by an Almond plantation and photographed a swarm of Almond-tree Leaf skeletonizer Moths (Aglaope infausta) which were there in their thousands.

Deb and Renate.

We dropped down in to the Cacín Valley via El Turro and spent some time checking out the pine woods and riverside trees and almost straight away we picked up Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus), Coal Tit (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos) and Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus) which we at first only heard but it came closer and then flew right over our head and started to call from wires nearby.

Lange's Orchid (Androrchis langei).

We continued on lower down the valley to the bridge crossing the Cacín where we had a walk towards the dam wall adding European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), White (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Grey Wagtails (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Reed (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) and Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula).

Late Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys Ficalhoana),

Our next stop was at the small embalse just above the dam, on the mud and water we had good numbers of Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) and on the margins, in the reedbeds and surrounding woods we caught up with Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica).

Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli).

We retraced our way back along the valley past Moraleda and along the motorway to the exit for Venta del Raya and then down the Valley towards Zafaraya. On the way we stopped at the roadside and had very nice views of several Montagu's Harriers (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) flying over partly harvested crop fields. We continued on again and stopped in the Oak woodlands North of the town where we searched amongst the trees and built up quite a nice list of species including Subalpine Warbler (Curruca Carrasquena / Sylvia cantillans), Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix), Woodlark (Totovia / Lullula arborea), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Melodious (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta) and Bonelli's Warblers (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Lange's (Androrchis langei), Lizard (Himantoglosum hircinum) and Late Sawfly Orchids (Ophrys Ficalhoana). 

Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush (Roquero Roja / Monticola saxatilis) Male.

Our last stop of the day was up on the Sierra de Loja where the target species was the locally commonish Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush (Roquero Roja / Monticola saxatilis), we drove quickly across the mountain to the crags just beyond the pools at Charca del Negra and started to search the ledges. After a couple of minutes I pick up a cracking male sat on a rock not far from the car, it sat there singing for a few minutes whilst we both cracked quite a few shots off. Up on the mountain we also saw Black-eared (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica) and Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Spectacled Warbler (Curruca Tomillera / Sylvia conspicillata), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) and Sharp-ribbed Salamander (Pleurodeles waltl).

Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush (Roquero Roja / Monticola saxatilis) Male.

We finished off on the mountain and headed back towards the house, later we sat out and listened to the calling Red-necked Nightjars (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis).

Sharp-ribbed Salamander (Pleurodeles waltl).