Tarifa Area and La Janda, Cadiz Province.

A great days birding with good friends John and Sharon from the UK.

John and Sharon Holian, day two.

Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans) approaching the crossing.

Jayne, Sharon, John and I headed down the to the Gibraltar crossing where we dropped Jayne off to do some shopping whilst the rest of us headed to Cazalla watch point where we had a great few hours watching real time migration as the raptors and storks were making there way south to Africa.

Egyptian Vulture (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus).

During the time we were there we saw lots of Black Kites (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Short-toed (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus) and Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Griffon (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) and Egyptian Vultures (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Black Stork (Ciguena Negra / Ciconia nigra), Common (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) and Alpine Swifts (Vencejo Real / Apus melba), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and 6x Ravens (Cuervo / Corvus corax).

Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus).

We next dropped down to a site near Tarifa and in to a small wooded valley where we were looking for the newly resident Common Bulbuls (Bulbul Naranjero / Pycnonotus barbatus) which have been breeding in the area for a couple of years. Whilst we were looking for them we saw more Short-toed and Booted Eagles, Black Kites, Alpine Swifts as well as Honey Buzzards (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), good numbers of European Bee-eaters (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica) as well as Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator), Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus) and Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria).

Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus).

Once we had finished at this site we drove towards Vejer de la Frontera stopping at the Golfcourse on the way to get views of the regular flock of Bald Ibis (Ibis Eremita / Geronticus eremita), we went straight around to the car park behind the club house and found 19 birds perched on the roof where we got great views and photographs. In the same area we had Western Cattle Egrets, Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).

Black Stork (Ciguena Negra / Ciconia nigra).

Our next stop was at Barbate Marshes where we scanned the older disused salt pans and added Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Sandwich (Charrán Patinegro / Thalasseus sandvicensis) and Little Terns (Charrancito Común / Sterna albifrons), Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Kentish (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus)

White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).

and Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Red Knot (Correlimos Gordo / Calidris canutus), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Short-toed Larks (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla) and Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).

Black Kites (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans).

Just down the road back towards the town we stopped and checked the roadside pools where we boosted the list with Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), Grey Plover (Chorlito Gris / Pluviali squatarola) and Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus).

Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus).

We then headed back down towards the hotel for the night calling in at La Janda for the last couple of hours birding, on the way we had a Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos) flash across the road.

Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus).

As soon as we were off the road and on the track we started to find White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus), several Marsh Harriers, an immature Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and a good many Corn Buntings (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Bald Ibis (Ibis Eremita / Geronticus eremita).

We did not go along the side track but continued on along the main track following the main canal and on some yellow Dittrichia viscosa plants we found a couple of the very rare Zeller's Skippers (Borbo borbonica) which was a new species for my Spanish Butterfly list as well as a Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous).

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

Whilst we were watching this we had several Banded Grondlings (Brachythemis leucosticta), lots of Red-veined Darters (Sympetrum fonscolombii) and a couple of Lesser Emperors (Anax parthenope).

Zeller's Skippers (Borbo borbonica).

On the second half of the drive we had views of Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) as well as around 300+ European Bee-eaters.

Banded Grondlings (Brachythemis leucosticta).

From here we headed back to La Linea and met Jayne before going out for a meal at the Luna Beach Club Bar.

Charca Suarez and surrounding area, Granada Province.

A morning around Charca and surround fields and beaches.

John and Sharon Holian, day one.

Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).

John, Sharon and I headed out earlish and drove down to Charca on the coast near to Motril where we started a good days birding in the area to the North-west of the main reserve sometimes called Turtle Dove alley.

Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata).

Our first species of the day was a fine adult Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) which was sat in a small dead tree when we arrived but soon started hunting and settling on nearby wires over the fields. Whilst watching this elegant little raptor we also had Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Alpine Swifts (Vencejo Real / Apus melba), Red Avadavat (Bengali Rojo / Amandava amandava), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), calling Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix), Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus), a flyover immature Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), a nice group of European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and plenty of Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis). 

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

We moved a short way up the road to the T junction and stopped again by a derelict building where new species included a distant soaring Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila Perdicera / Aquila faciatus) spotted by Sharon, Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus). 

Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos).

Time was pushing on and the reserve was now open so we made our way to the main entrance and then moved anti-clockwise around the hides. The first was quiet but we added Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) and Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).

Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio).

Further around we called at the two hides overlooking Laguna del Trébol and had views of Squacco Heron (Garcilla Cangrejera / Ardeola ralloides), Red-knobbed Coot (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata), Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Great Reed Warbler (Carricero Tordal / Acrocephalus arundinaceus), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator), Black Percher (Diplacodes lefebvrii), Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea), Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria), Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi) and Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa).

Immature Purple Heron (Garza Imperial / Ardea purpurea).

Moving on we were soon in the main hide and watching a winter plumage Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), an immature Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), 2 adult and 2 immature Purple Herons (Garza Imperial / Ardea purpurea), 4 immature Night Herons (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax), Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia), a Curlew Sandpiper (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) and Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis).

Curlew Sandpiper (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea).

We later walked on around to the new hide over looking the reedy pool, on the far side we had both Green (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) and Common Sandpipers (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), as well as Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), White (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Yellow (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) and Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea).

Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis).

My last stop was at the small hide over looking Laguna del Taraje where we caught up with Little Bittern (Avetorillo Común / Ixobrychus minutus) as it flew between the reed beds. John and Sharon decided to go and have a look for the Mediterranean Chameleons (Chamaeleo chamaeleon) along the track to the first hide over looking Laguna del Taraje whilst I stayed hoping to get shots of the Little Bittern, I am pleased to say they had more success than I did and found a very smart Chameleon right next to the information board about the species. 

Immature Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

At 13:00 we all met up again at the exit and went back to the car and made our way to the beach by the near by golf course, on the way we stopped to watch a very nice Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra) perched on a fence and then noticed that there were a good number of other birds in the area including 50+ European Bee-eaters, Willow (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus) and Melodious Warblers (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta), Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis).

4 immature Night Herons (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax) and a Squacco Heron (Garcilla Cangrejera / Ardeola ralloides).

Further on we parked and checked golf course pool were we picked up Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis). Down on the nearby beach we set up the scopes and scanned the horizon and had several passing Cory's (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea) and Balearic Shearwaters (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus) as well as Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) and Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis).

Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica).

We again walked back to the car and then back towards home but spent some time on the fields to the North of the town where we watched the flock of Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) in a field of Lucerne. In the same area we had Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) and Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina).

Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

Torremolinos Beach, Malaga Province.

Another day on the beach.

As before we headed down to the front row of the sun beds and again other than a break for lunch spent the day on the beach. During the time there I saw Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and Mediterranean Gulls (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Arctic Skua (Págalo Parásito / Stercorarius parasiticus) x4, Balearic (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus) and Cory's Shearwaters (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea), Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus) and fly past  Caspian Tern (Pagaza Piquiroja / Sterna caspia). During the day I also saw Mammoth Wasp (Megascolia maculata), a Vagrant Emperor (Anax ephippiger) and several Red-veined Darters (Sympetrum fonscolombii).

Publo Espania and Montserrat, Northern Spain.

A morning in the city and then a drive to the mountains.

We drove n to the city and with the help of the satnav found a carpark quite near the Publo Espania where we spent a couple of hours before taking a drive out into the mountains (compulsory part of Barb's holiday) to visit the stunning Montserrat Monastery. The evening was spent in the town near the hotel.

Barcelona, Northern Spain

Day two around the city.

We all travelled in on the tram and then the metro to reach the centre where we spent several hours at the Segra Familia and the rest of the day and evening wondering the city.

Barcelona, Northern Spain.

A long drive but the start of four days in Barcelona.

Barbara, Jayne and I drove the 923KM up to Barcelona and once we had checked in at the hotel headed out on the town to see the Magic fountains and a few other sites.

Torremolinos Beach, Malaga Province.

A day on the beach with Jayne and Barbara.

We got down to the beach early and set up on the first row and exept for a visit to the nearby bar for a lunch time meal we were there until 5ish. During the time there I saw Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and a Monarch (Danaus plexippus) butterfly hich headed out to sea.

Padul and Agua Blanca's, Granada Province.

A few hours birding whilst Jayne had a look around the City.

Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus).

I dropped Jayne off in the city and made my way down to Padul, I first looked at a small pool near the visitor centre. There were birds about but the vegetation was high in front of the hide which made viewing hard but I did manage Cetti's (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Reed Warblers (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) and in a fig tree nearby a couple of Garden Warblers (Curruca Mosquitera / Sylvia borin), as well as a Melodious (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta) and a good many Blackcaps (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla).

Immature Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator).

 I continued on around the boardwalk and around to the smelly ditch via the raised platform, from there I saw several Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), a female Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) and Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea). Along the smelly stream I saw Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata) and Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus) as well as Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus) and Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria). 

During the walk back to the car several species were added to the day list including Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

Immature Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator).

Once back at the car I went for a look at a large Cortijo on the road to La Malaha where I parked near a couple small pools formed by water leaking from some animal water butts, the only species to come down for the water was an immature Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator) and several Red-veined Darters (Sympetrum fonscolombii) so I moved on and headed in to the city to meet Jayne.

Home near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

A killer in the garden.

I found a single Red Palm Beetle (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) in the garden today the insect that killed our Palm Tree earlier in the year.

Red Palm Beetle (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus).

Red Palm Beetle (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus).

Hacho, Loja, Granada Province.

An evening of night time photography.

Steve and I headed up to a point on the northern side of Hacho where we had views of an Eagle Owl (Buho Real / Bubo bubo) which sat on a crag before flying across the valley. Our main reason for going to the spot was to photograph the night sky.

Charca Suarez and Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

A cracking days birding again, dragging Steve further towards the dark side.

Mediterranean Chameleon (Chamaeleo chamaeleon).

Lynn, Steve and I headed out past Granada and down to the coast, on the way we saw Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), European Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) and Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa).

Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) female.

We were a little early to enter the reserve so we had a look at the back road where we heard a couple of calling Common Quails (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Eurasian Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Western House Martin, Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata).

Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus).

Once we were on the reserve we made our way around the track in the usual anti-clockwise direction with just a fleeting look at the first hide but apart from Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) and Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis).

Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).

We continued on around to the second hide and soon boosted the list with a very smart Squacco Heron (Garcilla Cangrejera / Ardeola ralloides), Red-knobbed Coot (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Red Avadavat (Bengali Rojo / Amandava amandava), a fly over Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Barn (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Red-rumped Swallows (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica) and Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus).

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

A few dragons were also seen and these included several Long Skimmers (Orthetrum trinacria) and Black Perchers (Diplacodes lefebvrii).

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

Whilst I was watching the birds, Steve and Lynn were checking the trees and bushes along the track outside and Lynn soon came to tell me that they had found a very smart Mediterranean Chameleon (Chamaeleo chamaeleon).

Common Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis).

I joined them and we had cracking views of this reptile and found a smaller female, we got some nice shots even though the light was almost directly behind the target.

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

After a while we moved on and around to the next hide where we added Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope), Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea) and Small Red-eyed (Erythromma viridulum).

Immature Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus).

Around at the main hide Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) were seen.

Adult Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus).

Our next stop was down at new hide overlooking the large pool and soon found several Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Green Sandpipers (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Common Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), another Squacco Heron, Red Avadavats, Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), a nice Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus), White (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae).

Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope).

13:00 soon came around so we headed back north and the across country and back to the house via the Cacín Valley and Morelade Fields. 

On our way we picked up Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and out on the fields several Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and Eurasian Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur).

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