El Faro, Malaga Province and Cazalla watch point, Tarifa town, Los Lances Beach and La Janda, Cadiz Province.

A better day weather wise and bird wise with a lifer for the guide.

Day three with Abby Turner from New York, USA.

Mediterranean  (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) and Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus) side by side.

I picked Abby up from the Cortijo de Tajar and we drove down the motorways via Malaga to the sea watch hide below the lighthouse at El Faro Fuengirola where we walked along the coastal path.

Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres).

On the rocks we had good views of Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus), Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) and out to sea there were Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Mediterranean  (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus) and Audouin's Gulls (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Thalasseus sandvicensis) and Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo).

Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

In the same area we also saw White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).
At the far end of the walk I got some nice shots of a Black-headed Gull sat next to a Med which made a nice pic. 

Lesser-crested Tern (Charrán Bengalés / Thalasseus bengalensis).

We continued on along the coast using the toll roads and then through Algeciras to the view point just short of Tarifa called Cazalla but there were a good number of work men there and the gates were closed to birders but we managed to park in the gate way where we watched a large gathering of Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) circling before heading out to sea, in the same area we had Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

Lesser-crested Tern (Charrán Bengalés / Thalasseus bengalensis).

After a short while we dropped down into Tarifa town looking for but not seeing the rare Common Bulbul (Bulbul Naranjero / Pycnonotus barbatus). As we searched for these birds we recorded Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Black Redstart, Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Yellow-legged Gulls and a single Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica) which disappeared out of view before Abby got on it.

Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

We had a short walk down by the Island but we only saw several Sandwich Terns. We drove a short way up the coast to Los Lances beach where we walked out to the hide along the boardwalk seeing Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulg aris), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina),  Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) and Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).

Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus).

Out at the hide we scanned the water and soon found Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Little Egret, more Yellow-legged, Lesser Black-backed, Black-headed and Audouin's Gulls, and around 100 more Sandwich Terns. I scanned through the Terns and was very pleased to find two Lesser-crested Terns (Charrán Bengalés / Thalasseus bengalensis) which were a Spanish lifer for both Abby and myself. We watched these birds for a while before walking back to the car and then heading to the Apollo X1 bar for some lunch and the on wards to La Janda. 

Immature Bonelli's Eagles (Aguila Perdicera / Aquila faciatus).

We made our way in via the track opposite the turning to Zahara de los Atunes and followed it down to the canal, on the way we saw Zitting Cisticola, Common Stonechat, House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), the first of a good many Marsh Harriers (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Little Egrets, Western Cattle Egrets, Grey Herons (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and most amazing to me were the number of Zeller's Skippers (Borbo borbonica) seen which numbered around 20 insect and Red-veined Darters (Sympetrum fonscolombii) which must have numbered in there hundreds.

Abby looking at the Mandrake plants.

Along the main ditch we saw Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), 3x Green Sandpipers (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), a good sized flock of Common Crane (Grulla Común / Grus grus), Pheasant (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus), some distant Spoonbills (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia) which were sat amongst a group of drying Great Cormorants and just before we turned right on to the track to the farm we saw three Great White Egrets (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba) in amongst lots of White Storks and Little Egrets.

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

We stopped on the bridge and scanned the reed beds looking for one of the many Penduline Tits (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus) we had been hearing all along the canal, very soon we had a couple calling and then a male bird sat up on to of a reed head and gave us nice views in the scope. We drove on and up towards the farm adding Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus), a cracking Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) which gave us a nice display back along the ditches, a female Hen Harrier (Aguilucho Pálido / Circus cyaneus), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and several more Pheasants.
Once we were past the farm and amongst the wild olive trees we had cracking views of a Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) sat on a roadside wire fence, one adult and two immature Bonelli's Eagles (Aguila Perdicera / Aquila faciatus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and lots of Common Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).

View of the Facinas track area.

At the far end of the road we turned right and drove the track towards Facinas and soon picked up a nice male Hen Harrier but we did not get anything else until we turned around and stopped to chat to a couple of British birders, Peter Ellis and his wife Sharon. While we were talking we had a male Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius) do a flyby. 

We continued back along the road and instead of retracing our tracks back through the Olives we continued on up to Benalup and made a stop at a flooded field where we flushed an immature Purple Heron (Garza Imperial / Ardea purpurea) from the roadside and then had a few Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) fly over and as it went dusk we were treated to a mass arrival of Marsh Harriers to go in to a nearby reed bed to roost. 

From here we made our way around to Vejer to the El Paso hotel on the road down to Tarifa.

Cacín Valley, Huétor Fields and Sierra de Loja, Granada Province.

Another day on the local patch dodging the rain and fighting our way through the clouds.

Day two with Abby Turner from New York, USA.

Loja through a Rainow.

Abby and I started the day out on the fields near to Moraleda where we were hoping to find some special species for the trip list, on arrival we found that one of the tracks that leads out on to this area had a new chain across it so we headed straight down to the main track and out to the ruin on the high point in the area. As soon as we were out of the car we could hear good numbers of Larks which included Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), by the time we had finished at this site we had seen several hundred of the later species which had arrived for the winter in good flocks. Around the Cortijo we also saw Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) and then just a short way down the field there were two female and one male Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis). With the main target species under the belt we rolled down the hill and through the Solar Panel areas where we had very good views of a small flock of Rock Sparrows (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia) which were sat on the chain link fence as well as Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and what turned out to be Abby's bird of the trip a very smart Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops). On our way out of the site we had a female type Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), a couple of Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and a couple of Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) which flushed up from the track side as we passed.

Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea).

We dropped down into the Cacín Valley and made our way down towards the Contra-embalse de Bermejalis by which time the clouds had started to break up a bit and we were getting the odd glimpes of sun. On the lake we boosted the list with species including Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), a squealing but unseen Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris). A little way back up the valley we stopped by the bridge over the Cacín but it was quiet and we only added Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Crested Tits (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra).

Our next stop was at the small pool on the side of the A92 cal Balsa de Rigedor but we only viewed it from the motorway service road but picked up Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) for the day list.

We continued on through Mesia and then out on to the fields North of Huétor Tajar where we checked the fields, ditches and the river and added Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cyanus), Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), some Stone Curlews which showed nicely on their roost field and a superb female Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius) which showed well for us while we were checking some fields with out any luck for the wintering Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax). 

The best of the view up Sierra de Loja from the Ouzel site.

Our last stop of the day was up on the Sierra de Loja but the weather did not look great but we decided that it would be worth it as there were several species up there that we would not get another chance of during the trip. We drove up and called in at the small quarry where we started the battle to get decent views of a Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), today we heard it well but had just fleeting glimpes as it moved around on a gorse covered slope and it was going to take a coule more attempts before we had tickable views for Abby. In the same area we had Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Crag Martin, Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia) and a very smart male Black Redstart. We continued on up passed the crags and made our way up into the thick cloud and rain but again decided to carry on over to the furthest point but by the time we reached the far side things had not got much better and we saw nothing much but all of all sudden the cloud broke and we could see quite a good way and soon had cracking views of a Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta) as it moved around amongst the rocks. Lower down I had views of an Alpine Accentor (Acentor Alpino / Prunella modularis) as it flicked around on a cliff top but could get Abby onto it which was the same story with a female Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) which pocked it head above the rocks but did not give good enough views before slipping away again. The Ring Ouzels ( Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus) which were looking for became more active as the clouds cleared and we eventually got good views of this very active and twitchy species as well as a Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus) which swept in and away just as quickly before the cloud returned and made seeing the calling Red-billed Choughs (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) which were right above us immposable. We dropped back down the maountain and drove back to Huétor adding Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) to the day list before reaching the hotel.

Rio Genil, Granada and Charca Suarez, Motril, Granada Province.

A wet and windy start with Abby Turner on the Granada Coast.

Day One with Abby Turner from New York, USA.

Monarch (Danaus plexippus).

I met Abby at her hotel in the City, the skies looked heavy and full of rain but we decided to head up the Rio Genil a short way where we had a walk along the woodlined river. Almost straight away we had good views of a pair of Dipper (Mirlo Acuático / Cinclus cinclus), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and a fine Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus) most of which were new species for Abby.

Further on we heard a distant Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei) and saw several Woodpigeons (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos).

Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

As we walked back to the car the rain started but we still found several Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus) and Blue Tits (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos).

By the time we reached the car it was raining quite heavily and by the time we hit the Motril motorway it was humming it down so instead of heading out towards the Cacín we drove down to the wetlands to the rear of Charca Suarez as the main reserve was closed. We arrived and it was still raining but there were a few breaks in the cloud so things looked a little more promising and the first bird seen was a rather damp looking Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) which was sat hunched up in it favorite tree. In amongst the pampas grass clumps we picked up several small groups of Red Avadavats (Bengali Rojo / Amandava amandava), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and Crested Larks (Cogujada / Galerida cristata).

Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

We moved along the road a short way and as we reached a small ruin we picked up a Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) stalking the roadside, suddenly it struck into the grass and it came up with a very large Brown Rat which it carried off to a near by field where it swallowed it whole. As the morning went on things started to clear and as things got better we had a Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) sheltering under the eves of the ruin, White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), a Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and heard a Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus) in the same area. At the end of the road we had a feeding group of Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), 3 female and 1 male Marsh Harriers (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) and several Monarchs (Danaus plexippus) and Large Whites (Pieris brassicae).

Adult Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus).

Further around the site we called in at the pool on the golfcourse but all we managed were Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) and down on the beach and golfcourse we saw Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii) and Mediterranean Gulls (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Kentish Plovers (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus) and on the grass around the greens at least three migrating Yellow Wagtails (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae).

We started the drive back up towards Huétor Tajar but just got as far as the first roundabout when we spotted a couple of raptors over a nearby hillside which after we stopped on the service road turned out to be pale phase Booted Eagles (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus) which were joined by a Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and several Jackdaws (Grajilla / Corvus monedula). We carried on back to the hotel where I dropped Abby off and went home.

Guadalhorce, Malaga Province.

A Spanish Lifer just off the reserve.

Yellow-browed Warbler (Mosquitero Bilistado / Phylloscopus inornatus).

I dropped Jayne off in the Centre of Malaga for a few hours shopping whilst I went out to the Guadalhorce reserve meaning to have a look at the coast and the go on to the main reserve but I did not get that far.

Yellow-browed Warbler (Mosquitero Bilistado / Phylloscopus inornatus).

I parked and walked up the sloping track on to the bank at the seaward end of the Guadalmar urbanisation and put my bins up to check the first bird of the visit and got a bit of a shock. It was a small warbler and straight away I was aware of a bright eyestripe and a couple of obvious wing-bars, it was instantly identifed as my first Yellow-browed Warbler (Mosquitero Bilistado / Phylloscopus inornatus) in Spain.

Yellow-browed Warbler (Mosquitero Bilistado / Phylloscopus inornatus).

I wanted someone else to see the bird so I got on the mobile and contacted Andy Patterson and within about 15 minutes he was on site along with his cracking little dog Whisky but the bird had given me the slip by that point. We spent 10 minutes searching the Tamarisk trees and weedy scrub before we relocated the bird and had good views. We moved along the bank watching and after another 5 minutes or so we were amazed when a second bird flew in to a small bush near the first bird.

Yellow-browed Warbler (Mosquitero Bilistado / Phylloscopus inornatus).

We continued to watch the birds until we lost them in the weeds, Andy then headed off home and I continued on birding in the same area and had one or other of the birds another couple of times. 

Other species seen on the first couple of hundred meters of bank included Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus).

Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea).

Alcázar and gardens, Cordoba City, Cordoba Province.

A really nice day out with my Mom in Cordoba.

Female Zeller's Skipper (Borbo borbonica).

Jayne and I spent a really nice day with my Mom and John in Cordoba City with a visit to the superb Alcázar and gardens being the highlight. Whilst in the gardens I found a single female Zeller's Skipper (Borbo borbonica) which I have been told at the time is the most Northern record of this species and only second for the Province of Cordoba.

Female Zeller's Skipper (Borbo borbonica).

Female Zeller's Skipper (Borbo borbonica).

Padul Wetlands and travelling home, Granada Province.

A few disappointing hours at the Wetlands.

I dropped Jayne in the City and then dropped down to Padul and started the visit at the small pool below the main road but found that due to a lack of maintenance it was impossible to view any thing from the hide its self as the vegetation blocked all the viewing slots.
In the area I did however start the list with Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula). I walked the board walks around to the smelly canal and had some good views of several Water Rails (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula).
I continued on down to the hide a little way down the track but found the vegetation problem was the same here and made worse by the dirty gits who had used the corner as a toilet. On the walk back around to the car I picked up Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and several of both Red-veined Darters (Sympetrum fonscolombii) and Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope).

Once I was back at the car I drove the track right around the reserve scanning the fields as I went and found Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus) and Great Tits (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), a couple of very smart Whinchats (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra), 2 adult and an Immature Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

I pulled of the track and thought that it might be third time lucky with the hides but disappointment again as it was almost imposable again to see any of the lake so I only managed to glimpse a couple of Great Cormorants (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) through the reeds. By this time I was totally hacked off so I headed back up to the City early and met up with Jayne and we had some lunch before heading home.

Huétor Fields, Granada Province.

A walk down to collect the car from Huétor.

I set off from home and made a quick call to see the people at La Paz on the way down and after convincing Mike that I really did want to walk down there and not did not want to take up his kind offer of a lift I set off. On the way down I recorded Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), 100+ Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), 1x Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra), a late Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), 2x Common Waxbills (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild) and Mallow / False Mallow (Carcharodus alceae / tripolinus) and Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus).

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A walk back from Huétor after dropping the car off for a service and new timing belt.

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

I took the track up through the centre of the fields and then the track along the Arroyo Vilano before coming up to the house along the road. Birds seen during the hours walk included Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus), Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) x4, Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), 3x Hawfinches (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes) just before I got to the Olives and as I walked the last stretch before the house the star bird an Immature Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti) flew up the valley to my right and disappeared off towards Loja in the West.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 14th October 2015.

15W Actinic on the terrace.

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

9628 Leucochlaena oditis (Beautiful Gothic).

7987 Microloxia herbaria.

9621 Episema grueneri.

6524 Hydriris ornatalis.

8211 Rhodometra sacraria (The Vestal).

El Faro, Fuengirola, Malaga Province.

A couple of hours at the seawatch hide and on the beach.

Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba).

I spent a while walking from the parking place checking the beach for waders and picked up Ruddy Turnstones (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres) x3, Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba) x13, Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Eurasian Oystercatcher (Ostrero Euroasiatico / Haematopus ostralegus) x1 and Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus) x1.

Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres).

From the hide I added Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Audouin's Gulls (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) and Balearic Shearwaters (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus), Balearic Shearwater (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) as well as Small White (Artogeia rapae) and Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui).

Sanderlings (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba).

Sanderlings (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba).

Eurasian Oystercatcher (Ostrero Euroasiatico / Haematopus ostralegus).

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

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus).

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus).

Adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and a 1st year
Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

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

Great Cormorants (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo).

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 12th October 2015.

15W Actinic on the terrace.

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

Some of the species in the trap.

9621 Episema grueneri.

9621 Episema gruenri.

9621 Episema gruenri.

10326 Eucoptocnemis optabilis.

8186 (1714) Idaea degeneraria (Portland Ribbon Wave).

10212 (2134) Xestia xanthographa (Square-spot Rustic).

10212 (2134) Xestia xanthographa (Square-spot Rustic).