La Malaha, Cacín Valley, Moraleda and Huétor Fields, Granada Province.

A day in the field with Barb and Eric from Canada.

Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

I met Barb and Eric at their hotel in Granada City and then we headed out along the motorway towards Motril and the off West heading for La Malaha which was a change of plan forced by the motorway being blocked heading North. Before we go to La Malaha we turned off on to a dirt farm track where we checked a flock of Spotless Starlings (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and found that there were approx equal numbers of Spotted and Common Starlings (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulg aris), on the fields on either side of the track we found lots of White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Meadow Pipits (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), along with a few Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and in the air a group of Jackdaws (Grajilla / Corvus monedula). 

European Nightjar (Chotacabras Europeo / Caprimulgus europaeus).

Up over the ridge we stopped again and added Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and three fly over Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax).

Slightly further down the track we checked the area around a ruined Finca and soon found a flock of 30+ Linnets (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), a female Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Calandra Larks (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and on the way off the site a Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata) and a couple of Rock Sparrows (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia).

After a quick coffee and loo stop in La Malaha we went out on to the fields but just out of the village we made a stop when we saw a female Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus) flick up in to a small pine tree, in the same spot we had a short walk and found the similar Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) and Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).

European Nightjar (Chotacabras Europeo / Caprimulgus europaeus).

We continued on along the same road and then out on to the fields again and by the time we exited on the Ventas de Huelma road we had seen Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), a very smart Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) and a slightly unfortunate European Nightjar (Chotacabras Europeo / Caprimulgus europaeus) which was hanging dead from a chain link fence.

On the road between Hulema and Cacín we heard and saw Woodlark (Totovia / Lullula arborea), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs).

We called in at the bar in Cacín where we had another coffee and collected our sandwiches for lunch which we took with us, on the way out to the gorge we stopped at the bridge just out of the town where we checked the rocks and willows and found Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and a Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) which called loadly but remained out of sight.

Down the valley above the gorge we found Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Rock Pigeon (Paloma Bravia / Columba livia) and a Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) which flew along the far cliff top upsetting all the Crag Martins on his way south. 

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

After finishing out lunch we moved back up the valley to the Contra-embalse de Bermejalis, the water level was very low which meant that there were a few waders on the mud including a good number of Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Green (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) and Common Sandpipers (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) and a single Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba). On the water we had Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus).

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

On the margins and mud bars we also had 5+ Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta) x3, a single immature Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) and know that the sun had come out a touch we started to see a few butterfly species including Bath (Blanqiverdosa / Pontia daplidice) and Small White (Pieris rapae), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) and 2x Desert Orange-tips (Colotis evagore).

Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae).

Our next stop was in the bar at El Turro for a coffee and Loo stop before going up the road on to the fields where we had good views of 16 Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis) before we headed off to our final spot of the day on the fields near Huétor Tajar for our last target species. On a filed just out side the town we had 100+ Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), 30+ Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), several Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) and a Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) which dropped in to distant fileds.

we took a drive along the Rio Vilano and finished the days list with Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and loads of the stunning Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) x50+, which were in all the trees around us and on the flieds and mobbing a Common Buzzard. 

We finished off and headed back up into the City where I dropped Barb and Eric off at their hotel before heading home. Thanks to Barb and Eric for their company on this days birding.

Huétor Fields and the Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

A day around the local patch and down the Valley with Richard and Augusto.

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

I met Richard and Augusto near Moraleda and we made our way back over the motorwy and to the small irregation pool called Balsa de Rigedor where we scanned the water and reeds. 

Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

On the water there were good nubers of Northern Shovelers (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata) x40+, Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca) x15, Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) and probaby the rarest bird of the day locally a winter plumaged Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus). 

Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

In the trees and on the margins there were Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) x55+, Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), a Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata) which was sat in the top of a large willow tree and a fly over Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) as we were leaving the site. 

Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

We continued on to the fields near Huétor Tajar and parked on the mesia road track and soon found both Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Thekla Larks (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), a flock of Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) mixed in with a lot of Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and just over the bank in the Arroyo Vilano 4+ Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) and a Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago) which flushed up.

Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

We walked back past the car and further on along the ditch adding Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), a Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and a Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus). 

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

On the opposite side of the road amongst the reeds we found a small flock of half a dozen Common Waxbills (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), a female Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and a Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris) which was sat amongst several Spotless. On the opposite side of the site we checked the fields nearer to the town where we found Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), 300+ Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) and 2 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) which were sat on the edge of the Curlew flock. 

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

Our next stop was back past the meeting point and out on to the fields near Moraleda, we took to the tracks straight away and boosted the list with a couple of Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis) first spotted by Augusto, Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia) and Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia).

Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus).

We dropped down into El Turro where we had a coffee and collected some sandwiches before driving down to the Embalse de Cacín where we spent quite a while checking the mud and reeds as the water was quite low. 

Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe).

We saw more Eurasian Teal, Mallards, Northern Shovelers as well as Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), a Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus) which moved along the reeds on the far bank, Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), 8x Green Sandpipers (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), a juvenile Wood Sandpiper (Andarrios Bastardo / Tringa glareola), 16x Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), 2x Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta), a single Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) and on the far shore a female type Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca) in the top of a dead pine tree.

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

We moved back up the Valley making a stop by the bridge but only added Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus) and a little further up the valley in the pines we picked up a singing Woodlark (Totovia / Lullula arborea) which was on a distant wire. We also heard but failed to find Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla) and Coal Tit (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater).

Our last stop of the day was at the crags just below Moraleda where we finished the day list off with Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) and Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura).

Below are some shots from Richard taken on the day. 

Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis).

Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild).

Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).

Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

Huétor Fields, Granada Province.

A quick flick around the patch.

Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).

With just an hour or so break in the decorating shedule I popped down on to the fields for some air, I just covered a small area of the Aroyo Vilano and the Mesia track. 

Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis).

On the way around I saw Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) x2, Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos).

Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).

Huétor Tajar Fields, Granada Province.

Out on the local fields for a couple of hours.

Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

I started by going to the main Bustard fields where I had seen a few Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) as Jayne and I drove past a few days earlier on our way into Loja.  

When I arrived I could only see 5 birds in amongst the Lucerne along with several Hoopoes (Abubilla / Upupa epops), 20+ Yellow Wagtails (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), along with equal numbers of Meadow Pipits (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) which were the first of the winter on the patch, Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata).

Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe).

The next stop was along the Arroyo Vilano, I first went up stream first and picked up Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), there were a couple of Common Starlings (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulg aris) mixed in with a good size flock of Spotless, Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus).

Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild).

I crossed the Arroyo and took the track up to the railway line, the first section was dry and very quiet but the second section which was full of reeds and had some water was much more interesting. 

Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild).

First of all we had a small flock of Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), a calling Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), several passing Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and by a small area of open water where I parked there were at least three Reed (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) and two Sedge Warblers (Carricerin Común / Acrocephalus schoenobaenus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs).

Sedge Warbler (Carricerin Común / Acrocephalus schoenobaenus).

I finished the visit with a look along the Mesia track where I checked the ditches and pools adding Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus), Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), two male Bluethroats (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) and as I drove back to the house I had 7 Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) drop into on of the cut Lucerne fields.

White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

El Faro, Fuengirola, Malaga Province.

A bit of beach and sea watching.

A quick walk from the parking spot on the side of the main road and I was in the hide, on the way I saw a few of both Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba) and Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres) as well as a male Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), a female type Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and several migrating Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica). Out to sea fighting against the wind I saw 150+ Northern Gannets (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) most of which were Juv birds, Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Cory's Shearwater (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

Moraleda and the Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

Out birding with the quiz master and Co.

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

I drove down to the Contra-Embalse de Bermejalis on the way down to pick up Bob, Jane, Dot and Ernie but as we were having a relaxed start at 10.00 I spent an hour or so above the Embalse. 

As soon as I arrived I had a nice male Hen Harrier (Aguilucho Pálido / Circus cyaneus) fly along the nearby ridge quickly followed by a male Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) both of which headed off south being mobbed by a Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and several Common Magpies (Urraca / Pica pica).

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

On the water there were several groups of wildfowl made up mainly of Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) and Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina) as well as smaller numbers of Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca) x8 and Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) plus Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) and a calling Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus).

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

In the scrub and broom bushes on the field side of the road there was a good sized flock of Long-tailed Tits (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus) passing by with a single Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) tagging along at the rear. Other birds on the fields included Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala).

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

Over the water and on the margins I added Reed (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) and Cetti's Warblers (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and a calling Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus).

Just a short way down the road I stopped again by the reed beds and spent the rest of my time there and soon picked up a flying Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and Jay.

Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe).

I drove down the valley towards Cacín, on the way seeing Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and by the bridge near the town White (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea).

Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe).

I met Bob and Co at his house and then we headed back down to the Rio Cacín just out of the town and had a walk. Along the river we saw lots of Blackcaps, Woodpgeons, Mistle Thrushes, Cetti's Warbler, Robin, Jay, Grey Wagtail, Blackbird and a calling Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla). 

We also saw some butterfly species including Small White (Pieris rapae), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) and False Mallow / Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus tripolinus / alceae).

Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).

Our next stop was down the valley above the Cacín Gorge where we had super views down to the river and added Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), another Common Buzzard and as we were leaving and heading up towards the Roman Bridge a Northern Goshawk (Azor Común / Accipitor gentillis) flew along side us and then dropped down into the gorge.

Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).

At the bridge we did not see any thing new but on the way there we had a male Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) sat on a large rock in fields with several more Common Stonechats. 

Up at the Embalse we saw many of the species I had already had earlier including Eurasian Teal, Common Pochard, Northern Shoveler, Little Grebe, Cetti's Warbler, Jay and good numbers of migrating Barn Swallows but we did added a male Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca), Bath White (Pontia daplidice) and a male Vagrant Emperor (Anax ephippiger) which flew passed us and away north up the pool.

The group on the Roman Bridge in the Cacín.

Our next stop was for lunch in El Turro (thanks Bob) and then we went up above the town on to the fields where we were as usual looking for the resident Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis) and after see Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) we found three female and one male Sandgrouse in the shade of one of the track side almond trees and the showed brilliantly giving me the chance to crack of one or two shots. 

As we drove around the site we also saw Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), several more Rock Sparrows, an  Iberian Grey Shrike, Common Stonechat and then as we were starting to drive out the next village we picked up Dots main target bird a Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) in fact by the time we went on we had had great views of 4 different birds.

At the Raptor watch point.

We made our way out on the lanes to the road above Cacín and then had a look from the Cortijo bend but added just a few Rock Pigeon (Paloma Bravia / Columba livia) and a Large White (Pieris brassicae). We headed back down in to the village where I dropped Bob and the others off and then headed back to the house.

Caminito del Rey, Malaga Province.

Our second walk along the cliffs of El Chorro's caminito del Rey.

Jayne, Linda and Jan.

We picked Jan and Linda up at 08:00 and headed off the the start point for the days adventure along the Caminito, on the way I saw Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) and Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) and just as we approached the Embalses near the start of the walk Jayne spotted a small herd of Spanish Ibex (Cabra pyreaica hispanica) just below the dam wall.

Rock Pigeon (Paloma Bravia / Columba livia).

On the walk out to the control point for the Caminito I added Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).

On the walk out to the start.

Once we were on the cliff walk we saw lots of Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), some in flight and some sat on the cliff tops. With the Vultures sat on the cliffs  found a couple of Bonelli's Eagles (Aguila-azor / Hieraetus faciatus), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), lots of both Feral and Rock Pigeons (Paloma Bravia / Columba livia), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and in the sky above us lots, 100+ Alpine Swift (Vencejo Real / Apus melba) calling loadly and Blue lettuce (Lactuca tenerrima) growing from the cracks in the Limestone. 

Having a breather.

In the wooded middle part of the walk I saw Crested Tit (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus), Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), a Goshawk (Azor Común / Accipitor gentillis) which was circling over the pines on the ridge and a couple of Andalucian Wall Lizards (Podarcis vaucheri).

Two Bonelli's Eagles (Aguila-azor / Hieraetus faciatus) and a Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

On the second cliff walk I had the first Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), a male Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and just before the end of the walk a Bath White (Pontia daplidice).

Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

We finished the walk and the drove to Riofrio where we had some lunch before heading home.

Bath White (Pontia daplidice).