Peñón de Jolúcar (RAM), Playa de las Azucenas, Charca Suarez and Huétor Fields, Granada Province.

A cracking mornings birding and survey work.

Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

I met Juan Pérez Contreras and we went down to Peñón de Jolúcar where we did the monthly sea bird count, on the way up to the high point on Peñón de Jolúcar we saw Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and a large flock of Eurasian Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris).

Common Crane (Grulla Común / Grus grus).

Once we were up on the watch point we picked up Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus) and Mediterranean Gulls (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Balearic Shearwater (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus), Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), several Razorbills (Alca Común / Alca torda), 3x Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) and more surprisingly 3x Common Crane (Grulla Común / Grus grus) which were heading east quite a way out to sea.

Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina).

These were soon followed by a second surprising fly past by 27 Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) which were also heading East.

Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago).

On the walk back to Juan's car and the drive to Playa de las Azucenas we boosted the list with Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), 9x Eurasian Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), European Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti). 

As we arrived a Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) flew along the channel followed by a Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), we also had a Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata) fly across the channel and on the way down to the beach we picked up European Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Red Avadavat (Bengali Rojo / Amandava amandava) and Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea).

Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca).

On the beach we had 4x Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), a Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) and Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea). 

We moved on again and made our way to Charca adding Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus).

Once we were on the reserve we went and had a look over Laguna del Liriowhere we found more, lots more Common Chiffchaffs, Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and Red-knobbed Coots (Focha cornuda / Fulca cristata), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla) and a cracking Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago) which sat nicely for the camera in front of the hide.

Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca).

We changed direction and went around to Laguna del Taraje finding just Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and at the other end of the pool a Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio) and several Migrant Hawkers (Aeshna mixta).

From the new hide we Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), a Jack Snipe (Agachadiza Chica / Lymnocriptes minimus), Common Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Common Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus), Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) and a good number of Common Snipe and Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca). 

Jack Snipe (Agachadiza Chica / Lymnocriptes minimus) x3.

We moved on around to the main hide a bit later and added quite a few new species to the day list including a nice male Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca), a female Red-crested Pochard (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina), several Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Anas penelope), Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus) and a single Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) amongst a large group of Eurasian Crag Martins.

After a while we returned to the new hide, the only new species was a Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) but the best thing were views of three Jack Snipe at the same time which were pushed from cover by a wandering Western Swamp-hen as it clattered through the reed-bed.

Northern Pintail (Ánade Rabudo / Anas acuta).

Our last stop on the reserve as back in Laguna del Taraje where we heard a couple of Eurasian Penduline Tits (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus) and saw a female Northern Pintail (Ánade Rabudo / Anas acuta).

We started to make our way home but went via the tracks at the back adding Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia) and back up nearer to Granada several Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).

After leaving Juan I headed home but called in at a couple of spots on the fields and bought the day list up to 81 with 56 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), European Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaria), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) and the locally very common Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).

Caleta del Velez and the mouth of the Rio Velez, Malaga Province.

More Gulls and a few other odds and ends.

Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) adult.

Jayne and I dropped down to the coast at Torre-del-mar in Malaga Province and on the way down I saw Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) and Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulg aris).

Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) 1st Winter.

I dropped Jayne in Torre and then went along the coast to Caleta del Velez where I checked the Gulls on the beach, I arrived to find things were quiet with just a few Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) roosting and numbers of Mediterraneans (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) flying over. 

Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

Also on the beach I also saw Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba) and Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres) and on the wall there were several Great Cormorants (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) sitting on the sea wall. 

Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) 1st Winter.

On the inland side of the site I picked up Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).

Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba).

As it was quiet I went along the coast to the mouth of the Rio Velez and on the way down to the beach I bumped into Pat and Eric Lyon and we had a chat and saw Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta) and Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus).

Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica).

I parked down towards the beach and walked out through the reeds to check the sea as the track was rather muddy, once out there I found Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba) and up the river there were Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and lots more Great Cormorants.

Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica).

On the walk back up the river I spent a while sat along side the reedbeds to see what came to me and got shots of a very smart male Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) along with Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Penduline Tit (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild) and Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).

Also in the same area I found Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).

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

During the afternoon I popped back to the port and added Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis) and Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A fishing boat returning to port.

El Faro and Fuengirola sea front, Malaga Province.

An unexpected Spanish Lifer down on the coast.

Jayne and I made an unexpected trip down to Malaga City to swap a item at the Larios Centre before heading along the coast to Fuengirola where I dropped Jayne off at the Miramar. I then drove down to the junction of the coastal motorway just past the sea watch hide and parked over looking the sea. I then started to scan through the large numbers of Gulls flying past going East and was amazed that in the first group of Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) there was a 1st winter Glaucous Gull (Gavión Hiperbóreo / Larus hyperboreus) which was the first I have seen in Spain. I drove as quickly as I could down towards the mouth of the Rio Fuengirola hoping to see the bird again and after a couple of minutes the bird appeared over head ad circled a few times with the Yellow-legs and then disappeared off east again towards the port so again I jumped into the car again and parked just before the port and again waited for it to arrive and after a few minutes the Gull flew in lower this time but it disappeared over the port buildings and towards the Gull roost on the main sea wall but I did not see if it landed or flew on. I went in and had a look but found nothing so I went and met Jayne for some lunch before returning and spending the rest of the afternoon looking with out success. 

Other species seen during the morning and afternoon included 100s of Mediterranean Gulls (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) along with Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus).

Whilst I was near the port in the afternoon I also saw a new weather phenomenon in the shape of a water spout which formed quite a long way out to sea and lasted for nearly five minutes and was watched by quite a crowd from the prom.

Huétor Fields and Sierra de Loja, Granada Province.

A morning with Pau from Valencia and an afternoon on a cold hill.

Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

I met Pau Lucio a Birding Guide from the Valencia area at the bar at the bottom where we had a coffee before heading out on to the patch. 

Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

A started by going out along the Rio Vilano picking up White (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Grey Wagtails (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) and on the road near to the model aeroplane runway we added Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) and Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

We moved on around to the town and walked a track out on to the fields follwing an irrigation channel, here we found more Tree Sparrows, Common Stonechats, a male Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), 3+ Dartford (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata) and several Sardinian Warblers (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), lots of Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) and Corn Buntings (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata).

Again we moved on around towards the central track still looking for the Bustards which have become elusive, on the way in we saw and photographed one of the regular Little Owls (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) and the found the first 11 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) on a Lucerne field. 

Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata).

A little further along the track we found another 40 odd Bustards mix in with Northern Lapwings, Spotless and Common Starlings (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulg aris) and 8+ Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaria) and quite a few Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae).

We headed back to the bar and said our goodbyes before I headed home. Later I dropped Jayne off at the craft groups meal at Flatti's in Loja and went up Sierra de Loja. 

Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae).

I started off in the lower quarry where I had views of Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Stonechat, Black Redstart, Meadow Pipit, Blackbird, Common Chaffinch, Linnet and a pair of very well behaved Dartford Warblers.

Alpine Accentor (Acentor Alpino / Prunella collaris).

After a while I drove up to the Northern crags and spent the rest of the afternoon watching a single stretch of rocks looking for a wintering Wallcreeper (Treparriscos / Tichodroma muraria), I always think that if you do not try you will never find one, anyway I did not but got great views of a flock of 15+ Alpine Accentors (Acentor Alpino / Prunella collaris) which eventually came right down in front of me whilst I was sat in the car. 

Alpine Accentor (Acentor Alpino / Prunella collaris).

In the same area I added Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) and Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa). 

Alpine Accentor (Acentor Alpino / Prunella collaris).

I later picked Jayne up and we headed home.

Alpine Accentor (Acentor Alpino / Prunella collaris).

Huétor Fields, Granada Province.

A walk back from the Garage in Huétor Tajar to the house across the fields.

I dropped the car off for a service and decided to walk back to the house across the tracks and fields, along the road between the town and the railway bridge I started off with Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), 35x Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), White (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Grey Wagtails (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki). 

On the far side of the railway line I soon added Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulg aris), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Tree (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus) and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla) and Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

On the track along side the Arroyo Vilano I found Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Dartford (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata) and Cetti's Warblers (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis).

Along the last stretch of the walk from the Bar to house I boosted the list by seeing Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae).

Sierra de Loja, Loja, Granada Province.

A morning in the Sierra with the camera.

Ring Ouzel ( Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus) ssp alpestris.

I drove up to the Loja entrance via the A92 and on the way started the day list with Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) and Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos).

Ring Ouzel ( Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus) ssp alpestris.

Once I was up on the hill I headed straight for the far side where I was hoping to catch up with a few target species, on the way I saw Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), Red Squirrel (Ardilla común / Sclurus vulgaris), Long-tailed Tits (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula). 

Ring Ouzel ( Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus) 1st winter.

I started off by sitting along side one of the small animal watering pools to wait and see what came in to drink. 

Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta).

The commonest species were Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina). 

Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia).

There were also smaller numbers of Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and the odd Water (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta) and Meadow Pipits (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Ring Ouzel ( Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus) and a single Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) which sat on rocks on the far side of the pool. 

Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia).

Whilst I was sat there I had a large male Spanish Ibex (Cabra pyreaica hispanica) wander across and a Large White (Pieris brassicae) fly through.

Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Cabra pyreaica).

I moved up towards the rocky out crops above this site where I soon found good numbers of Redwings (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus illacus), Red-legged Partridges (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa) and more Ring Ouzels along with Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and up on the top of the rocks Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), a female Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), 3x Alpine Accentors (Acentor Alpino / Prunella collaris) but they stayed right up on the tops and a Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) which was a suprise at 1400m in November.

Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis).

I dropped back down the hill but picked up nothing new on the way but found Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) and Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).

Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina).

Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis).

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

El Faro and Guadalhorce river mouth, Malaga Province.

Waders, Gulls and a few other bit.

Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres).

With a couple of to kill I parked near El Faro lighthouse on the coastal road and walked down to the first part of the built up areas checking the beach and rocks on the way recording lots of Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and three Audouin's Gulls (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii) one of which was carrying a white ring with black lettering reading BWAB. 

Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres).

Also seen were Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita),

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

As I walked back in the opposite direction to the hide I added Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Mediterranean Gulls (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) and Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).

Sanderlings (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba).

From the hide I had just a single Cory's Shearwater (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis) x3 and a good many more Northern Gannets.

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

My next stop was at the mouth of the Guadalhorce where I started off with Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), masses of Great Cormorants, Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Little Egret, a single Eurasian Oystercatcher (Ostrero Euroasiatico / Haematopus ostralegus), 4x Grey Plover (Chorlito Gris / Pluviali squatarola), 18x Sanderlings, 2x Ruddy Turnstone and 25+ Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus).

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

I walked inland along the bank where I soon located a couple of rare species in the shape of Andy Patterson and his dog Whiskey and spent the next 3/4 of an hours having a good catch up whilst adding Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), White Wagtail, Black-headed, Lesser Black-backed, Yellow-legged and Mediterranean Gulls, Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Penduline Tit (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus) heard only, Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto). 

Single Eurasian Oystercatcher (Ostrero Euroasiatico / Haematopus ostralegus), 4x Grey Plover (Chorlito Gris / Pluviali squatarola) and a couple of Kentish Plovers (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus).

The three of us wandered back down to the cars and made our ways home.