Desembocadura del río Andarax, Torre Garcia, Rambla Morales, the Lighthouse and Cabo de Gata Saltpans, Almeria.

Twitching !!!! Thought I was cured but stumbled for a World Lifer just a couple of hours away.

Steppe Grey Shrike (Lanius excubitor pallidirostris).

I set off down to Almeria and then out to the Desembocadura del río Andarax right on the southern part of the city where I parked amongst hordes of German and French Camper Vans on a car park just to the East of the river bed. 

Steppe Grey Shrike (Lanius excubitor pallidirostris).

The area between the Car park and the sea was a rather rough, unfinished public garden area with a lot of people doing laps but this is where I found the main target bird for the day a Steppe Grey Shrike (Lanius excubitor pallidirostris) which is a subspecies of Great Grey Shirke from Central Asia. 

Steppe Grey Shrike (Lanius excubitor pallidirostris).

Unlike the Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) which I also saw here it did not sit up high but stayed under the branches of the Tamarisk trees or in the bushes and the only time it went up high was when it was flushed by a car and sat on a roof of one of the little huts. 

Steppe Grey Shrike (Lanius excubitor pallidirostris).

In the same area I also recorded at least two wintering Wrynecks (Torcecuello / Jynx torquilla), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Dartford Warblers (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).

Steppe Grey Shrike (Lanius excubitor pallidirostris).

After getting great views of this stunning well behaved bird I moved around the coast to Torre Garcia and out into the sea side vegetation where I searched but only found 2 of the wintering Eurasian Dotterels (Chorlito Carambolo / Eudromias morinellus) during December I had seen 20+ birds in the same area but at least a couple showed up. 

Wryneck (Torcecuello / Jynx torquilla).

In the same area I saw Thekla (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo).

White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

I again moved on and stopped off next at the hide on the Northern end of the Salinas but generally it was quiet, whoever I did add Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Spoonbills (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), Slender-billed Gull (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Black-tailed (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa) and Bar-tailed Godwits (Aguja Colipinta / Limosa lapponica), Grey Plover (Chorlito Gris / Pluviali squatarola), Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax) and Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).

Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris).

I again moved on to Rambla Morales but the water level was low and the pool was virtually devoid of birds except for 3x Mallards (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), 1x Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta) and 2x Dunlins.

Trumpeter Finch (Camachuelo Trompetero / Bucanetes githagineus).

Next I went to the Lighthouse where after a tip from Bob Wright I was very pleased to find a flock of around 40 Trumpeter Finches (Camachuelo Trompetero / Bucanetes githagineus), 3x Black Wheatears (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura) and a male Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius).

Trumpeter Finch (Camachuelo Trompetero / Bucanetes githagineus).

I retraced my steps back to the Salinas and stopped at the first hide heading back North but again things were very quiet and I only added Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta) and Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba).

Trumpeter Finch (Camachuelo Trompetero / Bucanetes githagineus).

As it was quiet in the area I decided to call it a day at around 13:00 and head home adding Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) on the way.

Trumpeter Finch (Camachuelo Trompetero / Bucanetes githagineus).

Trumpeter Finch (Camachuelo Trompetero / Bucanetes githagineus).

Mouth of the Guadalhorce, Malaga Province.

A rapid visit to the sea front.

Great Skua (Págalo Grande / Stercorarius skua).

Jayne and I spent the morning in Malaga and then Jayne went and had a wander around Plaza Mayor whilst I went for a quick scan at the beach at Guadalmar but did not stay long as there were masses of people walking on the reserve beach area (a coach trip I guess) and along with all the fishermen there was little chance of seeing much.

I did however see Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus) x2, Grey Plover (Chorlito Gris / Pluviali squatarola) x4, Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Common Scoter (Negrón Común / Melanitta nigra) x6, Black-necked Grebes (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis) x8+, lots of Great Cormorants (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Great Skua (Págalo Grande / Stercorarius skua) x1, Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and a single Small White (Pieris rapae).

House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus).

Peñón de Jolúcar, Playa de las Azucenas and Charca Suarez, Granada Province.

A cracking mornings birding down on the Granada Coast.                           08:15 to 13:30

Climbing Groundsel (Senecio Angulatus).

I picked Juan Pérez Contreras at his place before driving down to Peñón de Jolúcar just to the East of Torrenueva where we walked up to the high point starting the list off with Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) which all came up off the cliffs as we arrived at the sea watch point to shout abuse at us for disturbing their morning.

Juan photographing the Orchids.

Once we were set up we scanned the sea for birds picking up Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Balearic Shearwater (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus), Razorbill (Alca Común / Alca torda), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis). 

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca / O. forestieri).

We also had a male Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) which was calling from a nearby ruin and a White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) which was on the road as we walked back down. 

Yellow-horned Poppy (Glaucium flavum).

On the bank as we walked back down we also saw several spikes of Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca / O. forestieri) along with Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritima), Fleshy-leaved Thymelaea (Thymelaea hirsuta), Bermuda Buttercup (Oxalis pes-caprae), Yellow Sea Aster (Asteriscus maritimus) and Climbing Groundsel (Senecio Angulatus).

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

Our next stop was on the beach at Playa de las Azucenas at the Eastern end of Motril port, on the way there we added a few species on the fields just off the main road including Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) and Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea).

White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

We parked and walked along the river towards the Beach seeing some birds but were a little worried about the smell of petroleum / oils in the water which looked and smelt very unpleasant. 

Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis).

New species were House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and an immature Night Heron (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax) which flew up from the track side reeds. 

Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo).

On the beach pool we found a Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), a male Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) which flew off into the reeds ahead of us, a Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), several Common Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), 2x Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) and Yellow-horned Poppy (Glaucium flavum).

Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis).

On our way back to the car we walked back along the beach again seeing Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), a Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) which flew out from the river with 3 Sanderlings (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba) and back along the river a Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) shot past up and we finished off at this site with a couple of male Spanish Sparrows (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis) in a bush near the car.

Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, European Wigeon and Mallard.

On out way to Charca Suarez we stopped at a temperary pool made by rains a while ago and were surprised how many species were there including 2 Bluethroats which were right out in the open on the mud along with a single Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta), a female Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), several Mallards, 8+ Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) and another Grey Heron.

Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca).

On our way to Charca we had a family group of Mallards including 7 ducklings month or so old.

Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina).

Once we were in Charca we went out to the small hide over looking Laguna del Taraje where we boosted the day list with Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and a squealing Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus). 

Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis).

From the new hide over looking the new pool Juan found a cracking Jack Snipe (Agachadiza Chica / Lymnocriptes minimus) along with several Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), as well as a single Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and several Common Waxbills (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild).

The Main Pool.

We walked towards the main hide hearing Stripe-less Tree Frogs (Hyla meridionalis) along the way as well as a male Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), a female Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) and a Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus) which flew quickly over our heads and away.

Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata) female.

From the main hide we searched through the ducks on the pool and soon found Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia) and one of the neck collared Red-knobbed Coot (Focha cornuda / Fulca cristata).

Narcissus tazetta.

The next hide looked over Laguna del Trébol, here we had good views of 4 Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Anas penelope) and Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio). 

Narcissus tazetta.

After a while we retraced our steps back around the reserve to the entrance but we did not add any thing new but had good views again of the Jack Snipe before heading around to the back of the reserve where we spent some time checking the area along what has be knick named Turtle Dove Alley and we soon found Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus), Red Avadavat (Bengali Rojo / Amandava amandava), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and several clumps of the stunning and uncommon Narcissus tazetta.

Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata) male.

We headed back north to Juans seeing a Large White (Pieris brassicae) on the way and then I went back home picking up Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) and Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus).

Hacho, Loja, Granada Province.

A quick check on the Orchids on Hacho.                                               14:00 to 14:30

Sierra Nevada.

I had a drive just up the road to check the Orchids that grow in the Pine Woodlands on the Northern slopes of Hacho a small hill just to the North of the town of Loja.

It only took me a few minutes to see that the Somber Bee (Ophrys fusca / forestieri) and Giant Orchids (Himantoglossum robertiana) were still a few weeks away from flowering. The trip was not a total waste as did pick up Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater) and Crested Tits (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus) which were new for the Year list. Also seen were Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) and Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis).

Sierra Nevada.

Sierra de Loja and Huétor Fields, Granada Province.

Blast frozen in a very cold wind on the hill and thawing out in the sun on the fields.

11:00 to 15:45.

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

I drove up the Sierra and straight out to the furthest point on the western crags where I made several stops and did several short climbs in to the scree areas looking for upland species and soon located the first of 4+ male Blue-rock Thrushes (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), a pair of Black Wheatears (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), a group of 8+ Thekla Larks (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), several Common Stonechats (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and loads of Black Redstarts (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros). Back by the car I had a chat with one of the Goat herders and a guy from the Loja town hall and heard but missed seeing quite a large sounding group of Alpine Accentors (Acentor Alpino / Prunella collaris) until they were just going over a distant ridge, Dam!!

Anyway after an informative chat with the two chap I continued out to an area further along the same track than I usually go but it paid off by giving me views of Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), a group of 25 or so Red-billed Choughs (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia) and several Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Cabra pyreaica) which were drinking from one of the small pools for the goats. On these pools which were at nearly 1400m there were four pairs of Mallards (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) feeding, one of the males was already displaying to the females in the group.

Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos).

On the way back I stopped several times in amongst the Hawthorn trees finding several very smart Ring Ouzel ( Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus) 10+, Blackbirds (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Mistle Thrushes (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Chaffinches (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and in the rocky areas above the trees calling Rock Sparrows (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia).

On my way back down the hill I checked the far (eastern side) Hawthorn valley but added nothing new but did see several more Ring Ouzels which were clearing the last of the berries off the small trees.

On the main drive down a couple of Little Owls (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) were sat out on the rock piles, one bird was being harassed by a pair of Black Wheatears but just ducked back into a hole for some peace. In an area of Broom scrub I heard the buzz of a couple of Dartford Warblers (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata) long before I found a bird sat out on a rock along side a male Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala).

Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis).

As I continued on down I saw White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and all the way down the grassy areas were covered in the beautiful blue Broad-leaved Iris (lirio de invierno / Juno / Iris planifolia).

Once I was off the mountain I spent a while having a look along the Arroyo Vilano where there were masses of Common Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) feeding over the water from the reeds, a single male Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) x2, Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) and on the far side on the fields Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) and the first butterfly of the year a Bath White (Pontia daplidice).

Huétor Fields, Huétor Tajar, Granada Province.

An hour out on the local patch.                                                               13:30 to 14:35

Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

On my way down to the supermarket I spent an hour out on the fields adding a few species to the year list. The highlights were 63x Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), 1x Jack Snipe (Agachadiza Chica / Lymnocriptes minimus), 3x Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), 8x Golden Plovers (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaria), 1x Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), 3x Bluethroats (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica), 700+ Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), 100+ Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), 5x Little Owls (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) and 25+ Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris).

Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica).

Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis).

Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis).

Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis).

Gailey Res, Stafordshire.

Last bit of UK birding before we return home.

Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor).

I dropped Jayne off at Boundry Mills just off Junction 10 of the M6 before going North a short way to Gailey Res where I did a fool loop of the Smaller lake. On the way around the site I saw Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), Pheasant (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Canada Geese (BarnaclaCanadiense /Branta canadensis), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Great Crested (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus) and Little Grebes (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Tufted Duck (Porrón Monudo / Aythya fuligula), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), a cracking roosting Tawny Owl (Cárabo Común / Strix aluco) and a Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) which at the time I thought was a good bird but had no idea until I spoke to John Holian later that it was a new species for the site and the 200th species for Gailey in total.

Canada Geese (BarnaclaCanadiense /Branta canadensis).

St Asaph and Llandudno, North Wales.

My second rare thrush back in the UK.

Other birders.

Very good friends Sharon and John picked me up in Albrighton along with another friend of theirs Paul and we all headed off up into North Wales to St Asaph which is just to the south of the A55. 

Redwing (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus illacus).

During the drive up I saw Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Rook (Graja /  Corvus frugilegus), Herring (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus).

Male Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).

We parked in the town and then walked up the road running near to the river and out on to some fields on the edge of the River where after a while a small group of birds built up waiting for the star bird a Black-throated Thrush (Zorzal Papinegro / Turdus atrogularis) which had been around for a couple of weeks or so. 

Waxwing (Ampelis europeo / Bombycilla garrulus).

Whilst we waited we saw Redwing (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus illacus), Song (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) and Mistle Thrushes (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus) and Blue Tits (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris) and Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes).

Waxwing (Ampelis europeo / Bombycilla garrulus).

After a couple of hours with out any luck a guy casually strolls over and said he had just had the Thrush near the Chapel just up the road so I headed over, told John, Sharon and Paul on the way. 

Waxwings (Ampelis europeo / Bombycilla garrulus).

They went in along the river and I took the road, I walked past a small Alley way and saw them coming along it and just passed the Chapel I checked a short Cul-de-sac and found the Black-throated Thrush in an almost bare berry tree. 

Snow Bunting (Escribano Nival / Plectrophenax nivalis).

I thought do I take a quick photo or get the others???? I turned around and found the others without taking a shot and even though it was one about a minute later when got back to it the bird had gone.

Snow Bunting (Escribano Nival / Plectrophenax nivalis).

I spent a while searching for the bird but eventually went and tried to get some shots of some Redwings back by the car and some time later was joined by the others after they had all had good views of the bird.

Snow Buntings (Escribano Nival / Plectrophenax nivalis).

News had come on line about 50 or so Waxwings (Ampelis europeo / Bombycilla garrulus) on the B&Q carpark in Llandudno so we headed there and soon found that the birds were still on site and some times gave very close views in low berry trees but they were continually flushed by shoppers and the light was so bad getting photographs was hard going but they were stunning just to see.

Snow Bunting (Escribano Nival / Plectrophenax nivalis).

Our next stop was out on the far end of West beach, Llandudno where we had great views of 3 Snow Buntings (Escribano Nival / Plectrophenax nivalis) at close range on the edge of the Dunes. 

Snow Bunting (Escribano Nival / Plectrophenax nivalis).

In the same area we saw Eurasian Oystercatcher (Ostrero Euroasiatico / Haematopus ostralegus), Eurasian Curlew (Zaoaito Real / Numenius arquata), Common Gull (Gaviota Cana /Larus canus) x6, Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and several Rock Pipits (Bisbita Costero / Anthus petrosus).

Herring Gull (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus).

Our final stop of the day was on the prom in Rhos-on-sea where we scanned the rocks as it was low tide and the sea picking up Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Great Black-backed Gull (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus), Common Scoter (Negrón Común / Melanitta nigra), Red-breasted Merganser (Serreta Mediana / Mergus serrator), Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Guillemot (Arao Común / Uria aalge) and a couple of Red-throaded Divers (Colimbo Chico / Gavia stellata) before headed back to Albrighton after another superb days birding, thanks to Sharon and John for taking me again.

Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone).

Common Gull (Gaviota Cana /Larus canus).