Cerro Hacho, Loja, Granada Province.

Some Orchid photogrphy with Santi, Howard and Jayne.

Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum robertiana) hipocromatic.

The four of us went up the road for a walk in the Pine woods where we were looking for some early Orchid species and we soon found a good number of Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum robertiana) spikes as well as quite a few Somber Bees (Ophrys fusca / O. forestieri). 

Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum robertiana) hipocromatic.

In the same area we saw some rather beatten up flowers of Sierra Nevada Crocus (Crocus nevadensis), Broad-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia), a couple of Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus) butterflies, Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra) and Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs).

Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum robertiana).

Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum robertiana).

Somber Bee (Ophrys fusca / O. forestieri).

Almond blossom.

Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus).

Broad-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia).

Broad-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia).

Broad-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia).

Huétor Fields and the Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

A day on the Patch with Dominique and Bruce.

Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

I met Dominique and Bruce at the Cortijo de Tajar before we headed out on to the fields North of the town and soon started the list off with Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) and Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius). 

Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

We moved out on to the central fields and along the Arroyo Vilano where we found over 30 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Common Waxbills (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Tree (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus) and House Sparrows (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Water (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta) and Meadow Pipits (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), White and Grey Wagtails (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Blackbird, Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus).

Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius).

We moved on to the Almond Groves and fields near to Moraleda seeing Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca / O. forestieri) on the way and in the Almonds we spent some time searching for Great Spotted Cuckoos (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius), we soon found several calling birds which we had nice views of and Bruce got some shots of. 

Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius).

In the same area and out on the larger fields Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei).

Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

We stopped for lunch in El Turro and then drove right down the valley in to the gorge where we had a pair of Bonelli's Eagles (Aguila-azor / Hieraetus faciatus) as well as Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla) and Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major).

Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila-azor / Hieraetus faciatus).

We retraced our way back up the valley to the Embalse de Cacín where we had 16+ Common Pochards (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), 4 Eurasian Teals (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), 21+ Northern Shovelers (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Mallard, Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Cetti's Warbler, Iberian Green Woodpecker, Northern Goshawk (Azor Común / Accipitor gentillis) as well as lots of Barn and Red-rumped Swallow, House and Crag Martins.

Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

On our way back to the Hotel we crossed the ridge towards Ventas de Huelam and the back towards Moraleda across the fields part of the way, things were quiet but we did added Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia) and Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica).

The shots below were all taken by Bruce during the day tour.

Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia).

Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius).

Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae).

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

Great Spotted Cuckoos (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius).

Great Spotted Cuckoos (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius).

Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).

White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

Northern Shovelers (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata).

Huétor Fields, Granada Province.

A quick look at the Mesia ditches.

The weather was terrible but as I had to pop down to Huétor I had a look at the main channels along the roadside. Wintering birds still hanging around including Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) and the Jack Snipe (Agachadiza Chica / Lymnocriptes minimus) which was sheltering in the weeds on the roadside. These winterng birds were seen along side some newly arrived summer birds including lots of Barn (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and  a few Red-rumped Swallows (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), and House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and in the Rio Vilano I saw recently out of the nest 2 young Common Moorhens (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) and 5 Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) chicks.

Sierra de Mijas and Fuengirola, Malaga Province.

Looking for some early Orchids.

Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera).

I dropped Jayne off at the shops in Fuengirola before heading inland towards Sierra de Mijas where I parked and searched the Pine Woodlands for Orchids. 

Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera).

During the couple of hours I was there I found a good number of Woodcock Orchids (Ophrys scolopax), as well as a few Sawfly (Ophrys tenthredinifera), Somber Bee (Ophrys fusca), Fan-lipped (Anacamptis collina) and a single just about open Pink Butterfly (Anacamptis papilionacea). 

Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera).

I was looking down most of the time so the only birds I saw were the ones that attracted my attention by calling and they included Woodlark (Totovia / Lullula arborea), Crested Tit (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla).

Fan-lipped Orchid (Anacamptis collina).

I dropped down to Fuengirola and on the way had Red-rumped (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica) and Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Black-headed  (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis). 

Woodcock Orchid (Orquídea becada / Ophrys scolopax).

I met up with Jayne and we continued shopping.

Woodcock Orchid (Orquídea becada / Ophrys scolopax).

Woodcock Orchid (Orquídea becada / Ophrys scolopax).

Woodcock Orchid (Orquídea becada / Ophrys scolopax).

Pink Butterfly Orchid (Anacamptis papilionacea).

Huétor Fields, Granada Province.

An couple of hours on the patch whilst the car was in for some work.

I dropped the car off in town for a repair to the drivers window and went out on to the fields nearby, I did not find any thing unexpected but built a decent list in the time out there. Species included Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Tree (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus) and House Sparrows (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Meadow (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) and Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta), Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaria), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Reed (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus) and Corn Buntings (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) as well as Small White (Pieris rapae) and Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus).

Huétor Fields and the Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

On the local patch and down the Cacín valley with Pau from Valencia area.

I was meeting Pau at the bar at the end of our road so I left the house and had a walk down picking up Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Song (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) and Mistle Thrushes (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

I reached the bar and Pau turned up soon after me and we had a coffee before heading out to the fields near to Moraleda, once we were there we found a few spikes of Somber Bee Orchids (Ophrys fusca / O. forestieri) on the side of one of the track sides as we approched the main fields. Up on the Almond fields we saw Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Crested and Thekla Larks (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) and the we first heard and then saw the first Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius) for my year list.

We moved up on to the more open fields where we heard but did not see a Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) and in the same area we had Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) and Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) and several of both Bath (Pontia daplidice) and Green-Striped Whites (Euchloe belemia).

We dropped down into the valley and had a sandwich in the bar at El Turro and once we had finished we made a stop in the pines just down the road where we found more Somber Bee Orchids and heard and saw Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Great Tits (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus). Our next stop was right down to the far end of the valley where we had good views of a pair of Bonelli's Eagles (Aguila-azor / Hieraetus faciatus), Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Rock Pigeon (Paloma Bravia / Columba livia), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia) and Small White (Pieris rapae) and Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta).

We made a short visit to Embalse de Bermejalis but we did not add any interesting species so we worked our way back up the valley to the Embalse de Cacín where we found Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica).

We moved back to the fields near Huétor Tajar but only managed to find Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus) before we called it a day.

Rio Genil, Padul and Huétor Fields, Granada Province.

Scrapyards and birding.

Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra).

Jayne and I went up into Granada calling at a couple of Scrapyards on the way looking for but failing to find a few small parts for the car before I dropped Jayne off in the centre and then continued on up to the Rio Genil nearby. I parked on the roadside and then walked out to the sluice gates and scanned the river up and down stream and then did a loop walk up stream and then back to the car. During the stroll I had views of Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Blue Tits (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris).

Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).

Later I visited a couple more Scrapyards near Padul but came away with nothing again so I continued on down to the "reserve" ???? at Padul But little had changed since my last visit, except maybe the canal was even smellier, there was more rubbish about and the vegetation blocking the views from all the hides was even taller, very sad. On a more positive note there were good numbers of Water Rails (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus) which were seen and heard, as well as Water Pipits (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Goldfinch, Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) and a fresh looking Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas).

I gave up trying to see anything from the hides and the smell was no joke so I went back into the city and met Jayne before going and having some lunch and doing some more shopping and then heading home. 

Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).

On the way to the house we crossed the fields at Huétor and picked up Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaria), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) and Tree Sparrows (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus).

Huétor Fields, Granada Province.

Not the Spanish Lifer that was expected but a good one for the local patch.

1st winter Red-throated Pipit (Bisbita Gorgirrojo / Anthus cervinus).

Jayne and I went down town to do our loop of the ring road and then called in at the fields where I had yesterday seen what I was convinced was a Richards Pipit (Bisbita de Richard /Anthus richardi) but instead of this bird there was a smaller but pale looking Pipit with a very distinct supercilium stretching well beyond the eye and pale mantle stripes which I supected could be a 1st winter Red-throated Pipit (Bisbita Gorgirrojo / Anthus cervinus) and this was confirmed later in the day. A very welcome new bird for my Spanish Life list, coming after a few more records in Sevilla and Cadiz Province.

1st winter Red-throated Pipit (Bisbita Gorgirrojo / Anthus cervinus).

1st winter Red-throated Pipit (Bisbita Gorgirrojo / Anthus cervinus).

Huétor Fields, Granada Province.

A possible Spanish Lifer slips through the net on the local patch.

I had a run down to Huétor to the supermarket and on the way back I had a look around the fields and out on to the Mesia Road. Along the ditches I saw Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and a male Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica). From the bridge over the railway I had 57 Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica).

A little further along the road I checked a field of short grass and was instantly drawn to a small group of Pipits about 30 meters away and to one bird in the group. 5 birds were obviously Meadow Pipits (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) but the sixth bird was not. It was distinctly larger and longer legged than the others and paler looking, I immediately thought it was a Richards Pipit (Bisbita de Richard /Anthus richardi). I watched it for a few minutes becoming more and more convinced (99%) all the time with my first Id but just at that moment a ****** on a trials bike came past and they all flushed and dropped into a Lucerne field nearby. With the bird out of sight I decided to drive home unload the shopping and then return with the camera to try and get that 1% to be sure as it is a rare bird down here in the South but when I returned I found no Pipits at all and in the next hour or so none returned to the more open field. On my way back to the house I went via the Rio Vilano and added Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) before getting back.

Monzón de Campos, Palencia Province to Home, Granada Province.

A long drive south.

It was a long drive but with out incident. I did pick up a few nice species on the way including a single Great Bustard (Avutarda Común / Otis tarda) flying along side us which Jayne found as well as both Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) and Hen Harrier (Aguilucho Pálido / Circus cyaneus) just to the North of Madrid.

Laguna de Boada and Nava and Palencia, Palencia Province.

Heading part of the way home with another Spanish Lifer.

Greater White-fronted Geese (Ánsar Careto / Anser albifrons) and others.

We were up and out fairly early and after fetching the car and having some breakfast we started to drive to our last nights stop in Monzón de Campos just to the North of Palencia. The journey south was only notable for the rain, snow and fog but once we were over the hills and down towards León things cleared up, I did see Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus),Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax) and White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia) on the way.

View over the main pool from the tower hide at Laguna de la Nava.

I had put Laguna de Boada into the Satnav and she took us there but not before we had unknowingly passed several easier ways in. The track we went along was rough to say the least and we damaged beyond repair the Plastic engine protector which we had to rip off later. Anyway once at the Laguna I scanned the area and was very pleased to find a single Tundra Bean Goose (Ánsar Campestre / Anser fabalis fabalis) on the front edge of the 200 or so Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser). in the same area I also had views of Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Anas penelope), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), a single Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), lots of Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaria) and Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) as well as Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) and Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis). I could not see any of the other Geese that had been in the area so we went a few KMs up the road to Laguna de la Nava where I checked the first hide but apart from a few Greylags and a couple of Mute Swans (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor) it was quiet so I went to the opposite end of the area and walked out to the tower hide and scanned the water and fields from there which was far more successful. On the water there were many of the species already seen along with at least 15 Greater White-fronted Geese (Ánsar Careto / Anser albifrons), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Northern Pintail (Ánade Rabudo / Anas acuta), Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), 10+ Great White Egrets (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and on distant fields a flock of 25+ Great Bustards (Avutarda Común / Otis tarda) which was a great way to finish the days birding.

We then went into Palencia for some lunch and later went up and checked in to the very nice little hotel in Monzón de Campos called La Concordia, which was family run and very nice. 

After dropping our stuff off we went back into Palencia and spent the rest of the day there having a very pleasant wander around the city centre before going back to the Hotel. We then went into the Restaurant opposite which was run by the hotel owners brother and had some of the best food we have ever had in Spain, it was a superb way to finish the final night of our winter trip off.

Gijón, Asturias.

A long morning walk and a good wander around the town.

After a good nights sleep Jayne and I walked the full length of Playa de San Lorenzo and then out to Playa de Los Mayanes. During the walk w saw Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), a female Common Scoter (Negrón Común / Melanitta nigra), Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina) x7, Grey Plover (Chorlito Gris / Pluviali squatarola), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Shag (Cormorán Mondudo / Phalacrocorax aristotelis), White (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Grey Wagtails (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), a single Greylag Goose (Ansar Común / Anser anser) which flew along the beach, Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes) and Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone).

The rest of the day was spent around the centre of town where we had an OKish lunch and an Indian meal in the evening before gong back to the hostel.

Santona, Sollagua, Cantabria and travelling to Gijon, Asturias.

A trip over to Gijón via Santona for a couple more Spanish Lifers.

Hudsonian Whimbrel (Zarapito de Hudson / Numenius hudsonicus).

We packed our things, had a good breakfast and then started to head back West along the coast, calling in at Santona on the way as there were a couple of species I had missed on my last visit that I wanted to have a look for as I had seen on the net that they were still about and were seen from the hide near the town. I was looking for Red-breasted Merganser (Serreta Mediana / Mergus serrator) and Common Eider (Eider Común / Somateria mollissima) but when I reached the hide I did not see either species but did find Rock (Bisbita Costero / Anthus petrosus) and Meadow Pipits (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Anas penelope), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Black-necked (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis) and Great Crested Grebes (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Great Northern Diver (Colimbo Grande / Gavia immer) x2, good numbers of Dark-bellied Brent Geese (Barnacla Carinegra / Branta bernicla), Great Black-backed Gull (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus) and Grey Plovers (Chorlito Gris / Pluviali squatarola).

Hudsonian Whimbrel (Zarapito de Hudson / Numenius hudsonicus).

We popped up to the port quickly and saw the Black-throated Diver (Colimbo Ártico / Gavia arctica) but it was well out in the estuary this time along with two more Great Northerns, on the jetties there were 8 Shag (Cormorán Mondudo / Phalacrocorax aristotelis) and a couple of Great Cormorants (Cormorán Grande / Phala crocroax carbo).

Hudsonian Whimbrel (Zarapito de Hudson / Numenius hudsonicus).

Going back past the hide I stopped again briefly to see if a Diver I had seen earlier had come any closer and it had and this time I could Identify it as a winter plumage Red-throated Diver (Colimbo Chico / Gavia stellata) as I had suspected but after just a few minutes the bird started to run along the surface and took to the air and then flew passed and out towards the sea. Another birder then came in briefly and I gleaned a bit of info about the birds I had wanted and found that I would be better at the spot where I had visited a few days earlier for the Whimbrel.

Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia).

We moved further around the bay, on the way I had good views of a Great White Egret (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba) before parking and again meeting the same birder who had come for the Hudsonian Whimbrel (Zarapito de Hudson / Numenius hudsonicus). I walked through to the site just as a group of Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus) were flying passed along with the Hudsonian which stuck out really well in amongst the group. In the same area I also had Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Eurasian Curlew (Zarapito Real / Numenius arquata), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Little (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) and Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina) and at least 3 Velvet Scoters (Negrón Especulado / Melanitta fusca). The Guy I had net earlier said that I might do better for the Mergansers and Eider a little further along the shore line so I had a walk picking up 2 Dunnocks (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and a calling Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus).

Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia).

Up on the bank looking over the estuary I soon found 3x Common Eiders (Eider Común / Somateria mollissima) but no Mergansers, also seen was a 1st winter Common Gull (Gaviota Cana /Larus canus) feeding along with a good many Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Thalasseus sandvicensis) and a Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).

Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis).

We continued on our way once I had finished at this site and arrived at Gijón late in the afternoon and eventually found our hotel near the beach. Later we had a good walk along the eastern beach before having a meal in the town and returned to the hotel.