Charca Suarez, Granada Province and Caleta de Velez and Rio Velez, Malaga Province.

A couple of year ticks at Granada's best wetland.

Male Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca).

Jayne and I set off for the coast of Granada where we were going to meet Juan Pérez Contreras, Jayne went off for a walk along the coast and later we worked out that she did nearly 10km on the sand of the Playa Granada before we met up at 12:00. 

Female Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca).

Juan and I went into the reserve and we started with a look-out over Laguna del Trebol where we started the list off with Eurasian (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and Red-knobbed Coots (Focha cornuda / Fulca cristata) with at least three without collars and one sat on a nest, Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Sedge Warbler (Carricerin Común / Acrocephalus schoenobaenus) the first of many as we saw them from every hide in good numbers, Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Western House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and European Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

Male Little Crake ( Polluela Bastarda / Porzana parva).

We moved around to the main hide overlooking Laguna de las Aneas seeing male and female Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Stripe-less Tree Frog (Hyla meridionalis), Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa) and lots of Yellow flag-iris (Iris pseudacorus).

Male Little Crake ( Polluela Bastarda / Porzana parva).

We next walked around towards the hide overlooking the new Laguna, we added Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), a Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) which flew across the pool and dived into the reeds, Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Cetti's Warblers (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti).

Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca).

Next we were at the hide I had been looking forward to since we arrived which looks over the southern end of Laguna del Taraje and after a short while we were watching the species I had most wanted, a male Little Crake ( Polluela Bastarda / Porzana parva) a stunning little bird which showed well but was on the far side of the pool and dodged continually in and out of the reeds. 

We also had more European Teal, Sedge Warblers, Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), a calling Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).

Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra).

After not seeing the crake for a while we decided to go and have another look at the New Laguna but we did not see anything new, so I went back to see if the Crake was showing whilst Juan went back around to the main hide.

3x Green Sandpipers (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus).

Whilst I was in the hide I was amazed to find that the one male Little Crake was feeding in the same spot as earlier but there was a second male off to the right in the reeds. The first male then made a dash for the reeds just to its side, and the female which had been seen a few days earlier flew out and around to the back of the pool, quickly followed by the male.

Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis).

Just as I was ringing Juan he turned up and we both managed to see the two males but the female remained elusive. At 12:00 I left Juan to the birds and went out to meet Jayne who had finished her long walk along the beach and we went for Lunch on the sea front at Torre del Mar at one of the beach bars.

Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus).

Whilst we were eating we could continually hear Monk Parakeets (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus) and we also had House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and out to sea several Northern Gannets (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) amongst the Gulls and a single Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus) which flew along the beach.

Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo).

Later I dropped Jayne at the shopping centre and went down to the port at Caleta de Velez where I scanned through the gulls and found lots of Great Cormorants, Mediterranean Gulls (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) in large numbers and in all sorts of plumages as well as Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis).

Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo).

After finding nothing else I went for a quick look at the Rio Velez but found that the perverts were more prolific than the birds so it was brief.

Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus).

Whilst I was there I found several Vagrant Emperors (Emperatriz emigrante / Anax ephippiger) including a male which I photographed in flight. New birds included Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Eurasian Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus).

Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus).

I then picked Jayne up and we made our way back across country via Zafarraya and picked up Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) and Thekla Larks (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) and Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).

Vagrant Emperor (Emperatriz emigrante / Anax ephippiger).

Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica).

Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica).

Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus).

Trabuco and Rio Guadalhorce, Malaga Province.

A morning in the woods and an afternoon on the beach.

Coal Tit (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater).

I dropped Jayne off at the ladies meeting in Trabuco and then went just up the way in to the hills above the towns into the pine woodlands. I went to a spot I have visited a few times where there is a watering hoe for Goats which attracts birds in for a drink. 

Coal Tit (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater).

Whilst there I found Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Crested (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Long-tailed Tits (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia).

Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus).

Later I picked Jayne up and we dropped down to the coast where I spent a short while at Guadalhorce where I bumped into Andy Patterson and the later had a walk alon the river from the sea watch point. Durng this time I picked up Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), 2x Pied Oystercatchers (Ostrero Euroasiatico / Haematopus ostralegus), Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), a Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) with a large caterpillar, Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti),

Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major).

Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica),  2x Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) and lots of Monk Parakeets (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus). We spent the rest of the day shopping, picking up a few bits for jobs on the house before heading home.

Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla).

Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).

Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).

Huétor Fields, Granada Province.

Another walk back from town.

Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes).

After another drop off at the garage I walked back across the fields, on the way I saw a few nice species including a single male Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Sedge Warbler (Carricerin Común / Acrocephalus schoenobaenus), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) and a pair of Hawfinches (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes) which landed in a fig tree near the Rio Vilano. 

Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes).

Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).

Huétor Fields, Granada Province.

A scrap down on the local patch.

Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus).

I spent a few minutes down by the ford over the Rio Vilano, where I again found the singing Sedge Warbler (Carricerin Común / Acrocephalus schoenobaenus), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild) and a couple of Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) having a good scrap in the long grass.

Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus).

Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis).

Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild).

Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild).

Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus).

Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus).

Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus).

Rio Vilano, Huétor Fields Granada Province.

Down at the river side building supply yard.

Red-rumped Swallows (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica).

I spent just 10 minutes parked along side a puddle just off the rio where House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Barn (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Red-rumped Swallows (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica) were coming down to collect mud for their nests. 

Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica).

In the same area I could hear a singing Sedge Warbler (Carricerin Común / Acrocephalus schoenobaenus) which had turned up a few days ago, Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), a female Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) along with four chicks, Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), White (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) and Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).

Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica).

Red-rumped (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica) and Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica).

House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica).

House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica).

Huétor Fields, Granada Province.

Back on the patch.

I again dropped the car down to the mechanics and on the walk back to the house I saw Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Tree (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus) and  House Sparrows (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), 2x Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla). Not bad for a stroll back home.

Huétor Fields, Granada Province.

A whizz around the local patch.

Sedge Warbler (Carricerin Común / Acrocephalus schoenobaenus).

I started down on the Rio Vilano and then went out on to the middle fields on my way down to the mechanics, along the Rio I checked on the young Common Moorhens (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) and found the 4 chicks still doing nicely. 

A female Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica).

In the same area I heard and had bad views of my first Sedge Warbler (Carricerin Común / Acrocephalus schoenobaenus) of the year, Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), a pair of Little Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), several Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), a female Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) and a zitting Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).

Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae).

Out on the fields and around the railway line there were Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaria), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major).

Zafarraya road woodlands, Granada Province.

A morning with Jayne, Santi and Howard in amongst the wild Orchids.

Provence Hairstreak (Tomares ballus).

We drove to a nice bit of Oak woodland where we started to search for species and we started with a couple of butterflies, a Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina) and a couple of Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra) neither of which sat for the camera. 

Gagea Species,

As we walked through the area we also saw Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), a soaring Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) and then several spikes of Giant Orchids (Himantoglossum robertiana) along with a few varied Fan-lipped Orchids (Anacamptis collina). 

Field marigold (Calendula arvensis),

In the more open areas I found lots of the yellow flowering Gagea Species, blue Common Grape Hyacinth (Muscari neglectum), Field marigold (Calendula arvensis), Henbit Deadnettle (Lamium amplexicaule), Broad-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), the first Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus) I had see this year, which Jayne spotted, Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros) and Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus). 

Giant Orchids (Himantoglossum robertiana).

We moved a short way down the road and spent a while walking in an area of abandoned area of Almonds where we saw the same species of Orchids along with Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Small White (Pieris rapae) and just as we were walking back to the car Jayne made a second good find when she pointed out a stunning Provence Hairstreak (Tomares ballus) which sat nicely on a rock for a few shot.

Fan-lipped Orchid (Anacamptis collina).

We later had a very nice menu del dia in Loja before heading back home.

Fan-lipped Orchid (Anacamptis collina).

Fan-lipped Orchid (Anacamptis collina).

Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum robertiana).

Common Grape Hyacinth (Muscari neglectum).