Huétor Fields and Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

Out on the local patch with Sally and Steve from the UK.

1st year Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

I met Sally and Steve down at La Paz in our road and we dropped down on to the fields nearby where we quickly found a few of the wintering Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) but the light was still not great and the birds were sat quite low so we did not get great views but Sally and Steve returned later in their trip to see them again. We also had Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula).

From here we moved out to the fields near to Moraleda, on the track in we found a couple of Tawny Pipits (Bisbita campestre / Anthus campestris), several Calandra Larks (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) as well as Greater Short-toed (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Thekla (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Willow Warbler (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and a little later up near the Cortijo a group of 11 Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis) which stayed well camouflaged out on the stubble fields but showed well for us from above and then later in flight. Further along the trail we found Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and a hunting Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus).

1st year Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

We dropped down to the village of El Turro, having a coffee before driving down to the pine woods just down the road. Here we soon had good views of Pied (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca) and Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), another Sparrowhawk, Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and on the concrete top of the channel a single Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia).

Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus).

We continued on down the valley to the Contra Embalse and the walked down to the shore, the water levels were much higher than on my last visit so I was surprised to find that the 1st year Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) was still there but swimming around more like a large oddly shaped goose. Not long after we arrived the ducks and the flamingo all took off and became agitated so we scanned the sky's and soon picked up an Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus) coming in low over the dam. It stooped on the Flamingo but pulled out before getting in even close but it was enough to scare the ****** out of the bird literally and make it fly off around the lake giving up some nice flight views.

In the same area we picked up Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) and in the air a Booted (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus) and Short-toed Eagles (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus) and Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans).

Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus).

On the margins Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Reed (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) and Cetti's Warblers (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) and back to the skies where we picked up Alpine Swift (Vencejo Real / Apus melba) and Crag (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia).

We dropped down the valley even further and collected some food from Cacín where the bar owner had a Horseshoe Whip Snake (Coluber hippocrepis) in his hands which was just stunning to see, I asked what he was going to do with it and was quite surprised to hear that he was going to release at his house to keep the mice down. We kept going south in to the gorge, also calling in at the roman bridge seeing Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) and as we drove back up the valley a Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus) which flew in front of the car.

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

In Cacín we stopped for water at the bar and then went up to the view point near a large Cortijo on the ridge but not before seeing quite a few Desert Orange-tips (Colotis evagore) on the climb up.

At the Cortijo we eventually had really nice views of an adult Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) which came up from in the valley and the soared up and away giving us good views before disappearing. 

After watching the eagle and having our lunch we dropped back a short towards Cacín but then took a track back towards the house, on the way we had a Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila Perdicera / Aquila faciatus) perched on a pylon and great views of a couple of roadside Little Owls in a spot where I nearly always see them.

Once back on the fields near Huétor Tajar we spent a while along one of the irrigation channels where we saw Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra), Yellow Wagtail, Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Willow Warbler and Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).

Fort Bravo, Almeria Province.

A day out with Barb and Jayne to the Western village.

We travelled down to Almeria and spent a few hours at Fort Bravo, I was not that keen on going but as it turned out it was quite a good laugh and not half as corny as I thought it was going to be.
A few general shots from the day below.

Guadalhorce river mouth pools and Zapata, Malaga Province.

The last day with John and Sharon.

John and Sharon, Day Five.

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

Jayne, Barb, Sharon, John and I headed down to the coast where I dropped Sharon and John off at Guadalhorce and then took Jayne and Barb to the beach at Torremolinos and then I returned and chased after John and Sharon.

I parked and crossed the bridge and went straight on through the reed channel seeing a Wryneck (Torcecuello / Jynx torquilla), Black (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus), Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus) and on a small pool between the first two hides Cassilas and ViejaI had a fleeting look at a Spotted Crake (Polluela Pintoja / Porzana porzana) which shot across the near margin and in to some reeds. I met Sharon and John and we went back to the spot but did not see the bird again as two guy from the Environmental agency were testing the water and throwing in some sort of chemicals????

Wood Sandpiper (Andarrios Bastardo / Tringa glareola).

We went back to the first hide where I saw White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) and in between this hide and the next we had a fly over male Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata) and a winter plumage Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis) on the deeper part of the wader scrape.
Once we were in the hide in front of the wader scrape we picked up Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) and Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus) and a Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus) which was sat in on of the usual dead trees but little else so we continued on down the track towards the sea watch point.
On the pool / old river we found a single Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa) x1, Ringed (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) x8 and Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) x5, Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina) x2, a couple of Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and a male Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator) which was hunting between the bushes next to the track.

Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis).

In the bushes between the scrape and the beach we had Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) and in the sky a couple of Pallid Swifts (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus).
On the beach we scanned the sea and picked up Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta) x5 and on the shingle a couple of Crested Larks (Cogujada / Galerida cristata).
We retraced our steps back along the track towards the scrape hide picking up a couple of migrating Honey Buzzards (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra), Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), once there we added Wood Sandpiper (Andarrios Bastardo / Tringa glareola) before heading around to the main hide picked up a calling Penduline Tit (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus), Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) and Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos). Along with Vagrant Emperor (Emperatriz emigrante / Anax ephippiger), Banded Groundling (Brachythemis impartita) and Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii).

Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria).

Around at the main hide we saw Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra), Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina) and Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).
From here we headed back to the car and then went have some lunch before visiting Zapata at the far side of the airport. We drove along the entrance channel and then under the runway and down to the river. Along the channel we had Yellow and Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Kingfisher, Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Common Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover, Eurasian Coot, Common Moorhen, Serin, a female Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) and both Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) and Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Along the river we also had several dragonflies including Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria), Blue / Common (Anax imperator) and Lesser Emperors (Anax parthenope), Orange-winged (Trithemis kirbyi) and Violet Dropwings (Trithemis annulata), Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea), White Featherleg (Platycnemis latipes), African Grass Blue (Zizeeia knysna), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa) and Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi).

Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

Before going to the airport we went to the sea front and added a few more species to the trip list including Audouin's Gull (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus), Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), more Monk Parakeets and another Vagrant Emperor. Next we went for a coffee and then to the airport.

Huétor Fields, Granada Province.

A new species for the local patch and a few new arrivals.

John and Sharon, Day Four.

Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus).

After catching up with loads of jobs during the morning Sharon, John and I headed out in the late afternoon on to the local fields and straight to the fields where the wintering Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) had started to collect. We found that the flock had reached 30+ birds but the counting was difficult as the birds were ducking in and out of the Lucerne. In the same area we also had Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).

We moved on around to the Mesia road side of the site and parked next to one of the irrigation and John soon found a female Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus) on a concrete post and this was followed by a male Ortolan Bunting (Escribano Hortolano / Emberiza hortulana) which was a new species for the fields but just as I got on to it it flew up and quickly away. In the same area we found Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Reed (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) and Cetti's Warblers (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca).

Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus).

We moved to the other side of the Rio and scanned along the edge of a maze stand seeing dozens of  Willow Warblers (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus) feeding on the ground and flycatching, a single Garden Warbler (Curruca Mosquitera / Sylvia borin), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus) heard only, 2x Bluethroats (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) 1 male and a female, Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Whinchat x3, Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica).

Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis).

We again moved on and visited the rio a bit further up stream and recorded Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur) and on the way back to the house we finished off the day list with a nice male Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus).

Cazalla watch Point and Chipiona area, Cadiz Province.

More Raptors and some fast movers eventually.
John and Sharon, Day Three.

Ruppell's Vulture (Buitre Moteado / Gyps rueppelli).

Jayne and Barb spent the morning around the town of Tarifa whilst Sharon, John and I to the far side of the town where we found European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), a calling Common Bulbul (Bulbul Naranjero / Pycnonotus barbatus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), a couple of Lesser (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni) on the church and Common Kestrels (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

Next we went back up to Cazalla watch point where the conditions were much better than yesterday and the birds started to flow through quite early and in good numbers. 

Ruppell's Vulture (Buitre Moteado / Gyps rueppelli).

Before long we had seen Honey Buzzard (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus), Short-toed (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus) and Booted Eagles (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus), Griffon (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Egyptian (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus) and Ruppell's Vulture (Buitre Moteado / Gyps rueppelli) which I was very pleased to have picked out myself, Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), 2 sizable flocks of Black Storks (Ciguena Negra / Ciconia nigra), several Pallid (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) and Alpine Swifts (Vencejo Real / Apus melba), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Western Cattle Egrets, Ravens (Cuervo / Corvus corax) and on the rocks out on a nearby ridge Sharon picked up a passage Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos).

Black Storks (Ciguena Negra / Ciconia nigra).

We had picked up the bird that was needed (Ruppell's Vulture) so we picked Jayne and Barb up a bit early and headed north to Chipiona with just a quick stop at La Janda to scan the pylons along the first bit of track looking for but failing to find Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus). We did see Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Zitting Cisticola, Banded Groundling (Brachythemis impartita), Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope) and Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii).

Egyptian Vulture (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus).

We arrived at Chipiona adding Slender-billed Gull (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus) and Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) on the way before having some lunch and then checked the port area, after a bit of a search we picked up two Little Swifts (Vencejo Moro / Apus affinis) amongst the Yacht masts along with a single Pallid, Barn Swallows and House Martins.

Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus).

In the same area we picked up Little (Charrancito Común / Sterna albifrons) and Sandwich Terns (Charrán Patinegro / Thalasseus sandvicensis), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus).

Banded Groundling (Brachythemis impartita).

We moved on to a beach just up the road where we checked through some roosting waders finding Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), Ringed (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) and Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus), Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba) and a single Bar-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colipinta / Limosa lapponica).
A short way along the beach we found a flock of roosting Black-headed Gull with singles of both Whiskered (Fumarel Cariblanca / Chilidonias hybridus) and Common Tern (Charrán Común / Sterna hirudo) in the mix.
From here we drove home only stopping for a quick coffee on the way and the tapas in Huétor later.

Cazalla watch point and La Janda, Cadiz Province.

Watching the raptor migration and then birding in the Rice Paddies.

John and Sharon, Day Two.

Egyptian Vulture (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus).

Jayne, Barb, Sharon, John and Myself headed down to Tarifa along the coastal toll roads, I dropped Sharon and John off at Cazalla and then Jayne and Barb in Tarifa before returning to the watch point. 

Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus).

Things were a bit slow as it was quite cloudy but once it started to clear things slowly  started to trickle through including Egyptian (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus) and Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Honey Buzzard (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus), Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Booted (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus) and Short-toed Eagles (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia) we also had Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) and Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur).

Egyptian Vulture (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus) and Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus).

As things were a bit on the slowish side we decided to make our way up the coast to La Janda, as soon as we arrived we found Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) and lots of White Storks along the entrance track. 

Egyptian Vulture (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus).

Up on the main track along the main canal we picked up lots of Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) out on the stubble fields as well as Western Cattle Egrets, Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), some large flocks of House Sparrows (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) which we checked through looking for Spanish Sparrows (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis) and later in the day we succeed in finding several in flocks further along the channel.

Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus).

As we worked our way along the track we picked up several immature Montagu's Harriers (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), a couple of Marsh Harriers (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and on a pool created by a flooded paddy Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus) and a couple of Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus).

Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

On a side ditch we saw several feeding Spoonbills (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) and Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) before we turned off on to the track up to the farm.

Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) male.

Along the track we saw several flocks of Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), good numbers of Lesser Kestrels (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni), Melodious Warbler (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa).

Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) female.

On the way along the track we spent sometime searching under some trees looking for roosting Red-necked Nightjars (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis) but could not find anything so we carried on to the T junction at the far end of road seeing several more Booted Eagles, Black Kites, Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) and at the junction we turned left and parked by the canal where we saw Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), Banded Groundling (Brachythemis impartita), Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator) and a couple of Zeller's Skippers (Borbo borbonica).

Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

After scanning the fields we turned around and made our way back towards the main canal but decided to have a look for the Nightjar again and within a couple of minutes Sharon had found one right down at the bottom of the back amongst the leaves and branches. 

White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).

We had great views before we moved on back to the canal where we picked up the Spanish Sparrows we had searched for earlier and as we drove back to the entrance we added Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa), Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi), Signal Crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus), Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria), Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope), Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Great White Egret (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), lots more Glossy Ibis, Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala).

Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

We returned to Tarifa and met up with Jayne and Barb and spent a nice evening around the town having a few drinks and something to eat.

Zeller's Skipper (Borbo borbonica).

Signal Crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus).

Red-necked Nightjar (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis).

Red-necked Nightjar (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis).

Red-necked Nightjar (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis).

Red-necked Nightjar (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis).

Immature Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus).

La Malaha and the Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

Birding on the patch with good friends from the UK, John and Sharon Holian.

John and Sharon, Day One.

I picked John and Sharon up at Malaga Airport at midnight and after a short nights sleep we were out birding on the localish patch and started on the fields near La Malaha. We soon started to add birds to the day list including lots of Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) and Thekla Larks (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis), a flock of Honey Buzzards (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus) with a couple of Black Kites (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans) mixed in, Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica).

From here we headed off towards the Cacín Valley and added Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) and a pale phase Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus).

On the ridge between Ventas de Huelma and Cacín we had good numbers of Small Whites (Pieris rapae), several Desert Orange-tips (Colotis evagore) and Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus).

Once we were in the valley we went North to the Contra-embalse de Bermejalis where we spent some time scanning the sand banks and muddy margins seeing Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), an immature Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), White (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Cetti's (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Reed Warblers (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Sand (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia), House (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica) and Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata) as well as Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Lesser (Anax parthenope) and Blue / Common Emperors (Anax imperator), Bath White (Pontia daplidice) and Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa).

We started to make our wa back to the house but stopped briefly a couple of times in the woodlands on the way adding Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and just before we reached the house we had several European Bee-eaters (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) on the wires. John and Sharon finished the list off with a Western Orphean Warbler (Curruca Mirlano / Sylvia hortensis) in the garden and a couple of Orange-winged Dropwings (Trithemis kirbyi) and an Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma) around the pool.

Embalse de Cubillas and Padul wetlands (or sewage dumping site), Granada Province.

Birding amongst the picnic garbage and sewage.

Immature Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

I dropped Jayne and Barb off at the Sierra Nevada shopping centre and then went to the Embalse de Cubillas, where as usual the most obvious site was the mounds of filth left behind by the people how visit the place at the weekend. 

Why do people come into the countryside and destroy it, I will never understand it. 

I have recently visited Northern Spain and one of the most obvious differences is the lack of rubbish and filth left in the countryside of this beautiful country.

Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea).

I had seen a Pectoral Sandpiper (Correlimos Pectoral / Calidris melanotos) here a few days earlier but after spending a couple of hours looking for it, I decided that it must have moved on. 

I did however see Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), an immature Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Sand (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia) and Western House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) and several African Grass Blues (Nina esmaltada / Zizeeia knysna).

Immature Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) and Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).

Later I went south of Granada to Padul and walked along the stinking river which must get all the sewage and other foul water from the town of Padul, a great shame for this nature reserve. 

I did see Willow (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus) and Common Reed Warblers (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus), Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina) and Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus).

I would probably have seen a lot more if the vegetation in front of the hides was removed but as it has not been done for a few years I was not surprised to find the situation was no better.

From the terrace, Huétor Tajar, Granada Province.

Some passage through the fig tree.

Western Orphean Warbler (Curruca Mirlano / Sylvia hortensis) ♂.

Whilst sat out on the terrace I picked up a few bits including Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and 2♂ and 1♀ Western Orphean Warblers (Curruca Mirlano / Sylvia hortensis), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major).