Sierra Huétor and Alfacar, Granada Province.

The last day with Bent looking for Dragonflies.

Female Broad-bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa).

I again met Bent in Granada and we headed out to the North and into the Sierra de Huétor and on to one of the fast flowing rivers in the area. 

After parking we checked a couple of meadows on the opposite side of the road where we were looking for insects but as it was quite early we only had a quick view of a passing Common Golden Ringed Dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltonii), several Tree Graylings (Hipparchia statilinus), Spanish Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina), Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Spanish Marbled White (Melanargia ines), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) and Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus). 

Common Golden Ringed Dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltonii).

On the bird front we saw pale and dark phase Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus), a single pasing Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Dipper (Mirlo Acuático / Cinclus cinclus), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica).

Beautiful Demoiselles (Calopteryx virgo).

We crossed back over the road and started to walk along the river checking along the margins and in the surrounding Hawthorn Scrub where we soon found the first of many Beautiful Demoiselles (Calopteryx virgo) as well as more Common Golden Rings, a rather elderly female Broad-bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa), Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum), Copper Demoiselle (Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis) and Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator).

Knapweed Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe).

We also recorded more butterfly species including Knapweed (Melitaea phoebe), Cardinal (Argynnis pandora) and High Brown Fritillary (Fabriciana adippe), Large White (Pieris brassicae), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina), Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli), Striped Grayling (Pseudotergumia fidia), Southern Gatekeeper (Pyronia cecilia), Sage Skipper (Muschampia proto), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) and Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera). 

Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea).

Birds seen and heard included Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), a Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) which was singing but remained unseen, Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus).

Mother of Pearl (Plebicula nivescens).

We made our way back to the car and then had some lunch a little way down the motorway before going back into the Sierra above Alfacar and parking by the Botanical Gardens and walking a couple of trails. 

During these walks we picked up Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Goshawk (Azor Común / Accipitor gentillis), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta), Rock Grayling (Hipparchia alcyone), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) and Mother of Pearl (Plebicula nivescens). 

Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli).

We dropped back down the Sierra a short way and made a short stop adding just Oriental Meadow Brown (Hyponephele lupinnus), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura) before heading back to the city where I said goodbye to Bent until next time and headed back home.

Laguna Chica, Salinas, Laguna Grande, Laguna Chica again, Malaga Province and Balsa de Rigedor, Granada Province.

A day looking for Dragonflies with Bent from Denmark.

Common Golden Ringed Dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltonii subsp algirica).

I met Bent at the hotel in Granada and we drove to the furthest point for the day whilst it was still cool and arrived at Laguna Grande, just over the in Malaga just after 10:00. 

We parked and started to walk down to the surprisingly low pool, after the wettish winter I had expected to find more water, Anyway we saw a few insects including Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathinerum), Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Sage Skipper (Muschampia proto), Small White (Pieris rapae), Spanish Brown Argus (Aricia cramera) and Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina). 

On the water there were good numbers of Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus).

All the time we were there we were aware of the number of Hunters shooting in the surrounding scrub and as we did not want to bump into any of the Macho Men out with there shot guns blasting highly dangerous fluffy rabbits to bits to prove their manliness we left the area to return later once they had gone to the bar to tell their friends about their bravery against the savage fluffy bunnies😠😠😠.
We decided to head for some small areas of water near Salinas, on the way we checked an area of irrigation channel finding two extremely active Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi) which spent the whole time we were there in aerial combat over the water and a single Mediterranean Bluet (Coenagrion caerulescens) which was bobbing slowly around amongst the Small Fleabane (Pulicaria vulgaris) flowers.

Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata).

Once were were at the spot near Salinas we checked a small pool which was very quiet except for a single Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), White Featherleg (Platycnemis latipes), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Barn (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Common (Urraca / Pica pica) and Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).
We drove around to the far side of this spot and parked by a surprisingly dried out pool on the track side, there was a small amount of water in the roadside corner but we only found another Red-veined Darter here.
We walked back along the track to the small stream which crossed the track and quickly found a couple of very smart male Southern Skimmers (Orthetrum brunneum), a couple of male Keeled Skimmers (Orthetrum coerulescens), 1x male Mercury Bluet (Coenagrion mercuriale), as well as Spanish Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli) and Swallowtail (Papilio machaon), Sage Skipper, Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Southern Gatekeeper (Pyronia cecilia), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina), Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Bath White (Pontia daplidice) and Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi).
On our way up to the Laguna Grande we stopped on the Arroyo de La Viñuela where Bent had a lifer when we saw a Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) sat up on the tops of some reeds. We also recorded Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Hoopoe, Keeled and Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma).
We drove up the track to Laguna Grande only to find the Bunny blasters had moved across to this area but we parked and walked down to the lake anyway, on the water we again saw Mallard, Eurasian Coot, Common Moorhen, Little Grebe and added Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina) and Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus). In the woods and around the margins European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) were seen.
Over the water and on the twigs in the water we saw several new species of Dragon including Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria), Small Red-eyed (Erythromma viridulum), Scarlet (Crocothemis erythraea) and Red-veined Darter, Orange-winged Dropwing, Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope), Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator),  Black Pennant (Selysiothemis nigra) and Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum).
As we were leaving the site we came across another one of Bents target species, a fine male Common Golden Ringed Dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltonii) which showed well on a track side root.
We moved on and went back around to Laguna Chica which was gun free by this time so we parked by the old ruin and searched the areas around the walls and soon found a couple of Common Winter Damselfly (Sympecma fusca) which were also new for Bent. In this area we also saw several Common Blue Damselflies (Enallagma cyathinerum) and a few Dainty Damselflies (Coenagrion scitulum).

Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator).

After a lunch stop in Salinas we headed for the last stop of the day at Balsa de Rigedor just off the A92 were we saw several stunning male Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata) which was Bents dragon of the trip. We also had Orange-winged Dropwing, Blue / Common Emperor female, Black-tailed Skimmer, Red-veined Darter, Small Red-eyed, Long Skimmer, White Featherleg and Scarlet Darter. We also had a calling Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Common Pochard, Mallard, Little Grebe, Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) before heading back towards Granada and then home.

La Malaha fields, the Cacín Valley and Moraleda Fields, Granada Province.

A day out on the patch with Bent Halfdan Pedersen, Mette, Nanna and Sophie from Denmark.

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

I met Bent and his family at their hotel in the city for the first of three days out and about and we headed south west out on to the fields near La Malaha calling in at a semi derelict Cortijo on the way.

We walked down in to the nearby barranco adding Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica). We also had Blue-winged Grasshopper (Oedipoda caerulescens), Small White (Pieris rapae) and Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus).

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

We moved on and out on to the fields near La Malaha, making several stops on the road before taking to the tracks heading over to Ventas de Huelma, on the way we had good views of around 15 Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), a distant Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus) which was sat on a pylon surrounded by several Lesser Kestrels (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni) on the wires, Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur) and Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator).

Once we were off the tracks we headed across country to a spot near to Moraleda picking up Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans) and Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus) on the way. 

We drove slowly along a row of very old roadside Almond trees looking for some of my regular Little Owls (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) but only found one of the youngsters was in but it performed well, giving us all great views and Mette was particularly happy as it was a birds she had wanted to see.

Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis) male.

We next headed out on to the fields nearby and spent some time searching the fields from the tracks and found Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli), Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and our main target species two Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis), a fine male and his well camouflaged female.

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

Lunch came next down in the bar in El Turro before we headed south along the Cacín Valley to the bridge over the river, here we had a look from the bridge seeing Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Large White (Pieris brassicae), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Garden Warbler (Curruca Mosquitera / Sylvia borin) and House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica).

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

We then walked along the track to the area near the dam picking up Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Bridge Spider (Larinioides sclopetarius), Sriped Shieldbug (Graphosoma italicum), Carpentor Bee (Xylocopa violacea), Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathinerum), White Featherleg (Platycnemis latipes) and a cracking Western Willow Spreadwing (Chalcolestes viridis) which was a really good find by Nanna. 

Our next stop was up at the Contra-embalse de Bermejalis, on the way we saw several European Bee-eaters (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus). From where we parked at the embalse we had a pair of Marsh Harriers (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) over the reed beds and on the water there were loads of Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), 5x Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), 1x Egyptian Goose (Ganso del Nilo / Alopochen aegyptiaca), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Common (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) and Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus).

We headed south to Cacín and then went up over the ridge seeing another very nice Short-toed Eagle on the way but we did not see a great deal during the drive and it was getting very warm so we headed back in towards the city where I dropped Bent, Mette, Nanna and Sophie off at their hotel and headed back home.

Salina La Tapa, Cadiz Province and Gibraltar.

A hot disappointing visit to the Saltpans and a nice afternoon buying some whisky on Gibraltar.

Jayne and I left the hotel in Sanlucar after a cracking evening the night before and headed south towards El Puerto de Santa Maria where I dropped Jayne off at one of the Shopping Centers near to Salina La Tapa where I tried to go and do some birding but between access problems and to many strange people hanging around in the bushes I gave up fairly quickly but not before I found several Curlew Sandpipers (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea), Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Little Tern (Charrancito Común / Sterna albifrons), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and Red-veined Darters (Sympetrum fonscolombii) which were everywhere.

I gave up and went and picked Jayne up and we headed south down the motorway towards Gibraltar going through the Los Alcornocales Natural Park passing Embalse de Barbate and Embalse de Charco Redondo. On the way I saw Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia). 

We parked in La Linea and then walked on to Gib and did some shopping before returning to the car and then driving home.

Los Palacios Y Villafranca, Chipiona, Playa de Montijo and Sanlucar de Barrameda

Two Spanish Lifers and a great evening in Sanlucar.

Laughing Dove (Streptopelia senegalensis).

Jayne and I headed off West along the A92 towards Sevilla and then down to Los Palacios Y Villafranca the El Pantano area just South of the town. On the way I saw Iberian (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) and Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula).

Laughing Dove (Streptopelia senegalensis).

After breakfast we went down to the spot by the El Pantano on the southern side of Los Palacios Y Villafranca where I parked in the shade so that Jayne was comfortable reading and I went for a walk along the main track. I quickly built the day list with some Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus) which were coming into the reed beds on the far side of the site, Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Grey (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and Squacco Heron (Garcilla Cangrejera / Ardeola ralloides), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis) and a couple of Whiskered Terns (Fumarel Cariblanca / Chilidonias hybridus) which were returning with bills full of small fish.

Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus).

I then had brief views of the target species when an adult Laughing Dove (Streptopelia senegalensis) which flew right passed me and down to the water and then up in to a Tamarisk tree where it joined a second bird before flying over to some Prickly Pears right next to where Jayne was sat in the car.

I moved back around to the car and we spent a while watching the one bird fly across the road in front of us several times, it dropped down into a paddock area and collected seed and nest building materials.

Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

In this area we also had several European Bee-eaters (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Reed (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) and Western Olivaceous Warbler (Zarcero Pálido Occidental / Hippolais opaca), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), a group of aroun 50 or so passing White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and of course the Laughing Doves which showed very well, giving me the chance to get a few distant shots.

European Bee-eaters (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster).

We moved around to the other side of the river and had a look at the wetland area there seeing many more Glossy Ibis, Cattle and Little Egrets, Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), adult and Juvenile Whiskered Terns and loads of Red-veined Darters (Sympetrum fonscolombii).

Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus) and Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

From here we headed off south down to Chipiona and found a parking near the port. We then walked down to the beach where Jayne went for a walk along the prom whilst I tried to get some shots of the

Little Swifts (Vencejo Moro / Apus affinis) from the Grassy area just outside the port walls. In the same area I picked up Pallid (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) and Common Swifts (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and couple of Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus).

Little Swift (Vencejo Moro / Apus affinis).

I met Jayne as she was walking back towards the Port, she said she had found a place just down the way where we could have something to eat which we did. 

Little Swift (Vencejo Moro / Apus affinis).

Later I dropped Jayne off for a couple of hours in a shopping center whilst I went down to Playa de Montijo where I parked on the beach and scanned the beach and rocks which had just been exposed by the dropping tide. Straight away I could see loads of birds including 100+ Little Terns (Charrancito Común / Sterna albifrons), plenty of Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba) and Kentish Plovers (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus) which were the commonest waders. 

Elegant Tern (Charrán Elegante / Thalasseus elegans), Sandwich Terns (Charrán Patinegro / Thalasseus sandvicensis) and Little Terns (Charrancito Común / Sternula albifrons).

They were accompanied by 3x Eurasian Oystercatcher (Ostrero Euroasiatico / Haematopus ostralegus), 4x Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus) were joined by 20 or so more birds as the tide dropped, 1x Bar-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colipinta / Limosa lapponica) which came in with one of the groups of Whimbrel but settled to roost amongst the Gulls, Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), 1x Red Knot ( Correlimos Gordo / Calidris canutus), 1x Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), 2x Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus) and 2x Grey Plover (Chorlito Gris / Pluviali squatarola), a summer plumage and one winter looking bird.

Elegant Tern (Charrán Elegante / Thalasseus elegans), Sandwich Terns (Charrán Patinegro / Thalasseus sandvicensis), Black Tern (Fumarel Común / Chlidonias niger) and Little Terns (Charrancito Común / Sternula albifrons).

As the tide dropped further good number of Sandwich Terns (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis) started to come in and bath and the roost on the sandbar and rocks, I kept scanning through these birds looking for orange bills but I did not find any so I walked back towards the car and set the scope up again scanning the sea picking up two groups of Scopoli's / Cory's Shearwater (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea / borealis) totalling 13 birds, a single Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) and then a loud calling Tern which came in from the East and passed in front of me going to the roost and I soon picked out the Orange bill it had. 

Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus).

I jumped to an incorrect ID of it being an adult Lesser-crested Tern (Charrán Bengalés / Thalasseus bengalensis) but because I got some distant shots Javi Elorriaga from Birding The Strait was able to say it was an adult Elegant Tern (Charrán Elegante / Thalasseus elegans). I walked back along the beach to the main area of sand where the Terns were roosting and I found the adult bathing and what was probably it's juvenile hybrid on the sand but as soon as I got there the second bird flew off along the coast but the adult remained and gave me good views. 

In the same flock I also had a Common Tern (Charrán Común / Sterna hirudo) and a immature Black Tern (Fumarel Común / Chlidonias niger). On the beach I also found Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus) and an immature Audouin's Gull (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii).

3x Eurasian Oystercatcher (Ostrero Euroasiatico / Haematopus ostralegus).

I returned to the car and then picked up Jayne before we made our way to the hotel Los Helechos in Sanlucar where we chilled for a while before heading out on to the town for drinks and tapas. After eating we went for a walk along the sea front to a bar at the far end prom where we had a drink and sit for a while before walking back. On the way we were passed by the towns tourist train so we took a ride around the town with a good crowd of Spanish tourists and enjoyed it very much before returning to the hotel well shattered but after a cracking night.

OK, a bit of an after note. At the time when I saw these Terns on the beach at Playa Montijo I originally thought that they were Lesser-crested Tern (Charrán Bengalés / Thalasseus bengalensis) but from the photo's above Javi corrected me and said the bird in the shot was an Adult Elegant Tern. Today (8th Sept) I was looking through the shots and a penny dropped, the immature hybrid would have a dark bill !!! So I looked at  the shots again and in the one photo I have a Lesser Crested Adult flying over the top of the Elegant which makes more sense as I saw two adult orange billed terns when I first saw them but the one disappeared when I was photographing the other.

RAM, Coast Granada and Charca Suarez, Granada Province.

A morning down on the Granada Coast with good friend Juan Pérez Contreras and Eviromental agent / Consultant for the Motril area Verónica.

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

I picked up Juan Pérez Contreras from Granada, and we headed down to Peñón de Jolúcar near to Torrenueva where we were going to carry out the RAM seabird count, on the parking area we met up with Verónica an Environmental Agent / Consultant from the Motril Town Hall. 

We walked up to the cliffs where we set up and straight away we counted 19 European Shag (Cormorán Mondudo / Phalacrocorax aristotelis) either on the sea or coming off the cliffs, loads of the usual noisy Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and a single Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) which was the only one we saw all morning.

During the main count the commonest species and pretty much the only proper seabird recorded was the Scopoli's / Cory's Shearwater (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea / borealis), we also saw Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii) and Mediterranean Gulls (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) and a couple of Gull-billed Terns (Pagaza Piconegra / Gelochelidon nilotica), an adult and an juvenile.

Juan and Verónica checking on one of the areas to possibly be protected.

Around us, we also had large numbers of Pallid Swifts (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), a couple of Red-rumped Swallows (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica) and 2 Eurasian Turtle Doves (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur) as we walked back down to the car. 

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

Our next stop was on a nearby beach where Juan and Verónica were involved in the protection of some vegetated areas at the top of the beach where both Kentish (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus) and Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) breed but have been struggling due to the cleaning machinery destroying the nests and from disturbance from people walking through the areas going to the beach. 

As a temporary measure there have been signs and tape put up and this was partly successful but today Juan and Verónica were talking about a more permanent solution.
Whilst on the beach we saw more Audouin's, Med and Yellow-legged Gulls, Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Scopoli's / Cory's Shearwater, female and juvenile Kentish Plovers, European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), European Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and on a rock further along the coast a group of roosting European Shags.

Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis).

We drove back along the coast heading for Charca Suarez, picking Verónica's van up on the way as well as seeing a Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus). 

Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis).

We parked and entered the reserve with just two hours for the visit, as we walked towards the new hide overlooking Laguna Blanca we stopped at one of the canals and checked the dragonflies finding Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator) x1M, Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea) x2M, Iberian Blue-tail (Ischnura graellsii) x9 and Small Red-eyed (Erythromma viridulum) x1M.

Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus) bad shot as I knocked camera on to wrong settings.

As we stood there a male Little Bittern (Avetorillo Común / Ixobrychus minutus) flew passed twice and we heard both Common Reed (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) and Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) calling and watched a Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa) cross the channel a couple of times whilst Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi) crocked in the reeds.

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

We sat in the main hide amongst the line of photographers watching Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Red Avadavat (Bengali Rojo / Amandava amandava), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) as well as Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum) 2xM and 1 pair in tandem and a male Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope) which patrolled up and down the reeds to the right of the hide.

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

We walked around to the main hide, on the way I heard European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) and saw African Grass (Nina esmaltada / Zizeeia knysna) and Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Black Percher (Diplacodes lefebvrii) x1TM and several Carpentor Bees (Xylocopa violacea).

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

From the hide we saw loads of Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and several Red-knobbed (Focha cornuda / Fulca cristata), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and European Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio).

Time was almost up so we walked back to the exit, adding just Yellow Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) on the way.

Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus).

Juan and I said goodbye to Verónica before I dropped Juan just down the road where he was meeting Beatriz his wife and Chika the dog on the beach for the rest of the day.

Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio).

I then headed home picking up Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) and Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) on the way and Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus) and Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) in the fig tree.

Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus).

Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea).

Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea).

Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata).

Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata).

Pinos Genil, Granada Province.

A great evening with Jayne, friends Beatriz and Juan and a glow worm.

Female Glow Worm (Nyctophila reichii).

Jayne and I headed up to Pinos Genil but parked at a spot around 3km short of the Resturant where we were going to eat, being as English as us Beatriz and Juan were already there with Chika their dog waiting to get going. We were soon on our way, on the track along the river we picked Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

We also saw  Fragrant Clematis (Clematis flammula) and Soapwort (Saponaria officinalis) on the way to Pinos where we had some very good food again at the Restaurante Mesón Casa Guillermo on the side of the Rio Genil.

It was dark by the time we started the walk back but Juan found a single glowing Glow Worm (Nyctophila reichii) in the track side vegetation. It's glow is lost in this shot due to the torch and flash but shows the female nicely.

Home near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

New beast for the garden list.

Jayne found this smart looking chap on the back door insect curtain and I relocated it to a nice rook before taking some shots which helped me to put a name to it which I think is Cerambyx welensii, a big Longhorn Beetle found down here in Southern Spain.