Travelling to and on Fuerteventura, Canary Islands.

Travelling and a bit of birding before the Norfolk Gang arrive tomorrow.

Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax).

Jayne and I set the alarm for 03.00 (silly o'clock) and left the house just before 04.00. Jayne dropped me at just before 05.00 and I joined the queue to check in which took an age or it felt like it to patient me 😀😀 but I did fly through security with out an hitches.

Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax).

The flight left bang on time and arrived 15 minutes early even though it had been quite a turbulent trip.

With the bags collected and van hire very efficiently sorted I was quickly on my way west across the island and I did some birding.

Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax).

I started the list with Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis) and 2 Hoopoes (Abubilla / Upupa epops) which flew over the road as I drop towards El Cotillo on the coast. I turned off the main road before the town and took to the tracks and almost straight away I had the first of at least 5 Berthelots Pipit (Bisbita Caminero / Anthus berthelotii), Great Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Norteño / Lanius excubitor koenigi), a couple of Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) sat on a wire and lots more Collared Doves which were by far the commonest species of the day.

La Huesilla Vantage Point.

I continued along this track getting some brilliant views of several Ravens (Cuervo / Corvus corax) before spending a couple of hours sea watching but finding nothing more exciting than Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

I cut inland around a deep dry river bed adding another couple of Berthalots Pipits and just before I reached the coast again a stunning Houbara Bustard (Avutarda Hubara / Chlamydotis undulata), which although quite distant was a belting Lifer for my Spanish List.

Houbara Bustard (Avutarda Hubara / Chlamydotis undulata).

After watching the Bustard for nearly an hour as it walked slowly along a ridge feeding I returned to the coast at La Huesilla Vantage Point and spent some more time sea watching with pretty much the same results except this time I did see a few Cory's Shearwater (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea) and a single Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus) which came in off the sea.

I started to drive back towards the Airport and my hotel in Puerto del Rasario, on the way I had a Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) being mobbed by two more Ravens and quite a few great little Barbary Ground Squirrels (Atlantoxerus getulus) on some walls and Rock piles as well as a couple more Great Grey Shrikes and several Vagrant Emperors (Emperatriz emigrante / Anax ephippiger).

Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus).

I went to the hotel and relaxed for a while before going for a walk to a nearby rocky beach where I found 4 Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), 4 Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and a few more Corys Shearwaters.

Barbary Ground Squirrel (Atlantoxerus getulus).

I later popped out again for some food but the weather closed in and I got a soaking but did see a nice rainbow.

A good start to the trip, looking forward to the rest of the gangs arrival in the morning.

Puerto del Rosario.

El Faro, Fuengirola, Malaga Province.

The best sea watching I have had so far in Spain.

Sooty Shearwater (Pardela Sombría / Puffinus griseus).

Jayne went into the Miramar shopping centre and I went just down the road to the hide on the cliff tops at El Faro where it was blowing a gale which meant the birds were coming past quite close in to shore.

Sooty Shearwater (Pardela Sombría / Puffinus griseus).

I sat, tightly squeezed in to the Eastern end of the hide just about staying out of the high winds and during the three hours I was there I managed to see 1x Sooty Shearwater (Pardela Sombría / Puffinus griseus) which was a Spanish Lifer as well as 1500+ Scopoli's / Cory's Shearwater (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea / borealis) and 300+ Balearic Shearwater (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus), 1x Pomarine (Págalo Pomarino / Stercorarius pomarinus) and 11x Great Skuas (Págalo Grande / Stercorarius skua), 400+ Northern Gannets (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), 5x Sandwich Terns (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), 3x Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) and all the usual Gulls.

Sooty Shearwater (Pardela Sombría / Puffinus griseus).

Other species seen on the rocks below the hide I also saw Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus) and a Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).

Sooty Shearwater (Pardela Sombría / Puffinus griseus).

The best sea watching section I have had since arriving in Spain. 

Sooty Shearwater (Pardela Sombría / Puffinus griseus).

Scopoli's / Cory's Shearwater (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea / borealis).

Scopoli's / Cory's Shearwater (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea / borealis).

Scopoli's / Cory's Shearwater (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea / borealis).

La Malaha and the Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

Birding the local patch with Jo Knight from New Zealand.

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

I met Jo in Granada and we headed straght out into the campo to a spot near La Malaha where we checked out a semi disused Cortijo where we had good views of several Lesser Kestrels (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni) as well as Jackdaws (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Spotless Starlings (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), House Sparrows (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and a distant but noisy Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis).

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

We moved just down the road out into the fields where we made our next stop seeing lots of Collared Doves (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), a Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) which was hunting from some nearby pylons, Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

We moved just down the road where we again scanned the fields picking up a cracking Iberian Grey Shrike in a young almond tree, 17 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) out on a stubble field and lots of Calandra Larks (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) which came past in small groups.

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

In the same area we had a female Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) and lots of Corn Buntings (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

We went across country to the fields near Moraleda adding Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) on the way, once we were out on the fields we picked up Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Tawny Pipit (Bisbita campestre / Anthus campestris), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and just as we were about to move on we found a couple of the target Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis) which were distant and through a heat haze but good to see and around 40 or so Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus).

Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).

Some butterflies were also recorded during the visit to this site including Large White (Pieris brassicae), Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Cardinal Fritillary (Argynnis pandora), Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera) and Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui).

We dropped down off the fields into the valley and then made a stop in the pine trees where we had views of Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra) and Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Long-tailed Tits (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus).

Further along the Valley at the nearby bridge we made another stop hearing and seeing Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes), Cetti's (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and Reed Warblers (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).

Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).

Just up the road we stopped at the Contra-embalse de Cacín and scanned the water and margins finding Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and a couple of latish European Bee-eaters (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) which were moving down the valley.

On our way back towards Granada we crossed the ridge to Ventas de Huelma and then on to the city making one last stop on the way and finished the day list off with Rock Pigeon (Paloma Bravia / Columba livia) and Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata). We returned to the city and Jo headed back to her hotel and I went home.

Moraleda Fields, Sierra Nevada and Huetor Fields, Granada Province.

Out on the local patch and slightly further out.
Kate and Jim Day Eight.
 
Unfortunately the notes for the 2nd and 3rd October were lost along with my rucksac and most of my camera equipment when we were robbed in Tenerife. Any way there are a few species in the photos that we did see.

Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus).

Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus).

Coal Tit (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater).

Crested Tit (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus).

Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera).

Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera).

Sage Skipper (Muschampia proto).

Autumn Crocus (Colchicum autumnale).

Merendera pyrenaica.

Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator).

Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope).

Huetor Fields, Sierra de Loja and Moraleda Fields, Granada Province.

Out on the local patch.
Kate and Jim Day Seven.

Unfortunately the notes for the next two days were lost along with my rucksac and most of my camera equipment when we were robbed in Tenerife. Any way there are a few species in the photos that we did see.

Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura).

Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura).

Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax).

Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Cabra pyreaica).

Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus).

Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus).

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

Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).

Charca Suarez, Cstillo de Ferro,Cerro Gordo and Balsa de Rigedor, Granada Province.

Birds, Reptiles and Butterflies down on the Granada Costa.

Kate and Jim Day Six.

White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).

We drove down to the superb reserve at Charca Suarez near Motril arriving at 09:30 and made straight for the hide over looking Laguna Blanca, on the walk in we came up with 3 Common Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and Common Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus).

Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).

Once we were in the hide we soon had good views of a couple of Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Common Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Red Avadavat (Bengali Rojo / Amandava amandava), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala).

Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).

In the air over the water we saw several Blue / Common (Anax imperator) and Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope), Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum) and Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea).

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

Before we left the hide we were joined by good friend Juan Pérez Contreras and we had a chat before going on around towards the main hide, on the way we picked up Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), European Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), African Grass Blue (Nina esmaltada / Zizeeia knysna), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina ssp hispulla), Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi) and Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta).

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

In the hide we picked out Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Red-rumped (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Red-knobbed Coot (Focha cornuda / Fulca cristata), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) and Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).

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

We started to walk around to the next hide but then I got a call from Juan to say he had found a small, a very small Mediterranean Chameleon (Chamaeleo chamaeleon) back near the hide at Laguna Blanca, so I went back quickly so that Juan did not have to hang around. 

Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca).

I got some shots and then when Kate and Jim we relocated it and they got shots as well, Juan had a wonder again and we went back into the hide where I got brief views of a male Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) and in the air above the hide a rather late European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) calling as it flew West.

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

We spent the next half hour in the hide overlooking Laguna T but we did not find anything new so we decided to head out and along the coast to Castell de Ferro where Jim and I walked up to a spot above the beach and photographed a couple of Desert Orange-tip (Colotis evagore). 

Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata) female.

In the same area we found Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Swallowtail (Papilio machaon), Small White (Pieris rapae), Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala). 

Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus).

We returned West along the Autovia passed Charca again and along to Cerro Gordo where we were hoping for the Two-tailed Pasha (Charaxes jasius), we managed to see one but it did not land and disappeared after a minute or so. 

Red-knobbed Coot (Focha cornuda / Fulca cristata).

We continued to search for a more cooperative insect but did not find one, we did see a female Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and European Crested Tit (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) before having a coffee and heading back to the hotel.

Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis).

Mediterranean Chameleon (Chamaeleo chamaeleon).

Desert Orange-tip (Colotis evagore).

Desert Orange-tip (Colotis evagore).