Guadalhorce, Torremolnos and Guadalhorce again, Malaga Province.

Seeing Mom and bit of birding down on the Malaga Coast.

Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

I started off by headed down to Guadalhorce and having a look at the coast by the Western walkway but it was fairly quiet, however I did see Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus).

Next I made my way into Torremolinos where I met Mom and John at their Hotel and we spent a few really nice hours wandering along the sea front and having some Lunch, this was just a short extra meet as we will be joining them at the hotel for a few days later in their holiday.

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

I dropped them off in the Port of Benalmadina where they caught the tourist bus for a trip around the area and I popped up to Plaza Cantabria just up the road looking for some Bulbuls which had been around for a while but I dipped on them.

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

I did see Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Robin, Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla).

Great Cormorants (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo).

I gave up and dropped back down to Guadalhorce but this time I parked by the church and walked on to the main reserve and then around to the main hide where I spent most of the visit. 

Black-necked Grebes (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis).

Whilst there I recorded Western Cattle (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Little (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) and 2x Great Egrets (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba), 6x Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), 1x Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Little (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and 10x Black-necked Grebes (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), 

Northern Shovelers (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata).

1x Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), 1x Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), 1x Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), 1x Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), 2x Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), lots of Great Cormorants (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), 2x Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas), 2x Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), 5x Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Spotless and 150+ Common Starlings (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), Meadow Pipit and Black Redstart.

Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).

After quite a while I moved on around to the next hide seeing Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Sardinian Warbler, Robin, Song Thrush, Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs canariensis) and one of the Great Egrets which flew across to the far side of the reserve.

Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

I continued on around to the far bank of the reserve and checked the two hides along there but they were quiet except for a single male Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) from the wader pool and what was probably the same Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) as during my last visit but this time along the old river bank.

Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

Down at the coastal watch point I again scanned the sea and was quite surprised to see a single Cory's Shearwater (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea) being harassed by a Great Skua (Págalo Grande / Stercorarius skua) just off shore.

Great Egret (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba).

I walked back to the bridge where I had a Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) before returning to the car and heading home.

Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).

Common Starlings (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris).

Common Starlings (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris).

Sierra de Loja, Huétor Fields, Granada Provice.

A day with 20+ members of the Andalucian Bird Society.

I met the group just off the A92 at the services near Loja where the day list was started off with a group of Iberian  Magpies (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), several House Sparrows (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and several flyover Corn Buntings (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

The plan was to drive the 14km over to the far side of the site in one lump but we did have a couple of stops to have good views of several male Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Cabra pyreaica), Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura) and a couple of fine Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

Once we were in the main area we parked, walked and quickly found our first Ring Ouzels ( Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus) which were on the tops of some high rocks, during the visit we saw around 30 birds of both torquatus and alpestris subspecies.

As we walked along the track towards the crags lower down we heard and briefly saw a single Fieldfare (Zorzal Real / Turdus pilaris) as it disappeared from view over the ridge and away, as well as Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and as we left the road and took to the tracks Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Rock Pigeon (Paloma Bravia / Columba livia), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and up on the cliffs above us 4 or 5 noisy but elusive Alpine Accentors (Acentor Alpino / Prunella collaris).

Some of the group stayed nearer to the main track whilst a few of us took to the ridge where we had another Black Wheatear, a small flock of Rock Sparrows, Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and several Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax).

We returned to the cars and dropped further along the track to where we were turning around but made a stop there and checked the fields and rocks finding more Thekla Larks, a nice male Rock Bunting, Black Redstart and a day time hunting Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

As we dropped down we had a male Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus) and made a stop along the crags where some of the group had a male Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) and then another couple of Alpine Accentors which most of the group got good views of. We finished this part of the day with Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax) along the crags, Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) in the woods as we dropped back to the parking where we had lunch and added Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Iberian / Southern Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala).

After lunch we headed to the fields to the North of Huétor Tajar and had a walk along one of the tracks out into the fields where we started by finding Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) and Crested Larks (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Sardinian Warbler, Black Redstart, Meadow Pipit, 20 odd Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), a single Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Common Stonechat and Common Chiffchaff.
We moved out on to the Mesia road side of the site and checked the channels and reed beds there finding a nice male Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica), Jackdaw, Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Red-legged Partridge, Iberian  Magpie, a flock of around 8 Reed Buntings (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus), Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), Corn Buntings and the last bird of the day a couple of Mallards (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) which dropped n just as the rain started. We all said our goodbyes and headed off in different directions home. Thanks to all those who attended and hope you all enjoyed the day despite the weather not being to kind. If anyone has any more photo's and you are happy for them to be used here please email them to me at lojawildlife@gmail.com

Llanos de Antequera, Fuente de Piedra, Laguna Dulce, Malaga Province.

A muddy drive to the wet West.

Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).

After some heavy rain over the last few day I decided to go and have a look around the wetlands and pools over the boarder in Malaga Province. On the way I picked up Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

My first stop was on the fields at Llanos de Antequera near the town of the same name where I was disappointed and alarmed to see just how much of this once nice open area of fields was now covered in the most intensive Olive planting I have ever seen.

Along the main track  I still found good numbers of Corn Buntings (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and a Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) which was feeding on the edge of the road.

Further along the road I added Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Calandra Lark (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) and around the corner on the track towards the former Laguna Herrera I picked up Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris),

Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and quite a few Mallards (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) on a flooded field.

I left the site and headed up the road to the woodlands near Humilladero where I parked and waited to see what came down and the answer was not a great deal but I did see several Common Crossbills (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax) and Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

I drove on along the side roads to Fuente de Piedra where I was pleased to see lots of water but there were very few birds and during the walk around the pools and from the mirador I only managed to add Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra),

Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), 2x immature Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) which were the only I saw, 2x Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), 4x Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus) and 2x Shelducks (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna).

I drove around the roads to the west of the main lake along some very muddy roads, as I drove around towards the main road down to Laguna Dulce near Campillos I found a flock of 15 Avocets (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), quite a few more Common Cranes, Corn Buntings, Iberian / Southern Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus).

I drove to Laguna Dulce but again it was extreamly quiet but extreamly full and over flowig into the surrounding fields, the only species seen at the site were Eurasian Coot, Mallard, Black-winged Stilt and Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina). I drove back home via Antequera when the rain started to roll in.

RAM and Charca Suarez, Granada Province.

Out and about on the Granada Coast.

Wintering Wryneck (Torcecuello / Jynx torquilla).

I met Juan Pérez Contreras, his wife Beatriz and Chika their dog at their place and we headed down to the coast and up on to Peñón de Jolúcar where we carried out the monthly sea bird count. Species included 5x Great (Págalo Grande / Stercorarius skua) and1x Arctic Skua (Págalo Parásito / Stercorarius parasiticus), 16x Balearic (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus) and 53x Scopoli's / Cory's Shearwaters (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea / borealis), 49x Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), 5x Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), 43x Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), 1x Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), 2x Little (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) and 1x Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and 14x Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo).

Wintering Wryneck (Torcecuello / Jynx torquilla).

More land based birds included 1x Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), 2x Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), 5x Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Rock Pigeon (Paloma Bravia / Columba livia), 2x Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

Female Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica).

Once the bird count was completed we made our way to Charca Suarez wetland where we walked out to the hide over looking Laguna Blanca, on the way we saw loads of Migrant Hawkers (Aeshna mixta), Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus), Common Kestrel, Collared Dove, Black Redstart and Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti). Once we were in the hide we soon found several female Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), 3x Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), 2x Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), in the far reed beds an Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), a couple of groups of Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild) which were flitting around the reeds, a single male Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis), 5x Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Little Egret, Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), 2 calling Water Rails (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), at least three wintering Wrynecks (Torcecuello / Jynx torquilla) two of which were calling loudly and a female Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) which spent quite a while feeding right in front of the hide and joined the Wryneck for a few seconds in the Pampas Grass.

Female Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica).

We walked around towards the main hide over looking the largest of the Lagoons adding Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), a couple of Monarchs (Danaus plexippus), Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), several Stripe-less Tree Frogs (Hyla meridionalis) and from the hide we picked out a good number of Common Pochards, 4x Northern Shovelers (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), 50 or so Mallards, Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), the first of 14 Red-knobbed Coots (Focha cornuda / Fulca cristata) but most were seen on the next pool, Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) and Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa).

Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) and Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago).

On the way to and from the next hide we had Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs canariensis), Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Large White (Pieris brassicae), Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous) and Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi).

Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago).

We walked back to the hide over looking Laguna Blanca but we did not find any new species so we went and checked the hide at the far end of the long pool we know as the Bittern hide, here we had brief views of a wintering Moustached Warbler (Carricerin Real / Acrocephalus melanopogon), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) and a single Western Willow Spreadwing (Chalcolestes viridis).

Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago).

Juan and I went out of the reserve and met Beatriz and Chika on the beach before heading back home via Granada.

Stripe-less Tree Frogs (Hyla meridionalis).

Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).

Guadalhorce, Malaga Province.

A few hours around the pools after dropping Jayne for her trip to the UK.

Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus).

Jayne and I headed down to the coast and in to the airport where Jayne was catching her flight back to the UK to spend time with our Son and Grandson.

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

I went over to the nearby Guadalhorce and started up by the coast and spent some time watching the water from the watch point, I started the list with Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus) and several Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) over the nearby buildings.

Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba).

I drove down to the other end of the area and parked by the church and entered the main reserve and headed for the main hide, as I walked there were clouds of Migrant Hawkers (Aeshna mixta) as well as several Red-veined Darters (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Large White (Pieris brassicae) and Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous).

Once in the main hide I picked up Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Little Egret, Great Cormorant, Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) x5, Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and a female Northern Pintail (Ánade Rabudo / Anas acuta).

Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

I walked around to the next hide over looking another pool where I saw Northern Shoveler, Little Grebe, Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Eurasian Teal and Mallard.

From a mound just along the way I had a hunting male Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) and a female Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).

Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) and Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

I walked down to the beach on the far track as far as the watch point seeing nothing new along the way, out to sea I had all the Gulls seen earlier, Northern Gannet and Sandwich Tern and along the beach as I walked towards the entrance back into the reserve I also had Common Stonechat, another Marsh Harrier and most surprisingly a single Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) which flew up from amongst all the debris which had been washed up after resent storms.

I walked out of the reserve via the main hide again but did not add anything until I was just about to drop down of the river side bank to the car when I saw 4 Great Egrets (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba) drop in to the areas around Laguna Grande.

Tenerife, Canary Islands.

The last morning on the Canaries.

African Blue Tit (Cyanistes Teneriffae / Herrerillo canario).

As usual we were all up for breakfast and then headed out for a couple of hours birding at the picnic site on the way up to Tiede, it was quite cool but sunny when we arrived but it soon started to warm up as the morning went along.

Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major canariensis).

Almost all morning we could hear Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major canariensis) hammering or calling and we had some really nice views of a couple, Ann even managed some really good video footage. 

Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major canariensis).

There were 3 or 4 Tenerife Blue Chaffinches (Pinzón Azul de Tenerife / Fringilla teydea) in the area but none were particularly helpful but we did manage to get some shots. 

African Blue Tit (Cyanistes Teneriffae / Herrerillo canario).

Other species seen included Atlantic Canary (Serin Canario / Serinus canaria), Goldcrest (Reyezuelo Sencillo / Regulus regulus), African Blue Tits (Cyanistes Teneriffae / Herrerillo canario), Canary Island Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Canario / Phylloscopus canariensis), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Rock Pigeon (Paloma Bravia / Columba livia) and Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui).

Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major canariensis).

We dropped back down to the hotel and finished packing and vacated the rooms by 12.00, some of the group had walks in different areas of the gardens seeing a few species. 

Geranium Bronze (Cacyreus marshalli).

Nick had Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla) singing and I added Canary Island Blue (Cyclyrius webbianus) to the butterfly list. 

Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus).

We also had Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus), Geranium Bronze (Cacyreus marshalli),  African Blue Tits, Canary Island Chiffchaff and Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).

Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus).

Once we were sorted and settled the bills we dropped down to the coast for lunch but started our search in Los Christianos but we did not like the look of it and there was just nowhere to park so we made our way back towards La Galletas were we parked by the beach and had a nice meal in one of the nearby restaurants where we could see the van (not that we were getting paranoid much).

Ring-necked Parakeet (Cotorra de Kramer / Psittacula Krameri).

After eating Bob and I went to have a look for the two Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) that had been hanging around on the beach just a few hundred meters away and soon found them.

Ring-necked Parakeet (Cotorra de Kramer / Psittacula Krameri).

We walked back towards the van via a tree filled park and found 3 very smart Ring-necked Parakeet (Cotorra de Kramer / Psittacula Krameri) in one of the palm trees and just before reaching the others had views off 2 Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) and the White-rumped Sandpiper (Correlimos Culiblanco / Calidris fuscicollis) in flight. 

Prickly Pear (Opuntia dillenii).

Nick had also seen a Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) and we had good numbers of Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) in the harbour.

Tenerife Cacti (Euphorbia Canariensis).

We drove just up the road to El Fragile where everyone except for Nick and I decided to have an afternoon snooze, Nick and I went for a walk out on to the area between the urbanization and the sea. 

Canary Island Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Canario / Phylloscopus canariensis).

We found Several Canary Island Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Canario / Phylloscopus canariensis), Spectacled Warbler (Curruca Tomillera / Sylvia conspicillata), Tenerife Cacti (Euphorbia Canariensis), Prickly Pear (Opuntia dillenii), lots of the endemic Tenerife lizards (Gallotia galloti), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), African Grass Blue (Zizeeia knysna) and just as we got back to the van we had a Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and could hear Monk Parakeets (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus) but could not find them.

Canary Island Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Canario / Phylloscopus canariensis).

The next stop was at the southern Airport where Mike, Judy, Nick, Ann and Bob were getting there flight back to the UK and I headed North to the other Airport for my flight back to Malaga.

Tenerife lizard (Gallotia galloti).

At just before 01.00 in met up with Jayne and we travelled home.

Tenerife lizard (Gallotia galloti).

Tenerife lizard (Gallotia galloti).

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui).

Tenerife, Canary Islands.

A wet and cool last full day on the Island.

Berthelots Pipit (Bisbita Caminero / Anthus berthelotii).

The first half of the day was spent up in Santa Cruz sorting documents (an emergency passport for Judy), buying new bags for Judy and I and reclaiming one of the stolen one which had been dumped in the road some way from the crime and found by one very kind local guy.

Once that was all done we had a run back along the Northern coast and up over the mountains with a lunch stop as well.

Bob watching Ann trying her first Sangria, I do believe she enjoyed it.

Due to the weather we did not see a great deal as it seemed to rain heavy whenever we stopped and dry up whilst we were driving.

The day list included Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Berthelots Pipit (Bisbita Caminero / Anthus berthelotii), Laurel Pigeon (Paloma Rabiche / Columba junoniae), Goldcrest (Reyezuelo Sencillo / Regulus regulus teneriffae), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Atlantic Canary (Serin Canario / Serinus canaria), Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major canariensis), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Canary Island Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Canario / Phylloscopus canariensis), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), African Blue Tits (Cyanistes Teneriffae / Herrerillo canario) and Rock Pigeon (Paloma Bravia / Columba livia).

We returned to the hotel at around 16.00 and it was still covered in low cloud and cool.

Later we had our final evening meal of the trip together.