Sierra Nevada, Granada Province, Spain.

A Butterfly day in the mountains of Granada Province.

Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe).

I left Home and made my way up to Granada where I was going to meet up with Steve and Elena Powell for a day in the hills looking for butterflies, on the way I started the list with Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and

Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae).

I arrived at the meeting point and found a few more bits before Steve arrived including Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).

Apollo (Parnassius apollo).

Steve and Elena arrived and fully masked up we went off up to the car park at 2500 making one roadside stop on the way when we saw a pale morph Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus) soaring above a nearby hill, whilst parked we also had a family party of Northern Wheatears (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), a small group of Linnets (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), a display flying Tawny Pipit (Bisbita Camprstre / Anthus campestris), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and a fly over Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia).

Long-tailed Blue (Lampides baeticus).

As we moved on up towards the car park at 2500m we had a herd of Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Cabra pyreaica) chilling on a rocky out crop.

Nevada House Leek (Sempervivum minutum).

We parked and walked up to the gate house finding Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), one of which was carrying food to a nest in a small shed nearby and as we started to walk out towards the Hoya de San Juan a flock of Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) circled us several times and passed by several times during our walk.

Spanish Brassy Ringlet (Erebia hispania).

As we walked out we had several family parties of Northern Wheatears quite close to the path and the first Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) of the day. Further on we added Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), the first of just a few Apollo (Parnassius apollo) of the Nevada subspecies, several Long-tailed Blues (Lampides baeticus) and on a rocky scree area a female Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush (Roquero Roja / Monticola saxatilis).

Purple-shot Copper (Lycaena alciphron).

We continued on out towards the area of Burreguiles at the head of the barranco de San Juan, on the way we had Nevada House Leek (Sempervivum minutum), Anarrhinum laxiflorum, Eryngium glaciale, Dianthus subacaulis ssp brachyanthus, Ptilotrichum spinosum, Sideritis glacialis, Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea), Leontodon boryi, Erigeron frigidus, Euphrasia willommii, a single Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Spanish Brassy Ringlet (Erebia hispania) which was one of the few butterflies seen in any numbers, Purple-shot Copper (Lycaena alciphron), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), the first of a few Idas Blue (Plebejus idas) and just as we reached the wetter areas a smart Nevada Blue (Polyommatus golgus) sat out on the track.

Idas Blue (Plebejus idas).

In the area of the Gullies I found lots of plants including Robust Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza elata), Mediterranean Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria), Alpine Gentian (Gentiana alpina), Gentiana boryi, Gentiana sierrae, Plantago nivalis, Saxifraga stellaris ssp alpigena, Grass of Parnassus (Parnassia palustris), Black Sedge (Carex nigra / Carex negro), the tiny uncommon Moonwort (Lunaria menor / Botrychium lunaria) and Lotus corniculatus subsp glacialis.

Nevada Blue (Polyommatus golgus).

As we walked back we found Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Tawny Pipit, more Northern Wheatears, Carpentor Bee (Xylocopa violacea), Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) and Small White (Pieris rapae).

Robust Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza elata).

Once we returned to the car we dropped down to our next stop on one of the tracks out on to the ski runs from the resort, on the rocks near the barrier we saw a family of Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and as we walked out on to the track towards the first of the wet areas a Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus) flew up the valley.

Gentiana sierrae.

I walked up the damp area I also added a couple of White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), more Robust Marsh Orchids, Clouded Yellow and just down the track on the Horse Mint (Mentha longifolia) a couple of Bath Whites (Pontia daplidice), Purple-shot Coppers and further along the track the first of quite a few Iberian Marbled White (Melanargia lachesis), Nevada Blue, our only Dark-green Fritillary (Speyeria aglaja) of the day, Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris) and Mountain Argus (Aricia montensis).

Gentiana boryi.

We dropped down to the area just below the Botanic gardens and checked an area of Thistles and Button Flower seeing Great Banded Grayling (Brintesia circe), Southern Brown Argus,  Thread-winged Lacewing (Nemoptera bipennis), a mating pair of Clouded Yellows, Large Psammodromus (Psammodromus algirus) and Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra).

Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe).

We made another stop near the visitors center checking a short area of roadside verge but a lot of the tall thistles that the butterflies usually enjoy had been hacked back so we only added a coupe of Small Skippers (Thymelicus sylvestris), Silver-studded Blue (Plebejus argus), a single Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra), Grayling (Hipparchia semele) and another few Southern Brown Argus.

Southern  Brown Argus (Aricia cramera).

Just up the road we took the old road down towards Guejar Sierra and after a few Km we pulled on to an area of grassland and on a rocky patch we had soon found a couple of new species, firstly there was a very smart Lesser-spotted Fritillary (Melitaea trivia), which was quickly followed by a Dusky Heath (Coenonympha dorus), Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina), False Ilex Hairstreak (Satyrium esculi), both Iberian Scarce (Iphiclides feisthameli) and Swallowtail (Papilio machaon).

Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus).

Then on the opposite side of the road a possible Lulworth Skipper (Thymelicus acteon), Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus) and Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica).

Iberian Marbled White (Melanargia lachesis).

Continuing on along the narrow road we dropped down to our next stop by a roadside water fountain, as we walked back up the road we saw several Spanish Purple Hairstreak (Laeosopis roboris) which occasionally dropped down and sat on the Wild Clematis (Clematis flammula), where Steve managed to get some underwing shots when perched for him. I only managed to get one that landed but instantly opened its wings full but still superb to see.

Mountain Argus (Aricia montensis).

In the same area we had Iberian Marbled Whites, Wall Brown, Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous), Large White (Pieris brassicae), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Coal Tit (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater), Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli) and as we drove down to the last but one stop a Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius) crossed the road.

Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) mating pair.

We again parked on the roadside and had a short walk, I checked a spot of some Orchids I had seen in the passed but both the Robust Marsh Orchids and the Epipactis Fageticola were dry and over with. 

Lesser-spotted Fritillary (Melitaea trivia).

Butterfly wise it was very quiet and we only added Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) and the last site down near the village was even quieter and all we saw heard was a Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus) before we set off back to my car and then home.

Silver-studded Blue (Plebejus argus).

Silver-studded Blue (Plebejus argus).

Nevada Blue (Polyommatus golgus).

Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina).

???????????

Huge Hoverfly Species.

Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe).

Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria).

Dusky Heath (Coenonympha dorus).

Iberian Marbled White (Melanargia lachesis).

Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous).

Spanish Purple Hairstreak (Laeosopis roboris).

Arroyo Vilano, La Fabrica, Granada Province.

First venture out of the Garden with the camera.

Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea).

After a few hours in the garden I decided to walk down to the Arroyo which was around 15 minutes walk from the house through the Olive groves, on the way I heard and saw Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), a singing Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) and Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris).

Southern Skimmer (Orthetrum brunneum).

Once I reached the Arroyo I went upstream a short way and found the first of around 8 male Southern Skimmers (Orthetrum brunneum), Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea) x2 Males, Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis). 

Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens).

Along the margins there were Small Fleabane (Pulicaria vulgaris), Rush Loosestrife (Lythrum junceum), Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi), Viperine Snake (Culebra Viperina / Natrix maura) and Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus).

Small White (Pieris rapae).

I walked back to the bridge and then walked down stream for a while adding Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), a Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia) which had managed to get it's self tangled in some sticky trigs but went off ok after a detangle, Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild) and Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti). 

Mallow / False Mallow (Carcharodus alceae / tripolinus).

On the insect front I saw Iberian Bluetail (Ischnura graellsii), Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens), Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma), a single teneral male Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi), Four-spotted Moth (Tyta luctuosa), Mallow / False Mallow (Carcharodus alceae / tripolinus) and  Rosy Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus onopordi), Holly (Celastrina argiolus), Common / Southern Blue (Polyommatus icarus / celina) and African Grass Blue (Zizeeia knysna) and both Bath (Pontia daplidice) and Small White (Pieris rapae).

Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus).

As with most days at the moment I also had one of the fire fighting helicopters pass over the site.

I got back to the bridge and walked back through the Olives and apart from being checked on by the Guardia Civil, who were happy with what I was upto I did not see a single person. 

Four-spotted Moth (Tyta luctuosa).

Later I went up to the track at the back of Hacho adding Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) and Red-necked Nightjar (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis) to the list.

African Grass Blue (Zizeeia knysna).

Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens) old female.

The fire fighting helicopter.

Rosy Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus onopordi).

Home near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Fire on the hill side nearby.

Into the smoke.

This mornings task was to sort out the bottom accommodation which I am pleased to say did not take too long. Bit of filler and a swip of paint, a wipe and mop and it was done by lunch time. 

Heavy lifter.

At around 12.00 I notice a small aircraft and then a large plum of smoke over the next nearby ridge, as the afternoon went on the fire grew as did the number fire fighters.

Bombing the target.

I walked up the hill and watched from there as 3 Helicopters and 2 fixed winged aircraft tackled the fire and then 6 or so Bombero Local in Loja and Bombero Forestal Trucks came to do the hard ground work. 

Going back to fill up again and again.

I am now righting this at 18.30 and I am still hearing planes but looks as if it almost out. Very lucky that there was not a breath of wind today so the fire was slow moving up the hillside.

One of the fixed wings after dropping a long red line of fire retardent.

On the far side of the fire.

In bound with another load fron the Rio Genil.

Home near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Getting the house back in shape.

Ready for some birding.

Yesterday I got one of my favourite places sorted, the terrace, where I have masses of memories. So it was good to spend some time up there birding, today it was back to work as the bottom room and lower terrace were swamped by weeds and Periwinkle. Some shots of the upper terrace and the temp.

The Ikea Corner.

Later in the day I went for a walk around the loop of Huétor Tajar and to get my steps in, a short spur off up the Loja road. 

On the way round I had Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) 200+, the escaped collection Barnacle Goose (Barnacla Cariblanca / Branta leucopsis), other feral Geese and Ducks, Western House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica).

Many a good meal been had here.

Along the Loja road amongst the Asparagus fields I heard a Eurasian Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) and watched a hawking Red-necked Nightjar (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis) in the very last of the light as I sat on a bench.

The front Yard.

Tad Warm.

Home near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

A day working and relaxing up on the Terrace.

Up at 06.30 as awake before the alarm so I thought that I may as well start whilst it was cool so I went up on to the terrace. I got the clean underway with a male Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus) singing just up the Valley and down in the barranco and amongst the Olives there was a male Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), lots of Iberian  Magpies (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur).

I finished the terrace faster than expected so I popped down to the town to collect a couple more irrigation parts and then came back quickly, on the way there and back I saw Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and a roosting Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) which was sat on a telegraph pole along the lane back to the house.

Once back I spent a couple of hours sat up on the terrace adding Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), a distant Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus) over the Olives along with several Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and a couple of Red-rumped (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica).

I went inside and did a few more jobs before returning to the Terrace again but only new species was a group of Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) flying down towards the fields. During the afternoon I also had Cleopatra (Cleopatra / Gonepteryx cleopatra), Small White (Pieris rapae), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Tree Grayling (Hipparchia statilinus), Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi), Moorish Gecko (Tarentola mauritanica) and a young Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus). 

Home near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

A few garden birds whilst sorting the yard.

Up at 07.00 again and out sorting the front of the house and later the roof terrace, whilst I was out I heard and saw Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and during the early evening a male Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus) which was singing from the Fig tree by the back door.

As the evening went on I set up the Moth Trap and spent a while listening to a calling Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) and Red-necked Nightjar (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis).

During the day I also had some butteflies in the yard at the front of the house whilst I was sorting all the pots including Geranium Bronze (Cacyreus marshalli), Cleopatra (Cleopatra / Gonepteryx cleopatra) and Small White (Pieris rapae).

Home near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Cleaning the house followed by a night time walk.

After my first night back in the house in Spain I got up at 07.00 and threw myself straight into getting things sorted inside the house which took me most of the day so I did not see anything out side. Late in the evening I went for a walk up the hill and along the lane but all I added was a calling Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) away down the hill in the dark.

Malaga, Travelling Back Home to Spain.

A day of mixed emotions.

Today and the few days running up to it were always going to be difficult as I was going to be leaving all the people who, even though they were going throught the same thing as me and some even more kept me saine after what had been a very difficult 2 years. Can't thank Jayne's and My family enough but it was now time to head back home and start to sort out things at the Spanish end, which was going to have a whole load more emotions to cope with.

The flight was around three quarters full and went off with out event, as did the bus into Malaga station where I had a two hour wait until the next train up to Loja, during this time I saw Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus) x8, Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) x2.

Once I was back at the house I started to get sorted and heard the first European Bee-eaters (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) flying over and several Iberian  Magpies (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) as they plundered the Fig trees.

Later I went for a walk and had a later night fly over by a Red-necked Nightjar (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis) and heard a Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) out in the Olives.

Belvide Res, Staffordshire and Green Lane, Albrighton, Shropshire.

A very nice evening with very good friends and some good birding.

Blackcaps (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla).

I arrived at the car park where there were quite a few cars and birders already looking for the 2nd summer Laughing Gull (Gaviota Guanaguanare / Larus atricilla) which was found the day before by Steve Nutall @belvidebirding

Blackcaps (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla).

I arrived about 10 minutes ahead of Sharon and John so I took a slow walk out towards the Gazibo Hide, on the way I watched hundreds of Common Swifts (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Greylag (Ansar Común / Anser anser) and Canada Geese (Barnacla Canadiense /Branta canadensis), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Common Tern (Charrán Común / Sterna hirudo).

Blackcaps (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla).

I spent some time checking the bushes aon the way as well hearing and seeing Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis)  Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Sedge Warbler (Carricerin Común / Acrocephalus schoenobaenus), Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and a family of Blackcaps (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), the 4 juv's stayed on a branch in a rose bush long enough for me to take a few photo's.

Laughing Gull (Gaviota Guanaguanare / Larus atricilla).

Just at this point Sharon and John turned up and after looking at the Blackcaps we walked down to the Gazibo hide where we had a look for the Gull but could not see it, however we did find Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Tufted Duck (Porrón Monudo / Aythya fuligula) and over on the far shore a single Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus).

Laughing Gull (Gaviota Guanaguanare / Larus atricilla).

We moved on around towards the West hide as the bird was meant to have move but just a few yards along the track we found some birders who were watching it so we had good views but the light was bad so my photographs are rubbish. 

Laughing Gull (Gaviota Guanaguanare / Larus atricilla).

After watching the bird for a good while we went back to the Hide for a coffee and a chat but also had good views of the Laughing Gull again in flight. Other species seen included Goldeneye (Porrón Osculado /Bucephala clangula), Eurasian Oystercatcher (Ostrero Euroasiatico / Haematopus ostralegus), Pheasant (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus), Stock Dove (Paloma Zurita / Columba oenas), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) and as we walked down to the Spill Way Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major) which was heard calling in the woods.

Laughing Gull (Gaviota Guanaguanare / Larus atricilla).

We returned to John and Sharons car where John cracked open a couple of bottles of Beer, the one Shropshire Lad was nice but the second a Ruby beer was not to my taste but it was nice to just stand and chat for a while and whilst we did a Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) few into a field on the other side of the road.

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

We went to a second site back in the village of Albrighton, we stopped at the end of Green Lane and walked up to the other end, on the way I pointed out the Territories of the Corn Buntings (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) I had been seeing and quite unexpectidly the pair right at the furtherst point showed very well for us. As we walked we also saw Yellowhammer (Escribano Cerillo / Emberiza citronella), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus).

Stock Dove (Paloma Zurita / Columba oenas).

We had a walk across the fields to the Irrigation lake and recorded Great Crested and Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Mallard, Eurasian Coot but nothing else so we retraced our step back to the car again seeing the Corn Buntings on the way. Once at the car John and Sharon headed back and I went back to the house after a really good evening in good company.

Stock Dove (Paloma Zurita / Columba oenas).

Rutland Water, Rutland.

A few hours with my Son, Becky and my two Grandkids.

I caught the train over to Oakham where I met Alan, Becky, Ryan and Zach at Rutland water were we had a nice Picnic and then spent the next few hours having a great time entertaining Ryan and Zach or more so Ryan, it was great.

Whilst walking round I did see a couple of Red Kites (Milano Real / Milvus milvus) and a very smart Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).

Been a very long time since I did this.