Laguna Dulce, Rio Turron and the Guadalhorce at Alora, Malaga Province.

Birding and Dragons.

A female Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) in the early morning light before sun rise.

I set off quite early and I was on site at Laguna Dulce before the sun was up but there was still plenty of activity with the Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and Grey Herons (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) heading out to their feeding sites from the reed bed roosts. 

A female Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) in the early morning light before sun rise.

I walked back along the slip road to view the fields where I could make out the shapes of both Marsh (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) and Montagu's Harriers (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) which were already up and hunting, Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), calling Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) and as the light improved the first of 3 Black-winged Kites (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) hovering over the far shore, later two birds flew right over the hide.

Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus), 6 of the 9.

Around the field edges there were loads of Rabbits (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus) which kept diving for cover as the Harriers patrolled the lake edges as did a Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa) with late family of youngsters who all scampered for cover as they crossed the field.

Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) resting up.

Over and in the reeds I also had Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and a small party of Gull-billed Terns (Pagaza Piconegra / Gelochelidon nilotica) passing by making for the feeding areas.

Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) and a Gull-billed Tern (Pagaza Piconegra / Gelochelidon nilotica) just as the sun was coming up.

I moved around to the toilets / hide, guessing that passing motorist think its acceptable to use the two side parts of the hide as a loo, so so sad that there are such scum bags about.

Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

Anyway I scanned from the left hand side of the hide where I found a group of 9 Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus) feeding but they did not hang around long and were on their way by 08.00, in the same area there were lots of other species including Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Little Ringed (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) x2 and Kentish Plovers (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus) x6, one each of Green (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) and Common Sandpipers (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), plenty of Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), a single Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), masses of House Sparrows (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) down on the margins, Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), a few Spanish (Yellow) Wagtails (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti).

Small Pincertail (Onychogomphus forcipatus) Male.

I moved to the centre section of the hide and check the lake where there were good numbers of ducks and grebes including Red-crested Pochard (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina) and Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), White-headed Ducks (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Little (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and Black-necked Grebes (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis).

Small Pincertail (Onychogomphus forcipatus) Male.

Other species seen around the lake included Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), a single adult Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and a fly through 1st year bird, Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) and then at about 09.00 large numbers of Mallards (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) flew in from the west in three big flocks numbering several hundred birds and mixed in with these birds there were more Red-crested Pochards and a few Northern Shovelers (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata).

Small Pincertail (Onychogomphus forcipatus) Female.

I moved again and scanned from the right hand part of the loo where a few new species were seen, a Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia) was sat on a drooping reed stem along with several Barn Swallows, an immature Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator) was sat in the bottom of a Tamarisk tree feeding on a vary large Cricket species, a Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina) did a fly by and landed out of sight behind a Tamarish, several Woodpigeons (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) flew over with some Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and group of 8 or 9 Greater Short-toed Larks (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla) which carried on out to the fields.

Small Pincertail (Onychogomphus forcipatus) Male.

I then returned to the car and drove around to the far side of the lake on the tracks but it was quiet, I found a group of Western Cattle Egrets feeding on a stubble field along with a single Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), a female Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus which was sat up on a redundant windpump, several flocks of Calandra Lark (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), one of the Black-winged Kites which was sat up high in a distant Tamarisk tree and along the track there were loads of Red-veined Darters (Sympetrum fonscolombii).

Copper Demoiselle (Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis) Female.

I turned around and headed off the area and took the road down towards Malaga, I made a stop at the Raptor watch point looking up at Sierra de Penarrubia and almost straight away I had European Bee-eaters (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), 16+ Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) and a very pale Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus) over head and in the bushes around me Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma) Male.

Just up the road at El Tajo del Molino I spent a while viewing the gorge from the bridge, it was quite productive and I added Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and a Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia) which was drinking in one of the pools below the bridge. 

Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi) Male.

I returned to the Malaga Road adding Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia) and Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) on the way and the continued on to Ardales were I visited a site on the Rio Turón for Dragons, I parked under some roadside Oak trees and walked towards the river. 

Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi) Male.

The access point had changed since my last visit and the old crossing was heavily over grown so I returned to the new cossing and soon found Small Pincertail (Onychogomphus forcipatus), Southern (Orthetrum brunneum) and Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma), White Featherleg (Platycnemis latipes) and Copper Demoiselle (Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis) but only females.

Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi) Male.

There were also a few birds around including Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla) and a noisy family of Nightingales (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos).

Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea).

Butterflies were also nectering on some of the Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) including Small White (Pieris rapae), Lang's Short-tailed (Leptotes pirithous), Long-tailed (Lampides boeticus) and Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina) as well as several large Carpentor Bees (Xylocopa violacea).

Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata) Male.

On my way back to the car I stood and checked the Oak trees finding Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli) and Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).

Common / Southern Blue (Polyommatus icarus / celina).

My final stop of the day was at a spot near Alora on the Rio Guadalhorce, I arrived to find the site was quite different to the last time when Steve Jones and I visited two years ago but thought it was still worth a look. 

Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens)  Male.

There was now just a single fast flowing channel which was very well vegetated so guessed the star insect here the Faded Pincertails (Onychogomphus costae) might e struggling and in a two hour search I saw just a single male but it disappeared almost instantly, however the site know appeared to suit the Ringed Cascaders (Zygonyx torridus) even better as I found at least a dozen males patrolling small stretches of open water between the reeds.

White Featherleg (Platycnemis latipes) Female.

Other insects seen included Copper Demoiselle , White Featherleg, Epaulet Skimmer, Orange-winged (Trithemis kirbyi) and Violet Dropwings (Trithemis annulata), Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea), Lesser (Anax parthenope) and Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator), Blue-eye (Erythromma lindenii) and Iberian Bluetail (Ischnura graellsii).

Blue-eye (Erythromma lindenii) Male.

Before I moved on I did also see several Common Waxbills (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild) and on the drive home I added Alpine Swift (Vencejo Real / Apus melba), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) and Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).

Blue-eye (Erythromma lindenii) Male.

Rio Pesquera, Zagra, Granada Province, Spain.

A walk along the Pesquera Gorge looking for Dragons.

Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi).

I drove out to Zagra via Ventoross de San Jose, on the way I picked up Red-rumped Swallows (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), European Bee-eaters (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens) teneral male.

Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens) teneral male.

Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens) teneral male.

I park near to the start of the walk and droped down into the river where I found a strange looking Horsefly type thing and the first of a great many Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi) which were very common all the way up the river and as I passed through the crags there were several more European Bee-eaters calling, a singing male Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) and a couple of Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) which were feeding along the cliff faces.

Bath White (Pontia daplidice).

Out the other side I followed the river until it reached a pool which made it difficult to pass and the surrounding scrub was impassable and so I turned around.

Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi).

On my way up I found a 3 male and 1 female Violet Dropwings (Trithemis annulata), 2 male Southern Skimmer (Orthetrum brunneum), 4 male Copper Demoiselle's (Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis), Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma) x 1 teneral male and 1 female, a smart male Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator) and a few White Featherlegs (Platycnemis latipes).

Violet Dropwins (Trithemis annulata).

I also saw a few butterfly species including Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli), Mediterranean Skipper (Gegenes nostrodamus) and Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas)

Violet Dropwins (Trithemis annulata).

In the air there were several large flocks of Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), a few fast moving Turtle Doves (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and in the trees and scrub Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla).

Southern Skimmer (Orthetrum brunneum).

As I walked back I found a singles of both Large Pincertail (Onychogomphus uncatus) and Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria), the latter was the first I had seen at this site.

Fly needing a name.

I got back to the car and headed back home, later I did a loop of the town and saw Red-necked Nightjar (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis) and Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) as well as a flock of 500+ Jackdaws (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) going to roost in river side trees.

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

A day with Barbara and Derek Etherton and Andy Patterson up from the coast out on the local patch.

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

We all met up at the Cortijo de Tajar Hotel, had a coffee and then headed out towards the fields around Moraleda where we were looking for Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis) but alas as hard as we tried we did not manage to find or even hear any.

However as we drove out on to the fields we soon had several Red-rumped Swallows (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica) and European Bee-eaters (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) flying over the almonds and several Rock Sparrows (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia) call amongst large numbers of adult and immature Goldfinches (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis).

Before we reached the higher area of fields we also added Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and Iberian Brown Hare (Liebre ibérica / Lepus granatensis).

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

Up on the top fields we did not catch up with very much but in the heat at this time of year it was not surprising, we did find Rock Doves (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Melodious Warbler (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta), a passing Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), the first Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) of several for the day, an adult Roller (Carraca / Coracias garrulus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and as we left the area we had a washed out looking adult Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator) and a Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli) on roadside plants.

As we headed over to another part of the area known as El Temple we picked up a Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) which was sat n a roadside Oak tree, at least 3 Little Owls (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) in some old Almonds, a male Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) which was sat on wires and on the way across the next site Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), loads more Hoopoes which seemed to be just about everywhere and at our first stop we found a pair of the cracking little Black-winged Kites (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), along with a small group of Lesser Kestrels (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni). 

Roller (Carraca / Coracias garrulus) immature.

We dropped of the top fields down into a nearby valley and as we crossed the area heading to Ventas de Huelma we found a few Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), a dark morph Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus) and on a fence an immature Roller.

We crossed from Venta de Huelma to the Cacín Valley adding a distant Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) and House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica).

We stopped in Cacín Village for a drink before making our way up the valley to the Contra Emalse de Cacín, on the way we stopped in a spotunder some trees by the River and found a female Southern Skimmer (Orthetrum brunneum), African Grass Blue (Zizeeia knysna), 2 or 3 Common Crossbills (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra) and a fly through Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur).

We moved on up to the lake, the water level was high but a dozen Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus) still managed to wade out in the shallower areas and a smart Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) was sat up in some dead branches along with a White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

Female Southern Skimmer (Orthetrum brunneum).

Out on the water good numbers of Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina) and Mallards (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos). 

We also had a Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia) and Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) before we dropped down to the bridge over the river below the dam finding Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) and Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera).

We made two more stops, the first in the pines where we only added Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) and the second was to look at the cliffs elow Moreleda but it was dam hot by now and we only managed to see a single Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and a male Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).

Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator).

The final species of the day was a Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) on Balsa de Rigedor as we shot past on the motorway, we finished of with a drink at the hotel and then headed to our home. It was great to see you all and thanks for coming up.

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A walk back from the Mechanic's across the local patch.

I drove down to the Mechanic's, on the way picking up Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) and European Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur). I then walked the 7KM back to the house seeing Western House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), European Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), the escaped Barnacle Goose (Barnacla Cariblanca / Branta leucopsis) was still by the river with the many Greylag type domesticated geese and several Muscovy Ducks (Cairina moschata).

On the far side of the town I continued on across the fields finding Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Eurasian  Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Greater Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus) female, Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala).

12 miles off Rota and Bonanza Saltpans, Cadiz Province.

Out at sea, a quick trip around the salt pans and then a long wait for the breakdown truck.

All masked up and underway.

I was up and about at 05.30 and on my way down to the port of Rota where I dropped lucky with a freebee parking slot right outside the gates. I walked inside and the bar where we were meeting was just opening, I walked in for a coffee and met David Elliot-Binns who was already there. 

Leaving Rota.

Shortly afterwards Derek Etherton and a friend who I don't know the name of (Sorry). We were soon joined by a couple of guys from Gibraltar and shortly after this Javi and Rafa arrived.

Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus).

We made our way down to the boat and Pepe the Captain let us on board and after the chum was on board and we had a safety brief we set off.

Scopoli’s Shearwater (Calonectris diomedea).

We motored out for quite a while picking up the odd Cory's (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris borealis) and Balearic Shearwater (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus), Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and Audouin's Gulls (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii) and much to our suprise just before we reached the first big feeding groups at about 8 miles out some of the group had 3 Grey Herons (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and then even more unexpected a Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).

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

When we reached a large group of around 400 or so Shearwater Javi soon had the chum over the side which pulled in large numbers of Cory's and it appears from photo's Scopoli’s Shearwater (Calonectris diomedea) also visited the area as well as a couple of Great Shearwaters (Pardela Capirotada / Ardenna gravis) which was my number one target for the trip and a single Manx Shearwater (Pardela Pichoneta / Puffinus puffinus) which was bird of the trip for Javi.

Scopoli’s Shearwater (Calonectris diomedea).

In the same feeding area we also recorded a single Pomarine (Págalo Pomarino / Stercorarius pomarinus) and several Great Skua's (Págalo Grande / Stercorarius skua) and a couple more Northern Gannets.

Balearic Shearwater (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus).

Balearic Shearwater (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus).

Balearic Shearwater (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus) and
Scopoli’s Shearwater (Calonectris diomedea)????.

Balearic Shearwater (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus).

The next couple of hours were spent cursing but we did not come across much so we started to head back to the area where we had seen the big numbers of birds and chummed again. 

Great Skua (Págalo Grande / Stercorarius skua).

Great Skua (Págalo Grande / Stercorarius skua).

Another different Pom Skua came in along with most of the already seen species but we did not get any of the hoped for Petrel species.

Pomarine Skua (Págalo Pomarino / Stercorarius pomarinus).

At around 14.00 we got back in to Rota and after a coffee we all headed off, I went out to Bonanza Saltpans and had a quick look round finding Curlew Sandpiper (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea), Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa), Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta), Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus), Western Cattle (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Little Tern (Charrancito Común / Sternula albifrons), Night (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax), Purple (Garza Imperial / Ardea purpurea) and Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax), Common Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Slender-billed Gull (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

Manx Shearwater (Pardela Pichoneta / Puffinus puffinus).

I was on my way out but made a stop to look through a flock of Godwits and when I tried to start the car again there was nothing, battery was fine so I guessed the Starter Motor had packed in. I got on the phone but struggled to get through so I call friends Howard and Santi who soon found me the new number I needed and not long after that I was sorted and waiting for the breakdown guy to arrive. 

Balearic Shearwater (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus).

Considering where I was it only too two extra phone calls and a little longer than usual before the guy was there and agreed it was the motor so he gave me a quick tow, got the car going and I was on my way to the hotel to collect my stuff and then on my way home.

Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) being checked by a couple of Shearwaters 8 miles out.

On the way I did see Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur) and Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).

Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus).

Great Shearwater (Pardela Capirotada / Ardenna gravis).

Feeding Shearwaters.

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

Curlew Sandpiper (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea).

Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa).

Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta) Immature.