Los Caños de Meca, La Janda, Cadiz Province.

A bit of a Seawatch before a day on La Janda.

 

Snails on the roadside.

I got up and headed over the road to the top of the steps where I set up the scope and scanned to see what was passing. It was calmer but I still had 23x Balearic (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus) and 15x
Cory's Shearwaters (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris borealis), 5x Sandwich Terns (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus).

Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

Before breakfast I also saw Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) lots heading south, Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and a Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata).

Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).

After Breakfast we drove down to the Northern entrance off the road down to Tarifa, on the canal we saw a Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), several White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia) waiting for the thermals to start building, a female Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Barn Swallow and a flight of European Bee-eaters (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) pushing through south.

Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea).

Down towards the junction out to the farm we had a pair of beautiful Black-winged Kites (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) with the male displaying hard to the female, the first of a few Marsh Harriers (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and further along the canal Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), some huge flocks of House Sparrows (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and a good number of Spanish Sparrows (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis) mixed in with them.

Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).

After a coffee just down the road we returned to the track out along the canal and before turning and heading for the farm we had another view of the Black-winged Kites, a very nice Honey Buzzard (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus) which perched nicely for a little while and up on the blue sluice gates Little and Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) were roosting along with a few Jackdaws (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and down on the track side we saw several Red-veined Darters (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Banded Groundlings (Brachythemis leucosticta) and a couple of Swallowtails (Papilio machaon).

Western Cattle (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) and Jackdaws (Grajilla / Corvus monedula).

We turned at the crossing and had another look at the pair of Black-winged Kites there as well as an immature Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) before driving up to the farm, on the way we had another couple of Houney Buzzards, Turtle Doves (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), masses of Goldfinches and Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and amongst the wild Olives a couple of soaring Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus), Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans) and in a small flock of passage birds both Alpine (Vencejo Real / Apus melba) and Pallid Swifts (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus).

Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

At the end of the road we turned right and went out on the track for just a couple of KMs but it was quiet and we only saw another Montagu's and lots of Common Stonechats so we turned around and added for a coffee at Benalup. On the way we stopped a few time adding Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis) and as we dropped down to a wet but quite bare Rice Paddy on our left we saw a group of Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus), several Western Yellow Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava), more Green Sandpipers and then a group of Montagu's Harriers which appeared to be bathing but we soon realised that one bird was actually stuck in the water. 

Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

After trying to think who we could call and came up with nothing I decided to find a way in and then waded the 40 meters or so out to the bird, it tried to flap away but was so water logged I soon caught it and after a short battle with its talons I got hold of it and started back to dry land.

I got back to the car and the walked on for a few hundred yards to a stubble field away from the water where I released the bird, later we drove back past the spot and the bird had moved up on to a ridge and was looking much better and almost fully dried out.

Immature Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus).

We had a coffee and then came back to the area, on the way back in we saw 3 Egyptian Vultures (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus) near the cows carcass we had seen a couple of days ago and along the road up to the dam a Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea), Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina), Small (Pieris rapae) and Bath White (Pontia daplidice).

Birds on the watering bar.

We took the road up through the Olive woods again seeing a female Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus) on the way and lots of Woodpigeons (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) lower down feeding on the sunflower heads.

Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea).

We turned left along the canal and again saw the Kites as well as a fleeting Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), lots of House Sparrows again with several fine looking male Spanish Sparrow mixed in with them and the one of the most wanted species for Kate and Jim a Purple Heron (Garza Imperial / Ardea purpurea).

Immature Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) stuck in the water.

Kates photo as I got to the harrier.

After watching the heron we returned to the main road and headed back to the hotel along the coast road via Zahara de los Atunes and Barbate, on the way we saw Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata) and lots of Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba).

Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).

We reached Barbate where we had something to eat before returning to Los Caños de Meca.

Immature Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) looking much dryer.

Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus).

Purple Heron (Garza Imperial / Ardea purpurea).

Los Caños de Meca, La Janda, Bananza and Barbate Marshes, Cadiz Province.

A day of mixed habitats with a good list of species seen.

White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).

I got up and went down to the beach with the scope to see what was passing by on the sea,the tide was dropping ut there were no waders on the rocks or the beach but out to sea I had Balearic Shearwater (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus) x18, Cory's Shearwater (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris borealis) x4, Northern Gannets (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) x4, Audouin's Gull (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii) x2 along with larger numbers of both Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and a single Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).

White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia) and Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus).

On land or flying past I also saw Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and lots of Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) heading south along the coast.

Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea).

We had breakfast later than I would have liked but Kate was happy, then headed down to the southern entrance to La Janda  getting held up a bit by a large southward migration of the Spanish Military and their vehicles.

Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula).

We turned in and started to check the fences and fields finding Willow Warbler (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), a couple of kettles of migrating White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia) which were just getting airbourne and heading south, the first of several Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and lots of Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii).

Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus).

We turned along the main canal but the morning was cloudy and getting photos was hard going but we did see a Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus) fishing on the channel which Kate hopefully got a few pics of, the first of several Marsh (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) and Montagu's Harriers (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), a couple of flyover Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), large groups of Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus) sat amongst good sized flocks of White Storks, Common (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and Honey Buzzard (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus) the latter perched for a few moments and gave us nice views.

Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope).

We turned at the bridge and took the track up passed the farm but it was quiet and we only added Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Common (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and Lesser Kestrel (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni).

Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus).

At the far end of the track we turned left and headed out towards Benalup seeing Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Black Kite, Egyptian Vultures (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus) x3, Barn Swallow, Jackdaw, Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) and Banded Groundling (Brachythemis leucosticta).

Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus).

The light had dropped and away in the distance to the north we could see some sun shine so we drove north to Bonanza and spent the rest of the afternoon there, on the drive in we stopped by a channel where we found Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope), Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea) and we saw more Western Cattle and Little Egrets.

Slender-billed Gull (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei).

On the drive up to the mid point pump house we saw Little Ringed (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Ringed (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) and Kentish Plovers (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), lots of Sanderlings (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Curlew Sandpiper (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea), several Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Slender-billed Gulls (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei).

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

Past the pump house we added Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta) and once we turned the corner heading down to the far pump house Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus) and 2x Black Storks (Ciguena Negra / Ciconia nigra) which landed on the far side of the large lake near the pump house.

Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba).

From the pump house we saw 3x Western Ospreys (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus), several Little (Charrancito Común / Sterna albifrons) and Caspian Terns (Pagaza Piquiroja / Sterna caspia), loads of Black-tailed Godwits (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa) and  Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia).

Curlew Sandpiper (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea).

As we drove back towards the entrance we had 6x Whimbrels (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus) and a single Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata) on one of the mud banks, a group of Avocets (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta) and Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).

Curlew Sandpiper (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea).

On our way back to the Hotel we called in at Barbate Saltpans where we had another Western Osprey, more Greater Flamingo's, Greenshanks, Yellow-legged and Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata).

Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres).

Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).

Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula).

Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta).

Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus).

Caspian Tern (Pagaza Piquiroja / Sterna caspia).

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

Malaga Airport, Malaga Province, La Janda and Los Caños de Meca, Cadiz Province.

Meeting friends at Malaga and then some birding.

Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

I drove down to Malaga where I was meeting Kate and Jim up and then we were spending a few day over in Cadiz Province around the La Janda area. On my way down I had Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and between the airport and the back way in to La Janda we picked up Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus) and Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) Immature.

Once we reached the road into the North Eastern end of La Janda we had a slow drive in amongst the Rice Paddies where we had at least 4 immature, 2 female and 1 male Montagu's Harriers (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) and on a Cows carcass we counted 16 Griffon and a single Egyptian Vulture (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus).

Further along the road we came across a part flooded Paddy which had quict a bit of mud showing and on this there were several Little Ringed (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) and Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) and Green Sandpipers (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), lots of Western (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava) and several Marsh Harriers (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).

Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) female.

Also seen before we headed for our hotel in Los Caños de Meca were White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Short-toed Eagle, Lesser (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and Western Cattle Egrets.

We arrived at the hotel and all was fine but the only down side of the place was the breakfast time was too late. 

The Cacín Valley, Granada Province, Spain.

Out on the patch again for Monica and Ed's last day in the area.

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

The three of us headed out towards Sierra de Loja via the fields where we saw the Eurasian Dotterel (Chorlito Carambolo / Eudromias morinellus) a couple of day ago but again there was no sign but we checked the Lucerne field where the farmers were watering, there were several Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and a single Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus) which is still a rare bird locally.

In and around the same area we also saw House Sparrows (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), lots of Western Yellow Wagtails (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava flava and flavissima), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) and Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe).

Eurasian Eagle Owl (Búho Real / Bubo bubo).

We continued on and drove up to the second quarry on the lower slopes of Sierra de Loja, the main Sierra is still closed for another month or so. We parked at the turning circle and then walked up to the quarry, on the way we saw Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), as we walked into the quarry Dartford (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Willow (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus) and another Sardinian Warbler, Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Maritime Squill (Urginea maritima) and a Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina).

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

We dropped back down the hill passing the lower quarry where we made a short stop for Ed to get some shots of another Black Wheatear, we also had Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra) and Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis).
We drove up the motorway to the Moreleda exit and checked the crags below the town and quickly Monica came up with the goods when she found a very nice Eurasian Eagle Owl (Búho Real / Bubo bubo) sat up in one of the many small caves.
In the same area we had Blue Rock Thrush, Black Wheatear, Crag Martin, Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus), Common Stonechat and above the crags three raptors, Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) and Booted (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus) and a Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus).

Desert Darter (Sympetrum sinaiticum).

Next stop was down at the Embalse de Cacín where we scanned the lake and margins finding Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) and Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus).
In the sky we had our second Northern Goshawk (Azor Común / Accipitor gentillis) in two days, Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), a Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus) which I think was my first for the site, Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Sand (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia), Crag and House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and both Barn (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Red-rumped Swallows (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica).

Desert Darter (Sympetrum sinaiticum).

We continued on down the valley to the gorge, the road was in very bad condition but we managed to make it through but it produced very little but we had nice views of lots of House Martins clinging to the cliffs where they nest naturally on the crags.
We moved on to our final stop of the day at a nearby Embalse and in a channel there we found several male Desert Darters (Sympetrum sinaiticum), along with Iberian Bluetail (Ischnura graellsii), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra) and a skulking Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus).
From here we drove back across country to the house.