Sierra de Loja and the Cacín Valley, Granada Province, Spain.

Up on the Sierra and down the Valley.

 

Ring Ouzel (Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus).

Andy and I started off by had a drive up and over to the far side of the Sierra de Loja where we soon found the first of at least 70 Ring Ouzels (Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus), at one point we watched a group of around 4 or 5 Hawthorn bushes as we saw a couple of Ouzels fly out, which were followed by more and more and by the time we had circled widely around to the far side we had seen 60 Ouzels as well as a few Redwings (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus illacus), Blackbirds (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and a single Fieldfare (Zorzal Real / Turdus pilaris).

Ring Ouzel (Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus).

In the same area we also saw Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala).

Ring Ouzel (Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus).

On the way back down the hill we stopped at the middle Quarry where we picked up a pair of Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata) and watched a incident with a dog walker trying to stop her dog that was off the lead harassing a sheep which was backed right up to the cliff edge of the quarry with the dog just a couple of meters away continually barking agressivly at it. After about 15 minute she eventually got the dog away and put it on its lead where it should have been the whole time.

Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

Anyway, from here we went along the motorway and had some lunch in Moraleda before dropping down the Cacín Valley, we stopped at the crags near Moraleda, the Contra Embalse, above Cacín, Moraleda Fields and Huétor Fields.

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

On this route we saw Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Brambling (Pinzón Real / Fringilla montifringilla), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos),Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Calandra Lark (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) and Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), 200+ White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), a very nice Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius) and Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

Caleta de Velez, Malaga Province and Zafarraya area, Granada Province, Spain.

Scanning through the Gull on Caleta Port beach.

 

Caspian Gull (Gaviota del Caspio / Larus cachinnans).

Andy and I headed down to Caleta de Velez where a colour ringed Caspian Gull (Gaviota del Caspio / Larus cachinnans) had been recorded for several day. 

Caspian Gull (Gaviota del Caspio / Larus cachinnans).

We arrived and spent quite a while searching the gulls on the beach but as hard as we tried we could not find the bird, two Spanish birders were also having the same results, we did however see Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) and Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Shag (Cormorán Mondudo / Phalacrocorax aristotelis), Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres) and Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba).

Caspian Gull (Gaviota del Caspio / Larus cachinnans).

Caspian Gull (Gaviota del Caspio / Larus cachinnans).

We walked a bit further down the prom and checked the Yacht port out seeing nothing we turned around and made another quick check of the beach again and after a few minutes we located the target bird stood just above the tide line, the light was just wrong but I got some OKish shots before I flew out to sea.

Shag (Cormorán Mondudo / Phalacrocorax aristotelis).

From here we headed back toward Zafarraya but stopped to have some lunch just through the Arch into Granada Province where I have stopped before. 

Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).

After eating we walked the old railway line adding Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), lots of Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris).

Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris).

Once we reached the car we started to drive back towards the house taking the more cross country route and during the drive we had views of Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus), Brambling (Pinzón Real / Fringilla montifringilla), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and Redwing (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus illacus).

Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus) female.

Hotel, Laguna de Navaseca, Tablas de Daimiel and Driving South again, Ciudad Real, Spain.

Last stage of the trip back home.

Trip to Uk, Day Fourty One.

 

Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus) passing over the hotel.

After the sun came up at the hotel it was great to see and even better hear large numbers of Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus) passing around the hotel as they made their way out to the fields to feed.

Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus) passing over the hotel.

Before breakfast, which was very nice we went for a walk around the hotel gardens and scanned nearby fields finding Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).

Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina) and Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra).

Once we had finished breakfast we headed to Laguna Navaseca picking up Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina).

Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina).

Once we had parked we had a good look out over the pool from the hide finding Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Marsh Harrier, Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Common (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina) and Red-crested Pochard (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis), Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea).

Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus).

Once we were happy that we had seen everything from the hide we had a walk along the roads checking the reed beds and found a nice male Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Penduline Tit (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus) and at the far end of the pool we talked to a group of four Spanish birders for a while and whilst there we found a nice male Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca), White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago) and I heard but did not see a Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (Ganga Ibérica / Pterocles alchata) which flew over.

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

At this point I walked back to the car where I had a Pheasant (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus) before I parke again at the point where Andy was waiting, when I got back Andy told me had seen a Fieldfare (Zorzal Real / Turdus pilaris) whilst I was away.

Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

We took the track along the Northern side of the lake and added a Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus), Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) and Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus).

Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus).

Next we went up the road to the main reserve at Tablas seeing Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) on the way and on the loop walk we found Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) before we completed the trip to the house adding on the fields Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) just before arriving.

Travelling South, Fields South of Madrid, Toledo and Laguna Navaseca, Daimiel, Ciudad Real, Spain.

Moving down towards the south.

Trip to Uk, Day Fourty.

 

Great Bustards (Avutarda Común / Otis tarda).

We left the Santoña area and travelled south and drove until we were 100km or so beyond Madrid, during this drive we saw Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Common (Urraca / Pica pica) and Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Western Cattle (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Great Egret (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba) and Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), 2x Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Griffon (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) and Eurasian Black / Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).

Great Bustards (Avutarda Común / Otis tarda).

We turned off the Motorway and stopped at a bar at the gargae where we had some Lunch before going out on to the fields, just as we started out we saw a couple of Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) and then the main target was seen when we found 24 Great Bustards (Avutarda Común / Otis tarda) flew up from a field as we turned a corner but were soon back down on the ground and gave us good views.

Great Bustards (Avutarda Común / Otis tarda).

We then picked up a large Raptor which turned out to be an immature Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) which showed brilliantly for us an few right over head.

Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos).

We headed back towards the Motorway but saw the Bustards again along one of the side so had another look and then continued along this track hoping it would eventually get us back to the Motorway at some point, along here we saw Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Calandra Lark (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) and a very smart male Hen Harrier (Aguilucho Pálido / Circus cyaneus).

Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos).

We found our way back to the Motorway and continued on South to Laguna Navaseca where we had a quick visit before we went and found our hotel, whilst we were at the Laguna we saw Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Red-crested (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina) and Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Marsh Harrier, Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo).

Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos).

We turned up to our hotel the El Cortijo de Daimiel which for what we were paying was absolutely brilliant and came with a good breakfast and a birding treat in the morning.

Santoña Area, Cantabria, Spain.

Birding around all sides of the Marismas de Santoña.

Trip to Uk, Day Thirty Nine.

Ebird List for the Hide. 

Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

Andy and I headed out towards Santoña Port, on the way we started things off with Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) and Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone).

Preening Shags (Cormorán Mondudo / Phalacrocorax aristotelis).

We reached the Port and checked out the Jetties in the pleasure boat part and soon found Shag (Cormorán Mondudo / Phalacrocorax aristotelis), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) and Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Anas penelope), Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis) and just before we reached the Fishing part of the Port 2 Rock Pipits (Bisbita Costero / Anthus petrosus) which flew over us calling.

Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus).

Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus).

In the port we soon found Lesser (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Great Black-backed Gull (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus) and around on the far side on a long wall where there were lots of Gulls roosting at least one but probably two Herring Gulls (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus) and the regular Iceland Gull (Gaviota Groenlandesa / Larus glaucoides) which I have now seen several time.

Iceland Gull (Gaviota Groenlandesa / Larus glaucoides).

Iceland Gull (Gaviota Groenlandesa / Larus glaucoides).

Iceland Gull (Gaviota Groenlandesa / Larus glaucoides).

We returned to the car and drove right around to the far side of the estuary to a spot called Campo Dunar del Regatón de Laredo, we parked and walked out into the Dunes which were covered in a Dianthus Species which looked very like Dianthus broteri.

Iceland Gull (Gaviota Groenlandesa / Larus glaucoides).

Iceland Gull (Gaviota Groenlandesa / Larus glaucoides).

As we walked out towards the Estuary again we heard and then saw a small flock of Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus) as well as Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Robin.

Dark-bellied Brent Geese (Barnacla Carinegra / Branta bernicla).

From the Dune bank looking out over the water I was very pleased to see 160 odd Dark-bellied Brent Geese (Barnacla Carinegra / Branta bernicla), Eurasian Wigeon, Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor), Black-necked (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis) and Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Great Northern Diver (Colimbo Grande / Gavia immer), Sandwich Tern, Yellow-Legged and Black-headed Gulls.

Wasp / Hornets nest.

On our way back to the car we spotted a Wasp / Hornet nest in one of the trees, a spectacular looking thing but I took the pictures with the 400mm lens as I was not going to get close.

Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis).

Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis).

Our next stop was up at Playa de San Martín at the tip of the sand bar where we ha a walk finding Meadow Pipit, Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis),  a closer Black-necked Grebe and a Black-throated Diver (Colimbo Ártico / Gavia arctica) which was diving regularly in mid channel.

Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis).

Next we took some narrow tracks out to Playa del Regatón where we scanned the Estuary from a different angle adding Grey Plover (Chorlito Gris / Pluvialis squatarola), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis) Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Eurasian Oystercatcher (Ostrero Euroasiatico / Haematopus ostralegus), Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus), Great Egret (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Northern Pintail (Ánade Rabudo / Anas acuta) and Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos).

Common Eider (Eider Común / Somateria mollissima).

Common Eider (Eider Común / Somateria mollissima).

Next we retraced our way around to Santoña and spent a while scanning the low tide mudflats, channels and pools finding the male Common Eider (Eider Común / Somateria mollissima) in it's usual spot as well as Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) and another / same Great Northern Diver which was in the pools infront of the hide catching crabs.

On our way back to the hotel we stopped by a disused Quarry and added Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) above us and several Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser) on the saltmarsh below us.

Great Northern Diver (Colimbo Grande / Gavia immer).

Great Northern Diver (Colimbo Grande / Gavia immer).

We returned to the hotel, I went out for a walk around the edge of the village and saw Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), later we went to a bar and had a very nice meal.