BELATED HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL.

2022 well what a year.

PART ONE.

 

Great Northern Diver (Colimbo Grande / Gavia immer).

I started the year up in the North in Cantabria and Asturias where I started the year list off with some interesting winter visitors along the Coast including a few interesting species like Goldeneye (Porrón Osculado /Bucephala clangula), Red-necked Grebe (Somormujo Cuellirrojo / Podiceps grisegena), Great Northern Diver (Colimbo Grande / Gavia immer), Pied Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla yarrellii), Alpine Accentor (Acentor Alpino / Prunella collaris), Snowfinch (Gorrión Alpino / Montifringilla nivalis) and Purple Sandpiper (Correlimos Oscuro / Calidris maritima).

Alpine Accentor (Acentor Alpino / Prunella collaris).

On the morning of the 5th was one of the biggest downs of the year when I got a phone call to say a very good friend had passed, this call changed my plans and I headed off to help.

Fieldfare (Zorzal Real / Turdus pilaris).

While I stayed with a good friend to help him out with things I still got out for a few walks seeing Citril Finch (Verderón Serrano / Serinus citrinella), Fieldfare (Zorzal Real / Turdus pilaris) and Wallcreeper (Treparriscos / Tichodroma muraria).

Great Bustards (Avutarda Común / Otis tarda).

Once things were partly sorted with my friend I headed off out to Galicia where I had expected to be a few days earlier but due to the kindness of the owner I was able push my trip back a few days, on my way I stopped off at Fuente de Nava where I had a bit of a Goose fest including two Canada Geese (Barnacla Canadiense /Branta canadensis) which were Spanish Lifers, as well as 17 Greater White-fronted (Ánsar Careto / Anser albifrons) and a good flock of Great Bustards (Avutarda Común / Otis tarda).

Rosy Starling (Estornino Rosado / Sturnus roseus).

Bonaparte's Gull (Gaviota de Bonaparte / Chroicocephalus philadelphia).

Pink-footed Geese (Ánsar Piquicorto / Anser brachyrhynchus).

Whilst in the Galicia area top species were Rosy Starling (Estornino Rosado / Sturnus roseus),  Lesser Scaup (Porrón Bola / Aythya affinis), Ring-necked Duck (Porrón acollarado / Aythya collaris), Pink-footed Geese (Ánsar Piquicorto / Anser brachyrhynchus), Bonaparte's (Gaviota de Bonaparte / Chroicocephalus philadelphia), American Herring (Gaviota Argentea Americana / Larus Smithsonianus) and Caspian Gulls (Gaviota del Caspio / Larus cachinnans), White-tailed Eagle (Pigargo Europeo /Haliaeetus albicilla) and on my way back to Santo Domingo de Silos I called back into Fuente de Nava where Geese were again the highlight and included a good number of Barnical Geese (Barnacla Cariblanca / Branta leucopsis), another single Pink-foot and a blue morph Snow Goose (Ánsar nival / Anser coerlescens.

American Herring Gull (Gaviota Argentea Americana / Larus Smithsonianus).

Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (Ganga Ibérica / Pterocles alchata).

I spent a day in Silos but then had to head south home, on my way south I called at an area of fields near Alcázar de San Juan where I was pleased to see several Eurasian Dotterel (Chorlito Carambolo / Eudromias morinellus) and over a hundred Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (Ganga Ibérica / Pterocles alchata) and at Laguna Navaseca another male Ring-necked Duck (Porrón acollarado / Aythya collaris).

House Bunting (Escribano sahariano / Emberiza sahari).

Blue-winged Teal (Cerceta Aliazul / Anas discors).

On the 21st Jan I picked up a long wanted lifer for my Spanish list when a male House Bunting (Escribano sahariano / Emberiza sahari) was found in Fuengirola and this was followed next day by another lifer a Blue-winged Teal (Cerceta Aliazul / Anas discors).

Ring-billed Gull (Gaviota de Delaware / Larus delawarensis).

February was fairly quiet, but March started with Laughing Doves (Streptopelia senegalensis) on my way out to Cadiz Province where picked up Common (Gaviota Cana / Larus canus) and Ring-billed Gulls (Gaviota de Delaware / Larus delawarensis) and Spotted Crake (Polluela Pintoja / Porzana porzana).

Atlas Orchid (Ophrys atlantica).

Ophrys x castroviejoi.

Ophrys x Peltieri.

Anacamptis x dafnii.

On the 10th I met good friends Kiersten Roland and Bob Hibbertin in the Sierra de Mijas where we were hunting for Orchids, we saw loads but the highlights were Atlas (Ophrys atlantica) and a string of hybrids including Anacamptis x dafnii,  Ophrys x Peltieri and Ophrys x castroviejoi.

Spotted Redshank (Archibebe Oscuro / Tringa erythropus).

Little Crake (Polluela bastarda / Porzana parva).

The rest of the month was quiet except for a trip to the North to see how good friend Santi was getting on and then came the devastating news that a second good friend, Anita had passed whilst I was away. 

Iberian Lynx (lince iberico / Lynx pardina).

Iberian Lynx (lince iberico / Lynx pardina).

Iberian Lynx (lince iberico / Lynx pardina).

Towards the end of the Month I picked up Eurasian Oystercatcher (Ostrero Euroasiatico / Haematopus ostralegus) and Spotted Redshank (Archibebe Oscuro / Tringa erythropus) for my Granada list as well as a very smart Baillon's Crake (Polluela Chica / Porzana pusilla), all at Charca Suarez and a Lesser Flamingo (Flamenco Enano / Phoenicopterus minor) at Fuente de Piedra.

Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush (Roquero Roja / Monticola saxatilis).

Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush (Roquero Roja / Monticola saxatilis).

Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush (Roquero Roja / Monticola saxatilis).

The two biggest highlights of April were both Mammals, the first will probably have to go down as my  equal first wildlife event of the year, a once in a lifetime encounter with a couple of (Mother and youngster) the beautiful and rare Iberian Lynx (lince iberico / Lynx pardina) which showed right in front of a small very privileged group in Sierra Morena, Jaen Province. Later in the month I had good views of my first Otter (Nutria / Lutra lutra) in Granada Province at Alhama de Granada. We also had an exceptionally confiding pair of Rufous-tailed Rock Thrushes (Roquero Roja / Monticola saxatilis) up on my favorite bit of mountain, Sierra de Loja.

Spanish Fritillary (Euphydryas desfontainii).

Spanish Fritillary (Euphydryas desfontainii).

May was hectic, most of the month was spent locally but with a trip up to Santo Domingo de Silos in the mix. Locally I had nice visits to Mirador del Alto de Hondonero in Malaga Province for Butterflies adding Spanish Fritillary (Euphydryas desfontainii) with Karen and Robert from the UK and later in the month I showed the same species to friends Pam and John who came over for a few days.

Chequered Blue (Scolitantides orion).

Chequered Blue (Scolitantides orion).

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Boloria selene).

Up in the North at Santi's I added a couple more butterflies, Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Boloria selene) and one that had gone under the radar for me the Chequered Blue (Scolitantides orion).

Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

European Black Vulture (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus).

European Black Vulture (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus).

Whilst I was at Santi's he kindly organized a second visit to Lolo's Vulture hide were we had a few hours photographing the Griffon (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) and European Black Vulture (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus) at very close range. 

Hobby (Alcotán Europeo / Falco subbuteo).

Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca) Iberian Race.

Immature Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti).

Immature Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti).

June was mainly spent packing for my trip to Australia but I did get a couple of days out with friend Ricky Owen, we saw a few very nice species including Hobby (Alcotán Europeo / Falco subbuteo), an Iberian race Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca), Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius), Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis), Citril Finch (Verderón Serrano / Carduelis citrinella) on day one and these were followed by Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) and an immature Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti) on the second day.

Ryan's Field, Hayle, Cornwall, UK.

A wet visit to the Hide looking over the field.

Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).

We got up and headed out for a look from the hide which over looks Ryan's Field along side of the Hayle Estuary, we arrived in the rain and made a dash for the hide.

Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).

We got inside but seating was a bit difficult as two photographers were using most of the area where the benches were to rest their tripods on, as we stood there we did see Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Canada Geese (Barnacla Canadiense /Branta canadensis), Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), 100s of Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) in the air and down on the fields and good numbers of Golden Plovers (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaia) most of which passed over in several large flocks, a few did drop in with the Lapwings.

A couple of Kingfishers (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) were also seen, one put on a good show in front of the hide hovering several times before diving in into the water, we also had Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), European Herring (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus) and Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Pied Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla yarrellii).

We decided to move on and headed back to Lynn and Steve's but quickly made a stop on the estuary at Copperhouse where we added Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Anas penelope) and Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos).

Back at the house we sat and watched the birds in the garden, adding Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis) and Rook (Graja / Corvus frugilegus).

Later the rain eased off so we went for a walk to the top of Godolphin hill, we had planned to do this on my last trip but the weather had not been good, today it was still rough but we had a nice walk to the summit where we had great views of the local area and also saw Redwing (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus illacus) and Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) which were new for the day.

Travelling South to Cornwall.

On my way down to see friends Lynn and Steve.

I set off after breakfast as the weather was a tad rough so I waited until it was light, I went down the M54, M6, M5 and then the A30 to Godolphin Cross.

On my way I saw Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Rook (Graja / Corvus frugilegus), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Canada Geese (Barnacla Canadiense /Branta canadensis), Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), European Herring (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus) and Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus).

Once I crossed the boarder into Cornwall I had another Little Egret, Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Goldcrest (Reyezuelo Sencillo / Regulus regulus), Blackbird and Redwing (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus illacus).

I arrived at Lynn and Steve's where we had a chat and Lynn cooked some amazing Pasties, later we sat and spent sometime chatting and watching some TV.

Shifnal Sewage Farm, Shropshire, UK.

A muddy walk near Shifnal.

Ebird List.

Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus).

The weather was looking less horrendous than it had, so I thought I would go for a walk and do some birding, I parked just outside Shifnal and took to some rather muddy public footpaths.

On my way out to the Sewage farm I picked up Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Redwings (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus illacus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), a fly over Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Coal  (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus) and over the sewage beds good numbers of Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and a few Pied Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla yarrellii).

In the area around the reedbeds I found Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), several Long-tailed Tits (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus) and a couple of Goldcrest (Reyezuelo Sencillo / Regulus regulus) mixed in with the flock.

On my way back towards the car I added Rook (Graja / Corvus frugilegus), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) and Fieldfare (Zorzal Real / Turdus pilaris).

Al and his Harley.

Later in the day I was over the moon to get a visit from Alan my son who came over on his Harley.

A Boxing Day afternoon walk around Lichfield Cathedral, Lichfield, Staffordshire, UK.

A walk with the family.

Arriving at the Cathedral.

After we had some lunch we all headed out to the City and after parking we walked to the Cathedral to see the small Christmas trees that local businesses and schools had decorated.

I always enjoy visiting impressive buildings and the Cathedral certainly fitted the bill and it was even better doing it along side the family.

We went back to the house a bit later and after a little while I said my thanks for a great time and my goodbyes to them all after three absolutely brilliant days.