Middleton Lakes RSPB, Warwickshire, Britain.

A nice morning birding with friends from Spain under greyer skies than we are used to.

Ebird List for the Hall Lake.

Ebird List for Main RSPB reserve.

Middleton Hall Lake.

I arrived at Middleton Hall early and had a walk back along the entrance road to check the lake where I found good numbers of birds which included a Little (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta) and 3x Great Egrets (Garceta Grande / Ardea alba), a Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor), Canada (Barnacla Canadiense / Branta canadensis) and Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser), Common Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Spatula clypeata), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Tufted Duck (Porrón Moñudo / Aythya fuligula), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Eurasian Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Fieldfare (Zorzal Real / Turdus pilaris) and European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula).

Great Egret (Garceta Grande / Ardea alba).

Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos).

I walked back to the car park and I was soon joined by friends Kiersten and Richard who I am more used to birding with down in Southern Spain where we all live and as much as I enjoyed their company I prefer to spend time with them down in Sunny Granada Province than in a cold, damp, grey UK.

Redwing (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus illacus).

Redwing (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus illacus).

Redwing (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus illacus).

However we did have a very nice walk around a new site for me at Middleton Lakes RSPB reserve, we did a 4.5km or so walk along some rather muddy paths, at several points its very obvious that the local birds are used to being feed and the come in very close and even feed from your hand.

Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis).

Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis).

New smaller passerine species included Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater), Eurasian Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tit (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), Goldcrest (Reyezuelo Sencillo / Regulus regulus), Eurasian Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Redwing (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus illacus), Common Blackbird, European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), Lesser Redpoll (Pardillo norteño / Acanthis flammea), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis) and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus).

Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).

Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).

Larger birds seen were Stock Dove (Paloma Zurita / Columba oenas), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Rook (Graja / Corvus frugilegus), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica) and Eurasian Jay (Arrendajo Euroasiático / Garrulus glandarius).

European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula).

European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula).

European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula).

Out on and around the water we saw good numbers of species, some seen earlier but new species included 3 nice male Common Goldeneyes (Porrón Osculado / Bucephala clangula),  Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Common Pheasant (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus) and a rapid fly through from a Common Kingfisher (Martin Pescador Común / Alcedo atthis).

European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) on the Mobile.

We returned to the car and then headed to the Dog Pub in Whttington village where we had a very nice meal and a drink, It was also nice to met Kiersten's Dad who had used to be a volunteer at the lakes we had just been to.

Kiersten photographing the very approachable European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula).

I had the Pan fried Liver with Mash and it was superb, just missing very nice lump of crusty bread to mop up the sauce which I didn't want to leave, Thanks Kiersten and Richard.

We all headed off, I went just down the road to see Son Alan, Daughter-in-law Becki and the little monsters Ryan, Zach and Finn, it was great to see them all for a while but they had got the builders in doing some tasks so I headed off back to Mom's.

Albrighton, Telford and Donington Church Yard, Shropshire, Britain.

A second day of catching up with things.

 

I was up and then finished unloading the car seeing Pied Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla yarrellii) and Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris) and then Mom and I went over to Telford Town Centre as I need to do a few bits of bank stuff, visit Specsavers for a repair and a stationary shop for some new notebooks. 

After we had done what we needed we headed back to Mom's and then I went up to Donington Church Yard to clean up Jayne's plaque and some of the masses of leaves that have blown up against the wall.

For a personally sad place it's quite a nice spot where I saw Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater), Eurasian Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Long-tailed Tit (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica) and Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula). 

Enjoyed a couple + of these.

Later in the evening John (Mom's Partner) and I popped up to the Harp and had a couple of pints of real beer.

Albrighton and Telford in Shropshire, Britain.

First day in the UK.

I was up and about by 08:00 after a good nights sleep, Mom, John and I were soon off over to Telford to do some shopping and then once we were back I went up to see my brother for a while and then just  chilled.

Got the essentials to get through Christmas and the greyness.

Birds included Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus) and European Herring Gull (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula) and Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris).

La Man's to Calais and onwards to Albrighton in Shropshire, France and Britain.

A difficult drive North.

 

I set off again at 06:00 and made a longer route around Rouen due to it's low emotions zone which made me do an extra 60km making it very Eco-friendly as there is no way of passing the city with out entering the zone and as I had not known about it until just before I set off and could not get a car sticker to make passing through the city legally.

All the way north it rained and basically from the time I left Spain and until I arrived in Albrighton I only switched my windscreen wipers off in the Channel Tunnel.

Birds seen during the drive included Rook (Graja / Corvus frugilegus), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus), Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) and Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).

Once I was under tunnel I made my way along some immensely busy motorways with huge amounts of traffic, heavy spray and dwindling light which made for a scary drive but I was in Albrighton and at my Mom's by 17:00, knackered but safe.   

Heading up throught Spain and France.

The start of an unwanted, unexpected journey.

 

Having been looking forward to a nice easy drive to Santander and a pleasant crossing to Portsmouth I was a tad peeeeeeeeeed off with having to start a long drive north, I left Santi's at 06:00 hoping to make it as far as La Man`s in France.

On the drive North I didn't really see much as the weather was horrendous, rained continuously and the wind bought down several trees but thankfully none stopped me moving on but a very nasty accident did but after seeing if I could help I followed a very nice young lady who told me she knew a route around to the road I wanted to be on.

Also had a couple of lorries on their sides on the motorway sections which were a lot more exposed, as I drove I did see Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus) and European Herring Gull (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Great Egret (Garceta Grande / Ardea alba), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa).

I arrived in La Man's and stayed at a Hotel on the outskirts but it was not great, however I showered and slept.

Santo Domingo de Silos, Burgos Province, Spain.

A day of stress.

 

All started well and we just continued to chill until I got an email from Brittany Ferries say the ferry I was Catching at lunch time tomorrow was cancelled and by the time I got the laptop working I found that the next two sailings were fully booked so I was left with no option but to drive back so I spent the rest of the day stressed trying to get things planned.

Travelling North to visit a friend.

A nice steady drive up North.

 

I set off before first light and headed to my regular breakfast stop on this route at a bar just before Valdepeñas, to this point I only saw Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

I continued on up to Santi's with out a stop adding Griffon (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) x15+ and European Black / Cinereous Vulture (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus) x3, Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus), Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus).

I arrived at Santi's and chilled for the rest of the day.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 3rd Dec 24.

15W Actinic on the terrace, +10.5

23 Moths of 8 Species.

Any corrections PLEASE send me a comment on the post, thanks.

 

6184 Eudonia angustea x1, 6496 Evergestis isatidalis x7, 6690a Palpita vitrealis x4, 6719 Nomophila noctuella (Rush Veneer) x1, 9206 Cucullia calendulae (Marigold Shark) x4, 9436 Caradrina flavirena (Lorimer's Rustic) x1, 9565 Agrochola lychnidis (Beaded Chestnut) x4 and 10226 Cerastis faceta x1.

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A few minutes by the Town Fields.

Ebird List.

I parked and scanned the fields finding Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) x15, just a few Eurasian Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) as most had been disturbed by a farmer earlier in the morning, Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) and Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea).

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 1st Dec 24.

15W Actinic on the terrace, +6

25 Moths of 9 Species.

Any corrections PLEASE send me a comment on the post, thanks.

 

6184 Eudonia angustea x3, 6496 Evergestis isatidalis x6, 6690a Palpita vitrealis x1, 6719 Nomophila noctuella (Rush Veneer) x2, 8211 Rhodometra sacaria (The Vestal) x1, 9206 Cucullia calendulae (Marigold Shark) x5, 9565 Agrochola lychnidis (Beaded Chestnut) x5, 9651 Aporophyla nigra (Black Rustic) x1 and 9676 Xylocampa areola (Early Grey) x1.

Marismas de Barbate and La Janda, Cadiz Province, Spain.

A days birding with Sonia and Ricky.

Ebird list for Estuary bridge, Barbate.

Ebird list for Rio Barbate.

Ebird list for Marismas de Barbate.

Ebird List for La Janda.

The view out onto the Mud Flats from under the Rio Barbate Bridge.

We started out after breakfast and did a run along the coast past Tarifa and on up to Barbate, on the way we saw Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Northern Raven (Cuervo grande / Corvus corax), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis) and European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola).

European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola).

European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola).

We went passed the main part of the Marismas first and down to a spot near the town where the road crosses the main channel of the Rio Barbate, the tide was low so there were good numbers of waders out on the mud including Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Eurasian Oystercatcher (Ostrero Euroasiático / Haematopus ostralegus), Bar-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colipinta / Limosa lapponica), Grey (Chorlito Gris / Pluvialis squatarola) and Common Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Eurasian Curlew (Zarapito Real / Numenius arquata), Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus), Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Common Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina) and Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta).

Eurasian Spoonbills (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia).

Eurasian Spoonbills (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia).

At the same spot we also saw Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and  Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Thalasseus sandvicensis), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala).

Northern Bald Ibis (Ibis Eremita / Geronticus eremita).

Northern Bald Ibis (Ibis Eremita / Geronticus eremita).

Our next stop was just up the road at one of the smaller tributaries of the main river where we parked and found several nice clean looking Eurasian Spoonbills (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) all of which were new for the day.

Audouin's Gull (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii).

We moved on along the road again and went into the area of houses / small holdings were there were huge numbers of Feral Pigeons (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), 2x Northern Bald Ibis (Ibis Eremita / Geronticus eremita), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

Common Crane (Grulla Común / Grus grus).

Common Crane (Grulla Común / Grus grus).

Common Crane (Grulla Común / Grus grus).

Out on the main part of the Marismas and during a drive along the eastern edge we picked up Pied Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii) and Mediterranean Gull, Eurasian Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Common Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra) as well as Paperwhite Narcissus (Narcissus papyraceus), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) x4 and Small White (Pieris rapae) x15+.

White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).

We moved on and went to the southern entrance to La Janda and made our way along the track to the main channel and the followed it up as far as the turning over to the Benalup end of the site, during this part of the visit we had a single Monarch (Danaus plexippus), lots of Red-veined Darters (Sympetrum fonscolombii), an Egyptian Mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon) which just shot across the track and away, Squirting Cucumber (Ecballium elaterium), Mandrake (Mandragora autumnalis), Common Crane (Grulla Común / Grus grus), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) x1, European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Common Kingfisher (Martin Pescador Común / Alcedo atthis), Great Egret (Garceta Grande / Ardea alba), Squacco Heron (Garcilla Cangrejera / Ardeola ralloides), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Ruff (Combatiente / Calidris pugnax) and Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus). 

Squacco Heron (Garcilla Cangrejera / Ardeola ralloides) and Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta).

We crossed the Main channel which had been impassable the last time I was there with Derek Etherton and followed the track down to the bridge over another of the channels Canal Secundairo, on the way we had Common Pheasant (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) and a really smart male Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius).

Back end view of the Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius).

We parked near the canal as Ricky recognised another birder there and whilst they chatted we saw a big flock of Woodpigeons fly up and a smaller flock of smaller dove which were 27 Stock Doves (Paloma Zurita / Columba oenas) the species we were hoping for, we counted 27 together but I think there were several more more scattered amongst the other pigeons and surprisingly our only group of Spanish Sparrows (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis).

Stock Dove (Paloma Zurita / Columba oenas).

Stock Doves (Paloma Zurita / Columba oenas).

Stock Doves (Paloma Zurita / Columba oenas).

We continued on again up passed the farm and out through the wild Olives where we saw both Dark and pale morph Booted Eagles (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas) before dropping down to the Celemin Channel area, we spent a while birding the spot we had visited last winter several times looking for rare Buntings but today we only found Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), Redwing (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus illacus) and Western Swamp-hen (Calamón Común / Porphyrio porphyrio) for the list before we headed off back to La Linea, after a coffee and a final chat I said my goodbyes to Sonia and Ricky and thanked them for putting up with me for what was a great weekends birding.

Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis).

Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis).