Fuente de Piedra, Laguna Dulce, Laguna de Redonda, Laguna Capacete, Laguna de Toro, Campillos and Pena Rubia, Malaga Province, Spain.

A wetland day.

Deb and Ian, Day Four.

Ebird List for Fuente de Piedra. 

Ebird List for  Laguna Dulce.

 

Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

We headed off to the West and started the day at Fuente de Piedra, after parking we checked the roadside pool where we saw several Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Pied Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Thinornis dubius), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Common Reed (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) and Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti).

Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

Pied Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta).

Pied Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta).

Pied Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta).

We walked to the far end of the pool and then took the back track around to the far end of the Boardwalk and then back to the Visitors centre end, as we walked we found Dark Spreadwings (Lestes macrostigma) x8, Iberian Bluetail (Ischnura graellsii), Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Lesser Kestrel (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni) x6, Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Anarhynchus alexandrinus), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Gull-billed Tern (Pagaza Piconegra / Gelochelidon nilotica), Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus) heard only, Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum), Purple Bugloss (Echium plantagineum), Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas), Common Mallow (Malva sylvestris) and Wild Clary (Salvia verbenaca).

Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Anarhynchus alexandrinus).

Marbled Duck (Cerceta pardilla / Marmaronetta angustirostris).

Marbled Duck (Cerceta pardilla / Marmaronetta angustirostris).

Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus).

Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus).

We turned left at the end of the boardwalk and walked along the Tamarisks around to the area of cut trees where we could view the main laguna, on the way and at the gap in the trees we saw Common Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Red-crested Pochard (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Curlew (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea) and Wood Sandpiper (Andarrios Bastardo / Tringa glareola), Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Common Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), European Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca) and European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola).

Dark Spreadwing (Lestes macrostigma).

Dark Spreadwing (Lestes macrostigma).

Dark Spreadwing (Lestes macrostigma).

Dark Spreadwing (Lestes macrostigma).

Up at the Mirador we scanned the Laguna finding a single Lesser Flamingo (Flamenco Enano / Phoenicopterus minor) amongst the thousands of Greater's, other species seen included lots more Common Shelduck, Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis).

Curlew Sandpipers (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea) and a Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus).

European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis).

Both of the Hides were fairly quiet but we did find White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Marbled Duck, Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Spatula clypeata), White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Black-necked (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis) and Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa) and Rabbits (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus).

Lesser (Flamenco Enano / Phoenicopterus minor) and Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

Looking out over the main Laguna.

We returned to the Boardwalk where Ian and I found more of the Dark Spreadwings whilst Deb walked back to a spot near the Gap in the Tamarisks where she got some photo's of some Warbler species. 

Squacco Heron (Garcilla Cangrejera / Ardeola ralloides), Little (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta) and Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

We returned to the car and then headed up into Fuente where we had a coffee and then headed around the Eastern side of the Laguna and on wards to Laguna Dulce near Campillos, here we saw Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Common and Red-crested Pochard, Gull-billed and Whiskered Tern (Fumarel Cariblanca / Chilidonias hybridus), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Squacco Heron (Garcilla Cangrejera / Ardeola ralloides), Little (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta) and Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) and Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta).

Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra).

Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra).

White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala).

White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala).

Our next stop was just down the road at Laguna Redonda but it was quiet bird wise and we only found White-headed Duck, Eurasian Coot, a single Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) but I was pleased to see another Dark Spreadwing and a few more Red-veined Darters.

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

Just down the road Laguna Capacete was even quieter and we added nothing new except for a single Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope) dragonfly.

Gull-billed Tern (Pagaza Piconegra / Gelochelidon nilotica).

Gull-billed Tern (Pagaza Piconegra / Gelochelidon nilotica).

Our last stop around the area was at Laguna de Toro but again it was quiet and we only saw Northern Lapwing before heading for coffee in Campilos but this was the first time we became aware of the national electric outage as everywhere was shut.

Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) female.

Red-veined Darters (Sympetrum fonscolombii) mating.

Our last stop of the day was at Pena Rubia where we scanned the cliffs but only managed to find a few passing Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) before heading back to the house.

Sierra de Loja, Granada Province, Spain.

Up my favourate Hill again.

Deb and Ian, Day Three.

Ebird List for Lower Quarries.

Ebird List for Sierra de Loja.

Ebird List for Realenga de Agicampe.

Looking down to Loja.

We Started the day by heading out to Loja and then up the hill, between the lower and middle quarries we recorded Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Barn (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata) which was a new bird for the year.

Brown Bluebell (Dipcadi serotinum).

Wild Tulip (Tulipa sylvestris).

Viola dementria.

We parked at the middle quarry and walked down the hill back towards the main track, along here we saw Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala) and Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Curruca undata), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura) and most surprisingly was a Common Grasshopper Warbler (Buscarla pintoja / Locustella luscinioides) which flushed from right at our feet and then stopped for a few seconds in the bottom of a small Almond bush before disappearing.

Rusty-back Fern (Ceterach officinarum), Yellow Phlomis (Phlomis lychnitis), Wild Tulip (Tulipa sylvestris), Wild Mignonette (Reseda lutea), Wild Gladiolus (Gladiolus italicus), Tassel Hyacinth (Leopoldia comosa), Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis), Viola dementria, Starry Clover (Trifolium stellatum), Southern Knapweed (Centaurea pullata), Pitch Trefoil (Psoralea bituminosa), Wild Peony (Paeonia broteri), Brown Bluebell (Dipcadi serotinum), Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea) and Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalia) which weren't quite in flower.

Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura).

Wild Peony (Paeonia broteri).

Wild Peony (Paeonia broteri).

After returning to the car we headed up along the crags out onto the tops and then over to the far crags, on the way we saw Western Black-eared (Collalba Rubia Occidental / Oenanthe hispanica) and Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Thekla's Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina), Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera) and some lovely clumps of Iris Subbiflora.

Iris Subbiflora.

Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera).

We arrived at the far crags where we spent a good while searching for and eventually finding a male Common Rock Thrush (Roquero Roja / Monticola saxatilis) which was always distant but did many very nice display flights from the clifftops above us.

Western Black-eared (Collalba Rubia Occidental / Oenanthe hispanica).

Western Black-eared (Collalba Rubia Occidental / Oenanthe hispanica).

Western Black-eared (Collalba Rubia Occidental / Oenanthe hispanica).

Common Rock Thrush (Roquero Roja / Monticola saxatilis).

In the same area we also had great views of a male Western Orphean Warbler (Curruca Mirlona Occidental / Curruca hortensis) as it picked lichen off a small Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) right next to the car and a smart looking Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator).

Western Orphean Warbler (Curruca Mirlona Occidental / Curruca hortensis).

Western Orphean Warbler (Curruca Mirlona Occidental / Curruca hortensis).

Western Orphean Warbler (Curruca Mirlona Occidental / Curruca hortensis).

Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator).

In this area we also had Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), several Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia) and Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia).

Looking out West.

Other species included Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), Blue Hedgehog Broom (Erinacea anthyllis), Andalucian Wall Lizard (Podarcis vaucheri) and a Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Capra pyrenaica hispanica).

Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Capra pyrenaica hispanica).

On the way down we stopped off at Charca del Negro again and had a look for the Sharp-ribbed Salamander (Pleurodeles waltl) which we saw amongst the white flowers of the Water Crowfoot (Ranunculus peltatus) and a couple of Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) x2.

Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina).

 Further down on the road out towards Salar we had a small bird flicked across the track in front of us and sat nicely in another stunted Hawthorn and when we stopped next to it we found a very smart male Spectacled Warbler (Curruca Tomillera / Curruca conspicillata) and it showed well for us.

Spectacled Warbler (Curruca Tomillera / Curruca conspicillata).

Spectacled Warbler (Curruca Tomillera / Curruca conspicillata).

As we went on we came to a puddle in the track which had a large number of Butterflies puddling which included loads of Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) x4, Black-eyed (Glaucopsyche melanops) x3 and Panoptes Blues (Pseudophilotes panoptes) 65+, Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina) x8, Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) x1 and Knapweed Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe) x4.  

Black-eyed Blue (Glaucopsyche melanops).

Black-eyed Blue (Glaucopsyche melanops).

Panoptes Blue (Pseudophilotes panoptes).

Panoptes Blue (Pseudophilotes panoptes).

Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae).

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui).

Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina).

Knapweed Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe).

Continuing on we saw Small (Pieris rapae) x15+ and Large White (Pieris brassicae) x2,  Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) x4, Mallow-leaved Convolvulus (Convolvulus althaeoides), Lizard Orchid (Himanthoglosum hircinum) not in flower yet and European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and European Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur).

Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Once down we found a place for a coffee and then headed back to the house where we spent the rest of the day up on the terrace adding European Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius) and Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki).