Guadalhorce Pools in Malaga Province, Parque Princesa Sofía and Paseo Marítimo de Palmones in Cadiz Province, Spain.

Moving ever further West during the days birding.

Sue and Dave, Day six.

Ebird List from Guadalhorce.

Ebird List from Parque Princesa Sofía.

Ebird List for  Palmones--Paseo Marítimo.

 

Looking out over Laguna Grande.

We headed off down to the coast on the first of a four day trip away, we started by visiting the Parque del Guadalhorce and parked up near the Mirador desembocadura del Guadalhorce and then walked along the beach where we saw Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta) and Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) along the river.

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

As we walked into the reserve and to the Observatorio de Laguna Grande we picked up Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis).

Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii) and Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus).

We got settled in the hide and quickly picked up some good new species for the list which included Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Spatula clypeata), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Black-winged Stilt, Common Ringed (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) and Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Anarhynchus alexandrinus), Common Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Audouin's Gull (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Gull-billed (Pagaza Piconegra / Gelochelidon nilotica) and Little Tern (Charrancito Común / Sternula albifrons), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Little Egret, Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Grey Heron, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris) and European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

Looking out from the screen.

We decided to move around to Observatorio de Laguna Escondida having a look through the screen near the hide were we saw the one and only Squacco Heron (Garcilla Cangrejera / Ardeola ralloides) of the trip and further on we had a nice fly over Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus).

From Escondida we picked up White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Common Kingfisher (Martin Pescador Común / Alcedo atthis) and Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti). 

Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus).

We continued on along the far bank of the reserve calling at the two hides which were both a bit quiet but we did add Marbled Duck (Cerceta pardilla / Marmaronetta angustirostris), Common Reed (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) and Garden Warbler (Curruca Mosquitera / Sylvia borin), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator) and Eurasian Jay (Arrendajo Euroasiático / Garrulus glandarius). 

We walked back along the beach where we saw Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Thalasseus sandvicensis), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba). 

Also seen on the reserve were Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope) x4, Red-veined (Sympetrum fonscolombii) x25+ and Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea) x3, Bath White (Pontia daplidice) x2, Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) x3, Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina) x3 and Rabbits (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus).

Melodious Warbler (Zarcero políglota / Hippolais polyglotta).

We reached the car and continued on down the coast towards La Linea where we parked and walked around the Parque Princesa Sofía looking for migrants and we did pretty well finding good numbers of Spotted Flycatchers (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata) and a single immature male European Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca), Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Melodious (Zarcero políglota / Hippolais polyglotta), Willow (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus), Western Orphean (Curruca Mirlona Occidental / Curruca hortensis),Western Bonelli's (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli) and Sardinian Warblers (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Eurasian Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and Great Tit, Eurasian Collared Dove and Yellow-legged Gull.

We made our way down to Palmones where we were spending the night at Hostal Palmones, once we checked in we went for a walk along the Paseo Marítimo but the tide was high so we only added Grey Plover (Chorlito Gris / Pluvialis squatarola), Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus) and Eurasian Curlew (Zarapito Real / Numenius arquata) to the list. 

Later we went back out and had a meal in Chiriguinto El Garito before turning in after a busy day. 

Sierra de Loja and Cerro Hacho, Granada Province, Spain.

A couple of upland sites.

Sue and Dave, Day five. 
Ebird List for Sierra de Loja 1.

Ebird List for Sierra de Loja 2.

Ebird List for Cerro Hacho.

 

Sue and Dave on their way up to the Goat Cave.

We started the day by driving out to Abades Service area on the east bound side of the A92 where we took the track up Sierra de Loja, our first stop was at the Middle Quarry where we checked the main quarry and then walked down the road back towards the Carretera principal.

In the quarry we picked up a couple of male Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and during the walk down the track we had Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Spectacled (Curruca Tomillera / Curruca conspicillata) and Dartford Warblers (Curruca Rabilarga / Curruca undata), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and in the air Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) and Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus).

I fetched the car and we continued on up along the crag and out onto the tops where we had good views of Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Thekla's Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis).

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

We continued on along the Carretera principal adding Maritime Squill (Urginea maritima), a family of Spectacled Warblers, European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Western Black-eared Wheatear (Collalba Rubia Occidental / Oenanthe hispanica), Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura) and then headed off up to Charca del Negro where there was a small amount of water in the sump of the pool and it was attracting a good number of Common Linnets (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina), Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia).

We continued on and checked out the crags down as far as the next junction just passed the far cliffs, on the way there and back down the hill we stopped several times finding Striped Grayling (Hipparchia fidia) x15+, Southern Gatekeeper (Pyronia cecilia) x5, Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus), Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Capra pyrenaica hispanica), a single European Honey Buzzard (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus), Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), a flock of 90+ Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Pallid (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) and Alpine Swift (Vencejo Real / Apus melba), Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), another Blue-rock Thrush, 2x Tawny Pipits (Bisbita Camprstre / Anthus campestris) and Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs).

We stopped at Dian's Cafe Bar as we came off the hill for coffee before heading over the Genil Valley to Cerro Hacho, we stopped on the parking area near the Pine and did a walk around part of the lower loop picking up the wanted Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Western Subalpine Warbler (Curruca Carrasqueña Occidental / Curruca iberiae) as well as Pallid (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) and Alpine Swift (Vencejo Real / Apus melba), European Bee-eater,  European Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca), Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus) and Striped Grayling x8.

Striped Grayling (Hipparchia fidia).

Osuna area, Sevilla Province, Spain.

A day of a few hits but with a big miss.

Sue and Dave, Day four.

Ebird List for Osuna area 1.

Ebird List for Osuna area 2. 

Coffee near Osuna.

We started by drive over to Osuna where we started by having coffee in Café Bar Las Vegas before heading out onto the fields looking for the Great Bustards (Avutarda Euroasiática / Otis tarda), after clearing the industrial area on our way to the first bridge we saw several Eurasian Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) amongst the many Olive trees as well as several Crested Larks (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and European Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur).

We reached the first bridge and scanned the fields but couldn't find any sign of the Bustards, we did however find Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Eurasian Collared (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and European Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Northern Raven (Cuervo grande / Corvus corax), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and loads of Rabbits (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus).

We dropped down off the bridge and checked the fields out as far as the Arroyo del Peinado, on the way we saw Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real / Lanius meridionalis), Calandra Lark (Calandria Común / Melanocorypha calandra), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) an unexpected Cinereous / Eurasian Black Vulture (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus) which was sat in a roadside stubble field.

Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real / Lanius meridionalis).

We took the track which ran north following the Arroyo seeing a very smart Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), Western Marsh (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) and an immature Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), more Black Kites, Common Buzzards, Northern Ravens, as well as Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Small White (Pieris rapae) x6 and Swallowtail (Papilio machaon) x2.

We turned around and retraced our way back to the main track and then back to a junction in the track which took us out to the second bridge, on the way we saw Melodious Warbler (Zarcero políglota / Hippolais polyglotta) and from the bridge Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala) but nothing else so we dropped to the lower track and went out along another track finding Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis) and a largish Ocellated Lizard (Timon lepidus) which unfortunately disappeared off the side of the road.

Black Kites (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans).

We drove down to the next bridge and out to a disuse Cortijo, on the way we saw lots more Black Kites including a couple on the roadside Pylons and one which was snaking on a dead Rabbit. 

Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans).

Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans).

At the first Ruin we saw more Eurasian Hoopoes, a single male Lesser Kestrel (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator) and on the track out to the second disused Cortijo we had another 2 Black-winged Kites and at the second ruin we saw lots more European Bee-eaters, Crimson Speckled (Utetheisa pulchella) and an immature Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria) x1.

European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster).

European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster).

We returned to the two bridges where we had been earlier but still we couldn't find the Bustards so we headed off back towards the house and chill as it was getting a tad warm. 

Charca de Suarez, Cerro Gordo, Camino de la Trinchera near Venta de Zafarraya, Granada Province, Spain.

Birding the Granada coast and Zafarraya Mountains.

Sue and Dave, Day three. 

Ebird List for Charca.

Ebird List for Cerro Gordo.

Ebird List for Ventas de Zafarraya.

Ebird List for  NW of Alhama de Granada.

 

Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) female.

We started the day by driving down to Charca de Suarez where we entered the reserve at just after 09:00 and checked the small pool near the entrance finding Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), a single Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi) and from the small screen Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) and a Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus) which sat amongst some reeds before flying across the pool.

Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata).

We walked out towards the Alamo Blanco Hide, on the way good friend Juan Perez joined us and we added an Iberian Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Ibérico / Phylloscopus ibericus) the 4th of the 5 endemic species for Spain along with a Cetti's (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Western Bonelli's (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli) and a couple of Willow Warblers (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major).

The Hide was busy with the Kingfisher photographers, the big lens and no bin's gang so we moved on to the hide over looking the northern end of Laguna del Taraje but the light was against us, however we still saw Red-knobbed Coot (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata) and the Hybrid between it and the Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) and European Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur).

We continued on around to the Main Hide, on the way we added European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).

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

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

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

From the hide we added Gadwall (Anade Friso / Mareca strepera), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Western Swamp-hen (Calamón Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Green (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) and Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Little Bittern (Avetorillo Común / Ixobrychus minutus), Black-crowned Night Heron (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax), Little (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta) and Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Common Kingfisher (Martin Pescador Común / Alcedo atthis), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Common Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus).

Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

From here we also saw Blue / Common (Anax imperator) x1 and Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope) x4, Red-veined (Sympetrum fonscolombii) and Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea) x8, Small White (Pieris rapae) x4 and Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa).

Around at the first of the hides overlooking Laguna del Trébol we found Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca), Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas) and Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada).

We popped into the other hide over looking the same pool but apart from better views of the Ferruginous Ducks we didn't add anything new so we moved to Laguna del Lirio but the results were the saw.

Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Spatula clypeata) and Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus).

Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Spatula clypeata) and Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus).

Our last stop was at Laguna del Taraje seeing Northern Shovelers (Cuchara Común / Spatula clypeata) and a flock of Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus) before we moved on and headed down the coast to Cerro Gordo.

Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus).

We checked out the area around the Torre finding Northern Raven (Cuervo grande / Corvus corax), Long-tailed Tit (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla), Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra) x2, Two-tailed Pasha (Charaxes jasius) x3 and Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera) x2.

We unfortunately didn't find the wanted White-rumped Swifts (Vencejo Cafre / Apus caffer) so we moved on again and headed inland to the disused railway line track near Venta de Zafarraya and did a short walk as it was already quite hot, we added White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Capra pyrenaica hispanica) and Southern Gatekeeper (Pyronia cecilia) x3.

Sue and Dave getting onto one of the Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura).

On our way back towards the house we crossed the fields between Zafarraya and the A-4155, on the way through the first area of Agricultural fields and limestone pavement we recorded Crested (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and Greater Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina), Pallid Swift, Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) and just as we reached the top of the ridge we saw two immature Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) sat out in one of the Ploughed fields. 

Just before we joined the A-4155 we checked out some large Almonds and some Olives where we found Eurasian Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Willow Warbler, Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and just across the road near a disused Cortijo lots more European Bee-eaters. 

On the drive back to the house along the A-4155 we picked up a Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus),  Short-toed Snake (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus) and Booted Eagles.