El Temple and the Cacín Valley, Granada Province, Spain.

A hard days birding on the far side of the Patch.

Sue and Dave, Day thirteen.

Ebird List for Realenga de Agicampe.

Ebird List for Chimeneas.

Ebird List for  El Temple.

Ebird List for GR-3310, Ventas de Huelma.

Ebird List for Gorge of the Cacín.

Ebird List for Contraembalse de los Bermejales. 

Ebird List for Contraembalse de los Bermejales.

 

Sierra Nevada from the Terrace.

We started off by having breakfast up on the terrace and having 2 fly passes from a Red-necked Nightjar (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis) before heading out to the Chimenears area and took to the fields again.

Out on the fields looking for Hoopoe's.

In the area to the North of the site we drove several different tracks finding Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), European Turtle (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur) and Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Crested (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and Greater Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Willow Warbler (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus), European Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

The Field.

We crossed to the other side of the site and picked up a small group of 5 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Booted Eagle, Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real / Lanius meridionalis), Greater Short-toed Lark, Barn Swallow and Northern Wheatear.

In the area we also saw Bath White (Pontia daplidice) x2, Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) x4, Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) x1 and Rabbits (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus).

We moved on and called in at Bernardo Restaurante for a coffee before heading across towards Cacín, we made a stop on the way and scanned the skies for raptors and were rewarded with an immature Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti) which was involved in areal combat with an immature Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos).

We also saw European Honey Buzzard (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus), Booted Eagle, Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Barn Swallow and Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum).

We dropped down into the Cacín Valley and went down to the south towards the Embalse de Bermejalis but stopped above the gorge where we had some food and scanned the cliffs and skies finding Short-toed Snake Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus), Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), European Bee-eater, Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), lots more Western House Martin which neast naturally on the cliffs here, Sardinian Warbler and Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia).

Sue and Dave on the Roman Bridge.

We moved up the valley again and made a stop at the Roman Bridge seeing several Desert Orange-tips (Colotis evagore) x3 but nothing else so we moved on up to the Contraembalse de Bermejalis where we parked and found Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Spatula clypeata), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Pallid Swift, Booted Eagle, Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), European Bee-eater, Common Kestrel, Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica) and Barn Swallow, Western House Martin, Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa) and Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) x4.

We moved around to the track near the Dam and walked between the bridge and the fence near the Dam adding Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Long-tailed Tit (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis) and European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

We drove further up the Valley and checked the cliffs below Morelada but added nothing so we crossed the fields between El Turro and the Motorway but it was again quiet so we headed back to the house and chilled. 

West of Albacete, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain.

Bustard Hunting further to the North East.

Sue and Dave, Day twelve. 

Ebird List for Bienservida. 

Ebird List for East of Albacete 1.

Ebird List for East of Albacete 2.

Ebird List for East of Albacete 3.

Ebird List for East of Albacete 4.

 

3 of the 7 Great Bustards (Avutarda Euroasiática / Otis tarda).

We were off before the crack of Sparrows and heading to the North east where we were trying for a second time to find one of Sue and Dave's big targets the Great Bustard (Avutarda Euroasiática / Otis tarda), we covered the distance fairly quickly and about an hour and a half before we reached the spot we were heading for we said that the area along the A32 was starting to look good and within seconds of us crossing into Albacete I picked up a group of 7 Bustards off to the Left and fortunately there was a spot to park quite quickly after that on the right.

We got nice views but as usual with this species they are very easily spooked and were soon off over the ridge so we continued on again to the original place we had planned to visit, on the way we saw a good number of Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) on a couple of irrigated grass fields.

We reached the main area we were going to and started to drive the fields but it was hard going, however we did add Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Eurasian Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) x16, Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica) and Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator).

Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator).

Further around the site we stopped and scanned the trees and skies picking up 2 adult Iberian Imperial Eagles (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti), Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), European Honey Buzzard (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus) x8, Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo insularum), Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito ibérico / Picus sharpei), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real / Lanius meridionalis), Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis).

We relocated to another area of agricultural fields and after a bit more searching we came upon a group of 20 Great Bustards on a field of small cabbage type plants, we watched these birds for quite a while but the heat haze made getting photo's difficult and then after a while another car came along the track a little too quickly for the Bustards liking and they were off.

Great Bustards (Avutarda Euroasiática / Otis tarda).

Other species seen during this part of the drive included a very nice and unexpected Red-necked Nightjar (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis) which Sue discovered in a area of the intensively planted Olive trees, this was followed by a group of 8 Collared Pratincoles (Canastera Común / Glareola pratincola), a big flock of 380+ Northern Lapwings, Western Marsh (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) and Montagu's Harrier, European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Common Kestrel, Carrion Crow, Barn Swallow, Northern Wheatear, Western Yellow Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava) and European Goldfinch.

Great Bustards (Avutarda Euroasiática / Otis tarda).

Other species included Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) x3, Bath (Pontia daplidice) and Small White (Pieris rapae) x8, Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) x4 and Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus).

We had got the target species so we decided to start to make our way back south as we still had a long drive ahead of us (which was uneventful), on the way off the site we finished the day list with a couple of Rock Sparrows (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia) and several Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina).

Cuevas Bajas, Guadalhorce and Hoz de Marín in Málaga Province and near Huétor Tajar in Granada Province, Spain.

Dip, Dip and another Dip, a hard days birding.

Sue and Dave, Day Eleven.

Ebird List for Cuevas Bajas 1. 

Ebird List for Cuevas Bajas 2. 

Ebird List for Hoz de Marín.

Ebird List for near Huétor Tajar.

 

We made our way over the border into Malaga Province for what turned out to be a difficult days birding with three dips.

European Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca).

We started by heading out west again into Malaga Province to a spot where I had seen Lesser-spotted Woodpecker (Pico Menor / Dryobates minor) or as Dave calls it the Never-spotted Woodpecker and unfortunately this is the way it remained even though just minutes after arriving a bird called.

Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla).

Species seen included Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oropéndola Europea / Oriolus oriolus), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Northern Raven (Cuervo grande / Corvus corax), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Eurasian Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Common Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Cetti's (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti) and Willow Warbler (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Spotted (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata) and European Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca) and Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild).

We didn't have any luck so we went to another spot just a bit further along the river but only managed to add Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis).

Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous).

Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous).

During the time at the two sites we also recorded Iberian Bluetail (Ischnura graellsii) x5, Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathinerum) x2, Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator) x1, Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) x13, Bath White (Pontia daplidice) x3, Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) x2, Long-tailed (Lampides boeticus) x1 and Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous) x2, Small White (Pieris rapae) x3, Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) x1, Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi) and Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus).

When we were about to leave we got some news from Andy Patterson about a Eurasian Dotterel (Chorlito Carambolo / Eudromias morinellus) on the beach at Guadalhorce, he said it was extremely windy and conditions weren't great but we decided to give it a shot but unfortunately as hard as we searched it turned out to be the second dip of the day so we headed back inland and headed for the Marin Valley where I drove part of the way along the track before parking and continuing on foot as far as the Arroyo and then back along the bank of the Arroyo to the car.

Coal Tit  (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater).

Coal Tit  (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater).

As we walked we picked up Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Eurasian Hoopoe, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito ibérico / Picus sharpei), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Iberian  Magpie, Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater), European Crested (Herrerillo Capuchino / Lophophanes cristatus) and Eurasian Blue Tit, Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Red-rumped Swallow, Western Subalpine (Curruca Carrasqueña Occidental / Curruca iberiae) and Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Curruca undata), Common Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapilla), Eurasian Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Short-toed Treecreeper, Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Spotted and European Pied Flycatcher, European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra) and European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) but unfortunately as hard as we tried we couldn't find the target Hawfinch (Picogordo Común / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes).

Desert Orange-tip (Colotis evagore).

Desert Orange-tip (Colotis evagore).

We also saw Sage Skipper (Muschampia proto) x1, Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli) x2, Desert Orange-tip (Colotis evagore) x3, Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra) x1, Long-tailed Blue x2 and Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina) x5, Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina) x4, Southern Gatekeeper (Pyronia cecilia) x9, Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) x3, Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera) x1 and a smart young male Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Capra pyrenaica hispanica).

Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Capra pyrenaica hispanica).

We returned to the house and chilled on the terrace, whilst we sat there a group of 5 European Honey Buzzards (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus) dropped in over the house and into the Olives for the night.

Another very nice one of Dave's meals up on the Terrace.

 

Trebujena, Marismas de Trebujena, Marisma de Adventus, A-2000 Trebujena and Presa de Bornos in Cadiz Province and Laguna Dulce near Campillos in Malaga Province, Spain.

Ups and Downs out West.

Sue and Dave, Day Ten. 

Ebird List for Trebujena Fields.

Ebird List for Marismas de Trebujena 1.

Ebird List for Marismas de Trebujena 2.

Ebird List for Marisma de Adventus.

Ebird List for A-2000 Trebujena.

Ebird List for  Presa de Bornos.

Ebird List for Laguna Dulce.

 

Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin (Alzacola Rojizo / Cercotrichas galactotes).

We were up and having an early breakfast in Restaurante Miano before heading out a spot where I have seen Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin (Alzacola Rojizo / Cercotrichas galactotes) on several occasions, as we drove there we had a bird fly up and across the road into an Olive grove but out of sight so we continued on up to the original spot where we searched but didn't find one.

Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin (Alzacola Rojizo / Cercotrichas galactotes).

We did see Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina) before dropping back down to the spot where we saw the one earlier and had more views of this bird which sat up on a fence and moved around on the ground.

We moved to a nearby spot along a track on the Marismas de Trebujena where we were hoping to see Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (Ganga Ibérica / Pterocles alchata) but the three birds were distant and countable for me on the day list but not as a lifer for Sue and Dave, we also picked up Pallid Swifts (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus).

We moved further on along the track and parked again finding Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Northern Raven (Cuervo grande / Corvus corax), Greater Short-toed (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla) and Crested Lark, European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola) and Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe).

We turned around and made our way back to the road and then drove down to the Rio Guadalquivir and parked at Manegodor and checked the pools and river out, species included Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta), Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina), Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and we finished off back at the spot where we had seen the Pin-tailed Sandgrouse earlier and this time we had a flock of 23 bids but still too far away for a lifer.

We started the head back west and just after leaving Trebujena we saw an unexpected Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus) on our way to the Presa de Bornos, when we arrived at the site we quickly found 5 White-rumped Swift (Vencejo Cafre / Apus caffer) but they were always distant over the Eucalyptus trees (just to make Sue and Dave feel at home).

Other species seen were Pallid and Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Northern Raven, Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum) and Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica).

Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus).

Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus).

White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).

White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).

We again continued on West and made a final stop for the day at Laguna Dulce near Campillos, from the hide we saw our first Whiskered Terns (Fumarel Cariblanca / Chilidonias hybridus) of the trip as well as Common Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Spatula clypeata), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Mareca strepera), Mallard, Marbled Duck (Cerceta pardilla / Marmaronetta angustirostris), White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Black-winged Stilt, Pied Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Thinornis dubius), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Curlew Sandpiper (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea), Yellow-legged Gull, Greater Flamingo's, Black-necked Grebes (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), a large flock of passage White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia) some of which dropped in for a drink, a Griffon Vulture, Western Marsh and an immature Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia), Western House Martin, Barn Swallow, Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris) and Corn Bunting.

White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).

White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).

Laguna Dulce from the Hide.

We also saw and heard Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator) x2, Red-veined (Sympetrum fonscolombii) x5 and Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea) x1, Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) x2 and Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi).

Enjoying a Sangria.

Later we went for some food and a few beers down at Tres Calle's in Huetor.