Huétor Fields and Sierra de Loja in Granada Province, Spain.

A cracking day birding with Barbara and Derek Etherton.

Ebird List for the Fields.

Ebird List for the Sierra.

 

First frozen windscreen of the winter.

I was up and getting a few jobs done before I headed down to meet up with Barbara and Derek, when I got out to the car I was surprised to find the car was frozen and needed defrosting.

The frozen windscreen from inside.

I met Barbara and Derek and we started the day in the Bar at Combustibles Gómez with some coffee and breakfast, we were soon out birding on a nearby area of fields and enjoying views of some of the wintering Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) x10, an impressive 277+ Eurasian Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) and the first Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) of the winter.

Eurasian Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus).

Eurasian Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus).

In the same area we also saw Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

The Town Fields.

Barbara and Derek enjoying the Eurasian Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus).

After a while we went up to the Lucerne fields, we parked at the usual spot where we added Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) x2, Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Eurasian Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild) and European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus).

Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus).

We drove slowly around to the Walnut trees where we stopped again and checked the fences and fields there, finding a decent sized flock of feeding Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), more Northern Lapwings, Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris) and Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina).

On the way to Huétor we found a Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Curruca undata) amongst the Asparagus and a nice Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) feeding in a dry channel before heading out to Sierra de Loja for some upland birding.

Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Curruca undata).

Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Curruca undata).

Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Curruca undata).

I left my car at the service area and we drove up into the Pine woodlands where we found Common Woodpigeon, Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), White Wagtail, European Robin and Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs).

Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops).

Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops).

Along the crags and out on the tops we added European Crested (Herrerillo Capuchino / Lophophanes cristatus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), a Dartford Warbler which sat up in the top of an almond bush, Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Iberian Magpie, Eurasian Hoopoe, Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real / Lanius meridionalis), Little Owl, Thekla's Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and a couple of late Northern Wheatears (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe).

Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) male.

Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) male.

Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) male.

We continued out towards Charca del Negro and then along the far crags picking up Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), a good number of Black Wheatears (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Meadow Pipit, a group of Rock Sparrows (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), European Greenfinch and Corn Buntings.

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

Thekla's Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae).

Once we were around the crags we dropped down into the Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) trees and soon found a good number of Ring Ouzels (Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus), Common Blackbird, Black Redstarts, Common Chiffchaff, Sardinian Warbler and a couple of fly over Eurasian Siskin (Jilguero Lúgano / Carduelis spinus) which called several times.

Ring Ouzel (Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus).

Ring Ouzels (Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus).

Ring Ouzels (Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus).

We turned around and started to make our way back down the hill but spent a while parked by the puddle we stopped by on the way up but none of the Ouzels came down for a drink whilst we were there so we continued on, as we drove we saw our only Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia) of the day, a single Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Capra pyrenaica hispanica), Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus), as we dropped down the slopes off the tops we had a male Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) down on the rocks below the track and our only butterfly of the day a Small White (Pieris rapae).

Looking out West from the Ouzel site.

Looking South to the Hawthorns.

Looking out west, one of my favourite views.

Further down on the way back to my car we saw lots of Late Crocus (Crocus serotinus) and a smart Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris), once we reached the service area I put my stuff into my car and then after saying goodbye to Barbara and Derek I headed off home.

The hat triplets.

 

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

A day's birding with Nikki from the Netherlands.

Ebird List for El Temple. 

Ebird List for Cortijo Ochíchar. 

Ebird List for Contraembalse de los Bermejales.

Ebird List for Rio Cacín South of El Turro.

Ebird List for Camino del Turro al Castillo y Chimeneas.

 

I headed up to Granada City where I met up with Nikki, we then we headed out towards the area near La Malaha where we sorted our kit out and started the list with Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis).

White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

Out on to the fields we went onto a track to the South of the road through the site and up to the oil pits, on the way we picked up Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Calandra Lark (Calandria Común / Melanocorypha calandra), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and loads of Corn Buntings (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Continuing on and did a loop back to the road and then crossed to the fields on the Northern side and after parking we picked up a nice male Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), a single Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis) which Nikki heard but didn't see it and another calling Iberian Grey Shrike.

Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

We returned to the road and then took another track to the North finding more Black-bellied Sandgrouse but we only heard them, 7x Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), a very distant Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) which was sat on one of the taller pylons, Spotless (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), White Wagtails, Black Redstart, Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina), and as we were leaving the area we saw a raptor being mobbed by several Eurasian Magpies which turned out to be a fine female Hen Harrier (Aguilucho Pálido / Circus cyaneus).

Female Hen Harrier (Aguilucho Pálido / Circus cyaneus).

Female Hen Harrier (Aguilucho Pálido / Circus cyaneus).

At the far end of the track we reached Chimeneas and then went to Ventas de Huelma were we had coffee and a tostarda in Restaurante Casa Luciano before continuing on along the road towards Cacín, we made a stop at the Arroyo de los Frailes where we saw Common Buzzard on one of the Pylons, Small White (Pieris rapae) and Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus) before moving on through the Solar Desert to the Cortijo Ochíchar where we spent a while scanning the skies and the ridges.

Spotless (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris).

Immediately we could see and hear a large mixed group of Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) x60+ and Western Jackdaws, as well as an immature Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti), Common Crane (Grulla Común / Grus grus) which passed distantly heading west, a heard only Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Curruca undata), Northern Raven (Cuervo grande / Corvus corax), Thekla's Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Black Redstart, European Stonechat,European Goldfinch and European Serin.

We again continued on and dropped into the Cacín Valley, just above the town of Cacín we saw a couple of late Desert Orange-tip (Colotis evagore) x2 before going back North along the Valley up to the Contraembalse de los Bermejales, after parking we walked down to the shore line and scanned the lake finding Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Spatula clypeata), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus) heard only, Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Chiffchaff and White Wagtail.

Desert Orange-tip (Colotis evagore) female.

Just up the road we parked again and walked along the irrigation channel as far as the fence in front of the dam, during the walk we saw and heard Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Squirting Cucumber (Ecballium elaterium), Desert Orange-tip x3, Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera) x1, Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta) x1, Desert Darter (Sympetrum sinaiticum) x1♀ and Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) x3.

Desert Darter (Sympetrum sinaiticum) ♀.

Once we returned to the car we checked the bridge and crags finding Long-tailed Tit (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus) and Eurasian Blackcap before having some lunch by the car, as we ate I heard the calls of several Iberian Magpies (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki) in the Pines behind us but apart from a few glimpses we didn't manage to get any tickable views so we moved on up the valley to another spot in the Pines.

In the pines we had a couple of Short-toed Treecreepers (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla), Common Chiffchaff, Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Common Chaffinch, European Goldfinch, Common Buzzard and another large flock of Iberian Magpies which showed much better.

The Immature Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos).

The Immature Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos).

After getting good views of the Magpies we headed up to El Turro and the up onto the ridge above the town and started to make our way back towards Granada but we soon came across a hunting immature Golden Eagle which showed very well.

We continued on but added nothing new before we reached the City where I dropped Nikki off after a good day's birding.

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A quick visit to the weed patch.

 

Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).

As I was passing the weed patch I decided to sit there for a while to see what came in, but I had forgotten it was Sunday so the Macho Bunny Killers were out in force as were the gangs of cross county motorbikes riding at F*****g ridiculous speeds on narrow roads with no regard for anyone out walking, on push-bikes or in cars for that matter.

Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).

Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala).

Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala).

Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala).

After about 20 minutes I gave up, but not before I saw Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Eurasian Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) and Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis) and European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis).

European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis).

On my way back up to the house I saw a Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) on the Cortijo and another on the usual wooden telegraph poles along with Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A quick visit to the fields.

Ebird List for the Town Fields.

The first of the Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

I started by checking out the works along the Arroyo Vilano, on the way I had the two regular Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis) and European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

The second Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) on the next post.

The second Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

As it is looking like they have pretty much finished the Arroyo destruction and reinstated a track to get up to my usual parking spot, I went up there and scanned the Lucerne fields for a while adding Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Cetti's (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

On the way down to Huétor from the crossroads, I picked up Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina).

Distant Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

I popped into town and did a bit of shopping before heading back home via the town fields, where I soon located 11 of the wintering Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) which have been a tad elusive recently due to the amount of disturbance this year, almost 200 Eurasian Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), Little Owl, Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Eurasian Magpie, European Stonechat, White Wagtail and Eurasian Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis).

I returned to the house and caught up with a few repairs before chilling later. 

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

A day out with friend Polly.

 

I started the day with breakfast at Combustibles Gómez before driving up to Restaurante La Abadía near Padul where I had another coffee before meeting up with Polly.

We headed out onto the area known as El Temple to the West of Granada, along the main road through the centre of the area we started the list with Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata).

Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

Further along the road we took to the tracks and soon added Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) x8, Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Eurasian Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra). 

European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola).

European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola).

We crossed to the opposite side of the road through the site and checked some more fields, finding the first of several Common Buzzards (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) which was quite a pale bird, Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real / Lanius meridionalis), Calandra Lark (Calandria Común / Melanocorypha calandra), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) x1 and Crimson Speckled (Utetheisa pulchella) moths.

We left the El Temple area and popped into Restaurante Casa Luciano where we had a drink and some food before heading along the GR-3310 towards Cacín, on the way we saw Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus) and as we dropped into the village we saw a single Desert Orange-tip (Colotis evagore) x1.

Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major).

Once we were through Cacín we stopped by the Rio Cacín and then did a short walk finding Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Long-tailed (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus), Eurasian Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild) x3, Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Squirting Cucumber (Ecballium elaterium), Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) x3, Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta) x1, Large (Pieris brassicae) x3+ and Small White (Pieris rapae) x14+.

Large White (Pieris brassicae).

Our net stop was up at the Contra-embalse de Bermejalis finding at least 10x Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), 5x Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), 1x Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Spatula clypeata), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) and Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti).

Looking over to Castillo de Tajarja.

A lone Oak.

We then did a drive across country back towards Granada and back to Restaurante La Abadía seeing a Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) on the way.

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

Walking back to the Mechanic's.

Ebird List for the walk to Huétor.

 

The cleaned out Arroyo Vilano.

I set off for the walk back down to Grúas Lechuga Mechanic's in Venta Neuva, on the section down to Huétor I recorded Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Iberian (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki) and Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Eurasian Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) and Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Cetti's (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

I collected the car and returned home, I spent the rest of the day getting a few jobs done.

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A walk back from the Mechanic's in Venta Nueva.

Ebird List for walk from the Mechanic's to Huétor.

Ebird List for walk from Huétor to the house.

 

I started the day by going down to Venta Nueva where I dropped the car off at Grúas Lechuga Mechanic's and walked back to the house via Huétor.

European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola).

On the first part of the walk to Huétor I recorded Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Cetti's (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis) and European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

I walked up through town and after having a coffee in Cafetería Florida I continued on across the fields up to the crossroads just passed the Arroyo Vilano where I turned left, during this part of the walk I picked up Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris) and several Corn Buntings (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Along the fields and the newly cleaned out Arroyo as far as the bar, I added Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus canariensis), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Eurasian Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) and Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild).

Bidens aurea.

Bidens aurea.

The final part of the walk from the bar up to the house, I finished the day's list off with Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Small White (Pieris rapae) x1, Squirting Cucumber (Ecballium elaterium) and Bidens aurea.

Squirting Cucumber (Ecballium elaterium).

Albrighton in Shropshire, Britain, Malaga in Malaga Province and near Huétor Tajar in Granada Province, Spain.

Travelling back Home to Spain.

 

I was up and about early and packed, at about 10:15 Mom and John took me up to the railway station where I said goodbye to them both after having a very nice stay with them again, thanks to you both.

I got the train to Birmingham Airport where I caught my flight back to Malaga where good friend Derek picked me up and took me back to his place where I caught up with Barbara and enjoyed a very nice curry with them both before heading back home.

The only problem all day was on the way back to the house when the rare passenger side window dropped into the door meaning it was a cool, noisy drive home. 

Near Bridgnorth, Shropshire, Britain.

Out for a Carvery with Jayne's Family.

 

I spent the morning at Mom's, but I did go for a walk up to Donington churchyard to put some flowers on Jayne's plaque, later 10 of us went over to the Punch Bowl Pub near Bridgnorth for a Carvery.

After saying bye to the family, I returned to Mom's and we had a quiet evening.