Costa Ballena, Chipiona Puerto and Playa de Montijo, Cadiz Province, Spain.

Out birding in Storm Claudia and getting an unexpected Lifer.

Ebird List for Costa Ballena--Lago Plaza del Mar.

Ebird List for Costa Ballena--Parque de Los Lagos.

Ebird List for Chipiona--Puerto.

Ebird List for Playa de Montijo.

 

Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus).

Ricky and I again headed out to the North along the A-381, on the way we hit a really nasty patch of weather which made driving very difficult but it started just as we were about to pull off and have some breakfast in Restaurante Venta Andrés, we had a couple of coffee's and a Tostarda before going back to the car and finding the sun was now out.

Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus).

We reached Costa Ballena and went to the pool near to the coast but the weather was windy and very wet so we scanned the pool and the surrounding areas from the car finding Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser) domestic, Muscovy Duck (Pato criollo / Cairina moschata) domestic, Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) domestic, Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) and Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola) and Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis).

After a while the rain eased and Ricky had read a message that there was a good movement of Leach's Storm Petrel (Paíño Boreal / Hydrobates leucorhous) so we walked to the beach but the wind was still very strong so we were really surprised at the amount of shelter we got from a small Tamarisk.

We set the scope up and started to see Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Audouin's Gull (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Thalasseus sandvicensis) and after about 10 minutes the first of 5 Leach's Storm Petrel but Ricky didn't get on this or the second but had great views of the 3rd which passed close into the beach, we saw another two after this. 

Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus).

Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus).

Little Swift (Vencejo Moro / Apus affinis).

After sometime we returned to the car and drove up to the Parque de Los Lagos where we did a loop of the lake adding Pallid (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) x2 and Little Swift (Vencejo Moro / Apus affinis) x2, Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) x6, Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Greylag Geese domestic, Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Spatula clypeata), Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), Common Sandpiper, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Little Grebe, Black-headed, Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Yellow-legged and Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Cormorant, Little Egret, Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Common Kingfisher (Martin Pescador Común / Alcedo atthis), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus canariensis), Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus),  Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Eurasian Magpie, Sardinian Warbler, Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Black Redstart, Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) and Small White (Pieris rapae) x3.

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

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

Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina).

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

Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca)♀.

Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra).

The rain started again so we headed back to the car and then made our way up to Chipiona Port where we sat and had some lunch whilst watching the Little Swift, Eurasian Crag Martin, Ruddy Turnstone, Yellow-legged and Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) and Little Egret.

Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta).

Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta).

Chipiona beach with the nest squall on it's way.

Our final stop of the day was at Playa de Montijo where the tide was dropping but so was the rain, we sat in the car and waited for this latest squall to pass and then went for a quick look out on the beach where we found Eurasian Oystercatcher (Ostrero Euroasiático / Haematopus ostralegus), Grey Plover (Chorlito Gris / Pluvialis squatarola), Common Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus), Bar-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colipinta / Limosa lapponica), Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling, Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Slender-billed (Gaviota Picofina / Chroicocephalus genei), Black-headed, Mediterranean, Yellow-legged and Lesser Black-backed Gull, Caspian (Pagaza Piquiroja / Hydroprone caspia) and Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Thalasseus sandvicensis), Northern Gannet, Great Cormorant, Little Egret, Eurasian Crag Martin, Sardinian Warbler, Common Blackbird and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus).

The rain returned so we did, to the car and then back to Ricky's where we again had an absolutely lovely meal and chilled with a cider. 

La Linea, La Janda in Cadiz Province, Spain.

An afternoon's birding with Friend Ricky.

Ebird List for La Janda.

 

As the car was still with the mechanic overnight I was not able to get off anywhere near as early as I wanted but after a phone call from them just before 10:00 I loaded up and was on my way shortly afterwards.

On the way down to La Linea I picked up Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) on the poles at the bottom of the road, Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) along the coast near Malaga.

Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus).

I arrived at Sonia and Ricky's, Ricky and I soon headed out to do some birding and made our way around to the Benalup-Casas Viejas track into La Janda, at the start of the track we saw Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Common Crane (Grulla Común / Grus grus), Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Northern Raven (Cuervo grande / Corvus corax), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Spotless (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and lots of Squirting Cucumber (Ecballium elaterium).

We made another stop by a bend in the Rio Celemin, here we added Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta), Western Marsh Harrier, Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Western Swamp-hen (Calamón Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus) heard only, Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs).

Our next stop was on the bridge over the Rio Celemin where we scanned the reed beds and the fields finding Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).

We moved just up the road to the woods / ringing area where we sat and had some lunch and saw or heard Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Common Kingfisher (Martin Pescador Común / Alcedo atthis), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada) and Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea).

Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus).

Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus).

Next we crossed to the main canal, passing through the wild Olives, then the farm and the Canal Secundario seeeing Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), 2 Black-winged Kites (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) and European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula).

When we met the main Canal we turned South and spent a good while checking the rice paddies on the right of the track, we recorded Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), another Black-winged Kite, Western Marsh Harrier, Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Common Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Spotted (Archibebe Oscuro / Tringa erythropus) and Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Common Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis),  Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Grey Heron, Little and Great Egret (Garceta Grande / Ardea alba), Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Common Pheasant (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis).

Once we reached the main E5 we drove down to Tarifa and then back to Sonia and Ricky's where Sonia prepared us a cracking meal of Carrillada de Cerdo (Pig's Cheeks) which went down extremely well.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province.

A pain of a day.

 

I dropped the car down to the Mechanic's in Venta Neuva as the sump plug needed some work but I asked them not to start it unless they could finish as I was due to get off early on Thursday morning to go and see friends Sonia and Ricky for some birding.

I asked how things were going and they sent me a photo and said things had developed and it needs a new sump case and would not be ready until tomorrow at some point, not happy.

During the day at home whilst doing some jobs, I saw Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis).

 

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.