Fuente de Piedra, Laguna Dulce, Campillos and Laguna de Capacete, Malaga, Spain.

Another good day's birding with Friends Barbara and Derek but with a sticky end !!!

Ebird List for Fuente de Piedra.

Ebird List for Laguna Dulce.

Ebird List for Campillos.

 

The roadside pool through the fog.

I drove over to Mollina where I met Barbara and Derek, we had some breakfast and a coffee before heading to Fuente de Piedra and after parking we checked out the roadside pool and the swampy area on the opposite side, through the fog we managed to find Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Spatula clypeata) on the pool and Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala) and Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti) and through the fog we saw a single White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia) sat on it's nest on the old chimney stack.

The roadside pool again still through the fog.

We took the track around the back of the marshy area to the far end of the boardwalk and then came back towards the visitors centre end, as we walked we saw Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), European Stonechat, House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola).

The Pool along the side of the Boardwalk.

Barbara and Derek on the Boardwalk.

Along the Tamarisks heading towards the Mirador we were pleased to see a small flock of Eurasian Siskin (Jilguero Lúgano / Carduelis spinus), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis) and on the pool at the far end of the Tamarisks a male Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca).

Looking out from the Mirador over the Main Laguna.

From the Mirador we scanned the main Laguna which was now starting to become visable as the fog was lifting, through the scope we saw a small number Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Common Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Pied Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Black-headed  (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis).

Female House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus).

Around at Observatorio El Laguneto we found Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus), Northern Shoveler, Gadwall (Anade Friso / Mareca strepera), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Common Kingfisher (Martin Pescador Común / Alcedo atthis), Dartford (Curruca Rabilarga / Curruca undata) heard only and Sardinian Warbler.

At the Observatorio de las Palomas seeing White Wagtail and we also heard some distant Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus).

We walked back around to the car and then drove around to another viewing point out onto the main laguna where we scanned the water between the Tamarisk trees adding Common Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and a very smart Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real / Lanius meridionalis). 

Pied Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta) and Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) in Flight.

Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus) and Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus).

Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus).

Our next stop was at the hide overlooking Laguna Dulce, there was still a decent amount of water there and we soon picked up Northern Shoveler, Mallard, Greater Flamingo's, Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), 60 or so Common Cranes, Black-winged Stilt, over a 100 Pied Avocet, Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Green Sandpiper, Black-headed Gull and Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).

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

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

Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus).

After finishing at the hide we drove a loop track around the back of the laguna adding Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Crested, Calandra (Calandria Común / Melanocorypha calandra) and Eurasian Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Squirting Cucumber (Ecballium elaterium), a single Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) and several Desert Darters (Sympetrum sinaiticum) x8 some in tandem egg laying in a small pool.

Long-eared Owl (Búho Chico / Asio otus).

Long-eared Owl (Búho Chico / Asio otus).

At a spot not too far away we checked an area of trees and quickly located a very smart Long-eared Owl (Búho Chico / Asio otus) which was sat nicely in a Mulberry Tree. 

We decided to go and have a look at Laguna de Capacete but this turned out to be a bad move, luckily I left my car at the start of one of the tracks and jumped in with Barbara and Derek but we didn't get very far before we hit problems in the mud but we found we couldn't back out so with quite a bit of pushing we struggled down to what we had hoped would be a better take off to the left around to a nearby farm but it had been partly Ploughed and was even more impassable.

Derek managed to turn the car around and we hoped that we could get some momentum up and drive back out but we were soon bogged, I walked back to my car and drove to a nearby farm where I managed to get a very kind farmer to come with his tractor and two the car out, Derek offered him some money for his help but he refused it and said he was just happy to be able to help, a true Gentleman.

After Derek did a drive and dislodged some of the mud but not enough so they headed straight to a local jet wash and I went off home.

Algeciras, Palmones--Paseo Marítimo and Los Lance Beach, Cadiz Province, Spain.

Out for another windy and wet morning with Ricky.

Ebird List for Algeciras.

Ebird List for Palmones.

Ebird List for Los Lances.

 

House Bunting (Escribano sahariano / Emberiza sahari) male.

Ricky and I were off early to an area of Algeciras town where we were hoping to find some of the recently colonising House Buntings (Escribano sahariano / Emberiza sahari), with there being 20 odd birds in the area we were fairly confident of finding a few.

House Bunting (Escribano sahariano / Emberiza sahari) male.

House Bunting (Escribano sahariano / Emberiza sahari) female.

We arrived and soon found a single bird singing from a TV ariel which was the first of at least 9 birds seen alongside Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Eurasian Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus).

We returned to the car and made our way back along the coast to Palmones, we parked at the first part of the river and walked the full length of the Paseo Maritimo seeing a couple of Common Shelducks (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna) but we later found these getting feed at one of the bars and carrying rings, Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Common Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Grey Plover (Chorlito Gris / Pluvialis squatarola), Common Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), several Common Sandpipers (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus), Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Audouin's Gull (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Yellow-legged Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Thalasseus sandvicensis), Little (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta) and Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), Eurasian Collared Dove, Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus), Common Kingfisher (Martin Pescador Común / Alcedo atthis), Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Black Redstart, Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Spotless Starling, Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Common Chiffchaff, Eurasian Blackcap, White Wagtail, Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis).

Leach's Storm Petrel (Paíño Boreal / Hydrobates leucorhous).

Leach's Storm Petrel (Paíño Boreal / Hydrobates leucorhous).

We walked back down the river to the car and headed back through Algeciras and onto Los Lances beach near Tarifa, we parked at the start of the Sendero de los Lances but took our shoes and socks of and crossed to the beach as soon as we got there because Ricky saw a Leach's Storm Petrel (Paíño Boreal / Hydrobates leucorhous) come down on the beach.

Leach's Storm Petrel (Paíño Boreal / Hydrobates leucorhous).

Leach's Storm Petrel (Paíño Boreal / Hydrobates leucorhous).

Leach's Storm Petrel (Paíño Boreal / Hydrobates leucorhous).

Unfortunately a dog walker got to the area first and the exhausted bird was off again, however we did see another 6 birds along with Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Yellow-legged Gull, 100+ Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba) and Little Egret.

Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus).

Looking Northish along the Los Lances Beach.

Looking Southish toward Tarifa Island.

Ricky searching for the next Leach's.

After a couple of hours we headed back to Ricky's place where Sonia did us some lunch and we had another piece of her wonderful cake and a coffee before I started to make my way back home but I did pop into Guadalhorce for a very quick visit to see if I could find some reported Common Scoter (Negrón Común / Melanitta nigra) as it would be a year tick and get me closer to my 350 target.

There was no sign of the Scoters but I did see Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus) and Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus).

I continued on home, as I crossed Puerto de las Pedrizas I saw a couple of immature Golden Eagles (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) soaring low over the motorway and as I passed through the Huétor Fields I finished off with Eurasian Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica) and Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua). 

45mm fell whilst I was away.

A big thanks to Sonia and Ricky for a great few days away, I will miss Sonia's food which was great and both of their company.

La Janda and Observatorio de Guadalmesí, Cadiz Province, Spain.

Back out in the rain for some good birding with Sonia and Ricky. 

Ebird List for La Janda.

Ebird List for Observatorio de Guadalmesí.

 

La Janda as we arrived, looking cloudy and wet.

We all headed out getting some breakfast at Cafeteria E.S. Miraflores before going around the coast past Tarifa and on up to La Janda where we took the main track, as we rolled down towards the main canal we saw Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Spotless (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis).

White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).

White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).

At the first bend we checked the bushes, down by the canal and out on the fields on the far side, in these areas we saw Squirting Cucumber (Ecballium elaterium), Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), lots of White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta), Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Cetti's (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), House (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and a good number of Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus).

As we continued on along the canal track the rain just kept getting worse and made checking the Rice fields difficult, however we did manage to find Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Crane (Grulla Común / Grus grus), Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus), Great Egret (Garceta Grande / Ardea alba), a Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus), Western Swamp-hen (Calamón Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Common Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Ruff (Combatiente / Calidris pugnax), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), European Stonechat and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus) out on one of the Rice Paddies.

At the farm turning we decided to go straight on and check the area out but we didn't really pick up much new and when we came to a rather muddy patch of infill we decided not to risk it and turned around, we then turned right along the track up towards the farm and made a stop by the Canal Secundario but on the way there we had a flock of Common Woodpigeons (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) which also contained at least 3 Stock Doves (Paloma Zurita / Columba oenas).

At the Canal we saw a Common Kingfisher (Martin Pescador Común / Alcedo atthis), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), Northern Raven (Cuervo grande / Corvus corax) and Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata).

We again pushed on, passing the farm and going through the wild Olive fields before we dropped down to the Celemin area, during this drive we saw lots of Narcissus serotinus, Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) x1, Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs). 

Down by the Celemin we stopped for a while checking the bushes and fields from the car as the rain had returned, as we sat there we picked up Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) x2, Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis). 

The conditions as we drove out of La Janda.

After a while we decided to call it as the rain was just getting heavier, so we drove out and then made our way across to Vejer del la Frontera and the back south towards Tarifa but checked the Northern entrance into La Janda as there had been a Great Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Norteño Koenigi / Lanius excubitor koenigi), I think that was the correct SubSpecies but as hard as we tried we couldn't find it, however we did see Egyptian Mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris).

As we went South the weather got quite a lot better so Ricky took me to a place I had never been to called Observatorio de Guadalmesí.

We turned off the main road onto the minor road and made our way out to the Torre de Guadalmesí where we spent a while doing a sea watch, on the way out we saw Common Kestrel, Thekla's Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Eurasian Blackcap, Sardinian Warbler, Common Blackbird, Black Redstart, European Stonechat, Meadow Pipit, Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina), European Goldfinch and Corn Bunting.

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

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

We reached the tower and parked so that we could scan the sea, picking up a single Arctic Skua (Págalo Parásito / Stercorarius parasiticus) which flew low over the waves out of the Med, over a 100 Balearic (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus) and at least 13 Cory's (Pardela Cenicienta Canaria / Calonectris diomedea borealis) or Scopoli’s Shearwater (Pardela cenicienta mediterránea / Calonectris diomedea) but they were just too far out to get a positive ID, Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Yellow-legged and Lesser Black-backed Gull, Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Thalasseus sandvicensis) and Great Cormorant. 

Looking across to Morocco and Ceuta. 

Looking back along the coast towards Tarifa.

The rain again started so we headed back to Sonia and Ricky's where we had some nice food again and a couple of drinks whilst listening to music and chatting.