El Chorro Area, Arroyo del Humo, Laguna de Toro and Laguna Redonda, Malaga Province, Spain.

Back out trying to track down a target Dragon with no luck.

Lynn and Steve, Day Nine.

 

Today was pretty much a repeat of day one as we were going to visit the same area near El Chorro looking for the Cazuma Pincertail (Onychogomphus cazuma) but unfortunately, even though the day was far more successful we didn't find the main Dragon.

On the way we saw Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Gull-billed Tern (Pagaza Piconegra / Gelochelidon nilotica), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum) and Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata).

Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma) ♂♀.

We arrived on site and were soon checking the roadside water and surroundings for Dragons, last time we were there we saw nothing so we did much better on this visit seeing Copper Demoiselle (Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis) x1♂, Common Golden Ringed (Cordulegaster boltonii) x2, Small Pincertail (Onychogomphus forcipatus) x1♂, Epaulet (Orthetrum chrysostigma) x2♂1♀ and Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens) x2♂1♀ and at least 2♂ Ringed Cascaders (Zygonyx torridus).

Striped Grayling (Hipparchia fidia).

Southern Marbled Skipper (Muschampia baeticus).

Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila Perdicera / Aquila faciatus).

Other species included Southern Marbled Skipper (Muschampia baeticus) x1, Small White (Pieris rapae) x5, Two-tailed Pasha (Charaxes jasius) x2, Striped Grayling (Hipparchia fidia) x2, Spanish Gatekeeper (Pyronia bathseba) x2, Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) x8, Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi), Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila Perdicera / Aquila faciatus) x3, Alpine Swift (Vencejo Real / Apus melba), Eurasian Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and Long-tailed Tit (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula cabrerae), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens) ♂.

Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens) ♂.

Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens) ♂.

Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma) ♂.

We eventually gave up and started to headed up to Laguna Redonda nearer to Campillos, on the way Steve spotted a small Arroyo with some water in it so we checked it out and found Iberian Bluetail (Ischnura graellsii) x2♂, Epaulet x1♂ and Southern Skimmer (Orthetrum brunneum) x2♂, Griffon Vulture, Crested Lark and Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).

Southern Skimmer (Orthetrum brunneum) ♂.

Southern Skimmer (Orthetrum brunneum) ♂.

Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).

Some nearby Sunflowers.

As we drove past Laguna de Toro we saw Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Gull-billed Tern and a Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas).

Laguna Redonda.

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

Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) immature.

Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

At Laguna Redonda which was to be our last stop of the day we picked up Dark Spreadwing (Lestes macrostigma) x3, Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator) x1♂ and Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope) x1♂, Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum) x1♂, Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) x2♂, Small White x5, Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Black-necked (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis) and Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot, Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Greater Flamingo's, Black-winged Stilt, Pied Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Thinornis dubius), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Gull-billed Tern, Common Swift, Barn Swallow, Western House Martin, Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Western Olivaceous Warbler (Zarcero bereber / Iduna opaca), Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis).

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

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

Later in the evening we picked Paqui up and we all went out for a nice meal and a couple of drinks at Entrevinos Restaurante / Brasería, thanks Lynn and Steve.

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

Out for a shorter day on the more local patch.

Lynn and Steve, Day Eight.

 

European Roller (Carraca / Coracias garrulus).

I started the day with a visit to see Rafa my Physio who was starting to get the sciatica under control, later Lynn, Steve and I headed out to the El Temple area looking for European Roller (Carraca / Coracias garrulus), we concentrated our efforts on the central area along the road but did drive a couple of the tracks as well as it was already very warm.

We dropped lucky quite quickly when we found a pair in an area I had seen them in the past but they had been missing for a year or so, from the car we managed to get nice views of these birds and another pair which I had seen a couple of times this year already.

Other species seen whilst we were out on the fields included European Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus) which appeared to be sitting on eggs, Lesser Kestrel (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Bath White (Pontia daplidice) and plenty of Rabbits (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus).

Lesser Kestrel (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni) ♀.

We left the area and headed out to the Cacìn Valley after getting a cool drink in a bar in Ventas de Huélma, we went down into the valley and made a brief stop at the Contraembalse de Bermejales, it was quiet so we only picked up Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Thekla's Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator).

Small Pincertail (Onychogomphus forcipatus) ♂.

Just a little further up the Valley we stopped again and checked the Rio Cacín and the irrigation channel for dragonflies, we found Small Pincertail (Onychogomphus forcipatus) x1♂ and Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata) x2♀ as well as Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Small White (Pieris rapae), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Southern Gatekeeper (Pyronia cecilia), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), European Turtle Dove, Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Common Swift, European Bee-eater, Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oropéndola Europea / Oriolus oriolus), Barn Swallow and Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla), Eurasian Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and Coal Tit  (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater), Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Western Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Common Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapilla), White Wagtail, Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis).

Coal Tit  (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater).

We decided at the end of this walk to call it a day as it was now very hot, on the way back to the house we saw a nice ♂ Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) and several Iberian Magpies (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki). 

Los Barrios, Rio Hozgarganta near Jimena de la Frontera and Rio Guadiaro at the Venta de las Acacias, Cadiz Province, Spain.

Lynn, Steve and I have another good day in Cadiz Province.

Lynn and Steve, Day Seven.

Green Hooktail (Paragomphus genei) ♂.

I was up fairly early and spent a while sat on the balcony of the hotel where I recorded Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus).

The Rio Hozgarganta.

Our first site of the day was at a spot Steve and I have visited before along the Rio Hozgarganta, after parking we dropped to the river as it was a lot more open at the bridge than it used to be, we worked our way to the west going upstream.

Western Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli).

During the walk and the search at the far end we saw and heard Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Barn Swallow, Western House Martin, European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oropéndola Europea / Oriolus oriolus), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Eurasian Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Eurasian Blackcap, Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala) and Western Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtail, Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) bird wise.

White Featherleg (Platycnemis latipes) ♂♀.

White Featherleg (Platycnemis latipes).

White Featherleg (Platycnemis latipes).

Blue-eye (Erythromma lindenii) ♂.

Blue-eye (Erythromma lindenii) ♂.

Blue-eye (Erythromma lindenii) ♂♀.

Blue-eye (Erythromma lindenii) ♂.

Dragonflies were also recorded including a star find of a Green Hooktail (Paragomphus genei) x1♂ as well as Copper Demoiselle (Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis) x5, White (Platycnemis latipes) x20+ and Orange Featherleg (Platycnemis acutipennis) x2, Western Willow Spreadwing (Chalcolestes viridis), Iberian Bluetail (Ischnura graellsii) x10+, Blue-eye (Erythromma lindenii) x10+, Western Spectre (Boyeria Irene) x2, Small Pincertail (Onychogomphus forcipatus) x1♂, Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens) x1♂, Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma) x4♂, Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea) x2♂, Orange-winged (Trithemis kirbyi) x2♂ and Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata) x5♂.

Orange Featherleg (Platycnemis acutipennis) ♂.

Steve Photographing Orange Featherleg (Platycnemis acutipennis).

Viperine Snake (Culebra Viperina / Natrix maura).

Other species included Oriental Hornet (Vespa orientalis), Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra), Small White (Pieris rapae), Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina), Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi) and Viperine Snake (Culebra Viperina / Natrix maura).

The Rio Guadiaro at the Venta de las Acacias.

We returned to the car and then headed to another site Steve had researched hoping to see the difficult and uncommon Orange-spotted Emerald (Oxygastra curtisii), at this spot we had nice views of a couple of Common Kingfisher (Martin Pescador Común / Alcedo atthis), Western House Martin, Eurasian Blackcap, Western Olivaceous Warbler (Zarcero bereber / Iduna opaca), Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis) and European Serin.

At the first part of the river we also saw Copper Demoiselle x20+, White Featherleg and Orange Featherleg x4, Blue-eye, Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator) x1♂, Orange-winged Dropwing and Violet Dropwing, Epaulet Skimmer x3♂, Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) and Small White.

Orange-spotted Emerald (Oxygastra curtisii).

I was having some sciatica pain, so I stayed on the rocks at the first spot before walking a little way back down stream and then back to the car, Lynn and Steve walked further upstream and had at least 2♂ Orange-spotted Emerald.

From the Terrace.

and down n the fields.

It was now getting quite hot and we were all pretty knackered so we had a steady drive back along the coast home where we sat out on the terrace and watched a passing storm, later I popped down the fields to meet Paqui as I hadn't seen her for a couple of days.