RAM and Charca de Suárez, Motril, Granada Province.

On the Granada Coast.

Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis).

The day started with the usual couple of hour's sea watching at cabo Sacratif near Motril but this month another member of SEO Sierra Nevada Alice joined us. The seabirds were much the same species we usually record including Cory's (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea) and Balearic Shearwaters (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus), several Imm Northern Gannets (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis). 

Common Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis).

Also seen and slightly more unexpected were two Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and a single Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) which was a considerable way out to sea. Good numbers of Pallid Swifts (Vencejo Pálido / Apus pallidus) and Eurasian Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) flew around the cliffs along with Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica) and Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica).

Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

Later we spent a few minutes at the port, but the birds were too distant to do any ring reading and the sun was in the wrong direction, we still managed to count about 200 Audouin's and equal numbers of Yellow-legged Gulls were present.

The last stop was at Charca de Suárez but bird wise as last month it was quite quiet, Western Swamp-hen (Calamón Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), 2x Gull-billed Terns (Pagaza Piconegra / Gelochelidon nilotica), Common Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) and Little Bittern (Avetorillo Común / Ixobrychus minutus) were the best species seen. Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Great Reed (Carricero Tordal / Acrocephalus arundinaceus) and Common Reed Warblers (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scirpaceus) and Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina) were also seen.

Lesser Emperors (Anax parthenope).

As with last month's visit Dragonflies were seen commonly all around the reserve, many more Black Perchers (Diplacodes lefebvrii), Common Emperor (Anax imperator) and Broad Scarlet's (Crocothemis erythraea) were on the wing along with a few Lesser Emperors (Anax parthenope).

Cacin Valley Granada Province.

The Birds.

Cortijo de Capitano.

Pam, John and I set out for a day's birding along the Cacín valley. We started the day where the Rio Cacín joins the Rio Genil at Villanueva Mesia and the first birds seen as we climbed out of the car were a family party of Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotraustes). The adult male was feeding a fledgling on the branch of a Poplar Tree. Several Eurasian Golden Orioles (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus) and a Eurasian Wryneck (Torcecuello / Jynx torquilla) were calling from the plantation trees, both species were seen briefly in flight.  

Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido / Apus pallidus) were also seen.

We then moved on to an agricultural area to the south and soon picked up Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and Greater Short-toed Larks (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla). Taking a dirt track between the fields and Almond groves, we soon came across two female Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) and a pair of Common Magpies (Urraca / Pica pica) with five young Great Spotted Cuckoos (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius) pestering them to be feed. 

A pair and then another single Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis) flew across the site just before we left to go and have a look at the Embalse de Cacín.

Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator).

At the lake we picked up several more juv Great Spotted Cuckoos, Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Common Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scirpaceus), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) and Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis).

We moved further on down the valley and stopped above the gorge and watched a Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila Perdicera / Aquila faciatus) as it soared up out of the valley very close to us and away North. Juv Woodchat Shrike, Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), Blue Rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Alpine Swift (Vencejo Real / Apus melba) all went on to the days list.

We then started the return journey back along the Rio Cacín and stopped at a bridge near El Turro. Here Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus) and Cetti's Warbler were heard and Melodious Warbler (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta), European Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur) and Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) were all seen.

Eurasian Eagle Owl (Buho Real / Bubo bubo).

On the cliffs just to the North of El Turro we were lucky enough to find two adult and at least one juv Eurasian Eagle Owl (Buho Real / Bubo bubo) all out in the open sunning themselves, quite a sight.

Our last stop of the day was at Balsa de Regidor near Moraleda de Zafayona which has just recently been very quiet but to day we managed to pick up Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Common Pochard, Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) and Eurasian Golden Oriole.

Balsa de Regidor and Rio Cacín, Granada Province.

The Dragonflies.

Red-veined Darters (Sympetrum fonscolombii).

Along the Rio Cacín several Red-veined Darters (Sympetrum fonscolombii) and a single Copper Demoiselle (Calopteryx haemorrhoidalia) were seen in the reed beds.

Small Red-eyed Damselfly (Erythromma viridulum).

Later in the day we stopped at Balsa de Regidor near Moraleda de Zafayona, a naturalised water deposito for the local farm lands. Here dragonflies filled the air with many more Red-veined Darters, Violet Dropwings (Trithemis annulata), Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum), Broad Scarlet (Crocothemis erythraea), Small Red-eyed (Erythromma viridulum) and Common Blue Damselflies (Enallagma cyathigerum) and a single male Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria). 

Male Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria).

The Long Skimmer is a rare dragonfly which is common in Africa but has a patchy and little known distribution in Southern Spain.

Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

The Butterflies

Blue-spotted Hairstreak (Satyrium spini).

Throughout the day, butterfly species were on the wing and several interesting species were noted including Blue-spotted Hairstreak (Satyrium spini) and Panoptes Blue (Pseudophilotes panoptes) were both seen feeding on the spiny flowers of Field Eryngo (Eryngium campestre) whilst several Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli) flew rapidly past looking for the larger flowers of the thistle plants.

Panoptes Blue (Pseudophilotes panoptes).

Scarce Swallowtail (Chupaleches / Iphichides podalirius feistameli).

Also seen in good numbers were Common / Southern Blue (Polyommatus icarus / celina) and Long-tailed Blues (Lampides boeticus), Spanish Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina), Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus), Cleopatra (Gonepteryx rhamni), Southern Gatekeeper (Pyronia cecilia) and several species of White including Bath (Pontia daplidice), Small (Artogeia rapae) and Large (Bpieris brassicae).

Cattle Egrets, Huetor Tajar, Granada Province.

Unseasonal flock.

Whilst driving towards Granada on the A92 a flock of 17 Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) were seen feeding in a harvested Lucerne (Medicago sativa) field near Moraleda de Zafayona. 

This is not an uncommon sight for most of the year, but during the height of summer only the odd singleton is seen.

Genil Valley, Sierra Nevada, Granada Province.

Orchids and Butterflies.

Small-leaves Helleborine (Epipactis microphylla).

The main point of this visit was to check on the flowering progress of two species of Epipactis, both growing in the mixed broad leaved woodlands typical of this valley.

The first was Small-leaves Helleborine (Epipactis microphylla) and I quickly found 5 spikes all in different stages of flowering, some starting to go over whilst 2 were still in bud.

Epipactis fageticola.

The next plant was Epipactis fageticola at a site I found last year, where there were 17 spikes with quite a way to go before they were to flower but at a new site to me near the microphylla, 4 more plants were seen in a much brighter position and a single plant had 2 flowers just about open. 

Comma (Polygonia c-album).

4 plus spikes of Dactylorhiza elata ssp sesquipedalis were also in perfect condition a little further along the road in a damp flush.

Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus).

Marsh Fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia).

At a point further down in the valley where the road crosses the Rio Genil several butterfly species were seen, these included Comma (Polygonia c-album), Spanish Gatekeeper (Pyronia bathseba), False Ilex Hairstreak (Satyrium esculi), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Marsh Fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia), Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina), Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris), Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus), Brown Argus (Aricia agestis), Small White (Artogeia rapae) and Spanish Marbled White (Melanargia ines).

RAM and Charca de Suárez, Motril, Granada Province.

Strange birds at sea.

Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis).

Juan Perez and I made our monthly visit to a headland near Motril to carry out the RAM sea bird survey. The morning was going well with a few Cory (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea) and Balearic Shearwaters (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus), Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) and Audouin's Gulls (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii) passing by. 

Then the birds of the day were seen moving east about 500 meters offshore, a group of 13 Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber) a new bird for my Granada list made quite an unusual sight flying low over the sea. 

A couple of Peregrine Falcons (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus), Pallid Swifts (Vencejo Pálido / Apus pallidus), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Sandwich (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Gull Billed (Charrán Piconegro / Gelochelidon nilotica) and Little Terns (Charrancito Común / Sterna albifrons) were also recorded.

Audouin's Gulls (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii).

The next stop was at the port of Motril where we spent some time recording the ring numbers of the many Audouin's Gulls roosting.

Charca de Suárez was quiet bird wise but Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo), Little Grebe (Zapullin Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta), Grey (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and Squacco Herons (Garcilla Cangrejera / Ardeola ralloides) were seen and Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común /Porphyrio porphyrio) was heard.

Dragonflies at Charca de Suárez, Granada Province.

Two more new species.

Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator).

After the RAM seabird survey Juan and I went to Charca de Suárez near Motril, the wind was strong but several species of Dragonfly were seen. 

The first was a nice ♂ Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator) which was sheltering from the winds in some vegetation, a common species at this site and on most areas of water with some marginal plants. 

It is the largest and most powerful flying of the Odonata seen in this region, and some territorial battles between the males are to the death. 

Female Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata).

The Emperor was quickly followed by ♂ and ♀ Violet Dropwings (Trithemis annulata) hunting from cut off stalks of Fennel growing along the walk ways around the reserve. 

This species gets its Dropwing name from the position it takes at rest, with the wings thrust forward and down and the abdomen held high. 

Several ♂ Broad Scarlet's (Crocothemis erythraea) were seen and what I first thought was a ♀ of the same species was the next insect to be photographed, but later it was identified as a ♀ Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens) the first of two new dragonfly species seen today. 

♀ Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens).

I then notice an all black insect with a very active flight skimming low through the vegetation in a drier area of the marsh. 

I again managed to get shots of an Imm ♂, but this was enough to identify it as a Black Percher (Diplacodes lefebvrii) the second new species for me. 

The ♂ was all black, which means it was probably quite an old insect, younger ♂♂ have some yellow markings along the side of the abdomen, it has a restricted range still in Iberia, mainly coastal in the south but is expected to expand north.

Black Percher (Diplacodes lefebvrii).

Iberian Bluetail (Ischnura graellsii) and Small Red-eyed Damselfly (Erythromma viridulum) were also seen along with Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta) all of which avoided the camera completely.

Sierra de Almijara, Granada Province.

A spectacular show of Marsh Orchids.

The Rio.

After quite a drive out in to the wild's, Jayne and I got to the site where Ian Philips from Malaga had seen Common Twayblade (Listera ovata) and Robust Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza eleta) in the past.

Common Twayblade (Listera ovata).

The Marsh Orchid was quite a sight with about 60 spikes growing on the banks of a clear mountain stream with several of the plants reaching a height of near 3 feet and were possibly of the subspecies sesquipedalis. 

The prize here though were two spikes of the Common Twayblade a new orchid species in Spain for me, they may not be the smartest or brightest Orchid species I have ever seen, but the two spikes were very nice. 

Robust Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza eleta).

Usually growing to between 20 and 60 cm, these plants were on the small side at about 30 cms, the spike usually only has two subopposite large oval leaves, but a small third leaf can rarely be present.

Also seen here were Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) and Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) and a very large species of pond skater.

New Damselfly, Sierra de Almijara, Granada Province.

Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula).

Male Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula).

Several of the Odonata species were on the wing along a small mountain stream in the Sierra de Almijara. I only managed to photograph males but several insects were seen in tandem. This was the only Dragonfly species seen at the site which was surprising as the site looked ideal.

A day in the Sierra Nevada with SEO, Granada Province.

The Genil Valley.

Rio Genil in a wooded valley.

A group of 13 set off on a wild life walk along the Rio Genil in the wooded valleys in the north of the National Park. The walk started at Estacion de Maitena just east of Guejar-Sierra and followed the Rio Genil for quite a few KMs. Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), European Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica) and Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) were all seen before leaving the road and following the disused tram line. Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Eurasian Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) were all feeding in a small group of Sweet Chestnut Trees (Astanea sativa) along the way. 

Digitalis obsura.

Pyrenean Oak (Quercus pyrenaica) and Yew (Taxus baccata) were both found near the first Venta and just before we left the tram way to join la Vereda de la Estrella we found several spikes of Robust Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza elata) in a track side flush along with Digitalis obsura and Dianthus Pungens. Acer granatense, Acer monspessulanum and Sorbus torminalis were three new tree species I had not seen before in Granada Province which were all described by our walk leader Jorge Garzón.  

Western Bonelli’s Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), European Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla) and Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos) all sang from the scrub growing on the slopes.

Pyrenean Oak (Quercus pyrenaica).

We stopped for lunch on the bank of the Rio Genil where a White-throated Dipper (Mirlo Acuático / Cinclus cinclus) put in an appearance up stream from us.

The weather then took a turn for the worse, thunder, lightening, hail, rain and snow all took their turn before the sun returned. 

The storm rumbled away behind us for the rest of the day but did not cause any problems, so we added Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Eurasian Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Eurasian Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Blue-Rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Common Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) and Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) to the day's list on the way back to the cars. 

Some snow on the  Sierra.

Many more species were seen during the day (too many to list here) and every one had a most enjoyable walk.

A day in the Sierra Nevada with SEO, Granada Province, (part two).

Some of the Butterflies in Sierra Nevada.

Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus alceae).

Whilst on the walk, a good number of butterflies were seen in the sunshine that was with us for most of the day. Many species were seen collecting minerals and water from the small flows of water along the pathways.

False Mallow / Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus tripolina / alceae).

Many False Mallow / Mallow (Carcharodus tripolina / alceae) and Small Skippers (Thymelicus sylvestris) and Marsh Fritillaries (Euphydryas aurinia) were found at these wet flushes.  

Large (Pieris brassicae), Small (Artogeia rapae) and Black-Veined Whites (Aporia crataegi), Spanish Gatekeeper (Pyronia bathseba) and Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) were all seen commonly flying amongst the trees.

Cardinal Fritillary (Argynnis pandora).

Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Spanish Marbled White (Melanargia ines), Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenoides),  and Common Orange-tip (Anthocharis cardamines), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae), Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina), Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli) the southern form of this species, Cardinal Fritillary (Argynnis pandora), Southern Blue (Polyommatus  celina) which is also quite different from the Northern European form (female having blue upper wings), Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) also differing slightly from Northern forms by having Orange instead of cream spots and Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera) were all also seen during the day.

Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina).

Orchids in Sierra de las Nieves, Malaga Province.

Orchis cazorlensis and Limodorum trabutianum.

Orchis cazorlensis

I drove over to Ronda with Jayne and her sister where we picked Brenda Jones up on the way past her house. 

Brenda and I dropped Jayne and Barbara off in the centre of the town for some shopping and continued on to Sierra de las Nieves for a few hours looking for Orchids, our first spot was at a site given to us by one of the local rangers in low road side scrub on some very rocky ground where we first found several spikes of Man Orchid (Aceras anthropophorum). 

Orchis x incantata (O cazorlensis x O langei).

These were quickly followed by several plants of Orchis cazorlensis which were starting to go over, but the top flowers were still good. 

After a bit of a wonder about we eventually found the Hybrid Orchis x incantata (O cazorlensis x O langei) along with several Lange's (Orchis Langei), Somber Bee (Ophrys lupercalis) and Brenda saw a couple of spikes of Woodcock Orchid (Ophrys scolopax) still in flower.

Limodorun trabutianum.

Further down the Sierra, several spikes of Limodorun trabutianum were in perfect condition in the undergrowth below the Oak trees. Also seen was a single spike of Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera). 

We stopped on the way out of the park to have a look at the progress of several spikes of Lizard Orchid (Himantoglossum hircinum) but were dismayed to see that they had all been chewed off by goats or Wild Boar.

Limodorun trabutianum.

A couple of spikes of a pure white Orchis species were seen at higher levels and can only be assigned to Southern Early Purple Orchid (Orchis olbienis),  but all the other spikes of this species at this site were well over with.

White-leaved Bugloss (Echium albicans) was in flower all over the area, along with several species of Rock-rose (Helianthemum).

Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

 A day down the Valley birding.

Woodchat Shrikes (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator).

I had arranged to meet Gill and Ian Cardy on the outskirts of Moraleda in the morning for a few hours birding. I was very early so I had a look around some of the more open areas dotted amongst the many houses and was pleased to find a cracking European Roller (Carraca / Coracias garrulus) sitting on a wire in an area of almonds. European Bee-eaters (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica) and Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator) were also found. I then returned to the place for our meeting and just a few second before they arrived 2 Great Spotted Cuckoo's (Crialo Europeo / Clamator glandarius) flew towards the Autovia.

Corn Bunting (Triguero / Miliaria calandra).

Unfortunately, on returning to the site with Gill and Ian 20 minutes later the European Roller was not seen. 

We went out into an area of large crop fields where we soon found Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) and the first of several Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), Crested (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and Greater Short-toed Larks (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Miliaria calandra) and Eurasian Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) were all seen.

We then moved down to the Embalse de Cacín picking up Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Western Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila Perdicera / Aquila faciatus), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina) and Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei).

Spanish Marbled White (Melanargia ines).

Several Species of butterfly were also noted, these included Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Spanish Marbled White (Melanargia ines), Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) and Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus).

Trip to the Guadix area, Granada Province.

European Rollers and Stock Dove.

Euopean Rollers (Carraca / Coracias garrulus).

Andy Mountford and I set off to a site near Guadix where we picked up at least 8 European Rollers (Carraca / Coracias garrulus) at two different sites. 

Also seen were the first Imm Great Spotted Cuckoo's (Crialo Europeo / Clamator glandarius) of the season, along with Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Western Black-eared (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica), Northern (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) and Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito ibérico / Picus sharpei), Black-belled Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis) were heard amongst the Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) and Greater Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla) Song.

Red-eared Terrapin, (Trachemys scripta).

Later in the day, we picked up Stock Dove (Paloma Zurita / Columba oenas) at one of it's only sites in Andalucia. Also seen here were Little Grebe (Zapullin Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Common Sandpiper x 4 (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and Common Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra). 

Out on the pool there was a large Red-eared Terrapin, (Trachemys scripta) basking in the sun, an unwelcome introduction from North America.