Los Barrios and Home, Cadiz Province.

The trip home.
 

Fruit Market.

We got up and started on our way home but we firstly called in at Los Barrios and picked up all the species seen over the last two days plus Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Lesser Kestrel (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).

Fruit Market.

We then spent some time around the local market in the centre of town which had some of the best looking fruit stalls I have seen in Spain.

White Stork (Ciconia ciconia).

We then made our way back home via Guacin, Ronda and Campillos, Passing many White Storks (Ciconia ciconia) nests.

Los Barrios and near Tarifa, Cadiz Province.

Day Two, Catching up with the Migrants.

Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans).

The day started with me dropping Jayne off at the boarder crossing on to Gibraltar and I returned to the fields near Los Barrios looking for the Long-legged Buzzard (Busardo Moro / Buteo fufinus). The Cattle Egrets (Gorilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta), Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia) and White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia) were all still there, along with about 30 Grey Herons (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and a few Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos).

The early migrating birds from Africa started to arrive with good numbers of Black Kites (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans); about 70 birds were seen along with 20+ Short-toed Eagles (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus). Along the ridge amongst the pylons a couple of spiraling columns of Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) were seen moving east. On the other side of the Autovia I started to check out several farm tracks and quickly located a couple of Ospreys (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus), Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus), Montagu's (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) and Marsh Harriers (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus) and my first Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator) of the year.

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

Later I went further along the coast towards Tarifa and stopped at a mirador where I started to pick up a few passage raptors, the first was an adult Egyptian Vulture (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus), followed by good numbers of Griffon Vultures and Short-toed Eagles.

I returned to the site at Los Barrios and still did not find the Buzzard but relocated the two Ospreys easily as both were in the same place as when I left. I also added Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido / Apus pallidus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis). 

Gibraltar West Beach.

On the way back to Gibraltar to meet Jayne I picked up Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo).

I did not do any birding on Gibraltar, I meet Jayne and we had some lunch before having a drive down to Europa point and around on to the beach areas on the east side. The over whelming memory was of rubbish, more rubbish and lots of mess, when there are some nice beaches in the local areas just over the boarder I don’t see any reason to visit the place.

Algeciras, Los Barrios and La Linea, Cadiz Province.

Day one of our Holiday.

Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

Jayne and I set off for a few days away down in the area around Algeciras and Los Barrios. After finding a nice room in the AC Hotel in La Linea we headed down to the shopping area at Los Barrios and spent the rest of the morning getting a few bits and pieces. Later in the day we headed for an area of wet land just before the town of Los Barrios where I was hopeing to see the wintering Long-legged Buzzard (Busardo Moro / Buteo rufinus). 

Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta).

We arrived and immediately picked up a Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus) passing East. On the waterlogged fields there were 50+ Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), a dozen or so Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta) and a few White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia). The Buzzard was not seen but several other species were seen including Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer Domesticus) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba). Later we returned to La Linea and found something to eat and made our way back to the hotel.

Motril area, Granada Province.

RAM, Motril fish docks and Charca del Suarez.

Juan and I were joined today by Antonio another member of the SEO Serra Nevada Group, as usual we made our way to Cabo Sacratif to carry out the monthly count of passage seabirds. The weather was to say the least bracing but luckily not cold or wet at this point (going on recent days that was a small miracle alone). 

The wind meant that most of the species passing were close to shore which was great as we had some great views of Northern Gannets (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Great Skua (Págalo Grande / Catharacta skua) and the only Razorbill (Alca Común / Alca torda) of the day. Not a single Shearwater was recorded but Audouin's Gull (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii) numbers were high. 

We also had brief views of a pair of Blue Rock Thrushes (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) as the few by low just over the cliff edge, Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Western House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) were all noted over head and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and European Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) both called from the scrub lower down the hill. 

The next stop was at the port, but this was very quiet, just a few Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta) and Great Cormorants (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo) being seen.
To finish we went into the reserve at Charca del Suarez and first had a look on the long pool but this was very quiet, but while we were in here another couple of English birders stopped and said they had seen what they thought was a male Garganey (Cerceta Carretona / Anas querquedula) from the next hide so we made our way round and quickly found the bird. Also from here there were a great many Common Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) seen feeding in the reeds with well over a hundred Barn Swallows and Sand Martins (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia) feeding low over the water and also perching in the reeds resting. 

The best bird was a Sedge Warbler (Carricerin Común / Acrocephalus schoenobaenus) which was moving low through the Iris bed. 

We moved on around the site to the next hide, which looked out over the same pool but gave us some much better views of the Garganey. After we had been here for a while, a Savi's Warbler (Buscarla Unicolor / Locustella luscinoides) started to sing from very near the hide and a second bird joined it from the far side of the pool. 

The bird was eventually seen briefly as it moved through the reeds and sat for a few seconds and sang before disappearing again. From here, we also added Yellow Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava) and a singing Sedge Warbler. 

We then quickly stopped at the main hide where we picked up Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), Western Swamp-hen (Calamón Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Eurasian Wigeon (Silbón Europeo / Anas Penelope), Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti).

Huetor Fields and Granada City, Granada Province.

The return of the Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

Church in the centre.

I went down town to meet Bob Wright and two people who were visiting him this week, I first had a walk along the track opposite northern end of the high street. Along here at least one male Subalpine Warbler (Curruca Carrasquena / Sylvia cantillans) was pushed up from the weeds at the sides of the fields and two Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) were also seen flying over a harvested Lettuce field which contained several Stone-curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and House Sparrows (Gorrión Común / Passer Domesticus). We retraced the walk once Bob had arrived and added Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica).

View of the Sierra Nevada from Plaza de San Nicolas.

We then headed around to the fields where the Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) were, they disappeared for a couple of weeks while the fields were very wet but turned up again a couple of days ago. There were about 50-60 birds on the ploughed up Lucerne crop and they were being flushed a few at a time by a farmer hand spraying his field. Here we also had Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis). One of the friends who was with Bob very kindly gave me the loan of his spare Kowa scope while mine is away for repairs at Leica, Thank You.

Fountains in the Jardine de Truinto.

I then left the trio birding while I returned home with the intention of doing some gardening but we decided to go up into the city of Granada instead, even though the shops would mostly be closed. We had a really nice wander around the Moroccan shops and something to eat in the few hours were stayed and were surprise by the large numbers of people visiting on a cold winters Spanish Holiday. On the way back to the car we passed a small park called Fuente Nueva in amongst the apartment blocks which was closed due to wind damage. In the trees around its edge a couple of

Firecrests (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus) were singing along with Serin and Coal Tit (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater).

Grazalema, Cadiz Province.

The reopening of the Pueblo's Tourist (Wildlife) Information Centre.

Sue, Clive and Sam.

Sue and Clive of the Iberianature forum and the Grazalema guide web sites have dived in with both feet and taken on the Visitors Centre in what is probably the best know and most beautiful of the famous White Villages, Grazalema.

Inside the shop.

Jayne and I made our way over for their first weekend of business and went to completely the wrong building, thinking that they had got the small shop near the church. They have in fact got the big and shiny fairly new centre on the main car park, a very nice spot with some fantastic views from the terrace at the rear.

Inside the shop.

The main room of the centre houses the book shelves with a good collection of titles, ranging from field guides for birds and other wildlife to books about the local area, Spain in general and maps. Sue and Clive will be increasing the number of title in the near future and they can order just about any title that is in print. Also in the main room is a selection of LOCAL artisan products, from woven Esparto Grass and leather goods, ceramics and hand made soaps, all of which are produced in the village or locally. On the walls is a display of some of the local art group’s work and a lot of Sue and Clive’s own photographs of the local area and wildlife, which are also to be seen as slide shows on two screens in the other ground floor room.

Inside the shop.

Upstairs is not in use at the moment but I know that they have many more plans in the pipeline and I am sure that this space will soon be in use and will be as interesting as the ground floor.

We went and had a drink with Sue, Clive and Sam in one of the cafés on the square and had nice chat and made a fuss of Sam. Later we bought a few bits including a copy of the new Collins Guide which I had wanted.

I wish Sue and Clive all the very best and hope that people who are in the area make use of what will be a great asset to the village.

GOOD LUCK.

Sierra de Grazalema, Cadiz Province.

The Wildlife.

Narcissus fernandesi.

After visiting the centre in Grazalema Jayne and I went and had a look at a show of Narcissus fernandesi along the road to Ubrique. The sides of the road had been sprayed but the fields were full of plants but the wind made getting shots difficult. We passed several clumps of Paperwhite Narcissus (Narcissus papyraceus) as we headed back to the main road and some lunch. 

Paperwhite Narcissus (Narcissus papyraceus).

I also picked up several Giant Orchids (Himanthoglosum robertiana) and some strange looking Dull Bee Orchids (Ophrys fusca)?? Birds included loads of Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Blue Rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax) and Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia).

Dull Bee Orchids (Ophrys fusca).

After lunch we passed the Laguna Dulce on the way home and added several White-headed Ducks (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), about 50 Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber), a small flock of 30+ Common Crane (Grulla Común / Grus grus) and 33 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) which did a very timely fly past. For a flying visit we collected a nice list of species.

Rio Guadalhorce, Laguna Dulce and El Torcal, Malaga Province.

A good morning but the weather puts pay to the afternoon.

Laguna Dulce, Campillos.

I drove down to Benalmadena to collect two very nice ladies, Viv and Margaret for a days birding, we started the day at the Guadalhorce Nature Reserve near Malaga. The first stop was at the river mouth where the Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus) seen earlier in the week was still present along with a single Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos). A nice female Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus) perched on the Giant Reed debris allowing Margaret her first chance to use the camera. Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) where also on the beach and Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) out on the sea.

A foggy Torcal.

We then moved around to the main reserve picking up a very pale pale morph Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus), we then made our way to the hide looking over the main pool where we saw our first White-headed Ducks (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala) both the males with their bright blue bills and the less colourful females. Other ducks included Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata), Little (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and several Black-necked Grebes (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis). White blobs could be seen through the tamarisk scrub and were identified as Spoonbills (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia) on the margins of the lagoon there were good numbers of Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and a few Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta). 

More foggy Torcal.

We had a look on the long pool from the hide picking up good numbers of all five expected Hirundine species, Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and Northern Pintail (Ánade Rabudo / Anas acuta). We then walked back towards the car and headed off north to wards Campillos and to Laguna Dulce where we bumped into the Axarquia Bird Group. On the lagoon there were a few Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber), more Northern Shoveler, Common Pochard, Northern Pintail, Mallard and large numbers of Hirundines.

We stopped and had some lunch and while we were there the heavens opened and it did not stop all afternoon. We drove up to El Torcal and straight into low cloud and heavier rain. The only birds seen here was a pair of Rock Buntings (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia). We spent the rest of the afternoon taking a slow drive back across country to malaga seeing very little except for a few plants and a very nice group of Red-rumped Swallows (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica). Plants included White Hoop Petticoat Narcissus (Narcissus cantabricus) and Dull Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca).

Rio Guadalhorce, Malaga Province.

Day Five, The journey home. 

 

It is John and Sharon’s last day, it seems to have gone very quickly but it was time to drop them back down to Malaga for there evening flight back to the Midlands. We set off early and planned to spend some time at Guadalhorce before going to the airport. We dropped Jayne off at the shops and headed for the beach, the carcases had all been cleaned away and a start had been made on cleaning up the massive amounts of debris. The Eurasian Oystercatcher (Ostrero Euroasiatico / Haematopus ostralegus) and Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus) were both still there and John also picked up a Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) on the rocks in front of the view point. Again there were plenty of the four commonest Gulls about, along with a couple of Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis) flying long the beach towards the port. We then went out on to the main reserve and made our way to the hide over looking the main pool, on the way we picked up several Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis)which we eventually had good views of as a pair sat up in a Caster-oil plant. The main hide was quiet, but White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Black-necked (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis) and Little Grebes (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) were seen. Over the lake five species of hirundine were seen feeding low over the water and a single Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus) passing over higher, to high and fast to be sure whether it was the northern race bird. Also we seen were Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba). Between the main pool and the hide over looking the long pool we picked up Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) and five Eurasian Spoonbills (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia) flew in and dropped in to the back of the main pool. The hide was quiet and no new species were added so we moved around to the viewing hump which gives views over a reed fringed pool. The first bird seen was a cracking Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) which flew across the pool and perched in a Tamarisk bush, more Pochard and several Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) were on the water and a female Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) quartered the far shore of the river. We then move around towards the hides on the far side of the lake on the track to the sea watch point. Just before we arrived at the hide I heard the high pitched thin call we had been waiting for and very soon we picked up a group of four Penduline Tits (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus), one of the birds sat and posed for a short while in one of the near by Shrub Tobacco trees. From the hide we again saw very little, so we pushed on down to the sea watch point where we managed to see a single, very early Tawny Pipit (Bisbita Campestre / Anthus campestris) feeding on the edge of a small pool with a couple of Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius). Down on the beach five Audouin's Gulls (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii) were sitting by the river. Out on the sea there were huge numbers of gulls including Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), along with a few Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) and Balearic Shearwater (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus) further out. We then made our way back and eventually picked up the Booted Eagles (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus) I had expected much earlier, Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata).

Rio Velez, Malaga Province and Charca del Suarez, Granada Province.

Day Four, Lots of water down on the Costa.

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

We set of after a leisurely start and made out way passed Zafarraya and down the slope towards the coast, on the way down we pulled off the road to check out a couple of raptors, one was a Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus) and the other a passage Short-toed Snake Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus). 

The rest of the journey was uneventful and when we got to Torre del Mar Sharon and Jayne went to the shopping centre and John and I did some birding down on the river.

There was so much water in the river today that the birds usually found bobbing about on a gently meandering stream were quite understandably absent, except for a few Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus). We walked down the eastern bank of the river and found what was left of the reed beds and searched for the wintering Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) after just a couple of minutes a fine male with a very obvious white spot in the center of a crisp blue throat was picked up. 

Bermuda Buttercup (Oxalis pes-caprae).

Also seen before we went down to the beach were Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), European Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), European Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Eurasian Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago) and Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos).

We then waded through the mud to the beach where we had some great views of five adult Audouin's Gulls (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), loads of Mediterranean Gulls (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) probably 200+, along with Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis). Out on the sea singles of Arctic Skua (Págalo Parásito / Stercorarius parasiticus), Balearic Shearwater (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus) and Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) were all seen. 

Hollow-leaved Asphodel (Ashodelus fistulosus).

On the beach, a Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus) and a small group of Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba) were feeding. 

As we walked back towards the car another Bluethroat was seen this time with a solid blue chest, three Common Waxbills (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild) called from the reed tops and three Monk Parakeets (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus) flew over calling nosily as they usually do.

We then picked the girls up and went for lunch at the Chinese Restaurant on the beach before heading off towards Motril and the nature reserve of Charca del Suarez which only opens for 2 hours in the afternoon in the winter. 

We arrived a few minutes early so we went and had a look on the beach just as it started to rain again, we stuck it out and I managed to see a new species for my Granada list, a couple of Kentish Plovers were feeding with some Sanderling and a single Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres). 

Searching through the gull flocks on the sea and again picked up 5 Audouin’s, Mediterranean, Black-headed, Lesser Black-backed and Yellow-legged. 

We then went on the reserve which was very wet and all the pools were full, from the first hide we watched half a dozen Red-rumped Swallows (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica) feeding low over the water. 

Further round, a single Immature Black-crowned Night Heron (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax) was again found roosting in almost exactly the same place as a week ago. 

We then went into the main hide and soon added Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Eurasian Wigeon (Silbón Europeo / Anas Penelope), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina) and Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) to the duck list. 

Black-crowned Night Heron (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax).

Also seen here were Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Western House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia), Black-necked (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis) and Little Grebes (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus), Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo), Greater Flamingo’s (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber) x3 and Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea). 

We then went to the last hide which was where quiet, so we went back to the car and had a coffee before a quick run back around to the main hide via the last hide. 

This time we could hear a Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio) but it did not want to show. 

We went to the main hide again and added a single Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) but nothing else. 

Sharon and I then walked back towards the car and John rushed around to the one hide we had not looked at and jammed in on a Western Swamp-hen sat out in the open. We then returned home via Granada.