Various sites around the Midlands UK.

UK birding with some good friends.

Bohemian Waxwing (Ampelis Europeo / Bombycilla garrulus).

John Holian picked me up, and we headed over to Wombourne to collect friend Brian Marsh before going on to Dudmaston Hall to have a look at the two pools. The pool near the road held just a few Tufted Ducks (Porrón Monudo / Aythya fuligula) and Mallards (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos). Opposite the pool entrance there was a well hidden public footpath which led through some woodland down to another larger, more open lake. 

As we approached 5x Goosanders (Mergus merganser) flew over us and disappeared towards the lake we had just left, a larger flock of Tufted Ducks was seen out in the middle of the water, numbering 30+ birds. 

A flash of bright blue gave away the first of the day's Common Kingfishers (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis). 

We were at the site for a bird which John and Brian had already seen, a hybrid between a Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and a Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus). 

We eventually found the Coot flock and very quickly picked this bird up, it was intermediate in size between the two species, had a pink/orange bill and lacked the white under-tail covets of the Moorhen. Whilst I was there the bird swam and behaved very much as a Coot but John and Brian said that they had seen it swimming in a manner more typical of a Moorhen. 

Two more Common Kingfishers flew past and disappeared behind some Willows, Rooks (Graja / Corvus frugilegus) called from the Rookery in the Beech trees on the far bank and a couple Common Buzzards (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) drifted overhead. 

In the woods on the way back we added Eurasian Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), European Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Pheasant (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus) and eventually we got views of a calling Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major). 

From the gate where we parked we picked up Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), a male Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) and a single Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo) dived on the upper lake. The next stop was at Essington pool where John had seen a pair of Red-crested Pochards (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina) but the fog was so thick that we could not see a great deal, but we picked up a nice ♀ Common Goldeneye (Porrón Osculado / Bucephala clangula) again a bird I had not seen for at least six years or so. 

Bohemian Waxwing (Ampelis Europeo / Bombycilla garrulus).

Also, here Eurasian Wigeon (Silbón Europeo / Anas Penelope), Tufted Duck, Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata), Mallard, Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and more Dunnocks (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis) were seen. 

I had mentioned to John and Brian that I would like to see Bohemian Waxwing (Ampelis Europeo / Bombycilla garrulus), if there were any about, so when the phone went and a message came in that 20 birds had been seen in Stafford we diverted from our drive towards Cannock Chase. 

Luckily the site was on the outskirts of the town in the direction that we were travelling (not very often that happens), so we were soon on site and after about 20 minutes searching John spotted them in a tall tree some distance away. 

We drove as near as we could and walked towards the gates of a local school and the birds were all perched in the top of a semi dead tree and were dropping down lower to feed on Rowan berries. 

We soon realised that the reported flock of 20 birds in fact numbered somewhere between 80 and 100. 

 About 5 minutes after we arrived the birds were flushed by a Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) and flew off strongly across the housing estate; we had a look around several of the roads locally but could not find the birds again but thought that we would give the original tree another look.

Just as we arrived back, so did the now very jumpy flock of birds, we continued to watch them for the next hour or so before they flew off again. 

We also saw Eurasian Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and Coal Tit (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater). 

Our final stop was near the rifle ranges on Cannock Chase, where we were looking for a reported Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotraustes) and the regular Great Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Norteno / Lanius excubitor). 

We did not see either of the two above, but I was very happy with the cracking ♂ Bullfinch (Camachelo Común / Pyrrhula pyrrhula) which was feeding in some birch trees with a flock of Lesser Redpolls (Pardillo Sizerín / Carduelis flammea). 

Bohemian Waxwing (Ampelis Europeo / Bombycilla garrulus).

We continued our stroll through the woods seeing large numbers of Thrushes including Mistle (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Redwing (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus iliacus), Song (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Fieldfare (Zorzal Real / Turdus pilaris) and Common Blackbirds (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula). 

A large flock of birds then passed through the pines, which included the three tit species already mentioned, plus Great Tit (Carbonero Común / Parus major) and Goldcrest (Reyezuelo Sencillo / Regulus regulus). 

On the way back to the car, we passed a bird feeder which was covered in Coal Tits, but more interesting were the five ♂ Yellowhammers (Escribano Cerillo / Emberiza citronella) feeding on the ground below it. 

After a cracking day, John dropped me back at Barbs house, took Brian home before returning to Barbs and picking Jayne and me up again to go out for a curry. A brilliant day thanks John, Sharon and Brian.

Wednesfield, West Midlands, Great Britain.

Staying at Barb's.

Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor).

The first day in the UK started with a morning's gardening for Jayne’s sister Barbara, as I tatted around in the back garden I was regularly dragged away from my tasks by birds flitting around in the Hawthorns (Crataegus monogyna) along the towpath of the canal running along the rear of the garden. 

These included a few highlights, a pair of Dunnocks (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis) which I have only seen on a couple of occasions back in Spain, a small flock of Fieldfare (Zorzal Real / Turdus pilaris) and a low flying Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor) heading along the canal.

View along the canal.

Later I had a stroll along the canal, but the fog made taking any worthwhile photos hard to get. I did see Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula), Eurasian Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Great (Carbonero Común / Parus major) and Long-tailed Tits (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Rook (Graja / Corvus frugilegus), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus).

Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos).

Torremolinos and Malaga Airport, Malaga Province.

Travelling back to the UK.

Travelled down to the sea front at Torremolinos before going to the Airport for our tip back to the UK. Near the Plaza Mayor shopping centre, a nice pale phase Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus) circled over the Eucalyptus trees along the motorway. 

Along the sea front I added Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer Domesticus), Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), 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) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba). 

On the airport as we taxied out to take off Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and European Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) were all added to the list as we rumbled down the tarmac.

Balsa de Regidor, Moraleda de Zafayona, Granada Province.

Cattle Egret Census.

Unfortunately I did not make it back in time to get up to the Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) roost for the evenings count with Juan and Beatriz but did get to the small pool on the side of the A92 and did a count there. 

During the time I was there I tallied up 181 Egrets and over 50 Northern Shovelers (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata). There were also at least 3 Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), several Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus) and Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) out on the water. 

A small flock Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) wheeled around the fields at the far end of the pool, while hundreds if not thousands of Western Jackdaws (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) flew towards Granada to their roost.

Huetor Fields, Granada Province.

Getting the car washed.

After getting the car well and truly covered in mud, I thought that I had better give it a quick jet was. I decided that as the car was already dirty that I may as well have a quick look on the track through the fields to see what was about, the first bird seen was a female Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus) which was sat on a track side post and stayed there till I was about 3 meters away (yet again they can tell when the camera is in the house). 

She eventually flew up after giving me some cracking views and flew away low over the river and circled around the fields for a few more minutes before moving off. 

Another raptor was then seen on the deck, this time feeding in a newly sown crop field, I drove closer and was surprised to find it was a very late Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans).

Other birds seen included Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) x 30+, Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), European Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer Domesticus).

Torcal de Antequera, Laguna Herrera, Malaga Province and Huetor Fields, Granada Province.

Saturday Stroll.

Spanish Ibex (Capra pyreaica hispanica).

I did the birding in reverse today, with the walk at Torcal coming first and then a quick visit to the Laguna afterwards. 

At Torcal we did the Yellow route through the fantastic rock formations, on the way around several Blue Rock Thrushes (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) were seen, as were good numbers of Ring Ouzels (Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus), Common Blackbirds (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), European Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), European Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), along with a few Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor). 

We also had good views of several groups of Spanish Ibex (Capra pyreaica hispanica) and two species of butterflies, Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera) and Bath White (Pontia daplidice).

On the Laguna there were quite good numbers of birds about, with over 50 Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), along with Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Kentish (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus) and Common Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta) and Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) made for a nice selection of waders. 

Other species seen included Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), European Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

On the drive home I stopped briefly on the fields near the house and added over 400 Eurasian Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) and around 150 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) to a good list.

Rio Guadalhorce, Malaga Province.

A flying visit.

Monk Parakeets (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus).

I had just a couple of hours for a quick look around the reserve so I headed straight for the beach and had a scan from the sea watch point first. 

A single female Common Scoter (Negrón Común / Melanitta nigra) was seen diving quite a distance out and at least two Black-necked Grebes (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis) passed west stopping breifly on the sea only about 20 metres out. 

The usual gulls were all present including 100s of Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus), 100+ Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), lots of Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and a few Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis). 

I then walked along the beach to the far sea watch point, on the way I added several flocks of Monk Parakeets (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), a female Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and a single Common Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia). 

Spoonbills (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia).

From the sea watch point Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo) and Mediterranean Shearwater (Pardela Mediterránea / Puffinus yelkouan) were all seen. 

I then moved on to the reserve and walked along the embankment towards the wader hide, on the way Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus) and Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus) were seen.

From the hide things looked grim for a short while with just a single Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta) and a few Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina) on view, then things started to appear from the reeds and side channels. 

The first were two Eurasian Spoonbills (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia) and a small group of Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), followed by a single late passage Curlew Sandpiper (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea) which flew in and joined the Dunlin. Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Common Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) soon showed up along with a cracking male Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) which showed well for the next ten minutes on the mud to the left of the hide. 

Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber).

On the walk around to the next hide overlooking the reed fringed pool I had some very good views of a couple of Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), European Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula), Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).

From the hide Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).

Pied Avocets (Avoceta Común/ Recurvirostra avosetta).

I missed the next hide-out and had a look over the main pool, adding White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), a small group of five Pied Avocets (Avoceta Común/ Recurvirostra avosetta) were roosting in the shallows and a single Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber) eventually woke up for a few minutes before tucking it's head back under its wing again. 

Good numbers of Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta) and Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) dragonflies were still on the wing along with a couple of Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus), Clouded Yellow (Colias crocea) and Bath White (Pontia daplidice) butterflies.

Other birds included Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer Domesticus), European Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), European Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).

Laguna Herrera, Antequera, Malaga Province.

Numbers are up again.

Just a brief visit this morning as I am running a bit later than usual, the number of Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina) had increased to around 70 birds, Little Stints (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta) were steady in the mid-twenties, Kentish (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus) and Common Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) had doubled and 3 Pied Avocets (Avoceta Común/ Recurvirostra avosetta) had reappeared. 

A couple of winter plumaged male Common Reed Buntings (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus) were new for my site list, they were part of a much larger finch and bunting flock which was made up of 50+ Corn Buntings (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), well over a hundred European Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Linnets (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), European Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris).

Other birds seen included 8 Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) the very pale bird was one of 5 birds, White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber) x1, Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus) and Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus).

El Chorro and Laguna Herrera, Antequera, Malaga Province.

RFH Walk and the Laguna.

3 immature Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber).

Today’s walk was around the usual Sunday morning loop at El Chorro with a three KM uphill extension added in by Antonio, in amongst the pine trees on the first part of the stroll several Common Crossbills (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra) were heard chipping as they flew over and at least one male was in full song from one of the taller trees. 

A Tit flock passed through the Eucaliptus trees along the river and included Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Eurasian Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Great (Carbonero Común / Parus major) and Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus). Also seen in the woods and along the river were Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).

On the uphill stretch we were out in a more rocky terrain were we saw a couple of male Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura) having a scrap, Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and once at the top we added a dozen or so Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), some in flight but most were still perched on the crags. 

On the way back to the hotel after the hike I picked up Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo) and Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus) on the firs of the lakes and on the fields near Campillos I added 7 Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) and a couple of Northern Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax).
Once the clients were dropped off at the hotel I went for a quick look at the Lagoon thinking the hunter might have cleared off, but several were still prowling on the margins. 3 immature Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber) were still at the site along with 25 Little Stints (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta), 30+ Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), 12 Green Sandpipers (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), 70 odd Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus) and Pied Avocet (Avoceta Común/ Recurvirostra avosetta). 

On the margins and in the dykes I added Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), European Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), 60+ Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), along with a couple of Common Starlings (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), 3x Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) and 100s of White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

Cabo Sacratif, Motril Port and Charca de Suárez , Granada Province.

Ram and more.

Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica).

After spending a couple of weeks of decorating, it was a great relief to get out and do some birding. I had also missed the last three RAM survey days down on the coast at Motril, so it was good to meet Juan Pérez Contreas and Manu Santa-Cruz at Aki. 

We set off and were soon up on the usual headland Cabo Sacratif, setting up the scopes and ruing the fact that I had forgotten my chair. 

We started the survey and soon started to pick up good numbers Balearic Shearwaters (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus), Northern Gannets (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) and Great Cormorants (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo). Lesser numbers of Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus), Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii) and Mediterranean Gulls (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) and Sandwich Terns (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis). 

Migrant Hawkers (Aeshna mixta).

Also seen were Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), European Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer Domesticus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

Once I had managed to straighten the legs out after sitting on the ground for the past two hours we moved on to our next stop which was at the fish port in Motril where we were looking for ringed gulls. The only bird seen was a Lesser Black-backed Gull with two colour rings, on the left leg it had a red ring with B36 and on the right a white one with a large E on it. We also saw more Yellow-legged Gulls, Sandwich Terns, a single Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta) and loads of White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

Migrant Hawkers (Aeshna mixta).

We then moved on to Charca, which was generally quiet but we picked up a few nice species including a cracking ♂ Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) which showed well in front of the main hide. From the main hide we also saw a late Common Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scirpaceus), a ♀ Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), European Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Common Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) and Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos). 

Egyptian grasshopper (Anacridium aegyptium).

A hundred or more Migrant Hawkers (Aeshna mixta) were seen, along with a few Common Darters (Sympetrum striolatum). 

From one of the smaller hides we picked up a couple of Western Swamp-hens (Calamón Común / Porphyrio porphyrio) and also saw a Monarch (Danaus plexippus) butterfly flying out over the water, thousands of Egyptian grasshopper (Anacridium aegyptium) made the ground and low vegetation move as you walked.

Laguna Herrera, Antequera, Malaga Province.

Common Snipe and more Common Snipe.

Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis).

On the way to work at Riofrio Health in the Eslava hotel in Antequera I had the usual look at the Laguna, I had expected bird numbers to be low, but I was pleased to find that they had not moved on when the weather improved.

Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

I had quickly notched up more than 75 Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), 30+ Little Stints (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta), 25+ Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), 3 Green Sandpipers (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), 4 Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), 20+ Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), a single Pied Avocet (Avoceta Común/ Recurvirostra avosetta), good numbers of both Kentish (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus) and Common Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) and just 3 immature Greater Flamingo’s (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber).

White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

Around the pool I also saw White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and a very pale breasted Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) along with another couple of darker breasted birds.

Loja, Granada Province.

The ********* Car again.

Brown Rat (Rattus norvegicus).

I dropped the car off at the mechanics for yet another set of shock absorbers, wish they would tarmac the dirt tracks around here, while the lads were working on it I had a walk around the industrial estate and along the stream side. 

Around the estate I picked up House Sparrow Gorrión Común / Passer Domesticus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), European Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis).
I then walked along the stream and found several Brown Rats (Rattus norvegicus) feeding in a Pomegranite bush, all of which totally ignored me. 

Along the stream and at the side of the fish farm I added a couple of Grey Wagtails (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus), a pair of Common Kingfishers (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) and Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

Los Infiernos.

The next stop was at the view point overlooking the Los Infiernos, waterfalls on the outskirts of Loja. The first bird seen was a cracking male Black Redstart, several more Meadow Pipits were seen in an unploughed field along with large numbers of European Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) along with a few Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs). 

On the walk back to the Industrial Estate I added a European Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and a couple of Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris) mixed in with some Spotless birds. 

Several butterflies were seen during the walk including Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Small White (Artogeia rapae) and Mallow / False Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus alceae / tripolinus).

Laguna Herrera, Antequera, Malaga Province.

Thing were looking up.

Sun rise.

I arrived at the Laguna this morning and found it as it usually is on a weekend surrounded by macho action men with big guns blasting anything that moved, I was pleasantly surprised to find good numbers of birds had arrived since my last visit and were not moving on even with all the noise probably due to the lousy weather.
The new birds included 20+ Little Stints (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta), 18 Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina) of mixed plumages states and extremes in bill length. Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) x8, Common Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) and Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago) had risen to at least 20. 

Regular species included Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) x2, Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber) x3 and Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus) x8. 

Also out on the water were 30 odd Lesser Black Backed Gulls (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus) which were all flushed up as a midair battle took place between the 2 regular Common Buzzards (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and a ♀ Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).

A group of feeding Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago).

Other species seen around the margins included hundreds of White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Northern Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer Domesticus), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), European Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), European Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) and Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata).

Laguna Herrera, Antequera, Malaga Province.

Ups and Downs, not just on the walk.

Before the walk at Nacimiento just to the south of Antequera I had a look at Laguna Herrera and some oil pits near the Hotel. On the Laguna the bird numbers were very low now that the hunting season had really started and the fact that the hunters do not respect the boundaries of the lake and shoot from the reed beds does not help. 

I understand that they should not be shooting nearer than 50 meters to or over the water. The only birds seen were Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus) x6, Pied Avocet (Avoceta Común/ Recurvirostra avosetta) x3, Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago) x4, Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) x2, Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber) x5, Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) x2 and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) x 30+. 

On the surrounding margins and fields I added Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), European Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) to a poor list.

Just to the rear of the hotel, a small farm track leads to a collection of Oily pits, waste from the Olive Oil Industry. 

In the area I picked up Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer Domesticus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and a single brave Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus).

At the hotel Antonio and myself meet today’s guests and headed out on the mornings hike around the Nacimiento area, near Torcal. 

New birds for the morning included Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) x20+, Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blue Rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba). Two butterfly species were seen, Bath White (Pontia daplidice) and Clouded Yellow (Colias crocea).

Torcal de Antequera, Malaga Province.

More Winter Migrants.

One of the more spectacular rocks.

David and I lead a small group on the usual Saturday morning hike around Torcal, we went off the normal trails a bit today and were soon overlooking Antequera from a very high vantage point. 

On the slopes we walked amongst some berry laden Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), good numbers of the local Common Blackbirds (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) were feeding on them, they were joined by several of the newly arrived wintering Song Thrushes (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) and at least 6 Ring Ouzels (Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus). 

More Rocks.

Along the trail there were also Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), European Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula), European Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), European Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Eurasian Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Rock Pigeon (Paloma Bravia / Columba livia), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and loads of Common Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita). 

Late Crocus (Crocus serotinus).

From the view point we had some cracking views of the Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) as they flew along the ridge to with in about 10 meters of our point.

Wild flowers were few, Late Crocus (Crocus serotinus) was everywhere.