Albrighton, Shropshire, UK.

A walk around the village and more time with family.

The gate into St Cuthberts Church, Donington.

In the morning Brenda dropped Jayne and me in to Wolverhampton to pick up the last bits we needed before our return flight tomorrow. By lunch time we were back in Albrighton and we had a walk up to the Chuch at Donnington via the village pool, so that Jayne could visit the family stones and plaques, we later went to St Marys Church to check on my father's Plaque. 

St Cuthberts Church grounds, Donington.

It was nice to have a walk around the area that I had grown up in but as always it is quite depressing when you see all the changes. As with most places most changes have not been for the better but I think that the most notable thing was the amount of rubbish everywhere, the worst example was around the St Cuthberts well and Donnington Pool areas. 

St Cuthberts Church, Donington.

These spots had away been kept nice and well preserved.

Later we again visited Mark, Nicky and the boys before getting ready and going for a meal with my Mother and her partner John. We had a nice evening and then went back to Brenda's. 

Donington Pool.

During the walk around the village I picked up Fieldfare (Zorzal Real / Turdus pilaris), Redwing (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus iliacus), Song (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) and Mistle Thrushs (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus), Pheasant (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris) and Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris).

St Cuthberts Well, Donington.

Albrighton, Shropshire, UK.

Time with the family.

I spent most of the today with my brother and his family but popped in to see a few other friends in Albrighton, we had a nice luch in one of my old drinking haunts and then went back to his house to await the arrival of the kid from school. After a nice day I wandered back to Brenda and Keiths house, on the way I noted a few bits including Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula), more Dunnocks (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), Rook (Graja / Corvus frugilegus), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Great (Carbonero Común / Parus major), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater) and Blue Tits (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba subsp yarrellii), Herring (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) amongst others

Ironbridge Gorge, Telford, Shropshire, UK.

Visiting a favorate site.

The Iron Bridge.

Today we spent the morning in the town of Ironbridge with Jayne’s sister Brenda and her husband Keith. We parked and had a walk through town towards the world heritage site The Ironbridge, building was started by Abraham Darby the 3^rd in 1779 the bridge opened in 1781 on New Year's Day. 

The town and River Seven from the Iron Bridge.

It still looks as impressive today as it away has, spanning the River Seven deep in the bottom of the gorge. We had a walk and did a bit of nic-nac shopping and then went into one of the many cafes for a Hot Chocolate and a warm.

Looking back up to the Bridge.

On the way around I either heard or saw several Nuthatchs (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Coal Tits (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris).

The Towns war memorial.

Looking back across the bridge to the main town.

Various Sites near Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK

Another day with UK Birds.

Goosanders (Serreta Grande / Mergus merganser).

Jayne and all three of her sisters arranged a days shopping at Telford town centre and as tempting as it was to join them I was talked out of it by a friend and spent a day visiting some of my old birding haunts when I live in Shropshire.
John Morgan kindly gave up a days work so that we could catch up on things and do some birding, we met at Priorslee lake which is just off junction 4 of the M54 on the edge of Telford new town. While we were there I picked up another very common species in the UK which I had not seen for some time a Herring Gull (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus). 

In the far corner there was a largish flock of Tufted Ducks (Porrón Monudo / Aythya fuligula) and Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), along with a single Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor), several Mallards (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus).

Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis).

We then went towards Shrewsbury and called in at Venus Pool, one of the best sites in the county but today it was fairly quiet. From the main hide the highlight was a single Marsh Tit (Carbonero Palustre / Poecile palustris) which was feeding on the dried out heads of Teasels along with several Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis). 

Out on the pool the commonest duck was Eurasian Wigeon (Silbón Europeo / Anas Penelope), closely followed by Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata) and Common Pochard, with a pair of Northern Pintail (Ánade Rabudo / Anas acuta) and a single Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna). 

I was quite surprised to find just a single Greylag Goose (Ansar Común / Anser anser) as in the past there were usually large flocks of both them and Canada Geese (Barnacla Canadiense / Branta canadensis) present. 

We then had a walk to the woodland hide where several feeders hang and large numbers of passerines come to take advantage along with several Grey Squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis). Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Great (Carbonero Común / Parus major), Marsh and Long-tailed Tits (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus) were all there along with Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), several Dunnocks (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major) and Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula). 

Canada Geese (Barnacla Canadiense / Branta Canadensis).

Later we had a walk along the hedges of the top field towards the fishing pool, here we picked up good numbers of Yellowhammers (Escribano Cerillo / Emberiza citronella), Tree Sparrows (Gorrión Molinero / Passer Montanus) and a single Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus). 

Other species seen here included Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus), Great Crested (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus) and Little Grebes (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) and Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba subsp yarrellii).

Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor).

We then carried on towards a small pool just on the out skirts of Shrewsbury called the Mere hoping for some views of some reported Goosanders (Serreta Grande / Mergus merganser). They were almost the first birds we saw, 3 males and 5 females were swimming on this quite unlikely site in the middle of a housing estate along with Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor), Canada Geese (Barnacla Canadiense / Branta Canadensis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata).

Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra).

On our way back towards Telford we stopped on the verge to look at a flock of Swans some way off on a Beet field, all but one were Mute but there was a single adult Whooper (Cisne Cantor / Cygnus Cygnus) amongst them.

Our final stop was at our starting point at Priorslee Lake for the Gull Roost, the best bird turned out to be an adult Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis). 

Not very exciting for me and I was much happier watching the few Herring Gulls there, accompanied by hundreds of Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus).

What had been a great day had come to an end all too quickly and John dropped me back to Albrighton, Thanks John for a great day.

Whooper Swan (Cisne Cantor / Cygnus Cygnus) middle bird.

Various sites around the Midlands UK.

UK birding with some good friends.

Waxwings (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 lead 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 on the middle of the water, numbering 30+ birds. A flash of bright blue gave away the first of the days 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 undertail 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 manor more typical of a Moorhen. Two more 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 Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula), 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), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), a male 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 female Common Goldeneye (Porrón Osculado / Bucephala clangula) again a bird I had not seen for at least six years or so. 

Waxwings (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 Waxwings (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 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 Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus), 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 male Bullfinch (Camachelo Común / Pyrrhula pyrrhula) which was feeding in some birch trees with a flock of Lesser Redpolls (Pardillo Sizerín / Carduelis flammea). 

Waxwings (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 Blackbirds (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula). A large flock of birds then past 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 past a bird feeder which was covered in Coal Tits but more interesting were the five male 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 mornings 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 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 worth while photos hard to get. I did see Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Great (Carbonero Común / Parus major) and Long-tailed Tits (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Rook (Graja / Corvus frugilegus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), 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 center 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), 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 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 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 alread 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 surpprised 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), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), 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), Blackbirds (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), 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 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 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), 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 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 Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and a single 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 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. Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), 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 over looking the reed fringed pool I had some very good views of a couple of Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), 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).

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 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), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and 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 incressed to around 70 birds, Little Stints (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta) were steady in the mid twenties, Kentish (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus) and Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) had doubled and 3 Avocets (Avoceta Común/ Recurvirostra avosetta) had reappeared. A couple of winter plumaged male 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 Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Linnets (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and 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), 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), 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), 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 Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax).
Once the clients were dropped off at the hotel I went for a quick look a 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 Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus) and 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), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), 60+ Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), along with a couple of Common Starlings (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), 3x Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), 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), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), 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 male Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) which showed well in front of the main hide. From the main hide we also saw a late Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scirpaceus), a female 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), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), 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 Purple 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.

Snipe and more 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 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 Avocet (Avoceta Común/ Recurvirostra avosetta), good numbers of both Kentish (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus) and 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), Common 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.