Laguna Herrera, RFH walk, Laguna Dulce and Rio's on the way to Malaga, Malaga Province.

A day of many sites and sights.

Banded Groundling (Brachythemis leucosticte).

The first stop of the morning was as usual at the Laguna, bird numbers were still quite good with a nice flock of Avocets (Avoceta Común/ Recurvirostra avosetta) feeding out in the middle of a quickly drying up lake which was now divided down the centre by a mud bar. Also on the margins were 6x Curlew Sandpipers (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea), 8x Little Stints (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta), lots of Little Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) and Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), a single Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), 20+ Common Sandpipers (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) and around the same number of Green Sandpipers (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus). The Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber) numbers were still quite high and they were joined by a couple of immature Grey Herons (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and a few Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius).

I arrived at the hotel and met the guests and we did the walk from Park Atalya along the Antequera Golf Valley and up to the Magdalena Hotel and then onwards across the olives and herb scrub to Nacimiento. On the first part of the walk I identified at least 3 male Orange-winged Dropwings (Trithemis kirbyi) flashing quickly along the trail, with several Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) and a single Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope). Birds included a very nice male Orphean Warbler (Curruca Mirlona / Sylvia hortensis) which sat up nicely in a trackside Oak tree, Dartford (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Melodious (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta), Cetti’s (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and Sardinian Warblers (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Barn (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Red-rumped Swallows (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and Blue Rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius).

White Featherleg (Platycnemis latipes).

Butterflies were also quite common and included Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Grayling (Hipparchia semele), Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus), Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus alceae), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina), Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli), Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus), Southern Gatekeeper (Pyronia cecilia), Spanish Gatekeeper (Pyronia bathseba) and Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera).
After the walk I made my way out to Laguna Dulce near Campillos were again the water levels had started to drop and show a small muddy margin but I could only find a couple of Black-winged Stilts, a Common Sandpiper and 3+ Little-ringed Plovers.

Squacco Heron (Garcilla Cangrejera / Ardeola ralloides).

Out on the water I spent quite a long time scanning and counting the waterfowl, they included Common (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina) and Red-crested Pochards (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina), White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Black-necked (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), Great Crested (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus) and Little Grebes (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), a single Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna) and the two stars were a nice male Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca) and the pair of Red-knobbed Coots (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata) away over too the right in the tamarisks. It was good that the one bird had a white neck collar on which stood out at a distance or I would probably not have picked out either amongst the masses of Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra).

Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta).

Also seen in the area were more Greater Flamingo’s, Western Cattle Egret, Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Sand (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia), House (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Gull-billed Tern (Pagaza Piconegra / Gelochelidon nilotica), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) and Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).
I then pushed on south along the road toward Malaga and made my next stop on the shoreline of Embalse de Guadalteba near Ardales. I was hoping for and found several Banded Groundling (Brachythemis leucosticte) Dragonflies which played hard to get a photo of for some time and even though I did eventually get some shots I was not very happy with them. Continuing on south I stopped at the Arroyo de Casarabonela where last year I had seen Ringed Cascader (Zygonyx torridus) but Dragonfly numbers were much reduced, not helped by the appalling state of the river. There was raw sewage running straight in to it just below the bridge, it smelt awful and had covered the banks of river in a black sludge.

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

However I did see a couple more Orange-winged Dropwings, Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma), Broad Scarlet (Crocothemis erythraea), Iberian Bluetail (Ischnura graellsii), Red-veined Darter and Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata).
I then went back north just a few Kms to the second turning to Pizarra where I had a quick look on the river but turned up nothing new, so I went a couple of Kms further on to just on the out skirts of Pizarra and had a look at the Rio. Here I had some nice views of White Featherleg (Platycnemis latipes), Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum), Blue-eye’s / Goblet-marked Damselfly (Erythromma lindenii) and either Small or Large Pincetail.
I then dropped back south and pulled in on to the banks of the Rio Grande, there were at least 70 Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta), along with good numbers of Squacco Herons (Garcilla Cangrejera / Ardeola ralloides), Little-ringed Plovers, Black-winged Stilt, Common Sandpipers and 3 Kingfishers (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis).

Cacín Valley and nearer Granada, Granada Province.

A visit from an old friend.

Angus on the Rio Cacín.

I mean a friend of many years (but he is getting on a bit as well!!!), Angus and I have been birding together for more years than I can remember but this was the first time we had managed to meet up since I moved to Spain six years ago. He was on his family Holidays down near Nerja and managed to slip away for a day to come and visit my what turned out to be a birdless local patch. We started with a visit to a sight above the Cacín Valley hoping of some of the usual species we see out on this area of dry agricultural land but there was little to be found and we only recorded Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Woodchat (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator) and Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Red-rumped (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica) and Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and a couple of Little Owls (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua). Then moved on to a sight nearer to Granada hoping for and dipping on Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), we did not any birds here but a few Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and one immature Woodchat. 

Copper Demoiselle (Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis).

We then drove back to wards the lower end of the Cacín Valley and the day continued in the same vein with me telling Angus that for most of the year we have lots of this and that species here but August is a bad time to see them. We stopped on a cliff to along the gorge at the southern end of the valley and we did see Pallid (Vencejo Pálido / Apus pallidus), Common and Alpine Swifts (Vencejo Real / Apus melba), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba). We turned around and headed north to the Embalse de Cacín where there were a few bits on and around the lake including Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and a couple of immature Grey Herons (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea).

Copper Demoiselle (Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis).

The water level was slightly low so the mud near the southern end was exposed and there were quite a few waders resting and feeding. There were only two species but in good numbers, Green Sandpipers (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) were in to the thirties and there were at least 15 Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos). Several European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) and Turtle Doves (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur) were perched on the wires and in the marginal reeds we heard Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus) and Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) both of which remained unseen. We continued on along the river to the small bridge just a few hundred meters further on where we added Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scirpaceus), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer Domesticus), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Great Tit (Carbonero Común / Parus major).

A stop at the cliffs near El Turro only gave us better views of Crag Martin, so we pushed on to the small pond on the side of the A92 at Moraleda. Dragonflies were the main reason for stopping here and we managed a few species including Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum), Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator), Broad Scarlet (Crocothemis erythraea), Copper Demoiselle (Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis), Iberian Bluetail (Ischnura graellsii), Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope), Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) and Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata). 

White Featherleg (Platycnemis latipes).

On the margins we picked up a few more Green and Common Sandpipers and a pair of Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax) which flew in and tried to land on the water a couple of times and then departed, the size difference between the sexes was very obvious as they flew around. We also had 22 Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) arrive and settle into the dead trees around the margins, a single Grey Heron flew out and several Common Pochard families were out on the water. Our last stop of the day was near the merging of the Rio Cacín and the Genil at Mesia. On the Cacín just up stream from the village we had a nice flock of Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) flying between the Poplar plantations, A calling Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), good views of a Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos) and Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea). In a reedy section of the stream I got some nice shots of both Copper Demoiselle and White Featherleg (Platycnemis latipes), both species seen in tandem. 

Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum).

We then headed up to the house to show Angus the house and have something to eat and drink. The birding was not great but I had a great day meeting up with a good friend and showing him where we have settled, thanks for coming up Angus and hope that Frank will be back with you in the spring!

El Chorro, Malaga Province.

RFH Walk.

Today’s walk due to the heat was around the shorter route at El Chorro and I was walking with two very nice Spanish ladies called Elena and Estefania. We walked out along the River through the Pine woods to the start of the Kings walk and then back on the upper track to the lake where the ladies had a nice swim. On the way round I noted Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido / Apus pallidus), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Crag (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Cetti’s (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Dartford (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata) and Sardinian Warblers (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica).

On the rockier part of the walk near the Kings Walk I tried with out much success to get some shots of a pair of Western Spectre (Boyeria Irene) Dragonflies which went into tandem and settled just out of reach on a bush above the track. There were also loads of Red-veined Darters (Sympetrum fonscolombii) about during the walk and also by the lake.

RAM, Motril Fish Port and Cerro Gordo, Granada Province.

A new Granada tick for Juan and Myself.

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

I met Juan Pérez Contreras at the usual spot in Granada and we made our way down to the coast to carry out the monthly sea birds survey near Motril. We started at 07:30 and continued for the next two hours seeing very good numbers of Cory's Shearwaters (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea), a few Balearic Shearwaters (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus), a couple of immature Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), quite a few Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), some early Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus) and as usual loads of Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis). 

Slender-billed Gull (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei).

A Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus) did a flyby which stirred up all the local Pallid Swifts (Vencejo Pálido / Apus pallidus). We also saw Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and a Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).

We then moved on to the port to look for ringed Gulls, on the concrete pans we saw a large group of mainly Audouin’s (300ish), a few Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Lesser Black-backed and Yellow-legs. They were joined by small numbers of Sandwich Terns (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis) including some immature birds still beckoning the adults for food and a single immature Slender-billed Gull (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei) which was my new bird for the Province. 

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The Slender-billed was ringed as were twenty odd of the Audouin’s.

We then continued on down the coast to Cerro Gordo where I had seen a couple of White-rumped Swifts (Vencejo Cafre / Apus caffer) a few weeks ago. As we arrived 7 Black Kites (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans) circled in the fog / mist coming in off the sea and they drifted of west. We spent some tome looking from the area near the bar but only picked up Pallids, so we moved around the headland a bit further and located two White-rumped Swifts which appeared to be entering a nest site along with some Pallids, this was Juan’s new bird. 

Juan watching the Swifts.

We also saw Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Blue Rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata).

Laguna Herrera, Archidona and Salinas, Malaga Province.

Return wader migration gets under way.

Southern Skimmer (Orthetrum brunneum).

I set the alarm a bit earlier than normal to give me time to have a good look at the Laguna on the way to the Hotel. The bird numbers were well up, waders made up a good percentage of the new arrivals. On the near shore there were at least 2x Wood Sandpipers (Andarrios Bastardo / Tringa Glareola), 30+ Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), 25+ Curlew Sandpipers (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea), 10+ Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), 100+ Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), 50+ Avocets (Avoceta Común/ Recurvirostra avosetta), 1x Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta), 30+ Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) and Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus).

On the water Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) were the commonest bird but they were joined by good numbers of Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber), Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus).

Overhead a couple of Gull-billed Terns (Pagaza Piconegra / Gelochelidon nilotica) were feeding over the fields, along with Lesser Kestrel (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni), Barn (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Red-rumped Swallows (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), Pallid (Vencejo Pálido / Apus pallidus) and Common Swifts (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) and Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus).

Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii).

On the fields and in the surrounding reed beds I picked up Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scirpaceus), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator) and Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti).

I then went to the Hotel to meet the guest and we all made our way out towards Archidona and for the usual route there around the top of Arroya Marin. Finn one of the guests had a keen interest in the local wildlife so I was all too happy to show him what was on show on the way round. We saw Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotraustes) and down along the stream we saw several White Featherleg (Platycnemis latipes) Damselflies.

On the way home I called at the small pool at Salinas where I added a new species to the Dragonflies I have seen there, two male Southern Skimmers (Orthetrum brunneum). Also seen were Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator), Broad Scarlet (Crocothemis erythraea), Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma), Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) and Iberian Bluetail (Ischnura graellsii).

Near Ronda and Laguna Dulce, Malaga Province.

Visiting Friends.

Jayne and I went over to Ronda for the second time in a few days but this time we were visiting Brenda and Peter to have lunch and to see Penny and John who were driving up from Casares. We were not birding today but having lunch and very nice it was. We chatted for quite some time but it was inevitable that whist we were sat in the garden we would see a few bits and pieces. A couple of Booted Eagles (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus) were seen passing over, also seen were Barn (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Red-rumped Swallows (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis).

On the way home we call in at Laguna Dulce, there were hundreds of birds on the lake, so I started to scan through them. Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) were by far the most numerous birds, these were seen along with nearly a 100 White-headed Ducks (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), 20+ Red-crested Pochard (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina), lots of Common Pochards (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Little (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Black-necked (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis) and Great Crested Grebes (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus) and a few Greater Flamingo’s (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber). A couple of Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus) and Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) were seen on the margins and then I picked a single neck collared Red-knobbed Coot (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata) out to the right of the hide.

Sierra Humillodero and Laguna Herrera, Malaga Province.

RFH Walk.

Cicada’s (Tibicen plebejus).

We set off from the hotel and I went to the end of the walk near the Saydo Hotel and Antonio went to the far side of the Sierra where he started to walk back towards our point. We set off and walked to the halfway point where we met Antonio and exchanged vehicle keys and continued on our way. On the walk little was seen but the noise from the Cicada’s (Tibicen plebejus) was incredible, we found hundreds of their discarded exuvia on the trees. 

Cicada’s (Tibicen plebejus) exuvia.

We also saw Scarce Swallowtail (Chupaleches / Iphiclides podalirius feisthameli), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra).

Near Grazalema, Cadiz Province.

A visit to a friends garden.

Wasp Spider (Arana Tigre / Argiope bruennichi).

Jayne and I made a late start for an unexpected trip over to Grazalema to see our friend Sue and her young son Sam, on the way we called in at the Visitors center in the town to see Clive. After meeting up with Sue in the town we went back to the house and had some lunch and then I spent some time wandering around the large garden. Down by the river I had some stunning views of a couple of Western Spectre’s (Boyeria Irene), loads of Copper Demoiselle (Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis) and a single teneral male Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii). 

Pink Crab Spider (Thomisus onustus).

Several butterflies were also along the river including a species that I had not seen before, Purple Hairstreak (Favonius Quercus). Other insects included a Wasp Spider (Arana Tigre / Argiope bruennichi) a fearsome looking thing which was in the center of a large web over the drive side stream, a Pink Crab Spider (Thomisus onustus), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Long-tailed (Lampides boeticus), Lang's Short-tailed (Leptotes pirithous), Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina) and Holly Blues (Celastrina argiolus). 

Lang's Short-tailed (Leptotes pirithous).

Birds included Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido / Apus pallidus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur) and Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei).

Lacewing eggs in a Rosemary bush.

While we were driving over we added a pair of Bonelli's Eagles (Aguila Perdicera / Aquila faciatus), a number of Montagu's Harriers (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) and loads of Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

Sue with Sam.

Travelling to and at Laguna Herrerea and El Chorro, Malaga Province.

RFH Walk.

The Group.

I thought that I would be the full anorak this morning and see what species I could see whilst driving to work and before I had left the lane I had seen 20 or so Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), male Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator) and a Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) perched on a road side rock pile getting some early morning sun. On the drop down into Loja I added Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata). 

The rest of the journey was along the A92 during which I saw Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido / Apus pallidus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and just as I was exiting the motorway to head up to Laguna Herrera a nice male Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus).

At the Laguna Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Avocet (Avoceta Común/ Recurvirostra avosetta), Little Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) and Greater Flamingo’s (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber) were by far the commonest of the birds seen. There were smaller numbers of Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Alpine Swift (Vencejo Real / Apus melba), Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scirpaceus), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) and a single female Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).

A view from the top of the walk.

The next stop was at the hotel to collect today’s guest for the walk at El Chorro, we started from the usual place on the side of the Embalse and made our way through the large tunnel and then via the pine woods to the top of one of the mountains. On the way up I saw Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), House (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), Pallid (Vencejo Pálido / Apus pallidus) and Alpine Swifts (Vencejo Real / Apus melba) and Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia). Once we were at the top the local Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), started to circle the hill hoping one of us had found the climb a bit to much, luckily the went away hungry. On the return walk which took us via the start of the old Kings Walk in to the Gorge and back along the river to the car I added Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Blue Rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) and once back at the lake a couple of Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

Other none bird species seen included Clouded Yellow (Colias crocea), Small White (Artogeia rapae) and Striped Grayling (Pseudotergumia fidia) butterflies and a small herd of around 8 Spanish Ibex (Capra pyreaica hispanica).

On the drive back to the hotel a couple more Montagu’s Harriers were seen but star birds of the day were a couple of immature Egyptian Vultures (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus) circling low over the Olives near Laguna Dulce.

Travelling to and at Rio Velez, Malaga and Granada Provinces.

Dragonflies everywhere !

Black Percher (Diplacodes lefebvrii).

The main wildlife purpose to today was to get some shots of the Dragonflies on the Rio Velez. I arrived and had a walk down the river towards the beach and immediately started to see Red-veined Darters (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Broad Scarlet’s (Crocothemis erythraea) and a few Iberian Bluetail’s (Ischnura graellsii). On the shingle areas there were upwards of 50 adult and immature Little Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) and a single summer plumaged Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina) all of which were soon flushed by a naked man and woman wading up the river (why is it that nudists are always people who really should keep it covered up). They also flushed a couple of Squacco Herons (Garcilla Cangrejera / Ardeola ralloides), a Little Bittern (Avetorillo Común / Ixobrychus minutus) and both Grey (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and Purple Herons (Garza Imperial / Ardea purpurea). I reached an area where the bank was a little more open with some blanket weed along the margins and sat down to see what showed up. Almost immediately a pair of Long Skimmers (Orthetrum trinacria) in tandem flashed by and disappeared into some nearby reeds before coming out singly. They performed up and down the spot for the next hour and a half giving me views down to a couple of feet but never settling for the camera. The next nice find was a male Black Percher (Diplacodes lefebvrii) which again did not want its photo taken, so I only managed some poor shots of it from far too far away. Whilst I was sat there I also saw more Broad Scarlet’s, Red-veined Darters, Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope), Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) and a male Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum). 

Squacco Heron (Garcilla Cangrejera / Ardeola ralloides).

Other birds seen included Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Audouin's Gulls (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scirpaceus) and Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata).

On the way home we also picked up Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis).

Archidona walk and Salinas, Malaga Province.

RFH walk and getting better shots.

Small Spreadwing (Lestes virens).

The morning started with meeting the guests at the Hotel Eslava in Antequera and then heading out to the loop walk at Archidona, I was walking with Finn a Swedish guy. We had a slight head start on some of the group and we pushed on around the first part of the walk at a fairly brisk pace to the spilt point where the guests are given a choose a to whether they take the slightly more difficult up hill extension or just carry on along the main track. Finn Choose the harder up hill section and so we set off, on our way up I picked a pair of Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotraustes) which flew over low calling, several Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Alpine (Vencejo Real / Apus melba) and Pallid Swifts (Vencejo Pálido / Apus pallidus), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica). 

Small Spreadwing (Lestes virens).

We soon covered the ground and were back on the main track and quickly caught up with the group which had taken the lower route and passed then on the easier flatter section of the walk, along here I added House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina). Once we reached the cars we gave the guests the second choose of the day which was to either continue the walk to the monastery on the top of the hill above the town or to go up there in the van, five decided to walk and two joined me taking the easy way up in the van. From the top I had views of Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and a few Red-billed Choughs (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) which circled over the next hill.

I then made my way back towards home calling in briefly at a small pool near Salinas hoping to get some better shots of the Spreadwing dragonflies I had seen the week earlier. As soon as I arrived I found several Migrant Spreadwings (Lester barbarus) and a few, all males of the Small Spreadwing (Lestes virens). Also recorded were Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope), Iberian Bluetail (Ischnura graellsii), Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma), Broad Scarlet (Crocothemis erythraea) and Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator). 

Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma).

Birds around the area included Lesser Kestrel (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus) and Bonelli’s Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli).

Also seen during the morning were Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Cardinal Fritillary (argynnis Pandora), Clouded Yellow (Colias crocea), Grayling (Hipparchia semele), Sage Skipper (Muschampia proto), Scarce Swallowtail (Chupaleches / Iphiclides podalirius feisthameli) and a couple of Viperine Snakes (Culebra viperina / Natrix maura) by the pool.

Laguna Herrera, Fuente de Piedra and Salinas, Malaga Province.

A new species for my Herrera list and two new Dragonflies for my Spanish / Life list.

Migrant Spreadwing (Lester barbarus).

I went up to the Hotel and meet up with Luigi who I was walking with today, he had been over to Fuente de Piedra the day before but wanted to go back so that he could get some better views of the Greater Flamingo’s (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber). 

Thinking about his request I first headed to Laguna Herrera which was not to far from the hotel where we had some cracking views of around 150 Flamingo’s including a nice flock of around 50 birds in flight, flushed when one of the micro-lights from the nearby grass strip took off. 

Mixed in with the Flamingo’s were plenty of Eurasian Coots (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and a single non-breeding adult Slender-billed Gull (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei), my first record of this species at this site. 

On the margins there were Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), lots of Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Avocets (Avoceta Común/ Recurvirostra avosetta) and Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus). 

Small Spreadwing (Lestes virens).

In the vegetation a family party of Great Reed Warblers (Carricero Tordal / Acrocephalus arundinaceus) scolded us from deep cover and the smaller commoner relative Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scirpaceus, sang from the top of a reed stem, also seen were Alpine (Vencejo Real / Apus melba) and Pallid Swifts (Vencejo Pálido / Apus pallidus), Barn (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Red-rumped Swallows (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Yellow Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) and at least 6 calling Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix) were heard.

We then moved on to Fuente for the walk which we started out by the hide on the road to the west of the Lagoon. 

Iberian Bluetail (Ischnura graellsii).

There were thousands of Flamingo’s on view, along with a female Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) which did a couple of passes, plenty of Gull-billed Terns (Pagaza Piconegra / Gelochelidon nilotica), adult and immature Woodchat Shrikes (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and several Lesser Kestrels (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni). 

Iberian Bluetail (Ischnura graellsii).

We completed the walk and headed back to the hotel and I started my journey home via a small pool near the boarder between Granada and Malaga Provinces at Salinas. The main point was to check if there were any Dragonflies present and I was far from disappointed. 

In fact I found two new species for my list. The first was Migrant Spreadwing (Lester barbarus), of which I saw at least 20 insects and the second was Small Spreadwing (Lestes virens) but this insect was much rarer and I only saw 1 pair in tandem. 

Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma).

Other Dragonflies included Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator), Broad Scarlet (Crocothemis erythraea), Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma), Iberian Bluetail (Ischnura graellsii) and Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii).