RAM, Motril Port and Charca de Suarez, Granada Province.

A quiet sea but the birds posed at Charca.

Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera).

Juan Pérez and I again made our way down to the Coast to carry out Decembers RAM seabird survey. The weather did not look too good as we left but improved a bit by the time we reached the coast but with the wind blowing offshore we were not confident of there being many birds close in. 

Our original thoughts were right and numbers were indeed low, but we managed a 100+ each of Balearic Shearwaters (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus) and Northern Gannets (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), a few Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo) and a couple of Razorbills (Alca Común / Alca torda) but no Tern’s, Skua’s or Cory's Shearwater (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea) were seen. 

Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica).

The usual Gulls turned up including Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

Western Swamp-hen (Calamón Común / Porphyrio porphyrio).

Other birds seen included Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis).

We later went down to the port but there was so much activity that the Gulls were very weary and were not allowing us to approach close enough to read any rings, we did add Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Little (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta) and Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) to the day list.

European Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula).

We next went to Charca and as the seabird survey had been quiet we arrived a bit earlier than usual and managed to have a good look around. 

From the first hide we got some nice views of a pair of Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), several Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus) and in the trees a little further along the track we had an immature and adult Black-crowned Night Heron (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax). 

The second hide was by far the most productive and had the best light. 

As soon as we walked in there was a Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) showing well on the margins right next to the hide and a cracking Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio) feeding not to far away on the opposite bank. 

Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis).

Ducks included Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata) and Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca) plus several Little Grebes (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and a single winter plumaged Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis). 

A Water Pipit (Bistita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta) and a couple of Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago) were also seen around the margins along with at least four Western Swamp-hen. Also on the margins were loads of Common Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), a European Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula) which posed nicely and calling but not seen Eurasian Penduline Tits (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus). 

Bat Species.

We moved on around the reserve picking up Eurasian Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), a single Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Black Redstart and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer Domesticus). We returned to the second hide as the light was so much better there and spent the rest of our time there trying to get some more shots of the birds. On the way out we picked up a single Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) and the only dragonfly of the day a Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope). 

Stock Dove (Paloma Zurita / Columba oenas) One of 6.

We arrived back at the entrance at the same time as the warden, and he showed us a bat which was roosting on the side of his office (still to be identified).

We then carried on back to Granada where I dropped Juan off at his car and continued on home, on the way I saw a single Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) along the edge of the A92 and a small group of around 20 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) in a nearby field. 

On the northern side of Huétor I stopped to have a look through a flock of Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) and discovered a small flock of 6 Stock Doves (Paloma Zurita / Columba oenas) feeding amongst them, I am informed that the Doves are quite rare down here in Granada Province. 

European Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaia).

Also seen were a group of 18 European Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaia), 177 more Little Bustards, Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) and lots of Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).

Frontil Industrial Estate, Loja, Granada Province.

Lots of birds but none seen.

I was making a quick visit to Santiago the mechanic we use in Loja to get the Speedo sorted out; when I arrived there was a note on the door saying "be back in 20 mins". Well 45 mins later he arrived towing a car in which had broken down some where down the way, but straight away he got to work and the Speedo was sorted in a few seconds and I was on my way. Just as I was pulling out of the garage I heard the loud calls of some Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus) from the dark skies over head so I parked up and listened. The birds continued to pass for some time and the noise just got louder and louder as more birds came over, it was so noisy that some of the workers in other units came out to see what it was. I guess that there were well over a hundred birds, if not several hundred as it’s hard to judge in the dark but the noise was incredible.

El Temple, Granada Province.

Birding at a raptor roost.

Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus).

I arrived at a site in the area known as El Temple near Granada where I was meeting Juan Pérez Contreras for a spot of birding. I was an hour or so early so I set up the scope and made a start, first a male Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) came in to view from behind a small row of trees and quartered the weedy area right in front of me. A few seconds after the bird arrived a cracking adult Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) shot into view and started to mob the harrier until after some 10 minutes the harrier pushed off in the same direction that it had come from but did not disappear before it flushed a single Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) into the air. 

Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus).

The Kite then started another fight with one of the Common Kestrels (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus) which were around; this battle went on for some time before the Kite settled down in a distant tree for a well earned rest. I decided to try and get some better views of the bird so I relocated along the road some way which reduced the distance down considerably, as I was re-setting the scope Juan arrived and we enjoyed some cracking views of this fine bird. Whilst we were viewing and getting some shots we also recorded at least 4 Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris) in amongst the Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) flock, loads of Corn Buntings (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and both Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) and Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis). 

We later moved back to my original spot where we located a male Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus) sat out on one of the nearby ploughed fields and a couple of Dartford Warblers (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata) which were seen flicking between the dead Thistle plants that cover the area. 

Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris).

As the light started to drop at least 4 male and 3 female Hen Harriers (Aguilucho Pálido / Circus cyaneus) arrived at the site and spent sometime flying around together probably looking for a late evening snack of one of the Meadow Pipits (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis) or Serins (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) which were in amongst the weeds. Other species seen during the afternoon were Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa). 

Rio Velez, Malaga Province and North of Zafarraya, Granada Province.

Loads of strange people and just a few birds.

I made the wrong choice and went down to have a look at the river on the Malaga side of Torre-del-Mar but found little but people who should really keep their clothes on and other more sinister people hanging around the bushes.

Anyway down to the few birds I did see, in the riverside vegetation and on the shingle banks I picked up a single Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus) which was the only wader seen, several Western Cattle (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and a couple of Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta) stalked the reeds, Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus) were all on the water and while a single Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) flushed up from the reeds calling noisily. From the beach the sea watching was not up to much with just a single Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) and the four commonest species of Gull being recorded, Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis). On my way back up the river I added little else with the highlights being Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) and Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris).

On the way back towards home I had a quick search around the fields just North-East of Zafarraya and found some far more interesting birds which included Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), Thekla (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus). Things got even better as I got back on to the local patch when we again bumped into the Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) flock and counted at least 400 Stone-curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) on a field where they have roosted during the day since winter arrived.

On the beach near Motril and Charca de Suárez, Granada Province.

An afternoon by the sea.

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

Jayne and I set off for an afternoon's walk down on the beach at Motril and to have a look at Charca de Suarez nature reserve nearby. 

We started the walk from near the entrance to the reserve and walked west away from the port for the next couple of hours. 

On the way I had nice views of several small groups of winter plumage Sanderling's (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba) running up and down the shingle like wind up toys, with them there were several Common Ringed (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) and Kentish Plovers (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus) and three Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina). 

Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica).

On the sea there were good numbers of Gulls including Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis). 

Further out large flocks of birds were following a couple of fishing boats feeding on the scraps and escapes, most were Gulls but they were joined by lots of Northern Gannets (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), a few Balearic (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus) and Cory's Shearwaters (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea) all of which were being harried by good numbers of Great Skua’s (Págalo Grande / Catharacta skua). 

Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica).

In one flock alone I counted 11 Skua’s and saw at least another ten individual birds and all of them were giving the other sea birds a real pounding. Other birds seen out to sea were Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo), Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus) and Sandwich Terns (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis). 

On the beach I was surprised to find a very late female Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) feeding amongst the tide line debris along with several White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Crested Larks (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata).

We eventually arrived back at the entrance to Charca after a nice stroll. We went in and worked our way around the main track in an anti clockwise direction. The first hide was as usual quiet so we pushed on to the second getting nice views of an adult Black-crowned Night Heron (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax) which was roosting in the track side willows on the way. 

Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago).

Here the first bird was a Water Pipit (Bistita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta) in exactly the same place Juan and I had photographed one a couple of weeks ago, today it was joined by a Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) and a very smart Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago). 

Out on the water there were Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus) and Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis). 

In the air there were several Eurasian Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) feeding on the plentiful flying bugs, they were joined by at least a couple of late / wintering Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and in the reeds swarms of Common Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) flicked around with a few Eurasian Blackcaps (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla) and Cetti’s Warblers (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti). 

Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago).

We then moved around to the main hide where there was a tour party just leaving, we settled down and picked up a single Western Swamp-hen (Calamón Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta), Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) and from here we counted at least 6 Barn Swallows feeding low over the water. 

We then made our way back towards the entrance adding Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus) to the list. 

Insects included Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) and Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) butterflies and Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum), Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope) and Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta) dragonflies.

El Temple, Granada Province.

Second try for the rare Harrier.

Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo).

I headed out towards the site where the Harrier had been seen but this time cut across country and covered several areas on the way picking up several big flocks of both Calandra Larks (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) and Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) but the numbers of these species were dwarfed by the huge numbers of Corn Buntings (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) which were everywhere. One flock of Buntings must have numbered well over a 1000 individuals. Also seen were several Hoopoes (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula).

Once on site I had a male Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius) flash past within a few feet of the car followed by a nice but much more distant Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) and a Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and that was it for raptors. I spent another couple of hours in the area and did not even manage any of the Hen Harriers seen on the last visit, in fact I saw very little else of interest so I pushed on down to Embalse de Bermjalise to see what was about and not a lot was the answer, I picked up a couple of Great Cormorants (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo), Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus) and a Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major) and that was about it. 

I then started to move north up the Cacín Valley back towards home. In the lower gorge I had some nice views of a pair of Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila Perdicera / Aquila faciatus) and a male Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus) which sat and called nicely right up till I was about to take its photograph. 

Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

Further on up the Cacín road I stopped at the smaller Embalse which by normal standards was also quite quiet and held just a few Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), lots of Little Grebes (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), both Green (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) and Common Sandpipers (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) and a noise but shy Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti). I finished off at a site near by where I had nice views of at least 24 Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis), a huge female Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus), another Merlin and a couple of Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus) which helped to boost the raptor list. Also seen in this area were Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and dozens of Black Redstarts (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

Huétor Fields, Granada Province.

A couple of hours on the local patch.

Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

I spent a couple of hours on the fields just to the north of Huétor Tajar just having a look at some of the species that were about. On the track along the Arroya I was hoping for the Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) flock we had seen a couple of days ago but found a tractor ploughng up the cut Lucerne fields. Around 30 Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) were following his plough picking off any thing that was disturbed. 

Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Good numbers of Crested (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), Sky (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) and Thekla Larks (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) were joined by lots of Meadow Pipits (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis), Linnets (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and Tree Sparrows (Gorrión Molinero / Passer Montanus) on the rougher stubble areas. Several smal flocks of Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and Spotless Starlings (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) were in the Poplar plantations along with at least 25 Mistle (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and equal numbers of Song Thrushes (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos).  

Corn Buntings (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) were everywhere and some birds were perched up high singing (well rattling) just like a spring morning. In some small drainage ditches on the side of the Mesia road Cetti’s Warblers (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) were also blasting out their notes and over head the songs of both Calandra and Skylarks could be heard. 

Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus).

Other species seen included Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

El Temple, Granada Province.

First real dip in Spain.

Got the car back (thanks Santi) this morning and went with Jayne to a craft fair / market at one of the local hotels. I enjoyed it more than expected as we bumped into several friends that we had not seen for a while and Bernie and Carol who we had not seen all year, so it was good to have a chat and catch up with what had been going on. Later we went back home and had some lunch before I headed out on my first real twitch since I have been in Spain, an immature Pallid Harrier had been seen in an area near to Granada so I headed over to see if I could locate the bird again. I arrived at the spot but it was very windy, this did not bode well. 

I almost immediately had a cracking male Hen Harrier (Aguilucho Pálido / Circus cyaneus) pass behind me flushing loads of Meadow Pipits (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis), Serins (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Goldfinches (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) as it battled with the wind. I then sent a text to Juan Perez just to confirm I was in the correct place, he rang me a few minutes later say that I was in the right spot and that he would be joining me shortly. 

On the near by fields I added Crested (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and Calandra Lark (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) to the days list, one flock of the latter must have numbered over a hundred birds and over the olives a Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) soared away towards the Cacín Valley area. 

Juan arrived and almost immediately so did a ring-tail type Harrier which flew very low and erratically, landed a couple of time briefly before disappearing as quickly as it had arrived over the olive trees to the west, I am convinced that this was the immature Pallid Harrier but in the wind and with the distance to the bird we could not be 100% sure, so the wait continued. 

We had some more views of the male Harriers, a female Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) and a single Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) before we decided that we would change location and hope for another pass by the earlier bird. 

Out in the fields we picked up Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor). As the light started to drop we made our way back to the original spot as the harriers seemed to be closer. We again picked up what I believe was the Pallid but lost it amongst the vegetation which blocks the view of low flying birds. We did not see the bird again but had some cracking views of at least 4 male and 2 female Hens. Well this was my first twitch and dip in Spain.

El Purche, Sierra Nevada, Granada Province.

Mountian birds and a broken clutch.

I dropped Jayne and our neighbor Carole off in Granada City, went and had some new tiers put on the front of the car and then headed off up Sierra Nevada to have a look around the El Purche area. As soon as I arrived I got some stunning views of a small flock of Woodlarks (Totovia / Lullula arborea) which scuttled around in the short grass near the road side. In the top of one of the nearby Pine tree a nice male Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra) gave its distinctive chip call and on the next branch down was one of the species I had come for, a winter plumage male Yellowhammer (Escribano Cerillo / Emberiza citronella). 

It was good to get the prolonged views I had of this bird as the rest of the possible birds seen were all female / 1st winters and did not hang around long enough for me to get good views of. I walked around in this area for some time checking the finch / bunting flocks which were coming down to feed in the fallen leaves below the Sweet Chestnut trees. I picked up a couple of Rock Buntings (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), a cracking male and several female Cirl Buntings (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus) in amongst the more numerous Common Chaffinches (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

I then moved up the road a short way to have a look under the Walnut trees plantations, here I quickly discovered my first Bramblings (Pizón Real / Fringilla montifringilla) of the winter, around 5 birds feeding amongst the more common Chaffinches and Corn Buntings (Triguero / Emberiza calandra). Under the trees I also saw Common Magpies (Urraca / Pica pica), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor). I then turned around to scan the grassland area behind me and picked up several Rock Sparrows (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia) a bird I had expected to see and then I found the most unexpected bird of the day a male Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), it was quite a distance away near the rocks on the far side of the grass area but the clean white breast and flanks stood out so well sexing it was easy.

I moved further along the road and spent some time checking out the Hawthorn bushes on the hillsides back towards the main road up to the summit. Here I added Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Great Tit (Carbonero Común / Parus major), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and heard but cold not locate a Ring Ouzel (Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus). 

At the high point just before the drop down to the main road I stopped and spent some time getting some shots of Black Redstarts that were perching on some concrete picnic tables, also seen here were a number of Jays (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius) along with a couple of species of butterflies, the most interesting was a very fresh looking Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros) which flew around the spot a few times but did not settle. Time was getting on so I decided to start to make my way back down towards the city when it all went wrong, I pulled away from the parking by the picnic tables heard a bang a lot of noise and then the car stalled and I soon realized that the clutch had gone. 

After some thinking I decided to try and limp down to the city to meet Jayne and Carole and ring the breakdown people from there, so I started the car in first gear and managed to roll all the way down to the outskirts and then managed to do some gear changes using only the accelerator and the engine speed to make my way to the arranged meeting place where I called for help.

Huétor Fields, Granada Province.

Found the missing birds at last.

White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

Jayne and I went down to Huétor to get some shopping and to order some more building materials and made our way home across the fields to the North of the town looking for the elusive Bustards. Along the tarmac section of the drive we picked up a small flock of the locally less common Common Magpies (Urraca / Pica pica), several Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata). 

Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

On the track along the river I was pleased to find a flock of 105 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) around half the number we usually get but at least they had turned up at last or had come out of hiding. They were on a recently cut Lucerne field amongst around 200 Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), equal numbers of Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) and probably getting on for 500 Spotless Starlings. Other species seen included Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

Along the A92, Granada Province.

Catching up with yesterdays photographs.

Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

After a mornings walk around the market in Granada we returned home via the A92 and called in at the area where I had seen the Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) yesterday. We arrived to find the birds still present and I quickly did a count (40) and then took some shot but they were never going to be much good as the sun was in the wrong direction and there was no way of getting to the other side of the flock. 

Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus).

I also took some shots of a Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) which stayed nice and still for a while.

Motril Area, Granada Province.

Novembers RAM, a visit to the Port and Charca.

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

Juan Perez and I again made our way down to what I had expected to be a wet and dull coast for Novembers RAM but we were both pleasantly surprise when it was nice and sunny but windy when we arrived. On the way I saw a small flock of Hirundines from one of the motorway bridges, most of the birds were Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) but there was at least one House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) amongst them.

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

After parking up we made our way out to the headland and set our selves up for the next couple of hours of breezy sea watching. Numbers of birds were up due mainly to the wind blowing things closer in to the shore, Northern Gannets (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) were probably the commonest species counted, several hundred birds of all age groups being seen. Both Balearic (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus) and Cory's Shearwaters (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea) passed in small flocks and at least three Great Skua's (Págalo Grande / Catharacta skua) were seen usually harassing the Shearwaters. Other birds recorded included Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo), 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) but not a single Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii) was seen here or at the port later. 

Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

More land based birds included Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus) and a swift fly-by by a Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus).

Water Pipit (Bistita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta).

In the port we were disappointed with Gull numbers but there was a lot of activity with more of the large concrete storage areas where the Gulls usually roost being full. We did get numbers of a couple of Yellow-legged Gulls and also added Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta), Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer Domesticus) to the list.

Our final stop was a brief rush to a couple of the hides at Charca del Suarez, here got some cracking views of a winter plumaged Water Pipit (Bistita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta), loads of Common Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), a couple of Western Swamp-hens (Calamón Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) and a very nice Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus) which passed low over the hide. Three species of dragonfly were still on the wing, Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum), Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope) and Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta).

Water Pipit (Bistita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta).

Other birds recorded here included Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Crag Martin and Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

Juan dropped me off at the car park near Aki and instead of going on the motorway I went back across country to Santa Fe and joined the A92 there mainly due to the traffic at the roundabout exiting the car park. On the way I saw a male Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius) another Booted Eagle, Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), a small flock of around 40 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) and a single Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus).

Western Swamp-hen (Calamón Común / Porphyrio porphyrio).

Huétor Fields, Granada Province.

Still the Bustards elude us.

On our way down to the supermarket Jayne and I had a quick tour around the fields again to try and locate the missing Bustards, the female Hen Harrier (Aguilucho Pálido / Circus cyaneus) again showed very well as did the Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and Black Redstarts (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros). On the fields by the river we spent some time searching through the flocks of Spotless Starlings (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) looking for any Common but with out any success. In this area we also recorded around 90 Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), a couple of hundred Woodpigeons (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), 80+ Collared Doves (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and a flock of 32 Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) which were just sat in the center of a newly cut Lucerne field resting. We continued on around the area but again we failed to hind no sign of the Bustards but did add Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula).

Loja to Zafarraya Road, Granada Province.

In search of later Orchids but only finding ones for next year.

Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) female.

After a brief visit to the English in Loja meeting I headed off down the valley towards the town of Zafarraya to look for some Orchids. On the way down a small group of 8 or so Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) were soaring in the fantastic blue skies over the western slopes of Sierra de Loja and at several points along the road Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) were perched up high looking for their next meal. Once in the area I started to find the leaf rosettes of Giant Orchids (Himantoglossum robertiana) by the dozen this looked good for next years show. In the Oaks surrounding this site I could see and hear Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Great Tit (Carbonero Común / Parus major), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) which along with White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) at this time of year are almost constantly on view where ever you are. I moved a little further on towards Zafarraya and stopped in a lay-by and walked for a KM or so back towards Loja. During this walk which was on a nice sunny length of road I picked up quite a few species of butterfly including Bath White (Blanqiverdosa / Pontia daplidice), Brimstone (Limonera / Gonepteryx rhamni), Clouded Yellow (Colias Común / Colias crocea), Large White (Pieris brassicae), Small White (Artogeia rapae) and Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) not bad for the first of November! 

Southern Autumn Crocus (Crocus serotinus).

In all the areas visited the commonest wildflower was the Southern Autumn Crocus (Crocus serotinus) which grew in therir hundreds. Birds included Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), singing Blackcaps (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina).

On the way home I went back across the fields north of Huétor Tajar to see if I could find the late arriving Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) flock which for the last five years had been on site by now. I did not find the Bustards but I had some stunning views of a female Hen Harrier (Aguilucho Pálido / Circus cyaneus), lots more Iberian  Magpie, Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and a snoozing Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) which look very happy having a nap in the nice warm sun.

Albrighton, Shropshire, UK

A day with my brother and his family.

Scary or what.

Today I spent some time (as usual not enough) with my brother, his wife Nicky and boys Jeffery, Thomas and Jamie. See you all again soon.