Huétor Fields, Granada Province.

The Raptors just kept coming.

I headed out at 09:00 for another visit to the supermarket to find the temperature had not risen above its -9.5 low and dam it was cold de-icing the car. We before I had past out of the Olives a Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) flew along the Barranco hoping to catch one of the many Serins (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Goldfinches (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) she was flushing as she went. A small flock of Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) were feeding on a poo pile near the road along with loads of Common Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and a few White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba). The next two Raptors then appeared, firstly a very dark plumaged Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) which was doing acrobatics trying to throw off the attentions of our wintering female Hen Harrier (Aguilucho Pálido / Circus cyaneus), she was not impressed with the Buzzard for venturing into her area. On the fields just out of town there were the regular 150 or so Stone-curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) roosting and in the same field there was a male Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus) perched on one of the telegraph posts. The Stone-curlews are more fragmented this winter, the last few years the birds have been concentrated on the same couple of stripes of land but this year they are split into six or seven different flocks.

Once I had done the shopping I headed back on the opposite side of the loop back towards home, on the fields by the railway there were a 100 plus Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), along with good numbers of both Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) and Golden Plovers (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaia). I then turned on to the track along side the poplar plantations and then the river and with in 50 meters I flushed both Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus) and Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius) which had been perched on the ridges in two neighboring Asparagus fields. On the river a couple of Green Sandpipers (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) on the icy margins along with Meadow Pipits (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula) and a single Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago). Just I was about to come off the fields back on to the road to the house a pale blob in one of the distant pomegranate trees attracted my attention, I got the bins on it to find a cracking Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) which brought the total to seven species of Raptor in a 20 minute trip to the shops, along with a couple of other nice flocks of good species it makes it a good run down to town.

Huétor Tájar and the fields, Granada Province.

A quick but cold trip down to the Supermarket.

Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea).

It was far to cold to start the jobs early today as the over night temperature had dropped down to -9, so I headed down to the supermarket via the fields and along the river. The first bird seen was a nice female Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) which zipped low over the field and to my surprise it flushed the 40 or so Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), 100+ Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) and 20+ Golden Plovers (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaia) which had been hiding out of the freezing wind down in the bottom of the ridges crossing the field.

A female Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus) that had been perched on a large clod of mud on the divided between the ploughed and planted fields also went up along with 2 of last years Stock Doves (Paloma Zurita / Columba oenas). So within a couple of minutes of arriving I had added two birds to the year list. Down on the river a couple of Green Sandpipers (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) were chasing each other, as were a pair of Grey Wagtails (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), I can not believe that this had anything to do with courtship yet but suspect they were just trying to keep warm. 

Also seen were Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer Domesticus), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).

The next stop was the supermarket which was extremely quite for a Saturday morning but I was not that surprised after feeling the wind in the street outside. On the way home I found three very cold looking birders stood in one of the fields watching some of the wintering Little Bustards so I stopped and was pleased to see that the one chap was Juan Francisco Jiménez a birder from Granada who I had not seen for quite a long time. 

As my Spanish is still bad we communicated through the young lady who was also there and the field guide before we drove back to the spot where I had been on the way to the supermarket. We crossed the frozen river and once on top of the bank we picked up a cracking Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus) which was sat out in a quite empty field, the only birds still around were a few Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and some Woodpigeons (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) in the nearby Poplars. I gave Juan some info about what I had seen recently and where they had been before going back home to start work as the sun was now warming things up a bit.

Home near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

A couple of local birds and end of the month totals.

Just popped down on to the fields below the house for an hours birding, highlights were a flock of nearly 200 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) on a newly ploughed field along the river. In the same area there were quite good numbers of Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), 2x Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaia) and a huge flock of at least 100 Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) flew from one Poplar plantation on my right over the river to another stand a couple of hundred meters away. 

On the stony margins of the river there were a couple of Green Sandpipers (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) feeding along with both Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Meadow Pipits (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis) and lots of Common Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita). 

On the fields quite good numbers of Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) were following on of the tractors which were ploughing up an old Lucerne field and a single Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) was in one of the ditches stalking its next meal. I then went down towards the town of Huetor Tajar and to do a count of the Stone-curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) on their favourite wintering field, I just reached the end of the count in time (497) as the female Hen Harrier (Aguilucho Pálido / Circus cyaneus) which has been around all winter popped up over the railway line and flushed all the birds from the far end of the field. 

This did however work in my favour as I was able to added Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris) to the list. Other birds seen included Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Thekla (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Crested (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) and Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis).

I ended up seeing 151 Species of Bird during January, 5 species of Butterfly and just a single Orchid.

Chipiona, Sanlúcar, Bonanza Salt Pans and the Journey home, Cadiz Province.

The last day of the trip.

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

Our last day and after yet another good breakfast we headed off North West to Chipiona again where I was hoping to catch up with the Little Swifts (Vencejo Moro Culiblanco / Apus affinus) in what is meant to be its most reliable site in Spain but again there was no sign of any birds either around the disused factory or over the town. The journey was worth it though as I caught up with a flock of 6 Eurasian Oystercatcher (Ostrero Euroasiatico / Haematopus ostralegus) which flew past out to sea, a Great Skua (Págalo Grande / Catharacta skua) which was close into shore, more Caspian (Pagaza Piquirroja / Sterna caspia) and Sandwich Terns (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis) and a single Bar-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colipinta / Limosa lapponica) which right on cue flew off to join the passing flock of Pied Oystercatchers and showed its bar-less wings. 

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

We then went and had a walk along the sea front at Sanlúcar, the sun was out but the wind was very cool when it whistled down the front. Along the beach I picked up another couple of Bar-tailed Godwits, Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba) and a single Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) which soon pushed off in land. We returned to the car after having a coffee and made our way eventually after getting slightly misplaced in the centre of town to Bonanza Salt Pans. Along the entrance road the first birds seen were Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), a group of 12 Black-necked Grebes (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), a couple of Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), a few cracking Slender-billed Gulls (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei) and Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus). 

Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber).

Further along we saw the first Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber), a single Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) and up on the wires beside the track a flock of around 20 Spotless Starlings (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and at least 2 Common (Spotty) Starlings (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris). At the end of the main track I decided to turn right after around 200 yards on the left hand side the bank gets a bit lower and you get a view over the salt marsh type habitat. The first bird picked up was a Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) which disappeared into a bush, this was followed by singles of Black Stork (Ciguena Negra / Ciconia nigra) and Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus). 

Great Egret (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba).

We continued on adding a single Lesser Short-toed Lark (Terrera Marismena / Calandrella rufescens) which was feeding out on the track and a couple of Great Egrets (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba) along one of the ditches out on the salt marsh. At the end of the track the pools were quiet mainly due to a couple of people who were walking out in the marsh and had flush most of the birds. We did add a couple of Grey Plover (Chorlito Gris / Pluvialis squatarola) and a distant flock of around 10 Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus) which were following the path of the river. 

Grey Plover (Chorlito Gris / Pluvialis squatarola).

Other species recorded here included Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), a couple of hundred Black-tailed Godwits (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa), Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus) and Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata).

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

We then went back towards Sanlucar and found a cracking place to eat called Publo something, the sea food was out standing, we started with a cracking mixed salad and a plate of stuffed peppers for starters, then a bowl of garlic Prawns between us and this was followed by a sea food and rice mix (similar to Paella but wetter). This cracking meal more than made up for the disappointing meal we had in Puerto. We then started the trip home via Jerez de la Frontera, Olvera, Campillos and Antequera, on the way we saw 2 Black-winged Kites (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) and quite a few Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

Vejer de la Frontera, La Janda, Barbate and along the coast, Cadiz Province.

A change in the order of the days.

View of somewhere in Vejer.

We had originally intended to do this area on our way home but then we thought that the shops in Vejer would be shut so we changed the plan and headed south along the motorways to Vejer de la Frontera a cracking little white village perched on the side of a cliff. We had hoped to link this part of the trip with a visit to stay with friend Steve Dale and his family who run Andalucian Guides from his house between Vejer and Barbate but due to things not panning out back in Granada with a few jobs on the house we need to be back home earlier than originally planned (hope to make it next time Steve). 

A church in Vejer.

Once parked we had a wander around this cracking village, had a coffee in one of the bars up by the castle and then picked up a couple of bits from the nice shops in the center. The only slight down side was that most of the nice craft type shops we had seen in the past had gone but the place is always worth a visit and I think that if there were not so many hills I could live there quite happily.

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

Once we had finished in the town we made a brief but enjoyable visit to La Janda but just stayed on the main track along the canal except for a short drive along one of the side roads, so I did not get into the best areas as I had on the last visit when I had been birding with Steve. 

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

The bird numbers seemed slightly down on the last trip but we still managed to catch up with a couple of Black-winged Kites (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), a cracking Short-eared Owl (Búho Campestre / Asio flammeus) which hunted up and down the side of the main canal foe around 10 minutes giving us great views, a couple of hundred Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus), Bonelli's (Aguila Perdicera / Aquila faciatus) and Booted Eagles (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) and Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio). 

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The birds listed were the highlights but we saw a lot more including a few butterfly species, Bath Whites (Blanqiverdosa / Pontia daplidice) were quite common, while Clouded Yellow (Colias Común / Colias crocea), Small White (Artogeia rapae) and Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) were seen as singles. We then went and had some lunch in Zahara de los Atunes before driving north through Barbate and then on wards along the coast back to Chiclana and ending up back in Puerto de Santa Maria. On the way I picked up a group of the introduced Northern Bald Ibis (Ibis Eremita / Geronticus eremita), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and Rock Pigeon (Paloma Bravia / Columba livia). 

Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea).

Up nearer the hotel we passed through some salt pans whilst we were on the motorway, brief views were had of 6 Spoonbills (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia) and a single Eurasian Curlew (Zapapito Real / Numenius arquata).

We went back to the hotel to freshen up before spending the evening trying the local tapas which was very nice but dam expensive but I suppose we are spoilt here in Granada Province.

Puerto de Santa María, Rota and Chipiona, Cadiz Province.

Jayne's birthday and a visit to the Osborne's Bodega de Mora.

Entrance to the Osborne ware-houses.

We started the day with a very nice breakfast in the hotel before making our way through the town to the Osborne Bodega where we had booked a tour of the Ware houses. We arrived and we were met by Christine who was our guide and as we were the only people there we had our own private visit. We started a cinema where we watched a short film which explained how the company was founded and its climb to the one of the most famous Sherry and Brandy producers. It also told us how the company had expanded into different lines so that it was not just dependent on it most famous brands. The most interesting fact for me is that it was all started by an ENGLISH chap called Thomas Osborne Mann from Exeter in 1772, this made my day!!!
We then moved into the first of the ware houses where the Fino is stored and Christine explained what happen once the grapes have been picked, pressed, distilled / fermented and put into the barrels. The barrels are in stacks three high, but the liquid from only the bottom row is use to produce the Sherry and only 40% of this is drained each year. The lower barrel is then topped up from the row above and then that row is filled from the top most barrels which are filled with the new liquid to complete the process. This means that in theory some of the Fino in the barrels could be over two hundred years old!

Fino Barrels.

We then moved on and we were given lots more information on the different production methods, she explained that in the Fino barrels there is always around a 2cm thick layer of yeast that stops the Sherry coming in contact with the air in the top of the barrel which prevents the oxidation process and keeps the liquid clear and pale. In the other types of Sherry the alcohol level is raised so that the yeast dies and the liquid is in contact with the air and the oxidation process can take place which gives the sherry it darker colour. The other types of Sherry are Oloroso, Cream and Sweet. One of the best advertising hoardings ever seen must have been the Osborne Bull; the bull was created in 1956 by Manolo Prieto. Nowadays only two bulls carry the Osborne logo; the other ninety odd are just painted black but will always be associated with the company.

Fino Barrels.

After what was a very interesting couple of hours we were taken to a very comfortable room and sat down with some nibbles and four bottles of Sherry to taste. Christine explained the best times to drink the different types and the temperature at which each was best served before she left us to it. After sometime we made our way to the gift shop and purchased a couple of bit before heading to the car (I only had a couple of sips) and headed out for a walk around an area know as Sherry-port a little way along the coast.

Jayne outside the giftshop

We parked up and had a stroll around the edge of the harbour, whilst there I saw Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo), Razorbill (Alca Común / Alca torda) and another Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus). We then decided to go up the coast to Rota where we drove around for a while and departed heading for Chipiona a little further west. We soon found what is said to be the tallest lighthouse in Spain and then went to have some lunch. Later we headed down to the harbour are where I was hoping to find some of the Little Swifts (Vencejo Moro Culiblanco / Apus affinus) which are reported there regularly. 

Chipiona Lighthouse.

I checked the area around the disused factory building, the beach and over the town but could not find any birds. I did see a couple more Caspian Terns (Pagaza Piquirroja / Sterna caspia), Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba) and a dozen or so Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta). On the drive back to Puerto we also added a couple of Marsh Harriers (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) and a Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas) to the list. On the evening we decided to try one of the well known and highly recommended seafood restaurants in the town but we were left quite disappointed and headed back to the hotel bar where we had a drink and a Whiskey / Brandy Coffee which went down far to well.
Photographs from the top: Entrance to the Osborne ware-houses, Fino Barrels x2, Jayne outside the giftshop and the Chipiona Lighthouse.

Travelling to and at El Puerto de Santa María, Cadiz Province.

A visit to another Provincial City.

Rear view from the boat.

Jayne and I set off early and started to make our way over to El Puerto de Santa María which lies on the Eastern side of the Bahia de Cadiz. On the way we stopped of a coffee just to the west of Antequera and the pulled in at a very foggy Laguna Dulce where apart from Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) all of which were within a foot of the bank. Any birds further out were invisible in the fog, in the trees around the hide I also added Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus). We continued on passed Olvera, Villamartin, Arcos del la Frontera and Jerez till we ended up along side the Rio Guadalete in El Puerto de Santa María. 

Tavira Tower.

From here we caught the ferry over to the City of Cadiz, on the way a few birds were picked up including Razorbill (Alca Común / Alca torda), Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Sandwich (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis) and Caspian Terns (Pagaza Piquirroja / Sterna caspia), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus), Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo) and on the margins at least 5 Common Sandpipers (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) and a single Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus).

Camera Obscura.

Once we were in the City we walked the narrow street until we found the entrance to the Torre Tavira Tower and the Camera Obscura, we had some great views form the roof terrace and then a talk about the city whilst looking at it via the Camera. After finding something to eat we wander the street once more before catching the ferry back to Puerto, Whilst we wandered I added Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), both Monk (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus) and Ring-necked Parakeets (Cotorra de Kramer / Psittacula krameri) and lots of cryptically coloured Feral Pigeons.

Once back on dry land we went to find our Hotel the Monastero San Miguel, we arrived and were very pleased with the place and would recommend it as a place to stay for anyone wanting to visit Cadiz as in just 30 minutes you can be in the City and you do not have the hassle of parking and driving through the its very narrow streets.

view of the Cathedral from the tower.

Later we went out have a look around the town and have a meal, this proved harder than anticipated as many of the bars were shut for the winter, we eventually found some where and had a very nice meal and later found that we had been very close to but had not found the main eating area near the port. We then headed back to the hotel and had a very good nights sleep.

Alhambra Woodlands/General Life and El

Hoping for a Province tick.

Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).

After getting a text from Juan Perez yesterday I went up in to Granada for a walk around the Alhambra gardens to try and see the Tawny Owl (Cárabo Común / Strix aluco) he sees fairly regularly. I parked in the main car park and walked down the hill through the mixed woodlands which surround the famous attraction till I was just above the city and then looked into the hole where the bird had been yesterday to find it empty as I had the last time when we met Juan and Beatriz at the site. I did manage to see the almost completely albino Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), along with more normal coloured birds. High up in the trees I also picked up several Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotraustes), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), a couple of Redwings (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus iliacus) and lower down there were singing Blackcaps (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla) and Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).

I then returned to the car and headed up the Sierra Nevada to the area called El Purche which is an area of open grassland and Hawthorn scrub with some Walnut and fruit tree plantations where in the past I have seen some large flocks of finches and bunting but not today. 

Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

Unfortunately the snow from the beginning of the week was still covering most of the ground below the fruit trees so birds were a bit thin on the ground. I did get some nice views of Cirl (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus), Corn (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and Rock Buntings (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia) together in the same Hawthorn bush. Also seen were a few Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and a cracking really brightly plumaged Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei) which yaffelled it's way through the Walnut trees.

I then moved down the hill a little and added Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) and a flock of about 6 more Hawfinches. I then drove back to the city to meet Jayne but I was a tad early so I walled back to the Owl site from the opposite direction from this morning but the result was the same, just an empty hole perfect for a Tawny Owl.

El Faro, Fuengirola, Malaga Province.

A few winter waders.

Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres).

I had a hour or so to go down and have a look at the coast near Fuengirola in between different stops on a days shopping and sorting on the coast (taking a damaged door back to Ikea amongst other things) so I decided to go and have a look for some waders for the year list. I parked by the large rock on the sea ward side of the coastal motorway and started to walk back along the path to the west. 

Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba).

On the very first group of rocks I found all the species I had expected with around 20 each of Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres) and Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba) which were accompanied but 3 Purple Sandpipers (Correlimos Oscuro / Calidris maritime). 

Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba).

I watched and photographed they flock for quite a while before a male Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus) did an all to close flypast and flushed the lot. They all moved on to the rocks down but car but were to far out to get any decent views. 

Purple Sandpiper (Correlimos Oscuro / Calidris maritime).

I also saw Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo).

Purple Sandpiper (Correlimos Oscuro / Calidris maritime).

Sierra Morena, Anduja, Jaen Province.

A Day of not looking in the right direction or being in the wrong place.

Black Vulture (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus).

I met Juan Perez at the usual place in Granada and we set off north for a change heading for Sierra Morena looking for the Iberian Lynx (lince iberico / Lynx pardina). We were meeting Manu, Silvia and Marisa at a bar near to the site at 09:00 which was why we set off a bit later than normal at 07:00. I had met Manu on several occasions doing the RAM sea bird surveys but it was the first time I had seen Silvia or Marisa. Whilst we were waiting for them to arrive we picked up a couple of Hawfinches (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotraustes) in a tree nearby, heard and eventually saw a Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) and watched lots of Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) as they fed on the far side of the road. When the others arrived we drove the 14km or so to the site, which was easier than the last visit as the road had had some work do on it. Once we were on the dirt track all eyes were peeled as we were really getting into the area for the Lynx, I was looking off to the right and slightly behind when Juan had a Wildcat (Felis silvestris) run across the road in front of the car which I missed. 

Black Vulture (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus).

A little further on we picked up a fine Stag Fallow Deer (Dama dama) lying down under the Oak trees watching several females nearby. We decided to drive down to the dam first and have a look for the Wallcreeper (Treparriscos / Tichodroma muraria) which had been wintering in the area for the last few years but there was no sign, but we had good views of Blue Rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), more Hawfinches, Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major) and Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

After a while we want back up to the Lynx area and settled down and searched the valleys and rocky outcrops nearby. After a while I had a walk back down towards the dam to see what birds were around, almost straight a way two Black Vultures (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus) flew passed very low and headed up towards Juan and the others. In the area I also picked up a Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia) and along way off on a ridge a male Mouflon (Ovis orientalis). 

Black Vulture (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus).

On the walk back up the hill an immature Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti) did a low fly past and a single Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) circled over a nearby hill.

Once back with the other we picked up Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Great (Carbonero Común / Parus major) and Long-tailed Tits (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis). An adult and two young Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) came up the valley to the side of us giving good views, more Fallow Deer were picked out and Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) and Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) were added to the Mammal list. I then had a walk off in the other direction and had a chat with to English birders and soon wished I had not as ignorance was bliss till they told me that at 09:00 they had had the Lynx down to 25 metres and had the shots to prove it and they showed me some crackers. I went back to the others with the news and the two lads who showed the shot around again. 

Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

It was well into the afternoon by now and the cloud cover was just starting to break which meant that the Vultures started to get airborne, several Blacks and Griffons were picked up as was a stunning adult Spanish Imperial which showed well for at least 10 minutes. Eventually the clouds completely cleared but by this time they were casting very long shadows and a short while later we had to call it a day and admit defeat in our hunt for views of the Lynx but there are always the memories from my last three visits and the thoughts of the next. On the way back we stopped for a drink and after a chat we said our goodbyes and headed home.

Rio Guadalhorce, Malaga Province.

Tying things in with a trip to Ikea.

Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis).

Jayne and I headed down towards Malaga to go and collect the last two cupboards needed to complete our kitchen from Ikea, on the way I dropped Jayne off at the Larios shopping center and then drove on wards to Guadalhorce. As soon as I parked I was greeted with cracking views of a Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) which was fishing from some of the riverside rocks along with a Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta). 

Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta).

On the sandier margins there was a single Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), around 20 Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba) and at least 12 Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus). Out at sea I quickly picked up around half the flock of 30 Common Scoters (Negrón Común / Melanitta nigra) Andy Patterson had reported earlier in the month (www.birdingthecosta.com), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) and Balearic Shearwater (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus). I then walked along the beach to the entrance track into the reserve, on the way I picked up Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus). 

Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus).

I walked on to the reserve and to the hide overlooking the main pool, White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis) and Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber) were all very quickly on the list as was a nice Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas) which was pointed out to me by a Spanish birder who was already in the hide. Also here were Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo). 

White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala).

Mick Smith then joined us in the hide just before a group of school kids came in. We then decided that we would move around to the next hide where it was a little quieter and as soon as we arrived I picked up a single Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio) right at the back of the pool just before it disappeared out of sight behind some reeds. A couple of Spanish birders then joined us in the hide just as I picked up a distant Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus) way out over the far side of the coastal motorway. Mick and I then went off, he headed back towards the coast and I went around towards the wader hide. I went straight past the first hide on the way down to the sea watch point but had a good look from the second where I picked up several Little Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Green (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) and Common Sandpipers (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula) and Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica). Further along the track to the sea watch point a couple of Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia) were roosting on a small patch of mud and several Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) and Black-winged Stilts were all frantically feeding on the far shore of the last pool before the beach.

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

As the sea watch point was full of fishermen and their kit I went straight down on to the beach and started to wall back towards the car, as I reached the bank on the far side of the river I bumped into Mick again and we had another chat and I managed to get some quite nice shots of the Kingfisher which was still fishing from the rocks. We then had a quick look out over the sea before heading off to meet Jayne for some lunch.

Laguna Herrera and Fuente de Piedra, Malaga Province.

A trip over into Malaga Province.

Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

Jayne had a late in the day appointment over in Fuente de Piedra so we decided that we would have a look in at the Shopping Centro at Antequera on the way and as we were in the area Laguna Herrera and the main lagoons at Fuente. Our first stop was at the bar at junction 149 off the A92 for a coffee and tostada, which went down very nicely. We then headed up the Cordoba road towards Laguna Herrera, on the track into the site there were as usual good numbers of finches, buntings and sparrows including Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer Domesticus), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus). Further out in one of the winter cereal fields 2 male and 1 female Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) were feeding amongst a large flock of Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) and a few Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaia). 

Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis).

On the lagoon the most obvious species were gulls with hundreds of Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus) bathing in the shallow water. On the margins Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus) numbers had risen from the last time I visited and had reached at least 30, a couple of Green (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) and a single Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) were feeding amongst a few more Northern Lapwings. Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) were all perched on the overhead cables whilst Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) were all in the reeds.

Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa).

On the flooded fields on the opposite side of the track from the lagoon there were a good three thousand gulls either on the marginal mud or out in the water, almost all were Lesser Black-backed along with a few Black-headed.

We then went on to the Shopping Center and then Fuente, I started with a look around the small lagoons near the wooden walk way and was very happy to find a couple of winter plumage male Reed Buntings (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus) mixed in with a flock of at least 3 male Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis), a good number House Sparrows and a few Corn Buntings. While I was watching the Spanish Sparrows a fine male White-spotted Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) was seen feeding on an open area of mud. 

Greater Flamingo’s (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber) and a single Lesser (Phoenicopterus minor).

Also in this area were Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata) and Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus). On the next larger lagoon a small flock of 5 Black-tailed Godwits (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa) were a nice find in their silvery winter plumage, also on the water were a pair of Eurasian Wigeon (Silbón Europeo / Anas Penelope), lots more Northern Shovelers and Eurasian Teal and a few immature Greater Flamingo’s (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber). On the margins a couple of Water Pipits (Bistita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta) were strutting around with a single Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and lots of White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba). 

Greater Flamingo’s (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber) and a single Lesser (Phoenicopterus minor).

I then moved up to the mirador below the Oak tree from where I successfully scanned through the thousands of Greater Flamingo’s and located the long staying Lesser (Phoenicopterus minor) a much redder bird with an obvious all dark bill. Also on the main lagoon I added Avocet (Avoceta Común/ Recurvirostra avosetta) a small group of 5 birds were roosting in the shallow water, 30+ Common Crane (Grulla Común / Grus grus), Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta).

I then continued on around to the two hides overlooking the freshwater pools, there were lots of bird but almost all were either Lesser Black-backed Gulls or Northern Shovelers. While I was there a female Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) came in low over the trees and flushed all the smaller duck before snatching a male Eurasian Teal in flight, almost immediately the bird escape but was badly injured and dived straight for a small clump of rushes and weeds out in the water. The Harrier followed it in to the vegetation and must have eventually found its catch as I could see it plucking the bird. 

Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).

Also in this area I picked up Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis). I then walked back around towards Jayne in the car seeing a single Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago) on the way. We were still a little early for Jayne appointment so I went around to the first hide on the eastern side of the main lagoon, from here I had better views of the Lesser Flamingo and added Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) and Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta) to the year list.