Sierra Nevada, Granada Province.

A fantastic plant I have wanted to see for a long time.

Sierra Nevada Narcissus (Narcissus nevadensis).

Jayne and I travelled up to Granada to visit Juan Perez and Beatriz, Jayne stayed at their apartment with Beatriz, while Juan and I headed up to the Western slopes of Sierra Nevada. I had long wanted to see the extremely rare Sierra Nevada Narcissus (Narcissus nevadensis) and Juan had a pretty good idea of where it could be found having seen it some years ago.

Sierra Nevada Narcissus (Narcissus nevadensis).

We started the drive up into the Trevenquillo which takes you through some fantastic scenery, eventually we parked up and we continued on along the track on foot. Along here we picked up Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Coal Tit (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica).

Three-leaved Crocus (Colchicum triphyllum).

We then turned off the track and we headed up the hill into an area of wet grass where Juan found lots of Narcissus nevadensis plants in bud and eventually in a sunnier patch we found several plants in full bloom.
We spent quite sometime photographing the plants and searching the area, during which time we found lots of Sierra Nevada Crocus (Crocus nevadensis) and a few plants of Three-leaved Crocus (Colchicum triphyllum).

Sierra Nevada Crocus (Crocus nevadensis).

Also seen were Stinking Hellebore (Helleborus foetidus), Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).
We then made our way back to the car and headed back down towards the city through the Pine woods, on the way we made a stop to look at a single spike of Naked / Italian Man Orchid (Orchis italica) seen whilst driving past, in the area we also saw Ophrys forestieri, Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera) and Fan-lipped Orchid (Anacamptis collina).

Naked / Italian Man Orchid (Orchis italica).

Next we went back down to Juan's, once we were there Beatriz suggested that we all went up into the city to a Spanish bar they knew well for something to eat and a drink. So we all went up in Beatriz's car and spent a very pleasant couple of hours wandering around the very busy city and visiting the bar where we did indeed have something to eat and drink before calling in at the Italian Ice-cream shop opposite the Cathedral. Later we made our way back to the car and then back to their apartment and then on wards home.

Fuente de Piedra, Laguna Dulce, Laguna Salida, Laguna Herrera and Arroya Marin, Malaga Province.

88 bird species in 5 and a bit hours.

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

I started off by taking Jayne over to Trabuco for the monthly meeting of the Amigas de Casa womens group, from there I headed over to Fuente de piedra for a bit of birding. On the way over some good birds were seen including Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) and Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus). On some flooded areas around Antequera I picked up good numbers of Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Gull-billed Terns (Pagaza Piconegra / Gelochelidon nilotica) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus).

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

I arrived at the reserve and parked up before giving the large pool along the entrance road a quick scan, I soon located more Black-winged Stilts, Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), a single male type Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae). I had a walk out on to the board walk but there were just small numbers of waders present but they did include at least three sparkling Wood Sandpipers (Andarrios Bastardo / Tringa glareola).

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

I continued on along the track to the corner on the raised back where I scanned the the flooded margins and soon located a very nice male Garganey (cerceta Carretona / Anas querquedula), several pairs of Red-crested Pochards (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) and just a small flock of around 50 or so Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus). In the same area there were a large number of Yellow Wagtails of all three expected forms including a very bright male of the UK form flavissima, also here there were a small group of 6 Wood Sandpipers roosting on the mud betweeen the Juncus tussucks and a Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix) was calling from the field behind me.

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

I then turned around and walked back across the boardwalk and around to the hides at the back of the visitors centre, on my way I saw a couple of Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) fly into the reeds near the next pool round the walk. This pool was almost deserted except of a dozen or so Black-winged Stilts and a few Common Moorhens. I had a look in the larger of the two hides, on the islands there were good numbers of Avocets, Black-headed Gulls, new species for the list included Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadorna tadorna), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis) and on my way to the smaller hide a male Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis) flew towards the centre.

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

Once I was in the smaller hide I had a male Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) in the bins and I could hear several Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) singing from the reed bed. I then went back to the car and headed to the next view point around on the Western side of the lake, on the way I picked up both Kentish (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus) and Little Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) on some flooded fields near the road and further round Lesser Kestrel (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus).

From the view point I watched a cracking male Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) hunting over the reed fringed pool, a Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) which was sitting in a large tamarisk tree on the margings. Over the water I added Whiskered Tern (Fumarel Cariblanca / Chilidonias hybridus) and in the reed beds there were both Reed and Great Reed Warblers (Carricero Tordal / Acrocephalus arundinaceus) singing. Whilst in the scrub between the view Point and the pool there was a calling Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli) and a singing Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala). I then continued on towards Laguna Dulce near Campillos, on the way I stopped several times picking up Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus).

Red-Knobbed Coot (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata).

Eventually I reached Dulce where I met a chap from the medio ambiente with his scope set up watching a very nice male Red-Knobbed Coot (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata) and he then pointed out another three birds and informed me that there were at least 5 birds on the lake, I had seen 4 none collared birds but he had also seena collared bird on the far shore but we could not locate it. We also picked up a nice male Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca), lots of Great Crested Grebes (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), a Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio) and several singing Calandra Larks (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra). Other species here which I had seen earlier included Common Pochard, Red-crested Pochards, Gadwall, Black-necked Grebe and Northern Shoveler. I then went and had a look at Laguna's Salada and de la Marcela where I added White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) and Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus).

Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca).

I then started to head back towards Trabuco to pick Jayne up but on the way I called in at Laguna Herrera just to the North of Antequera, on the drive in I watched a displaying male Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) in a field of seedling sunflowers and a Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) which was perched on one of the many pylons. On the flooded fields to the right of the track there were loads of Gull-billed Terns roosting, along with a few Black-headed and a dozen or so Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus). Out in the water more Common Redshank, Avocets and Black-winged Stilts were joined by two summer plumage Spotted Redshanks (Archibebe Oscuro / Tringa erythropus), a pair of Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) and a Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea). Along the margins there had been a mass emergance of 100s of Red-veined Darters (Sympetrum fonscolombii) and these were joined by several Lesser Emperors (Anax parthenope).

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

I then continued on around the fields and made my way back to the motorway and came off again near Archidona, still having a few minutes to spare I drover the first couple of KM along Arroya Marin and soon picked up several new species for the day list, these included Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and a pair of Hawfinches (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotraustes) which flew up from the side of the track. I then headed back to trabuco where I picked Jayne up from the craft group meeting and we headed off home. Later in the evening I went out onto the terrace and could hear Little (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Eagle (Buho Real / Bubo bubo) and Eurasian Scop's Owls (Autillo Europeo / Otus scops) all calling.

Gull-billed Terns (Pagaza Piconegra / Gelochelidon nilotica).

Hacho, Loja, Granada Province.

100s of Orchids and a few birds.

Southern Early Purple Orchid (Orchis olbiensis).

This weekend we were looking after Yogi, Paul and Cherry's dog while they were away for a few days. We decided to take him for his afternoon walk on the Northern slopes of Hacho a smallish Sierra just to the North of Loja. We parked on the track near the large quarry on the road up to Ventorros de San Jose and while Jayne collected cones Yogi and I walked the woods looking for Orchids.

Southern Early Purple Orchid (Orchis olbiensis).

We were soon seeing lots of Giant Orchids (Himantoglossum robertiana) which were starting to go over a bit but this is not surprising as I have been seeing this species in flower here for well over a month.

Southern Early Purple Orchid (Orchis olbiensis).

The next species that stood out was the beautiful little Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera subsp tenthredinifera) the early flowering short version of this plant, within a few minutes I had seen at least a 100 spikes. Next came the very variable Southern Early Purple Orchid (Orchis olbiensis) which was found in small groups, some groups numbered up to 30 plants and most contained flowers of different colours.

Southern Early Purple Orchid (Orchis olbiensis).

Lower down the hill I saw my first Yellow Bee (Ophrys lutea) and Mirror Orchids (Ophrys speculum) but just the odd ones. I then walked up into a disused quarry where I came across a sight that I see more and more in the Spanish countryside at the moment, a large pile of rubble dumped by some scum-bag builder on a beautiful piece of land.

Snake's Head Fritillary (Fritillaria hispanica).

Anyway I dropped back down to the lower part of the site where I found several spikes of Fan-lipped Orchids (Orchis conica) which were growing amongst a few spikes of Snake's Head Fritillary (Fritillaria hispanica). I walked back up to the car and then on passed up into the scrubbier areas of the hill, along here I found lots of Ophrys forestieri most of which were past their best. Also seen here were Ranunculus spicatus ssp blepharicarpos, Asphodelus ramosus, Field marigold (Calendula arvensis), Grey-leaved Cistus (Cistus albidus), Pink Med Catchfly (Silene colorata), Common Grape Hyacinth (Muscari neglectum), Common Fumitory (Fumaria officinalis), Blue Hounds-tongue (Cynoglossum creticum), Yellow Anemone (Anemone palmata), Purple Viper's Bugloss (Echium plantagineum), Rosy Garlic (Allium roseum) and Rue-leaved Saxifrage (Saxifraga tridactylites).

Mirror Orchid (Ophrys speculum subsp speculum).

During this walk round I saw and heard several species of birds including Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilargo / Sylvia undata), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla) and the whole time I was there an European Eagle Owl (Buho Real / Bubo bubo) was calling from the crags above the site.

Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera).

I then walked back down to the car where we found Jayne still up on the hill before we headed home.

Ranunculus spicatus ssp blepharicarpos.

Embalse de Iznajar and Laguna Hurerra, Malaga Province.

A return visit.

Naked / Italian Man Orchid (Orchis italica).

After doing a very successful Granada Wildlife walk at the site a few days ago I returned to this amazing Orchid rich site in the company of two good friend Juan Perez and Jacinto Villalvilla to have another look around and to show Juan a hybrid Orchid that he particularly wanted to see. Juan and I arrived a little early so we started to have a search around the area but the light was not yet very good so anything we found would have to be photographed later.

Naked / Italian Man Orchid (Orchis italica).

On this walk we found three spikes of Dark Spider Orchids (Ophrys incubacea), dozens of Naked / Italian Man Orchid (Orchis italica), 100ish spikes of Bumble-bee Orchids (Ophrys bombyliflora), Small Woodcock Orchid (Ophrys picta), Woodcock Orchid (Ophrys scolopax), Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca ssp fusca), Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera), Mirror Orchid (Ophrys speculum subsp speculum), Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum robertiana) and Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea).

Dark Spider Orchid (Ophrys incubacea).

We arrived at the dam where we met Jacinto and we started to make our way back along the way we had just come from but before we left the dam we had a scan over the lake and picked out at least 8 Great Crested Grebes (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus) and around the dam walls there were hundreds of hirundines, most were House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) which were nesting on the dam wall in large numbers but there were also lesser numbers of Barn (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Red-rumped Swallows (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica) and Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris). We started the walk but soon took a detour up a track and onto a pine covered bank above the parking area where we soon had nice views of a female Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Coal Tit (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

Orchis x bivonae.

In the area we also saw some more Naked / Italian Man Orchids, Sawfly Orchid, Mirror Orchid and Giant Orchid. We dropped back down on to the road and started back and as the light was much better we started to take some shots of the Orchids, the first ones we came to were the two taller Dark Spider Orchids but the wind made getting good shot difficult. We continued on doing the Woodcock and Small Woodcock Orchids, the other shorter Dark Spiders and the rare hybrid between Naked / Italian Man and Man Orchid (Aceras anthropophorum) called Orchis x bivonae. After taking some shots of this cracking plant we searched the area and found a single plant of Ophrys dyris and large numbers of Bumble-bee Orchids (Ophrys bombyliflora). We then walked down the road towards the dam looking for the Snake's Head Fritillary (Fritillaria hispanica) I had seen a few days earlier.

Orchis x bivonae.

Also seen in this area were Bonelli's (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli) and Sardinian Warblers (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and a Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax). From here we headed off towards Antequera and Laguna Herrera, on the way down the motorway I saw a nice male Black-eared Wheatear (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica) on the verge, and several Avocets (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta) and Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus) on flooded fields.

Bumble-bee Orchids (Ophrys bombyliflora).

We arrived at the Laguna and had a look on some more flooded fields first where there were a good number of waders and wildlfowl, these included more Black-winged Stilts and Avocets, a single Grey Plover (Chorlito Gris / Pluviali squatarola), displaying Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadorna tadorna), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus).

Woodcock Orchid (Ophrys scolopax).

In the same area we recorded Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and a fly over Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla). On the main lagoon there were several Gull-billed Terns (Pagaza Piconegra / Gelochelidon nilotica), at least three Whiskered Terns (Fumarel Cariblanca / Chilidonias hybridus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), a single Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus).

Small Woodcock Orchid (Ophrys picta).

Other species seen while we were here included Crag (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Sand Martins (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator) and a male Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe). We then made our way back to Huétor.

Ophrys Dyris.

Huétor Fields, Granada Province.

The flooded fields continue to be productive.

I had a run down to Huétor during the morning and called in at the flooded fields on the way, straight away I could hear at least three different calling Wryneck (Torcecuello / Jynx torquilla) calling from in the nearby poplar woodland. Out on the flooded fields I had soon located 9x Common Redshanks (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), 2x Greenshanks (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), 1x Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), 4x Green Sandpipers (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), 7x Little Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) and 9x Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).
Later I went down the track a little further and had a look at some flooded Lucerne meadows where there were loads of Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae). Also in this area I recorded 8x European Bee-eaters (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis).
On my way back towards the house I stopped a couple of time along the Rio Vilano, in this area I picked up Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) and another couple of migrants, a female Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) and a nice bright Willow Warbler (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus). On my way back I could hear a couple of Natterjack Toads (Sapo Corredor / Bufo calamita) calling from a wet area in the Olives.

Later in the day I took Yogi a friends dog who was staying with us for a few days for a walk up the road amongst the Olives, during the hour or so we were out I saw several Sardinian Warblers (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), a calling Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina).

Later on in the afternoon Juan Perez and Beatriz came over for our weekly lessons, Juan and I went out birding for a while and dispite the heavy rain storms that passed throught regularly we saw some interesting birds including 3x Wood Sandpiper (Andarrios Bastardo / Tringa glareola) on the floods which were a new year tick for Juan, a very nice male Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis) which was a new species for my local patch, Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and good numbers of Tree Sparrows (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus). In the end we had to admit that the rain was going to win and headed back to our house.

Embalse de Iznajar, Malaga Province and travelling. (Wildlife Guiding).

A mornings Wildlife work.

Naked / Italian Man Orchid (Orchis italica).

I woke up to the sound of the rain hammering off the roof which was not the start I had hoped for but I got up and by the time I had showered and sorted there were a few breaks in the darks skies where some less grotty looking grey clouds were getting through. I set off for Iznajar lake with our neighbour Christine, the weather was at first not looking any better but as we got closer a few blue patches started to creep in but by the time we reached the Dam it was Peeeeeeeeeeeeeing down again. As we had been stuck behind slow drivers and at traffic lights most of the group had already arrived and we were soon joined by most of the rest of the small band so we set off.

Getting a shot of the Italian's.

We waited near the dam as a couple of the group were still to arrive but we soon found several spikes of the beautiful Naked / Italian Man Orchids (Orchis italica), a Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera ssp tenthredinifera) and several Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea). Whilst we were looking at these our last to members joined us and we continued checking out what else was about, we soon found Grey-leaved Cistus (Cistus albidus), African Valerian (Fedia cornucopiae), Field marigold (Calendula arvensis), Common Grape Hyacinth (Muscari neglectum), Scorpiurus muricatus, Soft Stork's-bill (Erodium malacoides), Mediterranean Daphne (Daphne gnidium) and Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis). 

Bumble-bee Orchid (Ophrys bombyliflora).

We started to make our way along the road towards San Marco's scanning the right hand side of the road, on the way we saw or heard Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula). As we worked our way along we also found more Yellow Bee, Italian Man Orchids and we also added Borage (Borago officinalis), White Mustard (Sinapis alba), White Mignonette (Reseda Alba), Common Fumitory (Fumaria officinalis), Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis) and several of the beautiful blue flowered Mirror Orchid (Ophrys speculum subsp speculum).

The group looking at the Bumble-bee Orchids.

We then turned right down the road towards the dam and saw our first Giant Orchids (Himantoglossum robertiana) but they were going past their best, a little further on we started to look on the left hand bank and found several flowering Snake's Head Fritillary's (Fritillaria hispanica), Warty Spurge (Euphorbia squamigera), Asphodelus ramosus, Ranunculus spicatus ssp blepharicarpos, Thapsia (Thapsia villosa), Southern Daisy (Bellis cordifolia), Pitch Trefoil (Psoralea bituminosa), Mallow-leaved Bindweed (Convolvulus althaeoides) and quite a few spikes of Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca ssp fusca) most of which were past there best but there were a few good flowers on the top of the spikes.

Orchis x bivonae.

Along this area we heard and saw Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus), several Blackcaps(Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Long-tailed Tits (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).
We then turned around and made our way back to the road junction and went up on to the bank opposite into the really good Orchid area. Straight away we found 40+ spikes of the plain but very nice Bumble-bee Orchids (Ophrys bombyliflora) and cutting back the way we had come from we quickly found two spikes of the very rare Dark Spider Orchid (Ophrys incubacea) and then amongst a sizable colony of Naked Man Orchids we saw the uncommon Hybrid between it and Man Orchid (Aceras anthropophorum) which is called Orchis x bivonae and looks fantastic.

Dark Spider Orchid (Ophrys incubacea).

In the same area we saw a stunning white example of the Naked Man Orchid, a little way into the nearby fire break we found serveral plants of Ophrys subfusca and on the far side of the break a single plant of the delicate Small Woodcock Orchid (Ophrys picta). We then walked back towards the car adding Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) and Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis).

Naked / Italian Man Orchid (Orchis italica) Hypochromatic.

Plants included Purple Viper's Bugloss (Echium plantagineum), Rosy garlic (Allium roseum), Naples garlic (Allium neopolitanum) and Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis). We also found another single spike of the rare Dark Spider Orchid. Once back near the cars we crossed the dam and scanned the cliffs on the Northern side, Straight away we saw a pair of Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) coming and going from the tunnel with the raod in it. We also saw a distant male Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), more Jackdaws and Red-billed Choughs, House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).

Small-blue Convulvulus (Convolvulus siculus).

We also saw quite a few new wildlflower species along the cliff walk which cuts around the tunnel for people on foot. These included Bermuda Buttercup (Oxalis pes-caprae), Bladder Vetch (Anthyllis tetraphylla), Tassel Hyacinth (Muscari comosum), Bladder Campion (Silene Vulgaris), Rock Phagnalon (Phagnalon saxatile), Lesser Snapdragon (Misopates orontium), Small Melilot (Melilotus indica), Brown Bluebell (Dipcadi serotinum), Small-blue Convulvulus (Convolvulus siculus) and White Snapdragon (Antirrhinum controversum). We then walked back across the dam and back to the cars and we all went on our ways, Christine and I went back via the lake side trail, on the way we found more Somber Bee Orchids, Naked Man Orchids, a fine Giant Orchid which was still in perfect condition, Yellow Anemone (Anemone palmata), Italian Sainfoin (Hedysarum coronarium).

Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum robertiana).

Birds included Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Great Crested Grebes (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and as we got near to the motorway three Montagu's Harriers (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) flew over the olives and right across the road in front of us.

Thankyou to all the people that came along and surported the morning, I do hope that you enjoyed it!!

Suroundng area and at Charca del Suarez, Granada Province.

A good Mornings birding at Charca with good friend Juan.

Little Bittern (Avetorillo Común / Ixobrychus minutus).

Juan Perez Contreras and I met up at AKI on the far side of Granada as usual, and we set off down to Charca del Suarez for a long morning's birding. 

We reached the coast and then as we were a bit early we headed along the coast a short way looking for the Great White Egret (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba) we missed a couple of weeks ago, this time we parked and had a walk out to the mouth of the Rio Guadalfeo where the wind was quite strong and coming on shore, so there were good numbers of Northern Gannets (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) passing close in shore. 

We also had Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) and a migrating Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) were all seen out at sea. 

On the shoreline and in the river marginal vegetation we soon located 5 Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba) on the shingle beach and on the edge of the river there were Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), European Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala). 

We then got back into the car and drove along the top of the ridge and we were soon seeing loads of Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), a few Thekla Larks (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus).

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

We were also scanning the river as we drove along and soon had the target species on the list, the Great White Egret flew up as it was being mobbed by one of the local Grey Herons (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea). 

Also seen along the river were a single Common Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), several Little Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) and both White (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae).

We then started to make our way over to the reserve to meet the warden to be let in for the morning, on the way we picked up several Woodchat Shrikes (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator) and a couple of calling Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix) but they remained well hidden. 

Whilst we were waiting in the car park we had a couple of fly-over Pallid Swifts (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), several Western House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and a couple of Eurasian Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris).

Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra).

Once we were in the reserve we walked anti-clockwise to the first hide, once inside we started to see the usual species including Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen, Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and we could hear but did not see Common Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus). 

We sat for a while and picked up a very smart male Little Bittern (Avetorillo Común / Ixobrychus minutus) which started off low down in the reeds on the right side of the pool and then showed very well after flying over to the left-hand side where it caught an Iberian Water Frog (Rana Común / Rana Perezi) and struggled for a while but eventually it went down whole. 

From this hide we also saw Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Purple Heron (Garza Imperial / Ardea purpurea) and a fine male Western Orphean Warbler (Curruca Mirlano / Sylvia hortensis) which flicked around in a nearby Tamarisk Tree. 

We moved on past the sluices, seeing three adults and a couple immature Black-crowned Night Heron (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax) to the third hide as the second one is still closed. On the way we heard both Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus) and Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos) and on the back of a small pool we picked up Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Sedge Warbler (Carricerin Común / Acrocephalus schoenobaenus) and Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).

Mediterranean Chameleon (Chamaeleo chamaeleon).

We settled down in the third hide and soon picked up more Sedge Warblers, Yellow Wagtails, Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio) and a female Northern Pintail (Anade Rabudo / Anus acuta) which eventually woke up and showed its head. 

Our next stop was at the main hide where we bumped into the warden and his group that he was taking round the reserve, he was just leaving but he showed us a cracking female Mediterranean Chameleon (Chamaeleo chamaeleon) which was in a tamarisk bush behind the hide. From the hide we saw Sand Martins (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata) and Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla). 

We continued on around the main track to the last hide but we did not see anything new but Juan had nice views of the same or another male Little Bittern. During the visit we picked up Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Small White (Artogeia rapae) and Iberian Blue-tail (Ischnura graellsii).

On my way home I called in at the flooded fields just to the North of Huétor Tájar where I found 4 Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Common (Urraca / Pica pica) and Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).