RAM and Charca del Suarez, Granada Province.

Sea birds survey and a few hours around the pools at Charca.

Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).

I met Juan Perez Contreras up in Granada and we made our way down to the coast near Motril and then on to Cabo Sacratif where we spent some time counting sea birds as the passed the headland or just hung around in front of us, which was what lots of Northern Gannets (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) were doing which made counting then difficult. We had small numbers of Balearic Shearwaters (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus) moving east and a single Great Skua (Págalo Grande / Stercorarius skua) which went through heading west.

Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis).

Other species recorded included Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Mediterranean Gulls (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and a flyby Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus).

Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis).

After the survey we moved on to Charca del Suarez for a few hours around the pools which in general were quite quiet. From the first hide we had nice views of 2 male and a female Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), several Little Grebes (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Mallards (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), a Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) which flashed passed in front of the reeds and masses of Common Chiffchaffs which were by far the commonest bird seen all day.

Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra).

We moved on around to the next hide but a couple of workers were there doing some maintenance on the hide so there was not much to be seen close but further out we located two adults and a youngster of the reintroduction Red-knobbed Coots (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata). We continued on to the main hide but the light was terrable from here so birding was hard going but we picked up two winter plumaged Black-necked Grebes (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata) and Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).

Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).

Onward again we walked around to the last small hide, on the way we saw Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and several Speckled Woods (Pararge aegeria) and a Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus). From the hide we had nice views of a couple of Swamp-hens, several more Little Grebes and hundreds of Common Chiffchaffs but we did not see anything new for the list except for a late flying Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope).
We later made our way to the exit and just as we were leaving we found two beautiful Monarchs (Danaus plexippus) before heading towards home. On the way our only new species were a male Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), several Common Magpies (Urraca / Pica pica) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and once I was back on the patch I added Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) and Hen Harrier (Aguilucho Pálido / Circus cyaneus) which finished the days birding off nicely.

Later Jayne and I went to friends Jean and Davids house in Loja where 20 or so English and Spanish friends were meeting up for a Christmas meal and lots of puddings, Thanks all for a great evening.

Salina's, Malaga Province and Riofrio, Granada Province.

A few hours of localish birding.

Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).

Jayne and I drove out to the Hotel Paloma where the Ladies from the Trabuco Craft group were having their Christmas Lunch and drinks. I dropped Jayne off and went to do a bit of birding at a small pool near by, as soon as I arrived I was pleased to see large numbers of Sparrows and Finches feeding on the dried out Thistle fields. 

Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti).

The commonest species was surprisingly Rock Sparrows (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia) with over a hundred birds in the flock, closely followed by Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) along with smaller numbers of Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra). On and around the pool I added Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Feral Pigeon (Columba livia) and Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata). 

Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti).

After eating my lunch I made my way down to Riofrio and had a look along the river there as I wanted to try and get some shots of Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) but the light was getting really quite bad so the results were not to great. I did get a few and also recorded Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) before heading back to the site near Salina's.

White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

 Once back here I dug the Cam-sheet out and sat on the side of the track near a small concrete trench and waited to see what would come down to drink, the first species in were White Wagtails and Linnets, quickly followed by Goldfinch and Common Stonechat. Whilst under the sheet I also saw and heard Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos). 

Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina).

After a short while it started to rain so I packed in and went and waited at the hotel for Jayne before heading home.

Guadalhorce and El Faro, Malaga Province.

A day on the coast.

Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas).

We started off by driving into Malaga where I dropped Jayne off at the Lario's Center for a bit of Christmas shopping and then headed out to one of the DIY places got a few bits and onward to Guadalahorce via a small canal beside the Golf course nearby. Here the only birds seen were a small group of Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), a single Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), loads of Monk Parakeets (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus) and a couple of Zitting Cisticola's (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).

Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos).

My next stop was at the sea watch point at the end of the raised bank at Guadalamar. I spent a short time scanning the sea but it was very windy so I walks a short way up the river but not before I had seen a single Common Scoter (Negrón Común / Melanitta nigra), Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis) and several Balearic Shearwaters (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus).

Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).

As I walked along the waters edge up river I saw a single Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) which sat nicely for a photo, a very confiding Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) which was popping off some very small fry with great regularity, a Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres) and a small group of Great Cormorants (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) with wings stretched drying out.

Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea).

After a getting some shots of the Little Egret I made my way down to the main reserve and walked out to the main hide, on the way I saw the first Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) of the day zipping over the smaller pool off to my left and on top of the nearer bushes there were several Common Stonechats (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), a Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata) and then down in the grasses several Greenfinches (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinches (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Linnets (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and Serins (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).
I walked passed the first part of the main lake picking up White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) on the way.

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

Once I was in the main hide I was pleased to see good numbers of Grey Herons (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) in the surrounding trees and bushes, I counted at least 47 birds. These were joined by 3 Great White Egrets (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba), 3 Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), 1 Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and several more Little Egrets. Out on the water were several more Little Grebes which were joined by just 2 Black-necked (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), 4+ more White-headed Ducks, loads of Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina) and Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna).

Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas).

Other birds seen from here included Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) and a Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus). Next I headed around to the smaller pool but picked up the same sort of species before moving around to the two hides on the far bank. On the way around I had nice views of a pair of hunting Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), a Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and heard but did not see a Penduline Tit (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus). The first hide was very quiet and the second was not much better but I did get a glimpse of a Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) as it flashed in to the pool side cover and a nicely plumage Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) before heading back towards the car.

Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba).

On the walk a pale phase Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas) flew nearby a couple of time allowing me to get some decent shots and I had the only butterfly of the day a Large White (Pieris brassicae). 

I got back to the car and went back into the city and had some lunch with Jayne before we headed down the coast to Fuengirola where I again dropped Jayne at the shopping center and went to El Faro. I was hoping to see the regular wintering Purple Sandpipers (Correlimos Oscuro / Calidris maritima) but again dipped. I did however see a nice group of 20 or so Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), a few more Ruddy Turnstones, Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Great Skua (Págalo Grande / Stercorarius skua) and a single adult Audouin's Gull (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii) before heading back to Jayne.

Laguna Dulce and Fuente de Piedra, Malaga Province and Huétor Fields, Granada Province.

A mornings birding with good friend Juan Perez Contreras.

Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus).

I met Juan at the Hotel Corjito de Tajar just off the A92 at Huétor and we set off towards Campillos to have a look at Laguna Dulce. On the way over we got the day list off to a good start by seeing Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), 2x Common Buzzards (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and 2 superb Black-winged Kites (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) perched on telegraph poles on the side of the road, both on stretches where it was not possible to park.

Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus).

When we arrived at Dulce we were surprised how few birds there were on show but soon found that there were many more there than first met the eye but they were on the far shore. We spent a good hour or so scanning the lake and by the time we were leaving we had recorded 12+ Tufted Ducks (Porrón Monudo / Aythya fuligula), White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Red-crested (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina) and Common Pochards (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Little (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Great Crested (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus) and Black-necked Grebes (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) and Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio).

Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

Other species seen on around the water were Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus) and Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), 3x Marsh Harriers (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala).

Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

We left the hide and made our way along the tracks to the rear of the site scanning the fields as we went, we picked up another Common Buzzard, lots of Serins, Goldfinches and a decent sized flock of Calandra Larks (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) with a few Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) mixed in. Our next stop was at a small track side pool which had a nice margin of mud which held several feeding waders including 4 Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta), 2 Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), 10+ Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) and singles of both Green Sandpiper and Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina). Also on the water we saw several Eurasian Teal and an Immature Greater Flamingo. We continued on through quite a large expanse of Olives, picking up Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) on the way.

Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

As soon as we came out into open fields again we were amazed at the sight of around a 1000 or so Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus) feeding on the ploughed stubble fields, some flew off straight away but we got great views of the rest as they relocated a little further away from the track, we reached some high ground and Juan did a count of the birds that remained nearby and before long had reached 600. More birds could be seen and heard all around us, it was quite a spectacle. We moved on again and came out onto the tarmac road at the southern end of Fuente de Piedra and continued on towards the view point half way down the western side of the reserve picking out our third Black-winged Kite of the morning on the way.

From the view point we counted 9 Marsh Harriers, another couple of hundred Common Cranes, loads of Greater Flamingo's and good numbers of wildfowl on the pools but nothing new to the list.

From here we went on round until we reached the roadside hide before the centre, we parked and scanned the shore line and then the thistle scrub and added Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major) to the list. 

Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata).

Our final stop was at the visitor center where we walked around past all the dried up pools and then checked out the hides looking over the fresh water pools at the side of the centre. Things were generally quiet apart from the Greater Flamingo's and massed of Northern Shovelers however we did add Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) and Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna) to the day list.

Juan then drove us back to Huétor and he headed off up to Granada and home and I went through Huétor and did the same but called via the river on the way finding Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) and Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) on the way.

Sierra del Jobo, Trabuco, Malaga Province.

A couple of hours in the woods above Trabuco.

Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).

Jayne was going to the Craft Group in Trabuco so I decided that I would go with her then carry on to the woodlands just above the town in the Sierra del Jobo. I found an area of open ground with a few Hawthorn trees which was in the sun and sat there and waited to see what came to me. The answer was not a lot, well not close enough for the camera anyway but there were lots of birds about. As I arrived there was a flock of 14 Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) circling one of the nearby crags and they were joined by a couple of Peregrine Falcons (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus) for a while until the Vultures drifted off to the west.

Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

I settled down with the camera and waited, there were large numbers of Goldfinches (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Linnets (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and Serins (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) whirling around in one large flock but they all seemed to pick any bushes to land in except for the ones I was parked by. The first bird to let me have a few shot of it was a nice Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) which ambled around on the rocks below the bushes, then came a couple of Common Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and a nice male Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs). In the nearby bushes I saw several Rock Buntings (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Blackbirds (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), a nice male Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and in the Olives on the opposite side of the track there were loads of Blackcaps (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), a small flock of Long-tailed Tits (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus) and a calling Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major).

Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs).

After spending an hour or so here I had a drive down the track to the uninspiring 100 canons water feature, along the way I was a nice flock of Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), a male Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), a couple of Redwing (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus illacus) my first of the year and a good number of Common Crossbills (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra) some of which were singing from the tops of the pines.

During the couple of hours it got quite warm and I was pleased to se a total of nine species of Butterfly including singles of Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus) and Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria). 

I also saw a couple of Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), 4+ Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), several of both Large (Pieris brassicae) and  Small Whites (Artogeia rapae), and the commonest by far with at least 8 individuals was the Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) and some were looking very fresh.

Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis).

I then dropped back down to the town and met Jayne. Other species seen during the visit included Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Crested  (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater) and Blue Tits (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus).

Huétor Fields, Granada Province.

A quick trip looking for the Bustards and Curlews.

Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) flock.

Just a quick 45 minutes out on the local patch looking for the Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) flock and to do a count on the Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) fields. I started by heading along the Arroya Vilano and as I was watching a distant Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius) which was sat on a stubble spike a flock of around 40-50 Little Bustards dropped in on to the fields right in front of me, giving me a few seconds to get a few landing shot. Also here there were good numbers of finches and sparrows including Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Brambling (Pinzón Real / Fringilla montifringilla) and both House (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Tree Sparrows (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus).

Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

In the same area there were also four species of lark, the comonest was by far Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) with at least 30 birds in a wintering flock, next came Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), then Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and finally Thekla (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae). As I drove around to the Curlew fields I added Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Common (Urraca / Pica pica) and Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla) and Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) to the mornings list.

Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina).

On arriving at the Curlew fields I parked on the roadside and started to do a count and before long I reached 420 and just then a chap walked out from one of the far fileds and flushed the lot up so I headed off home. I also added Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulg aris), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Feral Pigeon (Columba livia) and Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) whilst here.

Finished off with 46 species in just under 45 minutes, not bad going considering the futhers point was only 8 minutes from the house.

Padul Nature Reserve, Granada Province.

A little bit of birding and then the Second Afternoon and Evening of Talks and Workshops.

Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus).

I spent a shot while down on the fields before heading over to meet up with Juan Perez. I had a quick look at the Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) down near Huétor as they had been quite near the road earlier in the day but as soon as I pulled up they were away. Here I also saw several Spotless Starlings (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and a few Common Starlings (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulg aris) mixed in with the flock, Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae). I still had a short while before I need to head to the city so I took the track out the back of the bar and had a look at the river, the first bird was a fairly well behaved Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) which allowed me to get a couple of shot of it, I the added Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) to the list.

Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus).

I ran out of time on the patch so I drove up to Juans place but had a real raptor fest on the way, by the time I arrived at his appartment I had counted 3x Common Buzzards (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), 3xSparrowhawks (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), 4x Common Kestrels (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and singles of both Hen Harrier (Aguilucho Pálido / Circus cyaneus) and Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) a nice set of list fillers.

Juan and I then made our way to Padul a hour and a half before our talks were dur to start so we had a look along the sewage filled canal and the hide areas. In the stream before it joins the main canal we had nice views of a Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica), along with loads of Common Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Grey Wagtail, Meadow Pipit and Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla). We then followed the canal down to the hide but the water was so high that all we picked up were Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris). We retraced our steps back to the small bridge and had nice views of a winter plumaged Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta) and a Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago). We then made our way up to the reserve centre and after a bit of a delay we both carried out out talks and workshops.

Padul Nature Reserve, Granada Province.

First Day of talks and workshops but with a Spanish Lifer in the break.

Today Juan Perez and I were heading to Padul to help with a course at the Nature Reserve Centre with some Spanish Student. I was the doing a talk and workshop and Juan was there to help me out as his talk was not until tomorrow and very greatful am I that he was there (THANKS JUAN). During the break between my talk and the workshop I went out into the car park for some air, it was just going dark and I was very pleased when two Woodcock (Chocha Perdiz / Scolopax rusticola) flew across in front of myself and one of the students as it was a new species for my Spanish List (long over due). The talk and workshop went well and we headed off home.

Huetor Fields, Granada Province.

A couple of hours on the local patch with friends from the ABS.

Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis).

I met up with David Hird and Micky Smith at the Hotel Cotijo de Tajar at just before 08:30 for a few hours birding on my local patch. We set off and headed for a field out on the Loja side of Huétor which the Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) have favored for the last few winters and soon found a small part of the flock there. I counted around 40 birds but that was with just a quick scan, on the same area we also saw Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), lots of Spotless Starlings (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) with a few Commons (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulg aris) scattered amongst the flock and huge numbers of White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba). 

From this spot we moved on to the river at the back of our local bar and had nice views of a couple of Green Sandpipers (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), lots of Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) up on the wires and plenty of finches down on the maze stubble including Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and  Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs). We moved on just a few hundred meters and parked by the edge of the barranco and had a walk to a small goat pen another couple of hundred meters along the river. Along this track we saw loads of Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) a nice male, Tree Sparrows (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), House Sparrows (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla) and again lots of Common Chaffinches but no Bramblings (Pinzón Real / Fringilla montifringilla). Once back at the car we moved just a few meters down the road to where we found a large flock of finches and this time I managed to find just a single Brambling but the whole flock went up before I managed to get David and Micky on to it.

Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus).

Our next stop was along the track to the railway bridge following the river again, new species along here included Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major),  Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis). 

With time ticking away we started to make our way back towards the bar along the river and then on down the road to the railway line where we checked the fields again so that Micky could find a Common Starling after missing all the one David and I had seen earlier, after a while he cracked it and found two or three in amongst lots of Spotless and a few Northern Lapwings. Whist Micky was searching David and I came up with just the one new species in the shape of a distant Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) sat out in the fields. Our last stop was down by the town where we had soon counted over 150 Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) out on their roost field, quite a sight!!

From here we headed back to the hotel and Micky and David headed off further North East to Puerto de la Ragua where they were hoping for the uncommon Citril Finch (Verderón Serrano / Carduelis citrinella). Hope to hear how they got on at some point in the future and I went back home to continue the prep for the upcoming talks at Padul. Thanks David and Micky for you company and some nice birding.

Huetor Fields, Granada Province.

A good bird on the local patch.

Common Crane (Grulla Común / Grus grus).

Jayne and I were heading up to Granada to visit friends Juan Perez and his wife Beatriz, just as we were heading in to Huétor Jayne comes up with her line BIG BIRD. I could not see what she had seen so we turned around and parked on one of the tracks where I soon had a very nice Common Crane (Grulla Común / Grus grus) which was circling a ploughing tractor and looked as if it wanted to come down and feed amongst the good number of Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and Spotless Starlings (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).

Common Crane (Grulla Común / Grus grus).

I managed to get some distant shot before we continued up to Granada and spent a few hours with Juan and Beatriz. Jayne was working with Beatriz on her English and I was working with Juan on the up coming talks and workshops we had to do at Padul Nature Reserve at the end of the month.

El Faro, Fuengirola, Malaga Province.

A couple of hours sea watching and looking for waders.

Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres).

Jayne and I wanted a few bits (a new heater) from down on the coast at Malaga, from Iceland and for box fillers to send out to our son Alan so we headed for Malaga and Fuengirola. After sorting the Malaga end of things I dropped Jayne at the Miramar centre and headed for the new sea watch hide at El Faro where I spent just over two hours looking out to sea. 

Common Scoters (Negrón Común / Melanitta nigra).

On the walk along the coast to get there I picked up a few Ruddy Turnstones (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), a single Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba). 

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus).

Once I reached the hide I soon picked up the five species of Gull I would expect, there were loads of Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) along with a single adult and an immature Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii).

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus).

Whilst I was there four groups of  Common Scoters (Negrón Común / Melanitta nigra) totalling around thirty flew past heading west, further out to sea I had a group of three Arctic Skuas (Págalo Parásito / Stercorarius parasiticus) which were landing on the sea and waiting for any passing Sandwich Terns (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis) then giving them hell until they dropped any food they had. During the couple of hours I also saw two more single Arctics and at least three Great Skuas (Págalo Grande / Stercorarius skua) all passing West.

Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus).

Other species passing were loads of  Northern Gannets (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), dozens of  Balearic Shearwater (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus) along with a single Cory's (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea). 

I then went and met Jayne and we finished off the shopping before heading home.