Charca de Suarez and Padul Wetlands, Granada Province.

A day around the two wetlands.

Moustached Warbler (Carricerin Real / Acrocephalus melanopogon).

I set off from home and made my way down to the coast at Motril to spend the morning birding at Charca de Suarez, I was a little early so I checked out the wet areas to the north-west of the main reserve. 

Once on the small back road I parked and scanned the nearby fields and soon started the day list off with a fine male Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), several Red Avadavats (Bengali Rojo / Amandava amandava), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and 2 Eurasian Hoopoes (Abubilla / Upupa epops).

Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

I moved a little further along the road and again parked on the verge, as I got out of the car a Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago) flushed up from a small patch of water nearby, three more Western Marsh Harriers and a Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) were all in air and a cracking male Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) scolded me from the walls of a nearby ruin. 

At the Junction at the far end of the track I made a third stop before I headed in to the reserver and added Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), European Greenfinch  (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo).

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

I headed around towards the entrance but I was still a bit early so I had a walk out on to the beach and checked the small channel that runs from Charca and had a look-out to sea. 

In the channel I located a single Common Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) and on the sea several Northern Gannets (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Balearic Shearwater (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Mediterranean  (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and more Yellow-legged Gulls before returning to the gates where Pepe was just taking the padlock off. I went round the reserve in an anti-clockwisedirection checking the hides as I went, from the first I saw Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Gadwall  (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) and Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis).

White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

I continued on around to the second hide which looks over Laguna Trebol and started to check through the birds, I soon added Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), three of the intrduction Red-knobbed Coots (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) to the growing day list. 

John and Jenny Wainwright then joined me in the hide and after a while we all had very nice views of a Moustached Warbler (Carricerin Real / Acrocephalus melanopogon) which was moving along the iris beds just above the water, a cracking bird.

Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica).

After a while I decided to move around to the hide over looking Laguna Taraje via the main hide where I had a very quick scan over the pool seeing Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus) and two more of the Red-Knobbed Coots. Once in the hide at Taraje I was lucky to have views of a second Moustached Warbler which was again moving along the reed beds just above the water, along with a fine male Red-crested Pochard (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina). 

After a while I picked up the warbler again but this time on the near shore just to the right of the hide, as I was watching it, it stared to called and to my surprise it was answered by a second bird on the opposite side of the pool in the reeds, I scanned the reeds and soon found this bird as well.
Whilst on the reserve, I also heard lots of Stripe-less Tree Frog (Hyla meridionalis) and saw a single Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) butterfly. 

 A little later I was again joined by John and Jenny and then by Steve Powell and his wife Elena and we all had sightings of the two birds and I managed to get some OKish shots of the one. 

Time had rattled on and it was 13:00 and time for the reserve to shut so we all made our way back to the cars and Steve, Elena and I headed North to Padul, a site that they had not visited before.

Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos).

Just as we started to head towards Granada we had a Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila-azor / Hieraetus faciatus) over the motorway and less nice were the roadkill bodies of both Red Fox (Vulpus vulpus) and Beech Martin (Martes foina). 

Unfortunately it was much windier at this site which kept the birds down and we did not see agreat deal but at least they found out where it was. 

On our quick tour we did see several Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta) along the sticking Channel but little else new so Steve and Elena headed off and I went and sat on the edge of the reeds on the reserve with my camera and got some shots of the Water Pipits and a nice male Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica).

Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos).

I also heard a couple of Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus) and saw Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), European Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) before leaving. 

On the way home I was delayed by an immature Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) which was being heavily hassled by dozens of Western Jackdaws (Grajilla / Corvus monedula). Nearer to home I finished the day with some regular birds on the local patch including Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Eurasian Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) and Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus).

Huétor Fields, Granada Province.

A walk around the local patch which produce a couple of new patch species.

Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus).

Jayne was heading out to Trabuco for the weekly craft group meeting and dropped me off at the bar at the bottom of the road (sounds bad!!) from where I started a walk around the local patch. I walked along the Rio Vilano following the track on the southern bank to the road and then continued on the second track down to the railway bridge.

Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus).

Along the first section I had good views of a couple of Green Sandpipers (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), both White (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Grey Wagtails (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata).

Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).

Once over the road I checked out the poplar plantations and reedbeds on the far bank and soon caught up with a large flock of around 45 or so Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major) and Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis). As I approached the railway bridge a group of 10 birds flitted up in front of me and crossed the rio and settled in a scrubby bush giving me the chance to ID them and the turned out to be a flock of Common Waxbills (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild) which was a new species for the local patch and with in seconds the second patch tick appeared in the shape of a Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus) which skulked around under the dead Iris leaves.

Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).

I continued on to the end of the track before turning around and retracing my steps back to the bar, on the way I added Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) in a Rush filled ditch along with a couple of Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), also seen was a Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) which was roosting in a lone poplar tree along the track side, several Jackdaws (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) and just as I reached the bar I picked up a Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius) sat out on a large clod of soil in the field on the far side of the river.

Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo).

On the return journey I did call in for a swift beer before returning to the house along side the barranco, on the way I saw Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos).

Refugio de Juanar, Malaga Province.

A Spanish lifer and a couple of other nice species.

Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus).

After getting some information from Micky Smith whilst we were at Cabo de Gata last week I decided to go over to Juanar to try and see a pair of Bullfinches (Camachuelo Común / Pyrrhula pyrrhula) which are regularly seen during the winter at the site. I arrived and followed the directions to the spot and sat down on a rock and waited, as the morning warmed up more and more birds started to move around in the woods including Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Crested  (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Long-tailed Tits (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Common Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla) and in the air there were several Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris).
I sat on the rock until most of the lower half of my body has lost all feeling so I though that its time to go for a walk further up the valley, in an area of brambles higher I heard and eventually had nice views of a Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), in the same area I saw Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), a fly over Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus). After having a good look around I headed back down to the poodle where I had bee sat and as I approached a cracking female Bullfinch flew up from the water and landed in a nearby spaling before moring into cover. I could hear a second bird some way off and guessed that it was probably the male but I could not locate it.
I again sat on the rock and waited, this time I had very nice views of a Crested Tit that came down to drink just a meter or so in front on me but the finches did not return so I again went for a walk up the valley and soon heard them calling ahead of me, this time I got good views of both birds. The male was stunning but stayed in the darker bushes and always avoided the camera. The site was in deep woodland so photography was not easy and I did not get any decent shots.

Laguna Dulce, Malaga Province.

An unexpected run to Laguna Dulce. 

Eurasian Curlew (Zarapito Real / Numenius arquata).

We popped over to Antequera to get a few bits and whilst there we had a quick look at Laguna Herrera but found that it was pretty much dry except for a couple of damp patches where there were quite a few roosting Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) but nothing else so we headed off to Laguna Dulce.

Eurasian Coots (Focha Común / Fulica atrs).

By the time we got there it was quite cold, raining and windy so I was not to surprise to find that there was not a lot on the water except for two large rafts of Eurasian Coots (Focha Común / Fulica atrs), whilst I was watching there flocks I noticed that they were being constantly harassed by several immature Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) possibly getting some practise in at mugging of the species. Also out on the water there were a few Little (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and Black-necked Grebes (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) but little else. The only ducks to be seen were a few Mallards (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) and Northern Shovelers (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata) in the left hand corner.

Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus).

The commonest species by far were the several hundred Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) which were feed low over the water along with at least three House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica). On the fields on the far side of the pool there were 150 or so Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus) feeding on a newly ploughed field. 

Jayne and I then had a look in the leather shop just down the road before taking the track out to the back of the lagoon to try and get better views of the Cranes and see what was on the far shore line. As soon as we got round there I picked up a Eurasian Curlew (Zarapito Real / Numenius arquata) which was feeding amongst a small flock waders including several Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), 3x Black-tailed Godwits (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa), 9x Dunlins (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), a Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) and a couple of Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) all of which were sheltering from the wind behind the reeds.

Eurasian Curlew (Zarapito Real / Numenius arquata).

We continued on up the track a short way and had some better views of the Cranes before turning around as the track was getting progressively muddier. From here we headed back to Antequera picking up a female Hen Harrier (Aguilucho Pálido / Circus cyaneus). After a visit to the shopping center we made our way home.

El Temple, Granada Province.

A couple of hours birding with Juan Perez.

Jayne and I headed up to Granada to see Juan Perez, on the way up the only species of note was a couple of Common Buzzards (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo). Once there Juan and I headed out birding for a couple of hours birding. We started by driving over to a spot near to the Embalse de Bermejalis in the rain, on the way we saw Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus). We stopped on the roadside and scanned a nearby cliff where in the past we had both seen a pair of Eagle Owls (Buho Real / Bubo bubo), after a short while scanning Juan picked up a single bird sheltering on one of the holes on the cliff.

From this spot we headed back towards Granada stopping at an Industrial area on the way where in past winters there had been a small roost of both Hen Harriers (Aguilucho Pálido / Circus cyaneus) and Short-eared Owls (Buho Campestre / Asio flammeus) but we were out of luck on this evening which did not surprise us to much as it was cold, blowing a hoolie and raining. However we did see lots of Corn Buntings (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) and Crested Larks (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis). As it started to go quite dark the temperature dropped even further so we called it a night and headed back to Juan and then home.

Cabo de Gata, Almeria Province and Charca Suarez, Granada Province.

A cracking days birding at two great sites.

Eurasian Dotterel (Chorlito Carambolo / Eudromias morinellus).

I met up with David Hird and Micky Smith for a days birding down in the Cabo de Gata area where we hoped to catch up with a couple of good target species. after quite a drive (I will be glad when they finish that coastal motorway at some point in the dim and distant future) we arrived at our fist site on the coast just the east of Retamar. 

We stopped got our kit together and then started searching for the regular wintering flock of Eurasian Dotterel (Chorlito Carambolo / Eudromias morinellus) and after a short while we found our first four in with a group of winter plumaged European Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaria).

Eurasian Dotterel (Chorlito Carambolo / Eudromias morinellus).

During the next hour we saw 15 or so Eurasian Dotterel, getting great views which was nice as the birds were lifers for both David and Micky. 

We spent some time checking out other birds in the area and included a short walk along the beach to check what was out to sea, not a lot was the basic answer but we did catch up with Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus). Later we searched the scrub and open areas nearby and found a small flock of Eurasian Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Thekla (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and Crested Larks (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and good numbers of Eurasian Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris).

Europeaan Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaria).

Whilst we were at this site we were pleased to bump into Jesus Contreras who was out leading a group, even though he was busy he still had the time to have a chat and give us some info, Thanks Jesus.

We retraced or way back to the main road and continued on through Cabo de Gata village ignoring the roadside hide this time headed out towards the light house. 

As we were passing between the Salinas and the sea we saw a small flock of Trumpeter Finches (Camachuelo Trompetero / Bucanetes githagineus) flick up onto the roadside railings so we pulled over and walked back for a better view, there were at least six birds in total but three flew when we were way back but the others gave us some nice views. 

Whilst here we also had a pair of Lesser Short-toed Larks (Terrera Marismena / Calandrella rufescens) calling as they flew past, one landed briefly before continuing on along the beach and two Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba) which flew along the tide line.

We had a scan over the Salt Pans but planned to do them on the way back but we could easily see that there were good numbers of Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Gulls, Ducks and Waders there.

Trumpeter Finches (Camachuelo Trompetero / Bucanetes githagineus).

We moved on to the light house but turned left before we got there and drove up a roughish road to near the summit of a small coast hill called Vella Blanca where we scanned the cliffs and rocks for European Shag (Cormorán Mondudo / Phalacrocorax aristotelis), we gave it a good go but this was to be the only real miss of the day, we did see several Great Cormorants (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura) and one of only two butterflies of the day a Bath White (Blanqiverdosa / Pontia daplidice). 

Again we retraced our way back down the hill to the Salt Pans many of which nearer to the town were dry but there was plenty of water infront of the first hide.

Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae).

From here we scanned the water and islands and soon started to add new species to the day list including Spotted (Archibebe Oscuro / Tringa erythropus) and Common Redshanks (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Kentish (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus) and Grey Plovers (Chorlito Gris / Pluviali squatarola), Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Slender-billed Gull (G aviota Picofina / Larus genei), Common Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna) and several Sandwich Terns (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis) which were sat on the rocky ridges with hundreds of Yellow-legged and Lesser Black-backed Gulls. 

Whilst in the hide we met several members of the Almeria based Arboleas bird group who were also having a good day. We moved on to the next hide but picked up a nice group of Thekla Larks on the walk back to the car and one sat and stretched nicely for us whilst we took some shots. 

As we approached the second hide two Eurasian Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) flew up from beside the track and landed in the scrub a short distance away, one later showing well from the hide. 

Once we were in the hide we could see the small group of Spoonbills (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia) which were roosting on a small island off to the left, these were the only new species seen but we did get better views of some of the others.

Moustached Warbler (Carricerin Real / Acrocephalus melanopogon).

We again walked back to the car and went back through the village calling at a small hotel where Micky got an upto date price list and David and I saw a single Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui). Once through the village we called at the hide we passed earlier, it was generally quiet but we saw Western Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and Common Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) which were new for the day list and just as we were about to leave a flock of 10+ Eurasian Curlew (Zaoaito Real / Numenius arquata) flushed up from a field on the far side of the pool, the first time I had managed to see this species here.

Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis).

Our last site in this area was at the beautiful Rambler Morales pool, after finding our way through the maze of trackes we parked and started to see plenty of birds including Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), several White-headed Ducks (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), a couple of dozen or so Greater Flamingo's, Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba). 

At this point we decided that we had got almost all the target species for the day and as it was only 14:30 we had time to headed back along the coast and get to Charca Suarez before it closed at 18:00so we headed back to wards the main road, on the way we saw a nice male Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) on a track side ruin. 

Immature Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo).

On the way to Charca I notice a few species including Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa) and a group of male Spanish Ibex (Cabra pyreaica hispanica) on a ledge right on the side of the motorway. 

We arrived at Charca at just befor 16:30 and after quick look at the first hide headed around to the one that looked over Laguna Trebol where the wintering Moustached Warbler (Carricerin Real / Acrocephalus melanopogon) was being seen from. 

There were already some lads in there but they were not really birding but just taking photographs which made seeing any thing quite difficult. 

After a while some of them moved around to the next hide and once in a decent viewing stop it did not take long to located the bird which at first showed well in the fare Iris and reedbeds but then crossed to the nearside and came into view for just a few seconds quite close. 

Other species seen from here included Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), a female Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), a couple of the introduced Red-knobbed Coots (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).

Male Red-crested Pochard (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina).

We later moved around to the main hide a checked what was on the water but only added Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina) before heading for the exit as it was getting close to closing time but on the way we had a quick look at the last hide and found a cracking male Red-crested Pochard (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina) there, a nice bird to finish the day on. 

During the time in the reserve we also heard several Stripe-less Tree Frogs (Hyla meridionalis) and saw a couple of Stripe-necked Terrapins (Mauremys leprosa). On the way back we stopped and had a coffee before heading home.

Thanks for a great day lads and look forward to our next adventure.

Sierra Morena, Cordoba Province.

One of those days !!!!

Iberian Lynx (lince iberico/ Lynx pardina).

I got up early to go up to Granada to meet up with Juan Perez and his brother Jose for a trip up to Sierra Morena hoping to get a look at the critically endangered Iberian Lynx (lince iberico/ Lynx pardina). I made my way across the fields towards Huétor and the first species of the day was a Red Fox (Zorro / Vulpus vulpus) which as we were looking for mammals I took as a good omen as I had not seen them on the local patch before.I continued on up to Granada and we all set off on the Motorways north then west to Andujar and then out into the hills of Sierra Morena.

European Black Vulture (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus).

On the way we saw Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Feral Pigeon (Columba livia), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) and Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus). We entered that area for the Lynx and made our first stop about 10KM from the area where we normally spend the day and scanned a broad firebreak, I raised my bins for the first time to check a shape on the right hand side of the open area and was amazed to see a stunning adult Lynx just coming out of the scrub. I made sure that Juan and Jose were both on it before having some stunning views of this magnificent animal.

Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti).

It bimbled around in the open for a couple of minutes before going into the central band of bushes, at this point Juan had his scope up and when he came out the other side we had great views for a while longer until he disappeared in to the scrub on the far side of the break. We calmed down a bit after the excitement and checked what else was about whilst keeping a keen eye on the area just in case he returned, he did not in the hour or so we stayed but we did see several Red Deer (Cervus elaphus), another Fox, Woodlark (Totovia / Lullula arborea), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Crested Tits (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Dartford (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata) and Sardinian Warblers (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common (Urraca / Pica pica) and Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) before we moved on.

Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti).

As we had already had views of the Lynx we continued on passed the usual spots and dropped down to the dam to see what was about, on the way we picked up Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and in one of the dead looking Eucalyptus trees a small flock of three Hawfinches (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes). We parked near the main dam wall and walked across to the far side scanning the dull cloudy skies for raptors with out success, however we did see several Black Redstarts (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) before heading back up to the areas where we usually spend the day looking for the Lynx.

Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

We parked on the track side and started to scan the rocks but only managed to add Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) to the mammal list but we did get nice views of more Red Deer. After a couple of hours a patch of blue sky appeared in the distance and slowly the clouds broke up and the sun started to warm things up a bit and with in half an hour the skies were literally full of raptors. The commonest were Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) with a couple of dozen drifting around, with these came quite a few European Black Vulture (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus) and then a couple of stunning adult Spanish Imperial Eagles (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti) came up and started to call (a strange sound, a cross between a strangled duck and a Raven). The one bird drifted off but the second came in close and then passed right overhead and reappeared several times during the afternoon, as did the Vultures and a Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus).

European Black Vulture (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus).

We also saw a couple of butterflies, Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) and Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta). After a while we moved up the track a short way and joined a group of watches on an organized tour with a guide. After a while I took a walk along the track a short way to get a photo of a plant that I had seen Iberian Milk-vetch (Astragalus lusitanicus) and as I turned around to walk back I could see that there was a bit of a flap on back amongst the group so I quickened the pace a bit and got back just in time to have a view of a second Lynx walking across some rocks, it was very brief and thanks to the young Spanish lad who let me use his scope for a few seconds. Juan also had more distant views a little later. By now the light was dropping quite quickly and very pleased with what we had seen we decided to start the journey home, we stopped briefly for a coffee and then hit the motorways again.

Iberian Lynx (lince iberico/ Lynx pardina).

Thanks to Juan for driving and to him and Jose of some great company on a cracking day.

Rio Velez and travelling, Granada and Malaga Province.

An unexpected second day on the coast.

Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica).

Suddenly found that we had to make a second visit to the coast but nearer to home this time, so Jayne and I headed for Torre del Mar where I dropped Jayne and went down to Rio Velez for a couple of hours.

White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).

As soon as I arrived I bumped in to John and Jenny Wainwright and did so a couple more times during the morning. We spent some time having a chat by the bridge where we saw a very nice White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia) which had been hanging around for a while as Steve Powell had seen it a week or so ago, along with White (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Western Cattle (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata) and the first of a great many Common Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).

Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo).

I then moved on down the river where I bumped in to another member of the Axarquia bird group who's name I can not remember at the moment but he put us on to a couple of Little Stints (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta) mixed in with a flock of feeding Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba) and in the same area there were small numbers of Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus) and Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula).

Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).

I then went down towards the beach looking for a Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) which he had just seen but could not find any sign, however I did see a couple of Zitting Cisticola's (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), a male Red Avadavat (Bengali Rojo / Amandava amandava), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis).

Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus).

Once I was out on the beach a scan of the sea soon produced a small group of 7 Common Scoters (Negrón Común / Melanitta nigra), several Black-necked Grebes (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus) and a single Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis). I then scanned the pools and located a single male Bluethroat that was scuttling around on the margins being harassed by a White Wagtail. 

I moved over to where John and Jenny were standing and they informed me that there were two males there but the second one had shot off to the right.

Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica).

John and Jenny then went back to there car for a bit to eat so I sat quietly on a patch of sand and waited to see if the Bluethroat would return to where we had just been watching it, with in a couple of minutes it did but flew straight in and landed about half a meter away from where I was sat, nice views but too close for the camera. It flicked around for a while and then shot off again only to return a few seconds later and this time nicely in range of the lens. I moved on from here and went back to the car before heading back up the river and parking just beyond the bridge. I walked out to the river and again sat on a patch of gravel and took lots of shots of the 30 or more Common Chiffchaff that were feeding in a small tree and amongst the water side plants.

Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).

Here I also had a Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor). After a while I packed up and went and met Jayne, we had some lunch and went for a walk on the beach.