Huétor Fields, Moraleda Fields and Laguna del Regidor, Granada Province.

A mornings birding with Fellow Guide Pau Lucio from up North.

Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix).

Pau from Birdwatching Spain who is based up in Valencia Province contacted me a few days earlier as he was attending a family wedding in Huétor Tajar to see if I was free for some birding or a beer, well I was very pleased that we were able to fit in both. 

Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis).

We met just down the road at the bar Quatro Caminos and had a coffee before heading out onto the fields to look for any early Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) as I had seen a small flock of six birds a couple of days earlier. We checked the normal field but did not find any but we did get a nice flock of around 50 or so Calandra Larks (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), several Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto). 

Honey Buzzard (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus).

From these fields we headed to some more fields near to Moraleda, we took one of the tracks out along side and then through a large Almond grove to a smallish recently scariffied field where we had flight views of four Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis) which flew out and landed in a nearby stubble field. We also saw Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Greater Short-toed Larks (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla) and Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) before retracing our way back along the track to the road. On the way we had two Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) fly out of the Almonds and an immature Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator) on the top of a broom bush.

Honey Buzzards (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus).

We took another track out on to the fields and after a hundred meters or so flushed a Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix) up from the track side, it landed again just a few meters away so we took a wide circle out on to the stubble field and got in to a position where we could see the crouching bird, eventually it started to stand up giving us very nice views before flying off in to the nearby trees. We continued out on to the fields but only added a group of five Hoopoes (Abubilla / Upupa epops) to the list. 

We went back to the track and continued on around the site stopping near the ruined Cortijo where we saw a good sized flock of Greater Short-toed Larks, Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica). Again we continued on around the site passing the Solar panels and then taking another track down towards the motorway through some large Almond and Olive groves. We parked on the side of the tack and walked out along a track where I regularly see Sandgrouse and again we saw a couple in flight and later a singleton which came in close enough for some record shots. Whilst we were in this area good numbers of raptors started to come up from there roost spots and search for thermals, they were a bit later than the last few days as there was quite a covering of cloud which was just starting to break up. In all we counted around 70 Honey Buzzards (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus) and 30 or so Black Kites (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), we also heard large numbers of European Bee-eaters (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster).

Honey Buzzards (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus).

Or next site was Laguna del Regidor, a small naturalized man made pool along side the A92. On the water there were good numbers of Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), a single female Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) and lots of Little Grebes (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis). Whilst around the side perched in the dead trees and reed we saw both Little (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) and Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), a very nice Squacco Heron (Garcilla Cangrejera / Ardeola ralloides) and Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) as well as Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa). In the vegetation around the side and over the water we recorded several species of dragonfly including Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum), Blue / Common (Anax imperator) and Lesser Emperors (Anax parthenope), Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata), Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Iberian Blue-tail (Ischnura graellsii) and Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathinerum) and singles of Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) and Large White (Pieris brassicae).

We headed back towards the house checking the ditches out on the fields on the way but we only recorded Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Reed Warblers, Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), more Western Cattle Egrets, Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).

Our final stop of the day was on the terrace at home where we had a nice cold beer and a chat before Pau returned to Huétor Tajar.

Thanks Pau for driving us on a good mornings birding and for the helpful information since.

Huétor Fields and from the terrace, Granada Province.

Raptor migration at close hand.

Honey Buzzard (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus).

I dropped the car off down in Huétor at the garage and walked back to the house across the fields but I did not see very much but just as I approched the house I saw a very nice Honey Buzzard (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus) sat on a wire on the opposite side of the road which I got a couple of shots of before he lifted off and started to search for a thermal. 

Honey Buzzard (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus).

With in a couple of minutes several more birds started to lift so I rushed through the house and out on to the terrace where I had a couple of birds come in quite close giving nice views. In all around 50 birds had come up out of the olives and then drifted off South West towards Loja.

Honey Buzzard (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus).

Later in the day Jayne and I went up to see our friends Lesley and Allan who were over from the UK and whilst we were chatting and having a drink or three 8 or 9 Black Kites (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans) were ending their days flying and dropped down in to the Olives a couple of hundred meters away.

Honey Buzzard (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus).

Guadix area, Granada Province.

An almost dragon free day, almost !!

Alcazaba de Guadix.

Jayne, Lynn, Steve and I headed west to Guadix where we were going to have a look around the cave houses and town. We arrived and weaved our way up to the hieghest part of the town and parked near the Church and had a look from the viewpoint before having a look in the church.

One of the many Chimneys aove the town.

A little later we all had a ride on the mini train down through the town to the Cathedral and the main square which was the high light of the day for Jayne. We later caught the train back up to the top and headed out of town to Purullena to have a look around the ceramic shops. 

Cave houses in Guadix.

Next we headed back west a short way out in to a rather desolate dry area of fields where we were hoping to find a late staying Roller (Carraca / Coracias garrulus) but we were out of luck. We did however catch up with Black (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Black-eared (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica) and Northern Wheatears (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) and three or four very nice and unexpected Vagrant Emperor (Anax ephippiger) dragonflies which were cruising up and down the edge of a Walnut plantation. From here we headed back home via Granada.

Jayne and Lynn coming out of a Cave house.

Guadix.

Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax).

Laguna Chica / Grande, Malaga Province.

A morning with the Trabuco Ladies group and an afternoon Dragon hunting.

Male Black Pennant (Selysiothemis nigra).

I started the day off by giving a wildlife talk to the Ladies group in Trabuco about species found in Malaga Province. The talk went well and after dropping Jayne off at the afternoon craft group I headed to Laguna Chica to meet up with Steve and Lynn who had been there for a while but had not see a great deal. Steve commented that there were far fewer dragons than a few days earlier so we did not cover Laguna Chica again but continued on along a track to Laguna Grande.

Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii).

On the way we picked up Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata), Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea), Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma), Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi), Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum), Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator), Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope), White Featherleg (Platycnemis latipes) and Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathinerum). 

Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata).

Birds seen included Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Common (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Pallid (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) and Alpine Swifts (Vencejo Real / Apus melba), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) and Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki). 

White Featherleg (Platycnemis latipes).

We also saw a few butterfly species as we walked the margins of Laguna Chica and even more as we passed through the woods and scrub on the way over to Laguna Grande, these included Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Sage Skipper (Muschampia proto), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Swallowtail (Papilio machaon), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina) and Great Banded Grayling (Brintesia circe).

European Mantis (Mantis religiosa).

Steve spotted a Melodious Warbler (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta) feeding on the ground and in the lower branches of a large broom bush, we also added Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) and Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei) to the bird list before we reached the second pool. We dropped straight down to the water but found that the margins were full 

Wasp Spider (Arana Tigre / Argiope bruennichi).

of high Juncus clump at this point and which made getting to the water difficult. However we did see a quite amazing sight, a European Mantis (Mantis religiosa) which was chewing the head off a young Large Psammodromus (Lagartija colilarga / Psammodromus algirus). It looked a bit gruesome but very interesting. We also found quite a few Wasp Spiders (Argiope bruennichi) in the same patch of Juncus before working our way back up the bank to the Oaks and around to the far side of the pool to a clearer area of shoreline. On the way we saw several Purple Hairstreaks (Favonius Quercus) flashing around the lower branches and watched a male Orphean Warbler (Curruca Mirlano / Sylvia hortensis) picking small caterpillar´s off the leaves.

Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi).

Once we were back on the water side we started to see dragons again but all very much the same species as we had already seen at Chica but then I found a nice male Black Pennant (Selysiothemis nigra) which was our main target species for the day, Steve got some shots but then it flew out into the lake and perched on a dead stick in some quite deep water. The only option was to start to wade out to it but just as I got in close it flew to the next stick and I started to think that I might have waded up above my waste for nothing but when I reached the next stick the little beauty sat nicely and allowed me to get some nice shot. I made my way back to the shore and Steve took a few more shot. Out on the pool the only new species seen was Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus). I left Steve and Lynn at laguna Grande and walked back to the car and went to pick Jayne up from Trabuco and then met Steve and Lynn back at the house later.

Malaga Rivers, Malaga Province.

Another day out and about with Steve while the girls were shopping.

Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma).

Jayne, Lynn, Steve and I headed off down to Malaga where Jayne and Lynn were going to spend the day having a wander around the city whilst Steve and I were checking out some of the rivers to the North. Our first stop was on a short stretch of river which we had visited last year and had great success at but things had changed, the flow of water was reduced and there was a lot more marginal vegetation. We spent quite a while searching the area and saw good numbers of Scarlet Darters (Crocothemis erythraea), Epaulet Skimmers (Orthetrum chrysostigma), Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi), Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator), Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), a couple of Small Pincertail (Onychogomphus forcipatus), Iberian Blue-tails (Ischnura graellsii), Copper Demoiselle (Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis) and a new species for the site for me a Black Percher (Diplacodes lefebvrii).

Bee Species.

All the time we were at the site we could hear the rattling of a flock of Common Waxbills (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild) along with Barn (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Reed (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) and Sardinian Warblers (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata).

After a couple hours Steve was down river a bit and I had moved slightly further upstream again to where we had seen some good species last year when a male Ringed Cascader (Zygonyx torridus) flew in and did two passes infront of me before heading off down stream in pursuit of a female and was not seen again.

Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea).

A while later we decided to head slightly further north to the Guadalhorce near Pizarra, we walked down stream to a fast flowing section and quickly found our second Cascader of the day which was patrolling a short section of rapids but access was difficult so we moved across the rapids and made our way down stream on the calmer western bank. Along here we saw Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata), Small Pincertail (Onychogomphus forcipatus), Scarlet Darters, Orange-winged Dropwing, Epaulet Skimmers, Blue-eye (Erythromma lindenii) and Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum). We eventually found a gap in the tamarisks through to where the Cascader was patrolling and managed to get superb views and Steve managed a few flight shots.

Iberian Blue-tail (Ischnura graellsii).

Our last stop of the day was at the junction between the largely dried up Rio Grande and the Rio Guadalhorce where we just had the time for a quick look along the short shallow arm of the Grande, we had good views of most of the species we had already seen and added Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria), White Featherleg (Platycnemis latipes) and Small Red-eye (Erythromma viridulum) to the dragon list and Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus), Western Cattle  (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) to the bird list before picking the girls up in Malaga and heading home.

Rio Turón, Ardales, Malaga Province.

Up to our bits and beyond !!

Me in the river.

Jayne and Lynn were having a day in the local town of Huétor Tajar and then a chill back at the house whist Steve and I headed off west again. This time we started the day at a site near Ardales on the Rio Turón where earlier in the year Steve and I had seen both Yellow Clubtail (Gomphus simillimus) and Western Demoiselle (Calopteryx xanthostoma) for the first time but neither of us had got great shots of the Clubtail and needed to see a male Demoiselle.

Female Copper Demoiselle (Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis).

We arrived at the spot and started to look around the shallow stretch of river and soon located several Copper Demoiselles (Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis) and a couple of Small Pincertails (Onychogomphus forcipatus).

Small Pincertail (Onychogomphus forcipatus).

Birds seen and heard in this first spot included Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius) and Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti).

Steve wading.

A little way along the track on the far side of the river we saw White Featherleg (Platycnemis latipes), Iberian Blue-tail (Ischnura graellsii), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Small White (Artogeia rapae) and Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria). 

We checked the deeper water upstream and found several more Iberian Blue-tails, a female Blue-eye / Goblet-marked Damselfly (Erythromma lindenii) and a male Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator). 

Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi).

We continued to check the area but did not find either of the two target species so we checked another area nearby which we had spotted on the drive in. We parked and straight away we saw good numbers of Violet (Trithemis annulata) and Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi), Southern Skimmer (Orthetrum brunneum), Lesser (Anax parthenope) and Blue / Common Emperor, Small Pincertails, Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma), Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea), Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) and Blue-eye / Goblet-marked Damselfly.

Western Spectre (Boyeria Irene).

After a while I pushed through a short hedge of Tamarisks and came out into what I can only describe as a secret garden for Dragons and as soon as I was through the bushes I located loads of Small Pincertails, more Orange-winged Dropwings, Scarlet Darter, Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens), 2 or 3 Western Spectre (Boyeria Irene) and a single male Ringed Cascader (Zygonyx torridus) which flew up and down the river for a while before disappearing some where. In this area we also recorded Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) and Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea). 

tandem White Featherlegs (Platycnemis latipes).

Mid afternnon had arrived so we decided to head back towards home but made a last minute detour to Fuente de Piedra to have a look at the dried out pools along the entrance road, the pools had dried out much earlier in the season so we did not really expect to find much. We checked the track side clumps of clubrush and were pleased to find several Small Spreadwings (Lestes virens), Red-veined Darter and good numbers of Keeled Skimmers.

Blue-eye / Goblet-marked Damselfly (Erythromma lindenii).

The main reserve was almost completely dry with just a short slither of water in the North east corner which held a hundred or so Greater Flamingo´s (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus) and a Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna). 

From here we headed back to see the girls at home.

Sierra Huétor, Granada Province.

A new species of Dragon for my Spanish list and three new one for Steve´s list as well.

Common Golden Ringed Dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltonii subsp algirica).

Lynn, Steve and I headed off west up the A92 passed Granada and in to the fabulous Sierra Huétor to the north of the Sierra Nevada. We parked and spent the next few hours checking out just a KM or so of fast flowing river. The area is in a wooded valley with some good open grassland areas for butterflies.

Male Beautiful Demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo subsp meridionalis).

We started to see good numbers of butterflies straight away including Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Striped Grayling (Pseudotergumia fidia), Grayling (Hipparchia semele), Great Banded Grayling (Brintesia circe), Iberian Marbled White (Melanargia lachesis) and Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli).

Female Beautiful Demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo subsp meridionalis).

Steve picked up the first of the bird species when a group of Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) started feeding around the nearby crags, we also sawand heard Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus) and Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti).

High Brown (Fabriciana adippe).

Once we were down by the river we found a female Large Pincertail (Onychogomphus uncatus) up on the grass just away from the water, down under the tree in the fast water we found Common Golden Ringed Dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltonii) which was the first new species for Steve´s Spanish list. We moved along the river slowly and eventually we found the first of several Beautiful Demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo) which were a couple of males and just a little further on we located a nice group of both males and females sitting on Juncus spikes.

Viperine Snake (Culebra Viperina / Natrix maura).

Seveveal Common Golden Rings flew passed us both ways along the river and on the grassy banks around us we saw High Brown (Fabriciana adippe), Cardinal (Argynnis Pandora) and Queen of Spain Fritillaries (Issoria lathonia), Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra), Spanish Chalk-hill Blue (Lysandra albicans), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) and under the trees a single Wood White (Leptidea sinapis). Steve and Lynn stayed in this spot for a while and I continued on up stream for a while where I had nice views of a Viperine Snake (Culebra Viperina / Natrix maura) which appeared to be catching pond skater.

Bridge Spider (Larinioides sclopetarius).

I also picked up a new species for my Granada Province Dragon list in the shape of two Western Spectre´s (Boyeria Irene) and what I think is Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus) which would actually be a new species for my Spanish Butterfly list. All along this stretch of river we were finding the Bridge Spider (Larinioides sclopetarius) with their large webs strung between patches of Juncus and the trees. After a while Steve and Lynn caught me up and we spent some time watching the Spectre´s and Goldenrings before starting to return along the drier route through the Common Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) scrub.

Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly (Ischnura pumilio).

Just as we were about to leave the river said he had an Iberian Blue-tail (Ischnura graellsii) which was the first of this species for the day but with in a couple of seconds he had changed his mine and had identified the insect as the much rarer Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly (Ischnura pumilio) which was a new species for both our Spanish lists, a very nice find. on the walk back we added Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Great Tits (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur) and Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) to the bird list along with Copper Demoiselle (Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis), Adonis Blue (Lysandra bellargus), Dusky Heath (Coenonympha dorus), Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous), Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris) and Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera) to the insect list.

Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus).

We reached the car and could not believe that we had walked just 500m and seen so much at a fantastic spot.

Straits of Gibraltar, Cadiz Province.

A day out on the Straits whale watching and some Dragons later.

Long-finned Pilot Whales (Globicephala melas).

After breakfast we dropped Jayne down at the Gib crossing and headed for Tarifa where we were hoping to head out to sea Whale watching, we arrived and found the offices of one of the companies. We booked to go out on one of their 3 hour trips which leaves the port at 11:00, we made our way down to the port from the office and were given a briefing in the port office before we were taken down to the boat.

Long-finned Pilot Whale (Globicephala melas).

Around the port there were quite a few Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) which were by joined by Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and a single Cory's Shearwater (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea) once we were out to sea. We cruised for about three quarters of an our towards the coast of Morocco until we came into a pod of Common Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) which showed all around the boat for ages giving very nice views of both adults and youngsters.

Long-finned Pilot Whales (Globicephala melas).

The Dolphins moved off and were replaced by several Long-finned Pilot Whales (Globicephala melas) which again performed very well right along side the boat. I enjoyed what we saw but feel we spent too long watching these two species and did not look for other whales in the area.

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

Once we were back on dry land we when to a spot just opposite one of the Raptor watch points where we parked and had our lunch whilst looking for early passage birds but we only managed to see a dozen or so Black Kites (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), a single Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus) and a few resident Common Kestrels (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) so we decided to head back to the field where we had seen the Green Hooktails (Paragomphus genei) yesterday. We arrived but it was dam hot and the dragons were even harder to find than yesterday but I managed to locate a male and two females but none were happy to be photographed, in the same area there were several Red-veined Darters (Sympetrum fonscolombii) and a few White Featherleg (Platycnemis latipes).

Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis).

After a while we abandoned the field and went down on to the river, on the way we saw a European Mantis (Mantis religiosa) on the track. Down by the river we had more White Featherlegs, Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea), Orange-winged (Trithemis kirbyi) and Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata), Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma) and a Monarch (Danaus plexippus).

Once we had finished here we headed off to pick up Jayne and then we made our way back along the coast and then home.

Straits of Gibraltar, Cadiz Province.

Day two of Steve and Lynn´s visit with a lifer for both of us.

Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans).

Jayne, Lynn, Steve and I set off at 07:00 heading down to the Straits area where Steve and I were going to meet up with Fernando Enrique Navarrete a young Biologist who lives and works down in the area. We dropped Jayne and Lynn near the Gib border crossing and then headed off to our meeting point, we were a good hour early so I gave Fernando a ring and he joined us a few minutes later. 

Whilst we waited we had a coffee and the took some photo´s of a flock of Black Kites (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans) which were just starting to take to the air after a nights rest in the surrounding pine trees.

Fernando and Steve.

In the same area we also saw and heard Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and a pale phase Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus).

Male Green Hooktail (Paragomphus genei).

Fernanda arrived and we did the introductions bit and then took a short walk to a nearby river where we first checked out a sandy shore line for the larva of the targets species and the exuvia. 

We found a single exuvia but no larva so we headed out on to a nearby field where after a few minutes I found a female Green Hooktail (Paragomphus genei) which was a fantastic start but Fernando and Steve soon had a cracking male insect which was just stunning.

Female Green Hooktail (Paragomphus genei).

We spent most of the morning at this site seeing several females and at least two possibly three males along with Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma) and Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) before having a second look at the river where we eventually found a larva in the sand and had views of a Cicarda species in a low tree over the water. 

Other dragons included White Featherleg (Platycnemis latipes), Iberian Blue-tail (Ischnura graellsii), Violet (Trithemis annulata) and Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi), Southern Skimmer (Orthetrum brunneum) and Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea).

Banded Grondling (Brachythemis leucosticta) female.

Other species seen included  Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Iberian Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Ibérico / Phylloscopus brehmii), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Small White (Artogeia rapae) and Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera). 

Black Percher (Diplacodes lefebvrii) male.

Once we were both happy with the photographs of the Hooktail Fernando took us to a spot nearby where after a bit of a search we found a few female Banded Grondlings (Brachythemis leucosticta) but not a sign of any males. 

Also seen here were a couple of Violet Dropwings and a Scarlet Darter. 

Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria) Male.

Our next stop was in the bar where we had met for a cool beer before heading to another site a few KM away, we parked on the roadside and climbed through a large gate and made our way out to what looked like a disused gravel pit. Straight away we were amazed by the number of dragons flying, they included Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum), Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator), Black Percher (Diplacodes lefebvrii), Epaulet Skimmer, Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria), Small Red-eyed (Erythromma viridulum) along with lots more Scarlet and Red-veined Darters and Orange-winged Dropwing. 

Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea) Male.

We spent quite a while at this site before heading back to the field where we had spent the morning but Hooktails were harder to find and even harder to photograph but we managed to locate a male and a couple females. 

We also saw a beautiful Argiope lobata spider with a web stretched out between several juncus spikes. 

Argiope lobata.

Later we headed in to La Linea where we met Jayne and Lynn at the hotel before going for a wander around the town where we struggled to find anywhere to eat.

We had a great day and saw some amazing species thanks to Fernando who very kindly spent the morning with us taking us to great places, Thank you Fernando.