RAM and Charca de Suarez, Granada Province.

Good number of sea birds and a good charca visit.

Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator).

Juan Pérez Contreras, Manuel Cayuela López and I met on the outskirts of Granada and made our way down to Peñón de Jolúcar just to the east of Torrenueva where we set up for a sea watch. 

We were only doing the watch for one hour but the numbers of Balearic Shearwaters (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus) was fantastic and by the finish we had recorded 1023 of which 986 were heading east.

Red-knobbed Coot+ (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata) and Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos).

We also saw 4+ Med / Yelkouan shearwaters (Pardelas Mediterráneas / Puffinus yelkouan), a single Arctic Skua (Págalo Parásito / Stercorarius parasiticus), Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae).

Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).

The three of us then made our way down to Charca de Suarez wetlands where we made our way around the reserve in an anti-clockwise direction calling in at the hide which over looks Laguna del Lirio where we had views of Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) and the first of the reintroduction Red-knobbed Coots (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata). 

Over the water there were good numbers of both Lesser (Anax parthenope) and Blue / Common Emperors (Anax imperator), Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea) and on some floating weed there were several Small Red-eyes (Erythromma viridulum).

Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope).

We continued on around to the reopened hide at the Southern end of Laguna del Trébol passing the Dunas area where we had a male Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma) sat on the cros beam of the wooden fencing and several Migrant Hawkers (Aeshna mixta). From the hide we saw two more of the Red-knobbed Coots, Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Red Avadavat (Bengali Rojo / Amandava amandava) and Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula). We continued on around the reserve picking up 2 Booted Eagles (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) and Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa).

Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus).

From the northern hide overlooking Laguna del Trébol which was quiet but we did see Common Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major). We carried on around to the main hide where we scanned Laguna de las Aneas picking up the female Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla) and Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo).

Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus).

We moved on around to the newish Laguna del Alamo Blanco and added singles of Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) and 3 Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina) and 4 Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago). 

In this area we also saw a couple of Long Skimmers (Orthetrum trinacria), Iberian Blue-tail (Ischnura graellsii) and Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii). Our last stop was at the Laguna del Taraje hide, on the way around, I saw several Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca) and lots of tracks of Wild Boar (Jabalí / Felis silvestris) in the mud. 

From the hide we saw a fishing Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) and on my way out I added a Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Small White (Artogeia rapae) and heard Stripe-less Tree Frog (Hyla meridionalis).

Huetor Fields and Sierra de Loja, Granada Province.

Day two with Jane Wise.

Leucistic Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).

We headed out on to the fields along side the Arroyo Vilano where we started the day list off with Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and on a pylonwe picked out a nice female Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus).
Next we checked out the ditches where we had seen the Jack Snipe (Agachadiza Chica / Lymnocriptes minimus) yesterday. We dipped the Jack Snipe but we managed two Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), a single Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Reed (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Sedge (Carricerin Común / Acrocephalus schoenobaenus) and Cetti's Warblers (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa).

Leucistic Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).

We next went over to the far side of the area where we soon had 65 or more Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) in the scope along with Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Collared Doves (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) including a lucistic bird, Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Later we drove over to Sierra de Loja where we had time before Jane had to catch the train, up near the lower quarry we had good views of Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), 3x Short-toed Eagles (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia). On our way back down the track we had good views of a couple of Spanish Ibex (Cabra pyreaica hispanica).

Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae).

From here we went up along the crags and out as far as the Paragliding track, here we found a superb immature Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush (Roquero Roja / Monticola saxatilis), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Northern Wheatear, Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) and Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris).
Later I took Jane up to the train station in Loja where we had a couple of Red-rumped Swallows (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica) and several House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) before she got on the train.

Huétor Fields, Moraleda Fields and Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

A days guiding with Jane Wise from the UK.

Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos).

We set out from the house and started with a couple of houses birding down on the local patch, our first stop was on the Western side of the town where we picked up 50 or so Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), 4+ Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and on a nearby roof we picked up several Spotless Starlings (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) adults and immature and two early visiting Common Starlings (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulg aris), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) and Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).

Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra).

We moved to the far side of the area and checked out a roadside ditch , almost straight away we flushed a Jack Snipe (Agachadiza Chica / Lymnocriptes minimus) which flew just a short distance but into a dense patch of vegetation in a crop field. In and around the same ditch and fields we recorded Cetti's (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and Reed Warblers (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and a newly arrived winter visitor a Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis).

Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus).

Our next stop was on the way out to Laguna de Rigedor amongst a group of Almond Trees, here we had good views of another Whinchat and a nice Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae). A little further on we stopped by the laguna and picked up Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica).

Group of ducks including Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Anas penelope).

From here we moved out on to the fields near to Moraleda, as we arrived we had an immature Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) fly over the Almond groves. We moved out on to the fields and along the first track we had more Northern Wheatears and a small flock of around 8 Short-toed Larks (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), a couple of Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Rock Pigeon (Paloma Bravia / Columba livia) and on a bare field at the end of the track we heard and had distant views of two Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis) flying off. We moved out on to the main area of fields where we picked up Calandra Lark (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) and another flock of 10 Black-bellied Sandgrouse which were much closer and gave us much better views. As we were leaving the site we had nice views of two Little Owls (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) on one of the many rock piles on the site and as we were watching another Iberian Grey Shrike, we had a very smart Swallowtail (Papilio machaon). A little further down the road we had good views of a couple of migrating Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus) which soared over the Almond groves.

Male Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca).

We dropped down in to the Cacín Valley and made a short stop in the Pine woods above the river, here we saw Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Long-tailed  (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and heard Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala). 

We moved along the valley and stopped near the dam of the embalse, here we checked the river hearing Cetti's and Reed Warblers and then picked up a distant pair of Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila Perdicera / Aquila faciatus). At this point we jumped back into the car and drove down the side of the lake and parked again and had slightly better views of the Eagles before they drifted away over the rigde. From the roadside we had a good view over the lake where we heard and saw Mallard, Northern Shoveler, 270+ Common Pochards, Eurasian Coot, Common Moorhen, Little Grebe, Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and a distant Northern Goshawk (Azor Común / Accipitor gentillis). 

Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina).

Next we drove down to Cacín and took the ridge road looking for Raptors, we parked on the roadside and had our lunch whilst we watched the ridges. We picked up several Common Kestrels, a male Lesser Kestrel (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni), a female Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) and in the broom bushes below us we had a Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis), heard Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), 2 Common Redstarts (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus) and several Red-legged Partridges (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa). We continued on along the road and took a track to the North, along here we added just Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo). We retraced our way back to the road and then towards Cacín again, as we round a corner we picked up a large raptor and soon we were having great views of an immature Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos). We dropped back down in to the Valley and then back up to the Embalse, we scanned the lake from the same place as we were earlier but this time the birds were a bit more out in the water and giving better views. Amongst the large numbers of Common Pochards we picked out a female Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Anas penelope) and a very nice male Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca) which was a new species for ne in the Cacín Valley. We also added a couple of Great Cormorants (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) which were roosting in the dead trees on the margins.

Small White (Artogeia rapae).

We went back to the bridge where we were earlier, on the way we checked out an area of flowering roadside weeds and had a nice selection of butterflies which were nectering there including Bath (Pontia daplidice), Small (Artogeia rapae) and Large Whites (Pieris brassicae), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) and Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina). Along the river we added Pied  (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca) and Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba). Along the irrigation channel we saw a single and tandem pair of Western Willow Spreadwings (Chalcolestes viridis) and a male Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii). On the walk back to the car we heard Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla) and Coal Tit (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater). From here we made our way back to the fields near the house hoping to get views of the Little Bustards again in better light but they had been flushed off again by a tractor working nearby.

Huétor Fields, Granada Province.

Little Bustards are back on the Local Patch.

I drove over to Loja and whilst I was waiting in San Francisco area I had good views of a couple of migrating Short-toed Eagles (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula). 

I met Jane Wise from the UK in Loja and we headed back to the house but on the way we had a look on the fields to the Loja / Western side of the town. We could not locate any of the 50 or so Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) I had seen earlier (probably due to a farmer working close by) but we did see 4+ Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).
Up nearer to the house we had several Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and as we got out of the car another Short-toed Eagle flew over high. A nice appitiser for the next two days of guiding.

Rincon del la Victoria, Malaga Province.

A day on the beach !!!

Barb, Jayne and I headed off down to the coast at Rincon and found somewhere with OKish sunbeds and settled down on the front row just above the waves which was great as I could sit there quite happily getting some rays and sea watching at the same time. During the day I picked up both Balearic (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus) and Cory's Shearwaters (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea) in good numbers, smaller numbers of Northern Gannets (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Sandwich Terns (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Great Cormorants (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) along with Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis). all day long there was a constant stream of hirundines heading west along the beach and further out to sea, most were Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) but I also saw plenty of Red-rumped (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica) along with both Sand (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia) and Sand Martins (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia). Surprisingly three species of Dragonfly were also seen out on the sands, singles of Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi) and Vagrant Emperor (Anax ephippiger) and several Red-veined Darters (Sympetrum fonscolombii).

Huétor Fields and at home, Granada Province.

A walk through the local Patch.

I dropped the car off at the garage for a few bits that need taking care of before the guarantee finished and walked back to the house across the fields. Around the factory buildings I started the list with House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and on the first field a small group of around a dozen Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis). Along side the road in the ditches I had brief views of a couple of calling Cetti's Warblers (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and the first of dozens of Reed Warblers (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) which I was seeing all along the walk in and on the edge of Maze fields and in all the ditches and irrigation channels.
On the airfield there were a couple of Northern Wheatears (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), 8+ Whinchats (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra), a couple of Common Stonechats (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and a single Tawny Pipit (Bisbita campestre / Anthus campestris) was mixed in with a flock of around 20 Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) on the oposite side of the road in a flooded Lucerne field. I scanned the fields from the first railway bridge and had a small group of Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) roosting on the edge of a distant Asparagus field and 41 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) which were just showing from their necks up in another Lucerne field.
Over the fields there were good numbers of Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), which were joined by smaller numbers of Sand Martins (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia), Red-rumped Swallows (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica) and a couple of late moving Pallid Swifts (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus). 

I continued on along the road and turned on to the track towards the Cuatro Caminos Bar and in a small patch of fruit trees I picked up a couple of Blackcaps (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Willow Warblers (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus), a single Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and several Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and on the opposite side of the road the first of three Pied Flycatchers (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca) in a small Olive plantation.
Along side the Arroyo Vilano I had a Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), an immature Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator) and several Turtle Doves (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur) on the fields on the far bank. 

Once I had passed the bar I followed the ditch up towards the house seeing a couple more Common Whitethroats, lots of Willow Warblers, a Garden Warbler (Curruca Mosquitera / Sylvia borin), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) before getting home.

Padul Wetlands, Granada Province.

Another morning with Juan Pérez Contreras and the Padul ringing group.

Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica).

I headed off to Padul where I was going to meet up with Juan at the ringing shelter, I arrived a bit early and was very pleased to see a Tree Pipit (Bisbita Arbóreo / Anthus trivialis) before it was released, this bird was a new species for my Granada and year list. Juan turned up a bit later and we spent several hours with the bird ringers before checking out the canal where yesterday I had seen a couple of Sedge Warblers (Carricerin Común / Acrocephalus schoenobaenus). 

Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica).

During the mornings ringing I was very pleased to see a couple of Bluethroats (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) an immature Male and an adult Female, several Reed (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Cetti's (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and Willow Warblers (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Red-rumped (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica) and Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) in the hand.

Tree Pipit (Bisbita Arbóreo / Anthus trivialis).

In the are we also recorded Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).

Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla).

As things began to wind up Juan and I headed around to the canal on the far side of the reserve, on the way we saw Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator) and a couple more Common Kestrels. 

Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae).

On the canal we saw a single Sedge Warbler, Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) along with more Reed and Cetti's Warblers and Common Moorhens.

Taking the wing length of the Bluethroat.

I had to start to make my way back home so I left Juan watching the channel and walked back towards the car, as I was standing right at the end of the channel a pale phase Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus) rushed in and took a Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia) off a nearby roof and then dropped down into a crop field behind the nearby reed beds but out of view.

Padul Wetlands, La Malaha Fields and Embalse de Cubilla, Granada Province.

Several sites around Granada whilst Jayne and Barb head for the city.

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

I dropped Jayne and Barb in Granada where they were spending the day shopping whilst I visited a few birding spots nearby starting at Padul. I parked at the end of the smelly canal and walked out to the hide, on the way I saw a couple of Sedge Warbler (Carricerin Común / Acrocephalus schoenobaenus) along with Cetti's (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Common Reed (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) and Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea).

Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa).

In the air over the reeds there were good numbers of feeding Barn (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Red-rumped Swallows (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Western House (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Sand Martins (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia) and a few Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) all fatterning up for the next leg of their migration. Around the pools and along the channel I heard several Water Rails (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae and a Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus).

Tawny Pipit (Bisbita campestre / Anthus campestris).

I returned to the car and had a drive along the tracks around the reserve and saw several Whinchats (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra), a single Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Tawny Pipit (Bisbita campestre / Anthus campestris), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus). On the lake the only new species was a group of three Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo). 

Immature Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

From Padul I headed out in to the fields near the town of La Malaha where I searched fields along several different track. In general things were very quiet but I did see Northern Wheatears (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Greater Short-toed (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), Thekla  (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and Calandra Larks (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) and a pale phased Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus).

Two Little Stints (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta).

My last stop of the day was at Cubillas, a large area of water to the North of the City, where I checked out the Northern shores looking for waders. I soon found a single immature Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), two Little Stints (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta), two Common Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) and a Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos). Other species seen were Eurasian Coot, Mallard, 5x Grey Herons, several White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Barn Swallow, Sand Martins and on my way back to the car a Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla).

Later I made my way back to the city and met up with Jayne and Barb and headed home.

Setenil, Old Ronda Roman ruins and Laguna Dulce, Malaga Province.

A day out in the mountains with Jayne´s sister Barbara.

Jayne and Barbara in Setinel.

Barb, Jayne and I headed off for a day out to the town of Setinel over in the Ronda area, on the way the weather was not too good and we went through several heavy showers. As we arrived things dried out a bit and we got a gap of a couple of hours to have a good look around the town but we did buy a brolly just in case.

The ridge at Ruins.

Up near the castle we had good views of several Common (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) and Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Barn (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Red-rumped Swallows (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).

The approaching storm.

From the town we went a little further on to the Roman Ruins and walked up to the ampitheatre near the top of the hill and then had a look from the view pointwhere we watched several more Griffon Vultures. On the way back down we were racing the incoming rain storm but still saw several  Thekla Larks (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and flocks of Corn Buntings (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) before getting soaked as we approached the car.

Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

From here we had a drive through the rain towards Ronda and had some lunch before starting to make our way back hove via Laguna Dulce. New species for the day from the hide included Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia), Cetti's (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and Reed Warblers (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Little (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Great Crested (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus) and Black-necked Grebes (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) and Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).

Jayne and Barbara walking up to the Ruin.

From here we headed off home but stopped for a beer and tapa's on the way in Huetor.

A group of Northern Shovelers (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata).

In the Fig Tree, Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Some passage through the garden.

Garden Warbler (Curruca Mosquitera / Sylvia borin).

Whilst relaxing on the terrace after a nice birthday lunch I noticed a small number of warblers moving along the barranco and through the Fig tree where they lingered to feed for a while. There were a couple of very plain looking Garden Warblers (Curruca Mosquitera / Sylvia borin), an immature Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis), a female Orphean (Curruca Mirlano / Sylvia hortensis), a couple of Willow Warblers (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus) and down in the barranco a single Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti). In the air we had a couple of Black Kites (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) and a latish Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus).

Rio Velez, Malaga Province.

A couple of hours birding and conflict.

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

Jayne and I headed across country towards the coast for a days shopping and birding, on the way down we saw Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax).

Red-knobbed Coot (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata) and a group of Eurasian Coots (Focha Común / Fulica atra).

I dropped Jayne off in the center of Torre del Mar for a few hours shopping, I went down to the river and parked near the beach. I walked out on to the sand and started to check out the pool and quickly found a neck collared Red-knobbed Coot (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata) amongst a group of Eurasian Coots (Focha Común / Fulica atra) with the collar number of 27F. Out to sea I picked up Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Balearic (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus) and Cory's Shearwaters (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea). A small group of Audouin's Gulls (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii) had landed on the beach so I decided to try and get some shot which is when the conflict between myself and a German tosser started, I was lying down photographing the gulls when he started to throw stones at the birds.

Banded Groundling (Brachythemis impartita).

I asked him to stop and explained that I would plant a rock square between his eye if he did not, a few seconds later a rock missed me by inches which I was not happy about so I stood up and grabbed a rock and started to make my way over to the chap but as I started he lept up grabbed his towel and bag and ran like a scared dog off up the beach.

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

After this slight problem I got back to the birding adding Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) on the pool and on the beach I found 3x Curlew Sandpipers (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea), 2x Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), 2x Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus), a Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina) and several Banded Groundling (Brachythemis impartita).

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

I then headed back inland following the edge of the main river and soon found the first of quite a few adult and immature Little Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and a single Wood Sandpiper (Andarrios Bastardo / Tringa glareola) which disappeared off up stream.

Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).

At the bridge I turned around and came back down the track to the car, on the way I added a few more new species for the day including Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Reed (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) and Willow Warblers (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea). Also along the river I caught up with Blue / Common (Anax imperator) and  Lesser Emperors (Anax parthenope), Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea), Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata), African Grass Blue (Zizeeia knysna), Small White (Artogeia rapae) and Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria). Once I was back at the car I picked Jayne up and we headed off to Malaga.