RAM and Charca de Suarez, Granada Province.

The seabird survey and a visit to Charca.

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

I met Juan Pérez Contreras near his home on the outskirts of Granada, and we headed off down to the coast under an overcast, dark sky. 

We arrived at our sea watch point near Torrenueva and walked up to the top of the sea cliff with a few spits of rain still falling, but this soon cleared, and we carried out the survey without it being a problem. 

We were joined halfway through and for the visit to Charca by Fran Espinosa Alemany a ringer from Padul.

Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).

During the sea watch we recorded good numbers of Balearic Shearwaters (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus), Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), 2x Great Skuas (Págalo Grande / Stercorarius skua), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) and Juan picked up 5x Common Shelducks (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna) passing west but I did not manage to get on to them.

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

Birds closer to hand included Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and on the rocks by the sea as we were leaving we saw a nice male Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius).

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

We returned to our cars and made our way to the entrance of Charca de Suarez and walked around the reserve in an anti-clockwise direction, near the entrance we packed up Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos).

Common Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis).

Once we were in the first hide we were seeing lots of Common Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), a couple of calling Cetti's Warblers (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and a single Red-knobbed Coot (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata) from the introdution birds. Between here and the second hide, we saw an adult and immature Black-crowned Night Herons (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax) having a fly round near their normal day time roost. 

From the next hide we saw another three collared Red-knobbed Coots and the uncollared youngster from this year along with Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio) and Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus). 

We walked to the next hide picking up a dark phase Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus) which was being mobbed by two Common Kestrels (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) on the way. 

Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo).

From the hide we only added a fine female Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) which was hunting the reed beds. 

Our next stop was at the main hide, straight away Juan found a female Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca) and its hybird youngster with a Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina) in a small flock of Common Pochards along with a pair of Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera). Other birds seen in this area were European Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Red Avadavats (Bengali Rojo / Amandava amandava).

Common Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis).

We continued on and had a look over the new pool adding Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta) and a Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) which Juan saw but I missed it when it darted in to the reeds.

From the last hide on the way round we had great views of a Common Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) and fine wintering male Little Bittern (Avetorillo Común / Ixobrychus minutus).

Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).

1 o'clock came round quickly and we were soon on our way back up the motorway to Granada, I dropped Juan off and then made my way home via the fields on the local patch boosting the list with

Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and Common Magpies (Urraca / Pica pica), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), European Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Eurasian Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Eurasian Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) and Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua). 

During the visit we also heard lots of Stripe-less Tree Frogs (Hyla meridionalis) and saw a couple of Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) and Small Whites (Artogeia rapae).

Cologne to Home.

An end to a very nice trip.

We were up for a very early breakfast and again with Jayne reading the very accurate instructions from the IPad we were soon at the car drop off point at the airport where a very nice young lady passed the car as fine on return so we headed in to the departures area where I left Jayne to go and just confirm that the ridiculous €1000 deposit was taken off my credit card with the car hire people. I got to the desk and said that the car was back and that all was well and that I wanted to make sure nothing was still left on the card. The chap said that it takes an hour or so for the keys and the papers to get to him and then he would do it, I was happy with that but as we are always told, if you are not happy with some thing then let them know so I asked to see the manager of the desk but was told that he did not get in until 10:00 so I explained why I was not happy with the events when I collected the car and was amazed by the reponce I got. When I had finished the chap said well it sounds as though you will not use EASYCAR or us (THRIFTY) again anyway so why should we give a shit and with that he got up and walked off and left me and another customer standing there amazed.

Anyway after that we went through security and caught our flight home and the drove back to Loja all with out further incident.

The trip had been great, both Hotels had been very good and served our perposes well. The German people were very nice and we enjoyed everything about the trip apart from the Car Hire company.

Would I return to this part of Germany at this time of year? now that I have seen the Christmas Markets probably not but only because it was so dam cold. I would like to go back again at a warmer time of the year though.

Cologne City.

A full day around the city of Cologne.

We spent the whole of our last day around the City visiting several Markets again, the rather over priced Chocolate Museum, a very interesting Purfume Museum, the bridge of locks and other bits before again heading back to the hotel to pack and get ready for our trip back to Spain and some relative warmth.

I did again see a few bits in the city and along the Rhine including Common  (Gaviota Cana /Larus canus), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Herring Gulls (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and a Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus) around the Cathedral towers.

Bergen to Cologne (Koln), Germany.

A long drive back to Cologne but some new markets.

Drinks at the Market.

After saying bye to Alan last night Jayne and I packed up, had an early breakfast and set off for the last two days of our trip which were to be in Cologne.

Food Store.

The drive went well again following directions from Jayne's IPad we were at our hotel just out side the city in just under four hours which included a stop and a traffic jam. During the journey I did see a few bits including a single Great White Egret (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba) on the side of the motorway around Hanover, Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus).

Around the Market.

We unpacked again and were then soon out and on the tram up in to the city centre which took about 15 / 20 minutes from the hotel. right by where we got off the tram there was the Gnomes Market which had a very large Ice skating rink as the main feature but also loads of food and nicnac stalls.
During the afternoon and evening we found three more markets in the city and by the time we had finished these we were well done in so headed back to the hotel on the tram again.

Celle, Lower Saxony, Germany.

Back down to Celle Market and town.

As Alan was working Jayne and I headed back down to the town of Celle where we had had a nice evening back on Friday. We did the Market again and spent some time around the shops in this very picturesque town.

Near the Hotel and Bergen / Belson POW / Concentration Camp, Germany.

A day of mixed feelings.

I started the day with a short walk from the hotel through a small wooded area where I picked up Eurasian Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Eurasian Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Eurasian Jay (Arrendajo Euroasiático / Garrulus glandarius), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) and Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes).

Later we picked up Al and headed just down the road to the Bergen / Belsen Monument where we walked around the grounds, woodlands and remains of the POW / Concentration Camp, this was a couple of hours of mixed emotions. After the grounds we spent another three hours in the documentation center, this was a place that really opened your eyes to how bad the human race can be.

In the grounds and woodlands I recorded several very nice species including an immature White-tailed Eagle (Pigargo Europeo /Haliaeetus albicilla), Black Woodpecker (Picamaderos Negro / Dryocopus martius), Great Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Norteño / Lanius excubitor), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Fieldfare (Zorzal Real / Turdus pilaris), Goldcrest (Reyezuelo Sencillo / Regulus regulus), Marsh Tit (Carbonero Palustre / Poecile palustris), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Eurasian Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea).

Bremen, Germany.

The second Christmas market of the trip and a Carol service in the city Cathedral.

Around the Market.

We picked Alan up from Belsen and the weaved our way through the minor roads to the motorway to the city, we arrived and parked near the centre. We soon found the market and had a very nice couple of hours walking around the stalls before going in to the Cathedral where we listened to a small Choir singing carols for several hundred people.

Art in the town.

Later we again went around the market had some food and drinks before making our way back to Belsen by a slightly round about way as we went up the motorway in totally the wrong way and eventually reaching the North sea coast before turning back. During the day I saw Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Common (Gaviota Cana /Larus canus) and Herring Gull (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus).

Christmas Decorations.

Town Center.

Stained glass window.

Church Door.

The Cathedral.

Bergen / Munster area in Germany.

A run around the local area and another meal with Alan.

Day Two.

War Cemetery.

Alan was working so Jayne and I headed in to Bergen the nearest town and did the shops and as we walked around we visited Church, War Memorial and the War Cemetery. In the cemetery I saw a single Treecreeper (Agateador Norteño / Certhia familiaris), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Great Tits (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes) and Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).

Local Church and War Mermorial.

During the afternoon we went for a drive out and about and ended up in Munster, not the big Munster but a smaller town to the North of Bergen. During the drive I saw a single female Hen Harrier (Aguilucho Pálido / Circus cyaneus), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulg aris), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius) and Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major).

Entrance post at Cemetery.

Later we met Alan and we drove down to a small town called Celle and experienced our first German Christmas market and a great experience it was. Jayne and Alan had a Gluhwein and later we all went and had a very nice Indian meal before heading back.

Jayne and Alan in Celle.

Jayne with a glass of Gluhwein.

Stall in the Market.

Travelling from Home to Bergen/ Belsen in Germany.

Travelling out to see Alan in Germany.

Day One.

FIRST THE MOAN.

We made a 02:15 silly O'clock start down to Malaga airport and caught a flight out to Cologne in Germany which all went well until we arrived and had to rely on instructions given by EASYCAR.COM. From the start things went totally wrong, directions said wait in arrivals for their representative. Half an hour later we moved to step two and called the phone number and got a does not exists message, we thought this may have been our Spanish phones not working in Germany but a very kind German gentleman rang the number three times with the same response so by now we were wondering if we had been stitched by some scam. I next tried to find an information desk but before I managed that I asked for direction at an airlines desk and was told that the company I was looking for actually have a desk in the airport. So armed with new direction I found the car hire company and was told by the guy there that they have told EASYCAR dozens of times that all the information they give out is a load of garbage. Any way then came the second shock, the car was ready and the chap agreed that I had paid in full and had taken out the extra insurance to cover my excesses but would still have to pay them a €1000 deposit for excesses as the insurance was with EASYCAR and nothing to do with them and if I lost the €1000 to them I would have to try and claim it back from EASYCAR when we get home. I did not have the time or will to argue so I paid and went on our way. OK the car was very nice and served us well for the week but we were both well stressed and had waisted over two hours sorting it out. All in all booking through EASYCAR was a nightmare and I would not recommend any one to use this bunch of incompetent pillocks.

The Hotel.

Once we were on the way the printed direction we had down loaded from Google earth worked a treat and we were soon out of the airport and on the motorways heading for our hotel in Offen near to where Alan is working. On the way I recorded a few species from the car including Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Rook (Graja /  Corvus frugilegus), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor), Pheasant (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Herring Gull (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) and two Great White Egret (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba).

The back entrance from our room.

Mid afternoon and we arrived at our hotel which was on the edge of a very small village called Offen, we checked into the Michaelishoff and sorted out out stuff as we were going to be here for five nights. Later we met up with Alan and went for a nice Greek meal in Bergen.