Huétor Fields, Granada Province.

An hours birding with Juan Pérez Contreras on the local patch.

Jack Snipe (Agachadiza Chica / Lymnocriptes minimus).

Juan and Beatriz arrived at our's about 16:30, Beatriz and Jayne stayed at the house while Juan, Chika and I went out for an hours birding down on the fields. We started on some fields near the Northern edge of the town and were soon watching a small group of 16 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), 25 or so Golden Plovers (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaria), Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), 2x Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), 30+ Linnets (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), 20+ Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

Jack Snipe (Agachadiza Chica / Lymnocriptes minimus).

We moved on and had a drive along the Arroyo Vilano, we parked on the to of the far bank and scanned the far fields and along the banks of the Rio seeing Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), good numbers of both House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cyanus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major).

From here we move out to the pools and ditches on the far side of the town where we soon had a couple of Reed Buntings (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus), Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

We started to walkalong the ditch and soon had brilliant flight views of a Jack Snipe (Agachadiza Chica / Lymnocriptes minimus) as it whizzed passed us fairly close and in perfect light. We walked back along the ditch to the track where we found the first of 3 Bluethroats (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica).

White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

We walked along the main ditch down to the road and then checked the shot stretch on the other side but we only added Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa). 

Once we were back at the car we headed back towards the house to have a chat with the girls, on the way we made one last stop when we picked up a single Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica) flying amongst a large flock of other hirundines. We also saw Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and a single Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) on the wires before we arrived back at the house.

Rio Velez and Rio Guadalhorce, Malaga Province.

Two coastal sites in one day.

Spotted Crake (Polluela Pintoja / Porzana porzana).

Jayne and I drove down to the coast at Torre del Mar, on the way down I picked up a few species including Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) and Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula).

Spotted Crake (Polluela Pintoja / Porzana porzana).

I dropped Jayne off in the center of town and went down to the river for a few hours birding, as soon as I arrived I met a Spanish birder (Antonio) who told me that the Spotted Crake (Polluela Pintoja / Porzana porzana) seen a few days earlier was still in the area and gave me directions. 

After a few minutes of searching I had cracking views of this cracking little bird which showed very well on a boggy patch of weeds right in the center of the river.

Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo).

Whilst watching this bird I also had a couple of Little Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), a single Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), several Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Eurasian (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and a single collared Red-knobbed Coot (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).
After a while I walked down to the beach and soon notice the large numbers of Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) on the sea, lazing on the beach and bathing on the freshish water pool which was being topped up from the sea by a rather heavy swell. 

Also amongst the Meds if found several Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), a small goup of Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and a single Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii).

Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus).

Also in the same are I saw several Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), a Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Western Cattle (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) and Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos).

I walked back up to the spot for the Crake and stood watching it with four other birders before having a walk with Antonio and another chap up the track back towards the motorway bridge checking the trees for some Siskins (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus) they had seen earlier but we did not locate them and once we reached there car they headed in to Torre and I continued on up the river adding Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus).

I walked back down to the Crake spot after ringing Bob Wright to tell him it was still about and he said I will be there in half an hour so I walked slowly back down the track checking the trees again. 

Just before I reached the two birders still there I heard a watched a stunning male Penduline Tit (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus) which flew off just as I got the bins on but the reason it flew was that a fine male Siskin chased it off. 

I continued on and added Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia) before Bob arrived.
We watched the Crake for a while and then had a short walk up the river again and located single Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina) and Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta) before walking back and had a last look at the Crake, a male Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) and a couple of Water Pipits (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta).

Male Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus).

During the three hours here I also saw several Small Whites (Artogeia rapae), 2 Large Whites (Pieris brassicae), 2 Clouded Yellows (Colias croceus) and a Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta).

I said goodbye to Bob and walked back to the car and went and met Jayne for Lunch which we had in a very nice little place on the main road through Torre called Restaurant Vintash. 

We then headed along the coast and called in at Brico, Leroy Merlins and Worten looking for a few bits, later I dropped Jayne at Plaza Major and went and had a quick look at Guadalhorce. 

I first of all had a look at the beach where I was much the same species as at the morning site but I did add a Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and a Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax). I then moved on to a fairly quite reserve, from the main hide I picked up Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), 3x Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) and a single Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui).

Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

From the next hide I saw several Little Grebes (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), 2 White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus) and a small flock of very nicely plumaged Greenfinches (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris). 

I then went back to the car via the far pond but it was totally empty and then made my way over to Jayne and we made a quick second visit to Leroys before heading home via Loja.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

A couple of newly arrived summer visitors.

Just a quick trip down to the supermarket in Huétor produced a couple of nice sightings, the first was a group of 5 Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and a single Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia) all perched on a roadside wire in the heavy rain looking well hacked off. The next nice bird was an immature Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila-azor / Hieraetus faciatus) which was hasseling a flock of Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) and Spotless Starlings (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 12th February 2015.

15W Actinic on the terrace.

Any corrections, PLEASE send me a comment on the post, thanks.

6496 Evergestis isatidalis.

After four empty traps it was nice to get three moths of three different species all in one go. The first I sorted very quickly, a 6496 Evergestis isatidalis and 9565 Agrochola lychnidis (Beaded Chestnut) x2.

9565 Agrochola lychnidis (Beaded Chestnut).

Huétor Fields, Moraleda and Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

A days birding with Pernille and Graham.

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

I met Pernille and Graham at the Cortijo de Tajar and we went and had a look on the fields just to the North of the town where we were checking an area of fields for the wintering flock of Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) but all we found were several Crested Larks (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).

We continued on around the site to a small partly disused Cortijo where we had very nice views of a pair of Little Owls (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) which showed very nicely. Just a short way along a nearby track we located the flock of around 50 or so Little Bustards mixed in with around 40 Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaria), a few Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

Again we moved on after getting good views of all the species and made our way over to the far side of the Arroyo Vilano and checked the fields, there was not a lot on the fields but we did manage to see a Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cyanus), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

Pernille and Graham.

Our next stop was on the Eastern side of the site where we checked out a couple of ditches, just as we parked we had brief views of a fine Jack Snipe (Agachadiza Chica / Lymnocriptes minimus) as it popped up out of the ditch and stood on the top of the concrete irregation channel and the dropped off into the field. We got out of the car and had god views as the bird flew and landed in the nearby ditch.
We got out of the car and checked the ditch and damp areas around the small pools where we soon had views of a male Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) but it took quite a while to get decent views of the breast. In the end we managed it and also saw Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus).

Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).

Our final stop in this area was at the day time roost of the wintering Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) where we had good views of quiet a few of these birds along with a couple of Common Starlings (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulg aris).

From here we headed a few KM South East to the fields near to Moraledawhere we took a couple of the tracks across the fields and soon had Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and four more Little Bustards for the list for the day. Further on we caught up with more Golden Plovers, Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) and Skylarks.

Female Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala).

We moved around the site before moving down into the Cacín Valley proper and collecting some lunch from the bar there before heading down to the bridge over the river where we ate our food and then had a walk. Along here we had views of or heard Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Redwing (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus illacus), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and a rapidly moving Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) which zipped through the pines and away.

Next stop was along side the nearby Embalse de Cacín, on the water we picked up good numbers of  Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus). Over the reeds we had good views of two male Marsh Harriers (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) whilst behind us on the bank there were more Crag Martins and several Woodpigeons (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus). Further down the valley we checked the cliffs of the gorge and the area around the Roman bridge adding Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus) and Rock Pigeon (Paloma Bravia / Columba livia).

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

From here we headed back to Cacín and then we took the road across country and had good views of an immature Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo). 

On our way back to the hotel we came across two cracking Little Owls in a road side tree but they were on the wrong side of the road for me to get the camera on them so Pernille took a couple of nice shots with my camea.

From here we headed back to the hotel and then made our way homes from there.

Balsa de Regidor, Granada Province.

A quick drop in at the local pool.

Jayne and I had a nice morning wondering around the very interesting Sunday market on the Northern side of Granada City where we got around 15Kilo's of fruit and veg for the week. On the way back we picked up a few species including Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) and Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris).

At the pool I scanned the water and margins and soon added Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and a Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).

On our way back to Huétor we went through Mesia, on the way I picked up a very nice soaring Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala).

From here we went to a nice bar in the town and had a Sunday lunch of Tapa's before heading home and putting the fire in.

RAM, Motril Port and Charca Suarez, Granada Province.

A good day down on the coast with some good birding friends.

Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).

I set off quite early to make my way up to Granada where I picked Juan Pérez Contreras up from his house and then we both headed off down to the usual point at Peñón de Jolúcar on the eastern side of Torrenueva near Motril to carry out February's RAM sea bird count.

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

When we got there we met up with Bob Wright a friend who runs the New Birding Axarquia blog before we all headed up to the high point for the sea watch. We were soon there and set up, after a few minutes Juan said it was time to start the count and we were soon building up a decent list of species in fairly good numbers. The list included Northern Gannets (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Balearic Shearwaters (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus) and two of the much more uncommon Med / Yelkouan shearwaters (Pardelas Mediterráneas / Puffinus yelkouan), singles of both Arctic (Págalo Parásito / Stercorarius parasiticus) and Great Skua (Págalo Grande / Stercorarius skua) I unfortunally did not get on to the latter but the former was a nice year tick.

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

We also recorded very good numbers of gulls but the commonest by far we Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), followed by Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and a single adult Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), a Kittiwake (Gaviota Tridáctila / Rissa tridactyla) which was seen by Juan and a single Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) which did a flypast.

On the way back down to the cars we had a look at the bank finding several spikes of Ophrys foresterii, Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and a Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus) which flashed between the apartment block by the car.

Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus).

From here we went towards the fish port and all piled into one car to go in and have a look through the gull flocks there, we saw plenty of Med, Black-headed, Lesser Black-backed and Yellow-legged, Great Cormorants, Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and a Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus).

Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra).

We then made our way out and collected the rest of the cars before heading for Charca where we had a wonder around the hides, right by the entrance Juan and I had two Monk Parakeets (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus) in the trees. After checking the first hide seeing Red-knobbed Coot (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) I headed to check the trees where some Night Herons (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax) sometimes roost but found nothing.

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

From here I went to catch up with Bob at the small hide over looking the Laguna del Taraje, on the way I had good but brief views of a wintering Wryneck (Torcecuello / Jynx torquilla) and heard a couple of Penduline Tit (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus).

Male Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

I got to the hide but Manuel the warden and a colleague were working on the roof so Bob had moved on, I stayed a short while and had views of the Moustached Warbler (Carricerin Real / Acrocephalus melanopogon) which was wintering here along with Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio). 

Female Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

I moved on checking the very quiet new scrape where I only added around 15 or so Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca) and a small flock of Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis). I eventually caught up with Bob in the main hide where we spent some time checking through the birds there and added Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), my first Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) of the year, Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis). 

Penduline Tit (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus).

Again we continued on around the rest of the hides and ended up back at the small hide over looking Laguna del Taraje where we stayed until the reserve closed at 13:00. On the walk around to this point we saw a couple of Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) butterflies, Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and heard a screeching Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus).

Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).

We sat in the hide for a while and were joined by Juan and Fran and after a short while we heard a small group of Penduline Tits in the reeds at the side of the hide which Juan managed to call in by making a very convincing squeaking noise. This gave us time to get some nice views of a difficult to see bird, from here we headed back to the gates and had a chat with Manuel before making our ways home after a very pleasant and productive morning.

Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis).

Rio Guadalhorce, Malaga Province.

A nice sit on the beach after a not so nice visit to the dentist.

Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis).

Jayne and I headed down to Periana where I was to have some work done on the teeth which turned out to be a lot less of a problem than first thought. Once the drilling and rebuilding was done Jayne and I headed to Malaga via the coastal Motorway, our first stop was at Brico, then Ikea, Dealz i Malaga and finally the Lario's where I dropped Jayne for a couple of hours shopping whilst I headed for Guadalhorce.

Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo).

Once I was there I had a look at the sea from the watch point but it was quiet except for a good number of Northern Gannets (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), a couple of Balearic Shearwaters (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus) which were folowing a small fishing boat, Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis) and Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo). 

Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo).

After a while I walked out to end of the sandy spit which formed when the river broke through, here I spent the next two hours just sat with the bins and camera, watching and photographing what ever came close enough. The first birds were a small group of a dozen or so Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba) and a single Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), followed by several Sandwich Terns and Great Cormorants. Whilst I was sat here and on a short walk upstream along the river I also recorded Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba). 

Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba).

In a small drainage channel near the road I watched a large group of Crag Martins feeding low over a small pool, they were joined for just a single pass by my first House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) of the year. Also seen whilst in this area were Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).

Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis).

I went back into Malaga where I picked Jayne up and then we headed back towards the house.

Huétor Fields, Laguna de Rigedor and Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

Bustards, Curlews but no Sandgrouse.

Mike and Patty from Iowa in the US.

I met Mike and Patty from Iowa in the US at the Cortijo de Tajar hotel just off the A92 and we headed out on to the fields nearby and at the first spot we located around 40 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax)but they were hard to see in a Lucerne field which had got quite tall so we moved around another view point and walked down a track to get a bit closer. Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs).

The sun was in the worst position possable from this point but we did manage to get better views and picked out a few males which were already starting to pop up and down in a rather half hearted attempt at displaying. In the area we also saw

We jumped back into the car again and called at a small semi-derelict Cortijo on the road back into Huétor were we had good views of a Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) which was sunning its self on the roof, its mate flew out of a small garage behind and landed on the same roof but out of sight.

Again we continued on towards Huétor and stopped on the road side to check the fields where the wintering flock of Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) spend their days, we scoped them and had nice views. We also had a flock of at least 25 Golden Plovers (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaria) on the same field and a flock of Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) which flew across the site in the distance. Whilst we were parked here we also saw Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus). 

We turned around and headed back up the road towards the local bar and then cut across country by the Arroyo Vilano where we made a stop to check the fields on the far side. On the river side we had several Common Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), a Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), both male and female Blackcaps (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla) and a skulking, uncooperative Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti). Further along the rio we made another stop where I usually see the locally common Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cyanus) but they were not showing then selves today and we only added Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa) to the day list. 

We retraced our way back along the track and then went to another nearby poplar plantation and soon had a good number of the Iberian Magpie flying throught the trees in front of us giving nice views.

We turned around and made our way to a small pool on the side of the A92 via Mesia. We parked and scanned the pool and soon had Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) on the day list along with a new species for the site for my list an Egyptian Goose (Ganso del Nilo / Alopochen aegyptiaca). We also had a single Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) fly in and drop into the reeds at the far end of the pool before we made a move out to the far side of the motorway near to Moraleda. On the way we had another Little Owl sat near the entrance to its soon to be nesting site in a concrete block, a couple of  Common Stonechats (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and the first of several Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis). We took a couple of tracks out on to the fields looking for the elusive Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis) which remained elusive and unseen but we did get views of Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Calandra Lark (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) and Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) but not a lot else. We dropped down in to the Valley and parked by the side of the Rio Cacín and had a walk towards the dam of the nearby embalse, here we picked several new species including Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra) which were just heard up in the Pines, Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) and Redwings (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus illacus) but again I only heard these as the flashed through the trees with out showing.

We moved up to the side of the Embalse just up the road and scanned the water seeing the same species of ducks and other water birds seen earlier along with a pair of Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca). In the air we had soaring Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), a pair of Common Buzzards (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and on a nearby pylon a Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus). We drove a little further down the valley to Cacín where we were hoping to have lunch, on the way we saw three Mistle Thrushes (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) sat up in some Almonde trees near the road. When we got to Cacín we found that both bars were shut so we decided to drive towards Ventas de Huelma, on the way we parked on the road side and scanned the ridges. We soon picked up Rock Pigeon (Paloma Bravia / Columba livia) and a single Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) low over the Olives and then another two Eagles were seen soaring more distantly. From here we drove on towards Ventas and then made our way back to the Hotel where we started the day, once we there Patty and Mike went in for a late menu del dia and I said goodbye and headed home.

Laguna Grande and Laguna Chica, Archidona, Malaga Province.

A couple of hours walking and birding with the Iznajar Walking Group.

Broad leaved Iris (lirio de invierno / Iris planifolia).

I met Jeff Parkes and four other members of the group on the service road along side the A92, from here we walked up hill towards Laguna Grande. On the way up we saw several early flowering Broad leaved Iris (lirio de invierno / Iris planifolia), Henbit Deadnettle (Lamium amplexicaule) and Field marigold (Calendula arvensis) along with Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

Once we reached the top of the hill we had a look over the water and picked up good numbers of wildfowl including Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca) x8, Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina) 40+, Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca) x3, Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus) x7+, Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) x46, Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) x3 and at least 2 more Grey Herons.
Other species seen in this area included Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), a couple of Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and several disused Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei) holes. Jeff then took us along side the laguna and showed us tree rubbing spots used by the local Wild Boars (Jabalí / Felis silvestris), in the same area and further along the walk we saw plent more signs of this distructive species where they had rotten up large areas amongst the scrub and around the Oaks where they were eating the fallen Acorns.

Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula).

We continued on a roundabout track out towards Laguna Chica adding only Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) on the way and several Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata) on the water.

We continued on in a large circle back around to Laguna Grande, on the way we saw a single Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and a couple of Eurasian Badger (Meles meles) in the mud. 

Once we reached the pool again we retraced our steps back down to the cars and said our goodbyes before heading off.

I went back towards home across country on a road through Fuente Camacho and then up on to the Loja / Zafarraya road, along there I had Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) and Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).