Barcelona, Northern Spain.

A long drive but the start of four days in Barcelona.

Barbara, Jayne and I drove the 923KM up to Barcelona and once we had checked in at the hotel headed out on the town to see the Magic fountains and a few other sites.

Torremolinos Beach, Malaga Province.

A day on the beach with Jayne and Barbara.

We got down to the beach early and set up on the first row and exept for a visit to the nearby bar for a lunch time meal we were there until 5ish. During the time there I saw Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and a Monarch (Danaus plexippus) butterfly hich headed out to sea.

Padul and Agua Blanca's, Granada Province.

A few hours birding whilst Jayne had a look around the City.

Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus).

I dropped Jayne off in the city and made my way down to Padul, I first looked at a small pool near the visitor centre. There were birds about but the vegetation was high in front of the hide which made viewing hard but I did manage Cetti's (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Reed Warblers (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) and in a fig tree nearby a couple of Garden Warblers (Curruca Mosquitera / Sylvia borin), as well as a Melodious (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta) and a good many Blackcaps (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla).

Immature Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator).

 I continued on around the boardwalk and around to the smelly ditch via the raised platform, from there I saw several Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), a female Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) and Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea). Along the smelly stream I saw Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata) and Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus) as well as Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus) and Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria). 

During the walk back to the car several species were added to the day list including Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

Immature Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator).

Once back at the car I went for a look at a large Cortijo on the road to La Malaha where I parked near a couple small pools formed by water leaking from some animal water butts, the only species to come down for the water was an immature Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator) and several Red-veined Darters (Sympetrum fonscolombii) so I moved on and headed in to the city to meet Jayne.

Home near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

A killer in the garden.

I found a single Red Palm Beetle (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) in the garden today the insect that killed our Palm Tree earlier in the year.

Red Palm Beetle (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus).

Red Palm Beetle (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus).

Hacho, Loja, Granada Province.

An evening of night time photography.

Steve and I headed up to a point on the northern side of Hacho where we had views of an Eagle Owl (Buho Real / Bubo bubo) which sat on a crag before flying across the valley. Our main reason for going to the spot was to photograph the night sky.

Charca Suarez and Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

A cracking days birding again, dragging Steve further towards the dark side.

Mediterranean Chameleon (Chamaeleo chamaeleon).

Lynn, Steve and I headed out past Granada and down to the coast, on the way we saw Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), European Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) and Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa).

Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) female.

We were a little early to enter the reserve so we had a look at the back road where we heard a couple of calling Common Quails (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Eurasian Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Western House Martin, Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata).

Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus).

Once we were on the reserve we made our way around the track in the usual anti-clockwise direction with just a fleeting look at the first hide but apart from Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) and Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis).

Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).

We continued on around to the second hide and soon boosted the list with a very smart Squacco Heron (Garcilla Cangrejera / Ardeola ralloides), Red-knobbed Coot (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Red Avadavat (Bengali Rojo / Amandava amandava), a fly over Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Barn (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Red-rumped Swallows (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica) and Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus).

Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus).

A few dragons were also seen and these included several Long Skimmers (Orthetrum trinacria) and Black Perchers (Diplacodes lefebvrii).

Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus).

Whilst I was watching the birds, Steve and Lynn were checking the trees and bushes along the track outside and Lynn soon came to tell me that they had found a very smart Mediterranean Chameleon (Chamaeleo chamaeleon).

Common Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis).

I joined them and we had cracking views of this reptile and found a smaller female, we got some nice shots even though the light was almost directly behind the target.

Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus).

After a while we moved on and around to the next hide where we added Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope), Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea) and Small Red-eyed (Erythromma viridulum).

Immature Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus).

Around at the main hide Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) were seen.

Adult Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus).

Our next stop was down at new hide overlooking the large pool and soon found several Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Green Sandpipers (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Common Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), another Squacco Heron, Red Avadavats, Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), a nice Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus), White (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae).

Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope).

13:00 soon came around so we headed back north and the across country and back to the house via the Cacín Valley and Morelade Fields. 

On our way we picked up Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and out on the fields several Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and Eurasian Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur).

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

Off Tarifa, Cadiz Province and travelling home.

A second trip out for the Orca's.

Long-finned Pilot Whale (Globicephala melas).

As we had not seen the Orca's yesterday we got 30% off todays trip out but this time there were less of us so we were on a much smaller boat which made it a bit more choppy. 

Long-finned Pilot Whale (Globicephala melas).

Again there was no sign of the Orca's but on this trip we did see more Common Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) as well as several Atlantic White-sided Dolphins (Lagenorhynchus acutus) and a good number of Long-finned Pilot Whales (Globicephala melas) all of which gave us good views but as the boat was smaller getting in to get photographs was a lot harder.

Jayne on the boat.

During the cruise we had several more Cory's Shearwater (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea), a single Great Skua (Págalo Grande / Stercorarius skua) and many migrating Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica).

Common Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus).

We arrived back at the port in Tarifa and had some Lunch before heading back towards home but on the way we called in at a spot where we photographed a couple of White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).

White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).

White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).

Off Tarifa, Barbate Marshes and La Janda, Cadiz Province.

A mornings Dolphin watching and an afternoon birding.

Cory's Shearwater (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris borealis).

The four of us headed down to Tarifa and booked on to the Orca watching boat trip and later we went down to the harbour to wait for the boat and saw Yellow-legged Gull  (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Common (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) and Pallid Swifts (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) and Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).

Cory's Shearwater (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris borealis).

We headed out on one of the companys larger boats with a lot of other people which was not as nice as the last time we did it but we did enjoy it. The only thing missing from the trip were the Orca's but we did see several Common Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), Sunfish (Mola mola) and quite a few Cory's Shearwaters (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis) and lots of migrating Barn Swallows as well as around a 1000 White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).

Cory's Shearwater (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris borealis).

Once we were back on dry land we headed around the coast towards Vejer, stopping to have lunch at Apollo XI before going a bit further on to the golf course where we saw just a single Bald Ibis (Ibis Eremita / Geronticus eremita), several Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and down by a largish pool nearby we had Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata) and Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator).

A large Tuna being landed.

Dragons included Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea), Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria), Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum) and Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata).

White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia) halfway across.

We continued on past Vejer calling in at the cliffs below the town where we saw the now empty Ibis nests along with Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and House Martins. 

Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus).

Our next stop was down at the coastal marshes where I was a bit disappointed with the number of birds but we did see Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), Yellow-legged Gull, Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Little and  Cattle Egret and Rock Pigeon (Paloma Bravia / Columba livia). 

Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus).

At this point we started to make our way back toward the hotel via La Janda, we spent an hour or so but only worked the main track where we saw Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus), White Storks, Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Black-winged Stilts, Greater Flamingo's, Spoonbill, Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur) as well as Red-veined Darter, Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea) and Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope).

Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus).

As we headed back to the hotel we hit a long traffic jam and whilst we were stuck I saw Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Booted Eagle, Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus).

We eventually cleared the Tarifa traffic jam and got to the hotel, later we went out and head a very nice Italian meal in the restaurant El Mafia.

Hozgargantes, Jimena del la Frontera, Cadiz Province.

Lynn and Jayne on Gib whilst Steve and I went looking for dragons and birds inland.

Green Hooktail (Paragomphus genei) female.

Steve and I drove inland from the border to Gib picking up Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

Green Hooktail (Paragomphus genei) male.

Once we reached Jimena we were surprised to find that there was a lack of water but there were a couple of pools up stream so we went and had a look at them.

Steve photographing the Large Psammodromus (Lagartija colilarga / Psammodromus algirus).

On the first pool we soon had a male Green Hooktail (Paragomphus genei) but after landing once it disappeared up the river bed. In the same area we had Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma) x1M-1F, a male Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) and the first of 3 male Ringed Cascaders (Zygonyx torridus), in the sky overhead we had Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus).

Large Psammodromus (Lagartija colilarga / Psammodromus algirus).

On the second and larger pool we found another 3 male Green Hooktails and a single female along with Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi) x8M, Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata) x 20+, Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator) x1M, Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea) x5M, Blue-eye (Erythromma lindenii) and White Featherleg (Platycnemis latipes).

Large Psammodromus (Lagartija colilarga / Psammodromus algirus).

We had a very smart Large Psammodromus (Lagartija colilarga / Psammodromus algirus) which was very tame and came right up close whilst it had a drink. In the same area there were loads of Perez's Frogs (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi) all along the side of the pools.

An immature Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis).

In the trees around the area we found Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), 2x Kingfishers (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and on the way back we found a very nice male Western Spectre (Boyeria Irene).

Steve.

We went back towards La Linea and met the girls and then went and found the hotel and checked in and later we went for a meal at the Luna beach bar back in La Linea.

The castle at Jimena.

Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi).

Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica).

Laguna Chica, Laguna Grande, Malaga Province and Rio Vilano, Granada Province.

Steve and I headed out for a days local dragonfly hunting.

Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria) male.

We started the day by making our way to Laguna Chica and I was very pleased to find that the track had been resurfaced which made getting up to the pool far easier.

Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria) male.

We walked down to the edge of the pool but found we could not get close to the water due to the reedbeds but on the track around the northern edge we saw Long Skimmers (Orthetrum trinacria) x15+, Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata) x3M, Common Winter Damselfly (Sympecma fusca) 3M-1F, Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) x50+, Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathinerum) x1M, Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum) x3M, Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea) x5M-2F and Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi) x2M.

Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria) male.

Birds included Grey (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and Purple Herons (Garza Imperial / Ardea purpurea), Great Crested (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus) and Little Grebes (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus), Orphean (Curruca Mirlano / Sylvia hortensis), Subalpine (Curruca Carrasquena / Sylvia cantillans), Reed (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei) and Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Blue Tits (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) and Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).

Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria) male.

On our way around to Laguna Grande we called in at a small ditch which looked as though it would be quite good for dragons but all we managed to find was a single male Copper Demoiselle (Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis).

Common Winter Damselfly (Sympecma fusca).

Up at Laguna Grande we were amazed to find well over 50 Long Skimmers on the wing, 500+ Red-veined Darters, Black-tailed Skimmers x20+, Scarlet Darter x20+, Common Blue Damselfly x1M, Orange-winged Dropwing x2M-1F, Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator) x1M, White Featherleg (Platycnemis latipes) x5M and Iberian Blue-tail (Ischnura graellsii) x10.

Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea) female.

Birds included Eurasian Coot, Great Crested and Little Grebes, Mallard, Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) and Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus).

Western Subalpine Warbler (Curruca Carrasquena / Sylvia cantillans).

Our last stop of the day was near to home on the Rio Vilano where Steve had found several Mediterranean Bluet's (Coenagrion caerulescens) x4M-1F, Southern Skimmers (Orthetrum brunneum) x8M-1F, Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma) x2M, Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator) x1M, Iberian Blue-tail x20, Scarlet Darter x3M and Red-veined Darter x4M-1F.

Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) male.

We also had views of a soaring group of 13 Black Kites (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), a dark Morph Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus), an immature Purple Heron (Garza Imperial / Ardea purpurea) and a couple of Greys, Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) and Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi) and Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa). From here we headed back to the house and sat on the terrace and had a drink.

Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) female.

Mediterranean Bluet (Coenagrion caerulescens).

Mediterranean Bluet (Coenagrion caerulescens).