Huétor and Moraleda Fields and Mesia Motorway junction A92, Granada Province.

A dip on the Sandgrouse target but a new Butterfly for my local patch.

Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

I started the day by having a look at the fields and ditches around Huétor and in the 30 minutes or so I had there before meeting Bob, Steve and Elena at the Cortijo de Tajar hotel I saw Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) x1 male, Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe).

Bob, Steve and Elena arrived at the Cortijo and after a coffee we headed slightly east and started to search for the Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis) and over the next few hours we covered all the areas where I have been seeing these birds regularly recently but as hard as we tried we could not get even flight views. 

Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe).

How ever during the morning we did see some nice species including Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Thekla (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Greater Short-toed (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla) and Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) all in good umbers, Tawny Pipit (Bisbita campestre / Anthus campestris), Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) heard only, Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus). 

Tawny Pipit (Bisbita campestre / Anthus campestris).

We eventually gave in on the Sandgrouse and went just down the road to Balsa de Regidor to see what Dragonflies were on the wing and we soon found lots of tandem pairs of Red-veined Darters (Sympetrum fonscolombii) egg laying as well as Violet (Trithemis annulata) and Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi), Small Red-eyed (Erythromma viridulum), Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea), Iberian Blue-tail (Ischnura graellsii), Blue / Common (Anax imperator) and Lesser Emperors (Anax parthenope) plus Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Large White (Pieris brassicae) and Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous). 

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

Bird species included Willow (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus) and Reed Warblers (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), 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) and Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea). 

Red-veined Darters (Sympetrum fonscolombii).

Instead of jumping on to the motor way we stayed on the service road down to the Mesia junction as I wanted to quickly check an area of Caper plants that I had seen just in case there were any of the uncommon Desert Orange-tip (Colotis evagore) butterflies. 

Red-veined Darters (Sympetrum fonscolombii).

Before we had even got out of the car we spotted the first and by the time we were leaving we had seen at least 8 of the smart little insects, well pleased with this find so close to home and well and truly on the local patch.

Desert Orange-tip (Colotis evagore).

Thanks to Steve for driving us around for the morning and to Bob and Elena for their company.

Huétor Tajar, Granada Province.

10,000 steps and a visit to a new bar in town.

Jayne and I finished the day by completing today's 10.000 steps down in Huétor and also trying a bar out that we have not been in before. The bar was called El Sitio and the food / tapas were very good but as usual I was sat in the wrong place. Whilst enjoying our second drink Jayne had a Barn Owl (Lechuza Común / Tyto alba) flying between the buildings, lit by the many street lights.

The Tapa's.

Monte Hacho, Loja, Granada Province.

Getting the steps in with a pleasant local walk.

My beautiful Jayne.

Jayne and I drove to the Northern side of Hacho and then took the zig-zagging track up to the summit at just over a 1000m. There was a nice breeze which meant even in the afternoon sun it was still a very pleasant walk and this time Jayne made it all the way to the marker post at the summit.

At the Summit.

During the walk I saw lots of Striped Graylings (Pseudotergumia fidia),  as well as several Tree Grayling (Hipparchia statilinus) and a couple of Common Grayling (Hipparchia semele), Swallowtail (Papilio machaon), Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina) and a single male Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi).

Birds included Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Red-rumped (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica) and Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).

On the way back down.

On the way back down we added Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Crested (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus) and Blue Tits (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Black (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and Common Redstarts (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus). 

At the Summit.

Just a quick foot note: During the morning Jayne and I went up to Granada and in the Huétor Vega area we had three latish Pallid Swifts (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus). 

Male Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi).

Observatorio Cazalla, Tarifa and Los Lances Beach Hide, Cadiz Province.

A drive South and some birding in the Afternoon.

Immature Egyptian Vulture (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus).

We were up and about earlish and after a second very good breakfast drove south past Jerez down to the Gibraltar border where I dropped Jayne and Barb for some retail therapy in the town before driving out to the Cazalla watch point just above Tarifa. 

Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus).

During the drive I saw a small flock of Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus), Alpine Swift (Vencejo Real / Apus melba), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata).

Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus).

I arrived and bumped in to Peter Jones with in seconds who I had not seen for quite a while, we chatted and caught up with a bit of what had been going on but saw very few birds, I thought this was probably because I was late but Peter said it had been like this for the two day he had been there. 

Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus).

We did however see several Egyptian Vultures (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus), Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas), Honey Buzzard (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus),  more Western Cattle Egrets, Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) and several Monarchs (Danaus plexippus). 

Bar-tailed Godwits (Aguja Colipinta / Limosa lapponica).

After a couple of hours I decided to drop down the road to the Los Lances beach hide where I met Alan??? and his wife from Northumberland who were on there holidays. 

Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea).

We spent the next couple of hours seeing some nice species and having a good chat, species seen included Bar-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colipinta / Limosa lapponica), Eurasian Oystercatcher (Ostrero Euroasiatico / Haematopus ostralegus), Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus), Kentish (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus) and Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), Red Knot ( Correlimos Gordo / Calidris canutus), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), a single Collared Pratincole (Canastera Común / Glareola pratincola) which dropped in on the beach, Caspian (Pagaza Piquiroja / Sterna caspia) and Sandwich Terns (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), 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), White (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Yellow Wagtails (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and a flyby Honey Buzzard. 

Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos).

After a very pleasant afternoons birding I left the birders in the hide and went back to Gib border where I met Jayne and Barb before we drove back home. 

European Black Vulture (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus) being mobbed by Spotless Starlings.

As we were just about to cross from Malaga to Granada Province Jayne picked up a massive bird just to the North of the A92 which turned out to be a very nice European Black Vulture (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus), which drifted off towards Archidona very quickly but not before I managed a few distant shots.

European Black Vulture (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus) being mobbed by Spotless Starlings.

We made a stop in the town of Huétor at 3 Calles bar for some food before going back to the house.

During the 3 half day birding stints I was pleased to pick up 119 species of bird in total.

Bonanza Salt pans and Pools, Sanlucar Beach and Chipiona sea front, Cadiz Province.

A morning on the salt pans, afternoon on the beach and and evening in the bar !!

Red Knot ( Correlimos Gordo / Calidris canutus).

The day started with a good breakfast at the Hotel Barrameda and then getting Jayne and Barb set up for a day on the beach, once they were there I headed off to the salt pans just to the North of Bonanza. 

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

The main track up through the center was very quiet right up until the last pool on the left where I scanned the edges and found a couple of Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), 3x Little (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta) and 1x Temminck Stint (Correlimos de Temminck / Calidris temminckii), 4x Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus) and a dozen or so Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) on one of the more distant pools.

Caspian Tern (Pagaza Piquiroja / Sterna caspia).

I turned right and drove down towards the pump house at the far end seeing Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) in the ditch on the left and good numbers of  Avocets (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Slender-billed Gull (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei), Caspian (Pagaza Piquiroja / Sterna caspia) and Little Tern (Charrancito Común / Sterna albifrons) on the pans to my right. 

Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus).

I got to the pump house and met two more birders there, both from Germany but one was on holiday and the other from Marbella. 

Slender-billed Gull (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei).

We spent some time scanning the pools and pans here and soon boosted the list with several new species including Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), 3x Red Knot ( Correlimos Gordo / Calidris canutus), Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), 3x Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa), Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax), Black Stork (Ciguena Negra / Ciconia nigra), Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus), Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Willow  (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Reed Warblers (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Greater Short-toed (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla) and two Lesser Short-toed Larks (Terrera Marismena / Calandrella rufescens) which flew right over us, Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) and out on the large lake several Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), 3x Great White Egret (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba) and loads more Greater Flamingo's. 

Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa).

The German lady (Briget I think, sorry useless with names) followed me in her car to the small pools in the fields nearby, a site she had never visited before but on the way out of the site I added Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) and Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope) to the list. 

The Saltpans.

We arrived and parked and stright away added a calling Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) to the day list as well as several Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), a very smart Marbled Duck (Cerceta Pardilla / Marmaronetta angustirostris) wnich was the second year tick of the day after the three Red Knot seen earlier, Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), another Kingfisher, Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), several Common Sandpipers and a single Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus).

White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala).

I then made my way back to Sanlucar and spent the rest of the day on the beach with Jayne and Barb where I did not add much except for a single pale phase Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas) which drifted over the Stone Pines on the far shore, a Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia) which was flying south east down the coast towards Tarifa, 3 Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) which flew in land towards the salt pans and several Monarch (Danaus plexippus) butterflies going inland along the beach.

Marbled Duck (Cerceta Pardilla / Marmaronetta angustirostris).

Later we drove down to Chipiona and had a very breezy walk along the sea front where I saw singles of both Eurasian Curlew (Zaoaito Real / Numenius arquata) and Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus) as well as an immature Lesser Black-backed Gull with a ring on. 

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

After the walk we returned to Sanlucar and to the square near the hotel for some Tapas and then a birthday Whiskey back at the Hotel, thanks Barbara.

Italica near Sevilla, Sevilla Province and Chipiona, Cadiz Province.

A morning around the Roman ruins and then an afternoons birding at Chipiona.

Jayne and Barb.

Jayne, Barbara and I left the house quite early and headed west along the A92 to the Roman remains at Italica just to the north of the city. 

On the way over I had from the car view of Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) x2, Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Black (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans) and Black-winged Kites (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Alpine Swift (Vencejo Real / Apus melba).

We arrived at Italica, parked and went in free of charge which at the time I thought was amazing for such an attraction. 

We spent a couple of hours wandering around the place but came away a little disappointed, the Mosaics were very nice and the amphitheater was well worth a look but the rest of the site was very disorganized and looked more like weedy allotments. 

In the far corner there was a lake and a hide where I had a quick look and found Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and around the rest of the grounds Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica).

We also had Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope), Long-tailed (Lampides boeticus) and Lang's Short-tailed Blues (Leptotes pirithous), Small White (Pieris rapae), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) and Mediterranean skipper (Gegenes nostrodamus).

Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii).

We finished at the remains earlier than expected so after a coffee we decided to drive to Bonanza for lunch in a sea food resturant we have used before, on the way I saw again from the car White  (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia) and Black Stork (Ciguena Negra / Ciconia nigra), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Short-toed  (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus) and Booted Eagles (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and a Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli). 

Audouin's Gull (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii).

We had a very nice lunch and then made our way to the Hotel Barrameda in the center of the town of Sanlucar de Barrameda which we like very much. 

Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba).

Once we were sorted there I left Jayne and barb to have a couple of hours before we hit the town later and went birding to Chipiona port, I arrived but did not find any of the Little Swifts (Vencejo Moro / Apus affinis) this spot is best known for so I had a walk along the beach where I had Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Eurasian Oystercatcher (Ostrero Euroasiatico / Haematopus ostralegus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Audouin's Gulls (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Common (Charrán Común / Sterna hirudo), Sandwich (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Caspian (Pagaza Piquiroja / Sterna caspia) and immature Black Terns (Fumarel Común / Chlidonias niger). 

Caspian Tern (Pagaza Piquiroja / Sterna caspia).

On my way back to the car I called in at the port again and this time found a group of birders watching 12 Little Swifts which spent some of the time hanging in the strom breeze which gave us some good chances to take a few shots.

Little Swift (Vencejo Moro / Apus affinis).

I returned to Sanlucar and we all went for a walk along the sea front and stopped in a bar for a drink before returning to the main square and the tapas bars for some food which included the locally famous Tortillitas de Camarones which were as usual superb, I also enjoyed a very nice Pork in gravy tapas as well before we hit the pit.

Little Swift (Vencejo Moro / Apus affinis).

Little Swift (Vencejo Moro / Apus affinis).

Sun set from a bar on the Sanlucar sea front.

Northern Granada Province.

Birds and butterflies in the desert like areas of Granada Province.

Trumpeter Finches (Camachuelo Trompetero / Bucanetes githagineus).

After dropping Jayne and Barbara off in Granada City I went up the A92 and into the dry lands beyond Baza to look for some birds out there, on the way I picked up Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila-azor / Hieraetus faciatus), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and Common Magpies (Urraca / Pica pica), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).

Trumpeter Finches (Camachuelo Trompetero / Bucanetes githagineus).

I arrived at the site and parked by the small patch of water which was leaking from a water tanks and almost instantly had the first of 20 or so Trumpeter Finches (Camachuelo Trompetero / Bucanetes githagineus) which came in for a drink. 

Trumpeter Finches (Camachuelo Trompetero / Bucanetes githagineus).

This first group was mainly moulting adults with a couple of immature birds as well, during the morning different sized flocks dropped in along with Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia) and Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura) but the latter two species always stayed out of view behind some weeds when drinking. 

Trumpeter Finch (Camachuelo Trompetero / Bucanetes githagineus).

The only other species seen in this area were Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Bath White (Blanqiverdosa / Pontia daplidice), Common / Southern (Polyommatus icarus / celina) and Long-tailed Blues (Lampides boeticus).

Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae).

I had some shots and it was getting hot so I headed south early and had a nice Menu del Dia on my way back towards Granada, after I had eatern I was still early so I turned off the Motorway near Baza and checked an area of Wild Caper (Capparis spinosa) and soon located several Desert Orange-tips (Colotis evagore) and by the time I had walked around the site I had seen more than fifty insects on the wing.

Desert Orange-tip (Colotis evagore).

I by now was running slightly late so cracked on back to Granada and arrived just 4 minutes late to pick Jayne and Barb before heading home.

Desert Orange-tip (Colotis evagore).

Desert Orange-tip (Colotis evagore).

Desert Orange-tip (Colotis evagore).