El Faro and Rio Fuengirola Mouth, Malaga Province.

A quick look at the remains of the beaches near Fuengirola.

Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres).

I dropped a the Miramar shopping center and went for a look at the beaches near the sea watching hide at El Faro. The beaches were covered in the mess and rubbish washed down the rivers out to sea and the back up on to the beaches after the heavy rains. 

Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres).

The mess was being cleaned up which meant there were very few birds about but I did however see Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), 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),  Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres) and Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba). 

Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres).

As well as some birds that were not on the beach including Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and a late / early Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) flying west.

Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres).

Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus).

Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus).

Near Armilla, Granada, Granada Province.

A unseasonal find by friend Juan.

Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca).

After getting a phone call from Juan Pérez Contreras on Tuesday evening to say he had a Flycatcher species on his local patch, I went up just on first light to see what it was.

Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca).

I had not got to bed until 04:00 following a night listening to some superb music in Santa Fe, so had slightly blurry eyes when I arrived but soon found Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), a single Brambling (Pinzón Real / Fringilla montifringilla), several Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and lots of Goldfinches (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis).

Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca).

Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca).

About 15 minutes later Juan Pérez Contreras arrived with two more Granada birders José María González Cachinero and Agustín García Martínez and we continued to search the row of trees where he had seen the bird but only found Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) and Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).

Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca).

Juan and the others went to check a couple of trees at the far end of a nearby Asparagus field whilst I checked the fences and trees in a small holding along side the track, on my around this spot I saw several Blackcaps (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) and as I round the furthest corner of the fence the Flycatcher which as soon as I got on it looked like a female type Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca) later corrected to 1st Winter Male (Thanks Ed MacKrill for the correction on the sex) but due to the amount of eastern species being found I wanted to make sure so I took a few bad shots of it before I went to fetch the others.

Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca).

Once we had all had good views we all came to the same conclusion that it was most likely a Pied but I wanted to check the shots before I was sure but as suspected it was a Pied Flycatcher. Juan and friends headed off whilst I took a few more shots before heading home.

Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca).

Santa Fe, Granada Province.

Inland Winter Booted Eagle.

Jayne and I travelled up in to Granada to visit the new Nevada shopping centre but on the way had a dark phase Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus) which flew over us as we were heading out of Santa Fe towards the city. On the way up we also saw Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).

Peñón de Jolúcar (RAM), Playa de las Azucenas, Charca Suarez and Huétor Fields, Granada Province.

A cracking mornings birding and survey work.

Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

I met Juan Pérez Contreras and we went down to Peñón de Jolúcar where we did the monthly sea bird count, on the way up to the high point on Peñón de Jolúcar we saw Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and a large flock of Eurasian Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris).

Common Crane (Grulla Común / Grus grus).

Once we were up on the watch point we picked up Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus) and Mediterranean Gulls (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Balearic Shearwater (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus), Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), several Razorbills (Alca Común / Alca torda), 3x Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) and more surprisingly 3x Common Crane (Grulla Común / Grus grus) which were heading east quite a way out to sea.

Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina).

These were soon followed by a second surprising fly past by 27 Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) which were also heading East.

Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago).

On the walk back to Juan's car and the drive to Playa de las Azucenas we boosted the list with Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), 9x Eurasian Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), European Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti). 

As we arrived a Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) flew along the channel followed by a Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), we also had a Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata) fly across the channel and on the way down to the beach we picked up European Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Red Avadavat (Bengali Rojo / Amandava amandava) and Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea).

Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca).

On the beach we had 4x Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), a Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) and Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea). 

We moved on again and made our way to Charca adding Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus).

Once we were on the reserve we went and had a look over Laguna del Liriowhere we found more, lots more Common Chiffchaffs, Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and Red-knobbed Coots (Focha cornuda / Fulca cristata), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla) and a cracking Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago) which sat nicely for the camera in front of the hide.

Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca).

We changed direction and went around to Laguna del Taraje finding just Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and at the other end of the pool a Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio) and several Migrant Hawkers (Aeshna mixta).

From the new hide we Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), a Jack Snipe (Agachadiza Chica / Lymnocriptes minimus), Common Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Common Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus), Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) and a good number of Common Snipe and Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca). 

Jack Snipe (Agachadiza Chica / Lymnocriptes minimus) x3.

We moved on around to the main hide a bit later and added quite a few new species to the day list including a nice male Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca), a female Red-crested Pochard (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina), several Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Anas penelope), Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus) and a single Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) amongst a large group of Eurasian Crag Martins.

After a while we returned to the new hide, the only new species was a Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) but the best thing were views of three Jack Snipe at the same time which were pushed from cover by a wandering Western Swamp-hen as it clattered through the reed-bed.

Northern Pintail (Ánade Rabudo / Anas acuta).

Our last stop on the reserve as back in Laguna del Taraje where we heard a couple of Eurasian Penduline Tits (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus) and saw a female Northern Pintail (Ánade Rabudo / Anas acuta).

We started to make our way home but went via the tracks at the back adding Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia) and back up nearer to Granada several Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).

After leaving Juan I headed home but called in at a couple of spots on the fields and bought the day list up to 81 with 56 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), European Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaria), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) and the locally very common Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).

Caleta del Velez and the mouth of the Rio Velez, Malaga Province.

More Gulls and a few other odds and ends.

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

Jayne and I dropped down to the coast at Torre-del-mar in Malaga Province and on the way down I saw Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) and Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulg aris).

Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) 1st Winter.

I dropped Jayne in Torre and then went along the coast to Caleta del Velez where I checked the Gulls on the beach, I arrived to find things were quiet with just a few Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) roosting and numbers of Mediterraneans (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) flying over. 

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

Also on the beach I also saw Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba) and Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres) and on the wall there were several Great Cormorants (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) sitting on the sea wall. 

Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) 1st Winter.

On the inland side of the site I picked up Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).

Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba).

As it was quiet I went along the coast to the mouth of the Rio Velez and on the way down to the beach I bumped into Pat and Eric Lyon and we had a chat and saw Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta) and Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus).

Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica).

I parked down towards the beach and walked out through the reeds to check the sea as the track was rather muddy, once out there I found Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba) and up the river there were Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and lots more Great Cormorants.

Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica).

On the walk back up the river I spent a while sat along side the reedbeds to see what came to me and got shots of a very smart male Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) along with Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Penduline Tit (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild) and Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).

Also in the same area I found Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).

Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis).

During the afternoon I popped back to the port and added Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis) and Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A fishing boat returning to port.

El Faro and Fuengirola sea front, Malaga Province.

An unexpected Spanish Lifer down on the coast.

Jayne and I made an unexpected trip down to Malaga City to swap a item at the Larios Centre before heading along the coast to Fuengirola where I dropped Jayne off at the Miramar. I then drove down to the junction of the coastal motorway just past the sea watch hide and parked over looking the sea. I then started to scan through the large numbers of Gulls flying past going East and was amazed that in the first group of Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) there was a 1st winter Glaucous Gull (Gavión Hiperbóreo / Larus hyperboreus) which was the first I have seen in Spain. I drove as quickly as I could down towards the mouth of the Rio Fuengirola hoping to see the bird again and after a couple of minutes the bird appeared over head ad circled a few times with the Yellow-legs and then disappeared off east again towards the port so again I jumped into the car again and parked just before the port and again waited for it to arrive and after a few minutes the Gull flew in lower this time but it disappeared over the port buildings and towards the Gull roost on the main sea wall but I did not see if it landed or flew on. I went in and had a look but found nothing so I went and met Jayne for some lunch before returning and spending the rest of the afternoon looking with out success. 

Other species seen during the morning and afternoon included 100s of Mediterranean Gulls (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) along with Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus).

Whilst I was near the port in the afternoon I also saw a new weather phenomenon in the shape of a water spout which formed quite a long way out to sea and lasted for nearly five minutes and was watched by quite a crowd from the prom.

Huétor Fields and Sierra de Loja, Granada Province.

A morning with Pau from Valencia and an afternoon on a cold hill.

Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

I met Pau Lucio a Birding Guide from the Valencia area at the bar at the bottom where we had a coffee before heading out on to the patch. 

Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

A started by going out along the Rio Vilano picking up White (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Grey Wagtails (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) and on the road near to the model aeroplane runway we added Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) and Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

We moved on around to the town and walked a track out on to the fields follwing an irrigation channel, here we found more Tree Sparrows, Common Stonechats, a male Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), 3+ Dartford (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata) and several Sardinian Warblers (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), lots of Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) and Corn Buntings (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata).

Again we moved on around towards the central track still looking for the Bustards which have become elusive, on the way in we saw and photographed one of the regular Little Owls (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) and the found the first 11 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) on a Lucerne field. 

Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata).

A little further along the track we found another 40 odd Bustards mix in with Northern Lapwings, Spotless and Common Starlings (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulg aris) and 8+ Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaria) and quite a few Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae).

We headed back to the bar and said our goodbyes before I headed home. Later I dropped Jayne off at the craft groups meal at Flatti's in Loja and went up Sierra de Loja. 

Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae).

I started off in the lower quarry where I had views of Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Stonechat, Black Redstart, Meadow Pipit, Blackbird, Common Chaffinch, Linnet and a pair of very well behaved Dartford Warblers.

Alpine Accentor (Acentor Alpino / Prunella collaris).

After a while I drove up to the Northern crags and spent the rest of the afternoon watching a single stretch of rocks looking for a wintering Wallcreeper (Treparriscos / Tichodroma muraria), I always think that if you do not try you will never find one, anyway I did not but got great views of a flock of 15+ Alpine Accentors (Acentor Alpino / Prunella collaris) which eventually came right down in front of me whilst I was sat in the car. 

Alpine Accentor (Acentor Alpino / Prunella collaris).

In the same area I added Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) and Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa). 

Alpine Accentor (Acentor Alpino / Prunella collaris).

I later picked Jayne up and we headed home.

Alpine Accentor (Acentor Alpino / Prunella collaris).