Sierra de Loja, Granada Province.

A very frosty trip up the hill.

The View from the Sierra.

Steve and I made our way up the Sierra hoping to do some bird photography but due to the severe cold snap in the area a large number of birds had moved to lower ground but we did see several Ring Ouzels ( Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blue-rock (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Mistle (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and Song Thrushes (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Corn (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and Rock Buntings (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) and Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura). 

A hard frost.

Down in the woodlands near the motorway we had lots of Broad-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia) and several spikes of Giant Orchids (Himantoglossum robertiana) just starting to flower.

Frost on the Hawthorns.

Icicles in the Goat Cave.

Broad-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia).

Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum robertiana).

Steve amongst the frost.

More frost on the Hawthorns.

More frost.

And more.

Icicles in the Goat Cave.

Steve in the goat cave.

View from the Sierra.

Frost again.

Frost.

Sierra Morena, Jaen Province.

A day looking for the rare Iberian Lynx and what a day !!!

Iberian Lynx (lince iberico/ Lynx pardina).

Steve and I were out just on dawn and drove out to the site where we were going to look for the Iberian Lynx (lince iberico/ Lynx pardina), on the way we picked up Red Deer (Ciervo común / Cervus elaphus) in the headlights as well as Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus).

Iberian Lynx (lince iberico/ Lynx pardina) checking the scent on the bush.

Once we were on site at around 08:45 we set our selves up and started to find new species including Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Blue Tits (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula),Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and Common Magpies (Urraca / Pica pica), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Blue-rock (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) and Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos). 

Steve (AKA Kermit) photographing the Crag Martins.

Just before 10:00 Steve had walked a couple of hundred meters along the road and I walked back a short way in the opposite direction to check a raucous group of Common Magpies when I picked up a male Lynx moving along a nearby ridge. 

Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa).

I managed to get Steve's attention and then went to look for it again and made sure another group got onto it as well, I rushed back to the car grabbed my camera and locked it before returning to the rest of the group. 

Fallow Deer (Gamo común / Dama dama).

What happened next was fantastic, the Lynx dropped out of sight over the ridge and then reappeared right next to us, no more than 10-15 meters away and walked past us up the hill, under the road and out onto a clear area above us where it checked a bush for scent for a few minutes, right out in the open before moving off into cover up the hill. 

Río Jándula Dam.

The whole experience was amazing and all 8 of us were over the moon with the views this stunning animal allowed us.

Otter (Nutria / Lutra lutra).

After a while we decided to go down to the dam at the far end of the track but we did not see much apart from lots of Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) sat on the dam wall.

Otter (Nutria / Lutra lutra).

Later we drove off the site seeing Fallow Deer (Gamo común / Dama dama) on the way and down to the Río Jándula where we ate a sandwich (a bit of a monster) we had got on the way at the picnic area near the road and added Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), White (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Grey Wagtails (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea).

Otter (Nutria / Lutra lutra).

After finishing the Pork monster we drove to the dam and spent some time on the bridge nearby where we had great views of a very smart Otter (Nutria / Lutra lutra) along with both European Black (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus) and Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), a pair of soaring Spanish Imperial Eagles (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti) and a couple of Hawfinches (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes).

Río Jándula.

Around mid afternoon we decided to drive south and back home but not before we found a rather hairy looking Wild Boar (Jabalí / Felis silvestris) near the bridge.

Wild Boar (Jabalí / Felis silvestris).

Miraflores Golf Course, Malaga Province and Sierra Morena, Jaen Province.

A Spanish Lifer and an afternoon Lynx chasing with Steve Jones from the UK.

Long-tailed Duck (Pato Havelda / Clangula hyemalis).

I was going down to Malaga to meet Steve Jones for four days searching for Mammals but things were somewhat nastier weather wise than expected with heavy snow at the highest points and rain lower down. I had headed off a little early so I could call in at one of the pools on the Miraflores Golf Course where an immature Long-tailed Duck (Pato Havelda / Clangula hyemalis) had been for a few days. I arrived and found the bird easily but the light was dreadful and so were the photographs that I took. In the same area I found Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

I also call in at the rocky beach near El Faro where I boosted the list with Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Audouin's Gulls (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres) and Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba).

Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti).

I met Steve who was in a little early so we were on our way North earlier than expected and up through the snow near Antequera, around Cordoba, through Andujar and out to the site for the Lynx. On the way we saw Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), 100+ White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia) in a soaring flock, Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) and a flock Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).

Once we were on site for the Lynx we settled down and watched the area infront of us where we saw Green (Pito Real / Picus viridis) and Great Spotted Woodpeckers (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti), Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Dartford (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata) and Sardinian Warblers (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Red (Ciervo común / Cervus elaphus) and Fallow Deer (Gamo común / Dama dama) and Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus) but the Lynx which had been seen early in the day avoided us.

At dusk we drove back along the road to the accommodation at Los Pinos, where we had a good evening meal in the bar before turning in ready for our second day in the area.

Desembocadura del río Andarax, Torre Garcia, Rambla Morales, the Lighthouse and Cabo de Gata Saltpans, Almeria.

Twitching !!!! Thought I was cured but stumbled for a World Lifer just a couple of hours away.

Steppe Grey Shrike (Lanius excubitor pallidirostris).

I set off down to Almeria and then out to the Desembocadura del río Andarax right on the southern part of the city where I parked amongst hordes of German and French Camper Vans on a car park just to the East of the river bed. 

Steppe Grey Shrike (Lanius excubitor pallidirostris).

The area between the Car park and the sea was a rather rough, unfinished public garden area with a lot of people doing laps but this is where I found the main target bird for the day a Steppe Grey Shrike (Lanius excubitor pallidirostris) which is a subspecies of Great Grey Shirke from Central Asia. 

Steppe Grey Shrike (Lanius excubitor pallidirostris).

Unlike the Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) which I also saw here it did not sit up high but stayed under the branches of the Tamarisk trees or in the bushes and the only time it went up high was when it was flushed by a car and sat on a roof of one of the little huts. 

Steppe Grey Shrike (Lanius excubitor pallidirostris).

In the same area I also recorded at least two wintering Wrynecks (Torcecuello / Jynx torquilla), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Dartford Warblers (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).

Steppe Grey Shrike (Lanius excubitor pallidirostris).

After getting great views of this stunning well behaved bird I moved around the coast to Torre Garcia and out into the sea side vegetation where I searched but only found 2 of the wintering Eurasian Dotterels (Chorlito Carambolo / Eudromias morinellus) during December I had seen 20+ birds in the same area but at least a couple showed up. 

Wryneck (Torcecuello / Jynx torquilla).

In the same area I saw Thekla (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo).

White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

I again moved on and stopped off next at the hide on the Northern end of the Salinas but generally it was quiet, whoever I did add Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Spoonbills (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), Slender-billed Gull (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Black-tailed (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa) and Bar-tailed Godwits (Aguja Colipinta / Limosa lapponica), Grey Plover (Chorlito Gris / Pluviali squatarola), Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax) and Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).

Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris).

I again moved on to Rambla Morales but the water level was low and the pool was virtually devoid of birds except for 3x Mallards (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), 1x Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta) and 2x Dunlins.

Trumpeter Finch (Camachuelo Trompetero / Bucanetes githagineus).

Next I went to the Lighthouse where after a tip from Bob Wright I was very pleased to find a flock of around 40 Trumpeter Finches (Camachuelo Trompetero / Bucanetes githagineus), 3x Black Wheatears (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura) and a male Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius).

Trumpeter Finch (Camachuelo Trompetero / Bucanetes githagineus).

I retraced my steps back to the Salinas and stopped at the first hide heading back North but again things were very quiet and I only added Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta) and Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba).

Trumpeter Finch (Camachuelo Trompetero / Bucanetes githagineus).

As it was quiet in the area I decided to call it a day at around 13:00 and head home adding Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) on the way.

Trumpeter Finch (Camachuelo Trompetero / Bucanetes githagineus).

Trumpeter Finch (Camachuelo Trompetero / Bucanetes githagineus).

Mouth of the Guadalhorce, Malaga Province.

A rapid visit to the sea front.

Great Skua (Págalo Grande / Stercorarius skua).

Jayne and I spent the morning in Malaga and then Jayne went and had a wander around Plaza Mayor whilst I went for a quick scan at the beach at Guadalmar but did not stay long as there were masses of people walking on the reserve beach area (a coach trip I guess) and along with all the fishermen there was little chance of seeing much.

I did however see Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus) x2, Grey Plover (Chorlito Gris / Pluviali squatarola) x4, Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Common Scoter (Negrón Común / Melanitta nigra) x6, Black-necked Grebes (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis) x8+, lots of Great Cormorants (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Great Skua (Págalo Grande / Stercorarius skua) x1, Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and a single Small White (Pieris rapae).

House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus).

Peñón de Jolúcar, Playa de las Azucenas and Charca Suarez, Granada Province.

A cracking mornings birding down on the Granada Coast.                           08:15 to 13:30

Climbing Groundsel (Senecio Angulatus).

I picked Juan Pérez Contreras at his place before driving down to Peñón de Jolúcar just to the East of Torrenueva where we walked up to the high point starting the list off with Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) which all came up off the cliffs as we arrived at the sea watch point to shout abuse at us for disturbing their morning.

Juan photographing the Orchids.

Once we were set up we scanned the sea for birds picking up Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Balearic Shearwater (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus), Razorbill (Alca Común / Alca torda), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis). 

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca / O. forestieri).

We also had a male Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) which was calling from a nearby ruin and a White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) which was on the road as we walked back down. 

Yellow-horned Poppy (Glaucium flavum).

On the bank as we walked back down we also saw several spikes of Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca / O. forestieri) along with Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritima), Fleshy-leaved Thymelaea (Thymelaea hirsuta), Bermuda Buttercup (Oxalis pes-caprae), Yellow Sea Aster (Asteriscus maritimus) and Climbing Groundsel (Senecio Angulatus).

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

Our next stop was on the beach at Playa de las Azucenas at the Eastern end of Motril port, on the way there we added a few species on the fields just off the main road including Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) and Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea).

White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

We parked and walked along the river towards the Beach seeing some birds but were a little worried about the smell of petroleum / oils in the water which looked and smelt very unpleasant. 

Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis).

New species were House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and an immature Night Heron (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax) which flew up from the track side reeds. 

Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo).

On the beach pool we found a Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), a male Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) which flew off into the reeds ahead of us, a Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), several Common Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), 2x Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) and Yellow-horned Poppy (Glaucium flavum).

Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis).

On our way back to the car we walked back along the beach again seeing Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), a Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) which flew out from the river with 3 Sanderlings (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba) and back along the river a Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) shot past up and we finished off at this site with a couple of male Spanish Sparrows (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis) in a bush near the car.

Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, European Wigeon and Mallard.

On out way to Charca Suarez we stopped at a temperary pool made by rains a while ago and were surprised how many species were there including 2 Bluethroats which were right out in the open on the mud along with a single Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta), a female Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), several Mallards, 8+ Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) and another Grey Heron.

Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca).

On our way to Charca we had a family group of Mallards including 7 ducklings month or so old.

Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina).

Once we were in Charca we went out to the small hide over looking Laguna del Taraje where we boosted the day list with Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and a squealing Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus). 

Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis).

From the new hide over looking the new pool Juan found a cracking Jack Snipe (Agachadiza Chica / Lymnocriptes minimus) along with several Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), as well as a single Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and several Common Waxbills (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild).

The Main Pool.

We walked towards the main hide hearing Stripe-less Tree Frogs (Hyla meridionalis) along the way as well as a male Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), a female Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) and a Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus) which flew quickly over our heads and away.

Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata) female.

From the main hide we searched through the ducks on the pool and soon found Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia) and one of the neck collared Red-knobbed Coot (Focha cornuda / Fulca cristata).

Narcissus tazetta.

The next hide looked over Laguna del Trébol, here we had good views of 4 Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Anas penelope) and Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio). 

Narcissus tazetta.

After a while we retraced our steps back around the reserve to the entrance but we did not add any thing new but had good views again of the Jack Snipe before heading around to the back of the reserve where we spent some time checking the area along what has be knick named Turtle Dove Alley and we soon found Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus), Red Avadavat (Bengali Rojo / Amandava amandava), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and several clumps of the stunning and uncommon Narcissus tazetta.

Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata) male.

We headed back north to Juans seeing a Large White (Pieris brassicae) on the way and then I went back home picking up Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) and Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus).