Monzón de Campos, Palencia Province to Home, Granada Province.

A long drive south.

It was a long drive but with out incident. I did pick up a few nice species on the way including a single Great Bustard (Avutarda Común / Otis tarda) flying along side us which Jayne found as well as both Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) and Hen Harrier (Aguilucho Pálido / Circus cyaneus) just to the North of Madrid.

Laguna de Boada and Nava and Palencia, Palencia Province.

Heading part of the way home with another Spanish Lifer.

Greater White-fronted Geese (Ánsar Careto / Anser albifrons) and others.

We were up and out fairly early and after fetching the car and having some breakfast we started to drive to our last nights stop in Monzón de Campos just to the North of Palencia. The journey south was only notable for the rain, snow and fog but once we were over the hills and down towards León things cleared up, I did see Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus),Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax) and White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia) on the way.

View over the main pool from the tower hide at Laguna de la Nava.

I had put Laguna de Boada into the Satnav and she took us there but not before we had unknowingly passed several easier ways in. The track we went along was rough to say the least and we damaged beyond repair the Plastic engine protector which we had to rip off later. Anyway once at the Laguna I scanned the area and was very pleased to find a single Tundra Bean Goose (Ánsar Campestre / Anser fabalis fabalis) on the front edge of the 200 or so Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser). in the same area I also had views of Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Anas penelope), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), a single Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), lots of Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaria) and Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) as well as Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) and Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis). I could not see any of the other Geese that had been in the area so we went a few KMs up the road to Laguna de la Nava where I checked the first hide but apart from a few Greylags and a couple of Mute Swans (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor) it was quiet so I went to the opposite end of the area and walked out to the tower hide and scanned the water and fields from there which was far more successful. On the water there were many of the species already seen along with at least 15 Greater White-fronted Geese (Ánsar Careto / Anser albifrons), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Northern Pintail (Ánade Rabudo / Anas acuta), Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), 10+ Great White Egrets (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and on distant fields a flock of 25+ Great Bustards (Avutarda Común / Otis tarda) which was a great way to finish the days birding.

We then went into Palencia for some lunch and later went up and checked in to the very nice little hotel in Monzón de Campos called La Concordia, which was family run and very nice. 

After dropping our stuff off we went back into Palencia and spent the rest of the day there having a very pleasant wander around the city centre before going back to the Hotel. We then went into the Restaurant opposite which was run by the hotel owners brother and had some of the best food we have ever had in Spain, it was a superb way to finish the final night of our winter trip off.

Gijón, Asturias.

A long morning walk and a good wander around the town.

After a good nights sleep Jayne and I walked the full length of Playa de San Lorenzo and then out to Playa de Los Mayanes. During the walk w saw Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), a female Common Scoter (Negrón Común / Melanitta nigra), Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina) x7, Grey Plover (Chorlito Gris / Pluviali squatarola), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Shag (Cormorán Mondudo / Phalacrocorax aristotelis), White (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Grey Wagtails (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), a single Greylag Goose (Ansar Común / Anser anser) which flew along the beach, Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes) and Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone).

The rest of the day was spent around the centre of town where we had an OKish lunch and an Indian meal in the evening before gong back to the hostel.

Santona, Sollagua, Cantabria and travelling to Gijon, Asturias.

A trip over to Gijón via Santona for a couple more Spanish Lifers.

Hudsonian Whimbrel (Zarapito de Hudson / Numenius hudsonicus).

We packed our things, had a good breakfast and then started to head back West along the coast, calling in at Santona on the way as there were a couple of species I had missed on my last visit that I wanted to have a look for as I had seen on the net that they were still about and were seen from the hide near the town. I was looking for Red-breasted Merganser (Serreta Mediana / Mergus serrator) and Common Eider (Eider Común / Somateria mollissima) but when I reached the hide I did not see either species but did find Rock (Bisbita Costero / Anthus petrosus) and Meadow Pipits (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Anas penelope), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Black-necked (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis) and Great Crested Grebes (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Great Northern Diver (Colimbo Grande / Gavia immer) x2, good numbers of Dark-bellied Brent Geese (Barnacla Carinegra / Branta bernicla), Great Black-backed Gull (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus) and Grey Plovers (Chorlito Gris / Pluviali squatarola).

Hudsonian Whimbrel (Zarapito de Hudson / Numenius hudsonicus).

We popped up to the port quickly and saw the Black-throated Diver (Colimbo Ártico / Gavia arctica) but it was well out in the estuary this time along with two more Great Northerns, on the jetties there were 8 Shag (Cormorán Mondudo / Phalacrocorax aristotelis) and a couple of Great Cormorants (Cormorán Grande / Phala crocroax carbo).

Hudsonian Whimbrel (Zarapito de Hudson / Numenius hudsonicus).

Going back past the hide I stopped again briefly to see if a Diver I had seen earlier had come any closer and it had and this time I could Identify it as a winter plumage Red-throated Diver (Colimbo Chico / Gavia stellata) as I had suspected but after just a few minutes the bird started to run along the surface and took to the air and then flew passed and out towards the sea. Another birder then came in briefly and I gleaned a bit of info about the birds I had wanted and found that I would be better at the spot where I had visited a few days earlier for the Whimbrel.

Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia).

We moved further around the bay, on the way I had good views of a Great White Egret (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba) before parking and again meeting the same birder who had come for the Hudsonian Whimbrel (Zarapito de Hudson / Numenius hudsonicus). I walked through to the site just as a group of Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus) were flying passed along with the Hudsonian which stuck out really well in amongst the group. In the same area I also had Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Eurasian Curlew (Zarapito Real / Numenius arquata), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Little (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) and Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina) and at least 3 Velvet Scoters (Negrón Especulado / Melanitta fusca). The Guy I had net earlier said that I might do better for the Mergansers and Eider a little further along the shore line so I had a walk picking up 2 Dunnocks (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and a calling Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus).

Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia).

Up on the bank looking over the estuary I soon found 3x Common Eiders (Eider Común / Somateria mollissima) but no Mergansers, also seen was a 1st winter Common Gull (Gaviota Cana /Larus canus) feeding along with a good many Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Thalasseus sandvicensis) and a Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).

Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis).

We continued on our way once I had finished at this site and arrived at Gijón late in the afternoon and eventually found our hotel near the beach. Later we had a good walk along the eastern beach before having a meal in the town and returned to the hotel.

Ondarroa and central Bilbao, Bilbao, Cantabria.

A wet visit to Ondarroa port and a chance meeting with a local birder.

Common Gull (Gaviota Cana /Larus canus).

Jayne and I headed out from the hotel in the rain which developed into sleet and snow as well as low cloud and fog, all of which made for an interesting drive. 

Common Gull (Gaviota Cana /Larus canus).

We eventually reached the port and found a parking space, due to the weather Jayne sensibly stayed in the car and I walked down to the port where almost straight away I bumped into Juan Andres who's interesting and helpful blog http://juankarandres.blogspot.com.es/ I have been following for some time. 

Common Gull (Gaviota Cana /Larus canus).

We spent an hour or so checking through the Gulls on site but the best we could do was a smart Common Gull (Gaviota Cana /Larus canus) as well as lots of Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) and several Ruddy Turnstones (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres).

Common Gull (Gaviota Cana /Larus canus).

The weather was getting no better so we made our way back to Bilbao where we had some lunch before going into the Fine Arts Museum in the center and then found and took a ride on the cities funicular railway to the top of the hill. 

2nd winter Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) ???

On a much better day you get a view out over the city but today we were lucky not to be washed or blown off the top so we returned to the town and had a couple of drinks, the one in a nice bar called Churchills. 

2nd winter Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) ???

Jayne had a Gin and Tonic which was a tad steep at €11 but worth it as the chap behind the bar did work hard on making it special and Jayne said it tasted good but I did have a very quiet sense of humour failure at €4.50 for a small bottle of coke light and a bit of ice !!!! 

2nd winter Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) ???

We later had some tapas again before returning to our hotel for our last night in Bilbao.

2nd winter Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) ???

Rio Bilbao, Santona, Sollagua and Estuary and Rio Bilbao again, Bilbao, Cantabria.

A great days birding with several Spanish lifers and other good birds.

Dark-bellied Brent Geese (Barnacla Carinegra / Branta bernicla).

I was up and out early after a quick breakfast at the hotel heading just down the road in Bilbao to look for a 1st winter Iceland Gull (Gaviota Groenlandesa / Larus glaucoides) which had been reported on the Internet yesterday. It was just getting light when I arrived and I could not find any sign of the Gull but I did see Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

Black-throated Diver (Colimbo Ártico / Gavia arctica).

I spent a while looking along the river but decided to drive towards Santona where I was going to be spending the day birding along the Estuary. 

Black-throated Diver (Colimbo Ártico / Gavia arctica).

I started on the roadside between Santona and Cicero where I scanned the fields and pools on the landward side and the low waters of the estuary on the other. On the fields and pools I saw Great White (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba), Little (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) and Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Anas penelope), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Mallard, Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Black-headed Gull and a fleeting Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) which flashed over the reeds.

Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus).

On the seaward side I added Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis) and on the margins Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis).

I moved on to Santona where I parked near the Bullring and then walked out to the port where I could see some more birders, I walked out towards them and as I did I had a Rock Pipit (Bisbita Costero / Anthus petrosus) my first Spanish Lifer of the day fly over me calling. 

Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia).

Once I reached the pier I had a chat with the five guys there and had my second Lifer of the day in the shape of 300+ Dark-bellied Brent Geese (Barnacla Carinegra / Branta bernicla) as well as lots of Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Anas penelope), Great Northern (Colimbo Grande / Gavia immer) x3 and Black-throated Divers (Colimbo Ártico / Gavia arctica) the latter coming in nice and close for some shots, Black-necked and Great Crested Grebes (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Razorbill (Alca Común / Alca torda) x4 and on the floating jetties several Great Cormorants and Shags (Cormorán Mondudo / Phalacrocorax aristotelis).
We had another or the same Rock Pipit fly over us and picked out Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) amongst the Black-heads out on the water.

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

During the talk we got around to the Hudsonian Whimbrel (Zarapito de Hudson / Numenius hudsonicus) which was in the area and decided to go around to the spot which was just a few KM around the bay.
I followed them and at the site we split up to check two areas, in the first spot I was with four of the group and we soon found plenty of the common Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus), Eurasian Curlew (Zaoaito Real / Numenius arquata), Black-tailed (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa) and Bar-tailed Godwits (Aguja Colipinta / Limosa lapponica) and lots of Grey Plovers (Chorlito Gris / Pluviali squatarola).

The other twitchers.

After a while one of the guys got a call to say that they had the Hudsonian at a spot just a couple of hundred meters along the bank so we relocated and I joined the biggest twitch I have been in since moving to Spain along with around 15 other birders who had travelled to see this bird. After around 40 minutes of watching the bird I eventually got views I was happy with, also seen were Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), both Common (Negrón Común / Melanitta nigra) and Velvet Scoters (Negrón Especulado / Melanitta fusca) and yet another Rock Pipit which was feeding on the mud.

Great Northern Diver (Colimbo Grande / Gavia immer).

I said thanks and goodbye to the lads who I had followed round and then headed back towards the port at Santona as I wanted to get some shots of the Great Northern Diver which I did before heading out on to the opposite side of the Estuary looking for other species but only added Eurasian Oystercatcher (Ostrero Euroasiatico / Haematopus ostralegus) to the day and year list but I did get some better views of a female Velvet Scoter.

Great Northern Diver (Colimbo Grande / Gavia immer).

Just as I was about to head back towards Bilbao I met a Spanish Guy who gave me direction to a spot where I had distant but good views of two Whooper Swans (Cisne Cantor / Cygnus cygnus) and a single Greylag Goose (Ansar Común / Anser anser) feeding out on grassy meadows.

Velvet Scoter (Negrón Especulado / Melanitta fusca).

I then drove back to Bilbao where I started the morning looking for the Iceland Gull and soon found the bird sat on rocks on the far side of the river but as it was getting on and raining the light was really bad (it had been bad all day) as are the photographs but it was the fourth new species for my Spanish list seen during the day.
I later met Jayne back at the hotel and we went back out into the city again and found a nice Italian for our evening meal.

1st winter Iceland Gull (Gaviota Groenlandesa / Larus glaucoides) in the rain.

Dársena de Raos and Airport Pools, Marismas Alday and Marismas Blancos, Santander and the drive to Bilbao, Cantabria.

A move to Bilbao via a couple of birding spots and some shops.

Tufted Duck (Porrón Monudo / Aythya fuligula).

Jayne and I started to make our way towards our next in Bilbao but on the way we called at a shopping centre where I dropped Jayne off and then went birding along the Northern side of the Airport. 

Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis).

First of all I checked the pools on the side of the runway and soon found Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Tufted Duck (Porrón Monudo / Aythya fuligula), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Anas penelope), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus) heard only, Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaria), Grey Plover (Chorlito Gris / Pluviali squatarola), Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Mediterranean Gulls (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) and Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo).

Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo).

I then spent some time along the sea front and port area scanning the sea and rocks, I soon found several new species including Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis),  Great Crested (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus) and Black-necked Grebes (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), Common Scoter (Negrón Común / Melanitta nigra) x4, Great Northern Diver (Colimbo Grande / Gavia immer) and over 300 roosting Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina).

Common Scoter (Negrón Común / Melanitta nigra).

I got back to the carpark early so I went and had a look at the pools at Marismas Alday where I saw more Common Pochards, Tufted Ducks, Northern Shovelers, Little Grebes, Eurasian Coots, Common Moorhen, Gadwall and then a bird which superficially looked like a Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca) but it later turned out to be a Hybrid between a Ferruginous and a Common Pochard.

3rd winter Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) ?????????

In the same area I also recorded Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Long-tailed Tits (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and a female Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).

Group of Ducks.

I met Jayne and we moved on to another wetland nearby called the Marismas Blancos, I only saw a few new species along with most of the other seen earlier, the new ones for the day were Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor), Eurasian Curlew (Zaoaito Real / Numenius arquata), Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes) and Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

Group of Ducks.

We made our way to Bilbao and then spent a very nice evening wandering around the city finding the entrance of the Guggenheim Museum ready for Jayne's visit tomorrow and then the old part of the city. 

Ferruginous Duck X Common Pochard.

Later we walked back towards the main center where we had something to eat before returning to the hotel for the night.

Female Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).

Female Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).

Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor).

The Guggenheim.

Out side the Guggenheim.

Some of the Tapas we had for our eveing meal.

Tapas selection.

Comillas, Ensenara de San Bartolomé and Santander Town, Cantabria.

A great visit to El Capricho de Gaudi in Comillas and then a look around the Santander area.

Adult Great Black-backed Gull (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus).

We returned to Comillas after remembering why we wanted to visit the town, we had a look around the town following a route given to us by the tourist office. 

1st winter Great Black-backed Gull (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus).

On the beach I saw 3x Great Black-backed Gulls (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus) along with Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), 3x Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) and several Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and several Great Cormorants (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo).

Mediterranean Gulls (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) x3.

Later, once it was open we went to the very impressive El Capricho de Gaudi house. We spent nearly 3 hours there before heading towards and past Santander to a spot where due to the weather I had a walk on the estuary while Jayne read her Kindle in the car. 

Comillas.

During the hour or so I was there I saw 100s of Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Anas penelope), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Pintail (Ánade Rabudo / Anas acuta), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor) x8, a Spanish Lifer in the shape of 3 Velvet Scoters (Negrón Especulado / Melanitta fusca), Black-necked Grebes (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis) and 2x Great Northern Divers (Colimbo Grande / Gavia immer).

Comillas.

On the mud flats there were also Eurasian Curlew (Zaoaito Real / Numenius arquata), Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia) and Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea). 

Gaudi's Gateway.

On the landward side I recorded Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and as I walked back an Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus) flew over carrying a very large fish.

Gaudi's sunflowers at El Capricho.

Later we drove into the city of Santander where we had a very nice lunch and later a walk along the seafront where saw Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) and lots of House Sparrows (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus). 

El Capricho.

Later we drove back to the hotel via Suances for some food again.

Jayne sat with Gaudi.

Eurasian Spoonbills (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia).

Mute Swans (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor).

Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Anas penelope).

Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus).

Velvet Scoters (Negrón Especulado / Melanitta fusca) honest !!!!

A cheese board for lunch.

Art on the sea front at Santander.

Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis).