Huétor Fields and Padul Wetlands, Granada Province.

A quick look at the Rio Vilano and later back to the smelly reserve.

Two young Common Moorhens (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus).

I popped down to the ford over the Rio Vilano to check on the young Common Moorhens (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) I had seen a few days earlier, I was pleased to find not the two but four in all and they were all looking fine. I also had a Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) and several Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

Another young Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus).

Later I dropped Jayne at the Sierra Nevada shopping and I went down to Padul, I arrived at the smelly channel to find that it had been dug out but the water flowing in was still minging so it appears the work done was fairly pointless. 

Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago).

Anyway I had a look around and walked down to the hide at the end of the trail seeing Water Pipits (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta), White (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Grey Wagtails (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), a male Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Moorhen, Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla). 

Southern Water Vole (Rata topera / Arvicola sapidus).

After seeing nothing except for reeds from the hide I retraced my way back and further around the board walk to the next much cleaner river where I spent the next two hours watching some Southern Water Voles (Rata topera / Arvicola sapidus) collecting reed leaves for their nest linings. 

Southern Water Vole (Rata topera / Arvicola sapidus).

Whilst there I also saw Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) and a Viperine Snake (Culebra Viperina / Natrix maura) which crossed the steam but to quickly for the camera.

Huétor Fields and the Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

A cracking day with Chevonne from South Africa.

Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina).

I met Chevonne in Granada and we headed out of the city to the west and back on to my local patch, we started by checking the ditches and irrigation channel off the Mesia side of the site. Before we even got out of the car Chevonne had picked up a female Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) in the reeds next to her door. 

In the same spot we had lots of Common Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Meadow Pipits (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica).

Along the field ditch we flushed the single wintering Jack Snipe (Agachadiza Chica / Lymnocriptes minimus) which flew up and around us giving us good but brief views of the small short billed bird, in the same area we had Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and on the opposite side of the track along side the reed beds another Bluethroat but a difficult to see male this time, Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).

Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae).

Our next stop was along side the Rio Vilano but in the fig orchard on the way we saw Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros). 

Along side the river we saw a cracking male Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) and then out on the central fields several Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and a flock of 15 or so Golden Plovers (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaria). 

we continued on to the fields on the Loja side of the area still hoping for Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), eventually we found a single male in the Lucerne field. 

We headed off the site along the far side of the Rio Vilano adding Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) and Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) before making our way out to the fields near Moraleda, we can in to the area from the south and parked on the track side amongst the Almond groves. 

We walked out into an area of trees and soon found several Great Spotted Cuckoos (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius) along with Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and a calling but unseen Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata).

Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) and two Lesser Kestrels (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni).

We continued out on to the open fields adding Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus). In the area we also saw Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca / O. forestieri), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Swallowtail (Papilio machaon), Small (Pieris rapae), Green-Striped (Euchloe belemia) and Bath Whites (Pontia daplidice), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) and Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus).

We dropped down into the Valley next and made a couple of stops in the Pine woodlands and on the Cacín, adding several new species to Chevonnes life list, these included Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Crested (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus) and Blue Tits (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), a pair of displaying Northern Goshawks (Azor Común / Accipitor gentillis), an immature Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major) and Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus).

Up at the Embalse I was surprised to find the water level low but there were no waders but a few other species including Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) and a soaring Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).

Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos).

Further down the valley we had views of a single Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila-azor / Hieraetus faciatus) and the up on the ridge between Cacín and Ventas de Huelma Woodlark (Totovia / Lullula arborea) and a distant view of a Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos).

We moved out on to some more nearby fields and picked up Rock Pigeon (Paloma Bravia / Columba livia) and Calandra Lark (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) before moving to a Cortijo just down the road and finished the day with a fine group of Lesser Kestrels (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni) and a male Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius). 

Our last sighting of the day was of a pair of Golden Eagles circling with the Lesser Kestrels mobbing them. 

After watching the Eagles we headed back in to the city and I dropped Chevonne back at her hotel before heading home.

Cerro Hacho, Loja, Granada Province.

Some Orchid photogrphy with Santi, Howard and Jayne.

Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum robertiana) hipocromatic.

The four of us went up the road for a walk in the Pine woods where we were looking for some early Orchid species and we soon found a good number of Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum robertiana) spikes as well as quite a few Somber Bees (Ophrys fusca / O. forestieri). 

Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum robertiana) hipocromatic.

In the same area we saw some rather beatten up flowers of Sierra Nevada Crocus (Crocus nevadensis), Broad-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia), a couple of Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus) butterflies, Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra) and Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs).

Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum robertiana).

Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum robertiana).

Somber Bee (Ophrys fusca / O. forestieri).

Almond blossom.

Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus).

Broad-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia).

Broad-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia).

Broad-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia).

Huétor Fields and the Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

A day on the Patch with Dominique and Bruce.

Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

I met Dominique and Bruce at the Cortijo de Tajar before we headed out on to the fields North of the town and soon started the list off with Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) and Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius). 

Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

We moved out on to the central fields and along the Arroyo Vilano where we found over 30 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Common Waxbills (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Tree (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus) and House Sparrows (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Water (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta) and Meadow Pipits (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), White and Grey Wagtails (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Blackbird, Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus).

Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius).

We moved on to the Almond Groves and fields near to Moraleda seeing Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca / O. forestieri) on the way and in the Almonds we spent some time searching for Great Spotted Cuckoos (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius), we soon found several calling birds which we had nice views of and Bruce got some shots of. 

Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius).

In the same area and out on the larger fields Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei).

Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

We stopped for lunch in El Turro and then drove right down the valley in to the gorge where we had a pair of Bonelli's Eagles (Aguila-azor / Hieraetus faciatus) as well as Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla) and Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major).

Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila-azor / Hieraetus faciatus).

We retraced our way back up the valley to the Embalse de Cacín where we had 16+ Common Pochards (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), 4 Eurasian Teals (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), 21+ Northern Shovelers (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Mallard, Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Cetti's Warbler, Iberian Green Woodpecker, Northern Goshawk (Azor Común / Accipitor gentillis) as well as lots of Barn and Red-rumped Swallow, House and Crag Martins.

Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

On our way back to the Hotel we crossed the ridge towards Ventas de Huelam and the back towards Moraleda across the fields part of the way, things were quiet but we did added Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia) and Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica).

The shots below were all taken by Bruce during the day tour.

Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia).

Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius).

Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae).

Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis).

Great Spotted Cuckoos (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius).

Great Spotted Cuckoos (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius).

Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).

White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

Northern Shovelers (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata).

Huétor Fields, Granada Province.

A quick look at the Mesia ditches.

The weather was terrible but as I had to pop down to Huétor I had a look at the main channels along the roadside. Wintering birds still hanging around including Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) and the Jack Snipe (Agachadiza Chica / Lymnocriptes minimus) which was sheltering in the weeds on the roadside. These winterng birds were seen along side some newly arrived summer birds including lots of Barn (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and  a few Red-rumped Swallows (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), and House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and in the Rio Vilano I saw recently out of the nest 2 young Common Moorhens (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) and 5 Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) chicks.

Sierra de Mijas and Fuengirola, Malaga Province.

Looking for some early Orchids.

Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera).

I dropped Jayne off at the shops in Fuengirola before heading inland towards Sierra de Mijas where I parked and searched the Pine Woodlands for Orchids. 

Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera).

During the couple of hours I was there I found a good number of Woodcock Orchids (Ophrys scolopax), as well as a few Sawfly (Ophrys tenthredinifera), Somber Bee (Ophrys fusca), Fan-lipped (Anacamptis collina) and a single just about open Pink Butterfly (Anacamptis papilionacea). 

Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera).

I was looking down most of the time so the only birds I saw were the ones that attracted my attention by calling and they included Woodlark (Totovia / Lullula arborea), Crested Tit (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla).

Fan-lipped Orchid (Anacamptis collina).

I dropped down to Fuengirola and on the way had Red-rumped (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica) and Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Black-headed  (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis). 

Woodcock Orchid (Orquídea becada / Ophrys scolopax).

I met up with Jayne and we continued shopping.

Woodcock Orchid (Orquídea becada / Ophrys scolopax).

Woodcock Orchid (Orquídea becada / Ophrys scolopax).

Woodcock Orchid (Orquídea becada / Ophrys scolopax).

Pink Butterfly Orchid (Anacamptis papilionacea).

Huétor Fields, Granada Province.

An couple of hours on the patch whilst the car was in for some work.

I dropped the car off in town for a repair to the drivers window and went out on to the fields nearby, I did not find any thing unexpected but built a decent list in the time out there. Species included Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Tree (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus) and House Sparrows (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Meadow (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) and Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta), Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaria), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Reed (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus) and Corn Buntings (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) as well as Small White (Pieris rapae) and Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus).

Huétor Fields and the Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

On the local patch and down the Cacín valley with Pau from Valencia area.

I was meeting Pau at the bar at the end of our road so I left the house and had a walk down picking up Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Song (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) and Mistle Thrushes (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

I reached the bar and Pau turned up soon after me and we had a coffee before heading out to the fields near to Moraleda, once we were there we found a few spikes of Somber Bee Orchids (Ophrys fusca / O. forestieri) on the side of one of the track sides as we approched the main fields. Up on the Almond fields we saw Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Crested and Thekla Larks (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) and the we first heard and then saw the first Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius) for my year list.

We moved up on to the more open fields where we heard but did not see a Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) and in the same area we had Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) and Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) and several of both Bath (Pontia daplidice) and Green-Striped Whites (Euchloe belemia).

We dropped down into the valley and had a sandwich in the bar at El Turro and once we had finished we made a stop in the pines just down the road where we found more Somber Bee Orchids and heard and saw Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Great Tits (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus). Our next stop was right down to the far end of the valley where we had good views of a pair of Bonelli's Eagles (Aguila-azor / Hieraetus faciatus), Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Rock Pigeon (Paloma Bravia / Columba livia), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia) and Small White (Pieris rapae) and Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta).

We made a short visit to Embalse de Bermejalis but we did not add any interesting species so we worked our way back up the valley to the Embalse de Cacín where we found Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica).

We moved back to the fields near Huétor Tajar but only managed to find Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus) before we called it a day.

Rio Genil, Padul and Huétor Fields, Granada Province.

Scrapyards and birding.

Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra).

Jayne and I went up into Granada calling at a couple of Scrapyards on the way looking for but failing to find a few small parts for the car before I dropped Jayne off in the centre and then continued on up to the Rio Genil nearby. I parked on the roadside and then walked out to the sluice gates and scanned the river up and down stream and then did a loop walk up stream and then back to the car. During the stroll I had views of Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Blue Tits (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris).

Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).

Later I visited a couple more Scrapyards near Padul but came away with nothing again so I continued on down to the "reserve" ???? at Padul But little had changed since my last visit, except maybe the canal was even smellier, there was more rubbish about and the vegetation blocking the views from all the hides was even taller, very sad. On a more positive note there were good numbers of Water Rails (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus) which were seen and heard, as well as Water Pipits (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Goldfinch, Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) and a fresh looking Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas).

I gave up trying to see anything from the hides and the smell was no joke so I went back into the city and met Jayne before going and having some lunch and doing some more shopping and then heading home. 

Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).

On the way to the house we crossed the fields at Huétor and picked up Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaria), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) and Tree Sparrows (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus).

Huétor Fields, Granada Province.

Not the Spanish Lifer that was expected but a good one for the local patch.

1st winter Red-throated Pipit (Bisbita Gorgirrojo / Anthus cervinus).

Jayne and I went down town to do our loop of the ring road and then called in at the fields where I had yesterday seen what I was convinced was a Richards Pipit (Bisbita de Richard /Anthus richardi) but instead of this bird there was a smaller but pale looking Pipit with a very distinct supercilium stretching well beyond the eye and pale mantle stripes which I supected could be a 1st winter Red-throated Pipit (Bisbita Gorgirrojo / Anthus cervinus) and this was confirmed later in the day. A very welcome new bird for my Spanish Life list, coming after a few more records in Sevilla and Cadiz Province.

1st winter Red-throated Pipit (Bisbita Gorgirrojo / Anthus cervinus).

1st winter Red-throated Pipit (Bisbita Gorgirrojo / Anthus cervinus).