Sierra Nevada, Granada Province.

Searching for more Butterflies in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Emma and Aiden, Day Two.

♂ Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

We started out from the hotel a little earlier than yesterday so that we had time to get to the spot to catch the minibus, in the car park we had great views of a nice ♂ Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) along with Crag (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Pallid (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) and Common Swifts (Vencejo Común / Apus apus). 

Alpine Accentor (Acentor Alpino / Prunella collaris).

We got the minibus up to 3200m where we walked a train near by looking for Alpine Accentor (Acentor Alpino / Prunella collaris) but we did not find any did see Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and a soaring Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus). 

Sat photographing the Accentors (Taken by Emma or Aiden).

We returned to the main track and carried on up to the refuge building, on the way we recorded Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous), Queen of Spain Fritillary (Issoria lathonia), Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Large White (Pieris brassicae), Spanish Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) and Hummingbird Hawkmoth (Macroglossum stellatarum).

Alpine Accentor (Acentor Alpino / Prunella collaris).

Plants seen included Eryngium bourgatii, Eryngium glaciale, Hard Fern (Polystrichum lonchitis), Carduus carlinoides subsp. hispanicus, Chaenorrhinum glareosum, Cerastium alpinum subsp. nevadense, Senecio nevadensis and Centranthus nevadensis.

Emma and Aiden at 3200m.

In the area around the refuge we had fantastic views of a couple of adult and an immature Alpine Accentors (Acentor Alpino / Prunella collaris) which gave amazing views and were to close to photograph for a lot of the time.

Searching for the Accentors.

We walked back down to the spot where we caught the minibus and then dropped back to the car and the down to another trail near the Ski Resort where we had some lunch before walking out on to the slopes seeing Oriental Meadow Brown (Hyponephele lupinnus), Iberian Marbled White (Melanargia lachesis), Rock Grayling (Hipparchia alcyone), Small (Lycaena phlaeas) and Purple-shot Coppers (Lycaena alciphron), Small White (Pieris rapae), Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra), Nevada (Polyommatus golgus), Lang's Short-tailed (Leptotes pirithous), Silver-studded (Plebejus argus) and Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina), Clouded Yellow, Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris), Niobe (Fabriciana niobe), Southern Heath (Melitaea nevadensis) and Dark-green Fritillary (Speyeria aglaja).

Purple-shot Copper (Lycaena alciphron).

During the walk down we also saw Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica).

Silver-studded Blues (Plebejus argus).

Once we were back at the car and then dropped down to the car park at the Botanical Gardens where we checked the flower meadows near the entrance and found Cardinal Fritillary (Argynnis pandora), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Hermit (Chazara briseis), Spanish Chalk-hill Blue (Lysandra albicans), False Ilex Hairstreak (Satyrium esculi), Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Clouded Yellow, Rock Grayling, European Mantis (Mantis religiosa), Saddle-backed Bushcricket (Steropleurus andalusius), Large Psammodromus (Lagartija colilarga / Psammodromus algirus), Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli) and Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra).

Rock Grayling (Hipparchia alcyone) and Oriental Meadow Brown (Hyponephele lupinnus).

The day had flown by and it was time to head back to the Cortijo de Tajar hotel again where we said goodbye and went on our ways.

Knapweed Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe).

Thanks for the two days in the hills, I am pleased that you enjoyed the trips and thank you for doing such a great Trip Advisor review and for the notes which made the blog easier. 

Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas).

Hope to see you over this way at some time in the future.

Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris).

Nevada Blue (Polyommatus golgus).

Queen of Spain Fritillary (Issoria lathonia).

Spanish Chalk-hill Blue (Lysandra albicans).

Cardinal Fritillary (Argynnis pandora).

Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus).

Large Psammodromus (Lagartija colilarga / Psammodromus algirus).

Sierra Nevada, Granada Province.

Searching for Butterflies in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Emma and Aiden, Day One.

Spanish Brassy Ringlets (Erebia hispania).

I met Ema and Aiden near Huétor Tajar and we headed straight off up into the mountains, our first stop was near the ski resort on the A395 when we picked up a raptor which we never got onto properly after we parked but in the vegetation around the pull off we started the Butterfly list with Iberian Marbled White (Melanargia lachesis), Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus) and Spanish Brown Argus (Aricia cramera).

Tawny Pipit (Bisbita campestre / Anthus campestris).

We continued on up to the car parks at 2500m and found a roadside slot as the main parking areas were full being a Sunday. 

Nevada House Leek (Sempervivum minutum).

We got our kit together and then went for a walk out on one of the tracks nearby, luckily most of the people up there were going to the summit so this trail was relatively quiet. 

Queen of Spain Fritillary (Issoria lathonia).

As soon as we started out we picked up the first of many Spanish Brassy Ringlets (Erebia hispania) which appeared to be having a good year going by the numbers seen. 

Gentiana pneumonanthe subsp depressa,

We also had quite a few Apollo's (Parnassius apollo) but most of them were quite worn and seemed to be going over early this year, probably due to the extreme heat. 

Gentianella tenella,

We also had good views of Tawny Pipit (Bisbita campestre / Anthus campestris), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), an immature Coal Tit (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater) which looked a bit out of place amongst the rocks and in the air Crag (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Common (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) and Pallid Swifts (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) and drifting Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

Gentiana boryi,

As we continued along the track the list of butterflies grew and included Nevada Blue (Polyommatus golgus), Queen of Spain (Issoria lathonia) and Cardinal Fritillaries (Argynnis pandora), Black Satyr (Satyrus actaea), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Idas Blue (Plebejus idas), Rock Grayling (Hipparchia alcyone), Purple-shot Copper (Lycaena alciphron), Oriental Meadow Brown (Hyponephele lupinnus) and Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra) by the time we reached the area of wet gullies. 

Grass of Parnassus (Parnassia palustris).

We also had a few interesting wildflowers along the track sides, Chickweed (Cerastium boissieri), Fox Glove (Digitalis purpurea),  Hard Fern (Polystrichum lonchitis), Nevada House Leek (Sempervivum minutum), Sideritis glacialis, Arenaria imbricata and both Eryngium bourgatii and Eryngium glaciale.

Silver-spotted Skipper (Hesperia comma).

In this area we found several nice wild plants including Gentiana pneumonanthe subsp depressa, Gentiana boryi, Gentianella tenella, Grass of Parnassus (Parnassia palustris), Pinguicola nevadensis but not in flower, Epilobium atlanticum, Plantago nivalis also not in flower but locally very common, Saxifraga stellaris which was flowering in the damp gullies, Euphrasia willommii, Minature Wild Plum (Prunus prostrata) and then as we walked back we found the first Niobe Fritillary (Fabriciana niobe), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Silver-spotted Skipper (Hesperia comma), Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae), Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) and Bath White (Pontia daplidice).

Hermits (Chazara briseis) ♂.

Once we were back at the car we had a drink at a nearby bar and then dropped down to the thistle beds near the Visitors centre where we again boosted the list with Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli), Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni), Escher's Blue (Polyommatus escheri) and both ♂ and ♀ Hermits (Chazara briseis) as well as more Silver-spotted Skippers, Cardinal and Queen of Spain Fritillaries, Iberian Marbled Whites, Rock Grayling, Cleopatra and Spanish Brown Argus.

Hermits (Chazara briseis) ♀.

On a bend further down the hill we found Sage Skipper (Muschampia proto), Dusky Heath (Coenonympha dorus), Iberian Scarce Swallowtail, Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli).

Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli).

Further down the narrow road which was the original road up and down the Sierra we stopped again near to the Entrance to the Seminario amongst the broad leaved woods. The site was much quieter that on my last visit just 10 days earlier, mainly due to the fact that the verges and many of the plants had been strimmed down. 

We did however see Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Small White (Pieris rapae), Spanish Gatekeeper (Pyronia bathseba) and a short way further on Great Banded Grayling (Brintesia circe), Comma (Polygonia c-album), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus).

Cardinal Fritillaries (Argynnis pandora).

We dropped further down the hill but found that as it was a Sunday it was busy with people bathing in the Rio Genel so we carried on and headed back towards Huétor but called in at Balsa de Regidor where we had a look for some dragonflies and found Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata) x3♂, Small Red-eyed (Erythromma viridulum) x2♂, Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum) x1♂ and a Iberian Blue-tail (Ischnura graellsii) x1♂.

Birds at this site included an immature Night Heron (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and a Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos).

Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina).

Just down the road we stopped again to check an area of Wild Capers (Capparis spinosa) but found nothing butterfly wise but added Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).

We left this site and made our way back to the hotel where I dropped Emma and Aiden off and set up for the morning, day two.

Undisclosed site, Granada Province.

A check up on our rare breeders.

Cream-coloured Coursers (corredor Sahariano / Cursorius cursor) x3.

I made my way to the spot in Granada Province were the two pairs of Cream-coloured Coursers (corredor Sahariano / Cursorius cursor) had set up territories but it was hellishly hot so after about 45 minutes I was about to give up looking for the birds and go home. Just as I started to leave the site a farmer in a land-rover came up the track which meant I had to pull in and stop again and after having a chat with the Guy I spotted a single bird stood in the shade of a small almond tree and then another and another. After a few minutes I had found the four adults and three of the chicks all in the same area, one of the chicks was missing but hopefully it was just well hidden.

Cream-coloured Coursers (corredor Sahariano / Cursorius cursor) x2.

In the same area I had Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis), Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) and Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa).

Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

A day birding with Taylor and Sean from New York.

Roller (Carraca / Coracias garrulus).

I arrived at the meeting point near Moraleda a little early and whilst I was there I saw Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

Once Taylor and Sean arrived we headed straght out in to the Almond and Olive groves seeing several of the above species and adding Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), a couple of fly over Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) which gave us good views, European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Spotless Starling, Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and Jackdaws (Grajilla / Corvus monedula). Out on the more open fields we had Thekla (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and Greater Short-toed Larks (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), a half seen Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) which was hiding amongst some rocks, at least two pairs of stunning Rollers (Carraca / Coracias garrulus) and a couple of the uncommon resident Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis). 

♀ Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

On the far side of the area we went and checked a row of Almond trees on the side of the road where we found yet another Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica) and at a water storage building a colony of Rock Sparrows (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia).
On some fields near La Malaha we found a couple of ♀ Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Iberian Grey and Woodchat Shrikes (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), another 2 Rollers, 30+ Hoopoes (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and several Lesser Kestrels (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni).
On our way back across to the Cacín Valley we went through an area of intense Olive and Almond groves where we made a stop on a roadside after seeing a dead Roller on the road, in some trees near this spot we found an amazing number of Rollers including 5 adult birds and at least anothe 8 immature birds. Further on we parked again and had a distant and then a fly over Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Pallid (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) and Common Swift, Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and a calling Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei) which was heard but not seen.
We dropped down into Cacín where we had a lunch stop before going do down the valley and into the gorge where we made two stops and found Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Sardinian Warbler, Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Red Squirrel (Ardilla común / Sclurus vulgaris), Carpentor Bee (Xylocopa violacea), Small White (Pieris rapae) and Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra).

Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus).

We retraced our way back up the valley to the Contra-embalse de Bermijalis and quickly found a pair of Egyptian Geese (Ganso del Nilo / Alopochen aegyptiaca) which put my year list up to 285 species, we also added Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) and Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis).
Just up the road we stopped along the river and again in the Pine woods, during the two stops we saw and heard Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Golden Oriole, Blackcap, Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi) and Copper Demoiselle (Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis) x3♂ and 2x♀ Orange-winged Dropwings (Trithemis kirbyi) and in the Pines Crested (Herrerillo Capuchino / Lophophanes cristatus), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Long-tailed Tits (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla) and a very well behaved Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus).

Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus).

Our last stop was near to Moraleda below the crags but added just ♂ and ♀ Common Stonechats (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata). We went through Moraleda and back to Taylor and Sean's car before I went home. Thanks to you both for a great days birding.

Malaga Rivers, Malaga Province.

A few hours getting my feet wet.

Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) nest.

I dropped Jayne in Malaga and headed out of the city going North and made my first stop on the Rio Casarabanela and parked on the side of the stream and walked up stream. 

White Featherleg (Platycnemis latipes).

Down stream was not an option because this year the raw sewage was even worse than it has been for the last few years, I cannot believe it can be right for the sewage of a nearby by village to be put into this river which then flows down into the Guadalhorce and then down to the beaches and out to sea but it has been like this for several years now 😠😠😠

White Featherleg (Platycnemis latipes).

Anyway as I said I went up stream which was all together a better idea, the winter rains had changed the spot quite a bit and the number of dragonflies was very low, I only recorded White Featherleg (Platycnemis latipes) x1, Copper Demoiselle (Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis) x1♂ and Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma) x2♂.

Iberian Blue-tail (Ischnura graellsii).

I did better on the bird front and found White (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Grey Wagtails (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Common (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) and Pallid Swifts (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) and a nest which was right out in the open on the edge of the reeds where I parked the car and Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).

Iberian Blue-tail (Ischnura graellsii).

I moved back down towards Malaga and called in at the Rio Grande where it runs into the Guadalhorce, again the storms had changed the look of the place and again the dragonfly numbers were low but I did see Epaulet Skimmer x1♂, White Featherleg (Platycnemis latipes) x1, Iberian Blue-tail (Ischnura graellsii) x10+ and Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi) x1♂. 

Common / Southern Blue (Polyommatus icarus / celina).

Birds included several Little Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Little (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) and Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) and Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus) and the only butterfly seen was a rather tatty Common / Southern Blue (Polyommatus icarus / celina).

Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

My last stop before I met up with Jayne was at Zapata further down the Guadalhorce but it was quiet and I only added Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and a Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus).

RAM and Charca Suarez, Granada Province.

Birding the Coast of Granada Province.

Roosting Shags (Cormorán Mondudo / Phalacrocorax aristotelis).

I met Juan Pérez Contreras in Granada, on the way I had an Eurasian Eagle Owl (Buho Real / Bubo bubo) fly across the motorway and a Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) which was on a roadside telegraph post. 

Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius).

We went down to Peñón de Jolúcar near Motril in Juans vehicle seeing Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops). 

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

Before we went to do the sea watch, we checked a site for roosting European Shags (Cormorán Mondudo / Phalacrocorax aristotelis) and found that there were at least 10 birds at the site. 

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

We did not have time to check for rings so we decided to return later.

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

Once we were up on the top of the cliffs we started the sea watch and recorded Cory's (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea) and Balearic Shearwaters (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus), Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) and Audouin's Gulls (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii) which were out sea. 

Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus).

Inland and in the air we saw Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Eurasian Crag (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Western House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala). 

Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos).

After the sea watch we made our way to Charca de Suarez hearing a calling Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) on the way. 

Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia).

Once we were in the reserve we went to the hide overlooking Laguna del Taraje where we had views of European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), European Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Common Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), European Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio) and an immature Little Bittern (Avetorillo Común / Ixobrychus minutus) which was well hidden in the reeds.

Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica).

We moved on to the new hide overlooking the new lake seeing Red Avadavat (Bengali Rojo / Amandava amandava), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata) and hearing Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus) on the way.

Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata) juv.

From the hide we saw a Common Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) briefly, Black-rumped (Estrilda troglodytes) and Common Waxbills (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) and then the Black-tailed Godwit came into view from behind the reeds and showed well for the cameras.

Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).

We later walked around to the main hide over looking the Laguna de las Aneas, on the water we had a male Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Red-knobbed Coot (Focha cornuda / Fulca cristata), Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia), Red-rumped Swallow and adult and immature Black-crowned Night Herons (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax).

Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).

We continued on around the reserve and had a look from the two hides overlooking Laguna del Trébol but we had nothing new, we did see more Red-knobbed Coots, a Little Grebe on a nest, a couple of Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope), Stripe-necked Terrapins (Mauremys leprosa) and Stripe-less Tree Frog (Hyla meridionalis).

Red-knobbed Coot (Focha cornuda / Fulca cristata) chick.

On Laguna del Lirio we had another couple of Black-crowned Night Herons, a male Little Bittern, a family of Red-knobbed Coots and adult and immature Western Swamp Hens.

Adult and immature Black-crowned Night Herons (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax).

At 13.00 we left the reserve and Juan drove us back to Granada and then I went home.