RAM, local beaches, Charca Suarez and Huétor fields, Granada Province.

A mornings birding with Juan Perez and an hour on the Local Patch on the way home.

Shags (Cormorán Mondudo / Phalacrocorax aristotelis).

I met Juan Pérez Contreras near Granada, and we went down to the usual spot on the coast at Peñón de Jolúcar where we did the seabird count as usual. On the way there we started the list off with Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus).

Out on the point we had good numbers of Eurasian Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), European Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Eurasian Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus), European Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) on the walk up and out at sea Balearic Shearwater (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus), Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Great (Págalo Grande / Stercorarius skua) x3 and Arctic Skua (Págalo Parásito / Stercorarius parasiticus) x1, Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) and Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus) and several European Shags (Cormorán Mondudo / Phalacrocorax aristotelis).

White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).

Our next stop was slightly to the East along the Playa de Carchuna where we drove to the far end and worked our way back with the sun behind us, as we drove we added European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Thekla Larks (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Audouin's Gull (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus) x3 and Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).

White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).

Heading back west we stopped at Playa de las Azucenas finding Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) as we walked down towards the beach and in the last stand of reeds there was a group of Red Avadavats (Bengali Rojo / Amandava amandava) which had flown up from some weeds. Out on the beach amongst the weeds we flushed up Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta), the first of several Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) and in one of the streams we found Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) and as we walked back added Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) and a couple of Zitting Cisticolas (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) which flew up calling. On the bridge just before we reached the car we boosted the list with Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) and a fly over female Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).

Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus).

Once back at the car we drove to Charca Suarez seeing Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and a Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata) which darted across the road and into a bush.

Once we were at Charca we walked out to the new hide overlooking the new lagoon, on the way out we saw Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Common Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) and European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and once in the hide we picked up Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus) and a White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia) which walked all the way around the pool and flushed a Jack Snipe (Agachadiza Chica / Lymnocriptes minimus) out from the reeds.

Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio).

We moved around the reserve and checked the hide on the Northern end of Laguna del Taraje where we only added Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio) before heading around to the main hide over looking Laguna de las Aneas and before long we picked up Black-necked (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis) and Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Anas penelope), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca) x2 or possibly 3, a single Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) also seen on the walk around the sight were Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta), Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa) and Stripe-less Tree Frog (Hyla meridionalis).

Further around the reserve looking over Laguna del Trébol where there were several collared and uncollared Red-knobbed Coots (Focha cornuda / Fulca cristata) and a flock of calling Common Waxbills (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild). 

Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).

We walked back to the main hide seeing several Eurasian Blackcaps (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla) on the way and then quickly back to the new hide seeing Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago) before finishing off at the hide at the southern end of Laguna del Taraje hearing a squealing Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus) and just ten minutes before the reserve was Juan picked up an elusive Moustached Warbler (Carricerin Real / Acrocephalus melanopogon) which dived for cover before I saw it which really P*****ed me off as I needed it for my year list but just a couple of minutes before we had to leave for the exit I picked it up in the same area again, and we had brief but good views. 

This species bought me up to 298 for the year. 

On the way out of the reserve we added Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and during the drive back we added Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus). 

I dropped Juan off at home and headed back to Huétor Tajar and as I left the motorway and drove into Mesia I saw a couple of Song Thrushes (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) as they flew across the road and a couple of Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia) perched on a roadside wire.

Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).

Once on the fields to the North of the town of Huétor I finished the day list off with Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Eurasian Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), 56 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) and the 95th species for the day, a flock of Bramblings (Pinzón Real / Fringilla montifringilla).

Huétor Tajar, Granada Province.

A day of much needed rain.

It was great to get some rain at last but wish it had been lighter for a longer period as a great deal of it has just run off and down into the Rio Genil.

The Barranco at the back of the house.

Up Stream on the Barranco.

Down Stream on the Barranco.

Fig leaves after the rain.

Caleta de Velez, Malaga Province.

A few ringed Gulls.

Dark mantled adult unringed Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus).

A very quck visit to the fenced beach at Caleta de Velez near Torre del Mar in Malaga Province where I picked up a few ringed Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), along with an immature Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) with a ring and hundreds of other Gulls and other birds including Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis),  Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus).

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

Metal ring: Stockholm ...8124865 Colour ring: Blue V.11N
Species: Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus)
Ringing data
Age: Pullus
Date: 01-07-2017
Locality: Nidingen: Ost Rissasten, Kungsbacka, SV44 57.18N-011.54E
Ringer: Nidingens Fågelstation, Andreas Eriksson
Recovery data
28-11-2017 ES65
Mick Richardson
Blue V.11N CALETA DE VÉLEZ: PLAYA W MÁLAGA 36.45N-004.05W
Alive Colour ring read 7 81
Number of recoveries: 1

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) Originally rung at this site on 12th January 2013, thanks to Jose Sanchez Cordero (Coordinator of the ringing group Luscinia) for the info about this bird.

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

Arnhem .5513158 Y-P||H Kleine Mantelmeeuw
Age & sexe : pullus
Ringing date : 15-6-2016
Ringing place : Moerdijk (Tetra Pak), Noord-Brabant, NL 5141.00 436.00 E
Ringer : Roland-Jan Buijs
Date Recovery site Remarks Observer
19-7-2017 Boignée (Vuiloverslag), Namur, BELGIE 5.029,00 N 435,00 E colourring read Robin Gailly
7-8-2017 Boignée (Vuiloverslag), Namur, BELGIE 5.029,00 N 435,00 E colourring read Robin Gailly
17-8-2017 Boignée (Vuiloverslag), Namur, BELGIE 5.029,00 N 435,00 E colourring read Robin Gailly
19-11-2017 Málaga (Haven), Málaga, SPANJE 3.643,00 N 425,00 W colourring read Salvador García Barcelona
28-11-2017 Caleta de Vélez (Haven), Málaga, SPANJE 3.645,00 N 404,00 W colourring read Mick Richardson

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) N0H1 not sent in yet but suspect also ring here or in Malaga port.

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) R:C6R awating info.

Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo).

Huétor Tajar, Granada Province.

Garden visitors.

Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla) female.

Again I spent an hours or so in the hide and managed a few nice shots of some of the regular and common species including Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla) at least 8 birds, Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus).

Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla) female.

Other birds seen or heard were Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs).

Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla) female.

Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla) male.

Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula).

Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula).

House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) male.

House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) male.

House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) female.

House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) female.

Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) female.

Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala).

Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).

Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).

South of Campillos, Fuente de Piedra, Malaga Province and El Jau, Granada Province.

A visit to a new spot and the unsuccessful chase for a couple of year ticks.

Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

Jayne and I headed over to the west and into Malaga Province to visit a shop near Campillos and then we went to a spot nearby where we had great views of around 200 Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus). 

Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

Thanks to some info from Derek Etherton we were able to watch these huge birds close up as they were coming down to a feeding station where there were a few quite newly dropped pig carcasses for the to get there heads into !!!

Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

In the same area we picked up Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Iberian / Southern Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) and most surprising a very late female Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe).

Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

We moved on to the fields to the south ad west of the almost dry Fuente de Piedra lake looking for a Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) which was probably the biggest hole in my year list at this point but we dipped but did see Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo). 

Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

We popped in to the visitors centre where I had a quick look at the back lagoons from the mirador near the carpark and saw Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris).

Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

Around at the main mirador I scanned the main lagoon and soon found quite a few wintering Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus), quite a few more Greater Flamingo's, Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea).

Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

We then left the reserve and headed to Salinas where we again had another really good menu del dia at the Hostal / Restaurante Mejias, on the way we saw Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus).

Tobacco Barn.

After enjoying lunch we headed up to Granada and then back out to Santafe where we were able to get the item we had hoped to collect from Campillos and then out on to the fields nearby where we looked around an area where there were lots of the old wooden Tabacco barns. 

Tobacco Barn.

In this area I was hoping to find a  Barn Owl (Lechuza Común / Tyto alba) but again I dipped so the year list remains at 297.

Tobacco Barn.

Inside a Tobacco Barn.

The setting sun through the Poplars.

A view over the fields.

Huétor Tajar, Granada Province.

Another couple of hours in the garden hide.

Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus) ♂.

I sat down on the lower terrace in the hide for a couple of hours and I was quite pleased with the results particularly when 8 Siskins (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus) dropped in for a drink, the group was made up of 5♂♂ and 3♀♀.

Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus) ♀.

There were also good numbers of ♂♀ Blackcaps (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), ♂♀ Blackbirds (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), a Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), ♀ Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), ♂♀ House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and ♂♀ Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) all of which sat for the camera. 

Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major).

Other species seen or heard included Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), ♂ Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor). 

Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) ♀.

Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) ♀.

House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) ♂.

Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla) ♂.

Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla) ♀.

♂ Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala).

Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) ♀.

Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos).

Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) ♀.

Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula).