Albrighton, Shropshire, UK.

A day around the Village.

We got up and then spent the morning seeing family, we both went to see my Mom and then I went up to my brothers whilst Jayne went to see Barb her sister.

During the walk I noted Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris) and Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).

During the afternoon I took Harry, Martin and Julia's dog for a walk over the A41 bypass and along what is now named as Cordy Lane (on Google Maps) but I remember (or more accurately cannot remember it as something else) and then in to Blue House Lane and back. During our walk I saw Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), a couple of Redwings (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus illacus), 1 male Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus) high up in a Silver Birch and several Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus).

Later Julia, Jayne, Barb, Martin and I headed through the village and had a nice meal at the Shrewsbury Arms Pub, a very nice way to finish our first full day.

Huétor Fields and travelling back to Shropshire in the UK.

Travelling back for Christmas and the New Year.

Jayne and I finished the packing and set off for Malaga Airport, as we crossed the fields I picked up House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaria), Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata). 

We had some lunch in Salinas and continued on down and dropped the car off at Parkingmar before catching our flight over to Birmingham.

The flight was on time and uneventful but due to Wolverhampton Wanderers home match against Liverpool being changed and now finishing just before we reached the town the trains and stations were a tad busy to say the least but Martin, Jayne's bother and his wfe Julia managed to find us and very kindly take us back to their house which was our base for the next two and a half weeks.

Huétor Fields, Granada Province.

A few hours down on the local patch.

I started by driving down to the bar at the bottom of the road seeing House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).
I took the track along the Arroyo and scanned the Rio and surrounding stubble fields finding several Tree Sparrows (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus) mixed in with the much commoner House Sparrows and Common Chaffinches (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs). Also on the stubble were quite a few Collared Doves (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Feral Pigeons (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), Crested Larks (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and a second Common Kestrel which kept flushing the feeding birds up into the Poplar trees.

Down by the water there were lots more feeding White Wagtails, Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) which were fly catching from the reed patches, Meadow Pipits (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) and a very large flock of around 200 Iberian  Magpies (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) which were coming along the river through the reeds and Tamarisk trees and then passed me into several leafless Pomegranate trees on the far side of the stubble field and then on again.

On the ploughed fields over the river there was part of the wintering Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) flock which was difficult to count as the birds merged in well and dropped into the ridges between the ploughing ridges but later they moved out onto a newly sprouting cereal field and made a count of 41 much easier.

I turned around and went along the road to Huétor and stopped at the fields where the Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) spend their days at the moment and luckily there had been no desturbance so the birds were still happily sat there and allowed a count of 277. In the same area I had Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) x45, Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), 2 of 4 Grey Herons (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) seen, Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) and 11x Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis). 

I did the loop around to the Airfield but as they were flying there I carried on up to the bridge and found the Golden Plovers (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaria) x21 and the Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) x34, as well as a distant soaring Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), a Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) which flashed passed following the irrigation channel and a very smart Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea).

I dropped down from the bridge and turned out towards the Mesia road and checked the ditches and reed beds along there, I failed to find any sign of the usual wintering Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) but put up a single Jack Snipe (Agachadiza Chica / Lymnocriptes minimus), 2x Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago) and a Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) whilst searching.

On the opposite side of the track in the reed beds there was a single wintering Wryneck (Torcecuello / Jynx torquilla), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), another flock of a 100 or so Iberian Magpies and in the air an even bigger flock of 500+ Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus). 

On the eastern track along the Rio I added a small flock of around 10 Common Waxbills (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), a locally uncommon Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Jackdaws (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa) x5, Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), a single male Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus) in winter plumage, several Mistle Thrushes (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) in the poplars, another couple of Green Sandpipers and a male Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala).

Orchids for 2019.

Really looking forward to some exciting Orchid hunting next year between March and June.

Dark Spider Orchid (Ophrys incubacea).

Towards the end of March the main Orchid season kicks off down here in Southern Spain but before this even there have been a couple of the species in the Ophrys fusca group that have been flowering from as early as January. 

Pink Butterfly Orchid (Anacamptis papilionacea).

Over in Malaga Province they have the uncommon Ophrys Malacitana and further East in Granada we get the very similar Ophrys foresteri, both plants are considered be some authorities to be full species in their own right but just variations of fusca by others along with some other similar plants.

Two-leaved Gennaria (Gennaria diphylla).

Another of the very early flowering species is the Two-leaved Gennaria (Gennaria diphylla) which can be found down on the Granada coast and in the woods and quarries of Malaga Province.

Ophrys Dyris.

Anyway once March arrives I enjoy visiting an area of Pine woodland in the Sierra de Mijas where there is a very good show of several species including the very variable Woodcock Orchid (Ophrys scolopax), during several visits I (along with friends) also found a couple of hybrid plants with Scolopax, the first was a cross with Ophrys speculum (O x castroviejoi) and the second with tenthredinifera (O x peltieri).

Conical Orchid (Neotinea conica).

In the same area there are also a good number of other beautiful plants including Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera subsp tenthredinifera), Pink Butterfly Orchid (Anacamptis papilionacea), Fan-lipped Orchid (Anacamptis collina), Mirror Orchid (Ophrys speculum subsp speculum), Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea) and just up the road at another two spots Naked / Italian Man Orchid (Orchis italica), Ophrys Dyris, Atlas Orchid (Ophrys atlantica), Champagne Orchid (Orchis champagneuxii) and Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca / O. forestieri). 

Atlas Orchid (Ophrys atlantica).

Right up in the North of Malaga Province and on my local patch we have good sites for Dark Spider Orchid (Ophrys incubacea), Bumblebee Orchid (Ophrys bombyliflora), Orchis x brigittae, Small Woodcock Orchid (Ophrys picta) and Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum robertiana). 

Ophrys x chobautii.

On my local patch there is a brilliant area of Oak Woodland and Grass Land where during the year there is a great show including Conical Orchid (Neotinea conica), Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera), Dense-flowered Orchid (Neotinea maculata), Lizard Orchid (Himantoglosum hircinum), Lange's Orchid (Androrchis langei), Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera var ficalhoana), Southern Early Purple Orchid (Chupaeros / Androrchis Olbiensis), Sword-leaved Helleborine (Cephalanatera longifolia), Pyramidal Orchid (Orquidea Pyramidal / Anacamptis pyramidalia) and Epipactis temolsii.

Sword-leaved Helleborine (Cephalanatera longifolia).

In a valley not to far away from us Iberian Mirror Orchid (Ophrys vernixia) flowers in amonst the Oaks and there is another site for this very rare species in pine woods in Northern Malaga. As well as Small-tongue Orchid (Serapias parviflora), Man Orchid (Orchis anthropophora) and just up the road Orchis x gennarii.

Orchis cazorlensis.

 In the Granada Mountains there are a mix of site with a good mix of species, most on the Northern slopes in the broad-leaved woods and on the Southern slopes of nearby hills, some of the interesting species here are the rare Orchis cazorlensis and the even rarer hybrid with Lange's Orchid (O x incantata), Lady Orchid (Orchis purpurea), Barton's Orchid (Dactylorhiza insularis), Fragrant Bug Orchid (Orchis coriophora subsp fragrans), Robust Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza elata), Dark-red Helleborine (Epipactis atrorubens), Epipactis fageticola, Small-leaved Helleborine (Epipactis microphylla), both Violet Limodore (Limodorum abortivum) and Common Twayblade (Neottia ovata) can be found along with the beautiful Algerian Butterfly Orchids (plantanthera algeriensis).

Algerian Butterfly Orchids (plantanthera algeriensis).

Some later species locally are the very smart Burnt Orchid (Neotinea Ustulata) which grow in the Oak as do the Autumn Lady's Tresses (Spiranthes spiralis) but somewhat later.

Orchis x brigittae.

Other species that I have seen down here in Andalucia include Algarve Bee Orchid (Ophrys algarviensis), Long-lipped Tounge Orchid (Serapias vomeracea), Tongue (Serapias lingua) and Heart-flowered Tongue Orchid (Serapias cordigera), Limodorum trabutianum, Lax-flowered Orchid (Orchis Laxiflora) and Sulphur Orchid (Dactylorhiza sulphurea).

Monkey Orchid (Orchis simia).

Lady's Slipper Orchid (Cypripedium calceolus).

During my tours up to the Pyrenees we also see a very good number of Orchid speices including Lady's Slipper Orchid (Cypripedium calceolus), Bird's-nest Orchid (Neottia nidus-avis), Black Vanilla Orchid (Nigritella angustifolia), Broad-leaved Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza majalis), Elder-flower Orchid (Dactylorhiza sambucina), Heath Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza maculata),

Military Orchid (Orchis militaris).

Common Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii), Pale-flowered Orchid (Orchis pallens), Military Orchid (Orchis militaris), Monkey Orchid (Orchis simia), Fly Orchid (Ophrys insectifera), Ophrys riojana, Early Purple Orchid (Orchis mascula), Frog Orchid (Dactylorhiza viride), Lesser Butterfly (Platanthera bifolia) and Greater Butterfly Orchid (Platanthera chlorantha), Green-winged Orchid (Androrchis morio) and White Helleborine (Cephalanthera damasonium). There are still quite a few still to find as well.

Pale-flowered Orchid (Orchis pallens).

Elder-flower Orchid (Dactylorhiza sambucina).

Huétor Tajar, Granada Province.

The burning of the Huétor Fields again.

The annual burning of the Asparagus tops around Huétor has started, we were in the town during the afternoon and it was hard to breath as the smoke was so thick. Jayne had to put a hankie over face as she was struggling to get her breath.

Home near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

A late Dragon in the Garden.

Just a nice male Desert Darter (Sympetrum sinaiticum) which was still flying around the garden pool.

La Janda and Montenmedio Golf Club, Cadiz Province.

A Spanish lifer in the La Janda wetlands / Rice fields.

Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

I left the hotel in La Linea and headed up to the entrance of La Janda near to the town of Benalup-Casas Viejas, on the way I saw Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus).

White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).

Along the first part of the track I added Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Little (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) and Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), lots more White Storks, Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), another Common Buzzard sat on a telegraph post and the first of several Marsh Harriers (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).

Hen Harrier (Aguilucho Pálido / Circus cyaneus).

My target species for the day was one of the three Sociable Lapwings (Avefría Sociable / Vanellus gregarius) which had been around for a while so I drove straight over to the southern end of the main Channel and scanned the fields for the Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) flocks.

Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo).

Over the next few hours I scanned the fields on either side of the track but only moved 2.3KM as I was searching hard for the Lapwing. 

White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).

During this search I was very pleased to find a Marsh Sandpiper (Archibebe Fino / Tringa stagnatilis) which was feeding with three Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia) in a damper edge of a swampy field. 

Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus).

In the same area there were good numbers of Northern Lapwings, Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), several Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls, Little Egrets,  a group of flyby Great Cormorants (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), House Sparrows (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), loads of Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus), Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Common Kestrel, Marsh Harriers, a rapid flying Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius) which upset the large numbers of House Sparrows and Meadow Pipits (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis).

Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus).

I moved slowly along the Channel heading North all the time stopping regularly adding Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) and Green Sandpipers (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), a Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta) which was surprisingly still in quite good summer plumage, a stunning male Hen Harrier (Aguilucho Pálido / Circus cyaneus), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), a large flock of Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) which were in the air mobbing a Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus) which landed on a pylon just past where I was standing scanning the Paddy fields. 

Sociable Lapwing (Avefría Sociable / Vanellus gregarius) a bad digiscope photo.

Whilst I was stood at this spot I had a Shrew species cross the road being chased by a Weasel (Comadreja / Mustela nivalis), as well as a large Brown Rat (Rata parda / Rattus norvegicus).

Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus).

As I reached a spot just past the large blue sluices I found a small group of Northern Lapwings so I set up the scope and scanned and the first bird I looked at was a cracking adult Sociable Lapwing, a bit distant but good through the scope, well happy. 

Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus).

In the same area I also had a male Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), a male Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus), Calandra Lark (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and then just behind me from the canal a calling Penduline Tit (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus) which made me turn around just in time to see it fly North along the reeds and behind it I was even more pleased to see the male Pallid Harrier (Aguilucho Papialbo / Circus macrourus) but it was to far passed me to get a shot unfortunately.

Pallid Harrier (Aguilucho Papialbo / Circus macrourus) totally out of focus Typical, Classic 😀😀😀😀.

I had been on site now for almost 5 hours and had only moved a couple of KM along the Canal but the birds had been kind. I continued on along the channel right along to the main Vejer road, on the way I had a single Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus), several Common Starlings (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), a cronking Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), 2x Great Egrets (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba), a large flock of Jackdaws (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) and just as I was about to reach the road I had 2 Short-toed Eagles (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus) which got my hopes up when they came out of the trees as there has been a wintering Lesser Spotted Eagle (Águila Pomerana / Aquila pomarina) but still a nice sighting.

The spot where I saw the Sociable Lapwing.

Just up the road I turned into the golf course and up at the club house I found a nice group of the reintroduced Northern Bald Ibis (Ibis Eremita / Geronticus eremita) along with lots of Western Cattle Egrets, Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla).

Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus).

I dropped back to the Northern end of the track and drove along to the turning left back over to the Benalup side of the area, on my way I saw another Great Egret, more Glossy Ibis, a Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) and another Weasel, Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus), Squirting Cucumber (Ecballium elaterium) and Pitch Trefoil (Psoralea bituminosa).

Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus).

I turned on to the track that goes across the site, passed the farm and amongst the wild olive fields, during this drive I had Jackdaw, Robin, Common Buzzard, Marsh Harrier, Western Cattle Egret, Common Kestrel, Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Common Stonechat, Blackbird, Pheasant (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and as I drove out of the site and back towards La Linea I had a Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) sat on a Pylon, Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius) and Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus).

White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).

Northern Bald Ibis (Ibis Eremita / Geronticus eremita).

Great Egret (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba).

Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

Travelling to Gibraltar.

A mid-morning run down to La Linea and then a quick whizz around Gib.

Barnacle Goose (Barnacla Cariblanca / Branta leucopsis).

We set of across the fields towards the motorway seeing the one flocks of Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), mixed in with good numbers of Eurasian Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), a perched Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and

House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus).

Barnacle Goose (Barnacla Cariblanca / Branta leucopsis).

In Huétor we stopped and checked the Rio Genel by the bridge where we found a Barnacle Goose (Barnacla Cariblanca / Branta leucopsis) which had been reported on E-bird, unfortunately it was always going to be an escaped bird and the small plastic ring confirmed this but still nice to see but stays off all the lists.

View from the hotel room in La Linea.

During the rest of the drive down to Gib I saw Western Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

The entrance to Bar la Serrana.

Arroyo Marin, Laguna Grande, Malaga Province and Sierra de Loja, Granada Province.

Woods, Water and Mountains.

Iberian  Magpies (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).

Nicky and I headed out again and made our way west over the boarder into Malaga Province and down in to the Arroyo Marin. We parked and walked the first Km or so scanning as we went and finding Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), a good group of Iberian  Magpies (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) some of which sat up nicely, Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Long-tailed Tits (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs canariensis), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla) and as we returned to the car we had both male and female Black Wheatears (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura).

Ferruginous Ducks (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca).

We drove further along the valley to the chain barrier and spent some time checking the more open area nearby and the dencer trees near the river and boosted the list with a calling Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes) and some flyover Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra).

Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae).

On our way to the Sierra we called in at Laguna Grande which was full to the brim but also had quite a few birds there including Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), 3x Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca) and Great Crested (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus) and Little Grebes (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and up off the water Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Long-tailed Tit, Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius) and Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki). 

Ring Ouzel (Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus).

We continued on along the motorway and then up the Sierra de Loja where we drove right over to the far side picking up Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), a couple of Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis).

At the far side of the Charca del Negra track we searched the Hawthorn trees and soon found the first of quite a few Ring Ouzels (Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus) which were feeding on the winter berries, during the visit we saw around 15 birds of both torquatus and alpestris subspecies.

Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae).

In the same area we also had a single Fieldfare (Zorzal Real / Turdus pilaris), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia) and Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

On our way back down along the crags we had good views of another Dartford Warbler, Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and Iberian Green Woodpecker.

Huétor Fields and Hacho, Granada Province.

Back out on the local patch again with Nicky.

26 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

We started the day right on the Northern edge of Huétor Tajar and walked out on what is unfortunately a favourite place for dog walkers who do not clean up after their hounds so we spent some of the time dodging the remains.

As we started out and soon found several Common Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), a hundred or so Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), 2 stalking Grey Herons (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) which were plundering the Lucern fields and the first of around 400 Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus).

Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus).

Behind the Curlews we also found 26 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) waddling aroud on a newly cut Lucern field along with good numbers of White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Collared Doves (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and a male Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis) which is a rare bird on the patch.

As we walked back towards the car we found Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) as well as a couple of Tree Sparrows (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus).

Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus).

Once we were back at the car we went and checked the Loja fields side of the site but the Lucern was too long to find anything in the fields but on the cross track back to the rio we picked up a flock of finnches including Linnets, Goldfinches, Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus). Whilst Nicky had her eye to the viewfinder on her camera a Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) flashed out of the Olives and out over the fields too quickly for her to get on to it.

Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

Our next areas were the two lengths of the Arroyo Vilano to the north of the town, as we stood beside the Western end of the River a flock of around 100 Iberian  Magpies (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) came upstream and past us and off in to the fields, we also had 2 Cetti's Warblers (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) which were getting annoyed with each other in a bramble patch and along the Eastern end of the river a Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus) was hasseling the large numbers of Woodpigeons whilst a Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) sat quietly on one of the distant pylons. 

Red Squirrel (Ardilla común / Sclurus vulgaris).

In the Juncus patch we had Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Dartford (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), a flushed Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago) and up on the river again as we were on our way out a Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus).

We moved around to the Mesia side of the site and checked the ditches, channels and reedbeds and apart from the amount of mud it was a success full 40 minutes. We started with a walk along the long ditch and quickly found a male Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) but it was flighty and did not give us great views, a group Red-legged Partridges (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), four more Snipe, Black Redstart, Cetti's Warbler, Common Chiffchaffs, a Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) and our first flight views of a Jack Snipe (Agachadiza Chica / Lymnocriptes minimus) which we watched all the way across the track behind us and down into the field next to the reedbed.

We walked back to the track and then out into the reedbeds where we heard and had fleeting views of a Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), more Common Waxbills and as we returned to the car we again had flight views of the Jack Snipe.

We walked along the main Irrigation ditch and crossed the road to Mesia and out to the river bank where we walked the bank to the road and back to the car only adding a very smart Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea).

Firecrests (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus).

Our next stop was at Bar Pedro where we had a good lunch before going up past the house and up to the Northern side of Hacho where we parked and started to walk the upper track where we had a Red Squirrel (Ardilla común / Sclurus vulgaris) ran across in front of us and tried to hide up in a Pine but we refound it and had some shots of it. As we came back out on to the track we had brilliant views of a soaring Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) which dropped down into one of the oak trees on the next ridge where it was mobbed by several Iberian Magpies before it flew up again and headed off. 

Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus).

This species was at the top of Nicky's target list so she was rather pleased with it. We continued on along the lower track adding Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), 4x Common Crossbills (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra) on the overhead power cables, another noisy Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), a very late male Spectacled Warbler (Curruca Tomillera / Sylvia conspicillata) and back by the car a party of at least 4 Firecrests (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus) which showed extreamly well. We also had Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) and both Small (Pieris rapae) and Large Whites (Pieris brassicae).

We drove back to the Hotel across the fields seeing more Western Cattle Egrets, Jackdaws (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Grey Heron, Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and loads of Spotless Starlings.