Priorslee Flash & Hangman's Pool, Telford, Shropshire.

A lunch time walk around the pool.

Eurasian Coots (Focha Común / Fulica atra).

I took a couple of hours doing a clockwise circit of the pool, on the side with the houses close in to the anks there were good numbers of Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Coots (Focha Común / Fulica atra) including a couple having a really good scrap, Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), a group of Canada Geese (Barnacla Canadiense /Branta canadensis), an immature Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Tufted Duck (Porrón Monudo / Aythya fuligula) and further around on the far side Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus).

Eurasian Coots (Focha Común / Fulica atra).

 Along the boardwalks on the last stretch of the walk I had several Common Blue Damselflies (Enallagma cyathinerum), a couple of Southern / Blue Hawker (Aeshna cyanea) and Small White (Pieris rapae) butterflies.

Eurasian Coots (Focha Común / Fulica atra).

Birds included more of the previous species as well as Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Long-tailed Tits (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone) and Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula).

Eurasian Coots (Focha Común / Fulica atra).

Bridgnorth and the river Seven, Shropshire.

Day great day out with good friends Steve and Lynn up from Cornwall.

Looking down on the Seven.

Our friends Steve and Lynn travelled up from Cornwall to spend a couple of days with us, this was the second day and we spent a really nice day out around Bridgnorth and along the River Seven.

Funicular Railway.

We parked on Seven Park and walked along the River to the bridge where we saw Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Goosander (Mergus merganser) x5F, Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) and several Eurasian Coots (Focha Común / Fulica atra).

Once across the Bridge we got onto the funicular railway and went up into High Town where we had a good walk round and then some Lunch.

Later we dropped back down on the Railway and then walked back along the river adding Banded Damoiselle (Calopteryx splendens), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea),

Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) and Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).

We returned to the car and then drove back to Albrighton ut made a stop at Green Pool on the edge of Albrighton where we looked for Dragonflies and we were not disappointed when we found several Small Red-eyed Damselflies (Erythromma viridulum) which we later found out was only the third county record, as well as these little crackers we also had Common Spreadwing (Lestes sponsa), Azure Damselfly (Coenagrion puella), Common Bluetail ( Ischnura elegans) and Southern / Blue Hawker (Aeshna cyanea).

Thanks to Steve and Lynn for a great day out.

Jayne, Steve and Lynn.

Azure Damselfly (Coenagrion puella).

Common Spreadwing (Lestes sponsa).

Small Red-eyed Damselflies (Erythromma viridulum).

Peble Brook Fields, Albrighton, Shropshire.

Out walking Harry the dog.

Small White (Pieris rapae).

Just a quick walk out to the fields along the Pebble Brook area and over to Woodhouse Lane and back.

Peacock (Aglais io).

Species seen included Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Stock Dove (Paloma Zurita / Columba oenas), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Pied / White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba / yarrellii), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Pheasant (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus). 

Back at the house I checked the Buddleja and found Peacock (Aglais io) and Small White (Pieris rapae).

Priorslee Lake, Telford, Shropshire.

A walk around the lake looking for Dragons.

Common Tern (Charrán Común / Sterna hirudo).

Jayne, Sue and Barb wee going for a walk around the Telford Town Centre so I got them to drop me off at the lake where the first call was at the sandwich van before I had a Clockwise walk around the lake. 

Common Tern (Charrán Común / Sterna hirudo).

I started off along the southern shore line counting a few of the bird species as I went, the first counts were Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) x61, Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus) 11, Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) x25, Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) x9, Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) x1, Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor) x8, Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser) x2 and Common Tern (Charrán Común / Sterna hirudo) x1.

Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos).

As I walked in to an area of grassland between the scrub patches I found the first of many Common Blue Damselflies (Enallagma cyathinerum), Peacock (Aglais io) butterfies and Gatekeepers (Pyronia tithonus).

Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos).

Around the edges of the grassland areas i found several Brown Hawkers (Aeshna grandis) moving between the Hawthorn bushes, a couple of Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum) which were sunning themselves on the paths and both Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) and Green-veined White (Pieris napi) in the longer grass.

Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathinerum).

As I reached the Boating ramp I had much better views of the Mute Swan Family, Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) x3, Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) x3 and a couple of Reed Warblers (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) in the reed beds opposite, here I also found a few Red-eyed Damselflies (Erythromma najas) and a single male Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator).

Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathinerum).

As I continued on around towards the more wooded side of the lake  heard and then saw a small group of Bullfinches (Camachuelo Común / Pyrrhula pyrrhula), along with Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis), Goldcrest (Regulus regulus) x1, Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Rook (Graja /  Corvus frugilegus) x3,  Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes).

Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathinerum).

Along the walk through the woods Common Treecreeper (Agateador Norteño / Certhia familiaris), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus),  Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) x 120+, House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus) x1, Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), as well as Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) and Large White (Pieris brassicae).

Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor).

As I walked back to the car park and saw the first hirundines of the day when a mixed group of Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) flew around high up with a single Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) and a couple of soaring Common Buzzards (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).

Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor).

Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor).

Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor).

Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum).

Peacock (Aglais io).

Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus).

Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus).

Needham Market Lakes, Needham Market, Suffolk.

Out feeding the ducks with Ryan.

Brown Argus (Aricia agestis).

Jayne, Becky, Alan, Chewie, Ryan and myself had a walk from by the railway station in Needham and out to the larger of the lakes. We walked through some nice grassland and areas of Buddleia along the railway where I saw Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina), Brown Argus (Aricia agestis), Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus) and Small White (Pieris rapae).

Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina).

As we approched the lake I started the bird list off with House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) and down by the lake Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) and also found several species of Dragon including Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathinerum), Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum) and Brown Hawker (Aeshna grandis).

Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus).

We continued on around the lake to a log pile area wher Ryan had a great time building a den and in a nearby ditch I saw Banded Damoiselle (Calopteryx splendens), Common Roach (Rutilus rutilus), Yellow Water-lily (Nuphar lutea), Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), Common Ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris), Great Willowherb (Epilobium hirsutum) and a couple of Painted Lady's (Vanessa cardui).

Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos).

We headed ack towards the car adding Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica). 

Banded Damoiselle (Calopteryx splendens).

Once back at the car we headed back to the house.

Southwold, Suffolk and travelling.

A day trip to the beach with Jayne, Becky, Ryan and Chewie.

Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus).

We set off for the coast to spend a few hours on the beach, on the way I saw Bullfinch (Camachuelo Común / Pyrrhula pyrrhula), Yellowhammer (Escribano Cerillo / Emberiza citronella), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Rook (Graja /  Corvus frugilegus), Canada Geese (Barnacla Canadiense /Branta canadensis) and Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos).

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui).

After we parked we walked across the dunes to the beach, on the way we flushed up several Meadow Pipits (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) and a single Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis).

We set everything up and then I went for a walk into the narrow area of dunes and checked several plants of Sea Holly (Eryngium maritimum) where I found several species of butterflies including Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) and Small White (Pieris rapae).

As we were playing down by the sea I also recorded Herring (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Kittiwake (Gaviota Tridáctila / Rissa tridactyla), Sandwich (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis) and Common Tern (Charrán Común / Sterna hirudo) and back inland Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) and Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone).

Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas).

Later in the afternoon after some lunch at a nearby pub we packed up the kit when it started to rain, as we walked back to the car a largish dragonfly flew passed which I was in Spain I would not have hesitated to put down as a Vagrant Emperor (Anax ephippiger) but I was in Suffolk.

Ayway a few days later I heard that there were a few Vagrant Emperors seen in the area so it probably was one.

Once the Kit, Ryan and Chewie were all in the motor we headed back to the house, thanks to Becky for a nice day out.

Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.

Catching the train for a day in town.

White-letter Hairstreak (Satyrium w-album).

Becky dropped Jayne and I off at the railway station in Needham Market where we caught the train into Bury St Edmonds whilst the went to a nearby lake to feed the ducks.

Entrance to the Abbey Gardens.

We caught the 10:26 and we soon heading west towards the town, as we sat i noticed a movement by the window and turned to find a fine looking White-letter Hairstreak (Satyrium w-album) sat there on the window. After trying but failing to get  decent shot I released the insect when we reached Stowmarket.

We walked up from the railway station into town and spent a very nice few hours around the town visiting the Cathedral and Saint Mary's church where we found the grave of Mary Tudor tucked away in the corner of the area near the alter.

We also walked around the grounds of the the abbey seeing the gardens and the ruin, well worth a visit and a sit on one of the many benches for a while.

We had some lunch in one of the pubs in town later afer having a walk around the shops, most of which seemed to be charity run place with odd nice places dotted between them.

In the pub we had some English style "Tapas", nice but not quite the same as what we are used to but the beer (2 pints of Ghost Ship) went down very nicely.

As we walked around the town I saw Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Herring (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Large (Pieris brassicae) and Small Whites (Pieris rapae) and Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina ssp hispulla).

Nice view from the bench in the gardens.

At around 16:30 we caught the train back to Needham Market after having a very nice day, just after we reached Needhan Alan turned up to take us back to his place.

The Cathedral from the Abbey ruins.

Enjoyed a couple of Pints of this local Beer.

Great Bricett, near Wattisham, Suffolk.

An afternoon woodland walk.

Common Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus).

After a rather wet weekend I decided to have a walk to a woodland near to our Son's house, the roadside woodlans was in the village of Great Bricett. As I walked there I saw lots of immature and adult Common Starlings (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), House Sparrows (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) and the first butterflies including Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina ssp hispulla) and the first Common Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus) that I had seen in a very long time.
The hedgerow wild flowers included Agimony (Agrimonia eupatoria), Common Mallow (Malva sylvestris), Hedgerow Cranesbill (Geranium pyrenaicum), Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis), Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), Wild Carrot (Daucus carota) and Old-mans Beard (Clematis vitalba).

Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria).

I turned off on to a grassy track where I had more Gatekeepers, Meadow Browns as well as Small White (Pieris rapae) and when I cut into the wood several Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) of the Northern more creamy form.

As I walked along the field margins I saw more of the species already seen and when I reached the stream at the far end I added a male Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla) which was feeding in an Elder Flower Bush and female type Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis) which showed briefly in a tall gorse bush a little further along the track.
I walked in to the wood on a wide ride and found another nice Ringlet, more Gatekeepers and a very active Southern / Blue Hawker (Aeshna cyanea) which flew up and down the ride continously without settling.
As I walked back through the wood and then along the field edge I found a famil party of  Pheasants (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus), Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus) and Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major) and a noisy Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).
I got back to Alan's and in the garden there was a rather fat looking Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) pinching the fat balls.

Malaga and Caleta de Velez, Malaga Province.

A second go at the Booby.

Red-footed Booby (Piquero Patirrojo / Sula sula).

Jo, Brian and I set off from the house and dropped down to Malaga airport where they were catching a flight up to Barcelona before heading back to Australia.

Red-footed Booby (Piquero Patirrojo / Sula sula).

Once they were on their way I drove along the coast to see if the Red-footed Booby (Piquero Patirrojo / Sula sula) was still around, I arrived but there was no sign of the bird on any of it's usual perches up on the light fittings so I looked at what else was hanging around.

Red-footed Booby (Piquero Patirrojo / Sula sula).

In the beach I found Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus) and House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica).

Red-footed Booby (Piquero Patirrojo / Sula sula).

After about 15 mins I looked up at the most right hand post to see that the Booby had flown in and was having a preen so I went ack around to the port side and took some shots but just as I started to take a few it took off but this gave me the chance to get some nice flight shots as it circled the port a couple of times.

Red-footed Booby (Piquero Patirrojo / Sula sula).

The bird then disappeared of out over the far wall and did not return so I left the site and drove back to the house.

Red-footed Booby (Piquero Patirrojo / Sula sula).

Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii) and Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus).

Travelling South from Madrid and Alcázar de San Juan Lagunas.

Travelling again but a spot more wetland birding with Jo and Brian.

Madrid and Travelling South, Day Nine.

Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus).

We were up and about early as Judy and Mike had an early flight, after getting them away we dropped Sofia and Bob off at a hotel nearby where they were going to rest up until their flight.

Brian, Jo and I then dropped south heading for Granada, on the way we headed just a short way off to the west of the main motorway to the lakes near to the town of Alcázar de San Juan Lagunas.

Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser).

We drove onto the site and then walked out to the first of three hides and soon started to find some interesting species including White-headed Ducks (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Red-crested (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina) and Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Little (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and Black-necked Grebes (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) and above the reed beds good numbers of Marsh Harriers (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) and Black Kites (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans) were hunting, Whiskered Terns (Fumarel Cariblanca / Chilidonias hybridus), Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and several Heron and Egret species like Grey (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and Purple Heron (Garza Imperial / Ardea purpurea), Little (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) and Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) as well as loads of White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).

Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

All around the hide there were plants of Zygophyllum fabago which had lots of Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) dragonflies perched on them. We moved around to the second hide and had many of the species already listed but added Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser), Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), quite a few very noisy Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), as well as Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) and out in the slightly deeper water a small flock of Black-tailed Godwits (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa).

Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus).

On the muddy margins there were lots of House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) coming down to bath amongst lesser numbers of Tree Sparrows (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Little Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius).

Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus).

In the air over this part of the pool there were lots of Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), a few House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and some drinking Common Swifts (Vencejo Común / Apus apus). 

In the reed beds good numbers of both Great Reed (Carricero Tordal / Acrocephalus arundinaceus) and Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), calling Cetti's (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and Savi's Warbler (Buscarla Unicolor / Locustella luscinoides) and Penduline Tit (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus) but the latter species remained unseen.

Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus).

Back by the van we saw Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum), Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator), Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) and Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas).

Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis).

We moved on around to the third hide and scanned the largest area of water finding a small group of Collared Pratincoles (Canastera Común / Glareola pratincola) which were feeding or roosting on one of the muddy islands, Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis).

House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) female.

We returned to the motorway and headed of South to the house, on the way we saw Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (Ganga Ibérica / Pterocles alchata), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator) and Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica).

Collared Pratincole (Canastera Común / Glareola pratincola).

We arrived at the house where I dropped Jo and Brian off and then headed back to Malaga with the Van, after dropping it off I caught a bus to Malaga City and then up to Huétor where Brian met me at the bus stop.