Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A late start after a late arrival in the early hours.

Sharon, John and Caitlin, Day One.

Ebird List.

Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

We had a steady start to the day as we had not got back to the house until around 02.00 as Sharon, John and Caitlin's flight was delayed into Malaga.

Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

Anyway after we got sorted we went for a walk down on the fields to ease our selves into a bit of birding, we parked and walked around the Lucerne Fields and out along the Arroyo Vilano as far as the Railway bridge, on our way we saw 18x Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), 5x Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus), Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), Melodious Warbler (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta), Iberian  Magpies (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major).

Sage Skipper (Muschampia proto).

False Mallow / Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus tripolinus / alceae).

Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus).

Along the stretch out amongst the Asparagus fields we picked up Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Spotted (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata) and Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca), Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra), Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis), Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) and Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica).

Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii).

As we came along the Arroyo and back to the car we picked up Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus) x2, Sage Skipper (Muschampia proto) x1, False Mallow / Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus tripolinus / alceae) x1, Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) x3, Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala). 

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

Guadalhorce Pools, Malaga, Malaga Province, Spain.

Picking up Friends from a late flight.

Ebird List for Guadalhorce.

I left home mid afternoon and arrived at Guadalhorce just before 17.00 and spent a couple of hours birding around the ponds, I started at the main hide over looking Laguna Grande where I had views of Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Grey Plover (Chorlito Gris / Pluvialis squatarola), Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Red Knot (Correlimos Gordo / Calidris canutus), Ringed (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) and Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), 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), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) and Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis).

In the trees, bushes and around the margins I also saw Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and away in the distance a hunting Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).

I walked around to the next hide, on the way I added Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla) and Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).

From the hide I saw White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus).

I continued to walk arond to the Seawatch point, on the way I stopped at the two hides pickng up White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata),  Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).

I reached the seawatch point but only managed to add Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), I walked along the beach and then back into the reserve and to the Hide at Laguna Grande but added nothing new so I went and did some shopping and then had a sleep in the car before making my way to the airport just after Midnight to meet Sharon, John and Caitlin and then we headed home. 

Punta del Santo and Charca de Suárez in the Motril area, Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A morning down on the coast with Juan and then back on the patch later.

Ebird List for Punta del Santo.

Ebird List for Charca.

Ebird List for Huétor Fields.

White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).

I met Juan at Punta del Santo at just before 08.30 and we spent an hour and a half doing a sea watch and picked up an Arctic Skua (Págalo Parásito / Stercorarius parasiticus), Audouin's Gulls (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), 50+ Balearic Shearwaters (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus), Sandwich Terns (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Northern Gannets (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) and several Common Waxbills (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild).

Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

After the sea watch we entered Charca Suarez and had a walk around the Hides finding Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca), Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Red-knobbed Coot (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata), Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus), Night Heron (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax), Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus), Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), Wryneck (Torcecuello / Jynx torquilla), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca) and Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) amongst other.

Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

When the reserve closed I said goodbye to Juan and headed back towards hme but decided to have a walk around the Lucerne fields where I added 24 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) and 26 Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) to the list.

Huétor Tajar, Home, Granada Province, Spain.

Doing some more local birding.

Ebird List for Huétor Fields.

Some of the Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

During the morning I went for a walk around the Lucerne Fields, out passed the Poplar Plantation and as far as the junction to the Mesia road, Highlights included 18x Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) which was a pleasing count under the circumstances as the maximum count last year was just 15.

Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax),

Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax),

Other species included a few passage Alpine Swifts (Vencejo Real / Apus melba), 3x Short-toed Eagles (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus), big numbers of Woodpigeons (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Sand (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia) and House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Barn (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Red-rumped Swallows (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica) and Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus).

A few of the Woodpigeons (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).

Alpine Swift (Vencejo Real / Apus melba).

Alpine Swift (Vencejo Real / Apus melba).

After doing a few chores back at the house I decided to spend a while out on the terrace where I saw a local rarity when a Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) flew over along with more Iberian Magpies, a Short-toed Eagle and more Alpine Swifts.

First snow up on Sierra Nevada.

 

El Temple, Cacín Valley and El Temple again, Granada Province, Spain.

Out on the far end of the Patch.

Ebird List for El Temple in the Evening.

 

Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).

On my way up to the El Temple area I started the list off with Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei) which was only heard.

Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti).

Out on the fields at El Temple there was a fine Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), Calandra Lark (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), 3x Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), 28x Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis) and a group of 3 migrating Honey Buzzards (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus).

Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti) with possible transmitter??

We moved off the fields and had views of an immature Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti).

Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra).

Other species seen in this area were another Black-winged Kite and a couple of Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) before we moved on up the Cacín Valley to the Contra-embalse, here we found Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina) and a female Red-crested Pochard (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina),  Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), 6x Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), House (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris).

As we drove North along the Valley we picked up Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti),  Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and out on the fields near to Morelade Tawny Pipit (Bisbita Camprstre / Anthus campestris) and Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra).

Sunset out on El Temple.

We returned to Granada and then later I met Juan out on the fields back out on El Temple to do some spotting for the Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis) project we had work on before, we found 3 birds which disappeared before dusk but from other points in the area other watchers found a flock of 28 birds, probable the same flock I had seen earlier in the day.

Other species seen before dusk were Black-winged Kite, Short-toed (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus) x5 and Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Hen Harrier (Aguilucho Pálido / Circus cyaneus), Common Buzzard, Iberian Green Woodpecker, Iberian Grey Shrike, Calandra Lark and  Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Common Redstart, Northern Wheatear and Tawny Pipit (Bisbita Camprstre / Anthus campestris).

Cubillas Reservoir, Granada and Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

Birding with Juan, then a walk around the patch.

Ebird List for Cubillas Res.

Ebird List for Huétor Fields.

Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica).

I met Juan at the usaual spot on the North West edge of the water, as we scanned we picked up Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Egyptian Goose (Ganso del Nilo / Alopochen aegyptiaca), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), European Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), European Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Common (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) and Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Common Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus) and a fishing Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus).

Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild).

After a while Juan and I moved a short way along the side of the Res where we sat and watched an area of Bramble bushes and Fig Trees picking up Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Garden Warbler (Curruca Mosquitera / Sylvia borin) and Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus).

Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

We packed up our chairs and headed off and then later I did a walk along the Lucerne Fields and out to the Poplar plantation, on the way I picked up Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) x8, a Short-toed Snake Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus), Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra) and Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), 200+ Spanish (Yellow) Wagtails (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia), Red-rumped (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica).

Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

More from the fields.

Ebird List.

I again walked the fields, high lights were that the Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) flock had jumped to 8 over night.

Other species included Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus), Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica) and Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

Down on the Fields again looking for Migrants.

Ebird List.

First 3 of the Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) of the winter.

I was down on the fields a tad earlier today and it payed off as the birds were quite active and the migrants passing through were feeding up ready to move on South.

Willow Warbler (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus).

Willow Warbler (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus).

As I walked the freshly cut Lucerne fields I picked up 3 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) which were the first of the year, I was pleased to see some had turned u as the numbers last year were well down and I only managed a maximum count of 15 birds.

Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca).

Immature Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator).

Migrants included a female type Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca), an immature Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), a flock of 28 European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) which were feeding from wire which crossed the fields near the Cortijo, 2x Turtle Doves (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur) which were feeding with a sizable flock of Collared Doves (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), at least 8 Northern Wheatears (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), big numbers of mostly immature looking Yellow Wagtails (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava) but there were also adult birds of at least three races, Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra), Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis), Willow (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus) and  Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) and hawking over the fields there were good numbers of hirundines including Sand (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia) and House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Barn (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Red-rumped Swallows (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica).

Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus).

Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).

Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus).

Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus).

Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus).

Other more regular residents found included Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), a distant pair of Bonelli's Eagles (Aguila Perdicera / Aquila faciatus) over the hills to the North, Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).

Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala).

There were also a few new winter arrivals with there being an increase in White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla) numbers, a few Common Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and a single Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) which are a winter visitor locally.

Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) male.

Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) male.

As I walked I also saw several sepcies of butterfly including Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) x3, Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) x1, Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) x6, Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous) x2, Large White (Pieris brassicae) x2 and Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) x4 and a few Red-veined Darters (Sympetrum fonscolombii) x3.