HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR.

 

Sierra de Loja and Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

An unexpected bit of birding with Friend Juan.

Ebird List for Sierra de Loja.

Ebird List for the Fields.

A view out to the West.

I got up planning to do a bit in the garden once it warmed but after getting a message from friend Juan Perez about doing some birding up Sierra de Loja I thought the garden can wait and made plans to meet him at the Crortijo de Tajar.

We met, then headed along the Motorway and up the hill via the Abades Services the Hawthorn trees on the far side where we were going to search for Thrush species.

The most obvious of the Thrushes were the 28 or so Ring Ouzels (Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus) we saw, Redwing (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus illacus) and Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) were also seen but considering the amount of berries there we were surprised by the low numbers of birds.

We also recorded Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and a single Alpine Accentor (Acentor Alpino / Prunella collaris).

On the way back down we saw lots of flowering Broad-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia), several Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Capra pyrenaica hispanica) and a few Rabbits (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus) before getting back onto the Motorway and heading back to Huétor Tajar and out onto the fields where Juan was hoping we would find Golden Plovers (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaia) and we were soon watching 10 on the Lucerne Fields. We also saw Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and as we dropped back to the hotel we had a single Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) drop into the river.

Back home I had 5+ Siskins (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus) coming in to the feeders in the garden along with House Sparrow, Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla) and a pair of Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

Back down on the fields.

Ebird List.

Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus) male.

I did the usual walk but went out passed the Poplar plantation and then cut back to the Arroyo and back to the car, species seen included Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus) x 10, Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) x71, Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) x85, Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus) male.

 

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

Along the Lucerne fields again.

Ebird List.

 

Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus).

I did just a short walk from the Walnut Trees along the Arroyo as far as my normal parking point and the on up stream to the dam.

Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus).

Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus).

Interesting species included an unseasonable pale morph Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus) and an over wintering Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) which appeared in the nice warm sun.

Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus).

Costa Ballena and Bonanza area, Cadiz Province, Spain.

More birding a bit further North in Cadiz Province.

 

Lesser Scaup (Porrón Bola / Aythya affinis) female.

I was up and out early and I was at the car park next to the Lago Norte when it was still not very light but even so I started the day list off with Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and lots of other Duck mixes.

Lesser Scaups (Porrón Bola / Aythya affinis).

Lesser Scaups (Porrón Bola / Aythya affinis).

As the light unproved I saw a couple of birds diving under the nearby bridge which I suspected were the Lesser Scaup (Porrón Bola / Aythya affinis) which had been on the lake for a while and aftergetting better views I was happy that they were.

Lesser Scaups (Porrón Bola / Aythya affinis).

Lesser Scaups (Porrón Bola / Aythya affinis).

As I did a loop of the pool I also added Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) and single Common Gull (Gaviota Cana / Larus canus), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and the hybrid Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca) x Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina).

Common Gull (Gaviota Cana / Larus canus).

I returned to the car and then drove around to the Parque de Los Lagos but it was quiet and I only added White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus) and Small White (Pieris rapae).

Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina).

Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia).

Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata).

Ferruginous X Pochard.

Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres).

I drove up towards Bonanza area and to a spot where I was hoping to see Long-billed Dowitcher (Agujeta escolopácea / Limnodromus scolopaceus) but I dipped on this bird but I did however see Lesser (Flamenco Enano / Phoenicopterus minor) and Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Curlew Sandpiper (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) and Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna).

Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax).

Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Lesser (Flamenco Enano / Phoenicopterus minor) and Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

From here I decided to head home as I was feeling fairly tired already but just before I got there I called in at the fields near Huétor picking up Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) and Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus).

La Janda and Benalup, Cadiz Province, Spain.

A day Bunting hunting.

Just before the sun peeped over the hills.

I set off early to get over to La Janda for first light but even with a stop for breakfast it was still dark when I arrived and -1° but it was nice to watch the sun rise at the spot for the Little (Escribano pigmeo / Emberiza pusilla) and Rustic Buntings (Escribano rústico / Emberiza rustica) which were found by birders a few days earlier.

The first view of at least 10 Little Buntings (Escribano pigmeo / Emberiza pusilla) seen during the day.

Once the light had reached a decent level I went for a walk around the site and as time went on several other birders arrived and we all searched, one guy did get to see the Rustic Bunting (Escribano rústico / Emberiza rustica) but I didn't manage to connect with this rare species but after a while I caught up with my first Little Bunting (Escribano pigmeo / Emberiza pusilla) in Spain and by the end of the day I had managed to see around 10 birds of this usually rare visitor.

Little Bunting (Escribano pigmeo / Emberiza pusilla).

Little Bunting (Escribano pigmeo / Emberiza pusilla).

Late in the afternoon I had a group of 8 Little Buntings in a small willow type tree and then 2 more individuals at a different spot nearby.

Little Bunting (Escribano pigmeo / Emberiza pusilla).

Little Bunting (Escribano pigmeo / Emberiza pusilla).

Other species seen or heard during the day included 1x Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Black (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans) and Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus), Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Night Heron (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Common Crane (Grulla Común / Grus grus), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Cetti's (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), House (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Small White (Pieris rapae) and Paperwhite Narcissus (Narcissus papyraceus).

Little Bunting (Escribano pigmeo / Emberiza pusilla).

I eventually admitted defeat and headed for my hotel in Benalup which was good and I slept well ready for another day of birding tomorrow. 

Near the House, Cubillas Reservoir, Granada Province, Spain.

An aborted trip to Hacho and then a run up to Granada.

 

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

I was intending to start the day up at Hacho by the puddle but when I arrived I found that there was a gang of guys there felling some of the Pine Trees so I turned around and headed back to the house picking up a sun bathing Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus).

During the morning I had again received a message from Correos Express to say they couldn't find my house for the second time in a week which meant I had to go to there office in Granada for the second time because there driver couldn't be bothered to ring and ask where I live.

Great Cormorants (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo).

After collecting the package I went to have a look at Cubillas where I picked up a few new species for the day including Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) x27, Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) x9 and large flock of over 100 Great Cormorants (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo). 

Cubillas Reservoir.

On the drive home I saw two Black-winged Kites (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) one either side of Moraleda.

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A longer loop around the patch.

Ebird List.

Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus).

I went for a walk out along the Lucerne fields and followed the river as far as the Railway bridge and then to the Mesia road where I turned towards Huétor and then took the track back toward the car.

Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus).

Main species were Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), a small flock of 8 or so Siskins (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus), Small White (Pieris rapae) and Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta).

Cacín Valley, Balsa de Regidor and Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

Out a bit further afield on the Patch.

Ebird List for Contra Embalse de Bermejalis.

Ebird List for Balsa de Rigedor.

Looking South over the Reed Bed.

I couldn't make my mind up whether to go up the Sierra de Loja or down the Cacín Valley but seeing the frozen puddles on my way down to Huétor I decided on the Cacín as I though the road up the Sierra might be a tad dodgy so I made my way down to the Contra Embalse de Bermejalis, just before I left the house I had 3 Siskins (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus) land in the fig tree.

The nice new road surface on the GR-4303 down through El Turro to Cacín made the drive a whole lot easier and quicker so I was soon at the parking slot beside the Embales and birding, on the water there were good but smaller than usual numbers of Duck including Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) and Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata).

Looking to the Northern end of the Embalse.

Also on and over the water I added Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) and in the reeds there were smaller birds which included Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus) x2, Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

Male Desert Darter (Sympetrum sinaiticum).

I decided to walk around the edge of the Embalse through the woods and then on the road getting as far as the dam, on the way I saw Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Thekla (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Song (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) and Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus), 2x Small White (Pieris rapae) and a surprise male Desert Darter (Sympetrum sinaiticum).

I walked back to the car and then drove back up the valley to El Turro and the out onto the fields to the north of there but it was extremely and I only added Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and another couple of Little Owls.

I dropped through the site and crossed the motorway and went to the Balsa de Regidor where i saw more Common Pochards, Northern Shovelers, Mallards, Little Grebes, Eurasian Coot, Common Moorhens, Great Cormorants, Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) but nothing else new.

The Sierra Nevada from the fields near Moraleda de Zafayona.

I made my way back towards the fields near to the house and came into them from the Mesia road where I checked the Irrigation Channels and found a Jack Snipe (Agachadiza Chica / Lymnocriptes minimus) along with 2 Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago) and a couple of Black-winged Kites (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus).

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A short walk on the patch.

Ebird List for Lucerne Fields.

Ebird List for Town Fields.

Not feeling great but going down the fields with a hot coffee in the travel mug Deb and Ian gave me as a present back in Australia made it better.

I was still not feeling 100% so I didn't go far but felt I needed a walk so I just popped down to the fields but there was nothing exciting.

The distant Sierra Nevada with a bit of Snow.

The Lucerne fields.

Species seen included Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), a small flock of Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus) and a couple of Small Whites (Pieris rapae).

Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis).

Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina).

On the way back I popped into Mercodona and picked up a few bit and then stopped on the fields near the town finding 12 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), 35 or so Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) and 60 odd Northern Lapwings.

Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus).