Playa de las Amoladeras near Cabo de Gata, Almeria, Spain.

A day chilling with Paqui in Almeria.

Ebird List for Playa de las Amoladeras.

Playa de las Amoladeras.

We left Huétor and drove around the North of Granada and then down to the coast to the East of Almeria, once we were set up I started to check through a flock of Gulls on the beach; most were Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), there were also singles of Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii) and Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus).

Paqui's beach Food, ¡Qué rico!

Other species seen during the visit included Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Anarhynchus alexandrinus) x1, Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) x5, Curlew Sandpiper (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea) x2, Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina) x3, Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Thalasseus sandvicensis), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) x1 immature, Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum) and Sea Daffodil (Pancratium maritimum).

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A late-evening visit to the Fields.

Ebird List for the Fields.

Stuffed Courgettes, SO GOOD.

I went down to Paqui's for lunch, as usual it was absolutely beautiful food which I enjoyed very much, later in the day we both met up again down on the fields.

I went down onto the fields once it started to cool down a little, where I set up the chairs and chilled watching the sun drop behind the hills out to the west before Paqui arrived

It was quiet when I first arrived except for a hunting Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), which looked nice against the orange sky.

The Fields at Dusk.

As Paqui was walking up towards where I was sitting, she pointed to my left as there was suddenly a group of 12 Montagu's Harriers (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) flying in from the west; they spent a while circling above us and out over the fields before dropping in to roost on the ground.

Other species seen included European Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Red-necked Nightjar (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Eurasian Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi).

The rising Moon.

Presa y Meandros del Genil, Granada Province, Spain.

Back to the Presa for a morning walk.

Ebird List.

 

Paqui and I headed down to the Presa before the heat built too much, we started by spending some time by the dam seeing Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and European Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oropéndola Europea / Oriolus oriolus), Eurasian Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Barn (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba). 

After a while we went for a walk along the track adding Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Iberian (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki) and Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Western Bonelli's (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Cetti's (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Long-tailed Tit (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis) and European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

Just out of the Oven.

Later I went around to Paqui's where she had prepared some food, I am not sure what the correct name of it is but it was absolutely amazing and one of the best things I have eaten, thanks Paqui.

It didn't last long.

Heading back to Britain.

Early start for my trip back to Britain.

Ebird List for Pinos de Alhaurín.

UK, Day One. 

 

I was up at 03:30 and soon down in Alhaurín de la Torre where I was met by good friends Barbara and Derek Etherton at there House where I was leaving my car for the time I was back in the UK.

Derek was on the roadside when I arrived and told me to listen as he was had a couple of Tawny Owls (Cárabo Común / Strix aluco) calling to each other, a good start to the day.

Sunrise at 30,000+ feet.

After parking Derek kindly dropped me down to Malaga Airport and I was soon through security and the flight took off on time meaning I was in Birmingham Airport just after 0915 local time. The flight went by quickly as I chatted to a very nice lady in the seat next to me quite a bit of it, my first bird in the UK was a Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone) at the side of the runway as we taxied in.

There was no queue at passport control so I got to Birmingham International in time to get the train into Birmingham New Street an hour earlier than expected, which gave me lots of time to get a Pastie for breakfast and a much needed coffee from the Cornish Pasty shop, I enjoyed the Pasty down on the platform (the Coffee was garbage but it is the UK😟😟😟😟 and its nothing like the Coffee is at home 😋😋😋😋), before getting on the train to Albrighton and hour earlier as well.

The Pasty was a very nice breakfast but the Coffee was, well crap.

During the trip to Albrighton I saw Feral (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia) and Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), European Herring Gull (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus) and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus).

Mom and John were at the Station to meet me so I was soon settled into their place and chilled out for the rest of the day seeing Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), Coal Tit  (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater) and Pied Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla yarrellii) in the garden.

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

Catching up with a few lifers and Western Pal ticks for Sue and Dave.

Sue and Dave, Day two.

Ebird List for Huétor Fields.

Ebird List for Chimeneas area.

Ebird List for El Temple.

Ebird List for El Temple 2.

Ebird List for West of Ventas de Huelma.

Ebird List for Cortijo Ochíchar.

Ebird List for above Cacín.

Ebird List for above Cacín 2.

Ebird List for Contraembalse de los Bermejales.

Ebird List for Moraleda Crags.

Ebird List for Laguna del Regidor.

Ebird List for Realenga de Agicampe.

European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola).

We started the day with Breakfast up on the terrace and then dropped down onto the fields and walked out along the Lucerne fields as far as the Walnut Trees, on the way we saw European Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

We moved on and headed for Chimeneas where we spent a while searching some of the many tracks around the site finding Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Eurasian Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), a pale morph Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas), Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

A pale morph Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas).

We dropped down to the road which crosses the site where we were looking one of the main targets for Sue and Dave on the trip, on one of the ploughed fields Sue spotted a group of 11 winter plumage Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).

As we crossed the rest of the site we picked up Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), European Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), 6x European Honey Buzzards (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus), Booted Eagle, Western Marsh Harrier, Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Eurasian Hoopoe, Woodchat and Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real / Lanius meridionalis), Crested (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and Greater Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) bird wise along with Small White (Pieris rapae) and Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus).

We moved on again and made our way to Bernardo Restaurante where we had a drink and some food before continuing on towards Cacín but called in at Arroyo de los Frailes after Sue picked up a stunning, huge female Northern Goshawk (Azor Común / Accipitor gentillis) sat in a dead tree along the line of the Arroyo.

Other species seen here included Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito ibérico / Picus sharpei), Short-toed Snake Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus), Squirting Cucumber (Ecballium elaterium) and Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli) x2.

Not posed at all 😃😃😃😃 Dave's really like this when he's watching a Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos).

Further along the road we stopped at a view point near Cortijo Ochíchar, as we scanned the skies and the ridges we picked up a pair of Golden Eagles (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos), another Short-toed Snake Eagle and Pallid Swifts.

On the way to Cacín we turned off to check out the Ghost town of La Zahora, as we drove there through the Almonds we picked up 5x Eurasian Stone Curlew but little else only adding Tawny Pipit (Bisbita Camprstre / Anthus campestris) and Thekla's Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae). 

We dropped down into the valley and made our way up to the Contraembalse de los Bermejales, out on the water and around the margins we saw Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Spatula clypeata), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), a heard only Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and White Wagtails.

In the air we saw another Northern Goshawk, Booted Eagle, Western Marsh Harrier, Eurasian Magpie, Barn Swallow and Western House Martin.

We continued on up the valley and made a couple of stops along the crags near Moraleda picking up a third Golden Eagle, 2 more Booted Eagles, Black Kite, a Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) as well as a few Eurasian Crag (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Western House Martin.

The immature Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

The immature Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

Our last stop of the day was at the Laguna de Regidor where we were surprised to see an immature Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), as well as Mallard, Common Pochard, Little Grebe, Common Moorhen, Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Common (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) and Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Thinornis dubius), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta), Common Buzzard, Barn and Red-rumped Swallow, Spotless Starling and White Wagtails.

Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica).

Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica).

Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica).

At the pool we also had Blue / Common (Anax imperator) x3 and Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope) x2, Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) x6, Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata) x2, Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa) and Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi).

Down at 3 Calle's.

We returned to the house and chilled up on the Terrace for a while where we had the fourth Golden Eagle of the day before headed down to 3 Calles for a beer and some food. 

Arroyo Marin, Archidona, Malaga Province, Spain.

A few hours with Lynn and Steve.

Ebird List for Arroyo Marin, 39 Species.

Female nest building Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

After an early morning doctor's appointment I headed over to a spot near Villanueva del Rosario where Lynn and Steve were staying, from there we headed up into Archidona where we had some breakfast before dropping down into the Arroyo Marin Valley and after parking we walked just over 4 KM to the point where the main track stops.

Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) the male supervisor.

Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli) several seen in full song.

Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli).

Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus) also in full song.

On the way there and back we saw some nice species including Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Collared (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Great Spotted (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major) and Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Crested (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), Bonelli's (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Cetti's (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti),  Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Melodious Warbler (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus).

Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri).

Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri).

Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri).

Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina).

Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina).

We also had several species of butterfly which included 20+ Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina), 20+ Western Dappled (Euchloe crameri), Large White (Pieris brassicae) x4 and Small White (Pieris rapae) x15, Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) x8, Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi) x4, Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) x2, Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) x2, Adonis (Lysandra bellargus) x1, Lorquin's (Cupido lorquinii) x2, Long-tailed (Lampides boeticus) x1 and Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina) x4, Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera) x2, Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) x2, Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenoides) x2 and Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) x10+.

Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenoides).

Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi).

Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi).

Steve photographing the Hairstreak.

Orchids included Yellow Bee (Ophrys lutea) x300+, Small Woodcock (Ophrys picta) x4, Sawfly (Ophrys tenthredinifera) x4, Mirror (Ophrys speculum) x9, Somber Bee (Ophrys lupercalis) x1, Man (Orchis anthropophora) x4 and Dense-flowered Orchid (Neotinea maculata) 25+.

Yellow Bee (Ophrys lutea).

Mirror Orchid (Ophrys speculum).

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys lupercalis).

Small Woodcock Orchid (Ophrys picta).

Small Woodcock Orchid (Ophrys picta).

Some of the many Wild flowers seen were Brown Bluebell (Dipcadi serotinum), Cloven Petalled Campion (Silene colorata), Crown Daisy (Chrysanthemum carinatum), Common Fumitory (Fumaria officinalis), Common Stork's-bill (Erodium cicutarium), Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas) and Rough Poppy (Papaver hybridum), Field Marigold (Calendula arvensis), Field Madder (Sherardia arvensis), Green Alkanet (Pentaglottis sempervirens), Grey-leaved Cistus (Cistus albidus), Laurel leaf Cistus (Cistus laurifolius), Ground-pine Germander (Teucrium pseudochamaepitys), Hoary Cress (Lepidium draba), Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria), Lesser Snapdragon (Misopates orontium), Mallow-leaved Convolvulus (Convolvulus althaeoides), Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum), Neapolitan Garlic (Allium neapolitanum), Pitch Trefoil (Psoralea bituminosa), Purple Bugloss (Echium plantagineum), Ronda Cranesbill (Geranium malviflorum), Rosy Garlic (Allium roseum), Salsify (Tragopogon porrifolius), Southern Knapweed (Centaurea pullata), Spring Cress (Arabis verna), Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis), Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum baeticum), Tassel Hyacinth (Leopoldia comosa), White Campion (Silene latifolia), White Mignonette (Reseda Alba), White Rockrose (Helianthemum apenninum), Wild Clary (Salvia verbenaca), Wild Gladiolus (Gladiolus italicus),

Dense-flowered Orchid (Neotinea maculata).

Man Orchid (Orchis anthropophora).

Man Orchid (Orchis anthropophora).

We also heard Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi), Steve found a very nice Western Three-toed Skink (Chalcides striatus) which I think was new for me and we saw a couple of the large Egyptian Grasshopper (Anacridium aegyptium).

White Campion (Silene latifolia).

Tragopogon angustifolius.

Western Three-toed Skink (Chalcides striatus).

Western Three-toed Skink (Chalcides striatus).

It was a nice walk and sure I have missed lots of the list, once we reached the car we returned to the place Lynn and Steve were stay and after a coffee I headed off again and finished off with some of the Asparagus and poached eggs. 

Nice evening meal.