Sad Hill Cemetery, Claustro románico de Santo Domingo de Silos and Santo Domingo de Silos, Burgos Province, Spain.

A brilliant day with a visit to one of my favourite places and the Eclipses.

 

At the Entrance.

We got up early and after breakfast we all headed up to Sad Hill Cemetery, the location for the final scenes of my favourite movie, The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.

Info board at the site.

We walked around the area for a while with Santi, Enzo and Francesco before they headed back to Silos, Paqui and I did a bit more of a walk around the wetter areas finding Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito ibérico / Picus sharpei), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Black (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus) ♀, European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), 

Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Western Subalpine (Curruca Carrasqueña Occidental / Curruca iberiae) ♂, Western Orphean (Curruca Mirlona Occidental / Curruca hortensis) and Melodious Warbler (Zarcero políglota / Hippolais polyglotta), Goldcrest (Reyezuelo Sencillo / Regulus regulus), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Eurasian Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater) and European Crested Tit (Herrerillo Capuchino / Lophophanes cristatus), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator) and Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real / Lanius meridionalis), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteño / Emberiza cirlus) ♂ and Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia) ♂.

European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster).

European Crested Tit (Herrerillo Capuchino / Lophophanes cristatus).

European Crested Tit (Herrerillo Capuchino / Lophophanes cristatus).

Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteño / Emberiza cirlus) ♂.

Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia).

Other species seen during the stroll were Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Long-tailed (Lampides boeticus), Lang's Short-tailed (Leptotes pirithous), Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus) and Adonis Blue (Lysandra bellargus), Great Banded Grayling (Brintesia circe), Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), False Meadow Saffron (Colchicum montanum), Cornish Heath (Erica vagans), Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa), 

Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous).

Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous).

Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous).

Adonis Blue (Lysandra bellargus) ♀.

Cornish Heath (Erica vagans).

False Meadow Saffron (Colchicum montanum).

Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa).

We returned to the car and then after parking back at the house, we joined the others down in town for a drink.

Claustro románico de Santo Domingo de Silos.

Claustro románico de Santo Domingo de Silos.

Claustro románico de Santo Domingo de Silos.

Later Santi took Paqui and me down to the Claustro románico de Santo Domingo de Silos where we had a look around this impressive part of the monastery, later we went for a walk around the allotment areas and along the streams, here we saw Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Crag (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Black Redstart, Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi), Sage Skipper (Muschampia proto), Small White (Pieris rapae), Clouded Yellow, Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus), Lang's Short-tailed and Long-tailed Blue, Large Bindweed (Calystegia silvatica) and Great Willowherb (Epilobium hirsutum).

Sage Skipper (Muschampia proto).

Large Bindweed (Calystegia silvatica).

Great Willowherb (Epilobium hirsutum).

We walked back up through the town and then got ready for the main event, the total Eclipse, as we walked we took some photos of some of the older buildings on our way up the hill to Santi's.

Once we were back at the house we chilled out for a while before we all went up onto the terrace, where I got the cameras set up ready for the totality period of the eclipse, as I had been informed that this was the only time it was safe to take shots with out damaging the cameras.

People getting ready over the other side of the Valley.

 

 

All prepared with Glasses on.

It went darker than it looks in this shot.

It was an amazing experience. I went to Cornwall many years ago for the one there, but it was unfortunately cloudy, so it was fantastic to see this one well and share it with some special people.

Sunset after the event.

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).

Rio Cacín near to the A92, Granada Province, Spain.

A late walk with Paqui along the Rio Cacín.

Ebird List for the Rio Cacín.

 

Paqui and I went for a walk along the lower part of the Rio Cacín near the A92 motorway, after parking we followed the river for a while.

During the walk we saw European Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Eurasian Eagle Owl (Búho Real / Bubo bubo), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oropéndola Europea / Oriolus oriolus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Melodious Warbler (Zarcero políglota / Hippolais polyglotta), Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos) and Hawfinch (Picogordo Común / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes).

Near Charca de Suarez, Carchuna Beach and Charca de Suarez, Granada Province, Spain.

Butterflies, Beach and Birding.

Ebird List for near Charca.

Ebird List for Charca.

 

Monarch (Danaus plexippus).

Paqui and I headed down to the coast near Motril, we started by visiting a spot near Charca de Suarez where we looked for and found some nice species of butterflies, which included Swallowtail (Papilio machaon), Monarch (Danaus plexippus), Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus) on its food plant Stranglewort (Cynanchum acutum), Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous) and Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina).

Monarch (Danaus plexippus).

Monarch (Danaus plexippus).

Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus).

Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus).

Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus).

As we walked around this site, we also saw European Turtle (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur) and Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Red Avadavat (Bengali Rojo / Amandava amandava) and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus). 

Carchuna Beach.

We moved on to the beach at Carchuna where we spent a few hours chilling out and having a swim in the sea, whilst there we saw Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Thalasseus sandvicensis), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis). 

Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

Audouin's Gull (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii).

Audouin's Gull (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii).

Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

At around 17:30 we packed our kit up and headed to Charca de Suarez where we met Juan Perez, we spent the next 2 hours walking around the reserve calling in at most of the Hides.

Laguna de las Aneas.

Gadwall (Anade Friso / Mareca strepera) ♀.

Gadwall (Anade Friso / Mareca strepera) ♀.

Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) ♀.

Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca) ♀.

Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca) ♀.

Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca) ♀.

Birds seen included Gadwall (Anade Friso / Mareca strepera), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), European Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and Red-knobbed Coot (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata) along with the hybrid between the 2 species, Western Swamp-hen (Calamón Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus), Little Bittern (Avetorillo Común / Ixobrychus minutus), Black-crowned Night Heron (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax), Little (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta) and Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Common Kingfisher (Martin Pescador Común / Alcedo atthis), Zitting Cisticola, Common Reed (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) and Great Reed Warbler (Carricero Tordal / Acrocephalus arundinaceus), Western House Martin, Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Red Avadavat (Bengali Rojo / Amandava amandava), House Sparrow, European Greenfinch and European Goldfinch.

Laguna del Taraje.

Red-knobbed Coot (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata).

Little Bittern (Avetorillo Común / Ixobrychus minutus).

Little Bittern (Avetorillo Común / Ixobrychus minutus).

Little Bittern (Avetorillo Común / Ixobrychus minutus).

Other species seen as we walked included Iberian Bluetail (Ischnura graellsii), Blue / Common (Anax imperator) and Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope), Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria), Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli), Small White (Pieris rapae), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Monarch, Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi), Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa), Wild Boar (Jabalí / Felis silvestris), Purple Morning Glory (Ipomoea purpurea), Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) and Small Fleabane (Pulicaria vulgaris).

Monarch (Danaus plexippus).

We came back out of the reserve at 20:00 and then went for a coffee before heading back to Huétor.

The Sunset.