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Day 1
Saturday 20th September 2008
Tour leader Stephen Daly travelled up from his home on the coast to meet the group at Seville airport. Things went smoothly and with the mini-bus quickly loaded and we set off towards Huelva province and the Coto Doñana.
Birds seen en route included Cattle Egrets, Spotless Starlings, a pair of Little Egrets, some Common Blackbirds around the orange and olive Groves and Common Kestrels hunting near the motorway.
We also saw a flock of over 100 Greylag Geese flying in ‘V’ formation heading towards the Doñana National Park.
It was already dark when we arrived at our hotel in El RocÃo and we were given a welcome glass of Manzanilla Sherry and some wonderful manchego cheese before dinner.
Day 2
Sunday 21st September
We had fairly heavy rain showers during the night and awoke to find a dull day with low clouds. The rain had made little impression on the lagoon in front of our hotel and it was still dry after the long hot summer. The sandy streets of El RocÃo on the other hand were rutted and filled with small streams. El RocÃo certainly has a wild-west cowboy feel to it with most houses having special railings or posts outside the front, to let you tie up your horse. By the time we had finished breakfast and driven over to the far corner of the lagoon we could see that a few inquisitive Eurasian Spoonbills, Grey Herons and Little Egrets had flown in to look for food. Our first Green Sandpiper was also seen.
Taking a slow drive to the Palacio de Acebron we spotted Dartford Warblers on the ground heath close to the road. Further along on searching the bushes an roadside trees we found Sonechats, Serins, Sardinian Warblers, as well as a few migrating Wood Warblers dashing for cover. A few Hoopoes were also watched and we also had reasonable views of a Southern Grey Shrike.
Crested Larks sang and rose in front of our vehicle and when we stopped we managed to get everyone to see the difference between the lovely Crested Lark and the scarcer Thekla Lark. The surrounding countryside was a mixture of heath and, light pine woodland and some almonds, peach and orange plantations. There were also wild olive trees growing along the boundaries of the park and the occasional glade where willows and holm oaks grew. This seemed to be good habitat for the Iberian or Azure-winged Magpie as well as providing shelter for the Common Magpie.
Common Buzzards sat around on electric pylons and a few juvenile Marsh Harriers were seen flying in the distance.
The dark skies brightened up and we decided to take a walk though the lush mixed forest at the Palacio. Here amongst the Cork and Holm Oaks we first heard then watched a pair of Wrynecks cling to the ancient trees. Other woodpeckers seemed elusive with only fleeting views of Great Spotted and an Iberian Green Woodpecker was heard as was a Firecrest.
Blue and Great Tits sang and flew around the woodland canopy and we had great views of Long-tailed and Crested Tits and Short-toed Treecreepers. Zitting Cisticolas were also present in good numbers and a few Jackdaws were seen in flight.
We left the woodland and and headed down to the Atlantic coast at Matalascañas. Our short walk and sea-watching came to an abrupt end as the heavens opened up once more just after managing to get on to passing Yelkouan Shearwaters, Northern Gannets, Sandwich Terns. There were some Sanderlings running along the beach and passing Lesser Black-backed and Yellow-legged Gulls showed up before we got soaked!
By the time we had driven up from the coast the day was heating up into a very humid 30oC. It was time for lunch and we decided to have a selection of tapas and drinks at nearby El RocÃo.
After lunch we took some time off for a ‘siesta’ and later took a walk along one of the sandy tracks that converge on the town. As two high-flying Griffon Vultures glided above the tree-line, we watched the lovely form of Iberian Yellow Wagtails feeding on the open meadows with Crested Larks and a few Hoopoes keeping them company. Woodchat Shrikes were also seen sitting on the fences and Zitting Cisticolas bounded around the longer grasses with Barn Swallows and House Martins above.
A few Ravens and Common Magpies were also seen in the area and when we stopped at a small stream we found a few water insects that included the impressive Lesser Emperor Dragonflies and the tiny Iberian Bluetails.
Day 3.
Monday 22nd September
Rain showers came and went though the morning and on checking the lagoon in front of our hotel, we could see that there was little evidence of any water accumulating.
We headed south-east through the town of Villamanrique de La Condessa and took a forest path towards what is now known as the “Corredor Verdeâ€. This protected area was created after the 1998 dam failure from a zinc mine, 45 Kilometres north of the park, that polluted the local river, El Arroyo de Pilas and flowed through the wetland areas in the south. Approximately 5.5 million cubic metres of acidic and 1.3 million cubic metres of heavy metal sulphides spilt onto 2,000 hectares of farmland. The effect of the spill is still being assessed and monitored.
Through the Umbrella Pine forest we had some wonderful views of Azure-winged Magpies, Ravens more Woodchat and Southern Grey Shrikes – this time we were able to see the subtle pink breast colouring of the latter.
Our first eagle was a Booted Eagle and we could compare this with the local Common Buzzards that were in flight on sitting nearby.
We continued on spotting White Storks along the fields or distant specks in the air, and stopped to scan a small reservoir close to groves of peach trees. Here we found a Crested Coot in amongst a large flock of Common Coots. Moorhens, Grey Herons, Little Egrets and some Cattle Egrets fed around the muddy edges and amongst the Mallards and Common Pochards we found four Marbled Duck. A great little spot and one that thankfully still had enough water to attract so many species. Northern Shoveller, Garganey and some Great Crested Grebes were other additions to our species list.
The rough track that runs parallel to the Corredor Verde and the river, which has now been fashioned into a canal has some excellent birds along its sides. Here we watched a Black-shouldedred Kite hunting in the nearby fields. Marsh Harriers were fairly common and we also came across Montagu’s and Hen Harriers quartering the agricultural area. Here we could take time on all three Harriers and compare the differences of flight and form, particularly with the juvenile birds. We also had one Honey Buzzard fly over the track.
From the end of the bumpy track we thankfully hit tarmac once more and continued through to the Dehesa de Abjo lagoon. Just before reaching the water we watched a party of delightful Penduline Tits flitting along the roadside vegetation. Willow Warblers were also seen.
On the lagoon we saw literally hundreds of Glossy Ibis and White Storks amongst groups of Eurasian Spoonbills and Greater Flamingoes. Black Winged Stilts, Pied Avocets, Black-tailed Godwits, Ruff and Green Sandpipers were seen. Red Crested Pochards were also in with a large flock of Mallards, Shovellers and Common Pochards. Black-necked and Little Grebes were also watched with the larger Great Crested Grebes. Juvenile Whiskered and Black Terns were also feeding across the lake, picking off small insects close to the surface.
Scarlet Darters were also seen on the nearby vegetation, the bright red males looking incredibly striking as they whizzed past us.
We took a well-earned late lunch in the shade of a nearby restaurant and then drove though part of the rice-fields and canals. Black-crowned Night Herons and a few Great Egrets were seen and we had views of a Short-toed Eagle carrying a small snake in its beak.
We then drove back to the hotel and relaxed before a late dinner. What a splendid day out in the field.
Day 4.
Tuesday 23rd September
After breakfast we loaded the mini-bus for our transfer to the Strait of Gibraltar. We drove once again to the Dehesa de Abajo where en route Dave spotted a rather wet looking juvenile Purple Heron. We all had good views of this rather late migrant. With scopes and binoculars at the ready beside the vast stretch of water, we watched flight after flight of Glossy Ibis fly into the lagoon from the nearby fields. It was just amazing. On a nearby small pond we found a lone Ruddy Shellduck and some Little Grebes on other wetland areas.
We then said goodbye to the Doñana area and drove on the ‘Autovia del Sur’, towards the other bank of the mighty Guadalquivir river. Stopping off briefly at the wine and sherry producing town of Trebujena for some bottles of wine and sherry at a local ‘bodega’, we drove down to the massive silted area that holds the National Park of the Coto Doñana and the immense rice-growing areas to the north. As we descended past the vineyards, we picked up some sightings of migrating Chiffchaffs, Willow and a few Wood Warblers on the roadside verges.
Red Kites were the commonest raptor around the river edge and three Ospreys were watched patrolling nearby fish farms. A pair of Alpine Swifts were also seen. Four Black Storks flew overhead and there were lots of White Stork kettles around, taking advantage of the building thermals of this vast plain. Greylag Geese were sitting around one of the fish-ponds and Common Kingfishers seemed to be along every channel or canal. More Little Grebes were there and a two Black-necked Grebes. Black-headed and Yellow Legged Gulls floated past on the river down to the coast and a Common Quail was seen flying off from the roadside. Common Swifts, Barn Swallows and Sand Martins flew past. Grey Herons seemed to be very common as were Little Egrets.
After a splendid lunch we travelled to the nearby Algaida pond where we quickly found a young male, White-headed Duck. Little Terns whiskered Terns and Black Terns were seen hunting along the ponds and river edges and when we arrived at the Salt-pans we watched Slender-billed Gulls and Caspian Terns. Greater Ringed Plover were amongst lots of Black-tailed Godwits, Little Stints, Dunlin, Sanderlings, and Curlew Sandpiper. Whilst admiring the Greater Flamingoes and waders we had quite stunning close views of a migrant Bonelli’s Warbler. A single Peregrine Falcon and a Northern Lapwing, probably one of the first winter migrants to the south were additional birds for the species list.
On the shore at Bonanza we saw one Greenshank, one Whimbrel and a single Grey Plover before leaving the Guadalquivir basin. The name Guadalquivir comes the Arab name, Wadi al Kebir which means "The large river". It is a tidal river, right up to Seville, a distance of eighty kilometers!
Driving down to the Tarifa area without hitch and we checked in to our hotel on the coast. Outside the hotel we found Monarch butterflies and Preying Mantis on the hedges and Moorish Geckos on the veranda.
We took dinner later and then retired to our individual bungalows.
Day 5.
Wednesday 24th September
Cloudy weather and threatening rain showers across the Strait of Gibraltar kept us close to the vehicle although we did take a walk along the coast east of the town of Tarifa. Here amongst some woodland and rocky coastline we came across Wood Warblers, Goldfinches, Linnets and a few Pied and Spotted Flycatchers feeding and waiting for their chance to cross to Africa during favourable weather conditions.
Out at sea a few Northern Gannets passed us, heading into the Mediterranean as did some distant Yelkouan Shearwaters and some closer Sandwich Terns and above parties of Booted Eagles flew up and down the coast. Sparrowhawks were also seen and to our delight a lone Goshawk was also watched.
We had a morning coffee at the Mirador Del Estrecho, the viewpoint above Tarifa and watched Griffon Vultures, Short-toed Eagles and Booted Eagles come and go.
The rain seemed to be passing to the south, so we drove to through the hamlet of Betis where Stonechats, Goldfinches, Greenfinches and a few Serins flew and Spotless Starlings sat on the wires. More Griffon Vultures were watched either perched or flying up on the Sierra de la Plata and a few Honey Buzzards flew past the limestone ridges. Two Ospreys also came flying fairly close over the limestone crags.
Southern Hawker was one new dragonfly species and butterflies included Monarch, Red Admiral, Two-tailed Pasha Large White, Meadow Brown and a drab looking Wood Greyling.
We also watched more Booted and Short-toed Eagles at close range as the afternoon turned warm and sunny.
We took our time returning to the hotel and admired the Monarch butterflies and the preying mantis in the hotel gardens before writing up our bird list and taking dinner.
Day 6.
Thursday 25th September
Another cloudy morning with rain forecast. A walk at Los Lances beach was first on the agenda. Here we quickly picked out a small group of Audouin’s Gulls amongst Yellow-legged and Lesser Black-backed Gulls Kentish Plovers ran along the edge of the sandbars and Sandwich Terns hunted and dived in the shallows off-shore. A single Whimbrel was another wader that flew in as were Kentish Plovers, Redshanks, and a single Greenshank. Some Sparrowhawks were seen migrating or hunting in the area, as was another Peregrine Falcon.
Attempting to keep clear of the rain we drove to Los Barrios and had a coffee. From here we headed inland to Alcala de Los Gazules and stopped to watch several Whinchats.
We took lunch outside Benalup and then descended into the huge agricultural plain that was once a huge freshwater lagoon, known as La Janda. Here we picked up two Black-shouldered Kites and a juvenile Bonelli’s Eagle. A single Squacco Heron was seen flying off from the side of an irrigation ditch.
Spanish Sparrows were in their thousands, feeding on the edges of the paddy-fields and Red-legged Partridge and Common Pheasants were new birds. Marsh Harriers were watched hunting and one juvenile Montagu’s Harrier was also admired. Insects included some Banded Groundlings in La Janda and Red-veined Darters all along the dried grasses and umbellifers in the verges.
Later that evening we had a relaxed meal back at the hotel washed down with some lovely Spanish wines.
Day 7.
Friday 26th September
A bright and sunny morning greeted us as we left the hotel after breakfast. The famous easterly or ‘Levante’ winds were starting to pick up speed and this was usually a good sign for close views of raptors! We started with a visit to one of the Griffon Vulture feeding stations at Torre de La Peña. There were lots of Griffons patrolling the nearby sierras and they were joined by lots of Short-toed and Booted Eagles. This was a good chance to compare the differences between both the commoner lighter form of Booted and the darker form.
From the ridges we drove down onto private farmland in La Janda. We had to get permission for this and as Stephen is on good terms with the owners, we had free access where only farm vehicles go. Here we had great views of Lesser Kestrels hunting and feeding over the now harvested sunflower fields. Tawny Pipits were also seen from the vehicle and Yellow Wagtails, Whinchats and the local Stonechats were much in evidence. Common Kingfishers were also in good numbers and four Common Snipe were flushed from the paddy-fields. Green Sandpipers were by far the commonest wader and Common and some Painted Frogs were seen. We also caught up with Striped-necked and Spanish Terrapins on the Almodovar River.
Little Owls were seen perched and in flight at some ruins near Vejer de La Frontera and the surrounding scrub and thicker vegetation held Spectacled, Sardinian and Subalpine Warblers.
Taking cross-country tracks we came across a lovely male Ortolan Bunting in the open fields and Yellow Wagtails and Tawny Pipits were also seen. Red-legged Partridges seemed everywhere and another Little Owl was spotted flying into a ditch offering us fantastic views as it peered at us from behind a rock.
Finding Vultures around a dead animal is quite a sight and we just happened to catch up with a group of griffon’s descending in a distant field. Setting up the telescopes we watched as more birds arrived and on checking found that we had a Rüppell’s Vulture in amongst the feeding griffons. Some Ravens also joined in the feed
After lunch we watched a torrential thunderstorm from the restaurant terrace pass through the area. It rained ‘stair-rods’ for a good forty minutes and we stayed where we were and waited until it had passed.
Keeping clear of the passing storm was a priority and we finished up on the coast overlooking the narrowest point on The Strait. Here as if by magic a flock of Bee-eaters passed by at close quarters and flew straight out to sea, bound for Africa.
We finished our day watching Booted and Short-toed Eagles with a sprinkling of Sparrowhawks thrown in for good measure.
Our final dinner was taken after some of the local “cava†was enjoyed as a pre-prandial drink. Despite the rain we had enjoyed another great day out in the field.
Day 8
Saturday 27th September
After breakfast we packed up and loaded the mini-bus bound for Seville airport.
Heavy rain on the journey didn’t delay our journey time too much and the group booked in without any problems while Stephen returned the mini-bus.
It was a special tour in many respects with some outstanding views of multitudes of European and some African species. Both locations
We hope that we may see some of you again on another tour, sometime in the future and wish you all health, happiness and fond memories of our great time together watching the wonderful spectacle of migrating birds heading south for winter.
Stephen Daly, October 2008.
List of Species
Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa
Seen most days on the tour.
Common Pheasant Phasianus colchicus
Seen at La Janda on the 25th & 26th
Gadwall Anas strepera
Seen at Dehesa de Abajo on the 22nd and again on the 23rd
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
Seen most days. The commonest duck in the south.
Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata
As above
Marbled Duck Marmaronetta angustirostris
Four birds seen on the 22nd near the Corredor Verde and two on the 23rd at Algaida
Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina
Two females at the Dehesa de Abajo on the 23rd
Common Pochard Aythya ferina
Seen at Dehesa de Abajo on the 22nd and again on the 23rd
White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala
One immature male seen on the Algaida pond on the 23rd
Ruddy Shellduck
One immature bird seen on a small pond near the Dehesa de Abajo on the 23rd
Yelkouan Shearwater Puffinus yelkouan
Several seen from Matalascañas beach on the 21st and again seawatching near Tarifa on the 24th
Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis
Common bird although we only encountered it twice, once on the 23rd at Algaida and again on the 26th near Tahivilla
Great Crested Grebe
A few seen on the 22nd and 23rd at Dehesa de Abajo lagoon
Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis
One bird at Algaida on the 23rd,
Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus
Excellent numbers of this exotic bird on the 22nd and 23rd at Dehesa de Abajo and at Algaida on the same day.
Black Stork Ciconia nigra
Four migrating bids on the 23rd at Algaida and one very high bird on the 25th at Los Barios and eleven birds at Tarifa on the 26th
European White Stork Ciconia ciconia
Seen every day. Plentiful – in the thousands.
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus
Good numbers on the Dehesa de Abajo on the 22nd. A large flock of over 500 birds seen at the same place on the 23rd. Medium sized flocks of approximately 150 birds over at La Janda on the 25th and again on the 26th.
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia
Three juvenile birds seen at El Rocio on the 21st. Over 50 birds on the 22nd and 23rd at Dehesa de Abajo lagoon
Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
Seen from the roadside on the canals of Corredor Verde on the 22nd and more at Dehesa de Abajo lagoon. Ones and two’s at Algaida on the 23rd.
Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides
One bird in flight near Tahivilla on the 26th
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
Seen daily in varying numbers, including hundreds roosting at La Barca de Vejer.
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
Seen daily, usually in large numbers, especially in the Bonanza and La Janda areas.
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea
One bird seen near to Corredor Verde on the 23rd.
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Seen most days on the tour in small numbers
Northern Gannet Morus bassanus
Small numbers of adults and juveniles seen off Matalascañas on the 21st and most days on The Strait.
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
Once down on The Strait we saw them every day
Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni
Ten plus birds seen on the 22nd near Corredor Verde. A wonderful group of 40+ hunting over fields on La Janda on 24th. Seen most days.
Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
Seen daily in variable number, also local birds present near Lessers on the 24th at La Janda.
Peregrine Falco peregrinus
One bird seen at Algaida on the 23rd and single birds seen every day during our time on The Strait.
Osprey Pandion haliaetus
Three birds on the 23rd at Bonanza then two on the 24th on The Strait near Tarifa and again on the 25th with a single bird at Algorrobo
European Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus
One bird flew over the Corredor Verde on the 22nd and we saw two birds on the 24th at The Sierra de la Plata
Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus
One bird on the 22nd at the Corredor Verde and two birds seen on the 25th at La Janda
Red Kite Milvus milvus
Five brids seen around the Bonanza – Algaida area on the 23rd
Black Kite Milvus migrans
Five birds watched on the 24th from Torre de La Peña and a flock of over thirty birds seen migrating along the coast near Tarifa on the 26th
Eurasian Griffon Gyps fulvus
Two birds on the 21st near El Rocio and good numbers every day on The Strait
Rüppell’s Vulture Gyps rueppellii
One adult bird amongst Griffon Vultures at a feed on the 26th near Canterranas
Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus
One of the commonest raptors migrating and seen on most days. Some excellent close-up views on The Strait.
Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus
The commonest Harrier on the Iberian peninsula and good numbers most days on tour
Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus
Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus
Goshawk
Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus
Seen most days of the tour in small numbers.
Common Buzzard Buteo buteo
Noted daily, often in moderate numbers on roadsides near La Janda and around the Tarifa area.
Bonelli's Eagle Aquila fasciata
Booted Eagle Aquila pennata
Seen most days in good numbers.
Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
Very few birds seen on three days.
Red-knobbed Coot
Common Coot Fulica atra
Large rafts of birds seen at lagunas Medina and Taraje on the 21st. On the 23rd a few birds were seen at Algaida lake near Bonanza.
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus
Present at La Janda on the 18th, Barbate on the 21st and also in small numbers on the 22nd and 23rd.
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta
Four birds at the Laguna de Medina on the 21st.
Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus
One bird seen at Trebujena area on the 23rd
Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola
One bird at Bonanza on the 23rd
Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula
A few birds seen at Bonanza on the 23rd
Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius
Ten plus birds seen at Playa de Los Lances on the 25th
Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus
A few birds seen at Playa de Los Lances on the 25th
Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago
Four birds at Finca La Haba on the 26th
Black-tailed Godwit Limos limosa
Seen on the 21st at El Rocio, on the 22nd & 23rd at Dehesa de Abajo and again in good numbers, same day at Algaida
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus
One on the 23rd at Bonanza and one at Playa de Los Lances on the 25th
Common Redshank Tringa tetanus
Lots at Bonanza on the 23rd and on the 25th at Playa de Los Lances
Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia
Only one bird seen on the 23rd at Bonaza mudflats
Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus
Common throughout the tour
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleuca
Common throughout the tour
Sanderling Calidris alba
Common throughout the tour
Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea
A few birds at Algaida and Bonanza on the 23rd
Dunlin Calidris alpina
A few birds at Algaida and Bonanza on the 23rd
Ruff Philomachus pugnax
A few birds at Dehesa de Abajo on the 22nd
Audouin's Gull Larus audouinii
Over twenty birds at Playa de Los Lances on the 25th
Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis
Common and seen every day.
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus
Fairly common and seen most days
Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus
Common and seen every day.
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida
Seen in small numbers on the 22nd and 23rd at Dehesa de Abajo
Black Tern Childonias niger
Seen in small numbers on the 22nd and 23rd at Dehesa de Abajo
Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis
Seen on the 21st at Matalascanas on the 21st and again on the24th and 26th near Tarifa
Feral Rock Dove Columba livia
Common and seen every day.
Common Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus
Common and seen every day.
European Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur
Seen twice at La Rocina in the Donana on the 21st and on the 26th at La Haba
Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto
Common and seen every day.
Little Owl Athene noctua
2 birds near Vejer and Cantarranas on the 23rd
Alpine Swift Tachymarptis melba
Seen on the 22nd at La Janda
Common Swift Apus apus
Seen most days in very small numbers.
Pallid Swift Apus pallidus
Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis
La Janda and again at Algaida lake near Bonanza.
European Bee-eater Merops apiaster
Common Hoopoe Upupa epops
Wryneck
Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major
Iberian Green Woodpecker Picus viridis ssp. sharpei
One heard
Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator
Southern Grey Shrike Lanius meridionalis
Common Magpie Pica pica
Iberian Azure-winged Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw Corvus monedula
Seen every day. Large colonies at La Barca de Vejer, Montenmedio near Manzanette and at Torré de la Peña.
Common Raven Corvus corax
Seen on the
Great Tit Parus major
Eurasian Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus
Crested Tit
Long-tailed Tit
Eurasian Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus
Common Sand Martin Riparia riparia
6 at Los Lances beach, Tarifa on the 17th and 30+ on the 21st at La Janda and again over the Celamin Reservoir on the 22nd and 15+ at Alagida near Bonanza on the 23rd.
Eurasian Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
Seen every day with large numbers of juvs. And adults passing low over the beach Los Lances beach near Tarifa on the 17th.
Northern House Martin Delichon urbicum
Seen daily in good numbers. One of the commonest passerine migrants on the Strait of Gibraltar.
Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica
Seen only once on the 21st at the Laguna de Taraje.
Woodlark
Calandra Lark Melanocorypha
Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla
Crested Lark Galerida cristata
Seen daily in varying number
Thekla Lark Galerida theklae
One good view on the Bolonia road on the 17th.
Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis
Great views in La Janda on the 18th and 22nd.
Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti
Heard most days. Fleeting glimpses of two on the 18th at La Janda. 1 bird seen briefly near the Celamin Reservoir on the 22nd back at La Janda canal reeds.
Eurasian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus
3 birds on the 18th at La Janda, 1 at Palmones Estuary and another 4 at La Janda
Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus
2 birds on the 18th at La Janda. A single bird on the 19th along the Ojen Valley and on the 20th over 15+ again at La janda. On the 22nd we had 5 more birds there.
Wood Warbler
Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita
Western Bonelli’s Warbler Phylloscopus bonellii
Subalpine Warbler
Spectacled Warbler
Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla.
1 female on the 19th at the Ojen Valley. Lots were calling.
Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala
Very common and seen and heard each day.
Firecrest Regulus ignicapilla
2 birds, a male and a female were seen very well at Huerta Grande on the
Northern Wren Troglodytes troglodytes
1 bird shared some lunch with us around the plant pots on the terrace of the restaurant near Benalup on the 22nd.
Short-toed Treecreeper Certhia brachydactyla
Spotless Starling Sturnus unicolor
Very common and seen in large numbers each day.
Common Blackbird Turdus merula
Scarce but seen on most days.
European Robin Erithacus rubecula
Heard only at the Ojen Valley forest on the 19th.
Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros
1 bird at our hotel near Tarifa on the 21st.
Whinchat Saxicola rubetra
Seen most days.
European Stonechat Saxicola rubicola
Very common and seen in good numbers, close at hand, each day.
Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe
Good numbers going through each day with 15+ on the 20th at La Janda area.
Blue Rock-thrush Monticola solitarius
1 bird seen at the Sierra de la Plata on the 17th.
Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata
Seen in ones or two’s each day in wooded areas.
Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca
4 seen on the 19th near to Benalup and 3 birds on the 21st near the Laguna de Taraje also 6 birds along the tree-line at the Algaida lake on the 23rd.
House Sparrow Passer domesticus
Seen daily in good numbers especially in towns and villages.
Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis
Large flocks feeding in the rice fields of La Janda on the 18th, 20th and 22nd.
Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava
Seen most days but heaviest concentrations were found in the La Janda area.
White Wagtail Motacilla alba
6 seen at the Celamin Reservoir edges on the 19th
Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris
1 bird seen at the Ojen Valley on the 19th
Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs
Few birds seen. 6 on the 17th at the Sierra de la Plata and 10 on the 19th at the Ojen Valley woods.
European Serin Serinus serinus
10 on the 18th at La Janda and again 25 birds there on the 20th.
European Greenfinch Carduelis chloris
20+ with Goldfinches and Linnets on the 20th and 12 again at La Janda on the 22nd.
European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis
Very common one of the most abundant passerines with huge flocks esp. in the La Janda plain.
Common Linnet Carduelis cannabina
Seen most days in small numbers usually accompanying Goldfinches.
Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes
One juv. bird at Huerta Grande on 19th.
Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra
Abundant and very easy to see on every day.
Ortolan Bunting Emberiza
2 birds (one male singing) on the 19th at the Ojen Valley and again on the 21st at the Laguna de Medina
Mammals
Roe Deer Capreolus capreolus Near Vejer de la Frontera on the 18th.
Brown Rat Rattus norvegicus Caught by a Common Buzzard near Tahivilla on the 18th.
Iberian Hare Lepus granatensis Distant views at Laguna de Medina on the 21st.
Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus Fairly common each day esp. La Janda areas.
Amphibians & Reptiles
Iberian Marsh Frog Pelophylax perezi Several heard calling at Laguna de Medina and the rice fields of La Janda.
Moorish Gecko Tarentola mauretanica Small numbers seen nightly on walls of our Hotel near Tarifa.
Spanish Terrapin Mauremys leprosa 3 sunning themselves on a rock in the middle of the RÃo Barbate at La Barca de Vejer on the 18th. 4 near Facinas on the 20th.
Butterflies
Common Swallowtail Papilio machaon
Large White Pieris brassicae
Two-tailed Pasha Charaxes jasius
Monarch Danaus plexippus
Cleopatra Gonepteryx cleopatra
Painted Lady Vanessa cardui
Gatekeeper Pyronia tithonus
Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina
Lang's Short-tailed Blue Leptotes pirithous
Dragonflies
Banded Groundling
Lesser Emperor
Red-veined Darter
Azure Bluet
Moths
Hummingbird Hawkmoth Macroglossum stellatarum
Crimson Speckled Utetheisa pulchella
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