After several months of planning, the time had arrived. We flew from Gatwick at 0730 and landed at Malaga at 1050. Once through the airport we picked up our hire cars and headed North on the N831 towards our first site. The weather was hot and sunny and we soon had changed into shorts and T-shirts.
Laguna de fuiente de pedre DAY 1
Crested Lark20+
Black-winged Stilt20+
Alpine Swift8
Gull-billed Tern19
Whiskered Tern2
Black Tern10+
Wood Sandpiper3
Kentish Plover13
Greater Flamingo1000+
Yellow-legged Gull1
Common Sandpiper1
Curlew sandpiper1
Calandra Lark2
Fan-tailed Warbler20+
Greenshank1
Black-necked Grebe1
‘Spanish’ Wagtail 20+ of subsp M. f. iberiae
The ubiquitous Crested Lark
Woodchat Shrike2
Hoopoe2+
PURPLE GALLINULE4+ of these weird birds seen at incredibly close range. The large bill looks comical and it is hard to take them seriously! My first lifer of the trip
Black Kite40+
Booted Eagle1 adult pale-morph overhead
El Rocio, Donana
AZURE-WINGED MAGPIE2 seen from car on the edge of some farmland. A real crippler!
Black Kite1
Cattle Egret40+
Little Egret1
Spoonbill1
Greater Flamingo5
Night Heron1 adult
White Stork4
This evening we stayed at Pension Cristina in El Rocio, which was to be our base for 3 nights and we were served real Paella!
El Rocio - 0800-0930DAY 2
Black-winged Stilt130
Cattle Egret32
Whiskered Tern10
Bee-eater22
SPOTLESS STARLING1? - Another tick in the bag!
Hoopoe2
Collared Pratincole6
Black Kite2
Black-tailed Godwit1
Red-crested Pochard2
Yellow-legged Gull8
Greater Flamingo16
White Stork6
Acebuche, Donana
Booted Eagle1 adult pale-morph overhead
Red-rumped Swallow1
Purple Heron1
Azure-winged Magpie10+
Bee-eater12
SOUTHERN GREY SHRIKE1 watched mobbing a Black Kite
Night Heron1
Red-crested Pochard3
Savi’s Warbler1
Red Kite1
Black Kite11
White Stork7
Short-toed Eagle2 watched hovering over pastureland. Fantastic!
Ferruginous Duck1
Great Reed Warbler10+
Golden Oriole3?’s
Stonechat3
Serin20+ - a common sight and sound
Kingfisher1
GRIFFON VULTURE4 soaring over visitor centre. Huge birds, very impressive indeed.
Melodious Warbler1
Booted Eagle3 pale morphs noted
La Rocina, Donana
Whiskered Tern1
Purple Gallinule4
Hoopoe3
Little Bittern3
Black Kite12
Fan-tailed Warbler20+
Night Heron1
Great Reed Warbler1
Dartford Warbler2.1 (3)
Western Olivaceous Warbler2
Squacco Heron3
Raven1
Cetti’s Warbler3
Booted Eagle3
Great White Egret1
Sardinian Warbler7
Golden Oriole1? gave great views
Bee-eater40+
Acebuche, Donana
Azure-winged Magpie5+
Peregrine1
Short-toed Treecreeper1
Quail1 calling at dusk
Stone Curlew 1 flew over calling
RED-NECKED NIGHTJAR4+ seen & heard. Larger than Nightjar with the distinctive “Kutok, kutok. Kutok” call echoing into the calm night. A real target species in the bag.
El Rocio DAY 3
Black-winged Stilt3
Bee-eater100+
Cattle Egret1
Collared Pratincole1
Short-toed Lark1
Hoopoe1
Sardinian Warbler3
Black Kite50+
PALLID SWIFT1 overhead with Common Swifts. The pale plumage, blunt primaries and different flight action all noted. The bird remained overhead for 5 minutes before drifting off.
Serin30+
Southern Grey Shrike3
Cerrado Garrido, Donana
Collared Pratincole60+
Cattle Egret100+
Spanish Sparrow1? in a White Stork’s nest
Booted Eagle1
Short-toed Eagle9
Red Kite1
Purple Heron16
Purple Gallinule2
Kentish Plover2
Greater Flamingo00’s
LESSER SHORT-TOED LARKAt least 5 noted feeding on a sandy track near the main reserve centre. Small size, short stubby bill, gorget of streaks on upper breast and long primary projection all noted. Yet another target species seen!
Griffon Vulture6
Gull-billed Tern2
Whiskered Tern7
Booted Eagle1
Glossy Ibis8
Great Reed Warbler3
Red-crested Pochard8
Night Heron9
MARBLED TEALExcellent views of a pair feeding in a shallow pool.
Black-tailed Godwit30+
Spotted Redshank2 in full summer plumage
Squacco Heron1
Grey Plover1
Stone Curlew1
Marsh Harrier2
Quail1
Calandra Lark2
Bee-eater20+ hunting at eye-level from fence. Fantastic!
Cattle Egret00’s if not 000’s – some flocks of 80+ birds at dusk
Bee-eaters are always spectacular even when you are seeing 100+ some days
El RocioDAY 4
We left this region and headed North towards Extremedura. We stopped for breakfast en route at a village called Las Pajanosus. We reached Extremedura at 1030 and continued to head north.
Extremedura Region
Black Kite50+
Bee-eater11
Common Buzzard2
Hoopoe10+
Woodchat Shrike7
Southern Grey Shrike3
Stone Curlew1
Montagu’s Harrier1? , 1?, 2?
Crested Lark00’s
Sardinian Warbler1?
Cattle Egret00’s
Fan-tailed Warbler10+
Griffon Vulture2
Raven10+
White Stork1
Valdeherros, Extremedura 1445-1515
BLACK-SHOULDERED KITE2 juvs perched on dead roadside trees and giving fantastic scope views at 100 yards range. Small, elegant, long-winged with longish tail, pale grey upperparts, black carpal patches, white underparts with darker greyish mantle showing pale fringes to scapulars, very obvious black facial mask. What a fabulous bird!
Black Kite4
Red Kite2
Bee-eater60+
Woodchat Shrike3
Ruanes, nr Trujillo, Extremedura
Roller1 adult watched on roadside wires. Fantastic views!
Rollers are always fantastic to watch
Trujillo, Extremedura
LESSER KESTRELAs we arrived at Hotel Victoria, hundreds of Lesser Kestrels were flying over the Plaza Campillo, what a wonderful sight! The ?’s whitish below with small dark underpart spotting, long pale grey tail with broad black subterminal band – one obvious feature is the projecting central tail feathers, though I’ve yet to see one on the deck. Trujillo is home to the largest Lesser Kestrel colony in Europe.
Belen, nr Trujillo
GREAT BUSTARDAt least 5 ? & 9 ? were seen. Mostly distant on the vast rolling plains but good views were possible through a scope. ? rich brown barred upperparts, grey head and neck, white throat and thick white ‘whiskers’. Broad reddish-brown lower breast band also noted. They appeared very stately as they strutted around.
Little Bustard10+? all giving their strange ‘raspberry’ call
Calandra Lark5+
Little Owl2
Stone Curlew3
Montagu’s Harrier2 ?
Hotel Victoria, Trujillo (0600)DAY 5
Lesser Kestrel20+
Serin2
Santa Marta de la Gasca
Little Bustard8 ?
Great Bustard1
Roller7
Montagu’s Harrier2
Hoopoe2
Southern Grey Shrike4
Tawny Pipit1
Thekla Lark2
Black Kite18
BLACK-BELLIED SANDGROUSE2 flew low over the road in front of where we were standing! Obviously bulkier than dove sp with very rapid flight on long pointed wings, white underwing most conspicuous and low ‘bubbling’ call noted. Upperparts orangey-buff, contrasting with black belly and flight feathers. Narrow pointed tail also noted.
Black-shouldered Kite1 adult perched on telegraph pole.
Quail1+ calling
Monroy
Crag Martin10+ including this very confiding young juvenile
Bee-eater5
Cirl Bunting1
Red-rumped Swallow1
Griffon Vulture3
Black Vulture3
Raven2
BLACK WHEATEAR? watched feeding young on a rock face. A large and handsome glossy black wheatear with gleaming white tail and contrasting black T.
Black-eared Wheatear1? of the black-throated form perched on a rock giving great views. Our first of the trip, and a plumage that I was keen to see.
Adult ? BLACK EARED WHEATEAR Oenanthe hipanica
Torrejon el Rubio
SPANISH IMPERIAL EAGLE1 adult watched perched on a pylon about 200 yards from the roadside. A huge bird with the characteristic blackish-brown plumage shown by many members of this family, also the golden head and whitish scapular patches which separate this species from Imperial Eagle were clearly seen. I managed to get a couple of reasonable pictures of this grossly endangered species. Probably the rarest bird I’ve seen!
Booted Eagle1
Griffon Vulture2
Northern Wheatear1
Spanish Festoon Butterfly2
Monfrague National Park
As we entered this huge National Park we were amazed at the striking rock formations. The sheer rock faces on which the Griffon Vultures nested are an incredible sight!
Penafalcon Rock, Monfrague NP
Griffon Vulture30+ mostly on nests
Short-toed Eagle1 perched
Black Redstart1
Chough1
Blue Rock Thrush1
Red-rumped Swallow20+
Egyptian Vulture1 adult overhead was anew bird for Jill
Crag Martin20+
Sardinian Warbler1
Alpine Swift3 watched at close range from the bridge
Mirrador Portilla, Tietar Cliffs
Griffon Vulture40+
Black Stork3
Egyptian Vulture1
Blue Rock Thrush1
Black Vulture8
Serin10+
Subalpine Warbler2+
ROCK BUNTINGA pair was watched as they fed young. They kept flying to the opposite side of the gorge only to return to a crevice 30 yards in front of us. Very smart birds indeed with unmarked orange underparts, brownish upperparts, 2 prominent wing bars, pale grey head with paler supercilium and broad blackish head stripes. Long-tailed appearance very distinctive. Superb!
BONELLI’S EAGLEA pair watched soaring overhead with a group of 10+ Griffons. A large eagle with pale underparts contrasting with the blackish carpal bar and outer primaries. Inner primaries and secondaries paler than outers. Long square cut tail with broad dark terminal band. In flight gave the impression of a huge Honey Buzzard.
Bee-eater30+
Serin4
Alpine Swift3
Booted Eagle1 pale-morph
EAGLE OWL2 well-grown young perched out on an exposed ledge. Bobbing constantly and calling frequently – a loud hiss. Although still quite downy these birds were seen to fly a short distance when the nearby adult started calling. At 2140 the adult flew right over our heads across the gorge and vanished into the gloom. 5 minutes later a Red-necked Nightjar flew over our heads in the same direction. This was a really incredible day with no less than 6 new birds for me.
Santa Marta de la Gasca 0700-0930DAY 6
Great Bustard2 imm ? giving very good views.
Montagu’s Harrier7
Little Bustard20+ excellent views
Quail3
Hoopoe8
Black-bellied Sandgrouse12
Roller10
Black-shouldered Kite1
Stone Curlew2
Azure-winged Magpie30+
Black Kite10
E90 ? Northbound
Black Vulture2
Griffon Vulture7
Woodchat Shrike8
Southern Grey Shrike1 found dead by the roadside.
Jaraciejo 1145-1215
ROCK SPARROWAt least 4 were located feeding around some rocks and perching in nearby Cork Oaks. Easily located by their twanging ‘weeeeew’ call. A largish sparrow, with prominent head stripes, streaked flanks and short tail.
Azure-winged Magpie20+
Woodlark3
Woodchatpair feeding young
Castillio de Monfrague, Monfrague NP
Jill, Alan, Arthur & Mr P at the Castillio
Today we walked up to the top of the Castillio to el monastero. About a 2-hour walk, it was extremely hard work in the hot sun. When you get to the top you are at 513M and you could see for miles. The best part of being at the top was that at times you were at eye-level with the Griffon Vultures as they glided past.
Griffon Vulture100+
Peregrine1
Woodchat Shrike6
Azure-winged Magpie20+
Black Vulture2
Chough2
Crag Martin50+
Red-rumped Swallow40+ including many sunning themselves on a roof
Booted Eagle1
Black Redstart1
Black Stork1? on nest with 4 chicks, less than one week old.
Rock Bunting1
Blue Rock Thrush1
Red-rumped Swallow at the Castillio
Rio almonte
Pallid Swift7
Black Stork1 adult feeding in stream
White Wagtail1
Red-rumped Swallow1
Little Owl1
TrujilloDAY 7
This morning we left our excellent hotel and it’s Lesser Kestrels and headed south for the last part of our trip.
Lesser Kestrel100+
Pallid Swift10+
White Stork3
Great Bustard3 flew over town towards Belen
Zorita
Black-eared Wheatear2
Whinchat4
Calandra Lark3
Spanish Sparrow1
Montagu’s Harrier6
Common Buzzard3
Griffon Vulture3
Red Kite2
Cattle Egret80+
Quail2
Northern Wheatearpr
Madrigalejo
Black Tern5
Melodious Warbler2
Great Reed Warbler1
Black-winged Stilt2
Cetti’s Warbler1
Griffon Vulture2
Casa del tejar
Hoopoe1
Common Buzzard2
Golden Oriole2
Golden EagleFantastic views of a 2CY close overhead
Southern Grey Shrike4
Roller1
Cattle Egret30+
Casteura
Black Kite1
Black-eared Wheatear1? 2 ?
Red-rumped Swallow2
La Serena
Black Kite20+
Willow Warbler2
Grasshopper Warbler1
White Stork100+
Little Bustard25+
Calandra Lark30+
Black-bellied Sandgrouse17 including some watched on ground
PIN-TAILED SANDGROUSE38+ seen in flight and distantly on the ground. Pale belly easily seen, orange breast bands noted, as were black primaries, and pointed tail. Fantastic views of a real crippler!
Montagu’s Harrier1? black morph – stunning!
Great Bustard1?
Black-eared Wheatearpr
CasteuraDAY 8
Serin1
Hoopoe3
Woodchat Shrike3
Roller1
Fan-tailed Warbler2
Black Kite1
Aguiliar
Serin2
Hoopoe1
Crested Lark4+
Laguna del Rincon
Great Reed Warbler6+
Black-winged Stilt6
Little Stint2
Little Ringed Plover1
Black Tern3
Black-necked Grebe2pr
Montagu’s Harrier1
WHITE-HEADED DUCK1 Adult ? showing well at 150 yards range. The rich rufous upperparts, white head, black ‘skull’ cap and swollen pale blue bill noted.
Melodious Warbler2
Fan-tailed Warbler10+
Serin4
Quail5+ calling
Laguna Dulce
Whiskered Tern8
Gull-billed Tern18+
Black-necked Grebe40+
White-headed Duck4 pairs displaying
Montagu’s Harrier1
Stone Curlew1
Red-crested Pochard2 pr
Great Reed Warbler2
CRESTED COOTHow does Richard do it? There must have been at least 500 Coot on the lake and after 10 minutes he calmly announced that he was watching one! Bill slightly duller than Coot and the reddish ‘knobs’ on the forehead are surprisingly easy to pick out at range. Brilliant!
We drove from Laguna Dulce to Ronda, arriving at 2100 and stayed the night at the Pension San Francisco. Remember all the mad motorcyclists with no helmets?
RondaDAY 9
A morning spent around the scenic gorge produced a few good birds.
Serin30+
Blue Rock Thrush1
Crag Martin4
Alpine Swift4 gave fantastic views at close range
Lesser Kestrel6
Blackcap2
Willow Warbler1
Grey Wagtail1
Chough4
Spotless Starling2
After lunch we drove out of the town to explore the mountainous gorges and valleys alongside the back roads and some breathtaking scenery.
Honey Buzzard5
Egyptian Vulture1
Griffon Vulture13
Rock Bunting1
Woodchat Shrike1
Tawny Pipit1
Spectacled Warbler1
Black-eared Wheatear1
Firecrest2
Nuthatch1
Sardinian Warbler4
Booted Eagle2 pale-morphs
IBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF1 heard calling in the valley below us, but it remained unseen. The faster song was very distinctive, it cannot be long before there is a substantiated claim from Britain of this recently split species.
Tarifa Harbour
Gannet3
Common Tern1
Yellow-legged Gull20+
Swallow5
Honey Buzzard2 in off the sea
Zahara
Whimbrel1
Black-winged Stilt1
Griffon Vulture2
Montagu’s Harrier1
Bee-eater6
Kentish Plover1
Cattle Egret20+
Ronda ? MalagaDAY 10
We left our accommodation and headed back to the airport. A few birds were seen en route.
Hoopoe1
Crested Lark2
Swallow1
Fan-tailed Warbler2
We arrived at Malaga airport at 1130 ready for our return flight to Gatwick. We recorded 168 species of which 21 were new for me. A thoroughly successful and most enjoyable trip.