Spain

We caught a late flight from Bristol Airport to Malaga. We got into Malaga just after 10:00 in the evening [Spainsh time] & we were booked into a hotel nearby for the night.

The Strait of Gibraltar, Spain
11th-18th September 2022

With Spainbirds

Monday
12th September 2022

After breakfast, we headed south from Malaga en route to our hotel.
Near Tarifa there were a few Spotless Starlings in the bushes. A Short-toed Eagle & Egyptian Vulture flew overhead. Our first stop was Cazalla [1st Watch Point]. We saw Short-toed Eagle, Booted Eagle & Black Kite. A Male Sardinian Warbler showed well feeding in the brambles. We saw a distant Booted Eagle perched in a tree. They come in both light & dark morphs, but light morphs are more commoner. Also saw a distant Hoopoe.

We had a lunch stop at El Pozuelo. Some Cattle Egrets were feeding with the cattle in the nearby field. A couple of Stonechats were also present. The afternoon was spent around La Bena. A couple of Crested Larks were seen, Linnets & Black-eared Wheatears. A Northern Wheatear as well. I found a Wall Brown Butterfly in the area. The Adult Black-eared Wheatear showed distantly, but the 1st Winter Male was more obliging. Afterwards we continued down to our hotel for the night at Faro De Punta Carnero looking towards Gibraltar & Morocco.

Spotless Starling [Adult Winter]

Short-toed Eagle [Adult]

Egyptian Vulture [Adult]

Sardinian Warbler [Male]

Cattle Egret [Adult Winter]

Cattle Egret [Flock]

Stonechat [Female]

Wall Brown

Black-eared Wheatear [Male]

Crested Lark [Adult]

Black-eared Wheatear [1st Winter Male]

Cazalla viewpoint

Tuesday 13th September 2022

Early morning, we saw Audouin's Gulls roosting on the rocks below our hotel. After breakfast, we headed north. The star birds we went to see were Northern Bald Ibis. These birds were part of an introduction into mainland Spain. They were feeding amongst the cattle. A new Moth species for me was a Crimson Speckled.
A couple of Cattle Egrets flew over. At the Salt Pans we saw Red Knot, Dunlin, Curlew Sandpiper, Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover, Greater Flamingos, Stone-curlews, Spoonbill, Black-winged Stilts, Little Tern & some Caspian Terns fly over.

Audouin’s Gull [Pair Summer]

Northern Bald Ibis [Adult]

Crimson Speckled Moth

We had a tip off that a Terek Sandpiper was seen by the estuary, so we headed down to see it. The Adult Winter bird showed very well distantly. The upturned bill like an Avocet rules out the possibility of confusion with other Sandpipers. A couple more Curlew Sandpipers were seen with Black-winged Stilts. The beach was full of Fiddler Crabs.

We had a lunch stop at Lurner Curno. In the afternoon we explored around La Janda. A few Red-veined Darters were around the area plus a pair of Northern Banded Groundlings. A few White Storks, Black-winged Kite, Black Kite, Marsh Harrier, Juvenile Montagu's Harrier, Spanish Sparrows, Red-legged Partridges, Turtle Doves & Spotted Flycatcher.

We had a look along the roadside for roosting Red-necked Nightjars, but sadly none were located. Loads more Crimson Speckled Moths were found & Mediterranean Shieldbugs, afterwards we made our way back to our hotel. A few Audouin's Gulls roosted on the rocks below the hotel in the evening.

Cattle Egret [Adult Winter]

Little Tern [1st Winter]

Dunlin & Curlew Sandpiper [Juveniles]

Curlew Sandpiper [Adult Moulting]

Greater Flamingo [Adult]

Barbate Beach

Terek Sandpiper [Adult Winter]

Black-winged Stilt [Juvenile]

Fiddler Crab

White Stork [Flock]

Red-veined Darter [Male]

Red-veined Darter [Female]

Spotted Flycatcher [Adult]

Spanish Sparrow [Male]

Crimson Speckled Moth

Mediterranean Shieldbug

Montagu’s Harrier [Juvenile]

Turtle Dove [Adult]

Northern Banded Groundling [Female]

Red-veined Darter [Female]

Red-legged Partridge [Adult]

Northern Banded Groundling [Male]

Wednesday
14th September 2022

After breakfast, we headed to the viewpoint as our first stop of the day. The birds included were European Honey Buzzards, Booted Eagles, Short-toed Eagles, Griffon Vultures, Egyptian Vultures & Osprey. The rain showers were passing the area, so we moved on to Cazalla Viewpoint near Trafico. A couple of European/Continental Swallowtails were seen around the viewpoint. This was really a Swallowtail year for us, as we saw the British subspecies back in June around the Norfolk Broads. The difference between the two are subtle, but the flight period is much longer than the British form. The Continental subspecies is a regular vagrant to Britain, tends to wander a bit further afield compared to the British subspecies which never leaves the Norfolk Broads. The birds we saw were Griffon Vultures, Black Kites, Short-toed Eagles, Booted Eagles & Black Storks. A few Cinnamon Bugs were seen that day as well. We had a lunch stop at El Rancho. In the afternoon, we went to Balmones Bay. White Storks, Osprey, Eurasian Whimbrels & Grey Herons were seen from the viewpoint. A Turkish Gecko was found nearby. Later that evening, we saw another individual on the wall of the hotel.

Algarrobo Watchpoint

Continental Swallowtail

Booted Eagle [Adult-Pale Morph

Booted Eagle [Adult-Dark Morph]

Short-toed Eagle [Adult]

Griffon Vulture [Adult]

Black Kite [Adult]

Sparrowhawk

European Honey Buzzard [Adult]

Turkish Gecko [Juvenile]

Cinnamon Bug

Mediterranean Bush Cricket

Turkish Gecko [Adult]

Gibraltar viewed from our hotel

Thursday
15th September 2022

After breakfast we headed up along the coast towards Donana, to see the Little Swifts. The Swifts were still feeding young in nests under the canopy of the roof. The Swifts were very fast in direct flight & didn't hang about.

After spending some time watching the Little Swifts, we headed to Montijo Beach. We saw a distant Caspian Tern, Bar-tailed Godwits, Grey Plovers & Sanderlings. We had a lunch stop at Sanlucar. Me & Mum had ours on the beach. There were Yellow-legged & Lesser Black-backed Gulls resting on the beach. We managed to find a pair of Mediterranean Gulls.

Little Swift

Bar-tailed Godwit [Adult Winter]

Grey Plover [Adult Moulting]

Sanderling [Adult Winter]

Yellow-legged Gull [Adult Winter]

Mediterranean Gull [Adult Winter]

Lesser Black-backed Gull [Adult Winter]

Yellow-legged Gull [Adult Winter]

Glossy Ibis [1st Winter]

Purple Swamphen [Adult]

In the afternoon, we went to some ponds. A Glossy Ibis, 4 Purple Swamphens [Gallinules], 2 Temminck's Stints, Blue-headed [Yellow] Wagtail, Female Ferruginous Duck, Common Pochard, Marbled Ducks & Green Sandpiper were of note. Our final port of call of the day was at some Salt Pans. Along the track we mainly saw Slender-billed Gulls, Curlew Sandpipers and Greater Flamingos. A couple of Ospreys were seen at the end. Also Red-veined Darters & some distant Waders and Black-winged Stilts.
Back at the hotel, a Juvenile European Shag was roosting on the rocks.

Temminck’s Stint [Pair]

Common Pochard [Female]

Marbled Duck [Pair]

Purple Swamphen [Adult]

Red-veined Darter [Female]

European Shag [Juvenile]

Slender-billed Gull [Adult Summer]

View from the watchpoint

View from our hotel

Friday
16th September 2022

After breakfast, we started in the town of Tarifa for a search of Spain's only Common Bulbul. A Female Lesser Kestrel was perched distantly on the clock tower and a Hoopoe flew past. We spotted the Male Common Bulbul on top of the high tree & there was even a bit of song. Afterwards, we headed down to a nearby beach. A Female Blue-headed [Yellow] Wagtail was feeding beneath the horse's legs. Corn Buntings were plentiful around the site. In the nearby field were lots of Calandra Larks. A Crested Lark was seen further up the beach and a couple of Stonechats as well. Had a brief view of a Zitting cisticola. From the hide we saw a Grey Heron & Audoin's Gulls resting on the beach & a few more Fidler Crabs. Also a Kingfisher and waders. We saw a few Goldfinches on our way back to the van.

Crested Lark [Adult]

Common Bulbul [Male]

Blue-headed Wagtail [Female]

Corn Bunting [Adult]

Back at the watch point he birds of note were Bonelli's Eagles, Booted Eagles, Griffon Vultures, Juvenile Egyptian Vulture & the rare Rüppell's Vulture from Africa. Southern Spain is pretty much the only place where small numbers of Rüppell's are seen in the late Autumn & the birds are mainly Juveniles.

In the late afternoon/early evening we went on boat from Tarifa, which took about 2 hours. A couple of birds were reported such as Black Tern, European Storm Petrel & Cory's Shearwater, but I didn't seen any of them. Fortunately on our first evening at the hotel, I managed to see a distant Cory's flying past. The only Cetacean I saw on our Boat trip were some Long-finned Pilot Whales. There was a brief sighting of a leaping Bottle-nosed Dolphin, but I missed it.

Goldfinch [Juvenile]

Stonechat [Male]

Stonechat [Female]

Short-toed Eagle

Booted Eagle [Adult-Dark Morph]

Egyptian Vulture [Juvenile]

Long-finned Pilot Whale

Booted Eagle [Adult-Dark Morph]

Booted Eagle [Adult-Pale Morph]

Bonelli’s Eagle [Juvenile]

Ruppell’s Vulture [Juvenile]

Sunset viewed from our hotel

Calandra Lark [Flock]

Long-finned Pilot Whales

Saturday
17th September 2022

After breakfast, we headed back to the watchpoint for some more Raptors. Some European Honey Buzzards, Griffon Vultures, Booted Eagles & Egyptian Vulture soared very high up on thermals. I was exploring around the area & I saw a Blue Tit. While I was photographing a Hornet, I spotted a European [Praying] Mantis, but it didn't hang around for long.

We headed back to Cazalla. Black Storks soared overhead. Also saw a distant Golden Eagle. A few Griffon Vultures were joined by the Rüppell's Vultures. The Continental Swallowtail was still showing well by the viewpoint.

We had a lunch stop at Ventormillo el Nene, where I saw my only Common Wall Lizard of the holiday. Also in the area was a Stonechat & Crested Lark. In the afternoon, we headed up into a mountainous area, where more Griffon Vultures were seen. I saw a Crested Tit briefly. A Male and Female Blue Rock Thrush showed distantly perched on the clifftop. The star Butterfly here was a Two-tailed Pasha.

On the way back we popped to a site, where we had good views of the Juvenile Rüppell's Vulture roosting. Also saw Willow Warbler & Pied Flycatcher.

Afterwards, we headed back to our hotel for our last night.

European Praying Mantis

Black Stork [Adult]

Griffon Vulture [Adult]

Ruppell’s & Griffon Vultures

Continental Swallowtail

Common Wall Lizard [Adult]

Crested Lark [Adult]

Griffon Vulture [Juvenile]

Griffon Vulture [Adult]

Griffon Vulture [Flock]

Crested Tit [Adult]

Two-tailed Pasha

Griffon Vulture

View across to Morocco

Sunday
18th September 2022

After breakfast, we headed near the town of Algeciras for our final birdwatching morning in Andalucia. As the wind had changed direction we tried a different site for the raptor migration, however not many birds were atempting the crossing. There were Black Kites, Egyptian Vultures, Booted Eagles & Griffon Vultures. The star bird was this Male Blue-headed [Yellow] Wagtail feeding with the horses.

Morocco viewed from our hotel

Blue-tailed Wagtail [Male]

After lunch, we headed back to Malaga Airport ready for flight back to Bristol. Our flight was delayed to about 1:00AM & got back into Bristol Airport just after 04:00 in the morning.

Thanks to Santi from Spainbirds for leading & showing us the Wildlife in this part of Spain. Also thanks Jeff, Julie & Steve for their company. Special thanks to Len for organising this wonderful holiday.

Booted Eagle [Adult-Pale Morph]