26 July- A late arrival in Malaga, no issues with flight or car hire and on to stay at our usual hostal in Casabermeja. Only camera and binoculars for this trip as we travelled light.
27 July- I was up and out early, a twenty minute drive to Rio de la Cueva bridge near Riogordo to look for Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin, perhaps a little late in the season and little time but worth a go. No luck with this species but plenty of other species and great views including Bee Eater, Kestrel, Spotted Flycatchers, Woodchats, Western Orphean Warblers, Golden Oriole (pictured).
Golden Oriole and Western Orphean Warblers
A good breakfast in Casabermeja and on the road for Seville province, although not far, a stop at Laguna de Fuente de Piedra was welcome, good to see some water and lots of birds. Western Olivaceous Warbler,1000s of Greater Flamingo, Gull-billed Terns, Slender-billed Gulls, White-headed Ducks with ducklings, Hoopoe as well as Black-headed and Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Little-ringed Plovers, Little and Black-necked Grebes.
As stop for a drink in a cafe in Fuente de Piedra to support the local economy and back on the road where the next stop was near Lantejuela, the first lagoon we passed held lots of water and birds but we didn’t stop, the second a vast reedbed, again no stop, then a short visit to Laguna de Ballestra, full of water and covered with birds. Around 50 Collared Pratincoles with many juveniles were gathered on the shore plus Black-winged Stilts, Black-headed Gulls, White Storks, Greater Flamingos, Gull-billed Terns, 1000s of Coot, a few Gadwall and Black-necked Grebes. Hoopoes and Crested Larks on the track and shore. Next stop for shopping and then into the Sierra Norte to stay at Casa Rural Kenza in dehesa country.
At Casa Rural Kenza, a cool off swim then a visit to the nearby old bridge over the Rio Huéznar at dusk. Golden Orioles, Common and Green Sandpipers, Little-ringed Plovers, Grey Herons and Little Egrets, Black Kite, Kingfisher, Great-spotted Woodpecker, as well as a movement of Swallows down the river valley. Back at the accommodation Woodchat Shrikes were hunting bugs from the shady branches.
28 July- I was up and out exploring the dehesa around the Casa, following a dry riverbed through the open woodland. Plenty of Turtle Doves hurtled by, the more sedate Collared Doves also present. I had good views of Melodious Warbler, Griffon Vulture, Southern Grey Shrike, Woodchat, Black Kite, Griffon Vulture, Nightingale, Nuthatches, a flock of 8 Woodlark, Sardinian Warbler, Crested Lark, Bee Eaters, heard Iberian Green Woodpecker, Ravens featured daily with a flock of c70 gathering nearby every afternoon/evening. Pictured.
The middle part of the day was spent exploring, we visited Cazalla de la Sierra (pretty quiet in the hot weather, a few Booted Eagles and Griffon Vultures soring over), Alanis castle (good views), Cascada de Hueznar (lovely location but lots of cool shade seekers, good views of Red-rumped Swallows), Cierro del Hierro (tiny village) and the Monumento Natural Karst (amazing landscape, no-one about in the heat, hirundines, Bee Eaters, Jay , Southern Grey Shrike and Short-toed Snake Eagle noted). A meal at Bar Restaurante La Mina was a welcome stop, plenty of Bee Eaters to keep you entertained. A few Bee Eater images from Sierro de Hierro follow.
The rest of the day was spent back at the Casa Rural Kenza until dusk, many more views of the same species were enjoyed but Red-rumped Swallows, a flock of Swifts and House Martins were scrutinsed and a few Booted Eagles and a trio of Black Storks (pictured below) created a bit of extra excitement. We relaxed by the pool, had a beer or cold sherry and ate on the patio.
29 July- A visit to Constantina to explore the town and castle, highlights from the castle were a Black Vulture leading a group of Griffon Vultures, Bee Eaters and Booted Eagle (all pale phase on this trip).
A swim to cool off, a visit to a siesta sleepy La Pedrosa to recycle times and the train pulled in to liven it up briefly, everyone dissapeared indoors, lots of restaurante here if anyone is ever passing. I decided to walk upriver from the old bridge to the Charca la Pizzara and back, it was extremely hot and I’d forgotten water, sticking my hat in the river at regular intervals helped cool me down so I could continue with the walk. Plenty of Hawfinches, Chaffinches, and Cirl Buntings were in the shade of the tree lined river, a juvenile Purple Heron, a Black Stork and Grey Heron, more Woodchats, Hoopoe, Golden Oriole, Stonechats and just about every species coming down to drink at some point, Blue Tits, Woodlarks and Serin were all drinking together. A Corn Bunting also noted. It was very good for odonata but no large species seen, perhaps too hot, most of the insects were in the shade. I had a thirst so headed straight back to cold water from the fridge and the pool!
Violet Dropwing
30 July – An early dawn walk along the river Huéznar downstream of the old bridge to the Embalse and back in the cool air. Good birding all the way, many of the same species seen well, an Egyptian Goose and Rock Sparrows were new and another good view of juvenile Nightingale and a Golden Oriole, a few Corn Buntings, and a good view of a Bonelli’s Warbler. Back for a swim then we made breakfast. We had to clear up and depart but called in at Carmona on our way.
Carmona castle a great lookout point, at least eleven Lesser Kestrels on the wing here.
A visit to the amphitheatre and necropolis was very interesting, a meal in a cave restaurant adjacent to the castle and then back on the road for Malaga Province. A short stop at Laguna Dulce was welcome, the lake was full of water and held 1000s of birds, Glossy Ibis and Black-necked Grebes joined the White-headed Ducks, Coots, Marsh Harriers, Greater Flamingos, Black-winged Stilts and much more.
Our last night was in the hills near Malaga, a quiet place overlooking the farmland valley with Little Owls, Hoopoe, Booted Eagle, Thekla Larks and Zitting Cisticola. We departed mid-morning for home.
Anserbirding 