JULY 30TH - DAY 2 - SHORT BREAK BIRDS 'N' BUTTS

A long day today and it was very hot, average all day was 30C with little breeze.

From 7am to 9am we visited the 'Dead Tree' found near El Colmenar. This tree has prodcued nearly 20 species since my first visit. Today we saw 8 species but one of them was our target bird - the Golden Oriole. A family party visited the tree several times whilst we were there. Nothing else to report really, just a brief glimpse of a Turtle Dove.

After breakfast we set off into the mountains stopping first at the Rio Guadiaro at Estacion de Cortes. The usual list was gathered there. A nice surpise was the finding of two recently fledged LITTLE RINGED PLOVER chicks, I hope they make it. Other sightings included: Bee-eaters (lots of drab looking individuals), Rock Sparrow, Booted Eagle, Spotted Flycatcher, Cirl bunting and many common species. We also watched a few Alpine Swifts coming to drink, great birds when seen at such close proximity.

Further up the valley and into the Llanos de Libar we added several good birds to our tally - ROCK THRUSH was the best but we did see Short-toed Eagle, Griffon Vulture, Black Wheatear, Blue Rock thrush and lots more Bee-eaters. As we drove through Montejaque we saw a Black Redstrat fly up from the road. At the 'Dam that doesn't work' we found Crag Martin, Alpine swift, Rock Dove and Spanish Ibex.

Lastly we visited the Encinas Borraches track - now it was getting hot, 33C at 2:30pm!  We concentrated on butterflies for a while with good views of: The Hermit, Tree Grayling, Rock Grayling, Adonis Blue, Brown Argus, Spanish chalk hill Blue, Southern Gatekeeper, Cleopatra, Clouded yellow and Bath White.

Despite the heat we managed a good list of birds too! Southern grey Shrike, Woodchat Shrike, Black-eared Wheatear, Spectacled Warbler, Crested Lark, Thekla Lark and Woodlark, lots of Corn Buntings and plenty of Goldfinches.

We got back to Gaucin at 5pm and after a short rest we set off for an evening outing and riverside picnic at the Rio Guadiaro. Our intention was to stay until dark so we could look for nightjars and owls, what a success it was.

During the picnic we noted some good species along the river: Cattle and Little Egrets, White storks flying over, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover, Grey Heron and lots of Turtle Doves coming to drink. As it got dark many egrets and herons flew over us and headed upriver to a roost site, we also counted 5 White storks doing the same. The hightjars failed to show so we set off back up the valley and soon found our first Red-necked Nightjar flying across the road. The next one was sitting on the road and I nearly ran it over! This was quickly followed by a sighting of a perched BARN OWL, wow, this was my first Barn owl in the area ever!!  We also saw a Little Owl further up the track.

Back at home at 11pm - a long day and I am falling asleep as I write this, good night.  Photos to follow