Our second day was packed with exciting venues and some superb sightings. We set off at 8am in bright sunshine, it was quite windy and chilly.
We stopped just north of Guacin and walked around the disused Bull-Ring and after 30 minutes we logged several new species for the trip including Crested Tit, Eurasian Nuthatch, Coal Tit and Robin.
EURASIAN NUTHATCHWe drove up towards Ronda and made a brief stop in the mountains where saw Red-legged Partridge, Rock Bunting and a brief view of Rock Sparrow.
At the Encinas Borraches track we spent an hour searching the rock strewn valley and scrub meadows for several new species. We found Southern Grey Strike, Corn Bunting, Linnet, Thekla Lark, Little Owl, Green Sandpiper, Meadow Pipit, lots of Stonechats and very distant Black Wheatear and Blue Rock Thrush.
We then passed through Ronda and drove round towards Montejaque, after a quick coffee-stop we went round to a cork oak wood where we found couple of superb Firecrests. We ate our picnic lunch in the cork woods during which time we found Northern Goshawk, Short-toed Treecreeper, Short-toed Eagle, Green Woodpecker and Wood Pigeon. A walk produced Wren, Little Grebe, Green Sandpiper and Coot, the latter three at a lake.
The lovely limestone gorge just above Montejaque which contains the 'dam' that doesn't work, was great in the afternoon sunshine. We had superb views of Red-billed Chough, Blue Rock Thrush, Crag Martin, Rock Dove and lots of Griffon Vultures.
RED-BILLED CHOUGHOur visit to the fantastic valley of Llanos de Libars produced 3 or 4 Ring Ouzels as well as lots of finches, Black Redstarts, Black Wheatears and more Blue Rock Thrushes, we also great views of Cirl Bunting, Southern Grey Shrike and Serins.
THE GROUP AT LLANOS DE LIBARSFinally we drove to the Rio Guadiaro at Cortes, the light was perfect, the wind had dropped and it ws lovely and warm. Along the river we found Grey Wagtail, Little Ringed Plover, Cetti's Warbler, a good number of Blackcaps and many Chiffchaffs. We then found a small pool where many species were coming to drink and wash, a superb male Hawfinch was the highlight there.
At 5pm we set off for Gaucin where we took an early dinner at 6pm. An hour later we set off for Casares where we hoped to find an Eagle Owl, however we dipped on this occasion.
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