HOLIDAYS HIGHLIGHTS Granada, Málaga and Andújar on search of the Iberian Lynx 18 and 20 - 24th February 2017

Guide: Pau Lucio Guests: Susanne and Marcel R., Theresa and Richard O. Day 1. Granada I am meeting Susanne and Marcel on the Hotel Rural Cortijo de Tájar in Huétor Tájar. I am taking them for a birding day before joining Richard and Teresa on Monday for the Lynx quest. We set off to the surroundings of Huétor and soon we start walking along a trail which reveals an amazing diversity of birds: Tree Sparrow, Linnets, Crested Lark, Spotted Starling and a shy Bluethroat. As we keep walking, Pau points out a group of 50 Golden Plovers in a near field followed by a large group of (200+) Stone Curlew which mimic incredibly well with the background. Then, we drive to an area where Pau spotted Little Bustards few days ago and as soon as we get there, one flies off followed by 6 more. We carry on driving with the 4x4 crossing a stream. There we get Water Pipit, Green Sandpiper, House Martin, Barn Swallows and a Redrumped Swallow! Around 11:00 we move to Moraleda making few stops to see a gorgeous male Crossbill singing on the top of an Alepo pine. Near the river, we found good numbers of Redwing, three beautiful Hawfinches, a singing Water rail, a Rock Sparrow and Iberian Grey Shrike. After having lunch we continue to our next stop. As soon as Pau pulls over the car, Susanne spots a raptor flying. A cracking Bonelli’s Eagle! After such a thrill, we drive to a local bar to have a nice coffee in the terrace, stopping on the way to see a Thekla Lark.

Birdwatching Spain / Pau Lucio

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After the deserved coffee we head off to another area with a good combination of mosaic habitat. Skylarks and Corn bunting fly around us and Susanne spots distant birds which turns to be Black-bellied Sandgrouses. Then, Pau decides to drive towards the Sandgrouses but before getting there he stops and calls out “Great spotted Cuckoo”. We get out of the car and enjoy fantastic views of 2 Great Spotted Cuckoos singing and displaying. Suddenly, a flock of 7 Sandgrouses takes off in front of us; they were probably scared by the local farmers. Finally, we drive back to the accommodation seeing some common birds on the way.

Little Bustards

Day 2. Málaga airport-Andújar After greetings in Málaga airport, we set off to Andújar seeing on the way Common Buzzard, White Stork, Red Kite and big flocks of Black Kites. After finishing our “bocadillo” of Spanish ham for lunch, we drive last half an hour until our accommodation where we join Marcel and Susanne for an afternoon stakeout. As we drive inside the natural park of Andújar, we see Mistle Thrushes, Corn Buntings, Serin, Hoopoe and Azure-winged Magpies. The afternoon goes fast spotting a far distant Spanish Imperial Birdwatching Spain / Pau Lucio

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Eagle. With no more time, we drive back to the Rural Hotel to enjoy the delicious home-made dinner prepared by Ron.

Day 3. Andújar Natural Park Today will be our first entire day in the park and we are in high spirits. Before reaching the view point, we get fantastic views of 2 beautiful Iberian Green Woodpeckers, one of the endemics that Theresa wanted to see. Once we start scanning the landscape, Theresa finds a Spanish Imperial Eagle devouring a rabbit on the top of a Stone Oak. Quickly Pau sets off the scope and we all enjoy this fantastic and powerful raptor swallowing big chunks of meat. The temperature is rising fast and butterflies such as: Cleopatra, Western Dappled White and Clouded Yellow are already making the most of the abundant flowers. As the morning goes by, we spot Sardinian and Dartford Warblers and a beautiful male Blue Rock Thrush. After lunch, things become quiet until Pau locates a pair of Mouflon, a wild sheep original from Corsica but introduced in many areas of Spain for hunting. Then, a female Wild board with a bunch of piglets is well spotted by Susanne. Later in the afternoon, a Lynx suddenly crosses few meters away from Theresa. She calls everyone and all have a brief but close view of this magnificent cat before it disappears in the forest. After this sighting and due to light is fading fast, we head off to the accommodation to celebrate the sighting of the Lynx with a bottle of “cava”.

Day 4. Andújar Natural Park We wake up with a tick and dusty haze from Africa, quite unusual during winter in Spain. We set off to the usual view point and spend the morning seeing birds such as Iberian Grey Shrike, Common Buzzard, Little Owl and stunning Great Spotted Cuckoos being chased all over by angry Magpies. Around noon, we head off to the picnic area and have lunch while Pau sets the scoop to look for Golden Eagles. Soon he finds one in its usual perch, a Birdwatching Spain / Pau Lucio

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bit distant though. Griffon and Black Vultures are also seen soaring above us. Nice sighting! After lunch, we drive down the dam seeing a male Rock Bunting and both martins, Crag and House. Later, we set the scope to look for Spanish Ibexes and Marcel locates a female with a young lying on the top of the mountain. Finally, we drive back for the evening stakeout and when light stars fading we manage to locate a Lynx that was seen few minutes before at the beginning of the track. Pau locates a second one very briefly but the haze makes very difficult to keep track of them. Very happily after seeing so many species of wildlife, we drive to the Hotel when an Eagle Owl flies over us near “Los Escoriales”! Not a common sighting in Andújar. The luck is in our side!!

Looking for the Spanish Ibex

Birdwatching Spain / Pau Lucio

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Day 5. Andújar Natural Park Today is our last morning in Andújar so we head off to the view point hoping to locate any of the two Lynxes that we saw the previous day. As we drive towards the view point, Pau gets very excited as he finds a superb Lynx just few meters away from the car. What a view! Richard takes the pictures he has been dreaming of. It couldn’t have been any better! We spent the rest of the morning watching birds until starts raining. The drops are carrying all the African dust down. After lunch, Theresa, Richard and Pau set off to Málaga as tomorrow Richard and Theresa are travelling to Romania to see the European Lynx. Good luck guys! After saying goodbye, Pau heads off to Huétor Tájar to meet the following day Susanne and Marcel for a birding day.

Iberian Lynx

Birdwatching Spain / Pau Lucio

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Day 6. Fuente de Piedra The fog covers the mountains in Granada, so we have to change plans. Our plan B is to visit Laguna de Fuente de Piedra and there we go. After a quick stop to see some spikes of Giant orchid near Huétor Tájar, we drive to Fuente de Piedra. Once we get there, we see White Stork, Black-winged Stilt, Yellow Wagtail and Common Snipe in the lagoons near the entrance of the visitor centre. We walk around the hides seeing a good variety of birds, including 3 White-headed Ducks and a Marsh Harrier. From the “mirador” we start scanning and bingo! a Lesser Flamingo among the Greater Flamingos. We were told that it had been just recorded few days ago. Later, we get into the car and drive around the lagoon seeing over 100 Common Cranes, Spanish Hare and 3 Lesser Kestrels among other common birds. About mid-afternoon we say goodbye and we take different destinations. Many thanks to Susanne, Marcel, Richard and Theresa for being such a nice group. Keep in touch and see you in next trips!

Birdwatching Spain / Pau Lucio

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Birds

Coot

Mallard

Common Crane

Gadwall

Little Bustard

Shoveler

Black-winged Stilt

Teal

Stone Curlew

Pochard

Golden Plover

White-headed Duck

Lapwing

Red-legged Partridge

Green Sandpiper

Little Grebe

Snipe

Cormorant

Black-headed Gull

Cattle Egret

Lesser black-backed Gull

Little Egret

Black-bellied Sandgrouse

Grey Heron

Feral Pigeon

White Stork

Woodpigeon

Greater Flamingo

Collared Dove

Lesser Flamingo

Great Spotted Cuckoo

Griffon Vulture

Eagle Owl

Black Vulture

Little Owl

Golden Eagle

Hoopoe

Spanish Imperial Eagle

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Bonelli's Eagle

Iberian Green Woodpecker

Common Buzzard

Skylark

Black Kite

Crested Lark

Marsh Harrier

Thekla Lark

Kestrel

Woodlark (h)

Lesser Kestrel

Barn Swallow

Water rail (h)

Red-rumped Swallow

Moorhen

House Martin

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Crag Martin

Jackdaw

Medow Pipit

Chough

Water Pipit

Raven

White Wagtail

Spotless Starling

Yellow Wagtail

House Sparrow

Grey Wagtail

Tree Sparrow

Robin

Rock Sparrow

Bluethroat

Chaffinch

Redstart

Linnet

Stonechat

Goldfinch

Song Thrush

Greenfinch

Redwing

Serin

Mistle Thrush

Hawfinch

Blackbird

Common Crossbill

Blue Rock Thrush

Corn Bunting

Blackcap

Rock Bunting

Sardinian warbler Dartford Warbler

Mammals

Cetti's Warbler

Iberian Lynx

Chiffchaff

Spanish Ibex

Great Tit

Iberian hare

Coal Tit

Rabbit

Blue Tit

Mouflon

Crested Tit (h)

Fallow Deer

Long-tailed Tit

Red Deer

Short-toed Treecreeper (h)

Daubenton’s bat

Iberian Grey Shrike Azure-winged Magpie

Birdwatching Spain / Pau Lucio

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Butterflies

Reptiles

Red Admiral

Iberian Wall Lizard

Large White

Spanish Pond Terrapin

Western Dappled White Clouded Yellow Cleopatra Small Copper Painted Lady Speckled Wood

Birdwatching Spain / Pau Lucio

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