Wednesday 29 February, Gaucin, sunny, light-fresh SE wind, 15C, 1030-1200hrs: A walk around La Umbria on the outskirts of Gaucin produced plenty of birds including Sparrowhawk, Common Kestrel, Great-spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker (heard), Song Thrush, Blackcap, Common Chiffchaff, Iberian Chiffchaff (at least 2 singing), Sardinian Warbler, Firecrest and Eurasian Nuthatch. Also several butterflies around including the lovely Spanish Festoon. A coffee stop at bar Paco Pepe saw a White Stork passing over the centre of the village.

Tuesday 28 February, Gaucin, mostly sunny, 17C: First Short-toed Eagle of the summer over the village at 1230hrs; now quite a few House Martin around.

Monday 27 February, west slope of El Hacho, 1630-1730hrs, sunny, 17C: Nothing special to report; still a few Black Redstart around, lots of Stonechat, Sardinian Warbler, Blackcap (no Chiffchaff), Common Kestrel, Crag Martin, 9 Corn Bunting in one tree, Raven, 15 Griffon Vulture. No sign of the wintering Southern Grey Shrike - perhaps it has moved on already.

Sunday 26 February, Malaga, sunny, 23C: A few good birds seen in Malaga city centre....Peregrine, Common Kestrel, Raven (on nest below the Gibralfaro palace), Spotless Starling, Yellow-legged Gull, Great Cormorant, Collared Dove, Monk Parakeet, Serin, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Black Redstart, Common Chiffchaff, Sardinian Warbler, Blackcap, White Wagtail, House Sparrow and Crested Tit.

Wednesday 22 February, Gaucin, mostly sunny, light SE wind, 13C: Whilst collecting firewood at an avocado farm down alongside the Rio Genal below Gaucin I managed to spot my first Red-rumped Swallow of the year as two were swooping around over the orchards; also saw House Martin and heard Green Woodpecker.

Monday 20 February, Gaucin, sunny, light-fresh NW wind, 16C: 1200hrs, 4 House Martin seen at the top of Camino de Avedin, also 60-70 Griffon Vulture on a thermal, 3 singing Common Chiffchaff, 4 Song Thrush and Crested Tit. Female Sparrowhawk over the south of village at 1800hrs.

Saturday 18 February, Gaucin, partly cloudy, 13C: two Barn Swallow over the south of the village at about 10:00hrs then one flying up Calle Convento at about 11:30hrs - Spring is on its way!

Friday 17 February, Gaucin, mostly cloudy, light E-SE wind, 7C: After a sunny and relatively warm day yesterday the 'cold' weather is back. Nothing much to report on the bird front; a Common Chiffchaff singing near the 'bull ring' yesterday afternoon plus a couple of Black Redstart and a pair of Raven, and today just a few Griffon Vulture drifting over the village.

Friday 10 February, Whitlingham Country Park, Norwich, Norfolk, UK, partly cloudy, cold, 1C: A late afternoon visit to the lake less than one km from the city centre produced plenty of ducks including a female/first winter Smew, a female Goldeneye, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Gadwall, Shoveler and Mallard. Also Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Grey Heron, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Cormorant and Redwing.

Thursday 09 February, North Norfolk, UK, cloudy, cold, 1C: A visit to Wells and the rspb reserve at Titchwell produced some good birds including Fieldfare, Avocet, Spotted Redshank, Redshank, Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Sanderling, Curlew, Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Turnstone, Oystercatcher, Water Rail, Wigeon, Shoveler, Teal, Goldeneye, Smew, Pintail, Grey Heron, Bittern, Little Grebe, Great-crested Grebe and my bird of the day, Slavonian Grebe.

Tuesday 06 February, Norwich, Norfolk, Uk, partly cloudy, cold, 0C: In the city centre over the last few days have seen a Peregrine around the cathedral spire, Redwing, Long-tailed Tit, flock of 20 Lapwing, Common Gull and a pair of Egyptian Goose. Today went up to Blakeney and Cley - it was extremely cold and made for difficult birding! Did, however, manage to see Knot, Turnstone, Bar-tailed Godwit, Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Redshank, Curlew, Oystercatcher, Dunlin, Little Egret, Brent Goose, Red-breasted Merganser, Wigeon, Teal, Common Buzzard and best bird, Twite.