Thursday 30 June: Birding doldrums at the moment! All the birds are busy nesting and it's too hot to be out and about (36C yesterday). The Swifts, however, are putting on a good show, see video below taken from our terrace. Yesterday evening there was an Alpine Swift amongst the Common and Pallid - don't think it's in the video, though!

Sunday 26 June, Sierra Espartina, 1000-1130hrs, warm, light SE wind: A few Griffon Vulture drifting around, a couple of Bee-eater high up, Woodlark, Blackcap still singing away, Sardinian Warbler, Booted Eagle and an adult Peregrine soaring to the west towards Jimena de la Frontera.

Thursday 23 June: Between 2030 and 2100hrs there was at least one Alpine Swift amongst the Common and Pallid Swift flock flying around over Calle Convento and Calle del Pino. I received a good record of an adult Spanish Imperial Eagle soaring over El Hacho before heading North late afternoon on 15 June (per J. Diley).

Thursday 23 June, 1630-1800hrs, west side of El hacho, Gaucin, light westerly breeze, clear and very warm: Worth braving the heat to see a newly fledged and adult male Dartford Warbler, see photos; also Sparrrowhawk, Griffon Vulture, Red-legged Partridge, Bonelli's Warbler, Corn Bunting (ad and juv), Woodchat Shrike (ad and juv), Stonechat and Goldfinch. No sign of any Black-eared Wheatear, though.

(Just visible!) Adult male Dartford Warbler


Newly-Fledged Dartford Warbler

Monday 20 June, La Umbria, Gaucin, 1000-1130hrs: Walked along the first part of this route principally looking for butterflies though did see Serin, Spotted Flycatcher, Sardinian Warbler, Blackcap, Robin, Great-spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker (heard)and Griffon Vulture. There were a lot of butterflies about including clouds of Spanish Marbled White and Wall Brown so I even managed to get some photos.....

Spanish Marbled White



Dusky Heath Coenonympha dorus


Clouded Yellow


Wall Brown (not the best focus!)


Cleopatra


Spanish Gatekeeper

Sunday 19 June: Sierra Espartina, Gaucin, 1100hrs, partly cloudy: Not much in the way of bird activity, a few Griffon Vulture and the occasional Sardinian Warbler, but a few lovely flowers still about...see photos.

Eryngium dichotomum

Common Centaury Centaurium erythraea


Leuzia Leuzia conifera


Mournful Widow Scabiosa atropurpurea Possibly a garden escape as the wild version would have pale blue, rather than purple, flowers - or is there a purple variant here? Any comments welcome!

Friday 17 June, 0830hrs: Male (singing) and female Blue Rock Thrush on the telephone wires just near the Gaucin water spring on the Ronda-Algeciras road.