Tuesday 29 November, Torreguadiaro and Sotogrande, sunny, light SE wind, 22C: As it was such a fantastic day I overcame the 'man flu' and dragged myself to the coast managing to visit the Torreguadiaro lagoon and the Guadiaro estuary whilst shopping for light fittings.... A quick stop at the lagoon produced 2 Purple Swamp Hen, Little Egret, Grey Heron, 14 Little Grebe (see photo), Great Cormorant, lots of Chiffchaff plus Meadow Pipit, Black Redstart, Crag Martin and Stonechat. At the estuary the best bird was a female Marsh Harrier (thanks to Janys for pointing it out!) that, unfortunately, flushed a large gull flock before I could check it out - as they flew past it looked like they were mostly Yellow-legged and Black-headed. Out to sea were a few Northern Gannet and a single Lesser-black Backed Gull. Also seen were Little Grebe, Great-crested Grebe, two more Purple Swamp Hen (see photo), Coot, Moorhen and lots more Chiffchaff.

Monday 28 November, Gaucin, sunny, light E wind, very warm, 19C: Unable to take advantage of the lovely weather due to a nasty case of 'man flu'! Did, however, manage to see a group of 25 Griffon Vulture catching the thermals to the south of the village.

Sunday 27 November, mostly sunny, warm, light E-SE wind: Mid-morning walk to the 'Vulture Gorge' at Estacion Gaucin, see photos of the Rio Guadiaro and the gorge. The highlight was a Hawfinch in the productive dead tree near the hydro-electric plant, also 60+ Griffon Vulture, 30 Crag Martin on a telegraph wire, Black Redstart everywhere you looked, Blue Rock Thrush, Grey Heron, Great Cormorant, Rock Dove, Blackcap and Sardinian Warbler.

Saturday 26 November, Sierra Espartina, Gaucin, mostly sunny, warm: A quick afternoon walk along the 'smuggler's ridge but there was very little about other than Griffon Vulture, Raven, Black Redstart, Crag Martin, Robin, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Crested Tit, Blue Tit and Blackcap many of which were enjoying the autumn sunshine and singing their subsong from deep cover.

Thursday 24 November, partly cloudy, some showers, 18C: After a couple of nice dry days today was spoilt by some afternoon showers - but we need the rain! A trip to the coast so checked through the gull flock on the beach at Estepona - there were 250+ Yellow-legged Gull, 150 mixed Black-headed and Mediterranean Gull plus 2 Sandwich Tern and a Little Gull; at sea several Northern Gannet and Great Cormorant.

Monday 21 November, partly cloudy, light NW wind, 17C: Much nicer weather after the last couple of days. Good deed for the day was rescuing a female Blue Rock Thrush that was trapped inside someone's house this morning. 1600-1700hrs: went down to the Rio Genal and was lucky to see a female Merlin; at first it was feeding on the ground beside the river after which it flew into a nearby tree before gliding off upstream. Other than that it was pretty quiet - 40+ Griffon Vulture around the northern peak of Sierra Crestellina, Grey Heron, Grey, White and Pied Wagtail, Stonechat, Black Redstart, Blackcap, Goldfinch, Chaffinch and Cetti's Warbler (heard).

Sunday 20 November, Gaucin: Yesterday was extremely wet and cold and today is worse. There was also a nasty electrical storm yesterday during which one lightning strike managed to kill our router so I'm currently working on someone's unsecured network until we can get to the shop tomorrow and get a new one! Still, the forecast for the coming week looks quite promising so may get some birding opportunities.