Birdwatch Gaucin: Monday 15 September 2014, Gaucin, mostly sunny, calm air-light SE wind, 28C

Yesterday morning there was a Dartford Warbler behind El Hacho (northern side) and there were 2 Swift sp., over Calle Convento at around 2030hrs; Tim Birkhead reported the following:

2 male Common Redstart, one in the village flying south and one at the Rio Genal
1 juv Egyptian Vulture just past Sierra Crestellina
5 Egyptian Vulture (1 juv, 4 adults) over El Hacho at 1830hrs
1 Common Buzzard over the village at 1900hrs
1 Pallid Swift over Gaucin bridge in the morning
100+ House Martin over the village in the morning

This morning Tim and I took a trip out to the track that runs from Casares to Secadero, alongside the Rio Genal and later the Rio Guadiaro. It was a very pleasant start with little wind and good visibility and as we passed Sierra Crestellina, a group of 6 Red-billed Chough flew low over the road. On pylons next to the Rio Genal we had good views of 2 Short-toed Eagle and a Common Kestrel perched on telegraph wire long enough to be photographed. Other birds seen along the track included: Griffon Vulture, Booted Eagle, Lesser Kestrel, a 'kettle' of 17 Black Stork, Red-legged Partridge, Eurasian Hoopoe, Crested Lark, Stonechat, Sardinian Warbler and Cirl Bunting; European Bee-eater was heard but not seen.
At the Rio Guadiaro and in the adjacent fields we noted Grey Heron, Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Common Buzzard, Honey Buzzard, great views of a Marsh Harrier hunting over Alfalfa fields that were being irrigated by spraying, 6 Green Sandpiper, Little-ringed Plover, 20 Alpine Swift, Common Swift, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Sand Martin, Common Kingfisher, White Wagtail, Whinchat, Zitting Cisticola, Serin and a group of four or five Rock Sparrow.
On the way back to Gaucin we passed through San Martin de Tesorillo and checked out the track to Marchenilla; it was now quite warm and there were very few birds around apart from a couple of Common Raven, Common Kestrel, a few Corn Bunting (singing their 'subsong'), 3 Willow Warbler, and at the river, a Grey Wagtail. Over 50 species seen or heard, not a bad morning's work.

Tim reported ~100 Honey Buzzard over Sierra Crestellina at 1945hrs.