Saturday 26 September 2015, Gaucin, partly cloudy, light SE wind, 26C

No real birding today, but during a morning walk around the base of El Hacho mountain a nice surprise was the sighting of a Southern Grey Shrike - presumably one of the two (pair?) that overwintered last year. Also seen were Griffon Vulture (great views as they flew up from their overnight roost in the trees), Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Short-toed Eagle, Stonechat, Common Crossbill (in a pine tree behind the Guardia Civil building) and Cirl Bunting. Fauna included a couple of Spanish Ibex and a European Hare.

Back in the village during the afternoon there was a small volume of migration with 8 Black Stork, several single Short-toed and Booted Eagle moving through as well as a handful of Barn Swallow; high up were a dozen or so Common/Pallid Swift and the local pair of Booted Eagle (one dark morph, one pale morph) were displaying happily, as usual.

Tim's sightings:
Very quiet today bird-wise - one female Common Redstart at Jimena and a few Phylloscs from Gaucin bridge.

Common Crossbill - by Tim

juv Blue Rock Thrush - by Tim