Tuesday 15 January, Gaucin, mostly sunny, fresh W-NW wind, 11C but feeling colder in the wind. The past couple of days have been so sunny and warm it's hard to believe it's not yet Spring; I keep looking to the skies expecting to see some Summer migrants then remind myself that it's still too early, even for southern Spain! It will only be two or three weeks, though, before the first arrivals are here such as House Martin, Barn Swallow and the beautiful Black Kite.

Saturday 12 January, Gaucin, mostly sunny, light W-NW wind, 16C: Thursday and Friday spent around San Martin de Tesorillo checking out walking routes; sunny with temperatures up to 21C. Logged a male Hen Harrier and a Goshawk on Thursday morning and a female Hen Harrier on Friday morning. Today spotted a Dunnock just below the Mirador de Africa opposite the turning to Benarraba.

Wednesday 09 January, Gaucin, light air from N-NW, mostly sunny, 15C: Not much to report but yesterday I spent a morning between Jimena de la Frontera and San Martin de Tesorillo looking for new walking routes - superb weather, clear skies and 19C. Although not really birding I did see Griffon Vuture, 3x Common Buzzard, Lesser Kestrel, 2x Common Snipe, 2x Green Sandpiper, Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Grey Heron, Song Thrush, Blue Rock Thrush, Crested Lark, Meadow Pipit, White Wagtail, Black Redstart, Stonechat, Blackcap, Chiffchaff sp., Zitting Cisticola, Cirl Bunting, Serin, Goldfinch, Linnet, Greenfinch and a couple of fields 'full' of Chaffinch (and probably a few Brambling, too, but didn't see any!).

Sunday 06 January, Gaucin, sunny, light-fresh NW wind, 16C, 1030-1130hrs: Today's breakfast sightings were a Blue Rock Thrush on the roof a nearby house and a male Black Redstart in the walnut tree. A visit to El Hacho wasn't very productive, mainly due to the gusting winds, but there was more activity along the tracks behind the petrol station and it was great to see the pink and white Almond blossom breaking out across the area. Highlights were 20+ Griffon Vulture, Song Thrush, two colourful male Serin, one in full song, 2x Black Redstart, a Chiffchaff sp., female Cirl Bunting and a flock of 20+ Chaffinch. Photo is a Meadow Pipit taking refuge from the wind in a leafless fig tree.

Saturday 05 January, Gaucin, sunny, calm air-light N-NW wind, 17C: Walked along the 'smugglers trail' along the Sierra Espartina ridge from 1130-1230hrs. As often seems to be the case here there were few birds around, 6 Griffon Vulture, Crested Tit, Eurasian Nuthatch, Great-spotted Woodpecker; but a female Common Crossbill in amongst a small flock of Chaffinch was a good sighting and the views back to Gaucin are worth it!

Friday 21 December, Gaucin, mostly sunny, light SW wind, 17C: A group of 60+ Grifffon Vulture over the southern end of Sierra Crestellina at 1700hrs and a lone female Sparrowhawk cruising the vast blue skies above Camino de Avedin during the afternoon.

Crestellina, Rif mountains and Penitentes rocks leading to Gaucin castle

Sierra Crestellina

Friday 04 January, Gaucin, partly cloudy, light-fresh E-NE wind, 14C: Breakfast sightings on the Walnut tree in the garden were a Siskin and a female Cirl Bunting. A walk along Camino de Gibraltar from 0930-1130hrs produced 2 Song Thrush, Eurasian Nuthatch, 5 Black Redstart, 2 Chiffchaff sp., Blackcap, Sardinian Warbler, Hawfinch, Cirl Bunting, 2 pairs of Stonechat, 30+ Goldfinch, Grey Wagtail, White Wagtail, Meadow Pipit and 50+ Griffon Vulture flying west from El Hacho towards Sierra Crestellina.

Grey Wagtail on unusual high-wire perch!