Friday 08 November 2013, Gaucin, mostly sunny, fresh N-NW wind, 20C

A quick morning visit to the west slope of El Hacho produced very little, mainly due to the gusting northerly wind that made telescope use pretty much impossible! Despite the conditions, though, there was a count of 75+ Griffon Vulture arriving from a southerly direction, presumably from Sierra Crestellina. Also seen were Southern Grey Shrike, Blue Rock Thrush, several Meadow Pipit, Black Redstart, Stonechat, European Robin, Sardinian Warbler and Rock Bunting. Up towards the summit were 3 adult Spanish Ibex.

Thursday 07 November 2013, Gaucin, mostly sunny, light W-NW wind, 24C

After yesterday's unseasonal high of 26C today was a shade cooler, but no less wonderful, at 24C. As if to underline the summery feeling there was a pale morph Booted Eagle just south-west of the village at 1200hrs and presumably the same individual high up but visible from Calle Convento at 1415hrs. This bird, coupled with the intermediate morph seen at the Rio Genal a few days ago, means that it's possible that there are at least two individuals over-wintering in the area.

Tuesday 05 November 2013, Gaucin, cloudy am, sunny pm, light-fresh N wind, 23C

On Saturday afternoon 45 Griffon Vulture flew in single file from Sierra Crestellina towards Sierra del Hacho. Black Redstart numbers are building up in the village and their squabbling calls can be heard frequently. Sunday mid-morning there were 2x Willow Warbler near Cortes de la Frontera and on Sunday afternoon there was a small flock of Crag Martin over Calle del Pino in Gaucin. At 0830hrs on Monday a male Eurasian Sparrowhawk was hunting over the gardens in Calle Convento.

Saturday 02 November 2013, Gaucin, mostly sunny, light SE wind, 22C

Down on the Rio Genal from 0900-1030hrs were the following:
A late-leaving or possibly over-wintering intermediate morph Booted Eagle, Grey Heron, Green Sandpiper, Great-spotted Woodpecker, Song Thrush, Spotless Starling, White Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Chiffchaff sp., Sardinian Warbler, Cetti's Warbler, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Serin, 8x Hawfinch and Cirl Bunting.

Sunrise over Sierra Crestellina

Hawfinch

Hawfinch

Rio Genal

Thursday 31 October 2013, Gaucin, mostly sunny, light E-SE wind, 18C

A mid-morning visit to the west slope of El Hacho produced the following:
10x Griffon Vulture, Southern Grey Shrike, 2x male Blue Rock Thrush, a minimum of 20 Black Redstart (there were 5 in one small dead tree and at least another 10 in a rocky area of no more than 5m2; they were everywhere), 10+ Meadow Pipit, Northern Wheatear, European Robin, Sardinian Warbler, a flock of 10 Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Goldfinch and Rock Bunting. Red-legged Partridge was heard.

Wednesday 30 October 2013, Gaucin, mostly sunny, light S-SE wind, 22C

I visited the Rio Genal below Gaucin from 0930-1030hrs and logged the following:
Griffon Vulture, 2x Grey Heron, 2x Green Sandpiper, Song Thrush, Black Redstart,  a flock of 30+ Chaffinch, 10+ White Wagtail, Grey Wagtail and Blackcap. Cirl Bunting, Cetti's Warbler and Chiffchaff sp. were heard.

Tuesday 29 October 2013, Gaucin, sunny, light-fresh N-NW wind, 22C

After the warm 24C of yesterday, today's 22C felt appreciably cooler in the northerly wind. I've been out two or three times in the past few days looking for, or rather, listening for, possible Yellow-browed Warbler; as in the UK, there has been an, albeit smaller, influx of this Asiatic visitor in Spain, too, including at least 3 in the Montes de Malaga. Needless to say, all I've managed to find so far is a whole load of Chiffchaff sp! I'll keep looking for a bit but their time here is likely to be short-lived.....