Thursday 12 June 2014, Gaucin, mostly sunny, light-fresh E-SE wind, 31C

A stroll through the mixed woodlands just NW of Gaucin from 0900-1000hrs produced a similar list to Tuesday with the notable exceptions of Northern Goshawk and Mistle Thrush; but today I did see Firecrest and a party of 6-8 Long-tailed Tit. Other species seen were Griffon Vulture, Short-toed Eagle, Booted Eagle, Eurasian Jay, Great-spotted Woodpecker, Eurasian Nuthatch and Serin; Iberian Chiffchaff and Bonelli's Warbler were heard.

Tuesday 10 June 2014, Gaucin, mostly cloudy, light SE wind, 26C

After a hot and sunny day yesterday, today was cloudy with the constant threat of rain which, apart from a few big drops mid-afternoon, never arrived. From 0900-1030hrs I took a walk through the mixed woodland just to the north-west of Gaucin and logged the following:

Griffon Vulture, dark and pale morph Booted Eagle, 3x Short-toed Eagle (together), Northern Goshawk, Eurasian Jay, Great-spotted Woodpecker, an unusual sighting of a flock of at least 12x Mistle Thrush, Eurasian Nuthatch, Crested Tit, Bonelli's Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Blackcap and Serin. Green Woodpecker, Woodlark, Iberian Chiffchaff and Firecrest were all heard.

Sunday 08 June 2014, Gaucin, sunny, light W-NW wind, 29C

Driving down to San Martin de Tesorillo on Friday there was a Little Owl just before, and a Black Kite over, San Pablo de Buceite. Driving the same route today there was another Black Kite at Jimena de la Frontera.

In Castellar de la Frontera there were several Lesser Kestrel and a couple of Crag Martin around the castle. There were plenty of Griffon Vulture around, also a few Booted Eagle and, towards Jimena, five or six European Bee-eater. Interestingly there was a flock of 150+ Spotless Starling in the fields below Castellar.

Back in Gaucin, whilst scanning Sierra Crestellina at 1900hrs, I picked up one of the adult Bonelli's Eagle that are nesting there.

Red Palm Weevil Rhynchophorous ferrugineus in our house on Friday

Wednesday 04 June 2014, Gaucin, sunny, calm air-light W-NW wind, 29C

A very similar day to yesterday, hot and sunny. Little to report today other than large numbers of Swift sp., flying just south of the village for most of the day, feasting on the clouds of small flying insects brought out by the increased temperature. A Common Nightingale is back in the gardens between Calle Convento and Calle del Pino and last night at 2215hrs a Red-Necked Nightjar made a couple of sorties over the garden below our house; good to see them back in the village, if only briefly.

Sunday 01 June 2014, Gaucin, partly cloudy, light SE wind, 19C

A strange day weather-wise with brooding dark clouds building up throughout the morning and culminating in a short but violent thunder and lightning storm at around 1300hrs; 20mm of rain falling in 30min. Calle Convento was completely under water from the Ferreteria to Callejon de Capitan and there was a hailstorm with 1cm hailstones during which the temperature plummeted from 19C to just 6C within 5min!

Luckily I managed to get in a walk in the dry around El Hacho from 0930-1200hrs during which there were some good sightings including an adult Golden Eagle over the Rio Guadiaro valley towards Jimena de la Frontera, Griffon Vulture, Short-toed Eagle, Peregrine Falcon (the three chicks appear to have fledged), Common Raven, Blue Rock Thrush, Bonelli's Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Rock Bunting, Cirl Bunting and Corn Bunting.

At 2230hrs there was a Tawny Owl singing from the area below the old convent.

Saturday 31 May 2014, Gaucin, mostly sunny, light SE wind, 23C

A morning walk through the cork oaks alongside the Garganta de las Palas produced Griffon Vulture, Common Buzzard, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Eurasian Jay, Great-spotted Woodpecker, Eurasian Nuthatch, Firecrest, at least 6 Bonelli's Warbler, 3 Iberian Chiffchaff and Sardinian Warbler; Common Cuckoo was heard.

Friday evening there was a Melodious Warbler singing just outside the village next to the 'Parque de los Chinos' on the Gaucin-Algeciras road.

Cork Oak Quercus suber

Thursday 29 May 2014, Gaucin, sunny, light W-NW wind, 26C

After a chilly damp day yesterday, 4mm of rain fell mostly in the early hours of Wednesday, today it was back to a warm summery feel. A Common Nightingale has taken to calling persistently, and singing occasionally, from the Walnut tree in the garden; in the same tree at 1630hrs was a striking adult male Hawfinch, unusual in the garden at this time of year. At 1930hrs 4 Honey Buzzard drifted over the west of the village in front of El Hacho.