Tuesday 26 February, Gaucin, partly cloudy, fresh NE wind, 10C: After the 4 Short-toed Eagle in Marchenilla yesterday there was a single bird at 1130hrs over Camino de Avedin in Gaucin today; also a Peregrine at 1500hrs.

Monday 25 February, Gaucin, mostly sunny, light NW wind, 11C: A morning walk from near Marchenilla to Barca Morena produced the first Short-toed Eagle of the year with 4 heading north together, also Griffon Vulture, Common Buzzard, Lesser Kestrel, Raven, 100+ House Martin, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Crested Lark, Zitting Cisticola, Stonechat and Corn Bunting.

A typical Andalucian country scene

Monday's full moon over Sierra Los Reales

Sunday 24 February, Gaucin, mostly sunny, light-fresh NW wind, 11C:  After another 37L/m2 of rain on Friday night there's a lot of water around and many small streams that have been dry for some time are bubbling back to life. A check of the gull flock on Estepona beach yesterday produced no surprises with 80+ Yellow-legged Gull, a dozen or so Black-headed Gull and the same number of Mediterranean Gull; offshore were 20+ Northern Gannet and a handful of Great Cormorant and along the promenade a couple of Chiffchaff sp. and a Black Redstart. A lunchtime walk around the Punta de Umbria today produced Griffon Vulture, 4 Raven, Crested Tit, Nuthatch, Blackcap, Song Thrush and a Firecrest was heard. Butterflies included Spanish Festoon, Large Tortoiseshell, Wall Brown and Small Copper. In the Camino de Avedin area this afternoon there was a Sparrowhawk, the usual pair of Common Buzzard and a distant Blue Rock Thrush on the rocks around the castle.

Thursday 21 February, Gaucin, rain, fresh-strong W-SW wind, 9C: A quick morning walk down Camino de Avedin in the drizzzle produced a Firecrest, Great-spotted Woodpecker, a Serin in full song and a small party of Long-tailed Tit. There was light rain falling virtually all day and late evening the heavens opened with approximately 45L/m2 rain recorded in the 12hrs to 0900hrs Friday (the rain gauge only goes up to 40L/m2!).

Wednesday 20 February, Gaucin, mostly sunny, light NW wind, 13C: A single Black Kite passed northwards along the Genal valley at 1230hrs and there was a Raven low over Calle Convento at 1700hrs.

Tuesday 19 February, Gaucin, rain, light-fresh SE wind, 9C: A cold, wet day spent mostly in the cloud with nothing but a couple of Griffon Vulture to see! A total of 47L/m2 of rain fell in 36hrs and the forecast remains unsettled for the coming week. Still waiting for some Black Kite passage although small numbers have been reported further east along the coast.

Saturday 16 February, Gaucin, mostly sunny, light NW wind, 15C: Janys spotted this interesting plant whilst walking around Punta Umbria the other day and took the photo with her phone....it's Aristolochia baetica also known as Dutchman's Pipe or Pipe Vine and is a member of the small Birthwort family.