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.....

Sunday 27 October 2013, Gaucin, sunny, calm air-light S-SE wind, 22C

A wonderful, warm autumn day. Early afternoon there were 35 House Martin just to the SE of the village and a group of 35 Griffon Vulture over the northern peak of Sierra Crestellina. At least two Chiffchaff sp., in the Walnut tree in the garden.

Friday 25 October 2013, Gaucin, mostly cloudy, occasional light rain pm, calm air-light W-SW wind, 20C

Whilst checking out new walking routes near Castellar I passed through a cattle farm where there were 150+ Griffon Vulture feasting on a couple of dead cows; an amazing spectacle. As the corpses were some distance from the live cattle they may have been left out deliberately as carrion for the vultures.

Other than the vultures, there were 3 Common Buzzard, small flocks of Meadow Pipit, large flocks of mixed finches, several Crested Lark, Woodlark, Stonechat and Sardinian Warbler. There were a lot of Chiffchaff sp. around including one singing Common Chiffchaff.

In nearby Jimena de la Frontera at the same time last year there were still Booted Eagle and Barn Swallow around, but none seen today.

Mandrake Mandragora officinarum

Thursday 24 October 2013, Gaucin, partly cloudy, light S-SW wind, 20C

After a couple of mostly cloudy days with frequent, occasionally heavy, rain showers, today was an improvement. 18L/m2 of rain fell between 1000hrs Tuesday and 1000hrs Wednesday.
At 1000hrs this morning I took a short walk along the Sierra Espartina during which the sun came out and it felt quite warm again. There were few birds to be seen but I did log Griffon Vulture, Great-spotted Woodpecker, Woodlark, Crested Tit, Robin, Sardinian Warbler and Common Crossbill.

Yesterday morning there was a Green Woodpecker along the Camino Gaucin-Cortes just past Muebles Las Palas and there were a fair few Chiffchaff sp. calling from the cork oaks.

Monday 21 October 2013, Gaucin, partly cloudy, calm air-light SE wind, 24C

Heard several Chiffchaff sp. whilst walking around La Umbria this morning, including one Common Chiffchaff singing. Blackcap and Robin numbers are building up and the Calle Convento House Sparrow flock is up to an impressive 45+ which is probably why there was a Eurasian Sparrowhawk right up amongst the houses yesterday evening!