Paul's Blog - All comments and views are my own,

Flags, Rings, and Osprey.... Today dawned a glorious morning of clear blue skies and, I think a north westerly of about f2, with it being my last day to get out and about we took a taxi back to the Nature Reserve at Guadalmar. The highlights today were Black Redstart, with +10 seen on the approach to the reserve entrance, Moustached Warbler again seemingly more plentiful than on my first visit, and a bird often misreported on Lesbos ( they are usually Sedge Warblers in the spring). Butterflies were represented by flying too fast whites!, Painted Lady and Clouded Yellow, there were also grasshoppers and hover flies around. I'll have to identify this when I get home ! A flock of  WOODPIGEON (13), was new as were the following, Dunlin (3), Greenshank (5), BARN SWALLOW (1), WATER PIPIT (1) [ thanks to the chap from Scarborough for the heads up as it called, {sorry if it wasn't Scarborough}] OSPREY (1) [thanks], COMMON SCOTER (2) [I am only 90% confident but

Gibraltar and Apes.... This morning was another cool slightly overcast start but it turned into a day of almost unbroken sunshine when we were in Gibraltar. The view to Morocco some 24kms away was a bit hazy but the mountains were visible if shielded by low cloud. The mountains of Morocco North Africa I had hoped for a few birds, but the best that I could muster were., White Wagtail, Robin, Black Redstart, Yellow Legged Gull and PEREGRINE. A guided tour took in the Upper Rock Nature Reserve, the home of the famous Barbary Macaques. The Alpha male of one of the five troops on the Rock It has been proven by DNA that the Macaques on Gibraltat today originated from the mountains of North Africa and are not a remnant population of the species that did once inhabit southern Europe. Barbary Macaque

Another long walk... After overnight rain, the morning quickly improved to clear skies and sunshine, with the temperature topping 21' with a brisk westerly wind We headed on foot along the sea front towards Benalmedena and the marina. Given how busy with walkers it was there was little in the way of birds but we did pick up... A classic 1st winter Yellow Legged Gull Crag Martin (100+)Black Headed Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull (1000+), Yellow Legged Gull, Mediterranean Gull (2), along with Monk Parakeet, Spotless Starling and possible Rock Dove. Monk Parakeet A few of the L B B Gulls on the beach, the adult 2nd from the is wearing a blue darvic but it looks too worn to read any detail. feral pigeon or 99% Rock Dove? Crag Martin

Paraje Naturale Guadalhorce (Guadalhorce Nature Reserve) Today was overcast to begin with then clear blue skies overhead, with really dark clouds over the mountains to the north and towards Gibraltar. The temperature topped out at 22' with 80% humidity and a gentle breeze.... perfect for a LONG walk (8.5km) After being dropped off in the wrong place by the really friendly taxi driver we eventually ended up where we needed to be. The area is a former gravel workings on an island between two arms of the river Guadalhorce. The birds came thick and fast unfortunately the photographer didn't live up to the challenge. A List of the choicest contains. WHINCHAT, STONECHAT, SARDINIAN WARBLER, MOUSTACHED WARBLER , TREE PIPIT, BLACK REDSTART, SERIN, BOOTED EAGLE (2), HOOPOOE, BLACK NECKED GREBE, WHITE HEADED DUCK , SPOTLESS STARLING, CATTLE EGRET, KESTREL, SNIPE (3), CHIFFCHAFF, REDSHANK, COMMON BUZZARD, MARSH HARRIER, LAPWING GANNET (off the beach), and SANDW

An unexpected trip to Spain..... Bearing in mind this is a "rescue" mission for a relative, who has been hospitalised in Torremolinos, I'm not expecting great things but the first day has been interesting. A walk along the sea front brought the expected Yellow Legged Gulls what was unexpected though were the CRAG MARTINS, they winter in their breeding area in Southern Spain, an unidentified EAGLE sp ( no bins ) could have been any of the big Aquila eagles. An unfamiliar squawk went unidentified but logged in my mind, only to be recognised when the emerald flash of a MONK PARAKEET and many of its fellows flew through the line of palms. Monk Parakeet, a feral bird in parts of the world. Monk Parakeet Other birds included, SPOTLESS STARLING, GREY WAGTAIL, WHITE WAGTAIL, BLACK REDSTART, MALLARD, GANNET, COLLARED DOVE, BLACKBIRD and HOUSE SPARROW another eagle probably, BOOTED EAGLE Tomorrow is set aside for proper birding on a local nature

An unexpected trip to Spain..... Bearing in mind this is a "rescue" mission for a relative who has been hospitalised in Torremolinos I'm not expecting great things but the first day has been interesting. A walk along the sea front brought the expected Yellow Legged Gulls what was unexpected though were the CRAG MARTINS, they winter in their breeding area in Southern Spain, an unidentified EAGLE sp ( no bins ) could have been any of the big Aquila eagles. An unfamiliar squawk went unidentified but logged in my mind, only to be recognised when the emerald flash of a MONK PARAKEET and many of its fellows flew through the line of palms. Monk Parakeet, a feral bird in parts of the world. Monk Parakeet Other birds included, SPOTLESS STARLING, GREY WAGTAIL, WHITE WAGTAIL, BLACK REDSTART, MALLARD, GANNET, COLLARED DOVE, BLACKBIRD and HOUSE SPARROW another eagle probably, BOOTED EAGLE Tomorrow is set aside for proper birding on a local nature r