The expected Autumn migration has not really happened yet. I have not seen many birds passing through, a few raptors perhaps, but no real influx of small birds on their way south, and very few waders on the estuaries and lakes in this area.
There is always something interesting to photograph in nature though and this squirrel provided a welcome diversion on a visit to the Embalse de los Bermejales near Alhama de Granada. Bob Wright, Elena and I were looking for woodland birds around the edges of the lake when I spotted this chap, looking very pleased with himself and seemingly wanting to show off his walnut, as he followed me with it in full view for some time. I duly admired his nut and here it is for all to see. Well done squirrel.
There is always something interesting to photograph in nature though and this squirrel provided a welcome diversion on a visit to the Embalse de los Bermejales near Alhama de Granada. Bob Wright, Elena and I were looking for woodland birds around the edges of the lake when I spotted this chap, looking very pleased with himself and seemingly wanting to show off his walnut, as he followed me with it in full view for some time. I duly admired his nut and here it is for all to see. Well done squirrel.
Sqirrel with prize walnut
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Can a bird be obese? if so this Wood Pigeon is a prime example. The fat ba_ _ rd was squatting in a pine tree like a portly statue of Buddha. They are able to fill their crops with huge amounts of food which is consumed later. This is why they are such a pest to farmers as they can quickly devastate a grain crop.
Pied Flycatcher - ficedula hypoleuca
Short-toed Treecreeper - certhia brachydactyla We did spot a variety of woodland species including Coal, Long-tailed, Blue and Great Tit, Spotted and Pied Flycatcher, Chaffinch, Crossbill and best of all Short-toed Treecreeper.
On the way back we stopped off at a small embalse near Alhama de Granada where I was pleased to pick up two new species of butterfly, which I later identified as Mallow Skipper and a tatty but intact Carline Skipper. Not great shots but lifers nonetheless.
Later It was encouraging to see so many Lesser Kestrels over the fields bordering the road towards Zafarraya.
And finally I was delighted to get my very first shot of a Cirl Bunting, one of a group of three that Bob spotted on the mountain road through the Natural Park down to Alcaucin
On the way back we stopped off at a small embalse near Alhama de Granada where I was pleased to pick up two new species of butterfly, which I later identified as Mallow Skipper and a tatty but intact Carline Skipper. Not great shots but lifers nonetheless.
Later It was encouraging to see so many Lesser Kestrels over the fields bordering the road towards Zafarraya.
And finally I was delighted to get my very first shot of a Cirl Bunting, one of a group of three that Bob spotted on the mountain road through the Natural Park down to Alcaucin
 Mallow Skipper - carcharodus alcaea |  Carline Skipper - pyrgus carlinae |
Cirl Bunting - emberiza cirlus
Lesser kestrel - falco naumanni Other sightings prior to today had been few and generally uninspiring, an Osprey quartering the Guadalhorce was perhaps the highlight, a White-headed Duck swimming around with one leg in the air was curious? and a Purple Swamphen at the Charca de Suarez was nice.
 Purple Swamphen - porphyrio porphyrio  Cormorant - phalacrocorax carbo Some of the more common species are still worth a photo. Turtle Doves and Stilts are always photogenic. |  Osprey at Guadalhorce - pandion haliaetus  White-headed Duck showing a leg - oxyura leucocephala  Turtle Dove - streptopelia turtur |
Black-winged Stilts - himantopus himantopus
