Galera, January to March 2017

Our usual winter visit lasted from the 12th January to the end of March. It was a wet and cold winter at times, though with the usual good spells of warm sunshine too. Unfortunately it had an impact on the Trumpeter Finches which decamped, presumably to lower levels. Still it was a good time, as usual, with one looked-for tick in the shape of Spanish Black-tipped Greenish Butterfly.

Spanish Ibex at the Sierra de Baza

Maria - deserted hamlet. Lesser Kestrel site.

Firecrest

Red Squirrel

Black Redstart

Rock Bunting

Sierra de Huetor

We did manage one short trip, over a couple of days, to Roquetas de Mar and the Cabo de Gata, trying to find the ancient volcano and the Rambla of the Garnets at Nijar. We managed the volcano and found a Bonelli's Eagle as hoped. It was enjoyable and there's plenty more to explore in the future.

Bonelli's Eagle

Fan-tailed Warbler

Salinas and Urbanization Roqueatas

Great-spotted Cuckoo

Hoopoe

Scarce Swallowtail

Swallowtail

Galera