Southern Spain: April / May 1998

Andy Musgrove

Introduction

A week's holiday staying at my parents' apartment at Nerja, a little way east of Malaga. Not particularly serious birding but a good selection found, with three new species for me (Thekla Lark, Rock Sparrow and Red-necked Nightjar). Additionally, a good selection of butterflies identified. The best localities were at El Chorro, a deep gorge a few hours inland, and the Montes de Malaga which, as the name suggests, is an area of forested hills just on the outskirts of Malaga but was virtually devoid of people. The latter site apparently had Azure-winged Magpies but we had no sight and only the odd interesting distant call.

Systematic List

Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus

One at the reservoir above El Chorro on 28/4.

Cory's Shearwater Calonectris diomedea

Commonly seen off Nerja, often quite close inshore, with a maximum of 12 on 27/4.

Gannet Sula bassana

Two offshore at Nerja on 27//4 and 11 flew west near Rincon on 1/5.

Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis

One by the road near Motril on 30/4.

Little Egret Egretta garzetta

One at the Rio Velez on 2/5.

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea

Two in trees in Nerja at dawn on 27/4, possibly migrants?

Mallard Anas platyrhnychos

Three at El Chorro on 28/4.

Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus

Only noted at El Chorro where at least four present on 28/4.

Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus

Excellent views of at least three displaying together over Frigilliana on 26/4 and one over the adjacent valley at Fuente de Esparto on 29/4.

Goshawk Accipiter gentilis

Two males were displaying over hillsides above Frigilliana on 26/4.

Sparrowhawk A. nisus

One at El Chorro on 28/4.

Buzzard Buteo buteo

One at Montes de Malaga on 1/5.

Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus

One light-phase over Nerja caves on 27/4, one dark phase a little way down the valley when approaching El Chorro on 28/4 and superb views of four light-phase birds displaying over the Montes de Malaga on 1/5.

Bonelli's Eagle H. fasciatus

Superb views of a pair around El Chorro, frequently dueling with the Griffons.

Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni

A flock of five hunting together by the roadside between Malaga and Nerja were presumably of this species. Most kestrels went unidentified however.

Common Kestrel F. tinnunculus

Kestrels identified as this species were noted at Frigilliana, El Chorro, Fuente de Esparto and Embalse de Beznar, although most kestrels went unidentified.

Hobby F. subbuteo

One flew over Nerja on 30/4.

Peregrine F. peregrinus

One at El Chorro on 28/4.

Red-legged Partridge Alectoris chukar

One calling in the Fuente de Esparto on 25/4 and one calling from the slopes above Frigilliana on 26/4.

Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus

A male seen on the beach at Motril on 30/4 and two seen near Rincon on 1/5.

Sanderling Calidris alba

A flock of 15 on the beach near Rincon on 1/5.

Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos

Singles at Nerja on 29/4 and Motril on 30/4.

Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus

Two first-years on the beach near Motril on 1/5.

Yellow-legged Gull Larus (cachinnans) michaellis

Common and recorded daily.

Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla

One juvenile off Motril on 30/4.

Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis

Three flew west past Nerja on 29/4 and four at Motril on 30/4.

Little Tern S. albifrons

Two at Motril on 30/4.

Feral Pigeon Columba livia

Common and recorded daily.

Woodpigeon C. palumbus

One heard above El Chorro on 28/4 and also recorded at Montes de Malaga on 1/5.

Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto

Common and recorded daily.

Turtle Dove S. turtur

Singles recorded most days but no flocks of migrants.

Cuckoo Cuculus canorus

One heard at Montes de Malaga on 1/5.

Barn Owl Tyto alba

One flew over the apartment in Nerja on 30/4, seen in the streetlights.

Scops Owl Otus scops

One calling after dark by the Embalse above El Chorro on 28/4.

Eagle Owl Bubo bubo

One hooted about six times after dark by the Embalse above El Chorro on 28/4.

Little Owl Athene noctua

Two calling after dark by the Embalse above El Chorro on 28/4 and one seen at Nerja on 30/4.

Red-necked Nightjar Caprimulgus ruficollis

A nightjar seen in flight at dusk on 28/4 at a known stake-out for this species near the reservoir up the valley from El Chorro was assumed to be this species although no calling was heard.

Common Swift Apus apus

Common although often not easily separable from Pallid Swifts. Huge movements were noted. On the evening of 26/4, a count of c70 per minute coming in off the sea over a 200 metre stretch and thousands over Nerja town. Larger numbers noted on the morning of 30/4 when about 30,000 passed in a continuous stream over Nerja between 0740 and 0900, peaking at about 1,000 per minute; 500+ over Motril that afternoon indicated that birds were passing on quite a wide front. Only about 30 per minute were passing however on the morning of 1/5.

Pallid Swift A. pallidus

Although never all that easy to separate from Common Swifts, these were fairly common and widespread, particularly over Frigilliana where a dead one was found below a nest on a wall which still had a bird sitting in it.

Alpine Swift A. melba

Singles seen widely with at least 10 at El Chorro on 28/4.

Bee-eater Merops apiaster

Noted almost daily. Small numbers seen perched in various places around the Nerja area but at least 20 passed over Frigilliana on 26/4, 10 over Nerja on 29/4, at least 50 flew over Nerja on the morning of 30/4 (with the large Swift passage) and 12 were over the Embalse de Beznar later that day.

Hoopoe Upupa epops

Not particularly abundant but regularly seen with at least four between Nerja and the caves on 27/4.

Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendropicos major

One at the Montes de Malaga on 1/5.

Crested Lark Galerida cristata

Common (but not abundant) in coastal areas but not in the hills.

Thekla Lark G. theklae

Good views of this species, often of singing birds, higher up in the hills than Crested Larks were noted. At least four above Frigilliana on 26/4, three by the Embalse above El Chorro on 28/4 and one in the hills above Motril and another at the Embalse de Beznar on 30/4.

Wood Lark Lullula arborea

One heard singing near El Chorro on 28/4.

Crag Martin Hirundo rupestris

c20 were present in the valley above Frigilliana on 26/4, c50 at El Chorro on 28/4, one at Fuente de Esparto on 29/4 and singles at Nerja and near Motril on 30/4.

Swallow H. rustica

Common and noted daily.

Red-rumped Swallow H. daurica

Small numbers were seen widely. Around Nerja, two on 25/4, one on 26/4, two on 27/4 and one 30/4. Also five by roadside approaching El Chorro on 28/4, one near Motril on 30/4 and one at Embalse de Beznar on 30/4.

House Martin Delichon urbica

Common and noted daily.

Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava

One in a field at Nerja on 30/4 was of the British race flavissima.

Grey Wagtail M. cinerea

Two at Frigilliana on 26/4, one at Nerja on 27/4, one at El Chorro on 28/4 and one near Motril on 30/4.

White Wagtail M. alba

Small numbers noted widely.

Wren Troglodytes troglodytes

Noted at Nerja on 25/4 and 30/4 and at Montes de Malaga on 1/5.

Robin Erithacus rubecula

Noted only at Montes de Malaga on 1/5.

Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos

One singing at Nerja on 27/4, two at Alora and several at El Chorro on 28/4, one at Motril on 30/4 and one at Montes de Malaga on 1/5.

Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros

Two males at El Chorro on 28/4.

Whinchat Saxicola rubetra

One in the hills above Frigilliana on 26/4.

Stonechat S. torquata

One male at Montes de Malaga on 1/5.

Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe

One male at the Embalse above El Chorro on 28/4.

Black Wheatear O. leucura

A pair in the valley at El Chorro on 28/4.

Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius

Noted in small numbers regularly around Nerja and Frigilliana.

Blackbird Turdus merula

Common and noted daily.

Mistle Thrush T. viscivorus

Two noted at Montes de Malaga on 1/5.

Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti

Singles at Nerja on 25/4 and 27/4 (seen also) and at Alora on 28/4.

Fan-tailed Warbler Cisticola juncidis

Up to four were noted most days.

Melodious Warbler Hippolais polyglotta

Singles at El Chorro on 28/4, near Nerja on 30/4 and at Montes de Malaga (in the valley bottom) on 1/5.

Dartford Warbler Sylvia undata

Two seen above Frigilliana on 26/4, one by the Embalse above El Chorro on 28/4, Fuente de Esparto on 29/4 and Montes de Malaga on 1/5.

Subalpine Warbler S. cantillans

Several noted at the Montes de Malaga on 1/5.

Sardinian Warbler S. melanocephala

Common and noted daily.

Blackcap S. atricapilla

A male at Nerja on 30/4 and noted at Montes de Malaga on 1/5.

Western Bonelli's Warbler Phylloscopus bonelli

Singles at Fuente de Esparto on 29/4 and Montes de Malaga on 1/5.

Common Chiffchaff P. collybita

One singing, calling and seen at Montes de Malaga on 1/5 did not appear to show any reason to be an Iberian Chiffchaff. The date seems a little late for a migrant also.

Willow Warbler P. trochilus

Singles in Nerja daily from 27/4 to 30/4.

Firecrest Regulus ignicapillus

One at Montes de Malaga on 1/5.

Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata

One at Nerja on 30/4.

Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca

A pair at the Montes de Malaga on 1/5.

Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus

One at Frigilliana on 26/4.

Crested Tit Parus cristatus

Noted at Fuente de Esparto on 25/4 & 29/4, Frigilliana on 26/4 and Montes de Malaga on 1/5.

Coal Tit P. ater

Noted at the Montes de Malaga on 1/5.

Blue Tit P. caeruleus

Noted at El Chorro on 28/4 and Montes de Malaga on 1/5.

Great Tit P. major

Common and recorded daily.

Nuthatch Sitta europaea

Noted at the Montes de Malaga on 1/5.

Short-toed Treecreeper Certhia brachydactyla

At least two at the Montes de Malaga on 1/5.

Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus

A male singing and then seen in flight by the aqueduct east of Nerja on 30/4.

Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator

Noted at Nerja on 25/4 (one), 27/4 (three) and 30/4 (one) and five were counted by roadsides between Nerja and El Chorro on 28/4.

Jay Garrulus glandarius

One at El Chorro on 28/4 and also noted at the Montes de Malaga on 1/5.

Red-billed Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax

c10 around El Chorro on 28/4.

Carrion Crow Corvus corone

One by the Rio Velez on 2/5.

Spotless Starling Sturnus unicolor

Common and recorded daily.

House Sparrow Passer domesticus

Common and recorded daily.

Rock Sparrow Petronia petronia

At El Chorro on 28/4, a pair seen near the entrance to the gorge and then another pair plus a flock of about 10 seen within the gorge.

Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs

Not abundant most seen most days.

Serin Serinus serinus

Common and recorded daily.

Greenfinch Carduelis chloris

Common and recorded daily.

Goldfinch C. carduelis

Common and recorded daily.

Linnet C. cannabina

Noted at El Chorro on 28/4 and Fuente de Esparto on 29/4.

Crossbill Loxia curvirostra

One flew over near Frigilliana on 26/4, two at Fuente de Esparto on 29/4, one over Nerja on 30/4 and several at Montes de Malaga on 1/5.

Rock Bunting Emberiza cia

One at El Chorro on 28/4 and one at Montes de Malaga on 1/5.

Ortolan Bunting E. hortulana

One near the Embalse above El Chorro on 28/4.

Non-avian sightings:

Various dragonflies were seen but unidentified. Despite setting the moth trap at the apartment, very little caught and of those, only two species, Painted Lady and the micro Ethmia bipunctella, were identified. Additionally, a Crimson Speckled was found during the day in Nerja.

Butterfly sightings were pleasing with a number of new species. Swallowtails were common and two south-western specialities were Moroccan Orange-tip and Sooty Orange-tip. Bath White was a new species, with Large and Small Whites recorded plus Clouded Yellows and a Cleopatra. Lang's Short-tailed Blue was fairly common and other new blues were Long-tailed Blue, Black-eyed Blue and the very restricted Lorquin's Blue. Small Copper, Brown Argus and Common Blue were also recorded. In addition to just one more Painted Lady than the moth-trapped one, Red Admiral was the only vanessid seen. Spanish Gatekeeper was common in some areas as were Wall Brown and Speckled Wood. Three other species, Grayling, Meadow Brown and Small Skipper were also recorded but well in advance of their supposed flight dates, but, with the exception of the skipper perhaps being Lulworth, could not have been anything else.

Various frogs, lizards and bats were recorded and a small snake was seen on a path at Montes de Malaga. The highlight, however, was a family party of Wild Boars (a male, two females and at least four young) at Montes de Malaga.