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Zahara de los Atunes

Costa de la Luz

Andalucía · Spain

3-16 April 2024

Observers: F. Simpson

Introduction

This was another trip to Zahara de los Atunes, situated on the Costa de la Luz in the Strait of Gibraltar in Cádiz provence, Andalucía for the annual university field course trip on ecological genetics. Much of the time was spent around Zahara de los Atunes, Barbate and the Valle de Ojén in the Parque Natural de Los Alcornocales. Some time was possible for birding and looking for orthopterans but in general the following notes document the observations at the various student study sites. This year we travelled all the way and back on trains via Paris, Barcelona, Madrid and Malaga.

Previous Trip Reports:  2023 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2003

Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus), Playa de Zahara

Highlights

Great Egret, Spoonbill, Northern Bald Ibis, Glossy Ibis, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Squacco Heron, Greater Flamingo, Griffon Vulture, Short-toed Eagle, Booted Eagle, Montagu's Harrier, Lesser Kestrel, Collared Pratincole, Slender-billed Gull, Audouin's Gull, Caspian Tern, Whiskered Tern, Little Swift, Turtle Dove, Hoopoe, Bee-eater, Greater Short-toed Lark, Calandra Lark, Tawny Pipit, Red-rumped Swallow, Crag Martin, Iberian Green Woodpecker, Azure-winged Magpie, Iberian Chiffchaff, Western Bonelli's Warbler, Western Subalpine Warber, Smooth Striped Bush-cricket, European Field Cricket, Mediterranean Field Cricket, Spade-cricket sp., Vineyard Mole-cricket, Iberian Wingless Groundhopper, Earthling Stone Grasshopper, Egyptian Grasshopper, Brown-headed Grasshopper/Garden Locust, Common Digging Grasshopper, Slender Digging Grasshopper, Shady Grasshopper, Broad Green-winged Grasshopper, Puissant's Green-winged Grasshopper, Migratory Locust, Desert Sand Grasshopper, White Banded Grasshopper/Lamenting Grasshopper, Common Maquis Grasshopper, Orange-butted Grasshopper

Itinerary

Day 01       03/04/24     Purfleet-on-Thames > London

Day 02       04/04/24     London > Paris > Barcelona
Day 03       05/04/24     Barcelona > Madrid > Malgaga > Tarifa > Zahara de los Atunes
Day 04       06/04/24     Zahara de los Atunes > Atlanterra
Day 05       07/04/24     Zahara de los Atunes > Atlanterra > Barbate
Day 06       08/04/24     Zahara de los Atunes > La Zarzuela > El Almarchal
Day 07       09/04/24     Zahara de los Atunee > Atalanterra > Parque Natural de los Alcornocales > Duna de Bolonia
Day 08       10/04/24     Zahara de los Atunes > Atlanterra
Day 09       11/04/24     Zahara de los Atunes > Parque Natural de los Alcornocales
Day 10       12/04/24     Zahara de los Atunes > Breña de Barbate > Marismas del Barbate
Day 11       13/04/24     Zahara de los Atunes > Marismas del Barbate

Day 12       14/04/24     Zahara de los Atunes > Marismas del Barbate

Day 13       15/04/24     Zahara de los Atunes > Tarifa > Malaga > Madrid > Barcelona

Day 14       16/04/24     Barcelona > Paris > London > Purfleet-on-Thames

Map of main locations visited 2003-2024

 1. Zahara de los Atunes & Río del Cachón (Zahara estuary)

 2. Playa de Zahara (Theba and beetle study site)

 3. Atlantera, Faro de Camarinal & Cabo de Gracia  (Cistus and beetle study site)

 4. La Zarzuela & El Almarchal (Polistes & Theba and beetle study site)

 5. Bolonia

 6. Cueva del Moro

 7. Embalse de Almodóvar, Parque Natural de los Alcornocales

 8. Arroyo del Tiradero, Valle de Ojén, Parque Natural de los Alcornocales (Aquarius & Asphodelus study site)

 9. Sendero Canuto de Risco Blanco, Parque Natural de los Alcornocales (Lavandula study site)

10. El Cañillo, Marismas del Barbate

11. Marismas del Barbate

12. Río Barbate (river mouth) & Playa del Cañillo

13. West side of the Río Barbate, Marismas del Barbate

14. La Breña de Barbate (Lavandula study site)

15. Sendero Marismas del Barbate (from Km 2.4 on N-314, SE of Vejer de la Frontera)

16. La Barca de Vejer

17. Casa la Palmera, Conil (Polistes study site)

18. La Janda - entrance opposite Venta de Retín to Canal Colector del Este (Río Almodóvar)

19. Itinerario Ecuestre IE-027.2 (marsh at start of horse track)

20. Oxbow, near Benalup

21. La Janda - entrance at Km-47 on the N-340

22. Sendero Colada de la Costa, Tarifa

Day 1                                                                                                                              
Wednesday 3 April 2024
Purfleet-on-Thames, Essex, England > Bloomsbury, London, England

Highlights
Cetti's Warbler, Little Egret, Marsh Harrier, Shelduck.

Purfleet-on-Thames, Essex > Bloomsbury, London
Had to sleep in the office at work in order to make the 5am check-in for Thursday's Eurostar to Paris. The first of several trains over the next few days, I took my local train into London, passing the hotspot of Rainham Marshes. Species noted from the train/platform: Blackbird, Cetti's Warbler, Carrion Crow, Coot, Little Egret, Marsh Harrier, Black-headed Gull, Shelduck, Magpie, Wood Pigeon, Herring Gull & Feral Pigeon. Collected a few last minute supplies (including an inflatable mattress and pump for tonight's sleep), noting singing Robin and Great Tit in Ridgmount Gardens.

Day 2                                                                                                                              
Thursday 4 April 2024
London St. Pancras International > Paris Gare du Nord, France > Barcelona Sants, Spain

Highlights
Black Kite, Montagu's Harrier, Greater Flamingo, Great Egret, Spoonbill, Cattle Egret, Black-winged Stilt.

Bloomsbury, London > London St. Pancras International
Left work at 04:35 and walked to St. Pancras along Euston Road in the dark. Enlivened with some pre-dawn bird song from singing Wren, Blackbird and Robin.

London St. Pancras International > Paris Gare du Nord, France
06:01 > 09:33 Train departed on time, soon passing Rainham Marshes (again), this time in the dark. Started to get light once over the channel but the thick cloud and rain in northern France meant few birds were seen: just a few Rooks over monotonous arable fields and a Collared Dove displaying over a Paris suburb.

Jardin des Plantes,Paris, France
Took the D line RER train to Gare de Lyon and had a coffee and pastry while waiting for the rain to ease. Crossed over the Seine on the Pont d'Austerlitz to the botanical gardens of Jardin des Plantes. A walk along the central footpaths produced a surge of bird song once the rain stopped and the sun came out with Blackcap (3), Dunnock (2), Great Tit (2), Blue Tit (2), Chaffinch, Robin and Blackbird. Also noted Long-tailed Tit (4), Ring-necked Parakeet (6+), Moorhen (2), Mallard (pr), Starling (4) and Carrion Crow (40+).

Jardin des Plantes, Paris, France

Paris Gare de Lyon, France > Barcelona Sants, Spain
14:41 > 21:27 On to the second and main train of the day (7 hours), the highlight was the area between Montpellier and Perpignan on the Mediterranean coast with hundreds of Greater Flamingos in the many lagoons (sit on the left hand side for the best views). Four raptor species were observed with Black Kite, Kestrel, Common Buzzard and Montagu's Harrier. The high-speed TGV was actually quiet slow along the coast which helped see the majority of birds with Great Egret, Yellow-legged Gull, Sandwich Tern, Spoonbill, Avocet, Cattle Egret and Black-winged Stilt. The early start and poor sleep meant I was dozing on the warm train from time-to-time but also added Red-legged Partridge, Mute Swan, Stock Dove, Little Egret, Carrion Crow, Magpie and Jackdaw to the interrail trip list.

TGV train: Paris to Barcelona

Day 3                                                                                                                              
Friday 5 April 2024
Barcelona > Madrid > Malaga > Algeciras > Tarifa > Zahara de los Atunes

Highlights
Crested Lark, Spotless Starling, Turtle Dove, White Stork, Woodchat Shrike, Griffon Vulture, Hoopoe, Black Kite, Azure-winged Magpie, Short-toed Eagle, Red-rumped Swallow, Booted Eagle, Calandra Lark.

Train: Barcelona Sants > Madrid Puerta de Atocha
Quick walk around at dawn with many Greenfinches and House Sparrows singing around the Parc de L'Espanya Industrial.

8:25 > 11:55 Best species noted from the train to Madrid: Crested Lark, Marsh Harrier, Turtle Dove, White Stork, Raven and Woodchat Shrike.

Train: Madrid Puerta de Atocha > Malaga Maria Zambrano
11:35 > 14:23 The Madrid to Malaga highlights included Griffon Vulture, Hoopoe, Black Kite, Marsh Harrier, and Azure-winged Magpie.

Drive from Malaga to Zahara, via Tarifa
This year we collected the cars from Malaga railway station rather than the airport. Highlights from the drive (mainly from the slower section between Tarifa and Zahara) included Griffon Vulture, Short-toed Eagle, Crested Lark, Black Kite, Red-rumped Swallow, Booted Eagle and Calandra Lark.

View south over the Strait of Gibraltar to Jebel Musa, Morocco from Mirador del Estrecho, Spain

Zahara de los Atunes  36° 08' 07.8'' N  05° 50' 48.0'' W
Arriving over the Río del Cachón at Zahara saw three Spoonbills in the small estuary and a Crag Martin over the bridge. The limited parking around Hotel Gran Sol meant I had to park around half a mile way. Walked backed via the beach/dune boardwalk. Mediterranean Field Crickets (Gryllus bimaculatus) were singing from edge of the low dune, adjacent to the edge of the town. Still singing at 22:40 around Hotel Gran Sol.

Hotel Gran Sol, Zahara de los Atunes, Spain

Day 4                                                                                                                              
Saturday 6 April 2024
Zahara de los Atunes > Atlanterra > Facinas > Valle de Ojén, Parque Natural de los Alcornocales
Cloudy, later hazy sunshine, wind 6 mph E, max 24°C. Cooler and cloudy in the hills later.

Highlights
Pallid Swift, Woodchat Shrike, Sardinian Warbler, Nightingale, Monarch, Glossy Ibis, Garden Locust, Common Digging Grasshopper, Vagrant Emperor, Spanish Festoon, Spiny-footed Lizard, Zitting Cisticola, Thekla Lark, Earthling Stone Grasshopper, Puissant's Green-winged Grasshopper, European Field Cricket, Western Bonelli's Warbler, Iberian Mantis, Smooth-striped Bush-cricket, Bee-eater, Spanish Dung Beetle, Hawfinch.

Hotel Gran Sol, Zahara de los Atunes
Woke up to Spotless Starling, Barn Swallow, House Sparrow and Collared Dove singing. Had our introductory talk on the roof of the hotel with Pallid Swift, Spotless Starling, House Martin, Goldfinch, Blackbird, House Sparrow and Collared Dove on, or over the surrounding rooftops.

Hotel Gran Sol & Sierra de Retín, Zahara de los Atunes, April 2023

Hotel Gran Sol & Sierra de Retín, Zahara de los Atunes, April 2023

Map of Zahara de los Atunes & Río del Cachón area - where to find birds in April

Map of Zahara de los Atunes & Río del Cachón

1. Río del Cachón - river mouth: a few waders/terns/egrets inc Caspian Tern

2. Sierra de Retín: end of the ridge good for raptors inc Griffon Vulture; Little Owls in outcrop above the road; Northern Bald Ibis occasionally pass.

3. Río del Cachón - upriver of bridge: tidal mud and saltmarsh holds small numbers of waders/egrets/wagtails, inc Black-winged Stilt and occasional Spoonbill.

4. Castillo de las Almadrabas: Spotless Starling, Pallid Swift with regular Crag Martin and Red-rumped Swallow; occasional Blue Rock Thrush and Black Redstart on castle wall; roof of Gran Sol Hotel good for observing diurnal passage of many species - occasional Little Swift.

5. Playa de Zahara: low dunes good for arriving passerines inc Woodchat Shrike, Nightingale, Subalpine Warbler, Hoopoe, wheatears; breeding Kentish Plover and migrant Sanderling; offshore movements of gulls (inc Audouin's), terns (inc Gull-billed), Balearic & Cory's Shearwater, Gannet, skua, auks & waders. Exhausted raptors in strong easterly winds.

6. Río del Cachón -  bridge NE of town: marsh and grazing good for raptors, egrets and other migrants.

Boardwalk (Pasarelas de Madera): Castillo de las Almadrabas > Playa del Carmen, Zahara de los Atunes
Walked the half mile south-east along the beach via the boardwalk. The low dunes held a Woodchat Shrike, singing Sardinian Warblers and Crested Larks, along with two Cattle Egret, Stonechat, Blackbird and Barn Swallow.

Playa de Atlanterra, Zahara de los Atunes (1st beetle study site)
Masses of wildflowers following substantial winter and early spring rain. Noted Cattle Egret, Sardinian Warbler, Barn Swallow, Goldfinch and Collared Dove.

Tenebrionidae (Darkling) Beetles on the beach: Tentyria sp., Erodius sp., Pimelia sp., Pimelia sp., Zahara de los Atunes-Atlanterra, April 2024

Scarites sp., Atlanterra, April 2024

Iberian Hoplia (Hoplia chlorophana) (scarab beetle), Zahara de los Atunes, April 2024

Playa de Cabo de Plata (Playa de los Alemanes), Atlanterra (2nd beetle study site)
The walk down the steps past the well-vegetated gardens of the villas to the beach heard singing Serin, Nightingale, Blackcap, Sardinian Warbler and Greenfinch, and the first Monarch (Danaus plexippus) butterfly of the trip. Not much visible diurnal migration was evident in the light easterly wind though a flock of nine Glossy Ibis arrived in off the sea. Offshore were six Gannet and several Yellow-legged Gulls. Orthoptera found included Common Digging Grasshopper (Acrotylus insubricus), Lamenting Grasshopper/White-banded Grasshopper (Eyprepocnemis plorans), Puissant's Green-winged Grasshopper (Aiolopus puissanti), Broad Green-winged Grasshopper (Aiolopus strepens), and Garden Locust/Brown-headed Grasshopper (Acanthacris ruficornis citrina). The stream at south-eastern end of the beach held several Iberian Water Frogs (Pelophylax perezi).

Common Digging Grasshopper habitat, Atlanterra, April 2024

Faro de Camarinal, Cabo de Gracia, Atlanterra (Cistus study site around lighthouse) 36° 05' 24.5'' N  5° 48' 37.1'' W
Sardinian Warblers were everywhere in the walk through the garrigue to the lighthouse with four calling and three singing. Iberian Water Frogs were croaking from the stream at the start of the path. Usually we encounter Bee-eater migration at this site in early April with birds arriving along the coast or in off the sea. Nothing heard or seen today. Several Turkish Geckos (Hemidactylus turcicus) and a Spiny-footed Lizard (Acanthodactylus erythrurus) found. A Vagrant Emperor (Anax ephippiger) dragonfly was buzzing around the lighthouse and Swallowtail (Papilio machaon) and Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina) were active later as the haze started to clear.

Turkish Gecko (Hemidactylus turcicus), Atlanterra, April 2024

Playa de El Cañuelo, April 2024

Drive to Valle de Ojén, via Tahivilla, Facinas, and Emblase de Almodovar
Stopped at La Suerte de Choní petrol station on Calle María Luisa on the east side of Zahara for quick refreshments: Crested Lark singing, four Cattle Egrets and two Pallid Swift over. On the drive towards the hills of Los Alcornocales, a group of Griffon Vulture (8) were east of La Zarzuela and a Thekla Lark was singing at the reservoir (Embalse de Almodovar).

Arroyo del Tiradero, Valle de Ojén, Parque Natural de los Alcornocales
(Aquarius study site)  36° 08' 55.5" N  05° 34' 56.9" W
Arrived late afternoon. Conditions were dull with low visibilty in the distance, though warm at 21°C. Found the first of many Earthling Stone Grasshoppers (Euryparyphesterrulentus) within metres of stepping out the car. Many European Field Crickets (Gryllus campestris).

Valle de Ojén, Parque Natural de los Alcornocales, April 2024

Earthling Stone Grasshopper (Euryparyphes terrulentus) - fairly common in grassland along the Arroyo del Tiradero, April 2024

Earthling Stone Grasshopper (Euryparyphes terrulentus) - green form - fairly common in grassland along the Arroyo del Tiradero, April 2024

Earthling Stone Grasshopper (Euryparyphes terrulentus) - green form - fairly common in grassland along the Arroyo del Tiradero, April 2024

Earthling Stone Grasshopper (Euryparyphes terrulentus) - green form - fairly common in grassland along the Arroyo del Tiradero, April 2024

Cork Oaks (Quercus suber), Valle de Ojén, Parque Natural de los Alcornocales, April 2024

female Smooth Striped Bush-cricket (Odontura glabricauda), common in grassland along the Arroyo del Tiradero, April 2024

Iberian Mantis (Apteromantis aptera), Arroyo del Tiradero, Parque Natural de los Alcornocales, April 2024

Spanish Dung Beetle (Copris hispanus), Arroyo del Tiradero, Parque Natural de los Alcornocales, April 2024

Day 5                                                                                                                              
Sunday 7 April 2024
Zahara de los Atunes > Atlanterra > La Breña de Barbate >
Blue sky, wind 20 mph E, min 13°C, max 22°C

Highlights
Vaucher's Wall Lizard, Blue Rock Thrush, Northern Bald Ibis, Iberian Green Woodpecker, Swallowtail, Common Maquis Grasshopper, Shady Grasshopper, Three-leaved Snowflake.

Playa de Cabo de Plata (Playa de los Alemanes), Atlanterra (2nd beetle study site)
Bee-eater migration was evident on arrival at 10:00 with small groups totalling 64 over the next hour. A vibrant green Vaucher's Wall Lizard (Podarcis vaucheri) was seen on the steps down the hillside to the beach. A very fresh looking Monarch (Danaus plexippus) was flying around the small stream with the singing Iberian Water Frogs. Wall and Clouded Yellow were noted. Beetle activity in low dunes was high with Tentyria, Erodius, Pimelia and Scarities moving everywhere (including a paint-marked individual from 2023) and in the flowers, several light green scarab beetles, Hoplia chlorophana, were feeding on pollen grains. Birds heard singing included Sardinian Warbler, Nightingale, Crested Lark, Blackbird and Greenfinch. A dark-looking Lamenting Grasshopper (Eyeprepocnemis plorans) was photographed.

Lamenting Grasshopper (Eyprepocnemis plorans), Atlanterra, April 2024

Faro de Camarinal, Cabo de Gracia, Atlanterra (Cistus study site around lighthouse) 36° 05' 24.5'' N  5° 48' 37.1'' W
Walked part of the track up towards the Sierra de la Plata looking for orthoptera. Earthling Stone Grasshoppers and Common Digging Grasshoppers were reasonably common. Courtship from the latter was observerd, with males slowly raising their rear legs up and and down, as well as their red wings in flight. An unidentified brown bush-cricket nymph was observed feeding on Cistus pollen. Spanish Festoon, Clouded Yellow, Large White and Red Admiral (nectaring on Cistus) were active along with many robber flies. Greenfinches were singing from the small pines. Back at the lighthouse, a walk down the wooden staircase produced a singing Blue Rock Thrush from the rocky slope and several Sardinan Warblers, and a single Barn Swallow arrived in off the sea. A Gannet and c30 Yellow-legged Gulls flew east.

Earthling Stone Grasshopper (Euryparyphes terrulentus), Atlanterra, April 2024

Orobanche densiflora with Lotis creticus, Medicago marina and Linaria pedunculata, Atlanterra, Andalucía, Spain, April 2024

Drive to La Breña de Barbate
A couple of Northern Bald Ibis and Monarch butterflies were the highlights along with Cattle Egret, Stonechat, Collared Dove, Crested Lark, Yellow-legged Gull, Barn Swallow and Pallid Swift.

La Breña de Barbate: Sendero Torre de Tajo 36° 10' 43.6'' N  05° 58' 24.1'' W
Umbrella Pine (Pinus pinea) forest which has now being selectively thinned in some areas, improving plant diversity. Has our picnic lunch of bread, sheep cheese, jamon, red peppers and advocado in the shade of the woodland. An Iberian Green Woodpecker was laughing in the distance and Serin and Sardinian Warblers were singing from the canopy of the pines. An adult male Smooth-striped Bush-cricket (Odontura glabricauda) and several Common Maquis Grasshoppers (Pezotettix giornae) were found. Walked to the cliff-edge, noting Swallowtails (Papilio machaon) and Small Coppers (Lycaena phlaeas) as well as more Clouded Yellows and Large Whites. Photographed some of the rich ground flora including Three-leaved Snowflake (Acis trichophylla) and Greater Honeywort (Cerinthe major).

Stone Pine/Umbrella Pine (Pinus pinea) with Dwarf Fan Palm (Chamaerops humilis), La Breña de Barbate, Andalucía, Spain, April 2024

male Smooth Striped Bush-cricket (Odontura glabricauda), La Breña de Barbate, Cádiz, Andalucía, Spain, Apr 2024

male Smooth Striped Bush-cricket (Odontura glabricauda), La Breña de Barbate, Cádiz, Andalucía, Spain, Apr 2024

Boardwalk: Playa del Carmen, Zahara de los Atunes > Castillo de las Almadrabas
Observed several Shady Grasshoppers (Morphacris fasciata) in the dunes here. Very distinctive striped head, including eyes, continuing along the pronotum. Also several striking red and black seed bugs Spilostethus pandurus.

Shady Grasshopper (Morphacris fasciata), Zahara de los Atunes, Andalucía, Spain, April 2024

Shady Grasshopper (Morphacris fasciata), Zahara de los Atunes, Andalucía, Spain, April 2024

Day 6                                                                                                                              
Monday 8 April 2024
Zahara de los Atunes > La Zarzuela > El Almarchal
Blue sky, wind 17 mph E, min 13°C, max 26°C

Highlights
Broad Green-winged Grasshopper, Calandra Lark, Short-toed Lark, Migratory Locust, Vineyard Mole-cricket, Turkish Gecko, Iberian Yellow Wagtail, Iberian Water Frog, Corn Bunting, Mediterranean Field Cricket.

La Zarzuela: north side of village (Theba study site)  36° 10' 19.1" N  05° 48' 42.5" W
Mediterranean Snails (Theba pisana) were at their most abundant for years at this site, no doubt helped by wet winter and early spring rain. The wide grass verge bordering a mix of pasture, rough grassland and arable fields (including Sunflowers under the wind turbines) held singing Calandra Lark, Zitting Cisticola, Crested Lark, Corn Bunting and Stonechat. Chorthippus nymphs were abundant and Puissant's Green-winged Grasshoppers (Aiolopus puissanti) common. Other orgtoptera found included Broad-winged Green Grasshopper (Aiolopus strepens) and Migrantory Locust (Locusta migratoria). A few migrants were flying over heading inland with 14 Bee-eaters and two Greater Short-toed Larks. Several green oil/blister beetles, Lagorina sericea, a Grass Eggar (Lasiocampa trifolii) larva, Iberian Mantis (Apteromantis aptera) and a Swallowtail were the other interesting insect finds. Two Griffon Vultures drifted over from the Sierra de Retin.

Broad Green-winged Grasshopper (Aiolopus strepens), La Zarzuela, Andalucía, Spain, Apr 2024

Sierra de Retin from La Zarzuela, Andalucía, Spain, Apr 2024

Grass Eggar (Lasiocampa trifolii) larva, La Zarzuela, Andalucía, Spain, Apr 2024

Chequered Beetle (Trichodes octopunctatus), La Zarzuela, Andalucía, Spain, Apr 2024

El Almarchal
Looking for Polistes paper wasp nests for student projects was difficult now that the Opuntia cactus hedges have been wiped out. A Woodchat Shrike was perched in a rusty wire fence, seven Bee-eaters were hawking overhead and a Griffon Vulture drifted over. The edge of the hamlet had a noisy flock of at least 150 House Sparrows and Corn Bunting, Crested Lark, Zitting Cisticola and Stonechat were singing from surrounding fields.

Boardwalk: Playa del Carmen, Zahara de los Atunes > Castillo de las Almadrabas
A few trips along the dune boardwalk today resulted in some nice observations including singing Vineyard Mole Cricket (Gryllotalpa vineae) and Mediterranean Field Cricket (Gryllus bimaculatus) (both heard but not seen), Slender Digging Grasshopper (Acrotylus patruelis), several Spurge Hawk-moth (Hyles euphorbiae) larvae, Turkish Gecko (Hemidactylus turcicus), and many Lagorina sericea blister beetles on Asteraceae flowers. Several Iberian Water Frogs were singing from pool in a large clump of Giant Reed (Arundo donax). Also noted were Yellow Wagtail, Spotless Starling, Cattle Egret, Sardinian Warbler, Crested Lark, Zitting Cisticola, Corn Bunting, Yellow-legged Gull, Goldfinch, Blackbird, Collared Dove, House Sparrow, Feral Pigeon and Barn Swallow.

Common Digging Grasshopper (Acrotylus patruelis), Zahara de los Atunes, Andalucía, Spain, April 2024

Common Digging Grasshopper (Acrotylus patruelis), Zahara de los Atunes, Andalucía, Spain, April 2024

Spurge Hawk-moth (Hyles euphorbiae) larvae, Zahara de los Atunes, Andalucía, Spain, April 2024

blister beetle  (Lagorina sericea), Zahara de los Atunes, Andalucía, Spain, Apr 2024

Boardwalk through the dunes, Zahara de los Atunes, Andalucía, Spain, April 2024

Day 7                                                                                                                        
Tuesday 9 April 2024
Zahara de los Atunes > Atlanterra > Valle de Ojén > Duna de Bolonia
Blue sky, wind 7 mph W, min 13°C, max 25 °C

Highlights
Red-rumped Swallow, Tree Pipit, Audouin's Gull, Kentish Plover, Little Tern, Short-toed Treecreeper, Lamenting Grasshopper, Firecrest, Iberian Chiffchaff, Iberian Wingless Groundhopper, Provence Orange-tip, Provence Hairstreak, Mediterranean Chameleon.

Playa de Atlanterra (1st beetle beach)
Excellent visibility this morning with very clear views over the sea to Morocco. A Red-rumped Swallow, Tree Pipit, Yellow Wagtail, four Bee-eater and five Sand Martin arrived in off the sea and scanning the sea around the Almadraba produced Audouin's Gull (3), Little Tern (2), Sandwich Tern (1), Yellow-legged Gull (4) and a Gannet. Four Pallid Swift were hawking fairly low overhead.

Playa de Atlanterra, Zahara de los Atunes, Andalucía, Spain, April 2024

Parque Natural de los Alcornocales
A quick stop at the new gated entrance to the park heard Short-toed Treecreeper, Nightingale, Serin, Sardinian Warbler, Cuckoo, Great Tit and Greenfinch all singing.

Arroyo del Tiradero, Valle de Ojén, Parque Natural de los Alcornocales
(Aquarius study site)  36° 08' 55.5" N  05° 34' 56.9" W
Again the area was seemingly devoid of raptors (compared with most visits in previous years) with just two Griffin Vultures and a single Kestrel. Best find was an Iberian Wingless Groundhopper (Tetrix nodulosa) on the muddy river banking. It was actually several metres from the usual water edge but where the river would reach when high and in full flow. Earthling Stone Grasshoppers were everywhere, European Field Crickets were singing, and Lamenting Grasshoppers were actively flying off when flushed. The heat and sunshine produced a good range of butterflies including Provence Hairstreak, Cleopatra, Procence Hairstreak, Spanish Festoon (egg-laying) and Swallowtail. Birds included Western Bonelli's Warbler, Iberian Chiffchaff, Firecrest, Short-toed Treecreeper, Kingfisher and Bee-eater (20+).

Iberian Wingless Groundhopper (Tetrix nodulosa), Arroyo del Tiradero, Valle de Ojén, Andalucía, Spain, April 2024

Iberian Wingless Groundhopper (Tetrix nodulosa), Arroyo del Tiradero, Valle de Ojén, Andalucía, Spain, April 2024

Iberian Wingless Groundhopper (Tetrix nodulosa), Arroyo del Tiradero, Valle de Ojén, Andalucía, Spain, April 2024

Duna de Bolonia
Lunch in the Umbrella Pine forest. Flo, yet again, successfully located a Mediterranean Chameleon (Chamaeleo chamaeleon) in the Spanish Broom (Spartium junceum). Small Copper and Red Admital were flying in sunnier spots and Serins and Nightingales were singing. More Bee-eaters overhead.

Duna de Bolonia, Andalucía, Spain, April 2024

Mediterranean Chameleon (Chamaeleo chamaeleon) in Spanish Broom (Spartium junceum), Duna de Bolonia, Andalucía, Spain, April 2024

Duna de Bolonia, Andalucía, Spain, April 2024

Playa de Atlanterra (1st beetle beach)
Several flocks of Pallid Swifts were moving SE at 18:10 and over the next hour, groups of 83, 11, 13, 9, 23 and 71 were counted.

Day 8                                                                                                                              
Wednesday 10 April 2024
Zahara de los Atunes > Atlanterra
Blue sky, wind max 12 mph W, min 10°C, max 23°C

Highlights
Shady Grasshopper, Common Digging Grasshopper, Puissant's Green-winged Grasshopper, Egyptian Grasshopper.

Playa de Cabo de Plata (Playa de los Alemanes), Atlanterra (2nd beetle study site)
Another visit to this shaded and secluded beach saw Shady Grasshopper, Common Digging Grasshopper, Puissant's Green-winged Grasshopper and Egyptian Grasshopper.

Day 9                                                                                                                              
Thursday 11 April 2024
Zahara de los Atunes > Parque Natural de los Alcornocales
Cloudy at dawn, soon clearing to blue sky, wind max 16mph W, min 12°C, max 21°C

Highlights
Woodlark, Western Bonelli's Warbler, Griffon Vulture, Bee-eater, Cuckoo, Mediterranean Oil Beetle, Earthling Stone Grasshopper, Spade-cricket sp., Common Maquis Grasshopper, Large Tortoiseshell.

Arroyo del Tiradero, Valle de Ojén, Parque Natural de los Alcornocales
(Aquarius study site)  36° 08' 55.5" N  05° 34' 56.9" W
The best find today was Spade-cricket nymph, possibly Iberian Spade-cricket (Sciobia caliendra). I found in the Asphodel pasture where the ground had been trodden up by cattle. Adult males a large head extension projecting forward like a cap or visor.

>>> inset notebook sketch

male Spade-cricket sp. nymph (Sciobia sp.), Valle de Ojén, Cádiz, Andalucía, Spain, Apr 2024

male Spade-cricket sp. nymph (Sciobia sp.), Valle de Ojén, Cádiz, Andalucía, Spain, Apr 2024

Puissant's Green-winged Grasshopper (Aiolopus puissanti), Valle de Ojén, Andalucía, Spain, April 2024

Day 10                                                                                                                              
Friday 12 April 2024
Zahara de los Atunes > La Breña de Barbate > Marismas de Barbate
Blue sky, wind max 9 mph W, min 12°C, max 21°C

Highlights
Spoonbill, Red-rumped Swallow, Spiny-footed Lizard, Desert Sand Grasshopper, Black-winged Stilt, Greater Flamingo, Collared Pratincole, Short-toed Lark, Stone Curlew, Bath White, Tawny Pipit, Calandra Lark, Hoopoe, Common Redstart, Subalpine Warbler.

Drive: Zahara > Barbate
Red-rumped Swallow, Spoonbill, Pallid Swift and Kestrel noted.

La Breña de Barbate: Sendero Torre del Tajo
A walk through the pines to the tower heard a migrant Common Chiffchaff calling, four singing and 12 calling Sardinan Warblers, six singing Serins, and a singing Short-toed Treecreeper.

Sendero del Acantilado
From the tower, took the coastal trail along the undercliff. I was hoping to find Western Stone Grasshopper (Acinipe hesperica) which I photographed here last year. Couldn't located any but saw several Desert Sand Grasshoppers (Sphingonotus rubescens). A couple of Spiny-footed Lizards (Acanthodactylus erythurus) showed briefy and more Bee-eaters were arriving to the European continent. Swallowtail and Small Copper were seen as well as a small dark, unidentified hairstreak with brown undersides.

Desert Sand Grasshopper (Sphingonotus rubescens), La Breña de Barbate, Andalucía, Spain, April 2024

Desert Sand Grasshopper (Sphingonotus rubescens), La Breña de Barbate, Andalucía, Spain, April 2024

Desert Sand Grasshopper (Sphingonotus rubescens), La Breña de Barbate, Andalucía, Spain, April 2024

Desert Sand Grasshopper (Sphingonotus rubescens) habitat, La Breña de Barbate, Andalucía, Spain, April 2024

Large Psammodromus (Psammodromus algirus), La Breña de Barbate, Andalucía, Spain, April 2024

Marismas del Barbate (south-east side): Itinerario el Cañillo (Km 3.2 on A-2231)  36° 10' 28.6'' N  05° 53' 34.6'' W
This site is generally the only area I see birders at as well as tourists stopping to see the Greater Flamingos. At least 12 species of wader were present including Collared Pratincole, Stone Curlew, Black-winged Stilt, Kentish Plover, Spotted Redshank and Green Sandpiper. Tawny Pipit, Short-toed Lark, Calandra Lark, Crested Lark and Zitting Cisticola were all singing and holding territory. Small White were abundant along with Bath White, Clouded Yellow, Large White, Small Copper and Red Admiral. Serveral unidentified cricket were singing along the shoreline in the short vegetation. The song was like Gryllus campestris but with shorter, less musical elements.

Map of Marismas de Barbate area - where to find birds in April

Barbate: map showing the river, marshes, lagoons and old saltpans

1. Itinerario el Cañillo: Turn onto the track at km-3.2 on the A-2231. Bald Ibis often at the roadside. Follow through farm buildings to edge of lagoon for Greater Flamingo, waders (inc Collared Pratincole, Black-winged Stilts & Stone Curlew), gulls (inc Slender-billed), terns, egrets, herons & wagtails.

2. Itinerario el Cañillo: Continue for Calandra & Short-toed Lark, Tawny Pipit, Quail, Bee-eater. The tamarisks can hold migrant passerines.

3. Rio Barbate mouth: Turn onto track/rough parking area for gulls (including Audouin's & Mediterranean), terns (including Caspian), and waders.

4. Sports Stadium: Acess the estuary behind the Estadio Municipal de Deportes (off Avenida Joaquín Blume) for best view of the main channel with waders (inc Marsh Sandpiper in 2008), gulls, terns (inc Lesser Crested in 2007 & 2019), herons, egrets, wheatears, wagtails and hirundines

Boardwalk: Castillo de las Almadrabas > Playa de Zahara
Back on the boardwalk after leaving the car, walking back to the hotel, it initially passes close to the rear garden of some holiday appartments and house. The short turf in one garden was attracting some migrants including a Hoopoe and a Redstart which was parading around in the open like a Wheatear. A female Subalpine Warbler was nearby in short dune scrub.

Day 11                                                                                                                              
Saturday 13 April 2024
Zahara de los Atunes > Marismas del Barbate
Another day of blue skies...

Highlights
Crag Martin, Montagu's Harrier, Caspian Tern, Greater Flamingo, Collared Pratincole, Kentish Plover, Short-toed Lark, Glossy Ibis, Squacco Heron, Common Redstart.

Drive: Zahara > Barbate
A Crag Martin was flying around the bridge over the Zahara estuary and a female Montagu's Harrier was seen arriving in off the sea close to Barbate. Also two Collared Pratincole.

Marismas del Barbate (Camino de los Flamencos - south-east side)
A group of 100+ Common Swifts came through fairly quickly, heading noth-west. Around 17 Pallid Swifts were hanging around. Best of the host of good birds here today were five Caspian Terns, male Montagu's Harrier, female Marsh Harrier, Red-rumped Swallow, 20+ Collared Pratincoles. nine Greater Flamingos and a Spoonbill.

Boardwalk: Castillo de las Almadrabas > Playa de Zahara
The male Redstart was still present in the lawn.

Day 12                                                                                                                              
Sunday 14 April 2024
Zahara de los Atunes > Marismas del Barbate
Another day of blue skies...

Highlights
Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, Iberian Yellow Wagtail, Collared Pratincole, Greater Flamingo, Black-winged Stilt, Spoonbill, Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Short-toed Lark, Tawny Pipit, Short-toed Eagle, Clouded Yellow, Vestal.

Zahara de los Atunes
A Spotless Starling was mimicking the calls of a Sardinian Warbler in the palm trees outside the Hotel Gran Sol.

Marismas del Barbate (Camino de los Flamencos - south-east side)
Newly arrived waders including Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint and Avocet. Numbers of Collared Pratincole had increased to at least 110! Large wading birds were represented by 40 Greater Flamingo, two Spoonbill, one Great Egret and a single Grey Heron. A Short-toed Eagle was circling overhead as a continuous stream of Common Swifts arrived and moved through. A migrant Tree Pipit was heard passing over too. A check of the Tamarisks for migrant birds revealed only nesting House Sparrows.

Marismas del Barbate - Itinerario del Cañillo

Zahara de los Atunes
Just before dinner, one of the students found a Garden Locust just outside their hotel window.

Brown-headed Grasshopper/Garden Locust (Acanthacris ruficornis citrina), Zahara de los Atunes, Andalucía, Spain, April 2024

22:10h... a walk along the dune boardwalk after dinner in a pleasant 20°C warmth allowed me to sneak up on the singng crickets and confirm that they were Mediterranean Field Crickets (Gryllus bimaculatus), also known as Southern Field Cricket or Two-spotted Field Crickets. I managed to photograph one in the sand in pitch darkness using my phone. Singing individuals were also found under the palms along the Avenida de la Playa and inside the ruined Castillo de las Almadrabas.

male Mediterranean Field Cricket (Gryllus bimaculatus) stridulating, Zahara de los Atunes, Andalucía, Spain, April 2024

male Mediterranean Field Cricket (Gryllus bimaculatus) habitat, Zahara de los Atunes, Andalucía, Spain, April 2024

Day 13                                                                                                                              
Monday 15 April 2024
Zahara de los Atunes > Tarifa > Algeciras > Malaga > Madrid > Barcelona
Blue sky, wind 24 mph ENE, 14°C, max 23°C

Highlights
Mediterranean Field Cricket, Monk Parakeet, Serin, White Stork, Black Kite, Booted Eagle, Short-toed Eagle, Black-crowned Night Heron, Alpine Swift.

Zahara de los Atunes
05:05 Mediterranean Field Crickets still singing. Departed for Malaga at 05:30 as some students had booked an early train at 08:58. Most of the drive in the dark. Stopped once for fuel  heard the last Nightingale of the trip singing.

Parque de Malaga > Castillo de Gibralfaro
10:30-11:00 Fast-paced walk around the city to the castle on the hill via the botanical gardens/arboretum. Heard Monk Parakeet then observed many carrying nest material into palm trees. Two Ring-necked Parakeet were also heard. Sardinain Warbler, Serin, Blackcap and Collared Dove were singing. Also noted 100+ Pallid Swift, Kestrel, Spotless Starling, Yellow-legged Gull, Blackbird and Feral Pigeon.

Train: Malaga Maria Zambrano > Madrid Puerta de Atocha
11:58 > 14:48 On the first leg of the return train trip home I had an aisle seat and did not see very much of interest apart from a group of four White Storks.

Train: Madrid Puerta de Atocha > Barcelona Sants
16:00 > 18:30 Delayed departure until 16:40. Highlights from the train were Black-crowned Night Heron, Short-toed Eagle, Booted Eagle and Black Kite.

Barcelona
20:15 A walk past the Parc de l'Espanya Industrial on the way to dinner noted four Alpine Swifts, a White Wagtal, and a pair of Mallard flying through.

Day 14                                                                                                                              
Tuesday 16 April 2024
Barcelona > Paris > London > Purfleet-on-Thames
Blue sky, wind 24 mph ENE, 14°C, max 23°C

Highlights
Spotless Starling, Booted Eagle, Yellow-legged Gull, Little Egret, Greater Flamingo, Whiskered Tern, White Stork, Cattle Egret, Black-winged Stilt, Avocet, Slender-billed Gull, Red Kite, Mediterranean Gull.

Train: Barcelona Sants > Paris Gare de Lyon, France
09:28 > 16:12 Greenfinches were singing on the walk from the hotel to the station. Highlights on this leg were again concentrated between Perpignan and Montpellier including Booted Eagle, Greater Flamingo, Whiskered Tern, Black-winged Stilt, Avocet, Slender-billed Gull, Red Kite and Mediterranean Gull.

Train: Paris Gare du Nord, France > London St. Pancras International
18:10 > 19:39 Nothing of note.

Systematic List

Zahara de los Atunes & Costa de la Luz, by train from London via Paris and Barcelona, 3-16 April 2024

[sound recordings/photographs from various years]

Bird Species List 4-16 April 2024