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April 21, Central Catchment

Today's report should be coming from Spain - unfortunately I'm still in Singapore thanks to the volcano. Hopefully get out in the next day or two or will have to cancel the whole trip.

Since now on holiday in Singapore spent the morning hiking in the hot steamy jungle of the central catchment. The first new bird for 2010 was a male Asian Fairy Bluebird and then it was a couple of migrants who should be leaving anytime, a Ferruginous Flycatcher followed by my personal bogey bird that I've never managed anywhere in Sth East Asia let alone Singapore, an Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher.

172. Asian Fairy Bluebird
173. Ferruginous Flycatcher
174. Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher

Mostly photographed butterflies today but here's a yellow morph Oriental White Eye

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April 22

At the last minute i.e. 3 hours notice a plane was taking off we managed to head towards Europe a day late. Unfortunately at almost double the cost and a circuitous route: Singapore - Dubai via Colombo, Dubai - Athens, and then a flight over to Madrid.

A few new birds were encountered at the various airports though.

Dubai added the first new birds (it was 2am when we landed in Colombo)

175. Eurasian Collared Dove
176. House Sparrow
177. Laughing Dove
178. Bank Myna

Over to Athens and the layover added 3 birds of which 1 was a lifer
179. Common Kestrel
180. Red-footed Falcon
181. Yellow-legged Gull

We arrived at Madrid late in the day and after picking up our hire car in fading light added a magpie.
182. Eurasian Magpie

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April 23, Toledo to Cordoba, Spain

Thanks to the time difference we were up early and spent the morning looking around the old part of Toledo. Since this is my first visit to Europe since I got serious about birding plenty of lifers on this and the coming days even when not actually birding (this was a family holiday so birding is fitted in around sightseeing except the odd dedicated time)

183. Common Blackbird
184. Common House Martin
185. Common Swift
186. Common Wood Pigeon
187. Eurasian Blue Tit
188. Eurasian Hoopoe
189. European Greenfinch
190. European Serin
191. Great Tit
192. Griffon Vulture
193. Mallard
194. Northern Raven
195. Pallid Swift
196. Spotless Starling
197. Western Cattle Egret

After spending the morning looking around it was back in the car to drive to Cordoba via the backroads rather than the highway with frequent stops along the way with plenty of new birds, both lifers and for 2010.

198. Spanish Imperial Eagle
199. Northern Harrier
200. Crested Lark
201. Red-crested Pochard
202. European Goldfinch
203. European Roller
204. Spanish Sparrow
205. Iberian Magpie
206. Common Buzzard
207. Corn Bunting
208. Cirl Bunting
209. Thekla Lark
210. Woodchat Shrike
211. Calandra Lark
212. Northern Wheatear
213. White Stork
214. Common Cuckoo
215. Western Marsh Harrier
216. Northern Shoveller
217. Northern Lapwing
218. European Pied Flycatcher
219. Lesser Kestrel

Having arrived in Cordoba late in the day and checking into our hostal there were a pair of Western Jackdaw's on the roof of the building opposite.

220. Western Jackdaw

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April 24, Spain

Most of the day was spent exploring the old town of Cordoba but I did pick up some new birds with a short stroll along the river.

221. Common Chaffinch
222. Willow Warbler
223. Common Chiffchaff
224. Eurasian Blackcap
225. Slender-billed Gull
226. Iberian Chiffchaff
227. Garden Warbler

Driving south from Cordoba

228. Black Kite
229. European Bee-eater
230. Tawny Pipit

A brief stop at the lagoons at Aguilar did have a couple of White-headed Duck's along with a few more common species already on the year list

231. White-headed Duck
232. Western Marsh Harrier

Driving south towards Malaga in the region of El Torcal added three lifers

233. Black-eared Wheatear
234. Alpine Swift
235. Black Redstart

Having checked in to would be our base for the next week at Mireflores resort in Mijas Costa and after a brief rest headed to likely spot and did some sea watching late in the day before dinner.

236. Oriental Turtle Dove
237. Sandwich Tern
238. Black-headed Gull
239. Cory's Shearwater
240. Ruddy Turnstone
241. Audouin's Gull

Below is photo of a Garden Warbler from Cordoba

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April 25, Spain

An early morning walk with my son in the resort grounds and some adjacent waste land added

242. Winter Wren
243. Sand Martin
244. Sardinian Warbler
245. Cetti's Warbler
246. Long-tailed Tit

Mid-morning on the promise of a good lunch we headed up to Fuente de Piedre to primarily (for me anyway) see the flamingoes and whatever other birds I could before the rest of the family complained to much about being bored

247. Black-winged Stilt
248. Greater Flamingo
249. Lesser Short-toed Lark
250. Lesser Black-backed Gull
251. Pied Avocet
252. Common Moorhen
253. Western Yellow Wagtail
254. Montagu's Harrier
255. Eurasian Coot
256. Garganey
257. Gadwall
258. Gull-billed Tern
259. White Wagtail
260. Little Stint
261. Black-necked Grebe
262. Ruff
263. Wood Sandpiper
264. European Stonechat
265. Eurasian Reed Warbler

Driving back to the resort we stopped for a couple of brief strolls along the way. Firstly in the El Torcal area along the highway and scored a lifer in a Rock Sparrow

266. Rock Sparrow

A little later in the Montes de Malaga two more lifers

267. Eurasian Sparrowhawk
268. European Green Woodpecker

Photos attached are: Sardinian Warbler, Cetti's Warbler, Blackbird, Greater Flamingo

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April 26, Sierra Nevada, Spain

Today's main purpose was to head to the Sierra Nevada however driving past the Guadalhorce Nature Reserve on the way through Malaga provided a fly-by of a lifer in 3 Monk Parakeets

269. Monk Parakeet

Once in the mountains a few new birds were seen

270. Eurasian Crag Martin
271. Black Wheatear
272. Rock Bunting
273. Eurasian Jay
274. Stock Dove
275. Coal Tit

Once back to the resort a late afternoon walk along the beach

276. Great Cormorant
277. Common Ringed Plover
278. Little Ringed Plover

Below are a couple of images of Rock Buntings

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April 27, Andalucia

Today was a sightseeing day driving through inland Andalucia visiting various white towns and generally looking at the scenery. Both activities providing new birds as well.

279. Savi's Warbler
280. Common Redstart
281. Spotted Flycatcher
282. Egyptian Vulture
283. Melodious Warbler
284. Short-toed Snake Eagle
285. Bonelli's Eagle
286. Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush
287. Blue Rock Thrush
288. Spectacled Warbler
289. Red-billed Chough
290. Booted Eagle

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April 28, Malaga, Spain

The morning was spent by myself at Guadalhorce Nature Reserve while the rest of the family rested which allowed for more serious birding but not a long list of new birds!

291. Dartford Warbler
292. Common Pochard
293. Northern Shoveller
294. Short-toed Treecreeper

We then spent the afternoon in the Montes de Malaga

295. Eurasian Nuthatch
296. Common Linnet
297. Northern Goshawk
298. European Robin
299. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
300. Western Olivaceous Warbler
301. European Honey Buzzard

Below are photos of: Zitting Cisticola, Coal Tit, Jackdaw and Red-rumped Swallow

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April 29, Montes de Malaga, Spain

Today's main activity was visiting the Alahambra in Granada late in the afternoon but we had a picnic lunch on the way in the Montes de Malaga at the same location as yesterday. Many more birds were present this time and all new birds were lifers!

302. Common Nightingale
303. Western Bonelli's Warbler
304. Mistle Thrush
305. Southern Grey Shrike

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April 30, Guadalhorce Nature Reserve, Malaga, Spain

306. Squacco Heron
307. Ruddy Shelduck
308. Marbled Duck
309. Sedge Warbler

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May 1, From Malaga to Madrid, Spain

A long day's drive but with frequent stops that started with a lifer before getting out of the resort!

310. Western Barn Owl
311. Red-legged Partridge
312. Eurasian Skylark
313. Eurasian Golden Oriole
314. Greater Short-toed Lark

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May 2, Milan, Italy

The trip back to Singapore started with an early morning flight to Milan where we had six hours wait before our flight to Dubai. Rather than wait at the airport caught the train into the city to spend a couple of hours sightseeing. The train added

315. Hooded Crow
316. Carrion Crow
317. Common Starling

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May 3, Dubai Airport

318. Green Bee-eater

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May 8, San Francisco Airport

Flew into SFO today on my way to a conference in Las Vegas

319. Western Gull
320. American Crow
321. Red-tailed Hawk

May 8, Las Vegas

Got into LV late in the day and heading to the hotel a couple of new birds.
322. Brown-headed Cowbird
323. Great-tailed Grackle

Having a walk after dinner very surprised by a find flying over a vacant block off the strip.

324. Common Poorwill

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May 9, Corn Creek, Nevada

Up early to be at the oasis of Corn Creek at dawn after driving the 30miles from Las Vegas. This was to be the start of a long day of desert and then mountain birding.

325. Western Kingbird
326. American Cliff Swallow
327. Willow Flycatcher
328. Crissal Thrasher
329. Violet-green Swallow
330. Western Tanager
331. Yellow-headed Blackbird
332. Plumbeous Vireo
333. Cordilleron Flycatcher
334. Wilson's Warbler
335. Yellow-breasted Chat
336. Lesser Goldfinch
337. Lazuli Bunting
338. Western Wood Peewee
339. White-winged Dove
340. Northern Mockingbird
341. Black-headed Grosbeak
342. Bullock's Oriole
343. Ash-throated Flycatcher
344. Verdin
345. Black-chinned Hummingbird
346. Phainopepla
347. Audubon's Warbler
348. Orange-crowned Warbler
349. American Grey Flycatcher
350. American Yellow Warbler
351. Vermillion Flycatcher
352. Rose-breasted Grosbeak
353. American Dusky Flycatcher
354. Song Sparrow
355. House Finch
356. White-crowned Sparrow
357. Cassin's Vireo
358. Black-throated Grey Warbler
359. Blue-grey Gnatcatcher
360. Pine Siskin
361. Lucy's Warbler
362. Horned Lark
363. Le Conte's Thrasher

Below pictures: Black-chinned Hummingbird, Black-chinned Grey Warbler, Black-headed Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting

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May 9, Spring Mountains, Nevada

Lower levels of Mt Charleston:

364. Pinyon Jay
365. Mountain Bluebird
366. American Robin
367. Myrtle Warbler
368. Townsend's Solitaire
369. Chipping Sparrow

Lee Canyon:
370. Brown Creeper
371. Tree Swallow
372. White-breasted Nuthatch
373. Cassin's Finch
374. Mountain Chickadee
375. Cooper's Hawk
376. Grace's Warbler
377. Pygmy Nuthatch
378. Green-tailed Towhee
379. Western Bluebird

Driving between Lee and Kyle Canyons:
380. Spotted Towhee
381. Western Scrubjay

Kyle Canyon:
382. Dark-eyed Junco
383. Red-breasted Nuthatch
384. Hermit Thrush
385. Hammond's Flycatcher

Red Rock:
386. Mourning Dove
387. Black-tailed Gnatcatcher
388. Townsend's Warbler
389. Olive-sided Flycatcher

Photos below are: Pygmy Nuthatch, Green-tailed Towhee, Hermit Thrush and Mourning Dove

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May 10, Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve, Nevada

A dawn visit to the the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve was very productive...

390. Cinnamon Teal
391. Common Gallinule
392. American Coot
393. American Avocet
394. Killdeer
395. Northern Rough-winged Sparrow
396. Red-winged Blackbird
397. American Black Duck
398. Gambel's Quail
399. Least Bittern
400. Canada Goose
401. Double-crested Cormorant
402. Sora
403. Pied-billed Grebe
404. Marsh Wren
405. Green-winged Teal
406. Long-billed Dowitcher
407. Wilson's Phalarope
408. Spotted Sandpiper
409. Say's Phoebe
410. Common Yellowthroat
411. Albert's Towhee
412. Greater Roadrunner
413. Great Blue Heron
414. Willet
415. Calliope Hummingbird
416. Anna's Hummingbird
417. American Bittern
418. Redhead
419. Green Heron

Images below are: Greater Roadrunner (with breakfast), Ruddy Duck, Black-necked Grebe, Wilson's Phalarope

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May 10, Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs, Las Vegas, Nevada

A quick visit to finish the morning before the start of the conference I was attending

420. Belted Kingfisher
421. Clark's Grebe
422. MacGillivray's Warbler
423. Nashville Warbler

Images below: Great-tailed Grackle, Blue-grey Gnatcatcher, Clarke's Grebe, Audubon's Warbler

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May 13, Wetlands Park, Las Vegas, Nevada

Conference over and some late afternoon birding at Wetlands Park

424. Black-necked Stilt
425. Greater Yellowlegs
426. Turkey Vulture
427. Ring-billed Gull
428. White-faced Ibis
429. Baird's Sandpiper
430. Blue-winged Teal
431. Western Grebe
432. Virginia Rail
433. Savannah Sparrow
434. Least Sandpiper
435. Western Sandpiper
436. Semipalmated Sandpiper
437. Semipalmated Plover
438. Snowy Egret
439. Western Great Egret
440. Brewer's Sparrow
441. Blue Grosbeak
442. American Kestrel

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May 14, Corn Creek, Nevada

With a day off before starting the journey back a day of birding spending more time at a couple of places from before the conference.

Arriving at Corn Creek before dawn yielded the first new bird of the year and a lifer.

443. Lesser Nighthawk
444. Summer Tanager
445. Lark Sparrow
446. Black Phoebe
447. Northern Waterthrush
448. Cedar Waxwing
449. Hooded Oriole
450. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
451. Swainson's Thrush
452. Brewer's Blackbird
453. House Wren
454. Sage Sparrow
455. Swainson's Hawk
456. Virginia's Warbler

Images are of a Western Tanager, Horned Lark, Great Blue Heron and lastly the surrounding desert

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May 14, Lee Canyon, Nevada

Having spent 4 hours or so in Corn Creek headed up Mt Charleston and spent the rest of the day birding up to and around Lee Canyon.

457. Vesper Sparrow
458. Black-throated Sparrow
459. Purple Finch
460. Brown-crested Flycatcher
461. Cassin's Kingbird
462. Rock Wren
463. Grey Vireo
464. Warbling Vireo
465. Red Crossbill
466. Hairy Woodpecker
467. Northern Flicker
468. Broad-tailed Hummingbird
469. Clark's Nutcracker
470. Williamson's Sapsucker
471. Steller's Jay
472. American Bushtit

Images below are: Cassin's Finch, Steller's Jay, Red Crossbill and Hairy Woodpecker

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May 15, Lake Mead, Nevada

An early morning start before needing to get to the airport at lunchtime. Having seen Franklin's Gull were common at Lake Mead in Spring headed there as it would be a lifer. Arriving at Boulder Beach 3 were a metre offshore directly in front of where I parked!

473. Franklin's Gull
474. California Gull
475. Bonaparte's Gull
476. Common Merganser
477. Great Northern Loon

Below image of: Ring-billed Gull, White-faced Ibis, Say's Phoebe, Northern Rough-winged Swallow

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May 15, San Francisco

Having almost 8 hours on the ground before my connecting flight, several of which before dark, I headed into the city on the train and walked along the waterfront around fisherman's wharf. Two new year birds resulted:

478. Brown Pelican
479. Brandt's Cormorant

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May 16, Hong Kong Airport

A couple of hours just after dawn with not much around as normal at this airport. Several Crested Myna's the only new bird.

480. Crested Myna

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May 28, Singapore Botanic Gardens

My first chance to get to the botanic gardens to see the Spotted Wood Owls which have been raising a family whilst I've been away. Despite looking for them a few times this is my first sighting of these birds in Singapore.

481. Spotted Wood Owl