Thursday 17 May, light SE wind, mostly cloudy, 23C: A morning walk below the Sierra Crestellina (from Casares) produced an adult Egyptian Vulture, Griffon Vulture, Booted Eagle (pale and dark morph), Short-toed Eagle, Common Kestrel, Raven, Crag Martin, Nightingale, Blackcap, Sardinian Warbler, and Firecrest. The Egyptian Vulture, along with other recent sightings in the area, supports the belief that there may be a pair breeding on Crestellina once again.

Wednesday 16 May, mostly cloudy, light SE wind, 24C: A morning walk to the Ermita de San Juan de Dios below Gaucin produced a singing Cuckoo, a few Honey Buzzard, Nightingale and a Zitting Cisticola in the meadow just below Finca Alboran - the closest I've seen one to the village. At 1400rs a group of 36 Black Kite passed W-E over the village some of which were in a pretty ragged state with several feathers missing, particularly from their tails. I haven't heard or seen any Red-necked Nightjar yet this year so maybe they, too, are late arriving.

Tuesday 15 May, sunny, light S-SE wind, 30C: Another very hot day for the time of year and just when we thought it was all over, the Honey Buzzards, and some Black Kites, are back! Watching from Gaucin from 1415-1500hrs, 160 Honey Buzzard, 30 Black Kite, a couple of Common Buzzard and 3 Booted Eagle moved over the village, mostly starting from due south then either following the Genal valley or passing just to the east of Sierra del Hacho. Passage appeared to continue most of the afternoon with 30 Honey Buzzard and 10 Black Kite between 1815hrs and 1900hrs with the last Honey Buzzard drifting through at 1955hrs. Interestingly, a couple of the later Honey Buzzard dropped down into trees just below the village, presumably the thermals had finished and they were about to roost there.

Monday 14 May, mostly sunny, very light E-NE wind, hot: Well, summer seems to have arrived early, 30C yesterday and so far 32C today. Walking through the cork oak woods in the Las Palas valley on the north side of Gaucin this morning there were plenty of birds singing including one Common Chiffchaff and one Iberian Chiffchaff, one Bonelli's Warbler, about 10 Blackcap and 6 Chaffinch as well as several Robin. Other than that there has just been the occasional Short-toed or Booted Eagle drifting around the south of the village, plus good numbers of Common Swift, Pallid Swift and House Martin.

Thursday 10 May, light-fresh E wind, sunny, 27C: A morning walk near Salitre had a low bird count but did see several Griffon Vulture, Booted Eagle, Short-toed Eagle, Woodchat Shrike, Thekla Lark, Woodlark, Stonechat, Corn Bunting, Blackcap, Sardinian Warbler and both Common Whitethroat and Nightingale were heard. Nice scenery, though, see photo.

Wednesday 09 May, sunny, light W wind, 24C: A late afternoon look at the west slope of El Hacho wasn't all that productive....a Short-toed Eagle (see photo), Booted Eagle, several Griffon Vulture, Blue Rock Thrush, 8 Stonechat, Bonelli's Warbler, Nightingale singing in the valley and Sardinian Warbler (see photo).

Tuesday 08 May, light W-SW wind, sunny am, overcast pm, 21C: Lots of Honey Buzzard movement today, counts as follows: 1115-1130hrs: 235 1150-1205hrs: 194, also 6 Black Kite 1400-1430hrs: 137, also 7 Black Kite and 1 adult Egyptian Vulture 1810-1825hrs: 80 Most were 'kettling' on thermals south of Gaucin village before moving north along the Genal valley or, in some cases, taking a more westerly course passing to the east of El Hacho.