Birding the Serranía de Ronda mountains

Hi everyone, today is officially our 2nd full day in Spain. Our town, Cortes de la Frontera, is a small town sandwiched between 2 national parks. The first morning I got up and did see a few interesting bird species from our terrace. One which was this EUROPEAN SERIN a small bird and lifer 284! 

The best bird I have spotted from the terrace were these beautiful RED CROSSBILLS. If you look closely, you will see the crossed bill. Life bird 285 and also my first ever crossbill species! I am not certain, but I believe that in the first shot the male crossbill is the bright red one and the female is the more dull one.

I also photographed this EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE, which landed in the same tree as the European Serin.

Today we went hiking in one of the national parks our town is sandwiched between. The park was called Sierra de Grazelema. We started our hike at about 2:00 and one of the first species I saw was this cool LONG TAILED TIT. Unfortunately this was the best shot I got. Life bird 286! 

Part of the reason we came on the hike was to go swimming in the river. Which my dad did. My sister was going to until she felt how cold the water was. I eventually waded in and could not decide if I wanted to jump in or not. Eventually, my dad pulled me in, and the water was freezing. My dad guesses that the water temperature was 55 degrees.

After swimming we walked back. I got quick looks at a BLACKCAP in a bush along the river. My first ever! Lifer 287! During the walk I saw this beautiful mountain view (below).

My first bunny of the trip!

So far Spain had been great and I have gotten 4 life birds! Its nice to be in a house again where I can bird!

Life List 287 (4 life birds in Spain)

Bird list for Spain

Eurasian Blue Tit 4
Long Tailed Tit X life bird!
Eurasian Blackbird 1
Red Crossbill 4 life bird!
Rock Pigeon X
Blackcap 1 life bird!
Eurasian Collared Dove 1
European Serin 1 life bird!
European Goldfinch X
House Sparrow X
European Robin 1