Spain; Southern Costa Blanca - species list
Birds observed on the Southern Costa Blanca
Blue Rock Thrush (Monticola solitarius) Cartagena
Southern Costa Blanca galleries
Total 250 species + 2 hybrids, 1 escape. Order follows Collins Bird Guide 2nd edn. (2009)
Species recorded within the provinces of Murcia and Alicante, seen over many visits since 2011
The majority of visits are in winter, the hot summer months of June, July, August and September have largely been avoided!
El Hondo refers to the reserve and surrounding area, i.e. southern fields, Vistabella Road, etc
A few sites, e.g. El Hondo rubbish tip, cease to exist now
Mute Swan - Cygnus olor
1 ad in flight San Pedro salinas 27/12/12, not re-found
Greylag Goose - Anser anser
3 El Hondo 14/12/13
Common Shelduck - Tadorna tadorna
Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos
Gadwall - Anas strepera
Fairly common El Hondo, can be scarce elsewhere
Northern Pintail - Anas acuta
Scarce winter
Northern Shoveler - Anas clypeata
Eurasian Wigeon - Anas penelope
Scarce winter. 3 EDAR Consum 20/10/25
Marbled Duck - Marmaronetta angustirostris
Common El Hondo visitor centre following progressive reintroductions. Reintroductions also at El Clot. Occasional elsewhere
Common Teal - Anas crecca
Garganey (Spatula querquedula)
1 Lo Monte 9/10/22, 1 Los Camachos 23/10/25, 1 Los Camachos 1/11/25
Common Pochard - Aythya ferina
Red-crested Pochard - Netta rufina
Ferruginous Duck - Aythya nyroca
Regular now in Murcia in small numbers. Max. 8 Los Camachos 10/10/22; 6 Lo Monte 16/10/24
(Pochard x Ferruginous Duck hybrid)
Los Alcazares EDAR; 1m 3/12/21, 1m 28/1/23, 1 Lo monte 16/10/24
Tufted Duck - Aythya fuligula
Scarce winter. Max. 15 El Hondo 19/12/12
Ring-necked Duck - Aythya collaris
1f EDAR Alhama 28/2/22
Common Eider - Somateria mollissima
1m (1w) Sta Pola harbour 16/1/25
Common Scoter - Melanitta nigra
Scarce. San Pedro (offshore); 11 f/imms. 16/12/12, 4 f/imms. 22/12/12
Surf Scoter - Melanitta perspicillata
1m (1w) Faro de Guardamar 9/1/24; 1f Los Alcazares 16/1/25
Red-breasted Merganser - Mergus serrator
Scarce winter
White-headed Duck - Oxyura leucocephala
Red-legged Partridge - Alectoris rufa
Common Quail - Coturnix coturnix
2 (h) Guadalentin 24/5/22
Great Northern Diver - Gavia immer
1 juv/1w San Pedro 14/1/25
Black-necked Grebe - Podiceps nigricollis
Common winter. Max. c450 La Mata 29/12/14
Little Grebe - Tachybaptus ruficollis
Great Crested Grebe - Podiceps cristatus
Cory's Shearwater (Calonectris borealis)
Seen Cabo de Palos, at least 2 photographed
Scopoli’s Shearwater (Calonectris diomedea)
Seen Cabo de Palos, most large shearwaters should be these. Determined by photograph
Yelkouan Shearwater - Puffinus yelkouan
17 Mirador Puerto de Mazarron 10/3/22 (by photo). Most of these appeared very pale underneath.
2021; The IOC has proposed 're-lumping' Balearic and Yelkouan Shearwaters, previously named Mediterranean Shearwater
Balearic Shearwater - Puffinus mauretanicus
Common winter/Spring/autumn Cabo de Palos
European Storm Petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus)
2 Bay of Mazarrón (pelagic) 25/4/24
Northern Gannet - Morus bassanus
Great Cormorant - Phalacrocorax carbo
European Shag - Phalacrocorax aristotelis ssp. desmarestii
Little Bittern - Ixobrychus minutus
Black-crowned Night Heron - Nycticorax nycticorax
Cattle Egret - Bubulcus ibis
Squacco Heron - Ardeola ralloides
Common spring/summer, rare winter. 1 EDAR Los Alcazares 25/1/23
Little Egret - Egretta garzetta
(Western Reef Heron x Little Egret hybrid E. gularis x E. garzetta)
1 Mazarrón 25/4/24
Great Egret - Egretta alba
Grey Heron - Ardea cinerea
Purple Heron - Ardea purpurea
White Stork - Ciconia ciconia
Glossy Ibis - Plegadis falcinellus
Common El Hondo etc. Increasing in numbers Murcia, where now fairly common.
Eurasian Spoonbill - Platalea leucorodia
Max. c35 San Pedro 11/11/23
Greater Flamingo - Phoenicopterus roseus
Lesser Flamingo – Phoenicopterus minor
1 Vistabella Road El Hondo 17/2/22
Eurasian Griffon Vulture - Gyps fulvus
Increasing in numbers Espuna, Inazares etc
Osprey - Pandion haliaetus
Golden Eagle - Aquila chrysaetos
Most sightings Guadalentin, Espuna etc
Greater Spotted Eagle - Aquila clanga
Rare/Scarce winter. El Hondo only; 1 sub-ad 28/12/11 (Tonn). 1 ad 14/12/13, 2 21/12/13. 1 ad 13/12/14, 19/12/14. 1 ad (Tonn) 27/12/17. 1 ad (Tonn) 26/1/19 (with new transmitter/solar panel), 4/2/19
Short-toed Eagle - Circaetus gallicus
Booted Eagle - Hieraaetus pennatus
Bonelli's Eagle - Hieraaetus fasciatus
Scarce but increasing, especially El Hondo area
Red Kite - Milvus milvus
1 El Hondo 14/12/13, 5 El Carmoli 20/12/13, 1 La Risca dam 9/5/25
Western Marsh Harrier - Circus aeruginosus
Hen Harrier - Circus cyaneus
Winter; El Hondo, Guadalentin, Los Alcazares military zone; usually singles. 1 fem-type Los Alcazares 7/9/21
Montagu's Harrier - Circus pygargus
Scarce. 1 fem-type Sucina 6/9/21
Pallid Harrier - Circus macrourus
1 1w El Hondo 23-31/1/24
Common Buzzard - Buteo buteo
Eurasian Sparrowhawk - Accipiter nisus
Black-winged Kite - Elanus caeruleus
1 ad El Hondo 23/1/24
Common Kestrel - Falco tinnunculus
Lesser Kestrel - Falco naumanni
5 Guadalentin 21/5/23
Peregrine Falcon - Falco peregrinus
Scarce winter
Merlin - Falco columbarius
Scarce winter
Water Rail - Rallus aquaticus
Common Moorhen - Gallinula chloropus
Eurasian Coot - Fulica atra
Red-knobbed Coot - Fulica cristata
Restricted to the reintroduction zone, El Hondo, where common and spreading to outer zones, e.g. Vistabella Road
Purple Swamp-Hen - Porphyrio porphyrio
Common Crane - Grus grus
Scarce. El Hondo southern fields; 12 and 9 27/12/12, 32 26/12/13, 11 6/1/14, 14 13/12/14, 16 and 21 19/12/14, 5 13/12/17; 36 Puerto Alto (on migration) 10/2/25
Great Bustard - Otis tarda
Rare/Scarce. 24 Yecla ZEPA 13/1/23
Little Bustard - Tetrax tetrax
Scarce winter, Guadalentin max. 42 27/12/11. 1m Guadalentin 21/5/23. 3 southern fields El Hondo 22/12/17
Eurasian Oystercatcher - Haematopus Ostralegus
Occasional sightings Mar Menor
Pied Avocet - Recurvirostra avosetta
Black-winged Stilt - Himantopus himantopus
Stone Curlew - Burhinus oedicnemus
Max. c120 Guadalentin 18/12/11 and 27/12/11
Collared Pratincole - Glareola pratincola
Little Ringed Plover - Charadrius dubius
Max. 23 Los Camachos 1/3/22. A bird on eggs (3) Los Nietos 26/4/22
Common Ringed Plover - Charadrius hiaticula
Kentish Plover - Charadrius alexandrinus
Grey Plover - Pluvialis squatarola
European Golden Plover - Pluvialis apricaria
Winter. Max. c180 El Hondo 21/12/135. Los Alcazares 10/9/21
Northern Lapwing - Vanellus vanellus
Red Knot - Calidris canutus
Scarce. 1 juv Estrella de Mar 23/11/21
Sanderling - Calidris alba
Ruddy Turnstone - Arenaria interpres
Dunlin - Calidris alpina
Curlew Sandpiper - Calidris ferruginea
Max. 30+ El Hondo 29/4/22
Temminck's Stint - Calidris temminckii
Winter/spring/autumn. Becoming more frequent and numerous in both Murcia and Alicante
Little Stint - Calidris minuta
Wood Sandpiper - Tringa glareola
Green Sandpiper - Tringa ochropus
Common Sandpiper - Actitis hypoleucos
Common Redshank - Tringa totanus
Spotted Redshank - Tringa erythropus
Common Greenshank - Tringa nebularia
Marsh Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis)
3 El Hondo 13/10/22
Black-tailed Godwit - Limosa limosa
Max. c20 El Hondo 29/4/22
Bar-tailed Godwit - Limosa lapponica
Max. San Pedro c15 25/12/11
Eurasian Curlew - Numenius arquata
Max. San Pedro c30 25/12/11
Whimbrel - Numenius phaeopus
Scarce winter. 1 San Pedro 25/12/11. Max. 25 near Los Alcazares 10/9/21
Common Snipe - Gallinago gallinago
Jack Snipe - Lymnocryptes minimus
Rare/Scarce. 1 Albujon (Los Alcazares) 7/1/14. El Hondo; 1 13/12/17, 4 22/12/17. Lo Monte; 1 12/12/17, 1 26/12/17
Grey Phalarope - Phalaropus fulicarius
1 (1w) San Pedro 11/11/23
Ruff - Philomachus pugnax
Great Skua - Stercorarius skua
Cabo de Palos only; 1 24/12/11, 1 27/12/17, 1 6/2/24
Black-headed Gull - Larus ridibundus
Slender-billed Gull - Larus genei
Common Gull - Larus canus
1 1w Portman 30/1/23 - 9/2/23
Mediterranean Gull - Larus melanocephalus
Max. 23 EDAR Consum 17/2/25
Yellow-legged Gull - Larus michahellis
Audouin's Gull - Larus audouinii
Lesser Black-backed Gull - Larus fuscus
Little Gull - Hydrocoloeus minutus
1 ad-w El Clot 29/2/24
Black-legged Kittiwake - Rissa tridactyla
Scarce. 5+ Cabo de Palos 24/12/11 on strong north-easterlies
Laughing Gull - Larus atricilla
1 2w on res. near Sta-Anna, Cartagena 25/11/21
Little Tern - Sternula albifrons
Sandwich Tern - Sterna sandvicensis
Max. 100+ El Pinet 29/4/22
Caspian Tern - Hydroprogne caspia
1 ad-w Guardamar 31/1/24, 1 (probably the same) El Pinet 31/1/24
Lesser Crested Tern - Thalasseus bengalensis
Torrevieja lighthouse; 1 ad-w 14/3/22, 16/1/23
Elegant Tern - Sterna elegans
1 El Pinet 2/5/23
Gull-billed Tern - Gelochelidon nilotica
Max. 22 Los Alcazares 7/9/21
Common Tern - Sterna hirundo
Max. c50 El Pinet 29/4/22
Black Tern - Chlidonias niger
Los Alcazares; 2 15/9/20, 3 16/9/20, 1 9/2021, 1 El Hondo 17/9/21
White-winged Tern - Chlidonias leucopterus
1 juv Los Alcazares 10/9/21, 1 1w El Hondo 4/12/21
Whiskered Tern - Chlidonias hybridus
Max. 40+ El Hondo 29/4/22. Winter; 4 La Raja (El Hondo) 26/12/13, probably adults
Razorbill - Alca torda
Scarce. 7+ Cabo de Palos 16/12/11, c20 24/12/11. 5 Torrevieja 16/1/23. 1 1w Portman 30/1/23. 6 Guardamar 9/1/24, 1 Guardamar 31/1/24. 23 Cabo de Palos 6/2/24, 108 Cabo de Palos 7/2/24, 25 Cabo de Palos 12/2/24; 1 ad Sta Pola harbour 7/2/251 Bay of Mazarrón (pelagic) 25/4/24
Black-bellied Sandgrouse - Pterocles orientalis
Winter max. c40 Guadalentin 21/12/12. 4 Yecla ZEPA 13/1/23. 40+ Guadalentin 14/10/24
Pin-tailed Sandgrouse - Pterocles alchata
Scarce. 27 Yecla ZEPA 13/1/23
Feral Pigeon - Columba livia domestica
Stock Dove - Columba oenas
Scarce. 6 + 3 Corvera 16/2/23. 1 El Hondo 25/1/24, 6 Vistabella fields 22/10/25
Common Wood Pigeon - Columba palumbus
Eurasian Collared Dove - Streptopelia decaocto
European Turtle Dove - Streptopelia turtur
Common Cuckoo - Cuculus canorus
1 El Hondo 29/4/22, 1 Corvera 2/5/22
Great Spotted Cuckoo - Clamator glandarius
1 ad Guadalentin 2/2/22. 1 Rambla Salada 17/2/25. 2 El Pinet 29/4/22
Monk Parakeet - Myiopsitta monachus
(Yellow-collared Lovebird - Agapornis-personatus)
4 Los Balcones 14/2/24. Escaped/Introduced
Tawny Owl - Strix aluco
1 heard early morning, entrance to Red trail, El Hondo 28/12/11
Little Owl - Athene noctua
Localised; Guadalentin, Escalona, Los Camachos, etc. Los Urrutias; 2 7/1/14, 2 12/2014
Red-necked Nightjar - Caprimulgus ruficollis
1 EDAR Alhama 21/5/23
Common Swift - Apus apus
Winter; 1 Los Camachos res. 15/3/22
Pallid Swift - Apus pallidus
Alpine Swift - Tachymarptis melba
Winter; 1 El Carmoli 7/3/22. Max. 21+ Cala Blanca 7/5/25
Eurasian Hoopoe - Upupa epops
Common Kingfisher - Alcedo atthis
European Bee-eater - Merops apiaster
European Roller - Coracias garrulus
Corvera, Guadalentin etc
European (Iberian) Green Woodpecker - Picus viridis sharpei
Great Spotted Woodpecker - Dendrocopos major
1 Espuna 5/2/19. 1f Caravaca 29/1/24, Puerto Alto; 2 29/1/24, 1 10/2/25. 1 Arroyo Blanco 20/5/25
Eurasian Skylark - Alauda arvensis
Crested Lark - Galerida cristata
Thekla Lark - Galerida theklae
Woodlark - Lullula arborea
Espuna, upland areas, Puerto Alto etc
Greater Short-toed Lark - Calandrella brachydactyla
Lesser Short-toed Lark - Calandrella rufescens
Winter, Guadalentin; max. 200+ 21/12/12, often found on the newly sown fields. Also southern fields (El Hondo), Yecla, etc 10+ San Pedro 27/10/22, 2 Cope 22/5/25
Calandra Lark - Melanocorypha calandra
Guadalentin only; 3 23/12/13. 2+ 27/1/19, 10+ 5/2/19, 2 2/2/22
Sand Martin - Riparia riparia
Eurasian Crag Martin - Ptyonoprogne rupestris
Barn Swallow - Hirundo rustica
Red-rumped Swallow - Hirundo daurica
Common House Martin - Delichon urbicum
Richard's Pipit - Anthus richardi
Scarce. Los Nietos only; 2 7/1/14, 2 27/12/14, 2 6/2/19, 2 16/2/22, 2-3 31/1/23, 1 8/2/23
Water Pipit - Anthus spinoletta
Meadow Pipit - Anthus pratensis
Max. 100+ military zone, Los Alcazares 14/12/11
White Wagtail - Motacilla alba
Yellow Wagtail - Motacilla flava
Winter; El Hondo 1 14/12/13, 2+ 6/1/14, 1 21/12/13, 2 13/12/14, 1 19/12/14. 1 La Serena golf course, Los Alcazares 22/12/13. 1 Los Camachos res. 7/3/22
Grey Wagtail - Motacilla cinerea
Dunnock - Prunella modularis
2 El Mojon (San Pedro) 18/12/13
European Robin - Erithacus rubecula
Nightingale - Luscinia megarhynchos
Rufous Bush Chat - Cercotrichas galactotes
2 Cope 7/5/25, 3 Cope 22/5/25
Bluethroat - Luscinia svecica
Common Redstart - Phoenicurus phoenicurus
Black Redstart - Phoenicurus ochruros
Northern Wheatear - Oenanthe oenanthe
Black-eared Wheatear - Oenanthe hispanica
Black Wheatear - Oenanthe leucura
Common Stonechat - Saxicola torquatus
Whinchat - Saxicola rubetra
2 Calblanque 29/4/24
Song Thrush - Turdus philomelos
Redwing - Turdus iliacus
Scarce. Espuna; 20+ 27/1/19, 30+ 5/2/19; Caravaca; 21 29/1/24, 2 22/1/25; Puerto Alto 4 10/2/25
Mistle Thrush - Turdus viscivorus
Fieldfare - Turdus pilaris
c12 Puerto Alto 10/2/25
Common Blackbird - Turdus merula
Ring Ouzel - Turdus torquatus ssp. alpestris
Scarce winter. Espuna and Puerto Alto. Max. counts 15+ Espuna 27/1/19, 30+ Espuna 5/2/19. 29/1/24. 12-15 Espuna 22/2/24, max. c20 Espuna 19/10/22
Blue Rock Thrush - Monticola solitarius
Blackcap - Sylvia atricapilla
Sardinian Warbler - Sylvia melanocephala
Spectacled Warbler - Sylvia conspicillata
Scarce but increasing. Guadalentin only, winter; 1 m 21/12/12, 1 m 27/1/19, 1 m 5/2/19, 1+ 2/2/22, 1 28/2/22, 5+ 5/2/25
Western Subalpine Warbler - Curruca iberiae
1m Espuna 16/5/25
Dartford Warbler - Sylvia undata
Zitting Cisticola - Cisticola juncidis
Cetti's Warbler - Cettia cetti
Sedge Warbler - Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
1 singing Lo Monte 8/3/22
Moustached Warbler - Acrocephalus melanopogon
2 singing Vistabella Rd (hide) El Hondo 17/2/22. 2 Lo Monte 8/3/22. 1 El Hondo 24/1/25
Reed Warbler - Acrocephalus scirpaceus
Great Reed Warbler - Acrocephalus arundinaceus
Melodious Warbler - Hippolais polyglotta
Western Olivaceous Warbler - Iduna opaca
c7 La Contraparada 13/5/25
Willow Warbler - Phylloscopus trochilus
4 Cabo de Palos 3/5/22
Bonelli's Warbler - Phylloscopus bonelli
Common Chiffchaff - Phylloscopus collybita
Yellow-browed Warbler - Phylloscopus inornatus
1 Caravaca (park) 6/11/25
Hume’s Leaf Warbler - Phylloscopus humei
1 Cartagena 20/1/25
Firecrest - Regulus ignicapilla
Eurasian Wren - Troglodytes troglodytes
Scarce. 1 El Hondo 26/1/23. 1 (h) Calasparra 22/1/24. 1 Puerto Alto 10/2/25, 1 Calasparra 27/5/22, 1 Arroyo Blanco, 2 Bajil 20/5/25
Spotted Flycatcher - Muscicapa striata
Pied Flycatcher - Ficedula hypoleuca
1 Calblanque 6/5/22, 1 Espuna 11/5/22
Great Tit - Parus major
Coal Tit - Paris ater
Eurasian Blue Tit - Cyanistes caeruleus
Scarce. 4+ Calasparra 22/1/24. 6+ Caravaca 29/1/24. 1 Puerto Alto 10/2/25, 3 Calasparra 8/5/23, 4+ Calasparra 22/1/24
Crested Tit - Parus cristatus
Long-tailed Tit - Aegithalos caudatus
Penduline Tit - Remiz pendulinus
Eurasian Nuthatch - Sitta europaea
Scarce. Puerto Alto 2 29/1/24, 2 22/1/25, 2 10/2/25. 2 Caravaca 22/1/25
Short-toed Treecreeper - Certhia brachydactyla
Bearded Reedling - Panurus biarmicus
1 male Vistabella Road El Hondo 17/2/22
Southern Grey Shrike - Lanius meridionalis
Woodchat Shrike - Lanius senator
Iberian magpie - Cyanopica cooki
c30 Los Balcones 14/2/24
Common Magpie - Pica pica
Eurasian Jay - Garrulus glandarius
Jackdaw - Corvus monedula
Red-billed Chough - Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax
Fairly common Espuna, Guadalentin. 2 Los Camachos res. 1/3/22. Increasing in Murcia
Carrion Crow - Corvus corone
Far inland only, mostly at altitude. Max. 10+ Yecla 13/1/23
Northern Raven - Corvus corax
Brown-necked Raven - Corvus ruficollis
The long-staying adult of winter 2018/19
Common Starling - Sturnus vulgaris
Mostly winter. Large flocks of roosting birds El Hondo and other reedbeds
Spotless Starling - Sturnus unicolor
Eurasian Golden Oriole - Oriolus oriolus
House Sparrow - Passer domesticus
Spanish Sparrow - Passer hispaniolensis
1 male Santa Pola 22/12/17
Eurasian Tree Sparrow - Passer montanus
Rock Sparrow - Petronia petronia
Scarce. 7 Inazares 29/1/24, 2 Montnegre (Alicante) 26/5/22. 8+ Calasparra 27/5/22
Common Chaffinch - Fringilla coelebs
Common Linnet - Carduelis cannabina
Hawfinch - Coccothraustes coccothraustes
Scarce. 1 Espuna 11/2/22. 2 Cararvaca 29/1/24, 5+ 22/1/25
European Goldfinch - Carduelis carduelis
European Greenfinch - Carduelis chloris
Eurasian Siskin - Spinus spinus
Scarce. 16+ Estrella de Mar 23/11/21. 2 Espuna 11/2/22. 2 EDAR Alhama 28/2/22. 1m Caravaca 29/1/24. 2 Puerto Alto 22/1/25. 2 Cartagena 29/10/25
European Serin - Serinus serinus
Common Crossbill - Loxia curvirostra
Espuna, max. count 17+ 11/2/22, also Puerto Alto. Occasional on coastal plain
Common Reed Bunting - Emberiza schoeniclus
Cirl Bunting - Emberiza cirlus
Scarce. Espuna; 3+ 17/2/23, 1m 22/2/24; Puerto Alto 1 22/1/25, 4 10/2/25
Corn Bunting - Emberiza calandra
Rock Bunting - Emberiza cia
Scarce. 3 Espuna 22/2/24, 1 Puerto Alto 10/2/25
Common Waxbill - Estrilda astrild
Increasing (introduced). c20 River Segura, Rojales 4/12/21. 7 La Contraparada 13/5/25
BUTTERFLIES - 14 species (Order follows Lanfranchis)
Green-striped White - Euchloe belemia - Common on flowery meadows 12/2014
Bath White - Pontia daplidice
Provencal Hairstreak - Tomares ballus - Campo de Cartgena 26/2/25
Lang's Short-tailed Blue - Leptotes pirithous - 5+ Guardamar 10/11/23
Black-eyed Blue - Glaucopsyche melanops - 2 Calblanque 24/2/22
Plain Tiger (African Monarch) - Danaus chrysippus
Painted Lady - Vanessa cardui - Occasional throughout the winter
Red Admiral - Vanessa atalanta - Quite common throughout - most visits
Wall Brown - Lasiommata megera - Frequent throughout
Hummingbird Hawk-moth - Macroglossum stellatarum - Frequent throughout
OTHER INSECTS - (order alphabetical, within classification order)
Acrotylus patruelis - Slender Digging Grasshopper - 1+ Calblanque 24/2/22
Anacridium aegyptium - Egyptian Grasshopper
Heteracris littoralis - Mediterranean Splendid Grasshopper
Pyrgomorpha conica - 1 female Lo Monte 8/3/22
Tropidopola cylindrica - Common Cylindric Grasshopper - 1 El Hondo 17/2/22
(?)Sphingonotus rubescens (Acrididae) - 5+ Calblanque 24/2/22
Mantis religiosa - Praying Mantis - 1 Los Alcazares 27/11/21
Lophyra flexuosa - (Cicindelidae, Tiger Beetles) - 1 Los Nietos 14/11/23
Chrysotoxum vernale - Straight-barred Spearhorn (Syrphidae) - 1 Calblanque 24/2/22
Bembix oculata (Crabronidae) - 3+ Los Nietos 14/11/23
Rhodanthidium sticticum (Megachilidae) - 5+ Calblanque 24/2/22
Eucera nigrilabris (Apidae) - 2m El Clot 20/2/24
Eucera sp. (Apidae) - various
Xylocopa violacea - Violet Carpenter Bee - 1 Los Alcazares 6/2/23
Apis mellifera - Western Honey Bee
Araneus quadratus - Four-spot Orb-weaver (spider sp.) - 1 San Pedro 8/1/14
OTHER FAUNA
Red Fox - Vulpes vulpes - 1 El Hondo 26/1/19
Weasel - Mustela nivalis - 1 El Hondo 21/12/11; 1 El Hondo 19/12/12
Mouflon - Ovis orientalis musimon - c30 Espuna 27/12/11
Barbary sheep/Aoudad - Ammotragus lervia - 5+ Espuna 17/2/23
Red Squirrel - Sciurus vulgaris - 1 Los Alcazares 5/1/14, 1 Espuna 5/2/19
Brown Rat - Rattus norvegicus - 1 Guadalentin 28/2/22
Southern Water Vole - Arvicola sapidus - Vistabella Rd (El Hondo), 1 19/12/14; 1 24/1/25
Brown Hare - Lepus europaeus
Rabbit - Oryctolagus cuniculus
Moorish Gecko (Tarentola mauritanica) - 1 Lo Monte 10/11/23
Grass Snake - Natrix natrix - 1 El Hondo 26/11/21
Common Bottlenose Dolphin - Tursiops truncatus - 1 Cabo de Palos 6/2/19
FLORA
Orchids (Orchidaceae)
Finding orchids in this part of Spain has been hard work. The season starts as early as January, ends in late May on the coast, and continues with a few other species inland through the summer. Hence the total is low compared with temperate Europe. And we don’t visit in high summer as it’s too hot and busy.
Order alphabetical, scientific names.
Anacamptis collina (Orchidaceae), Fan-lipped Orchid - Atamaria 20/2/25 - 3/3/25
Anacamptis papilionacea (Orchidaceae), Pink Butterfly Orchid - Las Cenizas 3/3/25
Anacamptis pyramidalis (Orchidaceae), Pyramidal Orchid - Las Cenizas 30/4/25
Limodorum abortivum (Orchidaceae), Violet Limodore – Espuna
Ophrys lutea (Orchidaceae), Yellow Bee Orchid – Espuna
Ophrys speculum (Orchidaceae), Mirror Orchid - Las Cenizas 28/2/25 - 3/3/25
Ophrys tenthredinifera (Orchidaceae), Sawfly Orchid - Atamaria 20/2/25 – 3/3/25
Serapias lingua (Orchidaceae), Tongue Orchid - Las Cenizas 30/4/25
Other flora
Spain; Flora of the southern Costa Blanca (Murcia, Alicante) - list of species identified, all seasons
Blue Rock Thrush (Monticola solitarius) Cartagena
Southern Costa Blanca galleries
Total 250 species + 2 hybrids, 1 escape. Order follows Collins Bird Guide 2nd edn. (2009)
Species recorded within the provinces of Murcia and Alicante, seen over many visits since 2011
The majority of visits are in winter, the hot summer months of June, July, August and September have largely been avoided!
El Hondo refers to the reserve and surrounding area, i.e. southern fields, Vistabella Road, etc
A few sites, e.g. El Hondo rubbish tip, cease to exist now
Mute Swan - Cygnus olor
1 ad in flight San Pedro salinas 27/12/12, not re-found
Greylag Goose - Anser anser
3 El Hondo 14/12/13
Common Shelduck - Tadorna tadorna
Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos
Gadwall - Anas strepera
Fairly common El Hondo, can be scarce elsewhere
Northern Pintail - Anas acuta
Scarce winter
Northern Shoveler - Anas clypeata
Eurasian Wigeon - Anas penelope
Scarce winter. 3 EDAR Consum 20/10/25
Marbled Duck - Marmaronetta angustirostris
Common El Hondo visitor centre following progressive reintroductions. Reintroductions also at El Clot. Occasional elsewhere
Common Teal - Anas crecca
Garganey (Spatula querquedula)
1 Lo Monte 9/10/22, 1 Los Camachos 23/10/25, 1 Los Camachos 1/11/25
Common Pochard - Aythya ferina
Red-crested Pochard - Netta rufina
Ferruginous Duck - Aythya nyroca
Regular now in Murcia in small numbers. Max. 8 Los Camachos 10/10/22; 6 Lo Monte 16/10/24
(Pochard x Ferruginous Duck hybrid)
Los Alcazares EDAR; 1m 3/12/21, 1m 28/1/23, 1 Lo monte 16/10/24
Tufted Duck - Aythya fuligula
Scarce winter. Max. 15 El Hondo 19/12/12
Ring-necked Duck - Aythya collaris
1f EDAR Alhama 28/2/22
Common Eider - Somateria mollissima
1m (1w) Sta Pola harbour 16/1/25
Common Scoter - Melanitta nigra
Scarce. San Pedro (offshore); 11 f/imms. 16/12/12, 4 f/imms. 22/12/12
Surf Scoter - Melanitta perspicillata
1m (1w) Faro de Guardamar 9/1/24; 1f Los Alcazares 16/1/25
Red-breasted Merganser - Mergus serrator
Scarce winter
White-headed Duck - Oxyura leucocephala
Red-legged Partridge - Alectoris rufa
Common Quail - Coturnix coturnix
2 (h) Guadalentin 24/5/22
Great Northern Diver - Gavia immer
1 juv/1w San Pedro 14/1/25
Black-necked Grebe - Podiceps nigricollis
Common winter. Max. c450 La Mata 29/12/14
Little Grebe - Tachybaptus ruficollis
Great Crested Grebe - Podiceps cristatus
Cory's Shearwater (Calonectris borealis)
Seen Cabo de Palos, at least 2 photographed
Scopoli’s Shearwater (Calonectris diomedea)
Seen Cabo de Palos, most large shearwaters should be these. Determined by photograph
Yelkouan Shearwater - Puffinus yelkouan
17 Mirador Puerto de Mazarron 10/3/22 (by photo). Most of these appeared very pale underneath.
2021; The IOC has proposed 're-lumping' Balearic and Yelkouan Shearwaters, previously named Mediterranean Shearwater
Balearic Shearwater - Puffinus mauretanicus
Common winter/Spring/autumn Cabo de Palos
European Storm Petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus)
2 Bay of Mazarrón (pelagic) 25/4/24
Northern Gannet - Morus bassanus
Great Cormorant - Phalacrocorax carbo
European Shag - Phalacrocorax aristotelis ssp. desmarestii
Little Bittern - Ixobrychus minutus
Black-crowned Night Heron - Nycticorax nycticorax
Cattle Egret - Bubulcus ibis
Squacco Heron - Ardeola ralloides
Common spring/summer, rare winter. 1 EDAR Los Alcazares 25/1/23
Little Egret - Egretta garzetta
(Western Reef Heron x Little Egret hybrid E. gularis x E. garzetta)
1 Mazarrón 25/4/24
Great Egret - Egretta alba
Grey Heron - Ardea cinerea
Purple Heron - Ardea purpurea
White Stork - Ciconia ciconia
Glossy Ibis - Plegadis falcinellus
Common El Hondo etc. Increasing in numbers Murcia, where now fairly common.
Eurasian Spoonbill - Platalea leucorodia
Max. c35 San Pedro 11/11/23
Greater Flamingo - Phoenicopterus roseus
Lesser Flamingo – Phoenicopterus minor
1 Vistabella Road El Hondo 17/2/22
Eurasian Griffon Vulture - Gyps fulvus
Increasing in numbers Espuna, Inazares etc
Osprey - Pandion haliaetus
Golden Eagle - Aquila chrysaetos
Most sightings Guadalentin, Espuna etc
Greater Spotted Eagle - Aquila clanga
Rare/Scarce winter. El Hondo only; 1 sub-ad 28/12/11 (Tonn). 1 ad 14/12/13, 2 21/12/13. 1 ad 13/12/14, 19/12/14. 1 ad (Tonn) 27/12/17. 1 ad (Tonn) 26/1/19 (with new transmitter/solar panel), 4/2/19
Short-toed Eagle - Circaetus gallicus
Booted Eagle - Hieraaetus pennatus
Bonelli's Eagle - Hieraaetus fasciatus
Scarce but increasing, especially El Hondo area
Red Kite - Milvus milvus
1 El Hondo 14/12/13, 5 El Carmoli 20/12/13, 1 La Risca dam 9/5/25
Western Marsh Harrier - Circus aeruginosus
Hen Harrier - Circus cyaneus
Winter; El Hondo, Guadalentin, Los Alcazares military zone; usually singles. 1 fem-type Los Alcazares 7/9/21
Montagu's Harrier - Circus pygargus
Scarce. 1 fem-type Sucina 6/9/21
Pallid Harrier - Circus macrourus
1 1w El Hondo 23-31/1/24
Common Buzzard - Buteo buteo
Eurasian Sparrowhawk - Accipiter nisus
Black-winged Kite - Elanus caeruleus
1 ad El Hondo 23/1/24
Common Kestrel - Falco tinnunculus
Lesser Kestrel - Falco naumanni
5 Guadalentin 21/5/23
Peregrine Falcon - Falco peregrinus
Scarce winter
Merlin - Falco columbarius
Scarce winter
Water Rail - Rallus aquaticus
Common Moorhen - Gallinula chloropus
Eurasian Coot - Fulica atra
Red-knobbed Coot - Fulica cristata
Restricted to the reintroduction zone, El Hondo, where common and spreading to outer zones, e.g. Vistabella Road
Purple Swamp-Hen - Porphyrio porphyrio
Common Crane - Grus grus
Scarce. El Hondo southern fields; 12 and 9 27/12/12, 32 26/12/13, 11 6/1/14, 14 13/12/14, 16 and 21 19/12/14, 5 13/12/17; 36 Puerto Alto (on migration) 10/2/25
Great Bustard - Otis tarda
Rare/Scarce. 24 Yecla ZEPA 13/1/23
Little Bustard - Tetrax tetrax
Scarce winter, Guadalentin max. 42 27/12/11. 1m Guadalentin 21/5/23. 3 southern fields El Hondo 22/12/17
Eurasian Oystercatcher - Haematopus Ostralegus
Occasional sightings Mar Menor
Pied Avocet - Recurvirostra avosetta
Black-winged Stilt - Himantopus himantopus
Stone Curlew - Burhinus oedicnemus
Max. c120 Guadalentin 18/12/11 and 27/12/11
Collared Pratincole - Glareola pratincola
Little Ringed Plover - Charadrius dubius
Max. 23 Los Camachos 1/3/22. A bird on eggs (3) Los Nietos 26/4/22
Common Ringed Plover - Charadrius hiaticula
Kentish Plover - Charadrius alexandrinus
Grey Plover - Pluvialis squatarola
European Golden Plover - Pluvialis apricaria
Winter. Max. c180 El Hondo 21/12/135. Los Alcazares 10/9/21
Northern Lapwing - Vanellus vanellus
Red Knot - Calidris canutus
Scarce. 1 juv Estrella de Mar 23/11/21
Sanderling - Calidris alba
Ruddy Turnstone - Arenaria interpres
Dunlin - Calidris alpina
Curlew Sandpiper - Calidris ferruginea
Max. 30+ El Hondo 29/4/22
Temminck's Stint - Calidris temminckii
Winter/spring/autumn. Becoming more frequent and numerous in both Murcia and Alicante
Little Stint - Calidris minuta
Wood Sandpiper - Tringa glareola
Green Sandpiper - Tringa ochropus
Common Sandpiper - Actitis hypoleucos
Common Redshank - Tringa totanus
Spotted Redshank - Tringa erythropus
Common Greenshank - Tringa nebularia
Marsh Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis)
3 El Hondo 13/10/22
Black-tailed Godwit - Limosa limosa
Max. c20 El Hondo 29/4/22
Bar-tailed Godwit - Limosa lapponica
Max. San Pedro c15 25/12/11
Eurasian Curlew - Numenius arquata
Max. San Pedro c30 25/12/11
Whimbrel - Numenius phaeopus
Scarce winter. 1 San Pedro 25/12/11. Max. 25 near Los Alcazares 10/9/21
Common Snipe - Gallinago gallinago
Jack Snipe - Lymnocryptes minimus
Rare/Scarce. 1 Albujon (Los Alcazares) 7/1/14. El Hondo; 1 13/12/17, 4 22/12/17. Lo Monte; 1 12/12/17, 1 26/12/17
Grey Phalarope - Phalaropus fulicarius
1 (1w) San Pedro 11/11/23
Ruff - Philomachus pugnax
Great Skua - Stercorarius skua
Cabo de Palos only; 1 24/12/11, 1 27/12/17, 1 6/2/24
Black-headed Gull - Larus ridibundus
Slender-billed Gull - Larus genei
Common Gull - Larus canus
1 1w Portman 30/1/23 - 9/2/23
Mediterranean Gull - Larus melanocephalus
Max. 23 EDAR Consum 17/2/25
Yellow-legged Gull - Larus michahellis
Audouin's Gull - Larus audouinii
Lesser Black-backed Gull - Larus fuscus
Little Gull - Hydrocoloeus minutus
1 ad-w El Clot 29/2/24
Black-legged Kittiwake - Rissa tridactyla
Scarce. 5+ Cabo de Palos 24/12/11 on strong north-easterlies
Laughing Gull - Larus atricilla
1 2w on res. near Sta-Anna, Cartagena 25/11/21
Little Tern - Sternula albifrons
Sandwich Tern - Sterna sandvicensis
Max. 100+ El Pinet 29/4/22
Caspian Tern - Hydroprogne caspia
1 ad-w Guardamar 31/1/24, 1 (probably the same) El Pinet 31/1/24
Lesser Crested Tern - Thalasseus bengalensis
Torrevieja lighthouse; 1 ad-w 14/3/22, 16/1/23
Elegant Tern - Sterna elegans
1 El Pinet 2/5/23
Gull-billed Tern - Gelochelidon nilotica
Max. 22 Los Alcazares 7/9/21
Common Tern - Sterna hirundo
Max. c50 El Pinet 29/4/22
Black Tern - Chlidonias niger
Los Alcazares; 2 15/9/20, 3 16/9/20, 1 9/2021, 1 El Hondo 17/9/21
White-winged Tern - Chlidonias leucopterus
1 juv Los Alcazares 10/9/21, 1 1w El Hondo 4/12/21
Whiskered Tern - Chlidonias hybridus
Max. 40+ El Hondo 29/4/22. Winter; 4 La Raja (El Hondo) 26/12/13, probably adults
Razorbill - Alca torda
Scarce. 7+ Cabo de Palos 16/12/11, c20 24/12/11. 5 Torrevieja 16/1/23. 1 1w Portman 30/1/23. 6 Guardamar 9/1/24, 1 Guardamar 31/1/24. 23 Cabo de Palos 6/2/24, 108 Cabo de Palos 7/2/24, 25 Cabo de Palos 12/2/24; 1 ad Sta Pola harbour 7/2/251 Bay of Mazarrón (pelagic) 25/4/24
Black-bellied Sandgrouse - Pterocles orientalis
Winter max. c40 Guadalentin 21/12/12. 4 Yecla ZEPA 13/1/23. 40+ Guadalentin 14/10/24
Pin-tailed Sandgrouse - Pterocles alchata
Scarce. 27 Yecla ZEPA 13/1/23
Feral Pigeon - Columba livia domestica
Stock Dove - Columba oenas
Scarce. 6 + 3 Corvera 16/2/23. 1 El Hondo 25/1/24, 6 Vistabella fields 22/10/25
Common Wood Pigeon - Columba palumbus
Eurasian Collared Dove - Streptopelia decaocto
European Turtle Dove - Streptopelia turtur
Common Cuckoo - Cuculus canorus
1 El Hondo 29/4/22, 1 Corvera 2/5/22
Great Spotted Cuckoo - Clamator glandarius
1 ad Guadalentin 2/2/22. 1 Rambla Salada 17/2/25. 2 El Pinet 29/4/22
Monk Parakeet - Myiopsitta monachus
(Yellow-collared Lovebird - Agapornis-personatus)
4 Los Balcones 14/2/24. Escaped/Introduced
Tawny Owl - Strix aluco
1 heard early morning, entrance to Red trail, El Hondo 28/12/11
Little Owl - Athene noctua
Localised; Guadalentin, Escalona, Los Camachos, etc. Los Urrutias; 2 7/1/14, 2 12/2014
Red-necked Nightjar - Caprimulgus ruficollis
1 EDAR Alhama 21/5/23
Common Swift - Apus apus
Winter; 1 Los Camachos res. 15/3/22
Pallid Swift - Apus pallidus
Alpine Swift - Tachymarptis melba
Winter; 1 El Carmoli 7/3/22. Max. 21+ Cala Blanca 7/5/25
Eurasian Hoopoe - Upupa epops
Common Kingfisher - Alcedo atthis
European Bee-eater - Merops apiaster
European Roller - Coracias garrulus
Corvera, Guadalentin etc
European (Iberian) Green Woodpecker - Picus viridis sharpei
Great Spotted Woodpecker - Dendrocopos major
1 Espuna 5/2/19. 1f Caravaca 29/1/24, Puerto Alto; 2 29/1/24, 1 10/2/25. 1 Arroyo Blanco 20/5/25
Eurasian Skylark - Alauda arvensis
Crested Lark - Galerida cristata
Thekla Lark - Galerida theklae
Woodlark - Lullula arborea
Espuna, upland areas, Puerto Alto etc
Greater Short-toed Lark - Calandrella brachydactyla
Lesser Short-toed Lark - Calandrella rufescens
Winter, Guadalentin; max. 200+ 21/12/12, often found on the newly sown fields. Also southern fields (El Hondo), Yecla, etc 10+ San Pedro 27/10/22, 2 Cope 22/5/25
Calandra Lark - Melanocorypha calandra
Guadalentin only; 3 23/12/13. 2+ 27/1/19, 10+ 5/2/19, 2 2/2/22
Sand Martin - Riparia riparia
Eurasian Crag Martin - Ptyonoprogne rupestris
Barn Swallow - Hirundo rustica
Red-rumped Swallow - Hirundo daurica
Common House Martin - Delichon urbicum
Richard's Pipit - Anthus richardi
Scarce. Los Nietos only; 2 7/1/14, 2 27/12/14, 2 6/2/19, 2 16/2/22, 2-3 31/1/23, 1 8/2/23
Water Pipit - Anthus spinoletta
Meadow Pipit - Anthus pratensis
Max. 100+ military zone, Los Alcazares 14/12/11
White Wagtail - Motacilla alba
Yellow Wagtail - Motacilla flava
Winter; El Hondo 1 14/12/13, 2+ 6/1/14, 1 21/12/13, 2 13/12/14, 1 19/12/14. 1 La Serena golf course, Los Alcazares 22/12/13. 1 Los Camachos res. 7/3/22
Grey Wagtail - Motacilla cinerea
Dunnock - Prunella modularis
2 El Mojon (San Pedro) 18/12/13
European Robin - Erithacus rubecula
Nightingale - Luscinia megarhynchos
Rufous Bush Chat - Cercotrichas galactotes
2 Cope 7/5/25, 3 Cope 22/5/25
Bluethroat - Luscinia svecica
Common Redstart - Phoenicurus phoenicurus
Black Redstart - Phoenicurus ochruros
Northern Wheatear - Oenanthe oenanthe
Black-eared Wheatear - Oenanthe hispanica
Black Wheatear - Oenanthe leucura
Common Stonechat - Saxicola torquatus
Whinchat - Saxicola rubetra
2 Calblanque 29/4/24
Song Thrush - Turdus philomelos
Redwing - Turdus iliacus
Scarce. Espuna; 20+ 27/1/19, 30+ 5/2/19; Caravaca; 21 29/1/24, 2 22/1/25; Puerto Alto 4 10/2/25
Mistle Thrush - Turdus viscivorus
Fieldfare - Turdus pilaris
c12 Puerto Alto 10/2/25
Common Blackbird - Turdus merula
Ring Ouzel - Turdus torquatus ssp. alpestris
Scarce winter. Espuna and Puerto Alto. Max. counts 15+ Espuna 27/1/19, 30+ Espuna 5/2/19. 29/1/24. 12-15 Espuna 22/2/24, max. c20 Espuna 19/10/22
Blue Rock Thrush - Monticola solitarius
Blackcap - Sylvia atricapilla
Sardinian Warbler - Sylvia melanocephala
Spectacled Warbler - Sylvia conspicillata
Scarce but increasing. Guadalentin only, winter; 1 m 21/12/12, 1 m 27/1/19, 1 m 5/2/19, 1+ 2/2/22, 1 28/2/22, 5+ 5/2/25
Western Subalpine Warbler - Curruca iberiae
1m Espuna 16/5/25
Dartford Warbler - Sylvia undata
Zitting Cisticola - Cisticola juncidis
Cetti's Warbler - Cettia cetti
Sedge Warbler - Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
1 singing Lo Monte 8/3/22
Moustached Warbler - Acrocephalus melanopogon
2 singing Vistabella Rd (hide) El Hondo 17/2/22. 2 Lo Monte 8/3/22. 1 El Hondo 24/1/25
Reed Warbler - Acrocephalus scirpaceus
Great Reed Warbler - Acrocephalus arundinaceus
Melodious Warbler - Hippolais polyglotta
Western Olivaceous Warbler - Iduna opaca
c7 La Contraparada 13/5/25
Willow Warbler - Phylloscopus trochilus
4 Cabo de Palos 3/5/22
Bonelli's Warbler - Phylloscopus bonelli
Common Chiffchaff - Phylloscopus collybita
Yellow-browed Warbler - Phylloscopus inornatus
1 Caravaca (park) 6/11/25
Hume’s Leaf Warbler - Phylloscopus humei
1 Cartagena 20/1/25
Firecrest - Regulus ignicapilla
Eurasian Wren - Troglodytes troglodytes
Scarce. 1 El Hondo 26/1/23. 1 (h) Calasparra 22/1/24. 1 Puerto Alto 10/2/25, 1 Calasparra 27/5/22, 1 Arroyo Blanco, 2 Bajil 20/5/25
Spotted Flycatcher - Muscicapa striata
Pied Flycatcher - Ficedula hypoleuca
1 Calblanque 6/5/22, 1 Espuna 11/5/22
Great Tit - Parus major
Coal Tit - Paris ater
Eurasian Blue Tit - Cyanistes caeruleus
Scarce. 4+ Calasparra 22/1/24. 6+ Caravaca 29/1/24. 1 Puerto Alto 10/2/25, 3 Calasparra 8/5/23, 4+ Calasparra 22/1/24
Crested Tit - Parus cristatus
Long-tailed Tit - Aegithalos caudatus
Penduline Tit - Remiz pendulinus
Eurasian Nuthatch - Sitta europaea
Scarce. Puerto Alto 2 29/1/24, 2 22/1/25, 2 10/2/25. 2 Caravaca 22/1/25
Short-toed Treecreeper - Certhia brachydactyla
Bearded Reedling - Panurus biarmicus
1 male Vistabella Road El Hondo 17/2/22
Southern Grey Shrike - Lanius meridionalis
Woodchat Shrike - Lanius senator
Iberian magpie - Cyanopica cooki
c30 Los Balcones 14/2/24
Common Magpie - Pica pica
Eurasian Jay - Garrulus glandarius
Jackdaw - Corvus monedula
Red-billed Chough - Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax
Fairly common Espuna, Guadalentin. 2 Los Camachos res. 1/3/22. Increasing in Murcia
Carrion Crow - Corvus corone
Far inland only, mostly at altitude. Max. 10+ Yecla 13/1/23
Northern Raven - Corvus corax
Brown-necked Raven - Corvus ruficollis
The long-staying adult of winter 2018/19
Common Starling - Sturnus vulgaris
Mostly winter. Large flocks of roosting birds El Hondo and other reedbeds
Spotless Starling - Sturnus unicolor
Eurasian Golden Oriole - Oriolus oriolus
House Sparrow - Passer domesticus
Spanish Sparrow - Passer hispaniolensis
1 male Santa Pola 22/12/17
Eurasian Tree Sparrow - Passer montanus
Rock Sparrow - Petronia petronia
Scarce. 7 Inazares 29/1/24, 2 Montnegre (Alicante) 26/5/22. 8+ Calasparra 27/5/22
Common Chaffinch - Fringilla coelebs
Common Linnet - Carduelis cannabina
Hawfinch - Coccothraustes coccothraustes
Scarce. 1 Espuna 11/2/22. 2 Cararvaca 29/1/24, 5+ 22/1/25
European Goldfinch - Carduelis carduelis
European Greenfinch - Carduelis chloris
Eurasian Siskin - Spinus spinus
Scarce. 16+ Estrella de Mar 23/11/21. 2 Espuna 11/2/22. 2 EDAR Alhama 28/2/22. 1m Caravaca 29/1/24. 2 Puerto Alto 22/1/25. 2 Cartagena 29/10/25
European Serin - Serinus serinus
Common Crossbill - Loxia curvirostra
Espuna, max. count 17+ 11/2/22, also Puerto Alto. Occasional on coastal plain
Common Reed Bunting - Emberiza schoeniclus
Cirl Bunting - Emberiza cirlus
Scarce. Espuna; 3+ 17/2/23, 1m 22/2/24; Puerto Alto 1 22/1/25, 4 10/2/25
Corn Bunting - Emberiza calandra
Rock Bunting - Emberiza cia
Scarce. 3 Espuna 22/2/24, 1 Puerto Alto 10/2/25
Common Waxbill - Estrilda astrild
Increasing (introduced). c20 River Segura, Rojales 4/12/21. 7 La Contraparada 13/5/25
BUTTERFLIES - 14 species (Order follows Lanfranchis)
Green-striped White - Euchloe belemia - Common on flowery meadows 12/2014
Bath White - Pontia daplidice
Provencal Hairstreak - Tomares ballus - Campo de Cartgena 26/2/25
Lang's Short-tailed Blue - Leptotes pirithous - 5+ Guardamar 10/11/23
Black-eyed Blue - Glaucopsyche melanops - 2 Calblanque 24/2/22
Plain Tiger (African Monarch) - Danaus chrysippus
Painted Lady - Vanessa cardui - Occasional throughout the winter
Red Admiral - Vanessa atalanta - Quite common throughout - most visits
Wall Brown - Lasiommata megera - Frequent throughout
Hummingbird Hawk-moth - Macroglossum stellatarum - Frequent throughout
OTHER INSECTS - (order alphabetical, within classification order)
Acrotylus patruelis - Slender Digging Grasshopper - 1+ Calblanque 24/2/22
Anacridium aegyptium - Egyptian Grasshopper
Heteracris littoralis - Mediterranean Splendid Grasshopper
Pyrgomorpha conica - 1 female Lo Monte 8/3/22
Tropidopola cylindrica - Common Cylindric Grasshopper - 1 El Hondo 17/2/22
(?)Sphingonotus rubescens (Acrididae) - 5+ Calblanque 24/2/22
Mantis religiosa - Praying Mantis - 1 Los Alcazares 27/11/21
Lophyra flexuosa - (Cicindelidae, Tiger Beetles) - 1 Los Nietos 14/11/23
Chrysotoxum vernale - Straight-barred Spearhorn (Syrphidae) - 1 Calblanque 24/2/22
Bembix oculata (Crabronidae) - 3+ Los Nietos 14/11/23
Rhodanthidium sticticum (Megachilidae) - 5+ Calblanque 24/2/22
Eucera nigrilabris (Apidae) - 2m El Clot 20/2/24
Eucera sp. (Apidae) - various
Xylocopa violacea - Violet Carpenter Bee - 1 Los Alcazares 6/2/23
Apis mellifera - Western Honey Bee
Araneus quadratus - Four-spot Orb-weaver (spider sp.) - 1 San Pedro 8/1/14
OTHER FAUNA
Red Fox - Vulpes vulpes - 1 El Hondo 26/1/19
Weasel - Mustela nivalis - 1 El Hondo 21/12/11; 1 El Hondo 19/12/12
Mouflon - Ovis orientalis musimon - c30 Espuna 27/12/11
Barbary sheep/Aoudad - Ammotragus lervia - 5+ Espuna 17/2/23
Red Squirrel - Sciurus vulgaris - 1 Los Alcazares 5/1/14, 1 Espuna 5/2/19
Brown Rat - Rattus norvegicus - 1 Guadalentin 28/2/22
Southern Water Vole - Arvicola sapidus - Vistabella Rd (El Hondo), 1 19/12/14; 1 24/1/25
Brown Hare - Lepus europaeus
Rabbit - Oryctolagus cuniculus
Moorish Gecko (Tarentola mauritanica) - 1 Lo Monte 10/11/23
Grass Snake - Natrix natrix - 1 El Hondo 26/11/21
Common Bottlenose Dolphin - Tursiops truncatus - 1 Cabo de Palos 6/2/19
FLORA
Orchids (Orchidaceae)
Finding orchids in this part of Spain has been hard work. The season starts as early as January, ends in late May on the coast, and continues with a few other species inland through the summer. Hence the total is low compared with temperate Europe. And we don’t visit in high summer as it’s too hot and busy.
Order alphabetical, scientific names.
Anacamptis collina (Orchidaceae), Fan-lipped Orchid - Atamaria 20/2/25 - 3/3/25
Anacamptis papilionacea (Orchidaceae), Pink Butterfly Orchid - Las Cenizas 3/3/25
Anacamptis pyramidalis (Orchidaceae), Pyramidal Orchid - Las Cenizas 30/4/25
Limodorum abortivum (Orchidaceae), Violet Limodore – Espuna
Ophrys lutea (Orchidaceae), Yellow Bee Orchid – Espuna
Ophrys speculum (Orchidaceae), Mirror Orchid - Las Cenizas 28/2/25 - 3/3/25
Ophrys tenthredinifera (Orchidaceae), Sawfly Orchid - Atamaria 20/2/25 – 3/3/25
Serapias lingua (Orchidaceae), Tongue Orchid - Las Cenizas 30/4/25
Other flora
Spain; Flora of the southern Costa Blanca (Murcia, Alicante) - list of species identified, all seasons