Finally! On the very last day of what's been a rather bleak January I find myself with a bit of time on my hands and it's a leisurely stroll back to Lanjaron for me, a welcome chance to enjoy a bit of sunshine and catch up with what's out and about as I follow the mountain track down through one of my favourite local birdwatching patches.

Heading off from a friend's house up on the hillside I expected, and duly saw, all the usual supporting cast. Blue Tits, Great Tits and the inevitable Blackbirds, joined by equally familiar Chaffinches and Goldfinches. Flocks of Serin gave the scrubland a more Mediterranean feel, and the olive trees were full of Blackcap and noisy, churring Sardinian Warblers.

Then, a nice tick for the end of the month...the first Short-toed Treecreeper of the year, ignoring me completely as it worked its way from tree trunk to tree trunk only yards away, completely absorbed in the never-ending search for its invertebrate prey. Bright, summer-plumage Greenfinches were a nice distraction soon after...spring-time? Maybe, just maybe..

Blue Rock Thrush showed well on the rockier, more open slopes...two greyer first-winter birds first, then a nice slate-blue male. I had dismissed a detour to search for this particular species as I set off earlier on. Superb views of a beautiful bird...a great addition to the day-list!

A chance to look back up the valley now and check the skies for raptors...and the day brought another nice surprise. At last, my first Buzzard down here in Spain! The recent arrival of these "old friends from home" on our local patch was the subject of much debate at the end of last year. Kiersten managed to grab some photos back in November, and it appeared we'd finally ticked a species I for one believed we'd be seeing regularly...with our Short-toed Eagles and large numbers of our Booted Eagles now wintering in Africa I wonder if vacated territories have allowed this species to temporarily fill some gaps locally.

Free of competition they may well be...I certainly had fantastic views as it circled overhead, its mewing "peee-uu" cries bringing back memories of countless encounters with this wonderfully familiar bird of prey from back home. It came to rest at the top of a tree a couple of times, close enough to see that pale crescent in the plumage across the chest that always puts any nagging doubts regarding identification to rest. Let's hope they stay on and have a part to play through the summer...

Looking skywards isn't always just about our local birds of prey...I stopped for a while longer to watch the Crag Martins swirling over the valley, evidently enjoying the warmth of the sun as much as me. Easily overlooked once the migrant hirundines and swifts return once more to fill the skies above the village, these year-long residents are every bit as superb in the air as their more flamboyant cousins. They seemed to relish the oppurtunity to display their skills as they soared and sped by...truly, an aeronautical masterclass.

Almost home now, but I still had to take time out to watch one of our winter regulars...the Black Redstarts were just superb as I approached the outskirst of the village. Brilliant summer males...charcoal grey with jet black faces and chests, flashing bright white wing bars and rusty red tails as they darted to and fro across the road. Spring-time? You know, I'm really starting to think so! Glorious...

Expect regular updates as the Birdwatch Alpujarras team makes the very most of the weather and another season begins. We've got new birdwatching sites to explore and report on, so please keep checking the Tour Diaries for all the news as another spring unfolds!