Loja Wildlife, Granada Province, Spain.

Saturday, 11 April 2026

Huétor Fields and Rio Cacín, Granada Province, Spain.

A nice morning walk with Paqui before a longer stretch of the legs with Juan.

Ebird List for the upper Cacín Valley.

I was down on the fields early to have a walk with Paqui which as always was a pleasure, as we walked we watched the Montagu's Harriers (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) as well as Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and Greater Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Cetti's (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

We reached the cars and I said goodbye to Paqui before heading off to met friend Juan Perez for a walk along the upper part of the Cacín Valley, I found Juan's car, so I drove further up the valley and parked then I walked quickly until I found Juan who soon got me on to the first of 5 Wood Warblers (Mosquitero Sibador / Phylloscopus sibilatrix) we saw during the walk.

Wood Warbler (Mosquitero Sibador / Phylloscopus sibilatrix).

As we moved further on we picked up Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oropéndola Europea / Oriolus oriolus), European Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca) and European Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur) which were also year ticks.

Hawfinch (Picogordo Común / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes).

Other species seen included Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Eurasian Collared (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Common Kestrel, Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Nightingale, Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus) ♂♂, Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Long-tailed (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Eurasian Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Woodlark (Alondra Totovía / Lullula arborea), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Cetti's Warbler, Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Western Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Hawfinch (Picogordo Común / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Corn Bunting.

Spiked Fumitory (Platycapnos spicatus).

Anchusa undulata.

Ramping Fumitory (Fumaria capreolata).

Silene apetala.

I also recorded Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas), Common Mallow (Malva sylvestris), Ramping (Fumaria capreolata) and Common Fumitory (Fumaria officinalis), Mallow-leaved Storksbill (Erodium malacoides), Common Stork's-bill (Erodium cicutarium), Eruca (Eruca sativa), Silene apetala, Field Madder (Sherardia arvensis), Field Marigold (Calendula arvensis), Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis), Groundsel (Senecio vulgaris), Anchusa undulata, Purple Bugloss (Echium plantagineum), Southern Red Bartsia (Parentucellia latifolia), Spiked Fumitory (Platycapnos spicatus), Tassel (Muscari comosum) and Wild Grape Hyacinth (Muscari neglectum), White Wallrocket (Diplotaxis erucoides), Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) and Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus).

Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri).

We got back to my car where I said goodbye to Juan and Chika, I got home just after 13:00, showered and then headed up to some friends (Catherine and Michael's) for a BBQ and a few drinks which was very nice as we were able to sit outside and enjoy the better than expected weather.

Some more rain incoming.

Latter I headed home and collapsed in a S****y heap.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 10th April 2026.

15W Actinic on the terrace, +12.

7 Moths of 5 Species.

Any corrections, PLEASE send me a comment on the post, thanks.

Licence from Junta de Andalucia.

6509 Cornifrons ulceratalis.

6509 Cornifrons ulceratalis x1, 6531 Udea ferrugalis (Rusty Dot Pearl) x2, 9056 Autographa gamma (Silver Y) x2, 9298 Metopoceras felicina x1 and 10343 Agrotis puta (Shuttle Shaped Dart) x1.

6531 Udea ferrugalis (Rusty Dot Pearl).

9298 Metopoceras felicina.

Friday, 10 April 2026

Coin, Monda areas in Malaga Province and Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A morning looking for Orchids, Lunch with friends, a drink with another friend and a nice short walk with Paqui to finish the day very nicely.

Ebird List for Malaga.

I was up and ready for the off by 06:20 but as soon as I started out I could tell something wasn't right with one of the tyres, I pulled over and found a whacking great bolt in the front passenger side tyre.

The tyre was still fully inflated but I thought it wasn't worth the risk of driving all the way down to Malaga area, I returned to the house and then later went down to the tyre guys in Huétor who had me back on the road to Malaga a few minutes after they opened.

Serapias vomeracea.

My first site was just to the north of Coin where I checked a roadside bank and soon found 20 or so spikes of the very smart Serapias vomeracea and a couple of Small Tongue Orchids (Serapias parviflora).

Serapias vomeracea.

Small Tongue Orchid (Serapias parviflora).

I was soon on the move again to a spot near Monda finding lots of Yellow Bee (Ophrys lutea), Mirror (Ophrys speculum) and a few almost over with due to the recent rains Bumble-bee Orchids (Ophrys bombyliflora) alongside the hybrid Ophrys x fernandii (O. bumbyliflora x O. speculum) and another spike which I am not sure about but Perry Van Munster from down in Malaga Province has Identified it for me as Ophrys x clapensis ( O. lutea x O. bombyliflora) thanks Perry.

Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea).

Ophrys x fernandii (O. bumbyliflora x O. speculum).

Ophrys x clapensis ( O. lutea x O. bombyliflora).

Just a short distance back down the road I checked some olives seeing the hybrid Ophrys x diazii (O. alpujata × O. scolopax) and a single spike of Woodcock Orchid (Ophrys Scolopax) which retained just a single OKish flower.

Ophrys x diazii (O. alpujata × O. scolopax).

Woodcock Orchid (Ophrys Scolopax).

I put the camera stuff away and headed for Malaga where I called at a Eurotex place and got a couple of boxes of their filler before meeting up with Barbara and Derek Etherton for Lunch at Ikea, as I was early I had a walk around the shop and got a couple of bits before we had a meal and a chat.

I then headed back home picking up a single Rose-ringed Parakeet (Cotorra de Kramer / Psittacula krameri) which was following a flock of Monk Parakeets (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus) before going out for a beer with friend Pau and then a walk with Paqui which finished the day off perfectly.

Thursday, 9 April 2026

East towards Granada, near Moaleda and Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

Out Orchid hunting at a couple of sites and a walk with Paqui again later.

Ebird List for the fields.

Lady Orchid (Orchis purpurea).

I started the day by driving out to a spot in the direction of Granada, once I was on site I soon found 7 spikes of the uncommon Lady Orchid (Orchis purpurea) which were stunning, I also found Mirror (Ophrys speculum), Yellow Bee (Ophrys lutea), Sawfly (Ophrys tenthredinifera), Cloven Petalled Campion (Silene colorata), Common Asphodel (Asphodelus aestivus), Grey-leaved Cistus (Cistus albidus), Small-fruit Pheasant's-eye (Adonis microcarpa) and Roemeria sicula.

Lady Orchid (Orchis purpurea).

Mirror Orchid (Ophrys speculum).

Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea).

Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera).

Also seen were Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris).

Small Woodcock Orchid (Ophrys picta).

Back down the hill I spotted again where I had been with friends last year looking for the Lady Orchids in the wrong place finding several some spikes of the Small Woodcock Orchid (Ophrys picta), Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus), Small White (Pieris rapae), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) and several Painted Lady's (Vanessa cardui).

Small-fruit Pheasant's-eye (Adonis microcarpa).

Roemeria sicula.

Grey-leaved Cistus (Cistus albidus).

Common Asphodel (Asphodelus aestivus).

I moved on but went up the hill and the slightly longer route back to the A92, on the way I saw Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina) and European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

Bumble-bee Orchid (Ophrys bombyliflora).

I reached the motorway and then went to a site near Moraleda to check in on the Dark Spider (Ophrys incubacea) and Bumble-bee Orchids (Ophrys bombyliflora) which were both nicely in flower along with good numbers of Mirror and Yellow Bee.

Dark Spider Orchid (Ophrys incubacea).

Around this spot I also recorded Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Eurasian (Urraca Común / Pica pica) and Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica).

Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia).

I went home for a while and then went down to the field at around 18:00 to see how the Montagu's Harriers (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) were going on, I was surprise how bad the Calima had got between getting home and now but I persisted even though I could feel the dust in my eyes and taste it.

The Sun through the Calima.

I arrived to find the Monty's were quite active and after a few scans I sorted out that there were at least 6♀ and 5♂ birds in the area as well as Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Eurasian Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Thinornis dubius), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Greater Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Spanish (Yellow) (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) and at least 8+ Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui).

Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) ♂.

Back at the car I sat down near the end of the migrant fence picking up a couple of year list birds, a ♀ Whinchat (Tarabilla Norteña / Saxicola rubetra) and a Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis).

At around 19:30 Paqui arrived, we again had a walk out to the gate and back, it might be my imagination but I think we used the translators a little less tonight, mostly because Paqui forgot her phone and mine wouldn't work 😃😃😃😃 but we still managed to chat and laugh before heading home.

SIERRA de LOJA.