Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A walk back from the Mechanics and then a look at the Lucerne fields later. 

Ebird List for the walk back.

Ebird List for the Fields. 

 

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

I had to drop the car down to the garage as there is a problem with the Fuel Gauge which hadn't moved even though I had done 600kms, after leaving it with Paco I started the walk back up to the house across the fields and up the road which was now starting to be knocked back into shape by a couple of large diggers.

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

Species seen during the walk included ♂ Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Thinornis dubius), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) x6, Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), the ♂ Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Eurasian Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), a singing Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), a ♂ Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

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

I got back to the house and did some more painting and finished the one half of the room, tomorrow I will be moving all the stuff in there and start on the other side.

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

At 16:30 Carole my neighbour dropped me down to get the car, I then went for a short walk along the Western side of the Genil but didn't see anything of interest, so I went up to the Lucerne fields where I parked halfway along the road and watched displaying Montagu's Harriers from the car, when I later checked the photos I found that one of the ♂ birds was colour ringed with a blank blue ring on the right leg and a white ring with the black markings K2C.

Colour ringed bird with a blank blue and metal ring on the right leg and a white ring with the black markings K2C on the left leg.

Other species seen whilst I sat there were Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Little Bustard, 4x Montagu's Harriers, Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Eurasian Hoopoe, Woodchat Shrike, Iberian Magpie, Sand (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia) and Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Barn and Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica), Sardinian and Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Corn Bunting.

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

I also saw several Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi), Small (Pieris rapae) x2 and Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri) x2, Clouded Yellows (Colias croceus) x5, Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) x1. 

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

 

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 22nd March 26.

15W Actinic on the terrace, +8.

3 Moths of 3 Species.

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

Licence from Junta de Andalucia.

 

0706 Monopis nigricantella.

0706 Monopis nigricantella x1, 6719 Nomophila noctuella (Rush Veneer) x1 and 8256 Xanthorhoe fluctuata (Garden Carpet) x1.

6719 Nomophila noctuella (Rush Veneer).

8256 Xanthorhoe fluctuata (Garden Carpet).

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

An early walk along the Fields meeting Paqui first and the Juan, Beatriz and Chica.

Ebird List for the Fields.

 

Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea).

I was down on the fields at 08:00, today I parked at the gate as the Walnut Tree parking was full of Asparagus pickers, before I started to I walked back towards the Walnuts I stood by the gates where I picked up a couple of Grey Herons (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) one of which stayed to feed in the Lucerne whilst the other flew out to the west, I also had the ♂ Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius) fly in from the south with prey, it landed briefly before continuing on into the Olives.

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

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

As I walked I added the first of at least 7 Montagu's Harriers (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), the ♂ Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), the 2 regular Black-winged Kites (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), 3x Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Barn (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and ♂♂ of Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus) and Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) which were both year ticks.

♂ Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

Just before I reached the Walnut trees I was very pleased to bump into Paqui who was just starting to walk out towards me.

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

I turned around and walked with her back towards my car chatting directly and via our phone translators, I really wish my Spanish was better. As we walked we watched the Montagu's, the Little Bustard, Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) x5.

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

Just after the fig tree Paqui had to turn around and head off, I spent a while scanning the fields from this point before I spotted Juan arriving, so I followed Paqui back to the Walnut trees where I was pleased to see it wasn't just Juan as Beatriz and Chika were also there.

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

We again walked back up towards my car but spent quite a while watching the Montagu's display flying which was just brilliant, as we walked we also added Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Alpine Swift (Vencejo Real / Apus melba), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Eurasian Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris) and Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina).

♂ Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae).

♂ Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae).

We reached my car where we said goodbye and I headed home to get on with some jobs up in the bedroom, after reattaching some skirting boards and filling some more cracks I chilled for the rest of the day.   

Lower end of the Cacín Valley, A92, Granada Province, Spain.

Plan 1, painting in bedroom, better plan 2, after getting a call from friend Juan Perez to go birding.

Ebird List for Cacín Valley.

 

Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas). 

I was all ready to get started on a few hours painting but then got a call from Juan to say he was going to check out a spot that I had been a couple of times looking for Woodpeckers, so I got changed again and then headed out to met near the A92.

Spiked Fumitory (Platycapnos spicatus).

Silene apetala.

I arrived a few minutes before Juan who arrived a few minutes later and followed me to a parking place nearby and once we got our kit together we went for a 4.2km walk along the Rio Cacín checking the riverside woodland, agricultural areas and surrounding crags.

Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila Perdicera / Aquila faciatus).

Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila Perdicera / Aquila faciatus).

Bird wise we did very well seeing 52 species, some of the more interesting species included Short-toed Snake (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus) and Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila Perdicera / Aquila faciatus), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Northern Goshawk (Azor Común / Accipitor gentillis), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Eurasian Eagle Owl (Búho Real / Bubo bubo), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Eurasian Wryneck (Torcecuello / Jynx torquilla), Great Spotted (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Lesser-spotted (Pico Menor / Dryobates minor) and Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito ibérico / Picus sharpei), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Woodlark (Alondra Totovía / Lullula arborea), Eurasian Crag (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica), Willow Warbler (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia) and Hawfinch (Picogordo Común / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes). 

Hawfinch (Picogordo Común / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes). 

Hawfinch (Picogordo Común / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes).

Wild flowers seen included Hollow Stemmed Asphodel (Asphodelus fistulosus), Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas), Common Mallow (Malva sylvestris), Amethyst Toadflax (Linaria amethystea), Cymbalaria-leaved Speedwell (Veronica cymbalaria), Ramping (Fumaria capreolata) and Common Fumitory (Fumaria officinalis), Mallow-leaved Storksbill (Erodium malacoides), Common Stork's-bill (Erodium cicutarium), Corn Gromwell (Buglossoides arvensis), Eruca (Eruca sativa), Silene apetala, Field Madder (Sherardia arvensis), Field Marigold (Calendula arvensis), Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis), Groundsel (Senecio vulgaris), Purple Bugloss (Echium plantagineum), Shepherds Needles (Scandix pecten-veneris), Southern Red Bartsia (Parentucellia latifolia), Spiked Fumitory (Platycapnos spicatus), Tassel (Muscari comosum) and Wild Grape Hyacinth (Muscari neglectum), White Wallrocket (Diplotaxis erucoides), Wild Mignonette (Reseda lutea) and several spikes of Fan-lipped Orchid (Anacamptis collina).

Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri).

Other species were Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus), Small (Pieris rapae) and Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) and Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus).

Morel Fungi species.

Morel Fungi species.

We returned to the cars and headed back home, I then got a few jobs done at the house before chilling out. 

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 20th March 26.

15W Actinic on the terrace, +10.

2 Moths of 2 Species.

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

Licence from Junta de Andalucia.

 

9433 Paradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow) x1 and 10343 Agrotis puta (Shuttle Shaped Dart) x1.

Granada Province, Spain.

Some Orchid hunting with friends, Kiersten and Anne.

 

Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator).

I started the day by visiting a spot near to the A92 where I checked an area of abandoned Almond trees for Orchids and was pleased to find a good number of the locally rare Bumble-bee Orchid (Ophrys bombyliflora) with about 50 or so of the 200 / 300 spikes in flower, at least 4 or 5 spikes of Dark Spider (Ophrys incubacea), Mirror (Ophrys speculum) x5, Yellow Bee (Ophrys lutea) x14, these four species were the first of the year for me and I also found good numbers of Fan-lipped Orchid (Anacamptis collina) which I have seen in a few spots and a couple of over with Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys lupercalis).

Dark Spider Orchid (Ophrys incubacea).

Bumble-bee Orchid (Ophrys bombyliflora).

Bumble-bee Orchid (Ophrys bombyliflora).

Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea).

Mirror Orchid (Ophrys speculum).

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys lupercalis).

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys lupercalis).

Fan-lipped Orchid (Anacamptis collina).

Fan-lipped Orchid (Anacamptis collina).

Common Stork's-bill (Erodium cicutarium).

Also saw Bellis microcephala, Common Asphodel (Asphodelus aestivus), Common Fumitory (Fumaria officinalis), Field Marigold (Calendula arvensis), Common Stork's-bill (Erodium cicutarium), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito ibérico / Picus sharpei), Thekla's Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and Woodlark (Alondra Totovía / Lullula arborea), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala) and Willow Warbler (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus) my first of the year, Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator) x2, House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

After having a good mooch around I returned to the car and headed to spot where I was meeting Kiersten and Anne but on the way I was held up for a while as there had been a nasty head-on accident which didn't look pleasant, after 20 minutes or so the Guardia allowed us to pass by going into the edge of the field.

 Italian Man Orchid (Orchis Italica).

 Italian Man Orchid (Orchis Italica).

 Italian Man Orchid (Orchis Italica).

My best side.

New rule for next time Kiersten, warn required so I can pull my gut in a tad please 😀😀😀😀

I got to the spot a few minutes late and found Kiersten and Anne were already there and checking a nice patch of Italian Man Orchids (Orchis Italica), once we got our kit together we went for a nice walk through an area of Pine woodlands finding lots more Italian Man along with a lot of Somber Bee, Sawfly (Ophrys tenthredinifera) including a very smart Hypochromatica spike, Giant Orchid (Himanthoglossum Robertiana), Fan-lipped, Mirror and a nice patch of Ophrys x juanamarii the hybrid between Ophrys lupercalis × O. tenthredinifera which Kiersten found last year.

Southern Early Purple Orchid (Orchis olbienis) ????????

Southern Early Purple Orchid (Orchis olbienis) ????????

We also saw what looked like it could be a large, robust spike of Southern Early Purple Orchid (Orchis olbienis)  but it didn't look quite right.

Giant Orchid (Himanthoglossum Robertiana).

Giant Orchid (Himanthoglossum Robertiana).

Giant Orchid (Himanthoglossum Robertiana).

Giant Orchid (Himanthoglossum Robertiana).

Giant Orchid (Himanthoglossum Robertiana).

Giant Orchid (Himanthoglossum Robertiana).

Fan-lipped Orchid (Anacamptis collina).

Fan-lipped Orchid (Anacamptis collina) var. flavescens.

Fan-lipped Orchid (Anacamptis collina) var. flavescens.

During the walk we also saw Wild Grape Hyacinth (Muscari neglectum), Tassel Hyacinth (Muscari comosum), Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Iberian Brown Hare (Liebre ibérica / Lepus granatensis), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Long-tailed (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater), Eurasian Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), European Crested (Herrerillo Capuchino / Lophophanes cristatus) and Great Tit, Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Eurasian Blackcap, Sardinian Warbler, Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis) and European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera).

Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera).

Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera).

Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera).

Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera).

Ophrys x juanamarii (Ophrys lupercalis × O. tenthredinifera).

Ophrys x juanamarii (Ophrys lupercalis × O. tenthredinifera).

Ophrys x juanamarii (Ophrys lupercalis × O. tenthredinifera).

Ophrys x juanamarii (Ophrys lupercalis × O. tenthredinifera).

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys lupercalis).

Iberian Brown Hare (Liebre ibérica / Lepus granatensis).

We returned to the cars and went just up the road to a spot where we had some lunch and then headed off to the north going back to the spot where I had been earlier, on the way we picked up a Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila Perdicera / Aquila faciatus) and Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum).

Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea).

Bumble-bee Orchid (Ophrys bombyliflora).

Dark Spider Orchid (Ophrys incubacea).

Southern Red Bartsia (Parentucellia latifolia).

Shrubby Gromwell (Lithodora fruticosa).

We reached the next spot where we saw the same species as I did earlier in the Morning and as the light was somewhat better now photos were easier, I added Shrubby Gromwell (Lithodora fruticosa) and Southern Red Bartsia (Parentucellia latifolia).

Once we had done what we wanted at this spot we said our goodbyes and headed off, on my way home I called in at Balsa de Regidor, as I arrived I found a Ladder Snake (Culebra de Escalera / Etaphe scalaris) which was sat right in the road and knowing what often happens when the locals see a snake I took some photos before moving it onto the verge, which it wasn't happy about but I hoped it would be safer there.

Ladder Snake (Culebra de Escalera / Etaphe scalaris).

Ladder Snake (Culebra de Escalera / Etaphe scalaris).

Ladder Snake (Culebra de Escalera / Etaphe scalaris).

On the pool I picked up Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Spatula clypeata), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Eurasian Blackcap and Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis) before I headed home and waited for a builder (Lee) to come and give me a price for the repairs to my roof.