Huétor Fields, Presa y Meandros del Genil and the Arroyo Vilano above La Fabrica, Granada Province, Spain.

A more local day with Paqui, Lynn and Steve.

 

We started the day by popping down to the Fields where we met Paqui and did a short walk along the Arroyo Vilano watching the Montagu's Harriers (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) including some of this year's immature birds from the 8+ nests in the Lucerne fields.

Other species seen including Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Thinornis dubius), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) and Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui).

Small Pincertail (Onychogomphus forcipatus) ♀ Exuvia.

Small Pincertail (Onychogomphus forcipatus) ♀.

Our next stop was for some breakfast down in town and we then we all headed off to the Presa where we checked out the weir and the surroundings, the highlight was watching a ♀ Small Pincertail (Onychogomphus forcipatus) emerge, always amazing to watch new life starting.

Small Pincertail (Onychogomphus forcipatus) ♀.

Small Pincertail (Onychogomphus forcipatus) ♀.

Later we found several adult Small Pincertail x7♂1♀ around a fig bush and a couple of Iberian Bluetail (Ischnura graellsii) x2♂. 

Iberian Bluetail (Ischnura graellsii) ♂.

Small Pincertail (Onychogomphus forcipatus) ♂.

Bird wise we picked up European Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Little Ringed Plover, Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oropéndola Europea / Oriolus oriolus), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis).

Iberian Bluetail (Ischnura graellsii) ♂.

Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma) ♂.

Southern Skimmer (Orthetrum brunneum) ♂.

Southern Skimmer (Orthetrum brunneum) ♂.

Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea) ♂.

Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi) ♂.

We returned to the car and then headed back to Huétor where we dropped Paqui at her place before going up to the Arroyo Vilano again but this time at the stretch with water above La Fabrica, after parking we walked the river and found several dragon species including Iberian Bluetail x10+, White Featherleg (Platycnemis latipes) x2♂, Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator) x2♂, Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma) x3♂ and Southern Skimmer (Orthetrum brunneum) x1♂, Orange-winged (Trithemis kirbyi) x3♂ and Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata) x1♂ and Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea) x2♂.

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

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

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

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

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

Other species included Mediterranean Skipper (Gegenes nostrodamus) x2, Small White (Pieris rapae) x8, Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) x2, Painted Lady x5, Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi), Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa), Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus), Small Fleabane (Pulicaria vulgaris), Redshank (Persicaria maculosa), Common Mallow (Malva sylvestris), Heliotropium supinum, Common Woodpigeon, European Turtle Dove, a family of Red-rumped Swallows (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica), Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), European Greenfinch and European Goldfinch. 

Mediterranean Skipper (Gegenes nostrodamus).

The Arroyo Vilano before the point where the Arroyo is dammed so the farmers can take all the water for the Olives.

and more water.

The Rio Guadalhorce North of Álora, Malaga Province, Spain.

A few hours at a favourite spot on the Rio Guadalhorce looking for Dragonflies.

We headed out to a spot along the Rio Guadalhorce in Malaga Province, on the way we crossed a small stream so we checked it out and found Copper Demoiselle (Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis) x1♂, Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) x2, Small White (Pieris rapae) x2, Spanish Gatekeeper (Pyronia bathseba) x1, a Large Psammodromus (Psammodromus algirus) which Steve got some shots of eating a Grasshopper, Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula cabrerae), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Barn (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica), Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteño / Emberiza cirlus), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis).

The Rio Guadalhorce.

We reached the Rio Guadalhorce and parked, we walked down to the main spot which had change quite a bit since we were there last after some storms during the winter.

Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oropéndola Europea / Oriolus oriolus) ♂.

Things were quiet to start with Dragonfly wise but we did see a nice ♂ Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oropéndola Europea / Oriolus oriolus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Barn Swallow, Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa) and the first of many Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi).

Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi).

Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi).

Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi).

As things started to warm up the first Dragons started to fly, these included Iberian Bluetail (Ischnura graellsii), Copper Demoiselle, Small Pincertail (Onychogomphus forcipatus), Orange-winged (Trithemis kirbyi) and Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata) and Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma).

Faded Pincertail (Onychogomphus costae) ♂.

Faded Pincertail (Onychogomphus costae) ♂.

Faded Pincertail (Onychogomphus costae) ♂.

Steve up close and personal with the Faded Pincertail (Onychogomphus costae).

and me cooling down.

After a while Steve picked up the first of the stunning Faded Pincertail (Onychogomphus costae) and then we spent a good while getting some nice shots of what is probably my favourite Dragon Species.

Ringed Cascader (Zygonyx torridus) Exuvia.

Steve checking the rocks for Ringed Cascader (Zygonyx torridus) Exuvia.

Whilst there we also found a few Ringed Cascader (Zygonyx torridus) Exuviae on the rocks and vegetation on the far bank so Steve, the slightly more stable of us two old codgers crossed and collected them.

Blue-eye (Erythromma lindenii) ♂.

Other species were Blue-eye (Erythromma lindenii), Oriental Hornet (Vespa orientalis), Lake Pondskater Aquarius paludum, Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi), Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Nightingale and Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild).

Oriental Hornet (Vespa orientalis).

Oriental Hornet (Vespa orientalis).

Lake Pondskater (Aquarius paludum) ?????

After a while Lynn and Steve started to walk up a side channel and I continued to get shots of the Faded Pincertail, a little later I followed them and soon found Steve sat on a rock in the shade of some reeds, so I sat with him, Lynn had gone back to the car to fetch their lunch and when she returned she had also bought mine as well.

Viperine Snake (Culebra Viperina / Natrix maura).

Viperine Snake (Culebra Viperina / Natrix maura).

Whilst we sat there I was suddenly aware of a Viperine Snake (Culebra Viperina / Natrix maura) periscoping in the blanket weed in the stream, Steve later found out this is a common hunting method but was something none of us had seen before.

Viperine Snake (Culebra Viperina / Natrix maura).

Viperine Snake (Culebra Viperina / Natrix maura).

After the lunch break Lynn and Steve went for a walk upstream but my leg was by now giving me some stick so I headed back to the car where I started to look through my photos, however I didn't get very far as Lynn and Steve soon returned as it was getting very warm, so we headed back to the house to chill.