Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A met with a friend and then a walk along the Arroyo Vilano.

Ebird List for the Fields.

 

The Arroyo Vilano, still with a good flow.

I drove down to the Walnut trees and parked, I then walked a short walk so that I could scan the Lucerne area of the fields where I could see a couple of Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) in the Arroyo, a ♂ Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), the pair of Black-winged Kites (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), the first of 3 Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and several singing Corn Buntings (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

The Lucerne fields.

After a little while friend Paqui arrived, we again chatted about cameras and I showed her the very basics of how to use the set-up I was lending her until she decides what system she wants for herself, once that was done she very kindly gave me some Olive Oil and a couple more bits which I am looking forward to trying.

Eurasian Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis).

Paqui wasn't able to do a walk today so I said goodbye to her and then walked out as far as the spot where the Arroyo used to be dammed before turning around and retracing my steps back to the car, during this part of the walk I saw 7x Little Bustards, Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Iberian (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki) and Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Eurasian Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) and Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica), Cetti's (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), House (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Cone Headed Grasshopper (Truxalis nasuta).

Other species seen included Cone Headed Grasshopper (Truxalis nasuta), Andaluz Storksbill (Erodium primulaceum), Cymbalaria-leaved Speedwell (Veronica cymbalaria), Field Marigold (Calendula arvensis), Groundsel (Senecio vulgaris), Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) leaves and Wild Grape Hyacinth (Muscari neglectum).

Wild Grape Hyacinth (Muscari neglectum).

I spent the rest of the day finishing of the repairs to the larger upstairs room and then did a bit of work on the front yard. 

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 28th February 2026.

15W Actinic on the terrace, +12.

4 Moths of 3 Species.

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

Licence from Junta de Andalucia.

 

6775 Phyllodesma suberifolia.

6719 Nomophila noctuella (Rush Veneer) x1, 6775 Phyllodesma suberifolia x1 and 8581 Eupithecia cocciferata x2.

8581 Eupithecia cocciferata.

8581 Eupithecia cocciferata.

Punta del Santo, Golf Los Moriscos 2, Golf Los Moriscos, Playa de la Cagadilla and Laguna del Regidor, Granada Province, Spain.

A morning catching up with a few migrants / year species with Juan Perez.

Ebird List for Punta del Santo 1.

Ebird List for Punta del Santo 2.

Ebird List for Punta del Santo 3.

Ebird List for Golf Los Moriscos 2.

Ebird List for Golf Los Moriscos.

Ebird List for Playa de la Cagadilla.

Ebird List for Laguna del Regidor.

 

Audouin's Gull (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii).

I met Juan at Punta del Santo for a sea-watch which we divided into 3 thirty minutes periods, during the first 30 minutes the best species was a very distant Great Skua (Págalo Grande / Stercorarius skua) which was followed by Balearic Shearwater (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus), Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Thalasseus sandvicensis), Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo).

Audouin's Gull (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii).

On the pool behind us, we saw and heard Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Thinornis dubius), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

Audouin's Gull (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii).

New species seen during the second 30 minutes were Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), Audouin's Gull (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris).

1st winter Black-legged Kittiwake (Gaviota Tridáctila / Rissa tridactyla).

1st winter Black-legged Kittiwake (Gaviota Tridáctila / Rissa tridactyla).

1st winter Black-legged Kittiwake (Gaviota Tridáctila / Rissa tridactyla).

During the third session the star bird put in an appearance when a 1st winter Black-legged Kittiwake (Gaviota Tridáctila / Rissa tridactyla) flew in with a group of Sandwich Terns.

Other species added included Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Spatula clypeata), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula).

Our next stop was just over the road at Golf Los Moriscos 2 where the year and day list got a boost, new year birds were Alpine Swift (Vencejo Real / Apus melba), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica), Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia) and Western Yellow Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava).

Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) and Red-knobbed Coot (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata).

Other species seen included Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and Red-knobbed Coot (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Lesser Black-backed Gull, Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Great Cormorant, Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta), Barn Swallow, Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Cetti's and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Eurasian Blackcap, Common Blackbird, European Robin, Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), House Sparrow, Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), White Wagtail, Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi).

Barnacle Geese (Barnacla Cariblanca / Branta leucopsis) and Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra).

Barnacle Geese (Barnacla Cariblanca / Branta leucopsis) and Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra).

We moved up to the next pool on another part of the Golf Los Moriscos where we soon added the Barnacle Geese (Barnacla Cariblanca / Branta leucopsis) and Egyptian Goose (Ganso del Nilo / Alopochen aegyptiaca) to the day list before we headed out to Playa de la Cagadilla where we walked to the far end and back.

Playa de la Cagadilla.

One of the freshwater pools on Playa de la Cagadilla.

During the walk we saw several new species which included Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Eurasian Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), our first Sedge Warbler (Carricerin Común / Acrocephalus schoenobaenus) of the year and Bermuda Buttercup (Oxalis pes-caprae), Ramping Fumitory (Fumaria capreolata), White Wallrocket (Diplotaxis erucoides), European Searocket (Cakile maritima), Purple Bugloss (Echium plantagineum) a couple of Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) butterflies.

Sedge Warbler (Carricerin Común / Acrocephalus schoenobaenus).

Sedge Warbler (Carricerin Común / Acrocephalus schoenobaenus).

European Searocket (Cakile maritima).

We walked back to the car and I dropped Juan back to his place, where I said Bye and headed back towards home but made a quick stop off at Balsa de Regidor on the way, here I found Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis), Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus) and Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa).

Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).

Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).

Huétor Fields, Rio Genil East and West, Granada Province, Spain.

A look around the local Patch.

Ebird List for the Lucerne Fields.

Ebird List for Rio Genil East.

Ebird List for Rio Genil West.

 

European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola) ♀.

I started with a walk along the Arroyo Vilano from the Walnut Trees out as far as the old dammed site, during the walk I saw singles of Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) and Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), the usual pair of Black-winged Kites (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), 2x Little Owls (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and a nice Common Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus).

European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola) ♀.

Common Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus) ♀.

Common Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus) ♀.

Common Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus) ♀.

I got back to the car and went for a look along the Rio Genil to the East of the bridge, a Lesser-spotted Woodpecker (Pico Menor / Dryobates minor) was the best bird but it was only heard unfortunately and always distantly. 

Other species were Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Iberian Magpie, Eurasian Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and Long-tailed Tit (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), Eurasian Tree Sparrow and Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea).

I moved over to the Western side of the bridge where I had a single Eurasian Penduline Tit (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus) but nothing else new, so I headed home and got a bit more decorating done.

Sierra de Mijas, Monda area and Zapata, Malaga Province, Spain.

A cracking morning with Kevin and Perry looking for Orchids and a bit of birding with Barbara and Derek Etherton and Bob Wright.

Ebird List for Zapata.

 

Anacamptis x dafnii = (Anacamptis collina x Orchis papilionacea).

I started the morning with a drive down to a spot in Sierra de Mijas where I met friend Kevin Wade and Perry Van Munster for the first time which was great as I had seen many of Perry's photo's on Facebook and it was good to put a face to them.

Woodcock Orchid (Ophrys Scolopax).

Woodcock Orchid (Ophrys Scolopax).

Kevin and I were there a tad early so started at a site in the Sierra which I have visited a good man times by having a look at the very smart Hybrid Anacamptis x dafnii = (Anacamptis collina x Orchis papilionacea).

Woodcock Orchid (Ophrys Scolopax) bicolor.

Woodcock Orchid (Ophrys Scolopax) bicolor.

After a few minutes Perry arrived and then we had a good wander around the site with him and Kevin showing a few nice species, a couple of which I had not seen before.

Woodcock Orchid (Ophrys Scolopax) One-color.

Woodcock Orchid (Ophrys Scolopax) Double Lipped.

Woodcock Orchid (Ophrys Scolopax) Triple Lipped but going over.

We started with Woodcock Orchid (Ophrys Scolopax), we found a good number of the classic plant as well as several spikes of the var bicolor, the totally uncoloured spike as well and a 3 lipped aberrant plant.

Ophrys x castroviejoi (Ophrys Speculum x O. Scolopax).

Ophrys x castroviejoi (Ophrys Speculum x O. Scolopax).

Ophrys x castroviejoi (Ophrys Speculum x O. Scolopax).

As we continued on we got to an area where I have seen the stunning Hybrid Ophrys x castroviejoi (Ophrys Speculum x O. Scolopax) several times, it is always great to see, friend Juan Pérez Contreras found the first specimen of this orchid for Andalucia back in 2011.

Fan-lipped Orchid (Anacamptis collina).

Fan-lipped Orchid (Anacamptis collina).

Conical Orchid (Neotinea conica).

Ophrys x Peltieri (Ophrys Scolopax x O. tenthredinifera).

Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera).

Also seen as we walked around orchid wise we added Fan-lipped Orchid (Anacamptis collina), Conical Orchid (Neotinea conica), Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera) and another Hybrid Ophrys x Peltieri (Ophrys Scolopax x O. tenthredinifera).

Kevin and Perry getting some shots of the Ophrys x castroviejoi.

Perry and Myself checking out the Ophrys x castroviejoi.

Other species seen during the walk included Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and Yellow Anemone (Anemone palmata).

Ophrys alpujata.

Ophrys alpujata.

Ophrys alpujata.

Ophrys alpujata.

We moved to another site nearer to Monda where after parking we walked an area of old Olives where we found quite a few spikes of the small / delicate Ophrys alpujata, Somber Bee (Ophrys lupercalis), Fan-lipped, Giant (Himanthoglossum Robertiana) and Woodcock Orchid.

Giant Orchid (Himanthoglossum Robertiana).

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys lupercalis).

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys lupercalis).

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys lupercalis).

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys lupercalis).

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys lupercalis).

Other species were Eurasian Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Bermuda Buttercup (Oxalis pes-caprae), Wild Clary (Salvia verbenaca), Large (Pieris brassicae) and Small White (Pieris rapae).

Hybrid Ophrys x vanmunsterii (Ophrys Alpujata x O. Lupercalis).

Hybrid Ophrys x vanmunsterii (Ophrys Alpujata x O. Lupercalis).

Hybrid Ophrys x vanmunsterii (Ophrys Alpujata x O. Lupercalis).

We moved on to our 3rd spot just along the road where we had more Ophrys alpujata, Somber Bee (Ophrys lupercalis) and a selection Ophrys x vanmunsterii (Ophrys Alpujata x O. Lupercalis)..

Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera).

Gagea Species.

Other species were Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), Cloven Petalled Campion (Silene colorata), Common Asphodel (Asphodelus aestivus), Purple Bugloss (Echium plantagineum) and Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus).

Two-leaved Gennaria (Gennaria diphylla).

Two-leaved Gennaria (Gennaria diphylla).

We returned to the cars and after saying goodbye and thanking them for a great morning, I started to head back home but decided to call in at the Rio Pereilas near a large Quarry where I found several spikes of Two-leaved Gennaria (Gennaria diphylla) but none were fully in flower.

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys lupercalis).

I returned to the car and headed off to Barbara and Derek Ethertons where I was dropping the last 11 bags of Jayne's clothes as they said they would drop them to Cudeca Cancer charity shop as I find that rather difficult.

I stayed for a very nice evening meal with them and another friend Bob Wright who was visiting from the UK, before we had the food we popped down to Zapata, Derek and Barbara's local patch where we had a few nice species including Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), Northern Raven (Cuervo grande / Corvus corax), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and 6+ Eurasian Penduline Tit (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Cetti's (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Dartford (Curruca Rabilarga / Curruca undata) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Eurasian Penduline Tit (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus) ♂.

Eurasian Penduline Tit (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus) ♂.

We went back to the house and the Steak and Ale pie was absolutely brilliant, after eating I sat and chatted for a while before heading back home.