Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 22nd April 2026.

15W Actinic on the terrace, +14.5.

29 Moths of 17 Species.

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

Licence from Junta de Andalucia.

 

0465 Myrmecozela ataxella.

0465 Myrmecozela ataxella x2, 0706 Monopis nigricantella x1, 1525 Plutella xylostella (Dimond-back) x1, 5864 Acrobasis obliqua x3, 6531 Udea ferrugalis (Rusty Dot Pearl) x1, 6719 Nomophila noctuella (Rush Veneer) x5, 7765 Peribatodes ilicaria (Lydd Beauty) x1, 8581 Eupithecia cocciferata x1, 9056 Autographa gamma (Silver Y) x2, 9100 Acontia lucida (Pale Shoulder) x2, 9350 Synthymia fixa (Goldwing) x1, 9433 Paradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow) x2, 9961 Hadena sancta x1, 10022 Mythimna l-album (L-Album Wainscot) x1, 10029 Mythimna sicula x2, and 10343 Agrotis puta (Shuttle Shaped Dart) x2.

????????

7765 Peribatodes ilicaria (Lydd Beauty).

8581 Eupithecia cocciferata.

10029 Mythimna sicula.

10029 Mythimna sicula.

9350 Synthymia fixa (Goldwing).

10022 Mythimna l-album (L-Album Wainscot).

9961 Hadena sancta.

El Temple, the Cacín Valley and Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

Out birding with Antonia and Hendrik.

Ebird List for El Temple.

Ebird List for Ventas de Huélma.

Ebird List for Ventas de Huélma 2.

Ebird List for Contraembalse de Bermejales.

Ebird List for Moraleda Crags.

Ebird List for Balsa de Regidor.

I met Antonia and Hendrik, we started with some birding out on the El Temple area, at the first stop we had nice views of and heard Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and European Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca) ♂, Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus).

A little further along the track we stopped again, this time we had nice views out over the fields and saw Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius), Eurasian Hoopoe, Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real / Lanius meridionalis), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) and Small White (Pieris rapae).

We continued on and to the cross track out to the road which cut right through the area, on the way we picked up Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Eurasian Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Calandra Lark (Calandria Común / Melanocorypha calandra) and 2x stunning ♂ Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oropéndola Europea / Oriolus oriolus).

We drove along the road a short way before we took to another track where we again saw a Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Corn Bunting and Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus). 

Further along the road we crossed to the Southern side of the site and checked out a few more of the tracks, new species for the day included Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix) heard, Lesser Kestrel (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni) and Greater Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla) before we headed off the site and started to drive across to the Cacín Valley.

Just out of Ventas de Huelma we made a roadside stop where Antonia picked up a couple of Iberian Green Woodpeckers (Pito ibérico / Picus sharpei) which showed well, and whilst watching this endemic species we also saw or heard Common Woodpigeon, European Turtle Dove, 4x Booted Eagles (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas), Eurasian Scops Owl (Autillo Europeo / Otus scops) heard, Common Kestrel, Eurasian Hoopoe, European Bee-eater, Common Nightingale, Sardinian Warbler, Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Great Tit, European Pied Flycatcher x4, Eurasian Jay (Arrendajo Euroasiático / Garrulus glandarius), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), European Serin and Large Blue Flax (Linum narbonense). 

Further along this road we stopped again and listened to a singing Melodious Warbler (Zarcero políglota / Hippolais polyglotta), whoever gave this bird its English name defiantly needs a slap as it's far from melodious but still nice, Garden Warbler (Curruca Mosquitera / Sylvia borin), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and Large Psammodromus (Psammodromus algirus). 

At the semi-derlict Cortijo nearer to Cacín we had views of Booted and Short-toed Snake Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus) before dropping into the valley seeing an adult Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) and heading up to the Contraembalse, from the parking spot by the lake which was still low but filling up we saw Mallard, European Turtle Dove, Booted Eagle both light and dark morph and Short-toed Snake Eagle, Common Kestrel, Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Thinornis dubius), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Sardinian, Cetti's (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti) and Common Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina), Corn Bunting, Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi) and Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea).

Just around the corned we walked the tracks to the dam, here we saw Eurasian Wryneck (Torcecuello / Jynx torquilla), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Common Nightingale, Eurasian Blackcap, Long-tailed (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus), Great and Eurasian Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), European Serin, Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni) and Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria). 

We made two stops along the crags further north, here we were happy to find both Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura) and ♂ Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) as well as a passing Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Booted Eagle, Common Kestrel, Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Western Jackdaw and a Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia).

Our last stop of the day was at Balsa de Regidor for some water species, whilst there we had views of Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Mallard, Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Stone Curlew x2, 4x Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Whiskered Tern (Fumarel Cariblanca / Chilidonias hybridus), ♂♀ Western Marsh Harriers, Common Nightingale, Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathinerum), Blue / Common (Anax imperator) and Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope) and Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa) before we headed off and finished the day with almost 70 species.

I returned home, Later Paqui came up to the house and we had a 00 beer up on the terrace with some of the very nice Asparagus tortilla she had bought with her, I was very pleased that what we didn't eat she left for me as it tasted brilliant, Thanks Paqui.

Cerro Hacho and Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Recording with Dave and then some birding with Garry and Paul who had come up from Almeria.

 

Axis margarita.

Dave and I started the day up on Hacho sorting through the four moth traps we had set last night (under Licences from the Junta de Andalucia), we started with a trap we had set on the top of some rocks in a small quarry, the second trap was under a largish Oak Tree, the third and star trap was set down low in a quarry and the last one was in an area of pine trees.

Axis margarita.

Axis margarita.

In the third trap we were extremely pleased and surprised to find 6 Axis margarita, a species I had only seen a single specimen of back down at my house.

9282 Cleonymia pectinicornis.

9282 Cleonymia pectinicornis.

 9279 Cleonymia baetica.

9288 Amephana aurita.

6488 Evergestis frumentalis.

8512 Eupithecia gratiosata.

9005 Phytometra sanctiflorentis.

Some of the other species included 0734 Eriocottis andalusiella, 4166 Dyspessa ulula, 5850 Oxybia transversella, 6399 Hyperlais siccalis, 6488 Evergestis frumentalis, 6775 Phyllodesma suberifolia, 7564 Itame vincularia, 7599 Perigune narbonea, 8280 Epirrhoe sandosaria, 8502 Eupithecia venosata (Netted Pug), 8512 Eupithecia gratiosata, 9005 Phytometra sanctiflorentis, 9279 Cleonymia baetica, 9282 Cleonymia pectinicornis, 9288 Amephana aurita, 9298 Metopoceras felicina, 9438 Caradrina flava, 10528b Coscinia chrysocephala and 10600b Arctia angelica,  

4166 Dyspessa ulula.

8280 Epirrhoe sandosaria.

9298 Metopoceras felicina.

6399 Hyperlais siccalis.

10600b Arctia angelica.

10600b Arctia angelica.

Also seen during the time sorting through the Moths were Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater) and Eurasian Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), European Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala) and Western Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla), Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oropéndola Europea / Oriolus oriolus), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) x2, Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) x1, Pink Butterfly Orchid (Orchis papilionacea), Blue Hound's Tongue (Cynoglossum creticum), Common Asphodel (Asphodelus aestivus) and Tassel Hyacinth (Muscari comosum).

Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas).

Pink Butterfly Orchid (Orchis papilionacea).

Common Asphodel (Asphodelus aestivus).

Once the traps were checked we dropped back down to the house where we checked the one in the garden which was really fairly quiet in comparison but added 6531 Udea ferrugalis (Rusty Dot Pearl), 8328 Nebula Ibericata, 6599 Pyrausta sanguinalis (Scarce Crimson & Gold), 8246 Orthonama obstipata (The Gem), 8509 Eupithecia centaureata (Lime-speck Pug) and 10346 Dark Sword-grass (Agrotis ipsilon). We spent the rest of the day catching up with stuff on our laptops before Dave headed off to join another couple of Moth people up in Sierra Nevada.

Garry and Paul.

At just after 16:00 Garry and Paul arrived and after sorting their stuff into the bottom room we headed down to the fields as they wanted to see the local Montagu's Harriers (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) which showed very nicely, we also saw Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), European Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Thinornis dubius), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), White (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Green-Striped White (Euchloe belemia), Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) and Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas) before heading down town for some food and a couple of beers.

 Green-Striped White (Euchloe belemia).

Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum).

Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas) and friend.

and to finish the day.

Back up at the house later we heard Red-necked Nightjar (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis) which had arrived back a couple of days earlier and just as we were going to turn in Garry and I were chatting on the path down to the house and heard a flock of Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) flying over.

Realenga de Agicampe, Huétor Fields and Cerro Hacho, Granada Province, Spain.

Year tick whilst lying in bed, later a walk with Paqui and later still setting Moth lights up on Hacho before food and drinks in Huétor.

 

I started the day by hearing my first Red-necked Nightjar (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis) whilst I was still lying in bed, a little later I was out and down to the fields where I met Paqui for a morning walk as friend Dave Grundy was arriving later to do some Moth recording up on Cerro Hacho.

As we walked we talked, so I really didn't see much bird wise apart from the Montagu's Harriers (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Little Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Chico / Thinornis dubius), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Spanish (Yellow) (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) but as I say I didn't notice much else.

One of the trapping sites.

I returned to the house and then later in the day Dave arrived and after a chat we went and put out 4 Moth lights up on Hacho under licences from the Junta de Andalucia ready for them to be checked tomorrow.

One of a few.

We then went down to 3 Calles in Huétor for some food and a drink. 

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

Another nice evening stroll with Paqui.

Ebird List for the Fields.

I spent all day in the garden and then later in the day went down to the fields, I had an hours birding before Paqui arrived and we went for a stroll.

During the hour I recorded Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), European Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Thinornis dubius), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Greater Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae).

We also saw Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) x4, Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri) x2, Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) x6, Tufted Vetch (Vicia cracca), White Wallrocket (Diplotaxis erucoides) and Mallow-leaved Storksbill (Erodium malacoides).

When we got back to the cars we said good night and we headed off home.

Presa y meandros del Genil, Villanueva Mesía, Granada Province, Spain.

An evening walk with Paqui at a new site for me not far from home.

The Rio Genil.

I spent the day in the garden which is now starting to come together a bit and then later in the evening I met Paqui down in Huétor and we drove through Mesia and on to some tracks where we eventually reached the Presa but it was worth it as it looks like it could well be a very interesting site.

Paqui, she told me about this site.

As we walked around the area we saw Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), European Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Eurasian Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and Long-tailed Tit (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala) and Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

The Rio Genil.

Other species included Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Large White (Pieris brassicae), Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenoides), Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Mirror (Ophrys speculum) and Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea), Blue Hound's Tongue (Cynoglossum creticum), Bladder Campion (Silene vulgaris), Cloven Petalled Campion (Silene colorata), Common Fumitory (Fumaria officinalis), Common Mallow (Malva sylvestris), Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas), Grey-leaved Cistus (Cistus albidus), Hoary Cress (Lepidium draba), Pitch Trefoil (Bituminaria bituminosa), Purple Bugloss (Echium plantagineum), Rosy Garlic (Allium roseum), Spiked Fumitory (Platycapnos spicatus), Tassel Hyacinth (Muscari comosum) and Wild Clary (Salvia verbenaca).

We returned to the car and headed back to Huétor where I said goodbye to Paqui and then headed back home after a very nice couple of hours.