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.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 16th April 2026.

15W Actinic on the terrace, +11.5.

9 Moths of 6 Species.

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

Licence from Junta de Andalucia.

1648 Ethmia terminella.

0706 Monopis nigricantella x1, 1648 Ethmia terminella x2, 5864 Acrobasis obliqua x3, 6719 Nomophila noctuella (Rush Veneer) x1, 8328 Nebula Ibericata x1 and 8965 Tyta luctuosa (The Four-spotted) x1.

5864 Acrobasis obliqua.

5864 Acrobasis obliqua.

8328 Nebula Ibericata.

8965 Tyta luctuosa (The Four-spotted).

El Temple, the Cacín Valley and Balsa del Regidor, Granada Province, Spain.

A cracking day birding with Jacqui and Ray, followed by a walk down the fields later with Paqui.

Ebird List for El Temple.

Ebird List for GR-3310, Ventas de Huelma.

Ebird List for Rio Cacín, Cacín.

Ebird List for Contraembalse de los Bermejales.

Ebird List for GR-4304, Moraleda.

Ebird List for Balsa del Regidor.

Ebird List for the Fields.

Jacqui and Ray happy with their scope views of the Little Bustard.

I met Jacqui and Ray and we were soon out on the tracks around the El Temple area, as we headed into the site we started the list with Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis) and European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus). 

Ray's No1 target species was Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) so we headed straight to a spot where I had seen several a few days earlier, almost instantly we could hear the Raspberry like call and a few seconds later we were watching a nice ♂ which was displaying, brilliant start to the day.

In the same area we picked up a couple of Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Eurasian Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula),  Crested (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and Calandra Lark (Calandria Común / Melanocorypha calandra), Western Black-eared Wheatear (Collalba Rubia Occidental / Oenanthe hispanica) ♂, Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

We turned out on to the cross track and parked again, here we saw Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) which was mobbing a distant immature Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti), Common Fumitory (Fumaria officinalis), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) x2, Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) x18+ and lots of Rabbits (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus).

Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus).

We dropped to the road through the site and then back onto another of the tracks where we saw another Little Bustard, some more Eurasian Stone Curlew, a single Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis), Cloven Petalled Campion (Silene colorata), Field Marigold (Calendula arvensis) and Serrate Spurge (Euphorbia serrata). 

On the other side of the main road we made a stop at a highpoint which gave us good views out over a good area of the fields, as we stood there we heard some passing Gull-billed Tern (Pagaza Piconegra / Gelochelidon nilotica), they were quite high but eventually Jacquic got us onto them and we confirmed the Id and could see there were 6 birds, we also saw Greater Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla) and Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real / Lanius meridionalis). 

We continued on along the tracks to the Solar Panels and turned out towards Ventas de Huélma, on our way to the village where we had a stop at Restaurante Casa Luciano we had nice views of a Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) x1, Painted Lady x9+ and Clouded Yellow x3.

Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas) pale morph.

Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas) pale morph.

Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas) pale morph.

We left the bar and headed for the Cacín Valley but made a couple of stops on the way adding European Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Golden (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) and Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica), Thekla's Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and Green-Striped White (Euchloe belemia).

Green-Striped White (Euchloe belemia).

Green-Striped White (Euchloe belemia).

Down in to the valley we made a short stop at the bridge over the Rio Cacín just after we passed through the village, here we recorded Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum) and Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus).

Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum) at the builders yard.

Further up the Valley at the Contraembalse we made another stop and scanned the lake which was starting to fill up again I am happy to say as I was worried that the planned dredging work would disturb the already nesting Western Marsh Harriers (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), as well as the Harriers we also saw Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Thinornis dubius), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Common Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea) and Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri) x2.

Around at the bridge over the Cacín we scanned some distant crags and found the regular Eurasian Eagle Owl (Búho Real / Bubo bubo) and in the surrounding trees, we added Eurasian Wryneck (Torcecuello / Jynx torquilla) x2, Eurasian Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and Long-tailed Tit (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus), European Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) x2 and Small White (Pieris rapae) x2. 

Up at the Crags near Moraleda we stopped twice but missed the wanted Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura) unfortunately, we did however find a Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), at least 3 ♂ and 1♀ Blue-rock Thrushes (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Purple Bugloss (Echium plantagineum) and Southern Knapweed (Centaurea pullata).

Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina).

Whiskered Tern (Fumarel Cariblanca / Chilidonias hybridus).

Whiskered Tern (Fumarel Cariblanca / Chilidonias hybridus).

Whiskered Tern (Fumarel Cariblanca / Chilidonias hybridus).

Our final stop of the day was at Balsa de Regidor where I was very pleased to find a Whiskered Tern (Fumarel Cariblanca / Chilidonias hybridus) which was briefly joined by a second bird, also seen were Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Large Psammodromus (Psammodromus algirus), Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa), Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathinerum) x8, Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator) x2 and Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus) x1.  

Large Psammodromus (Psammodromus algirus).

I returned to the house for a little while and then went down onto the fields where I met Paqui for a nice stroll together, as we walked I saw Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Whinchat (Tarabilla Norteña / Saxicola rubetra) and Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina) which were new for the day list.

Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) ♀.

The end of the day, after a lovely walk with Paqui.

After we had said goodnight I headed home and whilst sorting out my kit I could hear the 2 local Long-eared Owl (Búho Chico / Asio otus) calling to each other.

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

Another day in the garden and then a walk with Paqui.

 

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

Today I was again working in the garden or around the house, later I went down to the fields and met Paqui, I was enjoying chatting to her so much I didn't really pay attention to the birds but we did spend awhile watching the Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) before we headed off home.

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

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

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 14th April 2026.

15W Actinic on the terrace, +6.5.

4 Moths of 4 Species.

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

Licence from Junta de Andalucia.

 

5381 Beautiful Plume (Amblyptilia acanthadactyla).

5381 Beautiful Plume (Amblyptilia acanthadactyla) x1, 6531 Udea ferrugalis (Rusty Dot Pearl) x1, 8328 Nebula Ibericata x1 and 9056 Autographa gamma (Silver Y) x1.

6531 Udea ferrugalis (Rusty Dot Pearl).

9056 Autographa gamma (Silver Y).

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A day working on the house, later some birding and a nice walk with Paqui in the Evening.

Ebird List for the Fields.

European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola) ♂.

I spent most of the day working down in the bottom room getting it ready for the summer and doing a tad of gardening which was more like jungle clearance as I haven't touched it for quite a while.

European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola) ♂.

European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola) ♂.

At around 17:30 I headed down the fields and had a good look around the Lucerne fields and along the Arroyo finding Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Thinornis dubius), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Iberian (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki) and Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Crested (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and Greater Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), 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), Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Small (Pieris rapae) and Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) and Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui).

Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator).

Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator).

Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator).

At 19:30 ish Paqui arrived and we walked out to the gate and back again adding Eurasian Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis).

Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis).

Back at the cars we said good night and headed for home. 

Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) ♂.

Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) ♂.