Contraembalse de Bermejalis, Contraembalse Presa, Balsa de Regidor and the Lucern Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

Out along a very damp and muddy Cacín Valley and then on the Patch. 

Ebird List for Contraembalse de Bermejalis.

Ebird List for Contraembalse Presa.

Ebird List for Balsa de Regidor.

Ebird List for the Lucerne Fields.

 

Some snow up on Sierra de Loja.

I drove down to the Contraembalse de Bermejalis where after parking I got the scope set up and checked a raptor which was on one of the pylons which turned out to be a ♂ Northern Goshawk (Azor Común / Accipitor gentillis).

Looking South down the Cacín Valley.

There was also a nice ♂ Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) sat in one of the Pines and a ♀ which came up out of the reeds and upset all the birds at the far end of the lake which made counting them easier.

Looking North to the Dam / Presa.

I was pleased to find that the ♂ Tufted Duck (Porrón Moñudo / Aythya fuligula) I had missed at Embalse del Cubillas a week or so ago had relocated here and was swimming around with a small group of 5 Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), a good number of Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), a squealing Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), 8 Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), the 2 Common Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) which were still on the mud, Common (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) and Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), a single Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

♂ Tufted Duck (Porrón Moñudo / Aythya fuligula) and Common Pochards (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina).

♂ Tufted Duck (Porrón Moñudo / Aythya fuligula) and Common Pochards (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina).

♂ Tufted Duck (Porrón Moñudo / Aythya fuligula) and Common Pochards (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina).

Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus).

On the margins and surroundings I also saw Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Thekla's Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus).

The mud gets a tad sticky.

Contraembalse de Bermejalis.

I moved just up the road to the track that goes to the Dam but checked the Rio Cacín from the bridge finding Eurasian Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Long-tailed Tit (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus), Song Thrush, European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea).

I did a walk along the road and picked up another Grey Heron, 2x displaying Common Buzzards (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Coal Tit  (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala) and Eurasian Blackcap.

Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea).

Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea).

Next I moved back up the Valley to the Balsa de Regidor where It was damn cold, so I did my birding from the car which restricted the view a bit but I still recorded Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Spatula clypeata), Mallard, Common Pochard, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Little (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and a winter plumage Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), Green Sandpiper, Great Cormorant, Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove,Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Eurasian Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), a good number of Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Common Chiffchaff, Cetti's Warbler, Eurasian Blackcap, Sardinian Warbler, Spotless Starling, Song Thrush, Common Blackbird, European Robin, Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Grey Wagtail, White Wagtail, European Goldfinch and European Serin.

It started to rain / sleet, so I headed back towards Huétor, by the time I got there the sun was out so I went to have a look along the Lucerne fields, the sun may have come out but it was still piggin cold so I did the birding from the car again.

Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

As I scanned the fields, I picked up the usual pair of Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and Eurasian Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) which were new for the day before I went back to the house and got on with a few jobs.

Balsa de Regidor and Rio Cacín south of the A92, Granada Province, Spain.

Out on a very wet Local Patch looking for Woodpeckers.

Ebird List for Balsa de Regidor.

Ebird List for Lower Cacín Valley.

 

Balsa de Regidor.

I headed out to Balsa de Regidor where after parking I checked the area to the NE of the pool where I saw a Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) which was sat on a rock but was being mobbed by around 15 Western Jackdaws (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula) and at least 4 Eurasian Magpies (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

I walked around to the concrete pier and on the pool I found 44x Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Spatula clypeata), 4x Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), 19x Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), 4x Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), 12x Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), 13x Little (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and a winter plumage Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis).

Around the margins I added Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

♂ Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis).

♂ Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis).

I went back along the A92 to the Mesia Junction and then parked on the Southern side of the motorway on the service road, from here I walked out for about 1.5 KMS, on the way I saw Little (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta) and Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), 2x more Common Buzzard, Long-tailed Tit (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus), Eurasian Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), House (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and right at the end of the walk I heard a call I had been hoping for and then got brief but good views of a fine ♂ Lesser-spotted Woodpecker (Pico Menor / Dryobates minor).

Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major).

Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major).

Once I got back to the car I returned to Huétor where I had a coffee and lunch with a friend from Loja before doing a bit of shopping and heading home.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 22nd January 26.

15W Actinic on the terrace, +6.

2 Moth of 2 Species.

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

Licence from Junta de Andalucia.

 

6184 Eudonia angustea (Narrow-winged Grey).

After an extremely wet (38mm) and windy night I was surprised to find anything had come in to the light, the moths were 6184 Eudonia angustea (Narrow-winged Grey) x1 and 6496 Evergestis isatidalis x1.

6184 Eudonia angustea (Narrow-winged Grey).

6496 Evergestis isatidalis.

Huétor Tajar, Rio GFenil East, Lucerne Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A walk around town and along the Genil.

Ebird List for the Walk.

 

Lots of topsoil heading off down the Rio Genil after last night's rain.

I started the day by prepping some cracks in the bathroom ready for a coat of paint later, then I popped down town and parked on the Northern side of the Ring Road and walked around to the Southern side and around the partly built new park and then across the bridge and out along the track to the East of the Bridge to the spot where I see the occasional Lesser-spotted Woodpecker (Pico Menor / Dryobates minor) and then I worked my way back and up through the town back to the car.

As I walked along the western side of the town I checked the Feria ground Puddle where I saw a Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris) and European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

I reached the southern edge of town along the Genil where I had a walk in the unfinished new park seeing lots of the domestic Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis).

On the far side of the Rio Genil I walked East finding Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Eurasian Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala) and Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea). 

I turned around and went up through town and as I past the Parque del Estanque where I saw the 2 new resident Monk Parakeets (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus).

The Arroyo Vilano, also with loads of topsoil run-off.

I reached the car and then thought I would go and check the top Lucerne fields, I parked near the Walnut trees and started to walk along the track between the fields and the Arroyo Vilano, but it was windy and damn cool, so I didn't last long out there.

Before I wimped out, I did see the 2 Black-winged Kites (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) and 6 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 20th January 26.

15W Actinic on the terrace, +3.

1 Moth of 1 Species.

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

Licence from Junta de Andalucia.

Well, 1 Moth was more than I expected, 10226 Cerastis faceta x1.

Huétor Fields x3 sites, Rio Genil East and West, Rio Genil near Moraleda, Balsa de Regidor, Huétor Fields again, Granada Province, Spain.

Out on the Patch with Derek Etherton.

Ebird List for Town Fields.

Ebird List for Lucerne Fields.

Ebird List for Mesia cross track.

Ebird List for Rio Genil East.

Ebird List for Rio Genil West.

Ebird List for Rio Genil near Moraleda.

Ebird List for Balsa de Regidor.

Ebird List for Huétor Fields Airport.

Looking out to the Sierra Nevada from the Lucerne Fields.

I met Derek down at Combustibles Gómez where we had some breakfast and coffee before heading just a short way up the road to what I call the town fields, but it was fairly quiet as there were a couple of farmers working out in the area cutting the Asparagus tops.

We did however see a Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina).

Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

Our next stop was up at the Lucerne fields where we parked at the Walnut Trees and then walked out as far as the gate, during the walk we saw Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), 8 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), 2x Black-winged Kites (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), 3 more Little Owls (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Iberian (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki) and Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Eurasian Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) and Crested Lark, Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), House Sparrow, Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtail, Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), Common Linnet, European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Curruca undata).

Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Curruca undata).

Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Curruca undata).

On our way off to another part of the area we stopped by the one remain Poplar plantation where we picked up a feeding Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Curruca undata), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major).

We did a short drive along another of the tracks after seeing a good number of Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) and once we counted them we found there to be 51 birds along with Little Owl, Eurasian Magpie, Crested Lark, Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Dartford Warbler, Spotless Starling, Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica), House Sparrow and European Serin.

Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo).

From here we make our way through Huétor and then across the Rio Genil, we parked just the other side of the bridge and walked out to the spot where I have seen the Lesser-spotted Woodpecker (Pico Menor / Dryobates minor) a couple of times recently but we were out of luck, we did however see Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Eurasian Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Cetti's Warbler, Long-tailed Tit (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus), Eurasian Blackcap, Spotless Starling, Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Robin, Black Redstart, European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Common Waxbill, Grey and White Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Common Chaffinch, European Greenfinch, Common Linnet, European Goldfinch and European Serin.

Long-tailed Tit (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus).

Long-tailed Tit (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus).

Long-tailed Tit (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus).

We returned to the car then decided to walk part of the western side of the bridge, almost straight away we picked up a Lesser-spotted Woodpecker but it was a few trees along the road and too far to sex the bird and it was soon off along the river and out of sight.

Red Fox (Zorro / Vulpus vulpus).

Red Fox (Zorro / Vulpus vulpus).

Our next stop was along the A92 near Loreta where we did a walk along the Genil again, things were fairly quiet but we did add Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes) and a couple of Red Fox (Zorro / Vulpus vulpus).

Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor).

Just up the road we called in at Balsa de Regidor to see if the escapee Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor) was still around, it was out on the water along with Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Spatula clypeata), Mallard, Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Little (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis).

Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos).

Golden Eagles (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos).

We walked back to the car, but then the Raptors started to arrive with a Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and a Common Kestrel doing low flybys, next came a soaring pair of Golden Eagles and then a high flying Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila Perdicera / Aquila faciatus).

Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus).

We made our way back towards Huétor Fields to see if anything new had come in, we again saw the Little Bustards, the Black-winged Kites and on our way back to the Bar where we had another coffee before Derek headed off we had a single Eurasian Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) and a good flock of 21 European Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaia).