Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A couple of hours down on the fields.

Ebird List for the fields.

I headed down to the fields just before 18:00, I parked by the Walnut Trees and walked out to the Gates but it was muddy after the rains which made the going a bit difficult, as I walked I saw the group of Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), it's difficult to be sure how many birds there are on site but today there were at least 10 birds, 5♂  and 5♀.

Also seen were 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), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Iberian (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki) and Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and Greater Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Western House (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum) and Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia), Western Subalpine (Curruca Carrasqueña Occidental / Curruca iberiae) ♂, Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala) and Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), House (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

At just after 19:00 I was pleased to see Paqui arrive after having a busy day so I walked back towards the cars and we did the walk back up to the Gates and back having a very nice talk and learning more about each other which was really good.

We returned to the cars where we said good night before we headed off to our homes, once I got back I finished off a couple of jobs before I chilled and got some stuff done on the Laptop.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 7th April 2026.

15W Actinic on the terrace, +13.

23 Moths of 12 Species.

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

Licence from Junta de Andalucia.

1525 Plutella xylostella (Dimond-back).

0706 Monopis nigricantella x1, 1525 Plutella xylostella (Dimond-back) x9, 4855 Epinotia thapsiana x1, 6599 Pyrausta sanguinalis (Scarce Crimson & Gold) x1, 7626 Toulgoetia cauteriata x1, 9056 Autographa gamma (Silver Y) x2, 9433 Paradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow) x2, 9460 Spodoptera exigua (Small Mottled Willow) x1, 9676 Xylocampa areola (Early Grey) x1, 10029 Mythimna sicula x1, 10343 Agrotis puta (Shuttle Shaped Dart) x2 and 10346 Dark Sword-grass (Agrotis ipsilon) x1.

1525 Plutella xylostella (Dimond-back).

4855 Epinotia thapsiana.

6599 Pyrausta sanguinalis (Scarce Crimson & Gold).

7626 Toulgoetia cauteriata.

9056 Autographa gamma (Silver Y).

9433 Paradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow).

9460 Spodoptera exigua (Small Mottled Willow).

9676 Xylocampa areola (Early Grey).

10029 Mythimna sicula.

10343 Agrotis puta (Shuttle Shaped Dart).

10346 Dark Sword-grass (Agrotis ipsilon).

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A very nice walk along the Lucerne Fields.

 

I woke at just before 06:45 and as I lay in bed waiting for the alarm I could hear two Eurasian Eagle Owls (Búho Real / Bubo bubo) out in the Olives.

Once I was up I headed down to the Walnut trees where I met Paqui for a walk but before we headed off she gave me two jars of preserved Asparagus which I am looking forward to.

As we walked we saw Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Montagu's Harriers (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Thinornis dubius), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Once back at the car Paqui headed home and I dropped the car back down to the Mechanic as the fuel gauge is still not working, I wish I was going to get 600+ KMs without the gauge moving 😁😁😁😁.

Friends Jan and Gary picked me up and we returned to the house where I did a few jobs and some tidying up in the Garden, whilst doing this I had Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala).

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 5th April 2026.

15W Actinic on the terrace, +8.

7 Moths of 7 Species.

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

Licence from Junta de Andalucia.

 

1655 Ethmia bipunctella.

1655 Ethmia bipunctella x1, 6775 Phyllodesma suberifolia x1, 7725 Menophora japygiaria (Brassy Waved Umber) x1, 9056 Autographa gamma (Silver Y) x1, 9676 Xylocampa areola (Early Grey) x1, 9961 Hadena sancta x1 and 10351 Agrotis segetum (Turnip Moth) x1.

6775 Phyllodesma suberifolia.

7725 Menophora japygiaria (Brassy Waved Umber).

9056 Autographa gamma (Silver Y).

9676 Xylocampa areola (Early Grey).

 9961 Hadena sancta.

10351 Agrotis segetum (Turnip Moth).

Huétor Fields and Realenga, Granada Province, Spain.

A walk with Paqui and then a sit on the bank watch the Monty's again.

Ebird List for the Fields.

The Lucerne Fields.

I met Paqui down near the Walnut trees and we walked out to the Gate and back again which was as always very nice, we chatted and had a laugh using the translators, really wish I had a better grasp of languages.

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

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

As we walked we watched the Montagu's Harriers (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Thinornis dubius), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

The migrant fence.

Looking at dinner ???

Once back at the cars Paqui headed off, I decided to sit on the bank amongst the reeds and watch the Harriers and whatever else came by which included Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Greater Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Spanish (Yellow) (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis) and European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus). 

Montagu's Harriers (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) ♀.

Montagu's Harriers (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) ♀.

Montagu's Harriers (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) ♀.

Montagu's Harriers (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) ♀.

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

I also saw Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) x2, Large (Pieris brassicae) x3, Small (Pieris rapae) x4 and Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri) x3.

Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) ♂.

Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) ♂.

Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus).

The Arroyo Vilano.

Later I went around to friends Jan and Gary's for a very nice afternoon / BBQ with a few others from the local area, thanks all for a great time, 3 litres of cider also helped 😋😋😋. 

Huétor Fields, Rio Genil, Huétor Fields and Cerro Hacho, Granada Province, Spain.

Good Friday, well it was for a couple of reasons.

Just after Dawn.

I started the day with an early morning walk with Paqui which is always a pleasure, as we walked we chatted and watched the Sunrise over Sierra de Huétor as well as the amazing colony of around 14 Montagu's Harriers (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) this is the max number of birds seen at the same time so there could be more.

Sierra Nevada.

As we walked we also saw Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Thinornis dubius), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea).

European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola) ♂.

European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola) ♂.

Looking out east.

We turned around at the gate and walked back to the cars as Pagui needed to be back for her family but it was really lovely to walk with her again and have a chat and a laugh.

I also had to head off for an appointment but it was a quick but good consultation so I was soon back on the patch where I checked out both sides of the bridge over the Rio Genil at Huétor where I added a Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius) which was chased out of the riverside trees out over the fields by the local Eurasian Magpies (Urraca Común / Pica pica), my first Common Swifts  (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) of the year, Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), 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), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Willow (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus) and Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis) and European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

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

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

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

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

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

I then popped back up to the fields where I did the same walk as I had earlier with Paqui but actually spent most of my time there sat on my backside in the reeds watching the Monty's.

Northern Raven (Cuervo grande / Corvus corax).

Small White (Pieris rapae).

However, I did also have views of Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Northern Raven (Cuervo grande / Corvus corax), Greater Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Sedge Warbler (Carricerin Común / Acrocephalus schoenobaenus), Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) and Small White (Pieris rapae).

Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) ♂.

Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) ♂.

Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) ♂.

Greater Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla).

Greater Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla).

After a while I went back up to the house and got a few jobs done, at around 18:00 I got a message from Paqui to see if I wanted to go for another walk but up on Hacho this time, so I arranged to meet her at my place and then we went off up to the parking spot near the puddle, we then walked up the hill finding quite a few spikes of Giant Orchid (Himanthoglossum Robertiana) and a single very pale Italian Man (Orchis Italica).

Italian Man Orchid (Orchis Italica).

Giant Orchid (Himanthoglossum Robertiana).

Giant Orchid (Himanthoglossum Robertiana).

We dropped back down to the car and then walked part of the way around the lower loop adding Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Conical (Neotinea conica), Pink Butterfly (Orchis papilionacea) not yet in flower, Southern Early Purple (Orchis olbienis),  Somber Bee (Ophrys lupercalis) over with, Yellow Bee (Ophrys lutea), Mirror Orchid (Ophrys speculum), Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera), Common Asphodel (Asphodelus aestivus), Wild Grape Hyacinth (Muscari neglectum) and Nonea vesicaria.

Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea).

We returned to the car and then headed back to the house finding a roosting Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) on the base of one of the old Olive trees.