Balsa de Regidor, Granada Province, Spain.

A very quick very wet scan of the pool.

Ebird List for Balsa de Regidor.

 

I wanted to head out for a while but the weather was not good for a walk, so I went around to Balsa de Regidor, it didn't improve there so I did a quick scan and count but it wasn't pleasant.

Whilst I got soaked I counted 58x Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Spatula clypeata), 9x Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), 26x Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) and a good number of Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) skimming the water for insect.

Around the margins and in the air I also saw Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Cetti's (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis).

The rain started to get heavier, so I admitted defeat and headed home, later in the evening I headed out to the Hotel Paraíso on the A92 for a quiz night, I have only been once in the last 6 years, so I thought I might give it a go again and stop being such an antisocial git 😁😁😁😁.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 28th January 26.

15W Actinic on the terrace, +14 wet and windy.

20 Moths of 7 Species.

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

Licence from Junta de Andalucia.

6496 Evergestis isatidalis.

Another very wet and windy night, even so it was the best selection so far in 2026 which included 6496 Evergestis isatidalis x8, 7694 Agriopis bajaria (Messenger Moth) x1, 7725 Menophora japygiaria (Brassy Waved Umber) x1, 9206 Cucullia calendulae (Marigold Shark) x2, 9676 Xylocampa areola (Early Grey) x6, 10226 Cerastis faceta x1 and 10346 Dark Sword-grass (Agrotis ipsilon) x1.

7694 Agriopis bajaria (Messenger Moth). 

7725 Menophora japygiaria (Brassy Waved Umber).

9206 Cucullia calendulae (Marigold Shark).

9676 Xylocampa areola (Early Grey).

10226 Cerastis faceta.

10346 Dark Sword-grass (Agrotis ipsilon).

Arroyo Vilano and Rio Genil, Huétor Tajar area, Granada Province, Spain.

Out for a bit of air after a scary morning's weather. 

The Barranco that runs at the back of the house.

After spending most of the morning at home as the weather was a tad lively to say the least I decided in the late morning things had calmed down for me to have a run out to check the fields to see what flooding had occurred, it was obvious as soon as I reached the road down to Huétor near La Fabrica where the road was closed due to the Arroyo Vilano had burst its banks.

The road is out there somewhere under the water.

Next I continued on down to Huétor and then back up to the Arroyo Vilano via the road passed the airport and up to the next bridge where there were quite a few people there taking pictures, so I joined them and then moved on around to the Walnut trees where I took a few more photos.

Looking down stream towards Villanueva de Mesia.

Looking down stream towards Villanueva de Mesia with the lake forming on the right as the banks burst in a few places.

Looking up stream towards La Fabrica along the Arroyo Vilano.

I retraced my steps back to Huétor and checked the Rio Genil which was a good deal higher than I had seen it for a few years but the old bridge and road out to the Motorway were still open.

Looking up stream along the Rio Genil.

Looking down stream along the Rio Genil.

My next stop was at the bar in the Combustibles Gomez Garage where I had a coffee before heading back home for a while, later I went back down to the Walnut trees where I had a walk along the Lucerne fields where I saw Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), 5x Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), 2x Black-winged Kites (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Eurasian Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) and Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Cetti's (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis) and European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus). 

The crossing point gets washed away again.

The local Townhall workers already clearing the road to La Fabrica.

When I reached the car there was a very nice Spanish Lady there also watching the Arroyo, I have seen her several times before, but today we had a chat talking about some of the wildlife and about her wish to buy a real camera as all her photo's up to this point were all taken on her phone.

I returned to Town where I parked on the ring road and did a walk before I headed back home and chilled.

The Alhambra, Granada Province, Spain.

The release of the Aves de la Alhambra (Birds of the Alhambra).

 

I was pleased to be at the official release of this book in the amazing surroundings of the Palacio de Carlos V, which considering the weather was very well attended.

 

Javier Sánchez Gutiérrez, José María González Cachinero, Juan Pérez Contreras and Juan Ramón Fernández Cardenete.

The Three authors, José María González Cachinero, Juan Pérez Contreras and Juan Ramón Fernández Cardenete along with Javier Sánchez Gutiérrez, the Manager of the Garden Services de la Alhambra and Generalife presented the book, explaining its layout over a couple of hours and then took questions at the end.

 

One of the screens used during the talk.

 

It is very informative and of very good quality, not just the makeup of the book but the photo's, text and other information and to me is a very good price at just €18 for a hardback edition. 

There is a plan for an English version to be released in the future.

ISBN: 978-84-17518-28-8
Price: €18

As always, I was there early so I had a walk around the site, taking a few general shots of the architecture and the gardens.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 26th January 26.

15W Actinic on the terrace, +10 but wet.

20 Moth of 3 Species.

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

Licence from Junta de Andalucia.

 

6184 Eudonia angustea (Narrow-winged Grey).

6184 Eudonia angustea (Narrow-winged Grey) x2, 6496 Evergestis isatidalis x13 and 9676 Xylocampa areola (Early Grey) x5.

6496 Evergestis isatidalis.

9676 Xylocampa areola (Early Grey).

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A quick look at the Rio Genil and soggy visit to the Lucerne Fields.

Ebird List for the Fields.

 

Looking up stream.

I headed down to Huétor to get a couple of bits and then went to have a look at the Rio and took a few phone photo's before heading up to the Lucerne Fields.

and down stream.

I was going to park at the Walnut tree but after seeing a couple of guy using what looked like a thermal imaging camera for checking the fields and acting a tad strange so I followed them and made it quite obvious I was also watching the fields and once they were aware of me the did a quick U-turn and headed off giving me an unpleasant look as they passed, guessing they were hunters but not sure.

♂ Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius).

♂ Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius).

I went up to the end of the tarmac and also did a U-turn and as it had started to rain again I did the birding from the car, most of my time was spent watching the very smart ♂ Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius) but at the same spot there were the two regular Black-winged Kites (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), 10 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

♂ Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius).

Other species seen included Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Eurasian Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) and Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Cetti's (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), a surprising group of 6 Common Crossbills (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis) and European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

The rain started to get heavier, so I headed back to the house where I finished off the clearing out of the Kitchen, starting the lounge tomorrow. 

Rio Genil and Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A quick visit to the Patch between the heavy Rain.

Ebird List for the Lucerne Fields.

Looking down stream along the Rio Genil.

As it was throwing it down with rain and blowing a hooley I spent most of the day sorting the Kitchen cupboards but at around 15:30 the rain eased off so I went down town and did a walk along the Rio Genil.

Up stream along the Rio Genil.

As I walked I found Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Iberian (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki) and Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Eurasian Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Cetti's (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris).

Looking up the Arroyo Vilano which will probably be dry in a few weeks.

Looking down stream.

I returned to the car and the drove up through the town and out to the walnut trees where I parked and again did a short walk before the rains arrived again, before it did, I picked up a Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), the 2 Black-winged Kites (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Spotless Starling, Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula),  Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Eurasian Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), White Wagtail, Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra) but the best bird was a stunning Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius) which was sat out on its usual stick in the middle of the Lucerne field.

The Lucerne Fields with a Merlin sat in the middle of the picture, honest (should have taken the proper camera).

On my way back home I decided to drop to town and loop back on the tarmac rather than the muddy tracks, as I passed the airport I saw a single bird on the grass which turned out to be another Little Bustard which was separate from the others.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 24th January 26.

15W Actinic on the terrace, +7.

1 Moth of 1 Species.

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

Licence from Junta de Andalucia.

 

7694 Agriopis bajaria (Messenger Moth).

After a very wet night I was not expecting anything, but I did find a single 7694 Agriopis bajaria (Messenger Moth) x1. 

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.