Huétor Fields, Sierra de Huétor, Huétor Fields again and Balsa de Regidor, Granada Province, Spain.

Another day out with Lynn and Steve wildlife hunting and later in the day a bit of birding with Garry from Almeria.

Ebird List for the Fields.

Ebird List for Balsa de Regidor.

 

Sun Rise at the Walnut Trees.

I started the day by popping down onto the fields, I parked at the Walnut Trees and walked up to the usual parking spot and back again, interesting species included Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix), European Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oropéndola Europea / Oriolus oriolus) first of the year, Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Greater Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), Melodious Warbler (Zarcero políglota / Hippolais polyglotta), Common Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), a couple of male Western Orphean Warblers (Curruca Mirlona Occidental / Curruca hortensis), Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Whinchat (Tarabilla Norteña / Saxicola rubetra) which was another year tick, Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and a few Rabbits (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus).

Looking across the Lucerne Fields.

Long early morning shadows.

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

Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Melodious Warbler (Zarcero políglota / Hippolais polyglotta).

Western Orphean Warbler (Curruca Mirlona Occidental / Curruca hortensis).

At 09:30 I met Lynn and Steve down in Huétor and we went along the A92 out to Los Mimbres Sur in the Sierra de Huétor where we did a walk around the Pine woodlands, here we found Eurasian Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Western Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater), European Crested (Herrerillo Capuchino / Lophophanes cristatus) and Long-tailed Tit (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina).

Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina).

As we strolled we also found Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus), Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina), Angel's tears Narcissus (Narcissus triandus), Adonis vernalis, Orchis cazorlensis, Barton's (Dactylorhiza insularis) and Dense-flowered Orchids (Neotinea maculata) all of which were not in flower yet but  Southern Early Purple (Orchis olbienis), Somber Bee (Ophrys lupercalis), Yellow Bee (Ophrys lutea) and Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera) were looking very nice.

Adonis vernalis.

We returned to the car and went to Venta del Molinillo where we walked up the side of the Arroyo Pardo Negro, new species included European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica), Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), Common Nightingale, Eurasian Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Western Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Eurasian Nuthatch, White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) and Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito ibérico / Picus sharpei).

Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros).

Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi).

Other species included Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli), Large (Nymphalis polychloros) and Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Large White (Pieris brassicae), Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina), Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi), Provence (Anthocharis euphenoides) and Common Orange-tip (Anthocharis cardamines), Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus), Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), a newly emerged Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula), Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi), Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa) and Stinking Hellebore (Helleborus foetidus).

Southern Early Purple (Orchis olbienis).

Southern Early Purple (Orchis olbienis).

Our next stop was at the picnic site at Las Mimbres where we had some food whilst watching a pair of Eurasian Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea) displaying and being very territorial.

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys lupercalis).

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys lupercalis).

We continuing on through the Park to the Alfaguara Botanical Garden where we walked the tracks finding Large Tortoiseshell, Holly Blue, Common Orange-tip, Adonis vernalis, Violet Limodore (Limodorum abortivum) which was not yet in flower, Iberian Green Woodpecker, Western Bonelli's Warbler, Short-toed Treecreeper, Eurasian Nuthatch and Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes).

Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera).

We got back to the car and headed back to Huétor as I had to get back to meet another friend Garry at the house as he was staying over before a trip up Sierra de Loja tomorrow.

Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula).

We reached Huétor and I said goodbye for now to Lynn and Steve and they headed back to their campsite and I met Garry at the house, shortly afterwards we headed out birding and started down on the fields as Garry needed Whinchat (Tarabilla Norteña / Saxicola rubetra) for the year and after a bit of a search we found one on the main fence at the far end of the Lucerne Fields, we also saw Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) and Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator).

Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas).

Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas).

Next we headed for Balsa de Regidor to have a look for the Tufted Duck (Porrón Moñudo / Aythya fuligula) which we found after a short while along with Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Western Cattle Egret, Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi) and Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa).

Later we went down town and had a couple of drinks and some food.

Mirador del Alto de Hondonero and Garganta del Guadalhorce, Malaga Province, Spain.

Another day in the hills with Lynn and Steve.

 

Looking out to the North.

I drove over to Lynn and Steve's campsite and we then dropped down to the Restaurante Paneque Rosario for breakfast and then headed off up into the hills.

and looking behind us at the crags.

Our first stop was at the highest point for the day at Mirador del Alto de Hondonero where we parked and then walked a largish loop taking in Fuente Toril and then down along the track beyond the fields, we then turned left across the stoney grassland eventually weaving our way up to the pool below the Observatorio Lagunas de Hondoner and then through the trees back to the car.

Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

As we walked we saw and heard Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Eurasian Jay (Arrendajo Euroasiático / Garrulus glandarius), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Eurasian Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Western Orphean (Curruca Mirlona Occidental / Curruca hortensis), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala) and Western Subalpine Warbler (Curruca Carrasqueña Occidental / Curruca iberiae), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla), Eurasian Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis).

Amongst the Orchids.

Pink Butterfly Orchid (Orchis papilionacea).

Southern Early Purple Orchid (Orchis olbienis).

Orchids included Pink Butterfly (Orchis papilionacea), Southern Early Purple (Orchis olbienis), Mirror (Ophrys speculum), Sawfly (Ophrys tenthredinifera), Ophrys dyris, Somber Bee (Ophrys lupercalis), Yellow Bee (Ophrys lutea), Small Woodcock (Ophrys picta) and Bumble-bee Orchid (Ophrys bombyliflora) but best of all was a couple of spikes of Ophrys x benaventei (Ophrys bombyflora x Ophrys picta) which was new to me.

Bumble-bee Orchid (Ophrys bombyliflora).

Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera).

Ophrys dyris.

Ophrys x benaventei (Ophrys bombyflora x Ophrys picta).

Ophrys x benaventei (Ophrys bombyflora x Ophrys picta).

Ophrys x benaventei (Ophrys bombyflora x Ophrys picta).

Photographing the Hybrid.

Butterflies were also on the wing and we found Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Provence Hairstreak (Tomares ballus), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) and Large White (Pieris brassicae).

Provence Hairstreak (Tomares ballus).

Provence Hairstreak (Tomares ballus).

Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas).

We got back to the car and then dropped just a short way back down the hill and parked again just passed the turning up to Observatorio Lagunas de Hondoner where we checked the roadside areas for butterflies finding Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina), Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina), Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenoides) and Small White (Pieris rapae) as well as Iberian Wingless Mantis (Apteromantis aptera) and Bombus terrestris ??????

Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina).

Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina).

Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenoides).

Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenoides).

Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina).

Further down we parked again and followed the Arroyo de Portillos for a short way up stream, here we added Rue-leaved Saxifrage (Saxifraga tridactylites), Tassel Hyacinth (Leopoldia comosa), Stinking Hellebore (Helleborus foetidus) and Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni).

Bombus terrestris ??????

Iberian Wingless Mantis (Apteromantis aptera).

Rue-leaved Saxifrage (Saxifraga tridactylites).

A grassy meadow next to the Arroyo de Portillos.

We dropped back down to Rosario and then took to the tracks just before the motorway and then followed a couple more tracks until we got to one which followed the Guadalhorce for awhile, we made a stop in a nice flower rich area finding Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Small and Large White, Clouded Yellow, Provence Orange-tip, Painted Lady, Macroglossum stellatarum (Hummingbird Hawkmoth), Crown Daisy (Chrysanthemum carinatum), Yellow Bee, Mirror and Giant Orchid (Himanthoglosum Robertiana).

Crown Daisy (Chrysanthemum carinatum) and ???????

As we continued on along the track we picked up Eurasian Hoopoe, Common Nightingale, European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), Short-toed Treecreeper, Corn Bunting, Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola) and a nice bit of exposed Geology.

Illora area, El Temple, the Cacín Valley, Balsa de Regidor in Granada Province, Spain.

Going to the wrong place in the mountains and then out on the plains and up the Valley.

Ebird List for El Temple.

Ebird List for Contraembalse de Bermejalis.

Ebird List for Balsa de Regidor.

 

Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera).

I went to meet Lynn and Steve down in town and whilst I waited as I was a tad early I saw Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus).

Small Woodcock Orchid (Ophrys picta).

Small Woodcock Orchid (Ophrys picta).

Lynn and Steve arrives and as the weather was not great we changed the plan slightly and headed for a spot in the hills near Illora where we were looking for Orchids, as we searched for the rare Lady Orchid (Orchis purpurea) we found Giant (Himanthoglosum Robertiana) x1 finished, Fan-lipped Orchid (Anacamptis collina) x25+ finished, Mirror (Ophrys speculum) x30+, Sawfly (Ophrys tenthredinifera) x5, Small Woodcock (Ophrys picta) x8 and Yellow Bee (Ophrys lutea) x80+ but no sign of the Lady's.

Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea).

Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea).

In the same area we also saw Cloven Petalled Campion (Silene colorata), Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), Common Asphodel (Asphodelus aestivus), Grey-leaved Cistus (Cistus albidus), Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus) and Red Fox (Zorro / Vulpus vulpus).

Mirror Orchid (Ophrys speculum).

As we hadn't found the target we decided to head for the El Temple area but we went a different route, we continued on up the hill and after a short way I saw a place that looked a bit familiar and I soon realised that we had been searching for the Lady Orchid a bend too early so I parked again and explained my mistake to Lynn and Steve.

Lady Orchid (Orchis purpurea).

Lady Orchid (Orchis purpurea).

Lady Orchid (Orchis purpurea).

Lady Orchid (Orchis purpurea).

After the expected bit of constructive stick we set off and within 5 minutes we found half a dozen spikes of the Lady Orchids which were in perfect condition, after getting some nice photo's we dropped back down to the motorway and went just a short distance towards Granada and then out onto the tracks on El Temple.

Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

On the Northern side of the area we had Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Nightingale, European Turtle (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur) and Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real / Lanius meridionalis), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Crested (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and Calandra Lark (Calandria Común / Melanocorypha calandra).

We dropped down to the road getting some nice views of a couple of Great Spotted Cuckoo's (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius) and then crossed on to the Southern side of the area, as we drove along the road we had a female Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) and a  male Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) which cross the road and as we got level with it Steve managed to get a shot before it disappeared into crop.

Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus).

Roemeria hybrida.

Roemeria sicula.

On the tracks over to Ventas de Huelma we added Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Blue Hound's Tongue (Cynoglossum creticum), Roemeria hybrida, Roemeria sicula, Red-horned Poppy (Glaucium corniculatum), Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas), Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus), Corn Gromwell (Buglossoides arvensis), Wild Grape Hyacinth (Muscari neglectum), and Ocellated Lizard (Timon lepidus) before calling in at Bernardo Restaurante for some lunch. 

Female Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathinerum).

We drove straight through the Solar Desert and down into the Cacín Valley then on up to the Contraembalse where we scanned the water, margins and the skies seeing Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Western Marsh Harrier, Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus), European Bee-eater, Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Common Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Barn Swallow, Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Crown Daisy (Chrysanthemum carinatum), Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum), Tassel Hyacinth (Leopoldia comosa), Southern Knapweed (Centaurea pullata), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) x3, Large White (Pieris brassicae) x1 and a female Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathinerum) x1.

Eurasian Eagle Owl (Búho Real / Bubo bubo).

Eurasian Eagle Owl (Búho Real / Bubo bubo).

Eurasian Eagle Owl (Búho Real / Bubo bubo).

We parked by the bridge over the Cacín and checked the crags nearby where Steve picked up the Eurasian Eagle Owl (Búho Real / Bubo bubo) which I had seen a few days earlier with Barbara and Derek Etherton, it was in a slightly different place and more out in the open. From the bridge and along the track we added Cetti's (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti) and Sardinian Warbler, Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), European Serin, European Goldfinch and a female European Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca).

Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea).

We then popped down to the Dam and checked the area there finding lots more Yellow Bee (Ophrys lutea) and Mirror Orchid (Ophrys speculum), Western Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Long-tailed (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus), Great, Eurasian Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and Coal Tit  (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), Common Nightingale and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Male Tufted Duck (Porrón Moñudo / Aythya fuligula).

Male Tufted Duck (Porrón Moñudo / Aythya fuligula).

Our last stop of the day was up at Balsa de Regidor where we looked for the male Tufted Duck (Porrón Moñudo / Aythya fuligula) which had been around for a few days and we soon found it down at the far end of the Laguna but whilst we were there he came down with a group of Common Pochards (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina).

Common Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna).

We also had a single Common Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Mallard, Eurasian Coot, Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Thinornis dubius), Cetti's and Sardinian Warbler, Common Blackbird, Common Nightingale, Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa) and Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi).

Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

We returned to the car and headed back to Huétor and then Lynn and Steve headed back to there camp site and I went home.