Playa de las Amoladeras near Cabo de Gata, Almeria, Spain.

A day chilling with Paqui in Almeria.

Ebird List for Playa de las Amoladeras.

Playa de las Amoladeras.

We left Huétor and drove around the North of Granada and then down to the coast to the East of Almeria, once we were set up I started to check through a flock of Gulls on the beach; most were Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), there were also singles of Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii) and Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus).

Paqui's beach Food, ¡Qué rico!

Other species seen during the visit included Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Anarhynchus alexandrinus) x1, Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) x5, Curlew Sandpiper (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea) x2, Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina) x3, Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Thalasseus sandvicensis), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) x1 immature, Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum) and Sea Daffodil (Pancratium maritimum).

Huétor Fields and the Cacín Valley near A92, Granada Province, Spain.

Huétor Fields, a return to the Cacín Valley to look for the Eagle Owl, then had a Barn Owl on the way home.

Ebird List for Huétor Fields.

I started the day with a bit of gardening and then went down to the fields where I met Paqui for a short walk before going to her place for a coffee.

Later we met again and repeated yesterday's walk along the Cacín valley where we again saw and heard the Eurasian Eagle Owl (Búho Real / Bubo bubo) and many of the species seen yesterday.

We returned to Huétor where I popped Paqui back to her apartment before heading home, on the way I was surprised to see a Western Barn Owl (Lechuza Común / Tyto alba) fly across the road in front of me and away across the fields back towards Huétor. 

Rio Cacín near to the A92, Granada Province, Spain.

A late walk with Paqui along the Rio Cacín.

Ebird List for the Rio Cacín.

 

Paqui and I went for a walk along the lower part of the Rio Cacín near the A92 motorway, after parking we followed the river for a while.

During the walk we saw European Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Eurasian Eagle Owl (Búho Real / Bubo bubo), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oropéndola Europea / Oriolus oriolus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Melodious Warbler (Zarcero políglota / Hippolais polyglotta), Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos) and Hawfinch (Picogordo Común / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes).

Hoya de Pedraza Botanical Garden, Sierra Nevada, Granada Province, Spain.

An evening looking for Nightjars and watching the Stars.

Ebird List for the Gardens.

 

Sunset at the Botanical Gardens.

Paqui and I headed out towards Granada and then up to the parking area at the Pedraza Botanical Garden where we set the chairs up and waited for dusk.

As we sat there, we saw and heard Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Jay (Arrendajo Euroasiático / Garrulus glandarius), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and a very smart ♂ Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Capra pyrenaica hispanica).

As the light dropped a European Nightjar (Chotacabras Europeo / Caprimulgus europaeus) flew along the ridge above us and then called briefly a couple of times as it went darker, we also heard at least 3 different Eurasian Scops Owls (Autillo Europeo / Otus scops) calling in the same area before dropping back down the hill and going home to Huétor. 

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A late-evening visit to the Fields.

Ebird List for the Fields.

Stuffed Courgettes, SO GOOD.

I went down to Paqui's for lunch, as usual it was absolutely beautiful food which I enjoyed very much, later in the day we both met up again down on the fields.

I went down onto the fields once it started to cool down a little, where I set up the chairs and chilled watching the sun drop behind the hills out to the west before Paqui arrived

It was quiet when I first arrived except for a hunting Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), which looked nice against the orange sky.

The Fields at Dusk.

As Paqui was walking up towards where I was sitting, she pointed to my left as there was suddenly a group of 12 Montagu's Harriers (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) flying in from the west; they spent a while circling above us and out over the fields before dropping in to roost on the ground.

Other species seen included European Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Red-necked Nightjar (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Eurasian Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi).

The rising Moon.

Presa y Meandros del Genil, Granada Province, Spain.

A visit to the Presa with Paqui.

Ebird List for the Presa.

Paqui and I headed out for an evening visit to the Presa after a busy day catching up with things around our houses.

We parked and then spent a while sat by the Rio Genil at the Presa, here we saw Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), European Turtle (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur) and Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Thinornis dubius), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) x3, Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oropéndola Europea / Oriolus oriolus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild),  Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

After a while we went for a walk along the track recording Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus), a Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis) and European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

As we drove out of the site, we saw a couple of Red-necked Nightjars (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis) on the track, there were at least 2 more at a spot near the Albergue Rural Cortijo del Guarda where we also had Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito ibérico / Picus sharpei), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator) and as the light dropped we heard a calling Eurasian Eagle Owl (Búho Real / Bubo bubo).

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

Back down the fields again, for a late visit.

Ebird List for the Fields.

I met Paqui down on the fields for a later visit, mostly to just chill and watch the stars; whilst there, we saw 2 Red-necked Nightjars (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis) sat out on the warm tarmac, Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Eurasian Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Thinornis dubius), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oropéndola Europea / Oriolus oriolus), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Spanish (Yellow) (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and we could hear lots of Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi).

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A morning walk with Paqui.

Ebird List for the Fields.

 

I met Paqui down on the fields, where we parked by the Walnut trees and then walked out as far as the gate and back.

Species seen included Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), European Turtle (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur) and Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oropéndola Europea / Oriolus oriolus), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Melodious Warbler (Zarcero políglota / Hippolais polyglotta), Common Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Barn (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), 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), Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Spanish (Yellow) (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Near Huétor Tajar / La Fabrica, Granada Province, Spain.

Looking around Paqui's Olive trees.

 

Looking out into the Calima.

After a day at home getting some jobs done Paqui and I headed out to check on a couple of her Olive groves, we arrived and did a walk.

Paqui amongst her Olives.

Paqui was pleased with how everything looked, as there was a very good-looking crop on the trees; the only work needed was to remove the dry plants around the base of the trees.

The dry plants are there because Paqui doesn't use any herbicides on the land and cultivates the olives as ecologically as possible.  

Near Charca de Suarez, Carchuna Beach and Charca de Suarez, Granada Province, Spain.

Butterflies, Beach and Birding.

Ebird List for near Charca.

Ebird List for Charca.

 

Monarch (Danaus plexippus).

Paqui and I headed down to the coast near Motril, we started by visiting a spot near Charca de Suarez where we looked for and found some nice species of butterflies, which included Swallowtail (Papilio machaon), Monarch (Danaus plexippus), Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus) on its food plant Stranglewort (Cynanchum acutum), Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous) and Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina).

Monarch (Danaus plexippus).

Monarch (Danaus plexippus).

Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus).

Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus).

Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus).

As we walked around this site, we also saw European Turtle (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur) and Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Red Avadavat (Bengali Rojo / Amandava amandava) and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus). 

Carchuna Beach.

We moved on to the beach at Carchuna where we spent a few hours chilling out and having a swim in the sea, whilst there we saw Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Thalasseus sandvicensis), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis). 

Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

Audouin's Gull (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii).

Audouin's Gull (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii).

Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

At around 17:30 we packed our kit up and headed to Charca de Suarez where we met Juan Perez, we spent the next 2 hours walking around the reserve calling in at most of the Hides.

Laguna de las Aneas.

Gadwall (Anade Friso / Mareca strepera) ♀.

Gadwall (Anade Friso / Mareca strepera) ♀.

Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) ♀.

Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca) ♀.

Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca) ♀.

Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca) ♀.

Birds seen included Gadwall (Anade Friso / Mareca strepera), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), European Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and Red-knobbed Coot (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata) along with the hybrid between the 2 species, Western Swamp-hen (Calamón Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus), Little Bittern (Avetorillo Común / Ixobrychus minutus), Black-crowned Night Heron (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax), Little (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta) and Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Common Kingfisher (Martin Pescador Común / Alcedo atthis), Zitting Cisticola, Common Reed (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) and Great Reed Warbler (Carricero Tordal / Acrocephalus arundinaceus), Western House Martin, Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Red Avadavat (Bengali Rojo / Amandava amandava), House Sparrow, European Greenfinch and European Goldfinch.

Laguna del Taraje.

Red-knobbed Coot (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata).

Little Bittern (Avetorillo Común / Ixobrychus minutus).

Little Bittern (Avetorillo Común / Ixobrychus minutus).

Little Bittern (Avetorillo Común / Ixobrychus minutus).

Other species seen as we walked included Iberian Bluetail (Ischnura graellsii), Blue / Common (Anax imperator) and Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope), Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria), Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli), Small White (Pieris rapae), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Monarch, Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi), Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa), Wild Boar (Jabalí / Felis silvestris), Purple Morning Glory (Ipomoea purpurea), Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) and Small Fleabane (Pulicaria vulgaris).

Monarch (Danaus plexippus).

We came back out of the reserve at 20:00 and then went for a coffee before heading back to Huétor.

The Sunset.

Presa y Meandros del Genil, Granada Province, Spain.

Back to the Presa for a morning walk.

Ebird List.

 

Paqui and I headed down to the Presa before the heat built too much, we started by spending some time by the dam seeing Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and European Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oropéndola Europea / Oriolus oriolus), Eurasian Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Barn (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba). 

After a while we went for a walk along the track adding Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Iberian (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki) and Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Western Bonelli's (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Cetti's (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Long-tailed Tit (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), 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).

Just out of the Oven.

Later I went around to Paqui's where she had prepared some food, I am not sure what the correct name of it is but it was absolutely amazing and one of the best things I have eaten, thanks Paqui.

It didn't last long.