Near Granada City and Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

Looking for an uncommon butterfly in Granada Province.

 

Habitat photo with Astragalus alopecuroides.

I headed down to Huétor where I had breakfast at Paqui's before we headed out to a site where I had seen Spanish Zephyr Blue (Plebejus hespericus) a couple of years earlier. 

Astragalus alopecuroides.

Astragalus alopecuroides.

We arrived on site and soon found good numbers of Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra) x1, Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) x4, False Ilex (Satyrium esculi) x18+ and Blue Spotted Hairstreak (Satyrium spini) x15+, as well as Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) x1, Long-tailed (Lampides boeticus) x1 and Black-eyed Blue (Glaucopsyche melanops) x2, Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) x6, Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina) x4 and Spanish Gatekeeper (Pyronia bathseba) x25+.

Spanish Zephyr Blue (Plebejus hespericus) ♂.

Spanish Zephyr Blue (Plebejus hespericus) ♂.

Spanish Zephyr Blue (Plebejus hespericus) ♂.

A little further down the track we came into the area where the Astragalus alopecuroides the food plant of the Spanish Zephyr Blue was growing and almost straight away we saw the first ♂♂ and then found at least 4 pairs mating, in total I would say there were at least 20 individuals.

Spanish Zephyr Blue (Plebejus hespericus) ♂ and ♀.

Spanish Zephyr Blue (Plebejus hespericus) ♂ and ♀.

Whilst we were getting some photos of these stunning Butterflies we also saw Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala) and Western Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Eurasian Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), White Rockrose (Helianthemum apenninum), Grey-leaved Cistus (Cistus albidus), Yellow Phlomis (Phlomis lychnitis), Thapsia villosa, Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum), Common Mallow (Malva sylvestris), Mallow-leaved Convolvulus (Convolvulus althaeoides), Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus) and Large Psammodromus (Psammodromus algirus).

Blue Spotted Hairstreak (Satyrium spini)

Blue Spotted Hairstreak (Satyrium spini)

Blue Spotted Hairstreak (Satyrium spini).

False Ilex Hairstreak (Satyrium esculi).

False Ilex Hairstreak (Satyrium esculi).

Black-eyed Blue (Glaucopsyche melanops).

On our way back to Paqui's we called in at Aldi and the to a Garden Centre before having a nice lunch, later we went up to the fields where we recorded Montagu's Harriers (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Thinornis dubius), Barn Swallow, European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Common Nightingale, Common Blackbird, Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

We finished our walk and then returned to Paqui's for a meal before I headed back home at around 23.00, as I got there I could hear at least 2x Red-necked Nightjars (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis).

Fuente De Los 100 Caños, Villanueva del Trabuco, Málaga Province, Spain.

Out and about with Paqui.

 

During the morning Paqui and I headed out to a shop where we bought some of the local Sierra Parapanda Hams and other meats at a shop in Brácana, later we had a very nice lunch at Paqui's.

During the Evening I picked her up again so that we could go and check out the Fuente De Los 100 Caños near Villanueva del Trabuco, Paqui had been before but on that visit there wasn't any water so today it was very different.

We arrived to find it was quite windy and cool, after it being up as high as +34 back at the house it was a bit of a shock to find it was only +18 by 20.30.

During the time there we saw Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti) and Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs).

We returned to Paqui's where we had a nice meal of Griddled Asparagus and some really nice Bocarrones.

Huétor Fields and Presa y Meandros del Genil, Granada Province, Spain.

A couple of runs out with Paqui.

Ebird List for the Presa y Meandros del Genil.

 

Paqui photographing the Bath White (Pontia daplidice).

I met Paqui down on the fields and we walked out to the Gate, whilst walking we recorded 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), Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), White (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina), Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra) as well as Bath (Pontia daplidice) and Small White (Pieris rapae), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) and Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui).

 Presa y Meandros del Genil.

Later in the day we had a drive out to the Rio Genil at the Presa y Meandros del Genil where we sat at the side of the river and relaxed for a good while, whilst there we saw Iberian Barbel (Luciobarbus bocagei), Mallard, Common Woodpigeon, an adult Black-crowned Night (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax) and Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Common (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) and Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Eurasian Hoopoe, European Bee-eater, Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oropéndola Europea / Oriolus oriolus), Iberian (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki) and Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Zitting Cisticola, Barn Swallow, Western House Martin, Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Sardinian Warbler, Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), Spotless Starling, European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Nightingale, Common Blackbird, Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis).

Later we returned to Huétor where we had a late meal at Paqui's, which was very nice.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 22nd May 2026.

15W Actinic on the terrace, +15.

48 Moths of 22 Species.

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

Licence from Junta de Andalucia.

 

0488 Reisserita chrysopterella.

0488 Reisserita chrysopterella x1, 1655 Ethmia bipunctella x2, 2947 Catasphalma kautziella x2, 3029 Dysspastus fallax x12, 3757 Sophronia humerella x1, 3822 Anarsia lineatella x1, 5578 Lamoria anella x1, 5624 Bostra obsoletali x2, 6145 Ematheudes punctella x3, 6531 Udea ferrugalis (Rusty Dot Pearl) x2, 6583 Achyra nudalis x2, 5615 Synaphe lorquinalis x1, 6700 Dolicharthria punctalis x1, 6719 Nomophila noctuella (Rush Veneer) x2, 7581 Neognopharmia stevenaria x1, 7765 Peribatodes ilicaria (Lydd Beauty) x1, 8145 Brachyglossina manicaria x1, 8186 Idaea degeneraria (Portland Ribbon Wave) x5, 9100 Acontia lucida (Pale Shoulder) x1, 9142 Eublemma parva (Small Marbled) x2, 9350 Synthymia fixa (Goldwing) x1 and 9460 Spodoptera exigua (Small Mottled Willow) x3.

2947 Catasphalma kautziella.

5615 Synaphe lorquinalis.

6145 Ematheudes punctella.

6583 Achyra nudalis.

3822 Anarsia lineatella.

7765 Peribatodes ilicaria (Lydd Beauty).

9142 Eublemma parva (Small Marbled).

9350 Synthymia fixa (Goldwing).

9100 Acontia lucida (Pale Shoulder).

9460 Spodoptera exigua (Small Mottled Willow).

 

Riofrio, Granada Province, Spain.

A wonderful evening walk with Paqui and Yanira along the Riofrio to its source.

 

The Riofrio.

After a day around the house I met up with Paqui and her daughter Yanira and we headed out along the A92 to the village of Riofrio where Paqui parked near the town and we had a nice walk out to the Nacimiento de Riofrío.

Paqui and Yanira.

On the walk out and at the Source of the River we saw Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Cetti's (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Iberian (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki) and Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), Bath (Pontia daplidice) and Small White (Pieris rapae), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Spanish Gatekeeper (Pyronia bathseba) and Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina). 

Paqui and myself.

Paqui and Yanira again.

The Nacimiento de Riofrío.

We walked back to the car after a while and then Paqui and Yanira set up the table next to a bench where we had a really nice picnic with Tomato Salad, Aioli, Tortilla and Calamari, amazing.

Sierra Nevada and Presa y Meandros del Genil, Granada Province, Spain.

Out on the bigger hill for a second days birding with Derek Etherton.

Ebird List for Sierra Nevada.

Ebird List for Ski Slopes Track.

Ebird List for A-4030, Güejar Sierra. 

Ebird List for SE-53, Güejar Sierra.

 

Looking up to Veleta.

We were up and out early and on our way up to the Sierra Nevada after getting Coffee and Breakfast at Café bar Zole, we made our way straight up to the Hoya De La Mora car parks.

Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Capra pyrenaica hispanica).

Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Capra pyrenaica hispanica).

Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Capra pyrenaica hispanica).

Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Capra pyrenaica hispanica).

Our first spot was nearby where we checked the Pines and crags just to the NW of the parking spot and started the list with several Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Capra pyrenaica hispanica), Common (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) and Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia).

Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) ♂.

Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) ♂.

Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) ♂.

Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) ♀.

Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) ♂.

We walked up to the Barrier and had planned to walk out on the Hoya de San Juan track but there were still some large areas of lying snow so we stayed on the main track and soon found several Northern Wheatears (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), a pale morph Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas), Northern Raven (Cuervo grande / Corvus corax) x6, Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) x4, Eurasian Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Tawny Pipit (Bisbita Camprstre / Anthus campestris), Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina), Small White (Pieris rapae) x3, Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) x2, Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) x4, Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) x19, Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) x7, Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera) x2 and Hummingbird Hawkmoth (Macroglossum stellatarum) x4.

Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera).

Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae).

We reached a spot in the track where we were about level with the Virgen de las Nieves at (2600 m) where we found a comfortable rock each and started to scan the distant ridges, we had Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), a Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) and eventually I picked up an adult Bearded Vulture (Quebrantahuesos / Gypaetus barbatus) but unfortunately Derek didn't get on this bird as it dropped below the skyline quickly, however we stuck it out and had a distant at first subadult bird which eventually came in quite a bit closer.

Snow on the San José track.

Observatorio del Mojón del Trigo.

Looking up to Veleta.

Derek looking for the Raptor's on the Ridges.

We dropped back to the car where we had a coffee before dropping to a spot out on the Ski Slopes, we parked and walked out for km or so finding several pairs of Common Whitethroats (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), Rock Bunting and a 3rd Bearded Vulture but this one was a full Juvenile.

Bearded Vulture (Quebrantahuesos / Gypaetus barbatus) immature.

Bearded Vulture (Quebrantahuesos / Gypaetus barbatus) immature.

Bearded Vulture (Quebrantahuesos / Gypaetus barbatus) immature.

Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) ♀.

Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis).

Other species included Snow Gentian (Gentiana sierrae), White Rockrose (Helianthemum apenninum), Wall Brown x3, Southern Gatekeeper (Pyronia cecilia) and Small Tortoiseshell.

Snow Gentian (Gentiana sierrae).

Snow Gentian (Gentiana sierrae).

Further down the hill we took the old road around to Güéjar Sierra making a few stops on the way and added Long-tailed (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater) and Eurasian Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Western Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis) and European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

Sword-leaved Helleborine (Cephalanathera longifolia).

Other species were Barton's Orchid (Dactylorhiza insularis), Sword-leaved Helleborine (Cephalanathera longifolia), Southern Knapweed (Centaurea pullata), Agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria), Yellow Phlomis (Phlomis lychnitis), Wild Carrot (Daucus carota), Purple Phlomis (Phlomis purpurea), White Rockrose (Helianthemum apenninum) and Large Blue Flax (Linum narbonense).

A much changed stretch of the Rio Genil.

We headed back to the house and then Derek headed off home and I met up with Paqui and we went out for a look at the Presa y Meandros del Genil, where we saw Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), lots of European Turtle Doves (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur) and Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) x2, Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oropéndola Europea / Oriolus oriolus), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Western Jackdaw, Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Barn Swallow, Cetti's (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Eurasian Blackcap, Short-toed Treecreeper, Eurasian Wren, Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Blackbird, European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), House Sparrow, Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), European Goldfinch and European Serin.