North to Albarracín, Teruel Province, Spain.

Heading North to meet friend Andy Tweed for a few days looking for butterflies.

 

Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas).

I started out early as I wanted to reach a spot by mid-afternoon to give me a chance of seeing one of the two target butterfly species I had for the next few days, before I stopped for some breakfast at approx the halfway point in the drive I saw Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Iberian (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki) and Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus).

Roemeria hybrida.

Roemeria sicula.

I came off the motorway at the Hostal Restaurante El Puente junction where I had breakfast before continuing on, a little while later I left the main A4 and went east on the A-43 but pulled off to message Paqui, I spent a few minutes stretching the legs and had a single Great Bustard (Avutarda Euroasiática / Otis tarda) fly over as well as several singing Calandra Larks (Calandria Común / Melanocorypha calandra), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas), Roemeria sicula and hybrida, Hypecoum imberbe and Small White (Pieris rapae) x1.

Again I continued on adding White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Panoptes Blue (Pseudophilotes panoptes).

I made another stop to have a walk and parked right by a small puddle where I had a few Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) x4 and a couple of Panoptes Blue (Pseudophilotes panoptes) x2 as well as Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), Eurasian Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola) and a little further on before I reached Moscardón I had a group of Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) on a carcass in a ditch, unfortunately there was nowhere to stop so I continued on.

As I drove through the Meadows near the village of Moscardón I had Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Liverwort (Hepatica nobilis) in blue and white forms on the roadside as well as Provence (Anthocharis euphenoides) x2 and Common Orange-tip (Anthocharis cardamines) x5.

Queen of Spain (Issoria lathonia).

I reached the spot that Andy had sent me and started to have a look around but only found Painted Lady x8+, Large (Pieris brassicae) x1 and Wood White (Leptidea sinapis) x1, Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) x4, Provence Orange-tip x1♂ and Queen of Spain (Issoria lathonia) x1 as it was quite cloudy with a cool wind.

Spring Ringlet (Erebia epistygne).

The Habitat.

After a while the sun came out and the wind dropped for a few minutes and during this brief bit of heat I had three sightings of at least 2 different Spring Ringlets (Erebia epistygne) which was one of the two species I had driven up for so I was very happy even with just these brief views.

Southern Early Purple Orchid (Orchis olbienis).

Southern Early Purple Orchid (Orchis olbienis).

Southern Early Purple Orchid (Orchis olbienis).

Southern Early Purple Orchid (Orchis olbienis).

I also saw Southern Early Purple Orchid (Orchis olbienis), Globularia vulgaris, Potentilla cinerea, Hairy Spurge (Euphorbia hirsuta), Montpellier Milkvetch (Astragalus monspessulanus), Iberian Mole (Talpa occidentalis) hills, Common Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapilla), Coal Tit  (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Eurasian Wren, Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus).

Potentilla cinerea.

Globularia vulgaris.

Montpellier Milkvetch (Astragalus monspessulanus).

Hairy Spurge (Euphorbia hirsuta).

Iberian Mole (Talpa occidentalis) hills.

Andy arrived so we searched the area again but it had gone cold and dull by now so we didn't get any more views of the Target so we headed for the hotels in Albarracín and met up again later at La Zahora where we had a very nice meal and a few drinks whilst chatting about butterflies.

Huétor Fields and Sierra de Loja, Granada Province, Spain.

A day birding with friend Barbara, Derek and Steve.

Ebird List for the Fields.

Ebird List for Sierra de Loja.

 

I was up early and as I was getting sorted I could hear the newly arrived Red-necked Nightjar (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis) in the Olives along with Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos) and a Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oropéndola Europea / Oriolus oriolus), once I was down in town I checked to Park and soon heard and saw the two regular Monk Parakeets (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus).

I met Barbara and Derek Etherton and Steve Powell at Combustibles Gómez where we had some breakfast before heading to the fields where the Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) put on a good show for us.

Whilst there we also had a single Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) which was the first time I have seen this species for a while, when the large number of Harriers turned up the regular pair disappeared but guessing this is one of them.

Other species included Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Thinornis dubius), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Crested (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and Greater Short-toed Larks (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), a singing Common Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) which remained unseen in the vegetation, Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Nightingale, European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Spanish (Yellow) (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) and Western Yellow Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava thunbergi), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) x4 and Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) x2.

We returned to the car and then went along the A92 back towards Loja where we took the track up Sierra de Loja, the first section was quite upsetting as the route for the new high speed rail link cuts through the lower slopes and the amount of destruction is incredible all to save a few minutes of travel time but as with most things these days the wildlife and countryside come second, even when It's for supposed green infrastructure.

Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea).

Anyway as we started the trip up we saw some Yellow Bee Orchids (Ophrys lutea) along the roadside and in what remains of the Pine woodlands we picked up Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris), Common Woodpigeon, Common Blackbird, Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus), Western Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) before we turned up the track to the middle quarry.

Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa).

Wild Tulip (Tulipa sylvestris).

Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalia).

Viola dementria.

After parking we walked back down the track almost as far as the junction, as we walked we saw and heard Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Northern Raven (Cuervo grande / Corvus corax), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Curruca undata), European Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), Clouded Yellow x2, Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenoides) x5, Painted Lady x7, Large Psammodromus (Psammodromus algirus), Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Capra pyrenaica hispanica), Mirror (Ophrys speculum), Yellow Bee (Ophrys lutea) and Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalia), Cerastium gibraltaricum, Bladder Campion (Silene vulgaris), Brown Bluebell (Dipcadi serotinum), Eruca (Eruca sativa), Dianthus pungens ssp brachyanthus, Cloven Petalled Campion (Silene colorata), Thapsia villosa, Common Stork's-bill (Erodium cicutarium), Field Marigold (Calendula arvensis), Mallow-leaved Convolvulus (Convolvulus althaeoides), Pitch Trefoil (Bituminaria bituminosa), Ramping Fumitory (Fumaria capreolata), Rusty-back Fern (Ceterach officinarum), Tassel Hyacinth (Muscari comosum), Viola dementria, White Rockrose (Helianthemum apenninum), Wild Grape Hyacinth (Muscari neglectum), Wild Tulip (Tulipa sylvestris) and Starry Clover (Trifolium stellatum).

Northern Raven (Cuervo grande / Corvus corax).

Brown Bluebell (Dipcadi serotinum).

Thapsia villosa.

Cerastium gibraltaricum.

Dianthus pungens ssp brachyanthus.

We dropped back to the main track then we made our way up onto the tops via the crags, on the way we picked up Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina) and Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia).

Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia).

Once we were out on the tops we saw the first of a good number of Thekla's Larks (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Western Black-eared (Collalba Rubia Occidental / Oenanthe hispanica) and Northern Wheatears (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Spectacled Warbler (Curruca Tomillera / Curruca conspicillata), Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum baeticum), Iris Subbiflora, Wild Peony (Paeonia broteri), Blue Hedgehog Broom (Erinacea anthyllis), Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina) and Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas). 

Thekla's Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae).

Western Black-eared Wheatear (Collalba Rubia Occidental / Oenanthe hispanica) ♀.

Iris Subbiflora.

Iris Subbiflora.

Photographing the Iris Subbiflora.

Iris Subbiflora.

We drove past Charca del Negro and just after we passed the fossil cave we started to see several Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) dropping in just around the corner and when we got there we found around 30 or so birds feeding / fighting over the remains of a sheep Caracas, in the same area we had Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

Limestone areas on the hill.

Looking out to the west.

After watching them for a while we continued on around to the crags near the Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) scrub, here we heard and had nice views of ♂ Western Orphean (Curruca Mirlona Occidental / Curruca hortensis) and ♀ Western Subalpine Warblers (Curruca Carrasqueña Occidental / Curruca iberiae), Short-toed Snake Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), and right up on the top of the crags a pair of the beautiful Common Rock Thrushes (Roquero Roja / Monticola saxatilis) with the ♂ making several display flights.

Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

On the way back down we reached the spot where the Vultures were again but we soon realised that the Griff's had been joined by 2 massive Cinereous  / Eurasian Black Vulture (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus), further on we caught up with an Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real / Lanius meridionalis) which we were surprised we hadn't seen earlier.

Cinereous  / Eurasian Black Vulture (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus).

Cinereous  / Eurasian Black Vulture (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus).

Cinereous  / Eurasian Black Vulture (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus).

Cinereous  / Eurasian Black Vulture (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus).

We dropped back to the service area where Derek and Barbara headed off to Malaga and I took Steve back to his car in Huétor and then headed home, later I had a very pleasant walk with Paqui down the fields. 

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 22nd April 2026.

15W Actinic on the terrace, +14.5.

29 Moths of 17 Species.

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

Licence from Junta de Andalucia.

 

0465 Myrmecozela ataxella.

0465 Myrmecozela ataxella x2, 0706 Monopis nigricantella x1, 1525 Plutella xylostella (Dimond-back) x1, 5864 Acrobasis obliqua x3, 6531 Udea ferrugalis (Rusty Dot Pearl) x1, 6719 Nomophila noctuella (Rush Veneer) x5, 7765 Peribatodes ilicaria (Lydd Beauty) x1, 8581 Eupithecia cocciferata x1, 9056 Autographa gamma (Silver Y) x2, 9100 Acontia lucida (Pale Shoulder) x2, 9350 Synthymia fixa (Goldwing) x1, 9433 Paradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow) x2, 9961 Hadena sancta x1, 10022 Mythimna l-album (L-Album Wainscot) x1, 10029 Mythimna sicula x2, and 10343 Agrotis puta (Shuttle Shaped Dart) x2.

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7765 Peribatodes ilicaria (Lydd Beauty).

8581 Eupithecia cocciferata.

10029 Mythimna sicula.

10029 Mythimna sicula.

9350 Synthymia fixa (Goldwing).

10022 Mythimna l-album (L-Album Wainscot).

9961 Hadena sancta.