Huétor Fields and Rio Genil East and West, Granada Province, Spain.

A walk along the Lucerne Fields and then both ways along the Rio Genil.

Ebird List for the Fields.
Ebird List for the Rio Genil West.
Ebird List for the Rio Genil East.

Arroyo Vilano from the parking spot.

I started the day with a walk down along the Lucerne fields, I arrived and found that Paqui had also decided to have a walk and was already further up the track near to the gate, as I walked I could see the usual pair of Black-winged Kites (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), 2x Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) and Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica). 

The Sun was trying hard but failing to get through the Calima.

and it's still not breaking through.

I met Paqui coming back towards her car, we spent a while chatting, as we did it started to rain a bit and because we have quite a heavy Calima at the time it rained sand.

Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

After a while Paqui continued on to her car and I walked as far as the gate, on the way I added Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), 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), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius) ♂. 

Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius) ♂. 

After turning around I walked back towards the car but scanned the fields to check the branch that is the regular perch for the ♂ Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius) which too my surprise it was sat there but not for long as it flew up chasing a Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) and then headed off to the west.

Looking across toward the Merlin Perch.

I also picked up Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Wild Grape Hyacinth (Muscari neglectum), Field Marigold (Calendula arvensis) and Common Fumitory (Fumaria officinalis).

Blooming Almond Trees (Prunus dulcis) with a Clima background.

I reached the car again, Paqui was still there taking some photo's so we chatted again or to be honest the translators were put to work, Paqui then headed off and I made my way around town to the Western side of the bridge over the Rio Genil where I parked and walked.

Eurasian PendulineTit (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus) ♂.

Eurasian PendulineTit (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus) ♂.

Eurasian PendulineTit (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus) ♂.

New species for the day included Mallards (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), at least 3 Eurasian Penduline (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus) 2♂ and 1♀, Long-tailed (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Eurasian Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), White Wallrocket (Diplotaxis erucoides) and Persian Speedwell (Veronica persica).

Long-tailed Tit (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus).

Long-tailed Tit (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus).

Long-tailed Tit (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus).

Once I was back at the car I had a quick look out along the Eastern side of the bridge adding a nice ♂ Hawfinch (Picogordo Común / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes) before I headed off home.

Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).

Rio Genil East and Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

Out and about on the locally adding a new species to my patch list.

Ebird List for the Rio Genil East.

Ebird List for the Lucerne Fields.

The Rio Genil, still carrying masses of topsoil.

I started by parking near the bridge over the Genil in Huétor and then walk out to the east for around 1.5kms, during the outward walk I recorded Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Monk Parakeets (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala) and Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Long-tailed Tit (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Hawfinch (Picogordo Común / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes) and European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris). 

Common Woodpigeons (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).

After a short way I stopped by a group of dead Poplars for a while, here I heard but didn't see a Eurasian Wryneck (Torcecuello / Jynx torquilla), my first Eurasian Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea) which was calling from the top of a dead tree about 100m along the Rio, Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Eurasian Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Long-tailed (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus), Eurasian Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus). 

Hawfinch (Picogordo Común / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes).

Hawfinch (Picogordo Común / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes).

I continued on and made another stop by the river where I picked up a Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) and off to my east a bit further along the valley I picked up two large birds soaring together, the first was an immature Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti) so I fully expected the second bird to be the same however it turned out to be an even more unexpected White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).

White Wallrocket (Diplotaxis erucoides).

I turned around at this point and returned to the car adding Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina), White Wallrocket (Diplotaxis erucoides) and Musk Stork's-bill (Erodium moschatum).

Musk Stork's-bill (Erodium moschatum).

I got back to the car and headed up to the Lucerne fields where my parking spot by the Walnut trees was taken by a tractor, so I continued on around to my normal parking spot up near the gates and I walked back towards the Walnuts.

Persian Speedwell (Veronica persica).

White Wallrocket (Diplotaxis erucoides).

New species seen here were Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), the pair of Black-winged Kites (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) x2, Small White (Pieris rapae) x6, Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus), Wild Grape Hyacinth (Muscari neglectum), White Wallrocket, Field Marigold (Calendula arvensis) and Persian Speedwell (Veronica persica).

Field Marigold (Calendula arvensis).

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 2nd March 2026.

15W Actinic on the terrace, +8.

4 Moths of 4 Species.

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

Licence from Junta de Andalucia.

 

8059 Scopula marginepunctata (Mullein Wave).

8059 Scopula marginepunctata (Mullein Wave) x1, 8256 Xanthorhoe fluctuata (Garden Carpet) x1, 8944 Autophila dilucida x1 and 9206 Cucullia calendulae (Marigold Shark) x1.

9206 Cucullia calendulae (Marigold Shark).

8944 Autophila dilucida.

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A met with a friend and then a walk along the Arroyo Vilano.

Ebird List for the Fields.

 

The Arroyo Vilano, still with a good flow.

I drove down to the Walnut trees and parked, I then walked a short walk so that I could scan the Lucerne area of the fields where I could see a couple of Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) in the Arroyo, a ♂ Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), the pair of Black-winged Kites (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), the first of 3 Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and several singing Corn Buntings (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

The Lucerne fields.

After a little while friend Paqui arrived, we again chatted about cameras and I showed her the very basics of how to use the set-up I was lending her until she decides what system she wants for herself, once that was done she very kindly gave me some Olive Oil and a couple more bits which I am looking forward to trying.

Eurasian Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis).

Paqui wasn't able to do a walk today so I said goodbye to her and then walked out as far as the spot where the Arroyo used to be dammed before turning around and retracing my steps back to the car, during this part of the walk I saw 7x Little Bustards, Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Iberian (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki) and Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Eurasian Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) and Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica), Cetti's (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), House (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), 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).

Cone Headed Grasshopper (Truxalis nasuta).

Other species seen included Cone Headed Grasshopper (Truxalis nasuta), Andaluz Storksbill (Erodium primulaceum), Cymbalaria-leaved Speedwell (Veronica cymbalaria), Field Marigold (Calendula arvensis), Groundsel (Senecio vulgaris), Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) leaves and Wild Grape Hyacinth (Muscari neglectum).

Wild Grape Hyacinth (Muscari neglectum).

I spent the rest of the day finishing of the repairs to the larger upstairs room and then did a bit of work on the front yard. 

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 28th February 2026.

15W Actinic on the terrace, +12.

4 Moths of 3 Species.

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

Licence from Junta de Andalucia.

 

6775 Phyllodesma suberifolia.

6719 Nomophila noctuella (Rush Veneer) x1, 6775 Phyllodesma suberifolia x1 and 8581 Eupithecia cocciferata x2.

8581 Eupithecia cocciferata.

8581 Eupithecia cocciferata.

Punta del Santo, Golf Los Moriscos 2, Golf Los Moriscos, Playa de la Cagadilla and Laguna del Regidor, Granada Province, Spain.

A morning catching up with a few migrants / year species with Juan Perez.

Ebird List for Punta del Santo 1.

Ebird List for Punta del Santo 2.

Ebird List for Punta del Santo 3.

Ebird List for Golf Los Moriscos 2.

Ebird List for Golf Los Moriscos.

Ebird List for Playa de la Cagadilla.

Ebird List for Laguna del Regidor.

 

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

I met Juan at Punta del Santo for a sea-watch which we divided into 3 thirty minutes periods, during the first 30 minutes the best species was a very distant Great Skua (Págalo Grande / Stercorarius skua) which was followed by Balearic Shearwater (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus), Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Thalasseus sandvicensis), Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo).

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

On the pool behind us, we saw and heard Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Thinornis dubius), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

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

New species seen during the second 30 minutes were Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), Audouin's Gull (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris).

1st winter Black-legged Kittiwake (Gaviota Tridáctila / Rissa tridactyla).

1st winter Black-legged Kittiwake (Gaviota Tridáctila / Rissa tridactyla).

1st winter Black-legged Kittiwake (Gaviota Tridáctila / Rissa tridactyla).

During the third session the star bird put in an appearance when a 1st winter Black-legged Kittiwake (Gaviota Tridáctila / Rissa tridactyla) flew in with a group of Sandwich Terns.

Other species added included Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Spatula clypeata), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula).

Our next stop was just over the road at Golf Los Moriscos 2 where the year and day list got a boost, new year birds were Alpine Swift (Vencejo Real / Apus melba), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica), Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia) and Western Yellow Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava).

Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) and Red-knobbed Coot (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata).

Other species seen included Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), 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), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Lesser Black-backed Gull, Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Great Cormorant, Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta), Barn Swallow, Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Cetti's and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Eurasian Blackcap, Common Blackbird, European Robin, Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), House Sparrow, Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), White Wagtail, Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi).

Barnacle Geese (Barnacla Cariblanca / Branta leucopsis) and Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra).

Barnacle Geese (Barnacla Cariblanca / Branta leucopsis) and Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra).

We moved up to the next pool on another part of the Golf Los Moriscos where we soon added the Barnacle Geese (Barnacla Cariblanca / Branta leucopsis) and Egyptian Goose (Ganso del Nilo / Alopochen aegyptiaca) to the day list before we headed out to Playa de la Cagadilla where we walked to the far end and back.

Playa de la Cagadilla.

One of the freshwater pools on Playa de la Cagadilla.

During the walk we saw several new species which included Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Eurasian Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), our first Sedge Warbler (Carricerin Común / Acrocephalus schoenobaenus) of the year and Bermuda Buttercup (Oxalis pes-caprae), Ramping Fumitory (Fumaria capreolata), White Wallrocket (Diplotaxis erucoides), European Searocket (Cakile maritima), Purple Bugloss (Echium plantagineum) a couple of Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) butterflies.

Sedge Warbler (Carricerin Común / Acrocephalus schoenobaenus).

Sedge Warbler (Carricerin Común / Acrocephalus schoenobaenus).

European Searocket (Cakile maritima).

We walked back to the car and I dropped Juan back to his place, where I said Bye and headed back towards home but made a quick stop off at Balsa de Regidor on the way, here I found Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis), Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus) and Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa).

Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).

Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).