Civil War Defences in Parque Natural Sierra de Huétor, Granada Province.

A morning in the hills North of Granada City.

Cardinal Fritillary (Argynnis pandora).

Our son Alan is visiting at the moment, so we decided that it would be good to do a short walk to the Civil War trenches. The trail passes through some beautiful countryside with some stunning views. The trenches have been restored / rebuilt and make for an interesting visit once you have been to the very well located and run visitor's center.

The walk is a gentle upward amble through pine woodlands to the summit of the hill. On the way several Cardinal Fritillaries (Argynnis pandora), Striped Graylings (Pseudotergumia fidia), Dusky Heath (Coenonympha dorus), Cardinal Fritillary (Argynnis pandora) and Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides podalirius feisthameli) were seen along with several other species.

The restored trenches.

The centre can be found by taking the signed road / track from the highest point in the delightful village of Viznar just off the A92 to the east of Granada heading for Almeria. 

Alan.

Both Blue Emperor (Anax imperator) and Desert Darter (Sympetrum sinaiticum tarraconesis) were seen at the summit around the defenses.

Dusky Heath (Coenonympha dorus).

Birds were few and far between but European Bee-eaters (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) were passing over heading back south in good numbers. Later we called at a cracking little place on the way back down to Viznar were we had lunch, the Chorizo's were something special.

Rio Guadalahorce, Malaga Province.

Wrong time of the year and worst time of the day.

Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta).

So I was not expecting to see very much and I got what I expected. It was just too hot at 14:30 to be tramping around the reserve but we were meeting our son from the airport at Malaga and it seemed like a good idea. On the first lake a couple of hundred Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Reidora / Lanus ridibundus) were roosting, a single Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis) and a few White-headed Ducks (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala) swam and fed amongst them. 

Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta) and Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus) were also seen. From the next hide over looking the long pool Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus), Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus) and Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) were seen and heard.

Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator).

A single Imm Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator) was perched on a tall Fennel Stalk and several Monk Parakeets (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus) flew over calling loudly. After a brief visit I was glad to get back to the car.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moths Recorded.

Golden Twin-spots (Chrysodeixis chalcites).

Again the 125 MV trap was used and as the weather was good the catch was reasonable to. Small Marbled (Eublemma parva) was again the commonest moth trapped with about 30 caught.

Lime-speck Pug (Eupithecia cenaureata).

Two of the Emerald Species Chlorissa etruscaria, a single Silver Y (Autographa gamma) and three Golden Twin-spots (Chrysodeixis chalcites) were in and around the trap as well. Small Mottled Willow (Spodoptera exigua) 5+, The Vestal (Rhodometra sacraria) 7+, Lime-speck Pug (Eupithecia cenaureata) and Dolicharthnia bruguieralis made up some of the rest of the catch.

Silver Y (Autographa gamma).