Rio Guadalhorce and Laguna Chica, Malaga Province.

Day One with the 5 Leicester ladies from the South Leicester Birdwatchers.

I Meet Jane, Jane Rona, Sue and Jan and then we went out to the beach at Guadalhorce where we scanned the sea and sand. The sea was quiet and we only saw Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), a pair of Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Little Tern (Charrancito Común / Sterna albifrons) and a flight of four Pied Oystercatchers (Ostrero Euroasiatico / Haematopus ostralegus) which landed on the beach amongst the fishermen. On the beach we picked up a couple of male Northern Wheatears (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) which were new for the year list. Along the river and in the reeds we added Willow Warbler (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) and Monk Parakeets (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus). Also seen in the area we had views of Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) and Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula). On the bank  there were plenty of wildflowers including Common Mallow (Malva sylvestris), Common Stork's-bill (Erodium cicutarium), Crown Daisy (Chrysanthemum carinatum var discolor), Field marigold (Calendula arvensis), Field marigold (Calendula arvensis) and a single butterfly species Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui).

From here we drove towards Huétor Tajar calling for some lunch on the way adding Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica).

Our next stop was at Laguna Chica and on the way up the track to the spot we had a flock of half a dozen or so Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes), a male Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus) which unfortunately flew before the ladies got a desent view, Yellow Bee Orchid (Orquídea Abejera / Ophrys lutea), Grey-leaved Cistus (Cistus albidus) and Gorse (Ulex europaeus). At the top of the hill we scanned the pool and saw good numbers of Eurasian Coots, Common Moorhen, Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Little (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and Great Crested Grebes (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus). above the water there were good numbers of Barn and Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), House, Sand (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia) and Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) and we heard several Iberian Water Frogs (Rana Común / Rana Perezi). Wild flowers included Neatostema apulum (Yellow Gromwell), Wild Clary (Salvia verbenaca), Tassel Hyacinth (Muscari comosum), Southern Daisy (Bellis cordifolia), Southern Knapweed (Centaurea pullata ssp pullata), Mirror Orchid (Espejo de Venus / Ophrys speculum subsp speculum) and Ophrys forestieri. We also ha an unexpected Common Winter Damselfly (Sympecma fusca) which flew low through the tyme plants. We walked back to the van adding Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus), Blue  (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) to the day list. We continued on and on our way back we picked up Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) near the motorway and as we got closer to the house we crossed the fields north of Huétor adding Yellow Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) and Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cyanus) before getting to Casa Jasmin where the ladies were staying.

Embalse de Iznajar and Fuente de Piedra, Malaga Province.

A morning of Orchids and an afternoon with the Birds.

Dark Spider Orchid (Ophrys incubacea).

I dropped Jayne off at the Trabuco ladies group meeting and headed off to the Embalse de Iznajar to look for some Orchids, I arrived and started to walk to the main area just as the rain started and it was like this all morning with the odd heavy shower passing through.

Naked / Italian Man Orchid (Orchis italica).

Anyway armed with my trusty Ikea bag which works well for kneeling on and as a rain hood for the camera and tripod I made a start with some spikes of Naked / Italian Man Orchid (Orchis italica) which were flowering on a steepish bank under pine trees.

Orchiaceras bivonae.

These were followed by a sing rather tatty looking Orchiaceras bivonae the hybrid between Naked / Italian Man Orchid and Man Orchid (Orchis anthropophora), Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea), Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera), Mirror Orchid (Ophrys speculum), Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum robertiana), Bumblebee Orchid (Ophrys bombyliflora), Small Woodcock Orchid (Ophrys picta), Woodcock Orchid (Ophrys scolopax), Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca), Ophrys subfusca and a single spike of Dark Spider Orchid (Ophrys incubacea).

Small Woodcock Orchid (Ophrys picta).

Birds in the same area included Subalpine (Curruca Carrasquena / Sylvia cantillans) and Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Crested Tit (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius) and Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax).

Bumblebee Orchid (Ophrys bombyliflora).

I got all the shots I wanted so I headed back to Antequera and on up the motorway to Fuente de Piedra, I spent most of the visit sat in my car along side the entrance road pool where I watched a group of feeding Whiskered (Fumarel Cariblanca / Chilidonias hybridus), Gull-billed (Pagaza Piconegra / Gelochelidon nilotica) and Black Terns (Fumarel Común / Chlidonias niger) for a couple of hours.

Wood Sandpiper (Andarrios Bastardo / Tringa glareola).

On the same pool there were Black-tailed Godwits (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Green (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Common (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) and Wood Sandpipers (Andarrios Bastardo / Tringa glareola), Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax), Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Blue-headed (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava flava) and a constan stream of both House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica). 

Black Tern (Fumarel Común / Chlidonias niger).

I had a quick stroll around to the view point and then to the two hides on the freshwater pools, on the wa to the Mirador I had nice views of Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) and Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna).

Whiskered Tern (Fumarel Cariblanca / Chilidonias hybridus).

From the two hides I added Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Red-crested Pochard (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and a calling Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus).

Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus) leaning into the wind.

On the way back to the car I saw several spikes of Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Clouded Yellow (Colias Común / Colias corcea) and a Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychlorus). I again went and stopped along side the roadside pool but the only new species were Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and a small flock of Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) which flew over.

Blue-headed (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava flava).

After a while a car pulled up in front of me and instead of staying in the car the British birders got out clanging tripods and door which had the expected effect of flushing some birds and pushing every thing to the far side of the pool so i decided to push on and headed back to Trabuco and picked Jayne up. We got home and as things had warmed up we spent a couple of hours doing some gardening.

Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos).

Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

Another trip along the Cacín Valley.

Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenodes).

I met Martin and his wife just off the A92 near Moraleda and we took a nearby track out in to the Olive and Almond Groves and straight away located find of the day in the shape of three spikes of the uncommon Dark Spider Orchid (Ophrys incubacea) amongst several spikes of Ophrys forestieri, lots of Eruca (Eruca sativa), Dove's Foot Cranesbill (Geranium molle), Dove's Foot Cranesbill (Geranium molle), Mallow-leaved Bindweed (Convolvulus althaeoides) and a female Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenodes).

Dark Spider Orchid (Ophrys incubacea).

We moved on along the track getting good views of Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and a very nice Iberian Brown Hare (Lepus europaeus / capensis) which sat nicely in the open. On this lower section birds included Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) and Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica).

Once we were on the top fields we parked and had a walk amongst an area of Almond groves, some in good order and some abandoned. The first things that we started to see were Orchids and these included Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea), Mirror Orchid (Ophrys speculum), Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum robertiana) and a single open spike of Pink Butterfly Orchid (Orchis papilionacea).

Dark Spider Orchid (Ophrys incubacea).

As we reached the top of a nearby ravin we heard and had fantastic views of a group of 5 or so Great Spotted Cuckoo's (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius) which chased aroundthe trees. In the same area we heard the screams of a pair of Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) as they flew away and disappeared in to the next plantation. In the same are we picked up Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae).

After a while we walked back to the car and headed out on the main area of open fields and were treated to cracking views of three Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), two male chasing down a female. In the same area we saw both Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) and Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Swallowtail (Papilio machaon) and Small White (Artogeia rapae). 

Mirror Orchid (Ophrys speculum).

We moved off the site and down in to the Valley and were very pleased to see a couple of Iberian Magpies (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cyanus) along with Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) in the Pines.

We stopped off at the Embalse de Cacínand had great views of two male Marsh Harriers (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) displaying over the reedbeds, a single Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), 6x Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) and a Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) roosting on the trees in the water, 3x Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), heard Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Crag (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica).
We continued on down the valley seeing Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) on the way.

Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

In the gorge we had stunning views of both male and female Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila-azor / Hieraetus faciatus) along with Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Rock Pigeon (Paloma Bravia / Columba livia) and a singing but not seen Orphean Warbler (Curruca Mirlano / Sylvia hortensis).
We turned around and headed back up the valley calling in at the Rio Cacín on the way where we had Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and heard Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) before heading back to the meeting point and going our own ways.

Thanks to you both for a very pleasant time in the country side and for all the positive comments about the day.

La Malaha and Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

An interesting day tour with the Barber family.

Roemeria hybrida.

I met Georgena, Ian, Ruby and Issac near La Malaha and we headed for a spot nearby where we had nice views of a colony of Lesser Kestrels (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni) and soon counted at least 28 of these cracking little falcons on and around the farm buildings as well as singing Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia).

Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

We moved on passed La Malaha and out into an agricultural area where we first stayed on the tarmac before taking one of the tracks across country, on the first section of road we picked up Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus).

Watching Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius) out on the fields.

Once we were out on the track we started to see the first of many Calandra Larks (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), two Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) but only in flight, as were all the Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) but a single Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius) which we first saw in flight landed in a nearby tree and gave us nice views.

Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas).

Ruby was finding some nice wildflowers in the crop fields which included Biscutella auriculata subsp. auriculata, Calendula arvensis (Field Marigold), Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas), Erodium malacoides (Soft Stork's-bill), Eruca sativa (Eruca), Fumaria officinalis (Common Fumitory), Hypecoum imberbe, Muscari neglectum (Common Grape Hyacinth) and the beautiful purple Roemeria hybrida. We continued on along the track adding a Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), male Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and a couple of Hoopoe's (Abubilla / Upupa epops), one of which showed well fulfilling one of the birds on Georgena's wishes.

Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila-azor / Hieraetus faciatus).

After watching the Hoopoe we drove through Ventas de Huelma and on towards Cacín, just out side the village we had views of a Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus) and at the same spot we heard a singing Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) and Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus). We continued on and stopped near a semi ruined Cortijo and scanned the ridges but we did not find any new species of bird but had a few other species including Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Neatostema apulum (Yellow Gromwell), Helianthemum apenninum (White Rockrose), Nonea  vesicaria, Euphorbia squamigera (Warty Spurge), Parentucellia latifolia (Southern Red Bartsia), Silene colorata (Pink Med Catchfly) and the blue form Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis).

Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).

Just before we dropped down in to Cacín we had a very nice group of European Bee-eaters (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) on roadside wires which looked very nice through the scope.
Our next stop was just on the far side of the village where we had a walk along the Rio Cacín which was flowing well if not slightly cloudy looking.

Photographing Ophrys forestieri.

The commonest species seen in the marginal brambles and trees were Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), good numbers were seen along with Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius) and for me the best bird of the day a Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea) which is quite an uncommon bird locally and this was only the second one I had seen in the Valley. During the stroll we also saw several Speckled Woods (Pararge aegeria), Small (Artogeia rapae) and Large Whites (Pieris brassicae), White (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Grey Wagtails (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and a calling but not seen Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti).

Small Bee sp on Grey-leaved Cistus (Cistus albidus).

Once we were down in the valley we drove straight down to the far end of the gorge where we had good views of a pair of Bonelli's Eagles (Aguila-azor / Hieraetus faciatus) flying along the valley. In the gorge we also had Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Rock Pigeon (Paloma Bravia / Columba livia), a singing Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), a brief distant Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) and in the Almond trees a fine male Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator).

Ophrys forestieri.

We also spent some time photgraphing several spikes of Ophrys forestieri and some of the insects which were collecting pollen from several Grey-leaved Cistus (Cistus albidus). On the road during the drive along the gorge we had both Montpellier Snake (Malpolon monspessulanus) and Ladder Snake (Rhinechis scalaris) shot in to the verge vegetation.

Unnamed Grasshopper sp.

Again we moved on and our next stop was at the Embalse de Cacín where we had planned to have lunch but because of the number of ants we moved down to the Rio a little further but added Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and Glaucium corniculatum (Red-horned Poppy).

Mirror Orchid (Ophrys speculum).

We had lunch sat by the irrigation channel and then had a look at the bridge and along the track towards the dam and in the time we picked up Coal Tit (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra), Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenodes), Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli) and a nice Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri).

Common Asphodel (Asphodelus albus).

From the Rio we headed out on to an area of agricultural land where the birds were quite and we only added Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Crested lark, Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea).

On a small area of natural ground amongst all the fields we spent some time searching for plants and butterflies and found quite a few of each including Mirror Orchid (Ophrys speculum), Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea), several over with Fan-lipped Orchids (Orchis conica), Common Asphodel (Asphodelus albus), Swallowtail (Papilio machaon), Province Hairstreak (Tomares ballus), Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Clouded Yellow (Colias corcea) and Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina).

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

From the fields we headed a cross country back to the meeting point, on the way we had great views of a Little Owl in a road side tree which was a very nice way to finish the day.

Thanks to Georgena, Ian, Ruby and Issac for a very enjoyable day in good company.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Trapping.

Trichoplusia ni (Ni Moth).

Last nights trap contained Heliothis peltigera (Bordered Straw) X73, Eublemma ostrina (Purple Marbled) X1, Acontia lucida (Pale Shoulder) X8, Trichoplusia ni (Ni Moth) X1, Autographa gamma (Silver Y) X10, Macdunnoughia confusa (Dewick's Plusia) X1, Lithostege griseata (Grey Carpet) X1, Gymnoscelis rufifasciata (Double-striped Pug) X3, Eupithecia cocciferata X2,

Macdunnoughia confusa (Dewick's Plusia).

 Eupithecia centarueata (Lime-speck Pug) X3, Xanthorhoe fluctuata (Garden Carpet) X3, Menophora japygiaria (Brassy Waved Umber) X1, Nomophila noctuella (Rush Veneer) X2, Dolicharthria punctalis X1, Pyrausta aurata X1, Udea ferrugalis (Rusty Dot Pearl) X5, 

Plutella xylostella (Diamond backed Moth).

 Evergestis frumentalis X3, Euchromius vinculellus X2, Epinotia thapsiana X1, Cochylimorpha decolorella X5, Plutella xylostella (Diamond backed Moth) X6, Agrotis ipsilon (Dark Sword-grass) X2, 

Acontia lucida (Pale Shoulder).

Agrotis puta (Shuttle Shaped Dart) X6, Mythimna (Sablia) sicula ssp. scirpi X2, Mythimna l-album (L-Album Wainscot) X1, Caradrina flavirena (Lorimer's Rustic) X3, 

Autographa gamma (Silver Y).

Paradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow) X1, Aspitates ochrearia ochrearia (Yellow Belle) X3 and a few more which still need to be sorted.

Evergestis frumentalis.

Eublemma ostrina (Purple Marbled).

Mythimna l-album (L-Album Wainscot).