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Saturday 3 September 2016

Peñón de Jolúcar, Playa de las Azucenas, Charca de Suarez, Granada Province.

Birding on the Granada Coast with Juan Pérez Contreras.

Immature Shags (Cormorán Mondudo / Phalacrocorax aristotelis).
I met Juan out side his place at 06:20 and we headed off down the coast to do the RAM sea watch at Peñón de Jolúcar on the edge of Torrenueva. We arrived a little early and had a scan around the rocks and cliffs and started the list off with Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis). 
Immature Shags (Cormorán Mondudo / Phalacrocorax aristotelis).
The sea watching was a bit slow but we did record 40 or so Cory's Shearwaters (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea), a single Balearic (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Audouin's Gull (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus) and most amazing was a flock of 18 immature Shags (Cormorán Mondudo / Phalacrocorax aristotelis) which out did the best group seen in the past by a long way. In the same area we also had several Spanish Ibex (Cabra pyreaica hispanica) and a Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator) which flew passed us in the early dawn light.
Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina).
On the way to our next spot at Playa de las Azucenas we saw Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica).
Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa).
Once there we walked across the bridge, along the stream and out on to the beach. Along the river we found Reed (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) and Cetti's Warblers (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Red Avadavat (Bengali Rojo / Amandava amandava) and on the port wall there were several Grey Herons (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and a single immature Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo). On the beach we had several Goldfinches (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) feeding on the weeds and a flock of 7 Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) which flew over.
Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca).
On the fields at the far end of the beach we added Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Willow Warbler (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and more Thekla Larks
Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).
As we walked back along the beach we had a single Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans) flying west and along the river European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild) and a Monarch (Danaus plexippus).
We moved on again and on our way through to Charca we saw Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator) and Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula).
Garganey (Cerceta Carretona / Anas querquedula).
We parked and went into the site, just in side the gate we had a Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and from the first small hide where we sat for 40 minutes or so we had Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) and an immature Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina).
Garganey (Cerceta Carretona / Anas querquedula).
From the small hide at the far end of the same pool Juan found a very smart male Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica), an immature Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail, the Dunlin which had followed us from the first hide and lots more Red Avadavats.
Garganey (Cerceta Carretona / Anas querquedula).
From the newish hide over looking a rather dry pool where we soon boosted the list with Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), 4x Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum), Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope), Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea), Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria) and Iberian Blue-tail (Ischnura graellsii). 
Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus).
Juan and I then walked around to the main hide to look for a couple of Garganey (Cerceta Carretona / Anas querquedula) which he had seen a week or so earlier, on the way we had a Stripe-less Tree Frog (Hyla meridionalis).
Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus).
From the hide we soon found Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Night Heron (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax) x3, Red-knobbed Coot (Focha cornuda / Fulca cristata), Little Bittern (Avetorillo Común / Ixobrychus minutus) and then the two Garganey came in to view. 
Red-knobbed Coot (Focha cornuda / Fulca cristata).
We moved back to the newer hide and finished the visit off here adding Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus), Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago). As we were walking back towards the gates Juan said shall we have a quick look in the first hide on the other route where we saw a Sedge Warbler (Carricerin Común / Acrocephalus schoenobaenus) and at least one more Bluethroat.
Red-knobbed Coot (Focha cornuda / Fulca cristata).
Our last stop was in the next hide where we had good views of a family of Red-knobbed Coots, two adults and four chicks, Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa) and Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi).

Thursday 1 September 2016

Caleta de Vélez, Malaga Province.

A couple of hours of photographing gulls in the port.

Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).
I dropped Jayne off in Torre-del-mar and went just along the way to the port where I checked through the mainly immature Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) for ringed birds. 
Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).
On the same beach I also saw a few Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii) and Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), as well as 3x Ruddy Turnstones (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres) and a single Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba). 
Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).
In the area around the port I also had several Monk Parakeets (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto). Later I met up with Jayne, we had lunch and then a walk along the prom at Torre before heading home.
Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).
Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus).

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus).
Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus).
Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus).
Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).
Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus).

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus).
Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus).

Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus).

Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus).

Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus).

Tuesday 30 August 2016

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Trapping.

8904 Dysgonia algira (Passenger).
0678 Tinea basifasciella x1, 0951 Oiketicoides eganai x2, 5643 Actenia brunnealis x5, 6001 Euzophera lunulella x3, 6441 Aporodes floralis x1, 7533 Stegania trimaculata (Dorset Cream Wave) x1, 7725 Menophora japygiaria (Brassy Waved Umber) x7, 7765 Peribatodes ilicaria (Lydd Beauty) x1 ?????, 8211 Rhodometra sacaria (The Vestal) x8, 8805 Bryophila vandalusiae x1, 8813 Bryophila petrea x4, 8818 Cryphia muralis (Marbled Green) x2, 8828 Raphia hybris x2, 8899 Clytie illunaris (Trent Double-stripe) x3, 8904 Dysgonia algira (Passenger) x2, 9106 Pseudozarba bipartita x6, 9460 Spodoptera exigua (Small Mottled Willow) x16, 10015 Mythimna putrescens (Devonshire Wainscot) x2 ????? and 10460  Earias insulana (Egyptian Bollworm) x1.
9106 Pseudozarba bipartita.
8818 Cryphia muralis (Marbled Green).
7533 Stegania trimaculata (Dorset Cream Wave).
8805 Bryophila vandalusiae
6441 Aporodes floralis.
7765 Peribatodes ilicaria (Lydd Beauty) ???????????
0678 Tinea basifasciella.
8813 Bryophila petrea
10015 Mythimna putrescens (Devonshire Wainscot) ????????????
0951 Oiketicoides eganai.
8899 Clytie illunaris (Trent Double-stripe).
8828 Raphia hybris.
9460 Spodoptera exigua (Small Mottled Willow).
5643 Actenia brunnealis.
???????????????????

Monday 29 August 2016

Granada Coast, Granada Province.

A few hours searching but got them in the end.

Desert Orange-tip (Colotis evagore).
Jayne and I headed up in to Granada first thing looking for some craft shops for some matterial that Jayne needs to finish a project but as usual in July and August everything was shut, however on the way we had a small group of around 10 or so Honey Buzzards (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus) circling the A92 just before the Santa Fe exit which was a well over due year tick putting me on 270 for the year.
Desert Orange-tip (Colotis evagore).
After leaving the city we drove down to the coast and then east to an area where we spent several hours on dry tracks and amongst the unattractive plastic of the greenhouse and could not find the target species but we did have a stunning male Vagrant Emperor (Anax ephippiger) which few around us for ages but never settled for a photograph, as well as a female Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata), several Red-veined Darters (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Large White (Pieris brassicae), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica) and Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris).
Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria).
After a nice lunch in town we eventually found what I was looking for or the first part of it Capparis spinosa or Wild Caper and then once the sun came out the target Desert Orange-tip (Colotis evagore). 
I managed to get some record shots of this stunning species but as the terrain was harder going and I was ware walking sandals I decided that they would have to do until the next time. 
Female Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata).
In the same area I also had several Long Skimmers (Orthetrum trinacria), Bath White (Blanqiverdosa / Pontia daplidice), Swallowtail (Papilio machaon) and Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus). 
The frozen milk.
From here we went on back down the coast to Salabrena where we were very pleased to find the Frozen Milk shop was open, Jayne had a small pot but I did not, I only had a medium one but really would like to have had the full litre !!!!! it is soooooooooooooo nice. 
Jayne in the Alpujarras.
After a nice walk along the coast we were getting warm so headed back inland and decided to have a look in the hills of the Alpujarras where we got a couple of the artisan mats before getting home late on.
Some of the local made rugs.