RAM, Charca Suarez and Rio Guadalfeo, Granada Province.

A mornings birding with Juan Pérez Contreras on the Granada Coast.

Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Cabra pyreaica.

I met Juan at 06:30 and we made our way down to Peñón de Jolúcar where we carried out a very quiet RAM sea bird survey, we only recorded a single immature Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), 2x Cory's Shearwaters (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea) but what was a surprise were the group of 4 Razorbills (Alca Común / Alca torda) going west and a single later going east.

Little Bittern (Avetorillo Común / Ixobrychus minutus).

Other species seen included Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Sandwich Terns (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), 2x Peregrine Falcons (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Red-rumped (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica) and Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and as we were sat up on the cliff tops a group of Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Cabra pyreaica) came hurrying past. 

As we walked back down to the car w also picked up White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula). 

Little Bittern (Avetorillo Común / Ixobrychus minutus).

We then drove a short distance along the coast to a nice bay with some good cliffs where unfortunately the sun was right into our eye when we were looking at the area we wanted to check, we did see a single Shag (Cormorán Mondudo / Phalacrocorax aristotelis), how Juan picked it out with the extremely bad light conditions I do not know. We also saw 3x Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) which were flying west along the coast, Feral Pigeons (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), a migrating Honey Buzzard (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus) and several more Ibex.

Little Bittern (Avetorillo Común / Ixobrychus minutus).

Our stop was at Charca, on the way we saw and heard Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) and on the coastal rocks a Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura).

Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur).

Once we were in Charca went in to the hide over looking Laguna del Trebol and found several Common Sandpipers (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Red-knobbed Coots (Focha cornuda / Fulca cristata), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Zitting Cisticola, Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur).

Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus).

We moved on to the main hide over looking Laguna de las Aneas and scanned the larger pool there picking up Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Little Egrets, Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia), Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Lesser (Anax parthenope) and Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator), Clouded Yellow (Colias corcea), Stripe-less Tree Frog (Hyla meridionalis), Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi) and Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa).

3x Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus).

 Next we checked the margins of the new pool from the new hide and soon found a pairs of Ringed (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) and Little Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), a calling Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), 3x Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus) which fle in and started feeding, 2x Eurasian Spoonbills (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia) which flew up and the droped quickly back into the reeds and a flying Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea).

Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus).

From the hide on Laguna del Taraje where we had female and a juv Little Bitterns (Avetorillo Común / Ixobrychus minutus), Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio) and just around the corner from there as we walked towards Laguna del Liriowe had several Spotted Flycatchers (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata).

Red-knobbed Coots (Focha cornuda / Fulca cristata).

From that hide we we had great views of another female Little Bittern in the reeds just below the hide and watched several generations of Red-knobbed Coots before making our way to the exit.

We the drive north and checked out a spot on the Rio Guadalfeo where we watched Dipper (Mirlo Acuático / Cinclus cinclus), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Long-tailed Tits (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus).

Red-knobbed Coots (Focha cornuda / Fulca cristata).

We then headed back to Juan's and then I continued home. Later Jayne and I drove down to Malaga Airport and collected Brenda, Jaynes sister and her husband Keith who were staying with us for a few days.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province and near the Hotel Bobadilla, Malaga Province, Spain.

Moth Recording.

3795 Syncopacma polychromella.

Dave and I ran three traps at the house and six traps on an area of private Oak woodland and scrub near to the Hotel Bobadilla, the site is just in Granada Province and gave us some very nice species including: 0734 Eriocottis andalusiella, 1016 Apterona helicoidella, 1648 Ethmia terminella, 2217 Enolmis delicatella, 3359 Ornativalva heluanensis or 3362 pseudotamariciella, 3795 Syncopacma polychromella x1, 5742 Etiella zinckenella, 5835 Epischnia asteris, 6218 Euchromius cambridgei, 6531 Udea ferrugalis (Rusty Dot Pearl), 6551 Udea numeralis, 6775 Phyllodesma suberifolia, 6860 Hyles livornica (Striped Hawk-moth) x1, 7599 Petrophora narbonea, 7725 Menophora japygiaria (Brassy Waved Umber), 7761 Peribatodes umbrarius (Olive-tree Beauty), 7765 Peribatodes ilicaria (Lydd Beauty), 7806 Adactylotis gesticularia, 7961 Aplasta ononaria (Rest Harrow), 8017 Cyclophora puppillaria (Blair's Mocha), 8051 Scopula decorata (Middle Lace Border), 8145 Idaea manicaria, 8175 Idaea eugeniata, 8180 Idaea ostrinaria, 8186 Idaea degeneraria (Portland Ribbon Wave), 8207 Rhodostrophia calabra, 8899 Clytie illunaris (Trent Double-stripe), 9056 Autographa gamma (Silver Y), 9140 Eublemma ostrina (Purple Marbled), 9163 Rhypagla lacernaria, 9268 Laphoterges millieri,  9279 Cleonymia baetica, 9288 Amephana aurita, 9298 Metopoceras felicina, 9895 Discestra trifolii (The Nutmeg), 9929 Hecatgera weissi, 9961 Hadena sancta, 10003 Mythimna vitellina (The Delicate) x1, 10096 Noctua pronuba (Large Yellow Underwing) x1 and 10238 Peridroma saucia (Pearly Underwing) x1.

6775 Phyllodesma suberifolia.

7806 Adactylotis gesticularia.

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8145 Idaea manicaria.

9929 Hecatgera weissi.

9929 Hecatgera weissi different colour form.

8899 Clytie illunaris (Trent Double-stripe).

7961 Aplasta ononaria (Rest Harrow).

9288 Amephana aurita.

8051 Scopula decorata (Middle Lace Border).

7599 Petrophora narbonea.

0734 Eriocottis andalusiella.

8175 Idaea eugeniata.

9298 Metopoceras felicina.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Trapping.
Night one with Dave Grundy.

4791 Lobesia botrana (european Vine Moth).

We ran two 18watt Actinic traps and a 125watt MV. Moths included 0469 Crassicornella agenjoi, 0663 Trichophaga Bipartitella, 1361 Zelleria oleastrella, 1426 Prays oleae, 1525 Plutella xylostella (Diamond backed Moth), 1648 Ethmia terminella, 1655 Ethmia bipunctella, 2976 Symmoca signatella, 3029 Dysspastus fallax, 4791 Lobesia botrana (european Vine Moth), 5578 Lamoria anella, 5615 Synaphe lorquinalis, 6218 Euchromius cambridgei, 6488 Evergestis frumentalis, 6521 Hellula undalis (Old World Webworm), 6719 Nomophila noctuella (Rush Veneer), 6860 Hyles livornica (Striped Hawk-moth), 7581 Neognopharia stevenaria, 7725 Menophora japygiaria (Brassy Waved Umber), 7765 Peribatodes ilicaria (Lydd Beauty), 7961 Aplasta ononaria (Rest Harrow), 7984 Phaiogramma  etruscaria, 8059 Scopula marginspunctata (Mullein Wave), 8090 Idaea lusohispanica, 8186 Idaea degeneraria (Portland Ribbon Wave), 8932 Dichagyris flammatra (Black Collar), 9056 Autographa gamma (Silver Y), 9368 Heliothis nubigera (Eastern Bordered Straw), 9433 Caradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow), 9454 Hoplodrina ambigua (Vine's Rustic), 9961 Hadena sancta and loads more still to name.

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7765 Peribatodes ilicaria (Lydd Beauty).

6218 Euchromius cambridgei.

10238 Peridroma saucia (Pearly Underwing)??????????

8090 Idaea lusohispanica.

5615 Synaphe lorquinalis.

6860 Hyles livornica (Striped Hawk-moth).

7984 Phaiogramma  etruscaria.

7961 Aplasta ononaria (Rest Harrow).

9368 Heliothis nubigera (Eastern Bordered Straw).

8932 Dichagyris flammatra (Black Collar).

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Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Trapping.

9140 Eublemma ostrina (Purple Marbled).

1x 18 watt actinic run in the garden, the results were: 0663 Trichophaga Bipartitella, 1361 Zelleria oleastrella, 1655 Ethmia bipunctella, 4855 Epinotia thapsiana, 6488 Evergestis frumentalis x4, 6531 Udea ferrugalis (Rusty Dot Pearl) x8, 6551 Udea numeralis x2, 6719 Nomophila noctuella (Rush Veneer) x30+, 7581 Gnopharmia stevenaria, 8017 Cyclophora puppillaria (Blair's Mocha) x1, 8186 Idaea degeneraria (Portland Ribbon Wave) x1, 8246 Orthonama obstipata (The Gem) male and female x5, 8490 Eupithecia irriguata ssp eriuguata (Marbled Pug) x1, 8509 Eupithecia cenaureata (Lime-speck Pug) x3, 8599 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata (Double-striped Pug) x1, 8965 Tyta luctuosa (The Four-spotted) x2, 9056 Autographa gamma (Silver Y) x1, 9100 Acontia lucida (Pale Shoulder) x1, 9140 Eublemma ostrina (Purple Marbled) x3, 9367 Heliothis peltigera (Bordered Straw)x2, 10035 Mythimna unipuncta (White Speck) x1 and 10346 Agrotis ipsilon (Dark Sword-grass) x1 and a few others.

6551 Udea numeralis.

9140 Eublemma ostrina (Purple Marbled).

9100 Acontia lucida (Pale Shoulder).

8246 Orthonama obstipata (The Gem) male.

8246 Orthonama obstipata (The Gem) female.

4855 Epinotia thapsiana.

8599 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata (Double-striped Pug).

8490 Eupithecia irriguata ssp eriuguata (Marbled Pug).

9436 Caradrina flavirena (Lorimer's Rustic) ??????????

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La Malaha and the Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

A days birding with Alexi and Chris who were visiting Granada City from New York.

Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

On my way up to meet Alexi and Chris I crossed the local fields seeing Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia) and Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).

I met Alexi and Chris in the City of Granada and we headed out towards La Malaha making a roadside stop where we saw our first Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) and Short-toed Larks (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), Goldfinches (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Pallid Swifts (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) of the day. 

We continued on our course calling in at a semi ruined Cortijo on the way, as we drove there we had great views of a pair of Great Spotted Cuckoos (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius) which were sat in a roadside Broom bush before flying onto the road infront of us. 

Once we were at the Cortijo we were surounded by several Lesser Kestrels (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni) which gave nice flight vews before settling back down on the roof. 

We walked down to a near by Barranco where we could hear and eventually saw a Spectacled Warbler (Curruca Tomillera / Sylvia conspicillata) along with a pale phase Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus) which flew up out of a nearby Poplar copse, Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Jackdaw, Spotless Starling, Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), a pair of Red-rumped Swallows (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica) and a singing Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos).

Coal Tit (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater).

Whilst we were trying to get views views of the Nightingale we got the surprise bird of the day when a Short-eared Owl (Buho Campestre / Asio flammeus) flushed up out of a stand of reeds and flew off into a group of Tamarisk trees, a late bird but a good find. 

We walked back towards the car after giving up on the Nightingale but added a passing Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), a couple of distant fly through European Bee-eaters (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) and a Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) to the list.

Near La Malaha we had better views of Red-rumped Swallows and Goldfinch and heard more Nightingales before we drove out onto some nearby field and found our first two Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), a female Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), heard Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) and watched lots more Calandra Larks and just as we were leaving the site a nearer male Little Bustards and a feeding Spectacled Warbler which was the first time I had seen this species at this site. 

As we drove around this area we also had Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra), Clouded Yellow (Colias corcea), Common / Southern Blue (Polyommatus icarus / celina), Swallowtail (Papilio machaon) and a large Ocellated Lizard (Lacerta lepida) which disappeared in to a rock pile as they do.

European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster).

We moved on and made several stops on the drive across to Cacín and saw several more Great Spotted Cuckoos, Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), a Nightingale which came out into the open several times with nesting material, heard a singing Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Rock Pigeon (Paloma Bravia / Columba livia),Woodlark (Totovia / Lullula arborea), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus) heard, European Bee-eater, Hoopoe and a second Short-toed Eagle. Whilst we were watching the Eagle we became aware of a couple of pairs of Black Wheatears (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), one on either side of the road, seeing these was a nice bonus as I do not always pick them up in this area.
We stopped in the Village and picked up some lunch and had  a drink before continuing up the Valley to the Contra-embalse de Bermejalis which was a lot fuller than it had been for a while. even though there were no margins for the waders we did find Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Cetti's (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and Reed Warblers (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Common and Pallid Swifts, Sand (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia) and House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Barn and Red-rumped Swallows and a perched Common Kestrel. We also had a female type Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Small White (Pieris rapae), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli) and Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa).

European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster).

We again moved on but just up the road to the bridge over the Rio Cacín where we sat and had luch whilst listening to a Golden Oriole and a couple of Nightingales. We walked along the river and boosted the list with Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus) and Great Tits (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli) and Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla).
Nearby we checked an area of Pine woodland and found Coal Tit (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).
Our final stop of the day was on some fields near Moraleda where we checked our a few locations and came away with 13 Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Roller (Carraca / Coracias garrulus), Woodchat (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator) and Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei) and Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina). As we were leaving the site we eventually caught up with some perched European Bee-eaters for Chris.