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Tuesday 23 May 2017

Sierra de Loja, Granada Province and Laguna Grande, Arroyo Marin and Guadalhorce, Malaga Province.

Granada Wildlifes Tour of Eastern Andalucia and beyond.
Day Eleven of Eleven, The last day of the tour, catching up with a few species locally.

Southern Marbled Skipper (Carcharodus boeticus).
The group checked out at the Cortijo de Tajar and we all headed off up onto the lower slopes of Sierra de Loja and started off by checking the Oaks below the motorway and then the track up to the quarry where we picked up Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Western Orphean (Curruca Mirlano / Sylvia hortensis), Spectacled (Curruca Tomillera / Sylvia conspicillata), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Bonelli's Warblers (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax),
Small White (Pieris rapae).
Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater) and Blue Tits (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Crag (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa) were also seen.
Nick looking for the Iberian Magpies.
On the track below the quarry we also recorded Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta), Moroccan Orange-tip (Anthocharis belia), Southern Marbled Skipper (Carcharodus boeticus), Spanish Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Panoptes Blue (Pseudophilotes panoptes), Spanish (Pyronia bathsheba) and Southern Gatekeepers (Pyronia cecilia), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina), False Ilex Hairstreak (Satyrium esculi) and Small White (Pieris rapae).
Clouded Yellow (Colias Común / Colias corcea).
From the hill we dropped down and then drove a short way along the motorway to Laguna Grande, we parked and then scanned the pool which had more water in it than expected so we scanned and picked up Great Crested (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus) and Little Grebes (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) and Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus). In the trees and overhead we added Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes), Alpine (Vencejo Real / Apus melba) and Pallid Swifts (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus) and Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur).
Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris).
On the track I also found a very smart Common Golden Ringed Dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltonii subsp algirica) which was cruising up and down the track but eventually landed and allowed me take a couple of shot but only through the 400mm. We also saw Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathinerum), Clouded Yellow (Colias corcea) and Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris).
Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathinerum).
We again moved and spent and hour or so at Arroyo Marin before we dropped down to the airport, during the walk through the woods we found Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra) along with more Hawfinches, Serin, Spotted Flycatcher, Short-toed Treecreeper, Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos) and Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti).
Common Golden Ringed Dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltonii subsp algirica).
At the airport John, Pam, Mike and Judy picked up a hire vehicle and headed out towards Ronda and Mike, Nick, Lynda and I went and had a quick look down at Guadalhorce, on the sea we picked up 3x Common Scoters (Negrón Común / Melanitta nigra), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica) and on the reserve Black-winged Stilt, Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) and Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata). 
Watching a Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus) at Laguna Grande.
Later I dropped Mike, Nick and Lynda to the airport and then Jayne picked me up and we headed home.
Beetle Sp.
Sriped Shieldbug (Graphosoma italicum).
Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra).
Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus).
Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus).
White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala).
Snails during Aestivation.
Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus) immature.






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


Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus).

Monday 22 May 2017

La Malaha and Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

Granada Wildlifes Tour of Eastern Andalucia and beyond.
Day Ten of Eleven.
A drive South and then a days birding in the Cacín Valley.

Spiny-footed Lizards (Acanthodactylus erythrurus).
We set off south after breakfast and drove south to Granada and then went birding in the area around a disused Cortijo near La Malaha where we soon found several Lesser Kestrels (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni), a pale phase Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Melodious Warbler (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Rock Pigeon (Paloma Bravia / Columba livia), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) as well as lots of Spiny-footed Lizards (Acanthodactylus erythrurus), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Small (Pieris rapae), Bath White (Pontia daplidice) and Black-veined Whites (Aporia crataegi), Clouded Yellow (Colias corcea) and Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui).
Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).
We moved on to an area of fields nearby and stopped on a roadside to check out an eagle on a pylon which turned out to be a Short-toed (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus). In this area and out on tracks nearby we picked up Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Thekla (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and Greater Short-toed Larks (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla) and more Hoopoes
Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus).
Again we moved on and checked out the road between Ventas de Huelma and Cacín, during this drive and a couple of walks we recorded a total of 6x Booted , 2x Golden (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) and 3x Short-toed Eagles (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Thekla Larks, Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Roller (Carraca / Coracias garrulus), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris), Common / Southern Blue (Polyommatus icarus / celina), Spanish Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Clouded Yellow and Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina).
Violet Dropwings (Trithemis annulata).
At the end of the road we checked out an area nearby where we picked up Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila-azor / Hieraetus faciatus), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia) and Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla).
Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum).
From this area we went up the valley to the Contra-embalse de Bermijalis finding it full of water and holding Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Reed (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) and Sardinian Warblers (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), another Short-toed Eagle and a surprising Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus) which was first of all seen in a tree and then flew around the res before landing on dead trees in the center.
Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).
Further up the valley we stopped below the crags at Moraleda seeing Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura) and Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris).
Our last site visit was at Balsa de Regidor where we had a look for some Dragonflies and found Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum), White Featherleg (Platycnemis latipes), Orange-winged (Trithemis kirbyi) and Violet Dropwings (Trithemis annulata), birds included 3x Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus) and Melodious Warbler
We returned to the hotel and Jayne and I joined the group for a meal later in the evening which was very enjoyable, Thank you all.

Sunday 21 May 2017

Sierra Morena, near Andujar, Jaen Province.

Granada Wildlifes Tour of Eastern Andalucia and beyond.
Day Nine of Eleven, Along the tracks in the hills and back down by the river.

Thread-winged Lacewings (Nemoptera bipennis).
We all had breakfast and the met up out side where we started the list with Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) and House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica).
Mike L photographing the Thread-winged Lacewings (Nemoptera bipennis).
We made our way along the motorway, through Andujar to the area north of there for a mornings  birding in the rolling Oak woodlands. 
Swallowtail (Papilio machaon) caterpillar on a well eaten Fennel Plant.
As we drove along the track we made several stops and had good views of Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Woodlark (Totovia / Lullula arborea) and Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus), Griffon (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) and European Black Vultures (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei) and by a large fire break we had good views of a Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius) as it flew across the tree tops, later we also had good views of a Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus).
Pam at work.

On the hillsides around us we also found Red (Ciervo común / Cervus elaphus) and Fallow Deers (Gamo común / Dama dama) and as we walked down the road a little way we also found False Ilex Hairstreak (Satyrium esculi), Small White (Pieris rapae), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Digitalis mariana subsp heywoodii, Grey-leaved Cistus (Cistus albidus), White Flax (Linum suffruticosum) and Red Phlomis (Phlomis purpurea).
As we moved along the track we again stopped and after a little hunt finally had good views of a male Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax),  Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Subalpine Warbler (Curruca Carrasquena / Sylvia cantillans), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), a couple of fly over Hawfinches (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes), two Swallowtail (Papilio machaon) caterpillars on a well eaten Fennel Plant, Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), several Thread-winged Lacewings (Nemoptera bipennis) and some very smart Iberis nazarita.
False Ilex Hairstreak (Querquera / Satyrium esculi).
We reached the far end of the track where we spent quite a while looking for the days main target the White-rumped Swifts (Vencejo Cafre / Apus caffer) which breed in this area, after a while we picked up at least three birds flying along a ridge down river and a while later we had views of rumps as they came a little closer. 
Iberis nazarita.
In the same area we boosted the day list with Pallid Swifts (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Barn (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Red-rumped Swallows (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia) and on the dam walls lots of House accompanied by at least a single male Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis). 
Iberis nazarita in seed.
After a while we returned to the top of the ridge and picked up Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).
Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris).
We drove off this area and had some lunch at a bar near the main road through the site, whilst we were eating we had good views of a couple of Two-tailed Pasha's (Charaxes jasius) chasing each other around the tree tops.
Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) mobbing a Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti).
Later we dropped back down to the Rio Juandula but went on the downstream side of the bridge where we saw several new insect species including Orange Featherleg (Platycnemis acutipennis), Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata), Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris), Clouded Yellow (Colias corcea), Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus), Spanish Brown Argus (Aricia cramera) and Spanish Purple Hairstreak (Laeosopis roboris). 
Heliotaurus ruficollis.
Out on the bird front we saw or heard Cetti's (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and Great Reed Warblers (Carricero Tordal / Acrocephalus arundinaceus), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and as we returned to the van we picked up several raptors soaring along a near by ridge including 4x Spanish Imperial Eagles (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti), 2x European Black and several Griffon Vultures and a pair of Common Buzzards which were mobbing the eagles.
Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas).
We crossed the river and had a walk along the far upstream bank but as it was getting warm an late in the afternoon it was just a short stroll but we added Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus) and Blue Tits (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Cardinal Fritillary (Pandora / Argynnis pandora) and more Spanish Purple Hairstreaks.
Closterotomus sp.
We headed back to the hotel and later went out for a very nice meal in the town where we order far to much food as every thing including the Pizza's and Salads were massive, we had three Pizza's to take away in the end and ate them for lunch next day.
Beetles Sp.

Beetle Sp.

Red Phlomis (Phlomis purpurea) by Pam.