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Saturday 20 April 2019

Huétor Fields, Granada Province.

A couple of hours checking the Fields for migrants.

Yellow Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae).
I dropped down to the very local patch and started by crossing the Arroyo at the ford making a quick stop there seeing the regular pair of Little Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), as well as several bathing House Sparrows (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Goldfinches (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Linnets (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina).
Yellow Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae).
Down on the river bed I also had Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos) and a Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).
Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus).
Up on the far bank I counted the 3 pairs of Montagu's Harriers (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) which were displaying and nest building by collecting branches and twigs from the nearby Olive groves.
Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus).
Along the bank I also added Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Yellow Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), 2 Alpine Swifts (Vencejo Real / Apus melba), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Sand Martins (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia), a Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus) which was sat on a nearby Pylon and it watched on as 2 Common Buzzards (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) tried to cross the Montagu's Harriers air space but all 6 Harriers were up and soon saw them off.
Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus).
As I drove towards the Mesia end of the site I had a nice male Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra) which was sat up on a chainlink fence with 2 Tree Sparrows (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster).
Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).
I parked near the Irrigation channels and then had a walk on the fields oposite seeing Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica).
Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).
My next stop was along the eastern end of the Arroyo but on the way I picked up two different migrating Common Whitethroats (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis). 
Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).
Along the track to the railway I added Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and a calling Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus). 
Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).
During my drive round I also saw Clouded Yellow (Colias Común / Colias corcea), Small White (Pieris rapae) and Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi).
Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).
Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).
Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus).

Friday 19 April 2019

Zafaraya area and Sierra de Loja's Western slopes, Granada Province.

Butterflies, Orchids and Birds.

Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli).
I made my down to Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Calandra Lark (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and at the cliffs near Zafaraya where I stopped briefly a dozen or so Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and in the town House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica).
Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli).
I sorted the box and then drove back up the hill to Zafaraya and took the Loja road and stopped in an area of abandoned Almond Groves where as soon as I got out of the car I could hear several singing
Bonelli's Warblers (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli) in the Oaks at the to of the field so I went and had a look and got some good views as two males chased each other around me.
Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta).
As I walked around there were thousands of Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea) spikes as well as a few Mirror ( Ophrys speculum) and Conical (Neotinea conica).
Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus).
I walked further along the terraces and found good numbers of Giant (Himantoglossum robertiana), Pink Butterfly (Orchis Papillionacea) but most pleasing were two spikes of Man Orchid (Orchis anthropophora) which is a species I had not seen on this site for 10 years since a single spike stopped flowering.
Orphean Warbler (Curruca Mirlano / Sylvia hortensis).
There was also a singing male Orphean Warbler (Curruca Mirlano / Sylvia hortensis), Willow Warbler (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris).
Pink Butterfly Orchid (Orchis Papillionacea).
Butterflies started to fly in the warmth and I soon found several species including Bath White (Blanqiverdosa / Pontia daplidice), Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus), Clouded Yellow (Colias Común / Colias corcea), Common / Southern Blue (Polyommatus icarus / celina), Large White (Pieris brassicae), Moroccan Orange-tip (Anthocharis belia), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), Spanish Brown Argus (Aricia cramera) and Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina).
Mirror Orchid ( Ophrys speculum).
I walked back to the car and then drove north to some fields where I sat in the car and watched 12+ Montagu's Harriers (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), some of which came in quite close giving me the chance of some shots. 
Common / Southern Blue (Polyommatus icarus / celina).
In the same area I had Corn Buntings, Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Small White (Pieris rapae) and Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus).
Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea).
My last stop was in the Almond Groves near to Moraleda where I checked a spot for some more Orchid species and found Bumblebee (Ophrys bombyliflora), Dark Spider (Ophrys incubacea), Somber Bee (Ophrys fusca / foresteri) and Sawfly Orchids (Ophrys tenthredinifera subsp tenthredinifera) as well as a couple of Common Kestrels (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), European Bee-eaters and a noisy Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius).
Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum robertiana).
Man Orchid (Orchis anthropophora).
Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum robertiana).
Conical Orchid (Neotinea conica).
Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus).
Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus).
Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus).
Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus).
Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus).
Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus).
Bumblebee Orchid (Ophrys bombyliflora).
Dark Spider Orchid (Ophrys incubacea).
Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera subsp tenthredinifera).

Tuesday 16 April 2019

Guadalhorce Pools, Malaga Province.

Waders, Gulls and Terns along with a few other bits along the way.

Slender-billed Gulls (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei).
Jayne and I headed down to Malaga airport for her trip back to the UK to spend some time with the family including our Son and Grandson. After I made sure she was safely through the security checks I went and parked near the reserve and walked on. 
Collared Pratincoles (Canastera Común / Glareola pratincola).
Between the car and the bridge I started the day list off with Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Barn (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos).
Sandwich Terns (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis).
Once over the bridge I headed straight to the main hide over looking Laguna Grande, on the way I heard a singing Bonelli's (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli) and Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus) and the first of a good number of Slender-billed Gulls (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei).
Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).
Once I was in the hide I stayed there for the next couple of hours scanning the lake but started with a few good species on the mud bar right right infront of me including 4x Collared Pratincoles (Canastera Común / Glareola pratincola), a smart lookng summer plumaged Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), 3 Curlew Sandpipers (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea) in different stages of plumage including a good summer bird, Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Kentish (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus) and Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) and more Slender-billed Gulls and several Sandwich Terns (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis).
Slender-billed Gulls (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei).
Further out on the lake there were 5x Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), 3x Grey Herons (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), 1x Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), 2x Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), 1x Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Gull-billed Terns (Pagaza Piconegra / Gelochelidon nilotica) which were sat on the far side of the lake and over the water Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).
Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).
I walked around to the hide over looking Laguna Escondida, on the way a flock of 19 Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus) came in over the reserve and the flew off East without landing. From the hide I added just a single male White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and a perched Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator).
Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus).
I continued on around the site to the two far hides adding Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) and Wood Sandpiper (Andarrios Bastardo / Tringa glareola) before I reached the sea watch point where I had views of 2 Great Crested Grebes (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) and a chasing Great Skua (Págalo Grande / Stercorarius skua) which was making life difficult for the Gulls.
Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus).
I walked along the beach and then back in to the reserve and to the main hide again see a male Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) on the way. From the hide I had two more new species for my year list when both Whiskered Tern (Fumarel Cariblanca / Chilidonias hybridus) and Purple Heron (Garza Imperial / Ardea purpurea) flew across infront of the hide. 
Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus).
After a while I walked back to the car and finished the visit with a fine male Orphean Warbler (Curruca Mirlano / Sylvia hortensis) in the trees near the bridge.

Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus).
Collared Pratincoles (Canastera Común / Glareola pratincola).
Slender-billed Gulls (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei).
Audouin's Gull (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii).
Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).
Slender-billed Gulls (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei).
Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), 3x Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina) and a Curlew Sandpiper (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea).
Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina).
Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus).
Gull-billed Terns (Pagaza Piconegra / Gelochelidon nilotica).
Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis).