Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A drive around the local patch.

Ebird list for the day.

 

Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

I started off by checking the Lucerne fields along the Northern side of the Arroyo de Vilano where there were lots of feeding Western Yellow Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava) x80+, Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) x29, Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) x6, Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) x1, the first of 45 Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), several Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) feeding amongst the cut Lucerne x7, Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) x200+, a 100 or so Woodpigeons (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) some down on the field but most up on the wires, Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), a large flock of finches with a few Goldfinches (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), loads of Serins (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) x70+ and a few Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina).

A little further along the track I stopped to check a small allotment area and the surrounding fences where I found several Migramts feeding up as they make their way south including Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus), Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Willow Warbler (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus), an immature Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator) and there was also a newly arrived in male Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica).

Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

In this area I also saw Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica),  Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) and Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris).

I continued on around the site and took the track along the eastern end of the Arroyo where I checked the Rush field, the reed beds and Fields finding Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca), 3x Red-rumped Swallows (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and a single flyby European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster).

I dropped down to the model aircraft field where I had another couple of Northern Wheatears, Whinchat, as well as House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and a fly over Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans).

Out on the Mesia road I had at least 3 more Bluethroats feed along the side of a harvested Maze field and several Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild) x8.

Huétor Fields and Sierra de Loja, Granada Province, Spain.

A morning on the fields and then a few hours on the hill.

 

Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

We started with a drive around the fields where we were looking for Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) so we started checking the irrigation channels, on the way we found Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) in one of the cut maze fields, Collared Doves (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) and Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).

Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra).

We stopped several times along the railway line and there were several species sat up on the Chainlink fence including Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus), Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and under the railway bridge on the wires we saw a roosting Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra).

By the Irrigation Channel on the track out to the Mesia road and waited, whilst there we had large numbers of Goldfinches (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and several Reed (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Willow (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus) and Cetti's Warblers (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and a nice male Bluethroat which sat up for the camera's a couple of times.

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

In the same area we also had Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).

Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata).

Further along the channels we stopped by one of the Lucerne fields were we watched several Hoopoes and Iberian  Magpies (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) coming down to feed whilst European Bee-eaters (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) hawked the skies above us for insects.

Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata).

We made our way back in to Huétor, on the way we had a Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris).

Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata).

We had some lunch in Huétor before going up on to the lower slopes of Sierra de Loja as the areas above 1000 meters are closed to cars until the 15th October. On the track up to and in the quarry we had views of Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and a pair of Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) passed high over head. 

Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos).

On the slopes as we dropped back down the hill we had a pair of Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major).

Sierra Nevada and Balsa de Regidor, Granada Province, Spain.

Up in the hills for a day.

Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Cabra pyreaica).

Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Cabra pyreaica).

Kate, Jim and I drove up to the highest accessible point seeing several Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Cabra pyreaica) on the way. 

Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

Once we were at the car park we checked out an area of pine trees and the rocky slopes there finding Linnets (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), 4 or 5 Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Willow Warbler (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) and a flock of Red-billed Choughs (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax).

Willow Warbler (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus).

Willow Warbler (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus).

Willow Warbler (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus).

We dropped down the hill a bit and had a shot walk out on the slopes where we checked the track side mint plants and found Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Bath White (Pontia daplidice) and Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas).

Red-billed Choughs (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax).

On the bird front we had White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis).

Prionyx kirbii.

Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera)

?????????

Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas).

Tachina fera?????

Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera).

Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera).

Again we dropped down and stopped again by the Botanical Gardens and checked the area out just down hill from the car park where we had good numbers of Butterflies on the Ragwort plants including lots of Small Coppers, Wall Browns, Southern Brown Argus, Sage Skipper (Muschampia proto), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) as well as Prionyx kirbii and the variable Bristly Fly (Tachina fera).

Bumblebee Species possilby Bombus pascuorum???????

We again moved lower down to the Visitors center and found Clouded Yellow, Wall Brown, Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina) and a Bumblebee species which was possibly Bombus pascuorum.

Striped Grayling (Hipparchia fidia).

On the old road down towards Guejar Sierra making a stop at a regular spot on the way down where we found Merendera pyrenaica, Striped Grayling (Hipparchia fidia), Southern Brown Argus, Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina) and Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus).

Merendera pyrenaica.

In the pines on the far side of the grassed area we heard and saw Crested Tit (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla) and Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra).

Further down we spent a while by the river looking for Dipper (Mirlo Acuático / Cinclus cinclus) but we only managed to finding Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea).

Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria).

Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria).

Our last stop of the day was on the way back at Balsa de Regidor where there were lots more Dragons around than on our last visit including Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum), Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope), Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria), Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea), Violet (Trithemis annulata) and Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi),  Iberian Bluetail (Ischnura graellsii) as well as Desert Orange-tip (Colotis evagore).

Charca Suarez, Turtle Dove Alley, Cerro Gordo and El Temple, Granada Province, Spain.

Reptiles, Butterflies and Birds.

 

Mediterranean Chameleon (Chamaeleo chamaeleon).

We set off for the coast and arrived at Charca in good time, we made our way straight to the best area for Mediterranean Chameleon (Chamaeleo chamaeleon), on the way we had White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and then when we got to the spot the first of at least 5 Chameleon's.

Mediterranean Chameleon (Chamaeleo chamaeleon).

Mediterranean Chameleon (Chamaeleo chamaeleon).

Mediterranean Chameleon (Chamaeleo chamaeleon).

We got lots of photo's before going back to the car, on the way I had a quick look in the hide finding Red-knobbed Coot (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) and Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata).

Mediterranean Chameleon (Chamaeleo chamaeleon).

We drove around to the area known as Turtle Dove Alley but it has become nothing more than a dumping ground so we did not stay in the area long but before we turned right at the end we saw Red Avadavat (Bengali Rojo / Amandava amandava), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild) and after we turned we had Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).

Mediterranean Chameleon (Chamaeleo chamaeleon).

We also had a few butterflies mostly nectering on the Lucerne fields, species included Bath (Pontia daplidice) and  Small White (Pieris rapae), Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus), Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous), Monarch (Danaus plexippus) and a few Plain Tigers (Danaus chrysippus).

Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

Once we all had photographs of the Tigers we moved on to Cerro Gordo where we checked the slopes for Two-tailed Pashsa (Charaxes jasius), we saw several but they all just flew straight passed and away.

Monarch (Danaus plexippus).

There was also a Vagrant Emperor's (Anax ephippiger) zipping up and down the road and a Red-Rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica) which was calling from on a wire next to the road.

Monarch (Danaus plexippus).

I had a walk up to the bar adding House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus).

We drove back North and finished off the day out on the fields near La Malaha, as we drove out on the fields we had Marsh Harriers (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) 2 female and one male, 2x Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Thekla (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and Greater Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis).

Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus).

We also had lots of Bath Whites, Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina) and Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) and on the way back to the house we had a couple of Ocellated Lizards (Timon lepidus).

Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus).

Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica).

Ocellated Lizard (Timon lepidus).

Ocellated Lizard (Timon lepidus).