Hacho, the Garden Pool and Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A walk up Hacho, a couple of hours in the hide and then a walk along the Arroyo.

 

Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) female.

The weather had been bad over night so the garden was not going to get any attention so I went for a walk up Hacho a smallish hill to the North of Loja well inside our own Municipal area. 

Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum Robertiana).

On the way I had a very well behaved Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) sat on some roadside wires as well as Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa).

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca / foresteri).

I parked by a large Pylon on the left of the track and then walked up to the top car park where I had a nice view out over Loja to the Sierra de Loja where I hope to go tomorrow as almost all of the hill is inside our municipal area and there won't be many people up there hopefully.

View out over Loja to the Sierra de Loja.

On the way I picked up more Common Kestrels, Crested (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus) and Coal Tit  (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura) and Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).

Looking up from the top car park.

In the pine woods there were lots of the leaf rosettes of Giant (Himantoglossum Robertiana) and Somber Bee Orchids (Ophrys fusca / foresteri) which were getting ready for next springs show, in the pines in this area there are several hundred spikes of both and other species.

Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea).

On my way back down I had a couple of Red Admirals (Vanessa atalanta), a Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei).

Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) Male.

Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) Male.

Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) Female.

Once I reached the car I drove back home and then set up the hide for a couple of hours getting Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla) at one point I had to break cover and lift the hide as I could hear a group of 7 Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) flew over the garden, only my second garden record.

Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

Also seen were Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).

At around 16:30 I parked down on the fields and did my usual walk along the Arroyo Vilano out as far as the Poplar pantation and back adding Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) as well as Clouded Yellow (Colias corcea) and Small White (Pieris rapae).

Home near Huétor Tajar and Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A couple more hours in the hide and then a walk on the fields.

 

Desert Darter (Sympetrum sinaiticum) male.

Again after cleaning up the leaves and pulling masses of new weeds that had come up since the rains last week I set up the hide and sat in there for a couple of hours. 

Desert Darter (Sympetrum sinaiticum) male.

Before I went in I took some shots of one of the three male Desert Darters (Sympetrum sinaiticum) that were hanging around the pool, there was also a female which was egg laying in tandam with one of the males but she did not settle at any point.

Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) male.

Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) male.

It was extreamly windy but some birds still came in including Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and both male and female Blackcaps (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla).

Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

Also seen and heard were Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and both Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and all the resident Perez's Frogs (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi).

Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla) male.

Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla) female.

Later in the afternoon I went for a walk down on the fields and along the Arroyo Vilano and striaght away I had a hunting Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) which whizzed across the Lucerne field chasing Meadow Pipits (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis).

Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea).

As I walked on I saw Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Black Redstart, White Wagtails, Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Goldfinch and Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major).

Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major).

I continued over the fields and passed the Poplar plantation Small White (Pieris rapae), Spotless (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Common Starlings (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus),Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and a cronking Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax) which was sat on one of the Pylons.

Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala).

On the walk back to the car Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata).

The approaching rain.

Luckily I got back to the car just before the rains started and drove back to the house.

Near Huétor Tajar and Fields closeby, Granada Province, Spain.

Around the Garden and down on the fields in the rain and wind.

 

Once the rain had stopped I went out to the bin just in time to see a couple of Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) heading off North through the clouds.

Later I went down to the fields and had a walk along the Arroyo again and picked up nothing special but I did see Desert Orange-tip (Colotis evagore), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and several Iberian  Magpies (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).

Hacho, Loja, Granada Province Spain.

After the rain. 

Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus).

The morning was wet and windy so I stayed in the house and caught up with a few bits but later in the afternoon I went just up the road to look for another puddle on the Northern side of Hacho.

Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus).

I found a nice looking puddle but the birds were just not wanting a drink, however in the area I saw and heard Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus). 

Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus).

I started to drive back down the track and then home but as I passed some Oaks I could hear and then saw at least 3 feeding Firecrests (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus) which showed quite well.

Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).

I left the track and took the road home flushing up loads of finches from the road side and then three Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) came up and one sat for a while in an Olive tree nicely. 

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

A couple of hours in the Hide in the garden.

 

Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla) female.

Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla).

After spending the morning pruning trees and shrubs above the pool which actually helped with the light on the righthand side of the pool I put the hide out and sat in there for a couple of hours.

1st winter Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea).

1st winter Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea).

1st winter Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea).

1st winter Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea).

All went well but had to have a laugh when a guy from up the road walked past on the road singing whilst taking a Goat and a Turkey for a walk on leads.

Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis).

Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis).

During the couple of hours the 1st winter Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) was there and either feeding or preeing along with several nervous Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and masses of House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus).

Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) female.

Also around but not getting infront of the camera were Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).

House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) male.

Over head I could hear Iberian  Magpies (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) almost constantly but as always they did not come down and a passing pair of Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax) calling loudly.

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

Another look for the Bulbul but nothing.

 

Sun Rise over the Sierra Nevada.

I got up and went down to the spot where I had seen and heard a Common / Garden Bulbul (Bulbul Naranjero / Pycnonotus barbatus) but after a while I had found no sign so I went for a walk along the Arroyo and then as far as a rather golden Poplar plantation.

The Poplars into the Sun.

On the first section along the Arroyo I saw White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).

Through the Poplars.

On the fields there were a few Song Thrushes (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) which came up out of the Olives, both Iberian (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and Common Magpies (Urraca / Pica pica), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus) and around the Poplars Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and a male Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus).

The Golden side of the Poplars.

As I walked back to the car I added Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), a smart male Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) and a soaring Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).

Huétor Fields and the Garden Pool, Granada Province, Spain.

A rarity / escapee on the patch and some commer stuff around the garden pool.

 

Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus).

After clarifying things about where we can and cannot go with a guy from the Guardia I went for a walk down on the fields and as I got out of the car and I was sorting out my kit I became aware of a loud call coming from the other side of the Arroyo just up from the bar opposite and straight away I knew I knew the call but it took me a few moments to realize I was listening to a singing Common / Garden Bulbul (Bulbul Naranjero / Pycnonotus barbatus). I waited and then the bird flew up stream, I followed getting a couple of brief flight views as it disappeared in to trees on its way calling several more time before I lost it. 

Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala).

Happy with the ID but wanted a photo to see if there were any signs of captivity so thought I would return during the evening to try again.

Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula).

I returned to the car seeing Goldfinches (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) on the way. As well as a male Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope) and a couple of Migrant Hawkers (Aeshna mixta).

Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

I passed the car and walked out along the Arroyo scanning the fields finding Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) and 2 Sparrowhawks (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Common Waxbills (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).

Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).

I returned to the car and then drove back up to the house where I had a couple of hours sat in the hide by the garden pool where I got shots of Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Black Redstart, Blackbird, Sardinian Warbler, Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Grey Wagtail again and lots of Perez's Frogs (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi).

Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major).

Later in the afternoon I went back down on to the fields but did not hear or see any sign of the Bulbul so I went for another walk along the Arroyo but the only new bird of the walk were 5 Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) passing over.

Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea).

Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea).