Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain

A stroll down on the fields along the Arroyo.

Ebird list for the Fields.

Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

I got some jobs done during the morning and then went for a walk along the Arroyo again after a message from John Wainwright about some of the wintering Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) being on the newly cut Lucerne fields.

Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus).

When I got to the parking place I scanned the fields finding 20 Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) and right at the far end of the area I could see a couple of the Little Bustards so I continued on walking the Arroyo towards them adding Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), masses of White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), several Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), 10 or more Hoopoes (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and just before I reached the far end of the fields the Bustards took off and there were in fack 20 birds in the flock.

Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

I thought that maybe I had flushed them but I then noticed the Lapwings and everything else going up as well, I scanned and soon found a large female Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus) sat on one of the grassy steps a couple of fields back up.

Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea).

As I walked on a flock of Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) flew passed and along the Arroyo and I also heard a calling Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) and saw Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) and in the reeds lots of Common Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).

Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula).

Amongst the Asparagus there were lots of birds including Dartford (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), a couple of Tree Sparrows (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus) and Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).

Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla) male.

Up near the Poplar plantation there were good numbers of Iberian  Magpies (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), a couple of Common's (Urraca / Pica pica), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major).

House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) male.

House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) female.

I walked back to the car more quickly as I had a phone call to say a delivery would be arriving. Once back I went sraight out into the hide in the garden where I added Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) and a garden MEGA a Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes) which hoped around just too far to the side of the hide.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Count. 

 

I ran the Actinic trap in the garden, not many species but a nice selection which included 6496 Evergestis isatidalis x3, 9462 Spodoptera littoralis (Mediterranean Brocade) x1, 6690 Palpita vitrealis x2, 9454 Hoplodrina ambigua (Vine's Rustic) x1, 9565 Agrochola lychnidis (Beaded Chestnut) x7, 9684 Allophyes alfaroi x1, 10096 Noctua pronuba (Large Yellow Underwing) x2 and 10351 Agrotis segetum (Turnip Moth) x1.

The variablity of Agrochola lychnidis (Beaded Chestnut) make it hard to get them sorted but thanks to the experts on The Moths of Spain (Las polillas de España) facebook page for their help, I will get there in the end.

9684 Allophyes alfaroi.

9565 Agrochola lychnidis (Beaded Chestnut).

9454 Hoplodrina ambigua (Vine's Rustic).

9462 Spodoptera littoralis (Mediterranean Brocade).

9565 Agrochola lychnidis (Beaded Chestnut).

10351 Agrotis segetum (Turnip Moth).

10096 Noctua pronuba (Large Yellow Underwing).

10096 Noctua pronuba (Large Yellow Underwing).

9565 Agrochola lychnidis (Beaded Chestnut).

9565 Agrochola lychnidis (Beaded Chestnut).

9565 Agrochola lychnidis (Beaded Chestnut).

6690 Palpita vitrealis.

Sierra de Loja, Granada Province Spain.

Some Views from around the Sierra.

Early morning sun over Loja.

Early morning sun over Loja.

View from the far side towards Antequera.

View from the far side towards Antequera.

View from the far side towards Antequera.

The sun coming over the crags at the far end.

Looking South.

Looking North West.

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

Up the Hill and later down on the fields.

Sun Rise over the Asparagus fields near Huétor.

I started the day by driving to the far side of the Sierra which is surprisingly well inside my Municipal area I am pleased to say. 

Rock Sparrows (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia).

When I got there I parked by one of the pools and waited to see what came in, first to arrive were lots of Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), followed by several Corn Buntings (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and Rock Sparrows (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia) and Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris).

Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris).

I later moved up to the Hawthorn woods where I was surprised to find around 15 Redwings (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus illacus) and a couple of Ring Ouzel (Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus) as there were no berries on the Hawthorns (Crataegus monogyna).

Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis).

Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

In the same area I also found Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Rock Dove (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa) and then I heard a calling Alpine Accentor (Acentor Alpino / Prunella collaris) which flew over me.

Alpine Accentor (Acentor Alpino / Prunella collaris).

I then heard several more Accentors flying in and then I saw them land on the cliff face just above me so I walked up the slope and I was soon eye tot eye with 8 of these stunning winter visitors to the Sierra.

Alpine Accentor (Acentor Alpino / Prunella collaris).

I managed to get some shots of one of the birds as it approached me before it dropped off behind a large bolder and then all 8 of the birds flew off. I walked back down to the track and then carried on a little further before turning around and making my way back to the car.

Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs).

I dropped back down the mountain, on my way I saw a  Weasel (Mustela nivalis) which was hunting Meadow Pipits amongst the rocks, Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and a Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) which I watched for 10 minutes chasing large beetles around on a grassy slope.

Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis).

Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis).

Down amongest the Pine woodlands just above the motorway I made a stop and heard and saw Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and a small flock of Common Crossbills (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra).

Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea).

Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea).

I drove back through Loja and popped into the house to drop off most of my kit before I went for a walk down on the fields where I walked the Arroyo finding Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea),Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Common (Urraca / Pica pica) and Iberian  Magpies (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), 48 Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) and on one of the irrigation channels a Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus).

Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus).

Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus).

Arroyo Vilano, Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

Back along the Arroyo.

 

Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) male.

I drove down to the bridge across the Arroyo above La Fabrica and walked down to the bar again, on the way I was very pleased to see at least 15 male Spanish Sparrows (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis) and who knows how many females in a large patch of reeds.

Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) male.

Around a pool in the river bed I found a male Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) as well as a couple of Desert Darters (Sympetrum sinaiticum).

Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis) male.

As I walked I also saw Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Iberian  (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).

Spanish Sparrows (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis) males.

I reached the area where I could see across onto the fields and soon found Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) and Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata).

Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).

Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).

On my way back up the river and it had warmed up a tad so there were quite a few Butterflies on the wing including several Clouded Yellows (Colias croceus), Small (Pieris rapae) and Large Whites (Pieris brassicae) and a single Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui).

Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus).

Small White (Pieris rapae).

I also has Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus).