Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

Some new arrivals.

EBird list for the walk.

 

Sierra Parapanda with a light fall of snow.

I popped down to the usual area long the Arroyo and then walked out to the plantation, around where I parked I saw the first of the many Goldfinches (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) 100+ during the walk as are all numer from here on, Linnets (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Common Waxbills (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild) x15 along the Arroyo, Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) x5 and a Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) which was hunting amongst the Lucerne.

Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

I walked along the bank of the Arroyo and scanned the fields finding the first Golden Plovers (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaia) of the winter on the patch, there were 10 birds mixed in with 12 Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) and lots of Spotless Starlings (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).

Common Waxbills (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild).

On the same stretch of the walk I found House (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus) both in good numbers, Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Meadow Pipits (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) x50+, White (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) x90+ in total and Grey Wagtails (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) x40+, Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) x24+ and 2x Common Kestrels (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) up on the Pylons.

Sierra de Loja also covered in snow.

As I walked through the Asparagus fields I found Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Iberian (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs).

Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Golden Plovers (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaia) and lots of Spotless Starlings (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).

Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) and Golden Plovers (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaia).

In the area around the plantation there was a Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major) which was chipping at something then flew off calling, Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and a Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) which flew in and perched.

Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

I walked back to the car on the same route, as I passed the Lucerne fields a flock of 18 Calandra Larks (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) flew in and landed amongst the Lapwings and Plovers and Corn Buntings (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Sierra Parapanda with a light fall of snow.

Sierra de Loja also covered in snow.

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A quick wet visit to the fields.

 

I drove down to the fields to have a walk but when I got there the heavens opened so I just drove along the Arroyo top and scanned the Lucerne flields seeing the wintering Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) which were hunkered down avoiding the rain and wind as best as they could, 25 in total.

There were also 3 Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), a Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).

The rain just kept getting worse so I went home and gave up on the idea of a walk, I did try later ut with the same results.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Count.

 

6496 Evergestis isatidalis.

I ran the trap up under the terrace as the weather was pretty rough, so I was surprised to find 5 moth of 4 species in the egg boxes.

9206 Cucullia calendulae (Marigold Shark).

6496 Evergestis isatidalis x1, 9206 Cucullia calendulae (Marigold Shark) x1, 9565 Agrochola lychnidis (Beaded Chestnut) x2 both of the more Orange form insects and 10096 Noctua pronuba (Large Yellow Underwing) x1.

9565 Agrochola lychnidis (Beaded Chestnut).

10096 Noctua pronuba (Large Yellow Underwing).

Home near Huétor Tajar, Hacho and in the Garden, Granada Province, Spain.

A drive around the patch, a trip up to Hacho for a walk in the Pinewoods and a quick sit in the hide.

Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

After a visit to the Physio I made my way back to the house via the field route checking out the Model Areoplane field where I had several Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) fly past, Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), a single Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), half a dozen Tree Sparrows (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus) and White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) everywhere.

Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

I drove on up to the Lucerne fields where I saw Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) male.

Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) female.

Further along the Arroyo I added Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) and  a hunting Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus).

Broad-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia).

I left the fields and on the way back up the road to the house I had a nice female Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and when I stopped outside Friends at the top of the hill for a chat I heard a group of Ravens (Cuervo / Corvus corax) passing over.

Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) Pine Cone remains.

Once I had had a chat with Chris and Wayne I went for a walk in the Pinewoods where I checked the base of the trees looking for Owl pellets but found none, however I did find the signs that the local Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) population were eating well.

Orchids getting ready for next spring.

More Orchid Rossetts, probably fusca.

As I strolled around looking at the ground I was seeing loads of Orchid Rossetts coming up through the Pine Needles and guess most were Somber Bee (Ophrys fusca / foresteri), Yellow Bee (Ophrys lutea) and Giant Orchids (Himantoglossum Robertiana) but I will have to wait until March / April to be sure with some.

Giant Orchids (Himantoglossum Robertiana).

Another Orchid species.

In the trees around me I also saw and heard Song (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) and Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Crested (Herrerillo Capuchino / Lophophanes cristatus), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater) and Blue Tits (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla) and  Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes).

Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila Perdicera / Aquila faciatus).

I returned to the track and started to walk up towards the summit and then ack down to the car finding Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus) and Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major).

Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea).

I dropped back to the house and as I was unloading the kit I notice a couple of raptors distantly over the Olives, expecting them to be Common Buzzards (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) I raised my bins to find it was actually a pair of Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila Perdicera / Aquila faciatus) always a great species to get from the garden.

White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

I had some lunch and then went out in to the hide but I was quite windy and cold so I didn't last long, however I did get the resident Grey Wagtail and a very smart White Wag which are very very common locally but not regular down in the garden.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Count.

 

9565 Agrochola lychnidis (Beaded Chestnut).

Just four Moths of three species in the trap this morning, 6496 Evergestis isatidalis x1, 9565 Agrochola lychnidis (Beaded Chestnut) x2 and a small Pyralid which managed to escape before I could get a shot.

9565 Agrochola lychnidis (Beaded Chestnut).

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

A visit to the best spot on my local patch and then an afternoon walk.

Early morning arriving in Loja.

I drove over to the far side of the Sierra stopping on the way to take a couple of view shots but headed straight over to the Hawthorn trees to see which Thrushes were still about.

Looking out to the West.

I scanned the trees and the crags all the way out to the edge of the Municipal area where I turned around but not before I had counted 21 Alpine Accentors (Acentor Alpino / Prunella collaris) but this time they did not allow me to get any shot and only gave me fight views or sat right up on the highest crags out of reach.

Corn Buntings (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Down in the Hawthorns I found several Blackbirds (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), just 2 Redwings (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus illacus) and only a single Ring Ouzel (Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus) but this was not surprising as there were next to no berries left on the trees.

Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura).

Also seen in the area along the far crags were lots of Corn Buntings (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), at least 3 pairs of Black Wheatears (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura) which all kept their distance, Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), a male Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) and Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

Off to the South West.

I dropped down to one of the watering holes down in the valley below where I waited for a while by the pool to see what came in, first there was a White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) followed by Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia) and up above me on the crags Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax).

Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae).

I drove back up to the crags and headed back along the track through the Hawthorns but only added Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Red-legged Partridges (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa) lots, Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and an Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) as well as Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus) and Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Cabra pyreaica).

Sierra Nevada from Sierra de Loja.

I passed the crags and dropped down passing Charca del Negro and back down the mountains, on the way I picked up Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), 4 Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax) as well as several spikes of Broad-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia) and on one of the flowers there was a late Bath White (Pontia daplidice) which was catching a it of sun.

Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

I got most of the way down and decided to check the Quarry track, I parked where I was amongst a group of leafless Hawthorns where I sat and had my lunch, as I sat there a pair of Dartford Warblers started to chase and display.

Broad-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia).

Bath White (Pontia daplidice).

I spent a couple of hours with these birds as the male sat for periods singing in the bushes and then chasing the female around the Gorse bushes .

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

In the same area I also saw Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Rock Dove (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) and a calling Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major).

The Marble Quarry.

I dropped further down the hill towards Loja finding a very smart dark form of the Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) which sat for a few moments giving me the time to take a few pic's.

Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris).

Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris).

Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris).

I went back through Loja, had a late lunch at the house before going down on to the fields for a walk, I did my normal route out to the Poplar Plantation. 

Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) female.

On the Lucerne fields there lots of small birds including Meadow Pipits, White Wagtails, Hoopoes were also in good numbers still, Common Chiffchaffs, Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata).

Spanish Sparrows (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis), some  males and who knows how many females

As I passed the Lucerne fields I turned right along the track following the Arroyo, in the reeds I found several Blackcaps (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), lots more Iberian Magpies, Blackbirds and plenty of Common Chaffinches. 

Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).

Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).

At the far end of the track I turned left and the went towards the Plantation and the walked back to the car, on the way I had many of the same species but added Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), 5 Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), a hunting Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) which was annoying the Spotless Starling flocks.

Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus).