Loja Wildlife, Granada Province, Spain.: 2021-01-31

Saturday 6 February 2021

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

Summer migrants streaming along the Arroyo.

Second Municipal Lockdown Day 21.

Huétor Tajar Asparagus.

Out for my walk after an early morning of Cooking, could not sleep so the first pan went on at 06.30 and by 09.00 I had 5 trays of Pork stew ready for the freezer, a big pan of soup made but not sure about this one as I just used all the veg in the fridge up and think that there might be a bit too much spinach in it.

Brown Rat (Rattus norvegicus).

I also did a Spanish Cheesecake before heading out, I parked at the usual spot and walked along the Northern bank of the Arroyo down to the Railway bridge.

Most of the species were as expected with the 37 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) continuing to hang around on the same area of the Lucerne fields, some of the males were starting to get their summer colours and were leaping around showing off to the ladies.

All morning groups of House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) x 150+ and Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) x 48+ were hawking insects whilst the followed the Arroyo West towards Loja.

Ant Hill.

Other species included Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) x40, Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) x2, Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta) x2, Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) x51+, Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) and as I got back to the car I saw the tracks of a Brown Rat (Rattus norvegicus) in the mud and noticed several new volcano like Ant piles that had appeared since the rains.

During the walk I also saw several groups of Asparagus pickers working, the first time I had noticed them out this year, Huétor Tajar Asparagus is very nice and is often found in supermarkets back in the UK but hopefully now that getting it there has been made more difficult more will stay and be enjoyed back here in Spain. It is superb steamed and served with just butter, salt and poached eggs.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Count.

10022 Mythimna l-album (L-Album Wainscot).

Didn't drop below +10 last night so there were a few moths around (29 moth of 7 species), most were the usual species I have been catching recently but there were 3 new species for the year, 8256 Xanthorhoe fluctuata (Garden Carpet) x1 and 9676 Xylocampa areola (Early Grey) x1 and 10022 Mythimna l-album (L-Album Wainscot) x1.

9676 Xylocampa areola (Early Grey).

Also seen were 6184 Eudonia angustea x1, 6496 Evergestis isatidalis x23, 7694 Agriopis bajaria x1 and 7725 Menophora japygiaria (Brassy Waved Umber) x1.

8256 Xanthorhoe fluctuata (Garden Carpet).

7694 Agriopis bajaria.

7725 Menophora japygiaria (Brassy Waved Umber).

Friday 5 February 2021

Hacho, Granada Province, Spain.

A short walk on the lower slopes of the Hill.

Second Municipal Lockdown Day 20.

Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Cabra pyreaica).

I parked at the bottom of the track by the bins and walked up the hill to the first junction and checked the area of Pines but as I went I scanned the Quarry finding a group of 10 Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Cabra pyreaica).

Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum Robertiana).

In amongst the pines there were quite a few Giant Orchids (Himantoglossum Robertiana) which were just starting to flowers, once they all burst into full bloom it will be quite a show. They vary in colour from deep purple through a few shades of pink to the more uncommon white / hypochromatic plants.

Erophila verna.

In the same area there were good numbers of Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca / foresteri) and down under the Almond trees I found masses of Broad-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia) along with a few very small early flowering plants including Erophila verna and Stellaria media as well as a couple of others which I am still trying to name.

Stellaria media.

Birds seen and heard included Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Crested Tits (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla) and Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra).

Broad-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia).

Back down by the car there were a few flowers coming out on some of the Almond trees, this was always one of Jayne's favourite times, every year we would visit an area not far from the house to see the blossom at its best.

Almond Blossom.

Later I went out in the garden for a few house and the whole time I was out there I could hear a singing Woodlark (Totovia / Lullula arborea), superb.

Thursday 4 February 2021

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Count.

Very much cooler last night but still a few bits in the trap including 6496 Evergestis isatidalis x15 and 10226 Cerastis faceta x2.

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

Birds out on the patch.

Second Municipal Lockdown Day 19.

Ebird List.

Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

I started off by heading down on to the fields and parked in the usual place and did the walk along the Arroyo taking the Northern side at the far end.

Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

The Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) x37 were on the fields and down on the Arroyo Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and a Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) which was sat in a Fig tree on the opposite bank.

Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).

Over the road I followed the Arroyo adding Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Reed Buntings (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus) x1M and 2xF and a couple of Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica).

Woodpigeons (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) in the poplars.

I turned around and started to walk back, on a fallow field that's covered in weeds I had a long branch of a dead tree and perched on it were 5 birds, 1x Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), 1x Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), 1x Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis), quite a sight and a shame it was too far away for a shot.

Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus) Male.

As I passed the Reed beds I watched a very smart male Reed Bunting which was pulling apart the seed head on a Reed Mace (Typha latifolia) and was covered in the fluff.

Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina).

As I reached the bridge again I had a group of migrating Hirundines moving East and it included at least 8x House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and 4 Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica).

Further along the track before I reached the car I had Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Common Starlings (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).

Wednesday 3 February 2021

Huétor Fields, Granada

Down on the fields yet again.

Second Municipal Lockdown Day 18.

Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica).

I parked in the usual spot and walked down to the railway line along the Arroyo Vilano, the species were as usual with 37 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) still showing well on the Lucerne fields along with 100+ Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and a big flock of Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis).

Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica).

Along the far end of the Arroyo I walked the southern bank seeing several Bluethroats (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) so I again sat on the soggy vegetation and waited to see what appeared. The only Bluethroat that came in was the female but she remained difficult and only came out into the open a couple of times.

Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica).

I also had Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta) and 4 Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica).

Tuesday 2 February 2021

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

First LRP of the year.

Second Municipal Lockdown Day 17.

Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus).

I did the same walk as yesterday following the Arroyo and not the road, Highlights were the first Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) which flew in and landed on a stony area of the river, 39 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), several Bluethroats (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) but none that played as well as yesterday and lots of Iberian Magpies (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).

Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) female.

The female Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) which I regularly see was on one of the telegraph posts along with several Common (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris) and lots of Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).

Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

As I followed the Arroyo I also saw a very fresh Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) and several Small White (Pieris rapae) which were nectaring on the plentiful Field Marigold (Calendula arvensis) flowers as well as some noisy Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi) in the river.

Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis).

Other species were Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and a smart male Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus).

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Count.

7691 Chemerina caliginearia.

The Actinic was again out on the terrace and it produced 24 Moths of 4 species including 6496 Evergestis isatidalis x16, 7691 Chemerina caliginearia x1 male, 7694 Agriopis bajaria x2 and 10226 Cerastis faceta x5.

7694 Agriopis bajaria.

10226 Cerastis faceta.

Monday 1 February 2021

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

Morning stroll around the patch.

Second Municipal Lockdown Day 16.

Ebird list.

Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) male.

I started the walk at around 09.30, highlights around the Lucerne fields were 37 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), a Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) x2, Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) x70+, almost a 100 Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Tree Sparrows (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus) and a Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major).

Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) male.

Instead of walking down to the Poplar Plantations I stayed along side the Arroyo and crossed the road and again followed it along the Northern bank, along here I added Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis), Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus) and at least 5 Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) but possibly up to 7 birds.