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Saturday, 13 March 2021

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

 A quick walk along the Arroyo.
 
White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).
I went down the road and parked in the usual slot and walked along the Northern side of the Arroyo but only down as far as the road bridge today, around the parking area there were lots of Spotless Starlings (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) which I gave a good scan hoping there might be a pink one in the mix but again I had no luck.
Along the arroyo there were good numbers of all three Wagtails and for the first time this year the Spanish (Yellow) (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) was the commonest followed by the White (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) but their numbers were well down and finally a single Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea( did a flyby. 
Also seen along the water were Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) again numbers were much lower as lots had started to move North, Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) x2, Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and a pair of Little Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) which flew off noisily when a farmer in his old Landrover came through the ford.
Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).
On the Lucerne fields I had Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus) and at the back of the fields in the deepest part of the Lucerne at least 3 female and 4 male Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) but there could easily have been more hiding.
Some of the wintering Green Sandpipers (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) were joined by some passage birds as by the time I reached the Bridge I had counted 9 individuals, all of which flew off noisily but dropped back in again a short way on, the Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) was obviously finding its usual Almond tree too hot so he had crossed the water and was snoozing nicely in the goat herders pipes and just as I turned around I had a small flock of around 15 Iberian  Magpies (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and a Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).
On my way back I only added a male Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild) and Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Count.

9056 Autographa gamma (Silver Y).

With the trap back down in the open down on the lower terrace I had hoped for a few more species but there were just 2 species with 25 moths.Temp dropped to +7.5
9056 Autographa gamma (Silver Y).

9056 Autographa gamma (Silver Y) x2 and 10343 Shuttle Shaped Dart (Agrotis puta) x23.

Friday, 12 March 2021

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

An afternoon walk through the Olive groves.
 
False Mallow / Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus tripolina / alceae).
I spent the morning doing jobs inside and out and then went for a stroll the the olives over to the farm on the road up to Montifrio. Once I was over the barranco I found the first of several Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina), Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus), False Mallow / Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus tripolina / alceae) and Spanish Brown Argus (Aricia cramera).
Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus).
The Fan-lipped Orchids (Anacamptis collina) nearby were going well passed their best but after a bit of a search I found 15 or so spikes and in the same area I also had Field marigold (Calendula arvensis), Wild Grape Hyacinth (Muscari neglectum), Wild Clary (Salvia verbenaca), White Mignonette (Reseda Alba), Mallow-leaved Storksbill (Erodium malacoides) and Common Fumitory (Fumaria officinalis).
Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas).
I walked on and took a track about three rows back from the main track where I saw several
Provence Orange-tips (Anthocharis euphenoides) but again they were all in too much of a hurry to sit in front of the camera for me and as I walked on I saw Small (Pieris rapae), Large (Pieris brassicae), Western Dappled (Euchloe crameri) and Bath Whites (Pontia daplidice) and lots of Clouded Yellows (Colias croceus).
Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui).

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui).

Continuing on I had a calling Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa).
Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) male.
Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) female.
At the far end of the Olives I returned to the track and walked down to the farm before I turned around, on the way I saw
Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra), a Provence Hairstreak (Tomares ballus) which was at the opposite end of the site from where I normally see the species and a Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera).
Small White (Pieris rapae).
I also saw
Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus), Carpentor Bee (Xylocopa violacea), European Honey Bee (Apis mellifera), Spiked Fumitory (Platycapnos spicatus), Purple Bugloss (Echium plantagineum) and a Comma (Polygonia c-album) buttterfly.
Southern Marbled Skipper (Carcharodus baeticus).
Southern Marbled Skipper (Carcharodus baeticus).
I turned around and followed the main path back towards the house, on the way I had a nice Southern Marbled Skipper (Carcharodus baeticus) which settled several times and allowed me to get both Upper and underwing shots.
False Mallow / Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus tripolina / alceae).
I also had Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) and Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Count.
 
10029 Mythimna sicula.
The trap was put out under cover again and when I checked it I found 22 moths of 3 species.
10029 Mythimna sicula.
9056 Autographa gamma (Silver Y) x1, 10029 Mythimna sicula x1 and 10343 Shuttle Shaped Dart (Agrotis puta) x20. 

Thursday, 11 March 2021

Peñón de Jolúcar in Torrenueva, Playa de las Azucenas, Another beach and Peñon de Jolúcar, Granada Province, Spain.

A morning birding with Andrey and some survey work with Juan in the afternoon.
 
Silene littorea.
I met Andrey in Torrenueva and we walked up to the sea watch point, on the way we saw House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).
Sea Medick (Medicago marina).
We spent the next 2 hours trying to find sea birds but it was very very quiet, we did see
Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) x65, Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis) x5, Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) x14, Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) x2, Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) x91, Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) x10 and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) x40.
Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria).

Whilst we were there we also recorded
Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Barn (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and just as we were leaving a male Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) flew in.
Reichardia tingitana.
We walked back to the car and then moved to the west and checked out Playa de las Azucenas, we parked and walked up on to the bridge finding Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and down along the river a singing Sedge Warbler (Carricerin Común / Acrocephalus schoenobaenus), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Mallard, Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) and Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) as well as several Stripe-necked Terrapins (Mauremys leprosa).
Ononis ramosissima.

Down on the beach we had more Yellow-legged, Lesser Black-backed and Med Gulls, a
Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) which was feeding on the shoreline, on the Port walls there were lots of other Gull and around 50 Great Cormorants.
Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis).
We checked out a couple of fenced off areas for wildflowers finding
Ononis ramosissima, Reichardia tingitana, Sea Medick (Medicago marina), Ramping Fumitory (Fumaria capreolata), Silene littorea, the leaves of the Sea Daffodil (Pancratium maritimum) and a Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria).
Ramping Fumitory (Fumaria capreolata).
On the way back we added Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Barn Swallow, Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla). 
Linaria pedunculata.

Near the car I found Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis), Crown Daisy (Chrysanthemum carinatum) and Purple Bugloss (Echium plantagineum) before Andrey headed back north to work and I went to meet Juan Perez.
Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus) very heavily cropped shots.
I drove to a near by beach where I met Juan to assist with a survey he has been doing on the breeding Kentish Plovers (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus) for a few years, Juan has been trying hard to get the local town hall to give these special and locally rare birds more protection at their only breeding site in the Province. 
Trumpeter Finch (Camachuelo Trompetero / Bucanetes githagineus).
Some mistakes were made last year in the beach cleaning process and nests were destroyed, Juan has been fighting to get signs and barriers put up to prevent the same thing happening again and to also try and reduce the disturbance by people using the beach, he has been successful in getting signs but the barriers to protect the main breeding areas are still to be sorted.
Trumpeter Finch (Camachuelo Trompetero / Bucanetes githagineus).
We walked the full length of the beach finding two sitting females and several more birds which were roosting down on the beach along with a group of Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba) and a couple of Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) and down on the ground Silene littorea, Sea Medick (Medicago marina), Linaria pedunculata, Ononis ramosissima, Sand Reichardia (Reichardia gaditana) and Seaside Daisy (Asteriscus maritimus).
Trumpeter Finch (Camachuelo Trompetero / Bucanetes githagineus).
As we walked on we found one of the two Trumpeter Finches (Camachuelo Trompetero / Bucanetes githagineus) that had been seen a few days ago as well as a single Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), an Audouin's Gull (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Meadow Pipit, Crested Larks, Greenfinches and out to sea several Northern Gannets including a strange pale brown plumage bird.
Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus).
We returned to the cars and then drove back along the coast to Peñón de Jolúcar where we walked up the new walkway the town hall had built seeing a nice male
Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura) on our way up.
Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus).
At the top Juan showed me a nice group of 6 Pink Butterfly Orchids (Orchis papilionacea) and up on the cliff tops I also found several spikes of Brown Bluebell (Jacinto bastardo / Dipcadi serotinum) and Hollow Stemmed Asphodel (Asphodelus fistulosus).
Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus).
I then said goodbye to Juan and headed back home well knackered after the long beach walk, Juan stayed and saw quite a few more bits.
Brown Bluebell (Jacinto bastardo / Dipcadi serotinum).
Pink Butterfly Orchids (Orchis papilionacea).

Wednesday, 10 March 2021

Hacho and Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

An afternoon up the hill and later down along the Arroyo.
 
Linaria amethystea.
I drove up to the hill and I parked amongst the Almonds near the road and walked up the south facing bank behind where I was find a Spanish guy how was picking wild asparagus, I was knelt down photographing some nice spikes of Linaria amethystea and I did not see him so It amused him how high I could jump from a kneeling position.
He asked what the plant was and was quite interested so we spent a while chatting about the wild Asparagus plants and the Orchids.
Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus).
I continued on with my search and found lots of
Common Asphodel (Asphodelus aestivus), Field Marigold (Calendula arvensis), Common Fumitory (Fumaria officinalis), Andalucian Gorse (Ulex baeticus), Cloven Petalled Campion (Silene colorata), Broad-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia), some very small flowered Common Daisy's (Bellis perennis), White Rockrose (Helianthemum apenninum) as well as loads of Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus) and a couple of Clouded Yellows (Colias croceus).
Cloven Petalled Campion (Silene colorata).
I reached the top of the bank and followed the ridge along the top of the quarry and then dropped back down to the Almond fields, as I walked I had a nice Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri), Fan-lipped (Anacamptis collina), Sawfly (Ophrys tenthredinifera) and Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca / foresteri), Ranunculs spicatus ssp blepharicarpos, Clypeola jonthlaspi, Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) and Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).
Moth species needing a name.
As I walked through the scrub and trees I had a few day flying moths which need a name still.
Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus).
I dropped back to the car where I dropped off my fleece as it was warming up nicely and start out along the Northerly facing hill side where I soon found Giant (Himantoglossum Robertiana) and Southern Early Purple Orchids (Orchis olbienis).
Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus).
As I walked I also heard and saw Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Crested (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus).
Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri).
Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri).
I reached the view point over the Quarry and took the lower track out into the Oaks and Almonds again, I was very pleased to find another new site for me of the very smart, scarce and local Provence Hairstreaks (Tomares ballus) as I walked around the area I found at least 4 individuals which spent most of their time chasing each other and the Small Heaths that strayed to close.
Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum Robertiana).
I also found more Fan-lipped, Sawfly, Giant and Somber Bee Orchids,
Henbit Deadnettle (Lamium amplexicaule), Andaluz storksbill (Erodium primulaceum), Wild Clary (Salvia verbenaca), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and a singing male Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata).
Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca / foresteri).
I reached the point where I turned around and I took a different route back cutting through the trees and rocky areas, I was very pleased to find around 50 spikes of the very smart
Conical Orchids (Neotinea conica) which was a new species for my Orchid list at this site.
Broad-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia).
Again I continued on through the srub and up into the pine trees, on the way I saw something that I have never seen before, a male
Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra) flew in and landed on one of the overhead wires which run through the area and started to sing which was not unusual but after a minute or two it took off and did a song flight just like a Serin or Greenfinch would do singing all the way round and then returned to the perch and did it twice more before flying off.
Southern Early Purple Orchid (Orchis olbienis).
Up in the pines I found lot of signs that the Red Squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) were eating well and that the Wild Boar (Jabalí / Felis silvestris) were extremely active digging up the whole area.
Provence Hairstreak (Tomares ballus).
I walked back out of the pines into the scrub finding several spikes of the uncommon
Snake's Head Fritillary (Fritillaria hispanica) a really stunning looking plant before making my way back down the hill to the car, just before I got there I had nice views of a male Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus) which was singing from the Almonds and below them I found Erophila verna and Stellaria media.
Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae).

Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae).

Once I reached the car I drove home and had a coffee before going down onto the fields where I spent a while checking the southern side of the stretch just before the railway line, I sat in the car and waited to see what approached.
Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae).
Whilst I was there I had views of at least 4 Bluethroats (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica), 2 pairs by the look of thinks with one of the males singing a few times from the reeds. 
White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).
White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).
In the same area I also had several
Cetti's Warblers (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), a single female Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus), White (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and quite a few Spanish (Yellow) Wagtails (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).
Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) male.
Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) male.
Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) male.
Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) male.
As I drove along the track back to the road I added
Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris).
Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti).
I drove along the edge of the Lucerne fields finding just 2 male Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and last of all Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus) on my way home.