Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A quick walk along the Arroyo.

 

Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

I dropped down to the Arroyo for my walk, the biggest change was that the Arroyo was no longer flowing. I parked and walked the Northern side of the Arroyo seeing just 2 female Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) but guessing there may have been more birds hiding.

Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Other species included Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), loads of House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and high up in the flock a single Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus).

Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta).

Once I crossed the road and checked the pools that remained seeing Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) and Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).

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

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

As I walked there were quite a few Clouded Yellows (Colias corcea), Small White (Pieris rapae) and a male Vagrant Emperor (Anax ephippiger).

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Count.

 

9056 Autographa gamma (Silver Y).

The temperature was down to just +6 over night but I there were still a few species in the trap. 20 Moth of 4 Species.

9435 Caradrina noctivaga.

9056 Autographa gamma (Silver Y) x1, 9435 Caradrina noctivaga x1, 10226 Cerastis faceta x1 and 10343 Shuttle Shaped Dart (Agrotis puta) x17.

10226 Cerastis faceta.

A Beach near Motril and El Temple, Granada Province, Spain.

Surveying the Kentish again with Juan and then home via El Temple.

 

Balearic Shearwaters (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus) x4.

I drove down to meet Juan and did a bit of a sea watch before we met, during this time I saw a Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus) drift behind me and out to sea Balearic Shearwater (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus), Northern Gannets (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), a good number of Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) which were coming in off the sea and a passing Vagrant Emperor (Anax ephippiger).

Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus) chicks photographed from the car on the way up the beach.

Juan arrived and as we did last week we walked a length of the Beach checking on the breeding pairs of Kentish Plovers (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus), before we started we checked the known nest from the car and they were as we expected except for the first one that Juan had found earliest in the year before I had started coming.

Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus) female.

We reached the nest site and we were pleased to find the male and female with two very young chicks (three would have been better) which were chasing round and feeding, a delight to see.

New Signs, a good start but many more are needed.

We parked at the end of the beach and walked back switching between the beach and the track by the road, on the way and before we reached the plover area I saw Silene littorea, Sea Medick (Medicago marina), Linaria pedinculata, Ononis ramosissima, Sand Reichardia (Reichardia gaditana), Seaside Daisy (Asteriscus maritimus) and European Searocket (Cakile maritima).

European Searocket (Cakile maritima).

As we walked back along the beach we checked the chicks again and found a female and 2 males in the same area, continuing on we saw a known nest and the checked another spot where Juan had been told there was another sitting female which we found.

Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus) new female sitting.

Further on we saw another group of plovers and as we sat on the roadside watched a female walk back to our fourth nest and whilst we watched this we had a Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) fly passed.

Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata).

During the walk we also found Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba) x18, Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) and Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).

Plantain Species.

Thistle Species.

We reached the cars and on the way back along the beach we stopped and checked each nest on the way and as we were scanning Juan picked up 4 Cory's Shearwaters (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris borealis) amongst a group of feeding gulls.

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

Next we went to another beach to the East where we checked the cliffs seeing more Audouin's Gull, Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura) and at another spot a Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila-azor Perdicera / Hieraaetus faciatus).

Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius).

I then drove back home but came back via a couple of spots in the El Temple area, whilst there I saw Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) x3, several Great Spotted Cuckoos (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius) which sat in the sun every time I got close enough, Calandra Lark (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Lesser Kestrel (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) and Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

Hacho, Granada Province, Spain.

An afternoon walk around the lower woodlands and scrub.

 

Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia).

It was much quieter today, during my last visit which was on a Sunday I saw some Giant Orchids (Himantoglossum Robertiana) being used to decorate picnickers tables and today I found the spot where at least 20 spikes had been ripped out of the ground, so sad that people feel the wildlife of this country means so little.

Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri).

Down in the broom bushes I found quite a few Rock Buntings (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), several Sardinian Warblers (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major).

Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi).

On the slopes above the Almond trees there were lots of flowering Andalucian Gorse (Ulex baeticus), Common Asphodel (Asphodelus aestivus), Wild Grape Hyacinth (Muscari neglectum), Field marigold (Calendula arvensis), Barbary Nut (Moraea sisyrinchium), Andaluz storksbill (Erodium primulaceum), Wild Clary (Salvia verbenaca), Henbit Deadnettle (Lamium amplexicaule), Common Fumitory (Fumaria officinalis), Linaria amethystea as well as Fan-lipped (Anacamptis collina), Somber Bee (Ophrys fusca / foresteri) and Giant Orchids (Himantoglossum Robertiana).

Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus).

Provence Hairstreak (Tomares ballus).

In the same area I also had Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus), Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenodes) and Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra).

Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata).

On my way up to and passed the quarry I found Southern Early Purple (Orchis olbienis) and Sawfly Orchids (Ophrys tenthredinifera) along the track side and up in the trees Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Crested (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus) and Coal Tit  (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes).

Fan-lipped Orchid (Anacamptis collina) var. flavescens.

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca / foresteri).

Conical Orchid (Neotinea conica).

I walked out into the scrubby area where I had a fly through Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychlorus) which I later saw land on an Almond tree but it shut its wings straight away, whilst I was watching this a smaller butterfly whizzed passed and landed which turned out to be the first of a couple of Green Hairstreaks (Callophrys rubi).

Common Asphodel (Asphodelus aestivus).

Ranunculs spicatus ssp blepharicarpos.

In the same area I found Provence Hairstreak (Tomares ballus), Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Snake's Head Fritillary (Fritillaria hispanica), Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra).

Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi).

Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi).

I turned around and walked back down towards the car adding Conical Orchid (Neotinea conica), Cloven Petalled Campion (Silene colorata), Carpentor Bee (Xylocopa violacea) and as I passed a large puddle I found a big number of Honey Bees (Apis mellifera) collecting water for the nearby hives.

Honey Bee (Apis mellifera).

 

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Count.

 

8581 Eupithecia cocciferata probably.

The temperature was slightly higher and there were a few more moths in the trap when I checked it a little later than expected due to a bit of a lye in.

9433 Caradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow).

I found 8581 Eupithecia cocciferata x1, 9433 Caradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow) x1, 10029 Mythimna sicula x3, 10343 Shuttle Shaped Dart (Agrotis puta) x14 and 10351 Agrotis segetum (Turnip Moth) x1.

10029 Mythimna sicula.

10029 Mythimna sicula.

10351 Agrotis segetum (Turnip Moth).

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Butterflies in the Olives.

 

Common / Southern Blue (Polyommatus icarus / celina).

Common / Southern Blue (Polyommatus icarus / celina).

I went for an afternoon walk through the Olive groves at the back of the house and as usual I saw naff all on the first section near the house but once I was over the Barranco I was finding good numbers of butterflies.

Common / Southern Blue (Polyommatus icarus / celina).

The first were several Common / Southern Blues (Polyommatus icarus / celina) including some older insects and a mating pair which were getting bothered by another male.

Spanish Brown Argus (Aricia cramera).

Spanish Brown Argus (Aricia cramera).

I also found lots of Clouded Yellows (Colias corcea), a few Provence Hairstreaks (Tomares ballus) which spent most of their time spiralling around chasing each other, False Mallow / Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus tripolinus / alceae) and Small White (Pieris rapae).

Provence Hairstreak (Tomares ballus).

Further along several Western Dappled Whites (Euchloe crameri) were flying amongst the Mustard plants, Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus), as were a couple of Spanish Brown Argus (Aricia cramera) and both Small (Pieris rapae) and Large Whites (Pieris brassicae).

Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus).

I dropped down to the barranco and found a couple of spikes of Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum Robertiana) which were flowering under the trees along with lots of Hoary Cress (Lepidium draba), Neapolitan Garlic (Allium neapolitanum), Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis), Wild Grape Hyacinth (Muscari neglectum) and White Mignonette (Reseda Alba).

False Mallow / Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus tripolinus / alceae).

I walked back down the dead side of the barranco seeing scuds of Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis).

Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri).

Further along there were several Somber Bee Orchids (Ophrys fusca / foresteri), Andalucian Gorse (Ulex baeticus), Common Fumitory (Fumaria officinalis), Henbit Deadnettle (Lamium amplexicaule), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major).

Large White (Pieris brassicae).

Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum Robertiana).

Neapolitan Garlic (Allium neapolitanum).

Hoary Cress (Lepidium draba).