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Monday 28 March 2022

Moraleda and Huetor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A check on a local Orchid site and later a walk along the Arroyo Vilano.
Ebird List, 44 Species.

Giant Orchids (Himanthoglosum Robertiana).

After an appointment at the Physio's I went to a spot a few Kms away to have a look at one of the very few sites for a couple of rare Orchid species in Granada Province Bumble-bee (Ophrys bombyliflora) and Dark Spider Orchids (Ophrys incubacea).
Bumble-bee Orchid (Ophrys bombyliflora).
I arrived at the site to find the very disappointing sight of several spikes of the once beautiful Giant Orchid (Himanthoglosum Robertiana) dumped in the middle of the road after being picked.
Dark Spider Orchid (Ophrys incubacea).
I walked to the main spot and soon found around 20 spikes of Dark Spider (Ophrys incubacea) and a few hundred of the Bumble-bee Orchids (Ophrys bombyliflora) along with Fan-lipped (Anacamptis collina), Mirror (Ophrys speculum), Sawfly (Ophrys tenthredinifera) and Yellow Bee Orchids (Ophrys lutea).
Dark Spider Orchid (Ophrys incubacea).
As I drove off the site I also found quite a few spikes of Somber Bee Orchids (Ophrys fusca / foresteri) and a few birds including Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius).
Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera).
I got back onto the fields near Huétor and walked the Arroyo to loosen up my back again, I parked at the spot by the Walnut Trees and walked back up to the dammed part of the Arroyo passed the normal parking site which was still too muddy to reach the normal way.
Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator).
As I walked high lights seen included Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), Willow Warbler (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and my first Wryneck (Torcecuello / Jynx torquilla) of the year.
Willow Warbler (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus).
Willow Warbler (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus).
I turned around and passed the car and walked the other sections of the Arroyo adding
Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), a single Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia) in amongst lots of other hirundines, Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta) and Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae).
Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia).

Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

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