Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

Winter and Summer species overlap.

Ebird List, 48 Species. 

Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos).

I parked at the halfway poing near the Walnut trees and walked back up the Arroyo to the normal parking spot and on up to the dammed point.

As I walked I saw Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), the first of 4 Woodchat Shrikes (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), lots of Woodpigeons (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) x4, Willow Warbler (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) and in a group of Tamarisk trees my first singing Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos) of the spring but more unexpected was a nice male Brambling (Pinzón Real / Fringilla montifringilla)in the small Walnut opposite.

Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos).

I reached the dammed pool where I found Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and lots of House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica).

The Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) still snoozing in the Almond tree.

I turned around and followed the top bank back to the car, as I walked I flushed a male Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) from one of the irrigation channels and added a flyover Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Collared Doves (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and a big flock of Iberian  Magpies (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) flew through.

Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

I passed the car and continued on along the Arroyo to the road bridge seeing the Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) sat in a small Almond tree as usual, Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae).

Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Between the road bridge and the Railway Line I had a nice summer plumage Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta) along with Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), a Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), a pair of Grey Wagtails (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), a flock of Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild) and several noisy Perez's Frogs (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi).

Huétor Fields and Home, Granada Province, Spain.

A walk dodging muddy showers.

Ebird List, 38 Species.

I spent the morning sorting out a few bits at home and then went for a walk mid afternoon, high lights were a nice amale Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), 6 Little Owls (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), a couple of newly arrived Woodchat Shrikes (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Willow Warbler (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus) and a flyover Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea).

The sky was heavy with sand and the rain was starting so I headed off home, later the rain got heavier and the sand was covering everything, it will take a lot of cleaning up.

Cerro Hacho, Loja, Granada Province, Spain.

A damp walk around the lower loop of Hacho.

Ophrys dyris.

After getting a few bits sorted down in Huétor I went and parked at the lowest parking point just off the road up to Ventorros de San José, from here I took a steep track up to a spot in the Pines which I had been shown last year by Anita where I found two spikes of Ophrys Dyris in nice condition.

Ophrys dyris.

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca / foresteri).

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca / foresteri).

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca / foresteri).

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca / foresteri).

In the same area there were also several spikes of Fan-lipped (Anacamptis collina), Giant (Himanthoglosum Robertiana) and Somber Bee Orchids (Ophrys fusca / foresteri).

Giant Orchid (Himanthoglosum Robertiana).

Giant Orchid (Himanthoglosum Robertiana).

I dropped back down to the main track and walked further up the track to the main Pine woods where I checked and counted the numbers of Giant Orchids in the one small area finding at least 130 spikes in flower and three times this number of blind rosettes, the photo's show the variation in this species.

Giant Orchid (Himanthoglosum Robertiana).

Giant Orchid (Himanthoglosum Robertiana).

Giant Orchid (Himanthoglosum Robertiana).

I dropped back on to the low loop where I heard and saw several Common Crossbills (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia) and Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera).

I continued on around the loop finding a good number of Conical Orchid (Neotinea conica) spikes, Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera), the last few plants of Broad-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia), Common Fumitory (Fumaria officinalis), Erophila verna, Groundsel (Senecio vulgaris), Field Marigold (Calendula arvensis), Grey-leaved Cistus (Cistus albidus), Wild Grape Hyacinth (Muscari neglectum) and Wild Clary (Salvia verbenaca).

Conical Orchid (Neotinea conica).

Southern Early Purple Orchid (Orchis olbienis).

Southern Early Purple Orchid (Orchis olbienis).

Further around the loop I saw lots of Southern Early Purple (Orchis olbienis), a few Yellow Bee Orchids (Ophrys lutea) along the roadside as well as a couple of Red Admirals (Vanessa atalanta) and several Small Heaths (Coenonympha pamphilus).

Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea).

Fan-lipped Orchid (Anacamptis collina).

Fan-lipped Orchid (Anacamptis collina).

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A walk along the Arroyo Vilano looking for migrants.

Ebird List, 47 Species.

Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

This Morning I parked at the halfway point as it was far too muddy to get to the normal spot so i first walked back in that direction along the Lucerne fields and then along the Arroyo to the dammed off area, as I walked I saw several singing Corn Buntings (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), a few newly arrived Willow Warbler (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus), a male Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

Willow Warbler (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus).

I turned around and walked back towards the car on the top ridge along the fields where I added a huntng Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) and a flock of hirundines which included Barn (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), lots of House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and a single Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

I reached the car then continued on along the Arroyo to the road bridge and then on aain to the railway line, on the first section I added the 3rd Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) of the walk along with Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).

Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta).

On the far section, which was by far the muddiest part of the walk it felt more like I was ice skating most of the way, however I did see another Bluethroat, Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), at least 2 near summer plumage Water Pipits (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta) and my first Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator) of the year.

I returned to the car but went along the road where I had a small group of Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) fly passed me along with Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and 2x Ravens (Cuervo / Corvus corax) up on one of the Pylons.

Pinos Puente and Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A very sad day.

Anita photographing Mountain butterflies in Sierra Nevada.

This afternoon we said goodbye to friend Anita Beijer who passed away in hospital a couple of days ago, I only knew Anita briefly but she had become a good friend and we had some really good days finding some superb wildlife in the Sierra Nevada and other place. She will be missed by many but none more than Walter her husband.

Willow Warbler (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus).

I returned home and went for a walk to clear my head, only highlight were a few Willow Warblers (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus) which were new for the year.

Driving back Home via Hoces del Río Duratón, Segovia, Spain.

Making my way home with a year tick on the way.

Dawn at Hoces del Río Duratón.

I left Santi's early and drove South to Hoces del Río Duratón a well known site for the uncommon Dupont's Lark (Alondra Ricotí / Chersophilus duponti), on the way along the track in to the site I started the day list with Thekla (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Woodlark (Totovia / Lullula arborea) and Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus).

Hoces del Río Duratón.

I parked several times as I drove along the track and listened hoping to hear and see a Dupont's, in two spots I could hear a male singing from across a ravine but as I know how sencertive the site is I did not try for views as it would have meant wandering out into the grassland and a sound record will do for my year list.

Roe Deer (Corzo / Capreolus capreolus).

Other species seen as I was birding up and down the track included Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and half a dozen Roe Deer (Corzo / Capreolus capreolus).

Roe Deer (Corzo / Capreolus capreolus).

As I drove south I added Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus) x8, Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans) x40+, Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica).

Roe Deer (Corzo / Capreolus capreolus).