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Friday 8 April 2022

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

Walk along the Arroyo.

The view from the parking spot out over the Lucerne fields to the Sierra Nevada.
I parked in my normal spot as the track had dried out quite a bit and then I walked up stream to the damed part of the Arroyo, I was pleased to see that there was a good flow still but expect it will dry up again in the next few days unless we get some more rain.
Barbary Nut (Moraea sisyrinchium).
The view out over the fields to the Sierra Nevada was rather nice and all the better for the good covering of snow that was put down during the recent rains.
Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae).
As I walked I found quite a few spikes of Barbary Nut (Moraea sisyrinchium) amoungst the masses of yellow crucifer plants which cover the area which I think is Field mustard (Brassica rapa) which is atractive to Butterflies as I found Small (Pieris rapae) x3, Bath (Pontia daplidice) x2, Green-Striped (Euchloe belemia) x1 and Large Whites (Pieris brassicae) x1 and Clouded Yellow (Colias corceua) x4 all of which were necturing on it along with  Common / Southern Blues (Polyommatus icarus / celina) x2 which prefured the blue flowered Wild Clary (Salvia verbenaca).
Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina).

Birds included lots of Corn Buntings (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) and a singing Sedge Warbler (Carricerin Común / Acrocephalus schoenobaenus).
Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).
At the dam I turned around and walked back to the car adding a
Melodious Warbler (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta) to my year list and just passed the car I saw the Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) which comes and go's but has been seen throughout the winter, calling Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix), a couple of Meadow Pipits (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) which was sat in the Fig tree along side the track.
Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild).
As I walked the Lucerne fields I watchd a pair of
Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) coming to a small Bramble patch with food for a nest full of well grown chicks which were visible from the track as the leaves all seem to have dropped off the one side of the clump for some reason, don't think it will be long before they are fledged.
Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) the male.
Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) the male.
As I continued on along the track I added 
Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), a single White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Willow (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus) and Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) and good numbers of the four regular Hirundines.
Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) the female.
Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) the female.
I reached the Walnut trees and turned around and made my way back to the car, on the way I saw
Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli) x1, Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), both Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) and a flock of 33 passing European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster).
Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis).
I reached the car where I had the Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) which has been around for a few days, my first 2 Turtle Doves (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur) of the year on the fields after hearing a couple up at the house earlier, Red-legged Partridges (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa) which were flushed by a tractor cutting one of the fodder fields and 2 Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) which were also flushed by the same tractor as he turned around in the Olives at the far end of the field.
Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).

Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata).

Thursday 7 April 2022

Cerro Hacho, Loja, Granada Province, Spain.

An afternoon walk around the lower loop.

Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus).

After another morning of work on the house I decided to go for a walk so I drove just up the hill and parked just off the San José road where I walked up across the South facing slope finding Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus), Bath (Pontia daplidice) and Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri), White Asphodel (Asphodelus macrocarpus), Amethyst Toadflax (Linaria amethystea), Linaria tristris, Ranunculs spicatus ssp blepharicarpos, Ornithogalum algeriense, Spring Rockcress (Arabis verna), Cloven Petalled Campion (Silene colorata), Field Madder (Sherardia arvensis), Wild Clary (Salvia verbenaca), Southern Red Bartsia (Parentucellia latifolia), Hare's-foot Plantain (Plantago lagopus) and Bellis microcephala.
White Asphodel (Asphodelus macrocarpus).
White Asphodel (Asphodelus macrocarpus).
White Asphodel (Asphodelus macrocarpus) and Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli).
On these slopes I also had good numbers
Mirror (Ophrys speculum) and Yellow Bee Orchids (Ophrys lutea).
Mirror Orchid (Ophrys speculum).
Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea).
I continued on around the top of the Quarry and along the lower track apsssing the puddle where I was getting some nice bird shots during the winter and around the loop to the far sid of the quarry.
Ornithogalum algeriense.
Cloven Petalled Campion (Silene colorata).
Amethyst Toadflax (Linaria amethystea).
On the way I picked up 2
Green Hairstreaks (Callophrys rubi), Provence Hairstreak (Tomares ballus), Clouded Yellow (Colias corceua), Iberis pectinata, Tassel Hyacinth (Muscari comosum), Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus) and my first European Bee-eaters (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) of the year.
Bellis microcephala.
Linaria tristris.
Iberis pectinata.
Around the far side of the walk there were hundreds of spikes of Southern Early Purple Orchids (Orchis olbienis), Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca / foresteri), Common Fumitory (Fumaria officinalis), Grey-leaved Cistus (Cistus albidus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa) and Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).
Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi).

Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera).

Southern Early Purple Orchid (Orchis olbienis).
Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca / foresteri).
I reached the top edge of the quarry on the far side and cut across to the main track again, on the way I watched a very smart male Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) singing from the crags and added Sawfly (Ophrys tenthredinifera) and Giant Orchids (Himanthoglosum Robertiana), Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Crested (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus) and Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla) and Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata).
Giant Orchid (Himanthoglosum Robertiana).
Giant Orchid (Himanthoglosum Robertiana).
I returned to the car and went back to the house, on the way I saw a couple of Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and in the garden listened to a singing Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos).

Wednesday 6 April 2022

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

Good numbers of birds passing through the patch.

Northern Goshawk (Azor Común / Accipitor gentillis) Immature.
I spent all morning starting the clean up at home after the Sahara sand storms of a couple of weeks ago but managed to get a walk in late in the afternoon. 
Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia).
Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia).
I parked at the end of the muddy track and walked along the Lucerne fields and straight away I could see that there was a good movement of Hirundines with a couple of hundred of both House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) as well as a good number of Sand Martins (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia) probably 75+ and a few Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica) but less than 10, they were all mixed in with a good number of Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) which were fighting against a strong head wind.
Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica).
Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica).
Other summer visitors included Spanish (Yellow) (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Western Yellow (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava flavissima) and Blue-headed (Yellow) Wagtails (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava flava), Sedge Warbler (Carricerin Común / Acrocephalus schoenobaenus) and Willow Warbler (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus), male Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) and Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra) and a flock of Greater Short-toed Larks (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla).
Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius).
Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius).
By the Walnut trees I heard all the birds start to get worked up and as I turned around an immature Northern Goshawk (Azor Común / Accipitor gentillis) across and out over the Lucerne fields, other species included Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Tree Pipit (Bisbita Arbóreo / Anthus trivialis) and back at home I picked up a new garden species when a Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) flew over calling.

Tuesday 5 April 2022

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

Another couple of Year birds on the fields.

After seeing that the weather report gave us a full day of rain I had planned to go up to Granada to see friend Walter and do a bit of shopping, collect some Logs and fuel the car, after all this was done I headed back home.
Later at about 18.30 I noticed that it had reduce down to a light drizzle so I went down to the Lucerne fields and parked at the normal spot for a walk, the track was very muddy as was the path for the first few 100 meters.
I walked the fields along the road out to just passed the Poplar Plantation, on the way out I had my first Greater Short-toed Larks (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla) of the year when 13 birds flew up off one of the Asparagus fields.
Other species of note were pairs of both Marsh (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) and Montagu's Harriers (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), singing Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Sedge Warbler (Carricerin Común / Acrocephalus schoenobaenus) and more surprisingly a male Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica).
On the way back I saw a Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) chasing another bird which turned out to be a fine male Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra) which was the second new species for the year.
Other species included Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Willow Warbler (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) x6, Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Grey Herons (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) x3, Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis), Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix) and Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae).

Sunday 3 April 2022

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

Out on the patch again.
Ebird List, 56 Species.

Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).
I parked by the Walnut Trees and quickly walked out to the dam where I started to do the Ebird list and began it with a pair of Montagu's Harriers (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) other highlights around the Lucerne fields included a Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) which is an uncommon species locally, Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Wryneck (Torcecuello / Jynx torquilla), Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica), Tree (Bisbita Arbóreo / Anthus trivialis), Water (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta) and Meadow Pipits (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis).
Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica).
Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos).
On the middle section I picked up
Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Pallid (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) and Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) in good numbers as were Hirundines.
Tree Pipit (Bisbita Arbóreo / Anthus trivialis).
Tree Pipit (Bisbita Arbóreo / Anthus trivialis).
Tree Pipit (Bisbita Arbóreo / Anthus trivialis).
On the last section down to the Railway bridge I added
Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis), Sedge (Carricerin Común / Acrocephalus schoenobaenus), Willow (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus) and Cetti's Warblers (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).
Green-veined White (Pieris napi).
Small White (Pieris rapae).
Small White (Pieris rapae).
Small White (Pieris rapae).
At the far end of the walk I had several butterfly species and a first for the patch a
Green-veined White (Pieris napi) along with Small White (Pieris rapae), Clouded Yellow (Colias corceua), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Swallowtail (Papilio machaon), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) and Common / Southern Blue (Polyommatus icarus / celina).
Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius).