Moraleda area and Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

Some new Orchids for the year and a short walk along the Lucerne fields.

Ebird List for the fields.

Dark Spider Orchid (Ophrys incubacea).

I went to a spot in the Moraleda area and check a small area of abandoned Almond Groves where I found Dark Spider Orchid (Ophrys incubacea), Bumble-bee Orchid (Ophrys bombyliflora) and a single spike of the Hybrid between Ophrys bombyliflora x Ophrys tenthredinifera called Ophrys x sommieri.

Dark Spider Orchid (Ophrys incubacea).

Dark Spider Orchid (Ophrys incubacea).

The only other species of orchid I saw in flower was Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea) as well as a good number of over with Fan-lipped Orchids (Anacamptis collina).

Ophrys x sommieri.

Ophrys x sommieri.

Ophrys x sommieri.

Bumble-bee Orchid (Ophrys bombyliflora).

Bumble-bee Orchid (Ophrys bombyliflora).

Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea).

Whilst I was there I also picked up Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica).

Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis).

On my way home I stopped off on the fields, I parked at the usual spot and then walked up stream first and then out to the far end of the Lucerne Fields.

Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

The most intersting species up stream were Spanish (Yellow) (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) and Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), 1x Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) and 3x Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis), my first Willow Warblers (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus) of the year and a calling Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei).

Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Along the fields I saw a group of 5 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) which included 3 females being chased down by the two males, 2x Black-winged Kites (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), a pale phase Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus), 2 male and 1 female Montagu's Harriers (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), Little Owls (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) and some passing European Bee-eaters (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster).

Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus).

Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus).