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Friday 31 March 2023

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 (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus 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).


Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 30th March 23.
Garden Light, min +10.5. 
 
2312 Esperia sulphurella.

Species included 1525 Plutella xylostella (Diamond backed Moth) x1, 1655 Ethmia bipunctella x3, 2312 Esperia sulphurella x1, 4592 Cacoecimorpha pronubana (Carnation Tortrix) x1, 5864 Acrobasis obliqua x3, 6488 Evergestis frumentalis x1, 6599 Pyrausta sanguinalis (Scarce Crimson & Gold) x2, 6719 Nomophila noctuella (Rush Veneer) x5, 7725 Menophra japygiaria (Brassy Waved Umber) x10, 7926 Aspitates ochrearia (Yellow Belle) x2, 8246 Orthonama obstipata (The Gem) x1, 8328 Nebula ibericata x4, 8509 Eupithecia cenaureata (Lime-speck Pug) x1, 8599 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata (Double-striped Pug) x3, 8981 Drasteria cailino x1, 9056 Autographa gamma (Silver Y) x3, 9298 Metopoceras felicina x3, 9433 Paradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow) x20, 9435 Caradrina noctivaga x12, 9957 / 8 Hadena perplexa / nevadae x2, 10029 Mythimna sicula x7, 10034 Leucania loreyi x1, 10343 Shuttle Shaped Dart (Agrotis puta) x17, 10351 Agrotis segetum (Turnip Moth) x3 and 10493 Eilema caniola (Hoary Footman) x1. 
5864 Acrobasis obliqua.

6488 Evergestis frumentalis.

8246 Orthonama obstipata (The Gem).

8981 Drasteria cailino.

9298 Metopoceras felicina.

9957 / 8 Hadena perplexa / nevadae.

10034 Leucania loreyi.

 

Thursday 30 March 2023

Cerro Hacho, Loja, Granada Province, Spain.

A stroll arond the lower loop.
Ebird List.

Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi).
I parked by the dryed out puddle just above the Quarry and walked the loop in a clockwise direction, on the first stretch I started the butterfly list with a single Provence Hairstreak (Tomares ballus) and a couple of Green Hairstreaks (Callophrys rubi).
Provence Hairstreak (Tomares ballus).
Bird wise I started with Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes).
Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi).
Further along the track I found a very nice fresh Knapweed Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe), Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus), Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina) and a single Portuguese Dappled White (Euchloe tagis) which was a new species for me at the site.
Portuguese Dappled White (Euchloe tagis).
Portuguese Dappled White (Euchloe tagis).
As I wandered on I added Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) as well as lots of spikes of over with Fan-lipped Orchids (Anacamptis collina) and just three almost over with Conicals (Neotinea conica).
Aphyllanthes monspliensis.
Grey-leaved Cistus (Cistus albidus).
Snake's Head Fritillary (Fritillaria  lusitanica).
As I went down the far side of the Quarry there were lots of spikes of Somber Bee Orchids (Ophrys fusca / foresteri) but they were almost all passed their best but there were still lots of good Southern Early Purple Orchids (Orchis olbienis) as well as a few Mirror (Ophrys speculum) and Aphyllanthes monspliensis, Grey-leaved Cistus (Cistus albidus) and Snake's Head Fritillary (Fritillaria  lusitanica).
Southern Early Purple Orchid (Orchis olbienis).
Southern Early Purple Orchid (Orchis olbienis).
Southern Early Purple Orchid (Orchis olbienis).
In the quarry I heard and then saw a male Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), a singing male Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus) and an unexpected for the spot a Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae).
Mirror Orchid (Ophrys speculum).
Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca / foresteri).
Giant Orchid (Himanthoglosum Robertiana).
Along the road I didn't see anything, as I walked back up to the car from the bins I picked up Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Coal Tit  (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus) along with Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenodes), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Large (Pieris brassicae) and Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), Giant Orchid (Himanthoglosum Robertiana) and  Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) before I reached the car and went home seeing a stunning Ocellated Lizard (Timon lepidus) and a Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).
Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera).
Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera).
Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea).

Wednesday 29 March 2023

Barriada Meadero de la Reina in Cadiz Province, Brazo del Este in Sevilla Province and Fuente de Piedra in Malaga Province, Spain.

A very windy day put pay to a wanted Warbler and then dodgy fuel finishes it off.
 
Purple Heron (Garza Imperial / Ardea purpurea).
After the cancelling of the Pelagic and the very high winds over night I decided to head for a spot an hour north where a Hume's Warbler (Mosquitero de Hume / Phylloscopus humei) had been for a while, on the way I saw a very nice male Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).
Purple Heron (Garza Imperial / Ardea purpurea).
Purple Heron (Garza Imperial / Ardea purpurea).
Purple Heron (Garza Imperial / Ardea purpurea).
When I arrived I was not confident as the Eucalyptus trees were lashing around in the wind but I did give it a try as I thought the bird might have been down lower in the bushes but it did not appear, however I picked up
Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) and Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).
Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus).
Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus).
I gave it 2.5 hours hoping the wind would drop but it didn't so I moved on and headed toward Brazo del Este, on the way I added
Slender-billed Gull (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae).
White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).
White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia) natural nest site.
Marbled Duck (Marmaronetta angustirostris).
Marbled Duck (Marmaronetta angustirostris).
Marbled Duck (Marmaronetta angustirostris).
Just before I reached Lebrija the google maps girl piped up to say there is a better route and told me to turn left off the main road onto some farm roads, OK from a birding point of view it was a better route but if I had been in a hurry to get there not some much better but still as I drove the roads which for most of the way out to the main Rio Guadalquivir were lined with reed filled irrigation / drainage channels and added some nice species including Purple (Garza Imperial / Ardea purpurea) and Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Western Cattle (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus), Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) and Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius). 
Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans).
Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans).
Male Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus).
After quite a few KM I reached the Rio Guadalquivir and turned right and followed this track to Brazo, as  drove I saw a very nice colony of natural nesting White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia) as well as a lot more Black Kites, European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), my first Reed Warblers (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) of the year and a couple of Marbled Ducks (Marmaronetta angustirostris).
Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).
Greater Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla).
I reached the start of the track through the Brazo area and spent quite a while checking the three main area of water, the first was  quite good with quite a few species including Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus), Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio) and several Collared Pratincoles (Canastera Común / Glareola pratincola).
Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago).
Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus).
Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta).
On the second wet area I added Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa), Wood Sandpiper (Andarrios Bastardo / Tringa glareola), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus) and Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia). 
Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax).
Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax).
Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax).
On the furthest area I didn't add any thing new so I turned around and headed back along the track but as I headed off the site the car started to run a bit rough and it got worse so as I reached Los Palacios y Villafranca so I decide to head home rather than around to Huelva as Planned.
Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago).
Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius).
I reached Fuente de Pierda and popped in but I only did the entrance road pool as the car started to play up even worse, so after sitting and taking a few shots of Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper (Andarrios Bastardo / Tringa glareola), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax) and seeing Gull-billed Tern (Pagaza Piconegra / Gelochelidon nilotica), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and Greater Flamingo's
Wood Sandpiper (Andarrios Bastardo / Tringa glareola).
Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus).
I drove home and straight to the Mechanic's who took it for a drive and came back to say that the car was OK but the fuel I had put in at a discount garage near Jerez was dodgy and was causing the problem, luckily I had only put enough to get me back as I wanted to fill up at my local garage.
Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus).
Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus).
I went up to the garage and filled up completely which thankfully this was enough to dilute the bad stuff down and the car ran much better.