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Saturday 15 April 2023

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.


A morning preparing for some more painting and the afternoon sat on my backside on the terrace.
Ebird List.

The view from the terrace this afternoon.
I started the day by rubbing down the metalwork on the spiral staircase up to the terrace from the garden, a job that's well over due but not one that I enjoy at all.
Anyway once it was done, I showered and set myself up for an afternoon sat on the terrace, whilst up there I saw Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) both of which are species I don't often seen around the house, the latter was very interested in one of the nest boxes again.
Most interesting was a female Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus) and a male Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus).
Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos).
Other species included Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Collared (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), a decent sized party of Iberian  Magpies (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) and a singing Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos).
Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos).
There were also plenty of House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) with one of the males looking like it might be a hybrid between House and Spanish Sparrow as it had the nice big white cheeks, extensive black streaking on the breast but also had the grey central part of a chestnut edged crown.
Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major).
Butterfly wise I saw Small White (Pieris rapae) x3, Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus) x2 and Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) x1.
The Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi) in the garden pool were also very vocal at times, never see ay spawn in the pool but guessing there must be as there were a few tadpoles knocking around in the warmer shallow water.

Friday 14 April 2023

Contra-embalse de Bermejales, Granada Province, Spain.

A visit to the Contra-embalse de Bermejales.
Ebird List.

As we were supposed to be without electric all day I decided to pop down to the Contra-embalse, on the way I picked up Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and a nice male Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus).
I reached the lake and took my stool down to the lower level terrace and I scanned the lake, reeds and margins, the most interesting species were 7x Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), 6x Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), 5x Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), 5x Common (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) ans 12x Green Sandpipers (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), 2x Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), 9x Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), 21x Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), 4x Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), 96x Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), a cracking 9x Water Rails (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus) and a single Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea).
Around the margins I picked up Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Cetti's (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), White (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) and Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).
I returned home to find the electric was still on so I got on with a few jobs before going for a walk after dark hearing Nightingale in the Garden and up the road singles of Eurasian Eagle (Búho Real / Bubo bubo) and Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) as well as several Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus).

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 13th April 23.
Garden Light, min +5
 
1525 Plutella xylostella (Diamond backed Moth).
1525 Plutella xylostella (Diamond backed Moth) x1, 6488 Evergestis frumentalis x3, 8509 Eupithecia cenaureata (Lime-speck Pug) x1, 8638 Lithostege griseata (Grey Carpet) x1, 9056 Autographa gamma (Silver Y) x1, 9298 Metopoceras felicina x1, 9433 Paradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow) x2, 9435 / 6 Caradrina noctivaga / flavirena x 2, 9957 / 8 Hadena perplexa / nevadae x1, 10029 Mythimna sicula x1 and 10343 Shuttle Shaped Dart (Agrotis puta) x3. 
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6488 Evergestis frumentalis.


6488 Evergestis frumentalis.

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8638 Lithostege griseata (Grey Carpet).

 9435 / 6 Caradrina noctivaga / flavirena.

10029 Mythimna sicula.

9298 Metopoceras felicina.

 

Thursday 13 April 2023

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

Evening walk along the Lucerne Fields.
Ebird List.

Still got some work to do, needs some curtains but I am not good with a needle.

After having a decent day on the yard redesigning a bookcase friends Jan and Linda had given me, being careful not to aggravate my back any more than I already had I went for a walk along the Lucerne fields, interesting species included the persistant male Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Greater Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos) and European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster).
Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) the male hiding in some deeper Lucerne.

During the walk I also saw
Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri) x2, Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina) x1, Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) x1 and Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus) x2.
Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri).

Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri).

 

Wednesday 12 April 2023

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A morning walk before a visit to the City with friend Jenny and John.
Ebird List.

I was meeting Jenny and John Wainwright at 10.00 to go up into the City to finish off some official bits they were doing and to do a bit of shopping but I had a while free so I went for a short walk along the Lucerne Fields.
Interesting species included the male Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) which I was surprised was still around after the fields had been cut and cleared of vegetation.
Other species were Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), Black-winged Kite  and(Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus),  a single Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus) which was on a muddy field that was being irrigated, Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos) and Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae).

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 11th April 23.
Garden Light, min +6.5
 
2626 Coleophora dubiella ?????
1525 Plutella xylostella (Diamond backed Moth) x1, 1648 Ethmia terminella x2, 2626 Coleophora dubiella x1, 3029 Dysspastus fallax x4, 4855 Epinotia thapsiana x1, 5864 Acrobasis obliqua x3, 6184 Eudonia angustea x1, 6488 Evergestis frumentalis x2, 6551 Udea numeralis x2, 6599 Pyrausta sanguinalis (Scarce Crimson & Gold) x2, 7725 Menophra japygiaria (Brassy Waved Umber) x3, 7926 Aspitates ochrearia (Yellow Belle) x1, 8143 Idaea longaria x1, 8638 Lithostege griseata (Grey Carpet) x1, 9100 Acontia lucida (Pale Shoulder) x1, 9367 Heliothis peltigera (Bordered Straw) x1, 9433 Paradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow) x9, 9435 / 6 Caradrina noctivaga / flavirena x2, 9940 Hadena confusa (Marbled Coronet) x2, 9957 / 8 Hadena perplexa / nevadae x4, 10029 Mythimna sicula x3, 10343 Shuttle Shaped Dart (Agrotis puta) x7, 10351 Agrotis segetum (Turnip Moth) x2 and 10493 Eilema caniola (Hoary Footman) x1. 
1525 Plutella xylostella (Diamond backed Moth).
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6184 Eudonia angustea.
1648 Ethmia terminella.
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8143 Idaea longaria.

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6551 Udea numeralis.

6599 Pyrausta sanguinalis (Scarce Crimson & Gold).

9957 / 8 Hadena perplexa / nevadae.

9435 / 6 Caradrina noctivaga / flavirena.

9435 / 6 Caradrina noctivaga / flavirena.

 

Tuesday 11 April 2023

Embalse de Bermejales and the Cacín Valley, Granada Provinve, Spain.

Looking for some more Orchids with some birding in between.
Ebird List for the Contra-Embalse.
Ebird List for the Terrace.
 
Italian Man Orchid (Orchis Italica).
I got up and as my back was feeling a tad better I decided to pop down to the Pine Woodlands near to the Embalse de Bermejales which are usually a great spot for Orchids but not this year, after a very dry Autumn, Winter and Spring I was expecting things to be poor but not this bad.
I walked from the car through the Pine woodlands but there were no Ophrys species in flower at all and the only Italian Man Orchids (Orchis Italica) I found were lying on the floor looking in very poor condition, however in a spot near the gorge which was a little less shaded I did find a patch of around 50 spikes of the Italica's that were still OK but nothing else.
Even some of the good Italian Man Orchids were starting to flop over.
After about 2 hours of wandering around finding next to nothing I returned to the car and headed up the valley to the Contra-Embalse de Bermejales, on the way I saw Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa).
I reached the Embalse and set the scope up and started to scan the lake and the margins, most surprising was a flock of 18 Night Herons (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax) roosting in a tree on the far shore, on the water there were well over a 100 Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra),a small number of Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), 7x Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), 3x Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), a few Little Grebes (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and around the margins and on the muddy bar I added 8x Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), 11x Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), 4x Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) and at least 8 Water Rails (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus) with 5 on view at the same time on the muddy margins.
Night Herons (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax).

Other species seen included Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus), Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos) and Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti).
As I walked out to view the lake from the shore line I also saw and heard Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Small White (Pieris rapae), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea), Hoary Cress (Lepidium draba), Mallow-leaved Convolvulus (Convolvulus althaeoides), Tassel Hyacinth (Leopoldia comosa) and Wild Grape Hyacinth (Muscari neglectum).
Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus) x6, Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) and a Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra).

I moved on and made my way to another spot for Orchids, I had visited this spot less than two weeks earlier and found that some of the species there were flowering but in much reduced numbers, most leaf rosettes remained blind. 
I checked the same plants and found that most were now going past their best so I did not both to take any photographs as I had better from my last visit.
Up on the Terrace.
My next stop was the terrace where I sat and caught up with a few bits on the laptop whilst doing some birding, best species was a pair of the locally uncommon
Blue Tits (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) which visited the nest box in the fig tree several time but were chased off by the resident Great Tits (Carbonera Común / Parus major) who nest in one of the metal fence posts and a displaying pair of Common Buzzards (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).

Monday 10 April 2023

Cerro Hacho, Loja, Granada Province, Spain.

Searching for a locally rare Orchid species.

Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea).
I popped just up the road to Hacho where I did a short walk up through the lower Pine woods hoping to find a couple of spikes of Ophrys dyris which usually flower right next to the track but as at so many sites these days the Wild Boar (Jabalí / Felis silvestris) had pretty much destroyed the area and rooted everything out of the ground.
White Asphodel (Asphodelus macrocarpus).
As I walked I did however find Yellow Bee (Ophrys lutea) and Mirror Orchids (Ophrys speculum), White Asphodel (Asphodelus macrocarpus), Wild Grape Hyacinth (Muscari neglectum), Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum baeticum), Southern Red Bartsia (Parentucellia latifolia), Mallow-leaved Convolvulus (Convolvulus althaeoides), Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenodes), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Crested Tit (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli).

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 9th April 23.
Garden Light, min +10.5
 
6860 Hyles livornica (Striped Hawk-moth).
0465 Myrmecozella ataxella x1, 1525 Plutella xylostella (Diamond backed Moth) x1, 3029 Dysspastus fallax x4, 3274 Metzneria castiliella x1, 4855 Epinotia thapsiana x1, 5144 Cydia pomonella (Codling Moth) x1, 5615 Synaphe lorquinalis x1, 5864 Acrobasis obliqua x2, 6488 Evergestis frumentalis x2, 6496 Evergestis isatidalis x1, 6551 Udea numeralis x1, 6702a Dolicharthria aetnaealis x1, 6860 Hyles livornica (Striped Hawk-moth) x1, 7725 Menophra japygiaria (Brassy Waved Umber) x3, 7806 Adactylotis gesticularia x1, 8328 Nebula ibericata x2, 8059 Scopula marginepunctata (Mullein Wave) x1, 8509 Eupithecia cenaureata (Lime-speck Pug) x2, 8638 Lithostege griseata (Grey Carpet) x1, 8944 Autophila dilucida x1, 9056 Autographa gamma (Silver Y) x6, 9100 Acontia lucida (Pale Shoulder) x1, 9206 Cucullia calendulae (Marigold Shark) x1, 9279 Cleonymia baetica x1, 9425 Caradrina proxima x1, 9433 Paradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow) x7, 9460 Spodoptera exigua (Small Mottled Willow) x2, 9940 Hadena confusa (Marbled Coronet) x2, 9957 / 8 Hadena perplexa / nevadae x2, 10238 Peridroma saucia (Pearly Underwing) x2, 10343 Shuttle Shaped Dart (Agrotis puta) x11, 10351 Agrotis segetum (Turnip Moth) x3 and 10437 Nola chlamitulalis (Jersey Black Arches) x1.
9957 / 8 Hadena perplexa / nevadae.

9460 Spodoptera exigua (Small Mottled Willow).

9206 Cucullia calendulae (Marigold Shark).

6702a Dolicharthria aetnaealis.

8944 Autophila dilucida.

9425 Caradrina proxima.

10238 Peridroma saucia (Pearly Underwing).



5864 Acrobasis obliqua.

 
3029 Dysspastus fallax.

5864 Acrobasis obliqua.

5144 Cydia pomonella (Codling Moth).

1525 Plutella xylostella (Diamond backed Moth).

8059 Scopula marginepunctata (Mullein Wave).

9957 / 8 Hadena perplexa / nevadae.

9100 Acontia lucida (Pale Shoulder).

4855 Epinotia thapsiana.

9940 Hadena confusa (Marbled Coronet).

9279 Cleonymia baetica.

Cnephasia species.


3274 Metzneria castiliella.

0465 Myrmecozella ataxella.