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Saturday 22 April 2023

Sierra de Loja and Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

Some birding with good friend Juan Perez Contreras.
Ebird List for the Sierra.
Ebird List for the Fields.

Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush (Roquero Roja / Monticola saxatilis) male.
I was just about to start doing some work in the garden when the mobile rang and it was Juan who asked if I fanced doing some birding up on Sierra de Loja and on my local patch, surprisingly I had to think for about half a second before I said yes and we arranged to meet at the hotel up near the A92.
Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush (Roquero Roja / Monticola saxatilis) male.
I popped into the Hotel bar for a coffee but Juan was there faster than I had expected and we were soon on our way to the start of the main track up the mountain and then all the way over to the far crags, on the way up we saw Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Coal Tit  (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) and Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus) which stooped across the track in front of us and down the slope.
Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush (Roquero Roja / Monticola saxatilis) male.
Up on the tops we had the expected
Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Thekla Larks (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Common Stonechats (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Black-eared (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica), Northern (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) and Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Iberian Grey (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) and Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and the first Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius).
Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush (Roquero Roja / Monticola saxatilis) male.
We drove alound the curves of the far crags and as we turned one of the bends we saw a stunning male
Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush (Roquero Roja / Monticola saxatilis) sat on a rock right by the side of the track, I took a few shots at the point where we first saw it but as we need to pass the spot Juan drove slowly towards the bird and we were amazed that it sat there until we were rght up level with it, it jsut sat there and sang a few times before hopping to the next rock away, the closest I have ever got to one. 
Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush (Roquero Roja / Monticola saxatilis) male.

We continued on as anothere species we wanted to see was the Western Orphean Warbler (Curruca Mirlona / Sylvia hortensis) which we soon heard and then saw down in the Hawthorn trees along with a single Willow (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and below us on a small pool 2x Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos).
Knapweed Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe).
We turned around and started to head down, on the way we stopped and walked up to the middle quarry, on the way we had Knapweed Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe), Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata) and a pair of Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos), one of which was carrying a Pine twig.
Golden Eagles (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos).
We dropped back to the Motorway and then headed to the Hotel and then out onto the fields along the Arroyo Vilano where we had views of the male Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Turtle Doves (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) x6, Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus) x1 pale morph, Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) x2, Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti),  Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) and Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae).
Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae).


Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) male.

Juan headed off and I headed back home where I could hear both Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus) and Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos) as well as several Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).
Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) and Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus).

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 21st April 23.
Garden Light, min +10.2
 
0488 Reisserita chrysopterella.
0488 Reisserita chrysopterella x1, 3498 Mirificarma eburnella x1, 4855 Epinotia thrapsiana x1, 5589 Galleria mellonella (Wax Moth) x1, 5624 Bostra obsoletalis x3, 5631 Udea ferrugalis (RustyDot Pearl) x1, 5864 Acrobasis obliqua x1, 6719 Nomophila noctuella (Rush Veneer) x1, 8186 Idaea degeneraria (Portland Ribbon Wave) x2, 9433 Paradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow) x6, 9435 Caradrina noctivaga / flavirena x1 and and 10351 Agrotis segetum (Turnip Moth) x1.
3498 Mirificarma eburnella.
5589 Galleria mellonella (Wax Moth).
Isophrictis Species.
10351 Agrotis segetum (Turnip Moth).

Friday 21 April 2023

Jardín Botánico Hoya de Pedraza, Sierra Nevada, Granada Province, Spain.

The morning after the night of trapping in Jardín Botánico Hoya de Pedraza.
 
10597 Arctia tigrina.

Some more species seen when the traps were checked in the morning, they included the stunning 10597 Arctia tigrina6756 Macrothylacia digramma, 8310 Anticlea derivata (The Streamer)  and 10540 Ocnogyna zoraida plus many many more.
6756 Macrothylacia digramma male.

8310 Anticlea derivata (The Streamer).

10540 Ocnogyna zoraida.

 

Thursday 20 April 2023

Jardín Botánico Hoya de Pedraza, Sierra Nevada, Granada Province, Spain.

A night of trapping in Jardín Botánico Hoya de Pedraza.
 
Dave Grundy, Karim Senhadji, Alberto Tinaut, Miguel Olvera, Javier Pérez-López and José Antonio Hódar Correa.
I met José Antonio Hódar Correa, Miguel Olvera, Dave Grundy and three others at the Jardín Botánico Hoya de Pedraza where we set up 5 traps (3x 2W LED, 1 actinic with 2 bulds and 2x 160W MV bulbs run with a frame and sheet).
6775 Phyllodesma suberifolia.

6756 Macrothylacia digramma.

9690 Valeria jaspidea.

10052 Panolis flammea (Pine Beauty).

Before we turned in we saw several interesting species including 6698 Pyrausta pellicalis, 6756 Macrothylacia digramma, 6775 Phyllodesma suberifolia, 8897 Minucia lunaris (Lunar Double-stripe), 9518 Chloantha hyperici (Pale Shouldeded Cloud), 9690 Valeria jaspidea, 10052 Panolis flammea (Pine Beauty), 10348 Agrotis exclamationis (Heart and Dart) and 10540 Ocnogyna zoraida.
9518 Chloantha hyperici (Pale Shouldeded Cloud).
10540 Ocnogyna zoraida.
10348 Agrotis exclamationis (Heart and Dart).
8897 Minucia lunaris (Lunar Double-stripe).
6698 Pyrausta pellicalis.

Wednesday 19 April 2023

Cerro Hacho, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 18th April 23.
3x 2W LED Traps, min +10.3
 
5307 Epermenia pontificella.

Dave and I were up on Cerro Hacho by 08:15 and by the time we had comleted the records (or should I say Dave completed the records) we had seen 288 moths of 70 species with several being new for me.
4166 Dyspessa ulula.
Some of the species, 5307 Epermenia pontificella x1 which I believe was a new species for Dave's Spanish List.
6853 Hyles euphorbiae (Spurge Hawk-moth).
6860 Hyles livornica (Striped Hawk-moth).
8502 Eupithecia venosata (Netted Pug).
8512 Eupithecia gratiosata.
Other interesting species were 4166 Dyspessa ulula x1, 6853 Hyles euphorbiae (Spurge Hawk-moth) x1, 6860 Hyles livornica (Striped Hawk-moth) x1, 8502 Eupithecia venosata (Netted Pug) x1, 8512 Eupithecia gratiosata x17, 8760 Harpyia milhauseri (Tawny Prominent) x1, 9242 Calophasia almoravida x1, 9252 Omphalophana serrata x2, 9447 Caradrina ibeasi x1, 10436 Nola subchlamydula x1, 10600b Arctia angelica x1,
8760 Harpyia milhauseri (Tawny Prominent).

9242 Calophasia almoravida.
9252 Omphalophana serrata.
9447 Caradrina ibeasi.
10436 Nola subchlamydula.
10600b Arctia angelica.

Near Huétor Tajar in Granada Province, Fuente de Piedra, Malaga Province and Cerro Hacho, Granada Province, Spain.

A days out birding with Dave Grundy after doing the Moth Trap.
Ebird list for the Garden, 1 species.
Ebird List for Fuente de Piedra, 61 species.

Dave with his Bin's in action.
Whilst Dave and I were checking the Moths in the garden we heard our first Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus) of the year.
Curlew Sandpiper (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea).

Spotted Redshank (Archibebe Oscuro / Tringa erythropus).
Once the Moths were finished with we headed off west along the A92 to Fuente de Piedra to see what waders and migrants were around, once we were on site we started by checking the pool on the left of the entrance road.
Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) adult.
Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) Immatures x3.
Waders included my first Curlew Sandpipers (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea) of the year along with Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta), Wood (Andarrios Bastardo / Tringa glareola) and Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) and a Spotted Redshank (Archibebe Oscuro / Tringa erythropus) which was also a new species for the year.
Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta).
Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta).
Also on the pool we saw Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Marbled Duck (Marmaronetta angustirostris), Gull-billed Tern (Pagaza Piconegra / Gelochelidon nilotica), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Red-rumped (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) and Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).
Marbled Duck (Marmaronetta angustirostris), Wood (Andarrios Bastardo / Tringa glareola) and Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos).
Wood Sandpiper (Andarrios Bastardo / Tringa glareola).
We moved up to the car park, then used the facilities in the pretty much empty visitor's center before we went around to the Mirador where we saw more Greater Flamingo's, good numbers of Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos) and Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).
Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax).
Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo).
Next we went around to the two hides over looking the fresh water pools adding White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Red-crested (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina) and Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Little (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).
Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus).
Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus).
Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus).
We walked back around to the Mirador and then took the lower track around to the boardwalk, on the way we picked up Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Clouded Yellow (Colias corceua) and Small White (Pieris rapae).
Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax) male.
Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax) male.
Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax) male and female.
From the boardwalk we had better views of Ruff, Curlew Sandpiper, Snipe, Black-winged Stilt, Avocet and added a nice group of Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus), heard a noisy Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) and Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata).
Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago).
Curlew Sandpiper (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea).
We walked back to the roadside pool and had a couple of new species for the day, Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia) and a couple of Black-veined Whites (Aporia crataegi) before going back to the car, heading for the village for something to eat and the off back to the house.
The Quarry Trap.
Dave setting the third trap in the Pine Woodlands.
Later we went up to Cerro Hacho where we set 3x 2W LED Moth lights ready for checking in the morning.