Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

Breeding success down on the fields.

Ebird List.

Spanish (Yellow) Wagtails (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) immature bird.

I parked at the usual spot and went for a walk before it got too hot as I wanted to see if the Black-winged Kites (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) were still around, they were but I only managed to see 1 adult and 2 of the youngsters.

As I walked I also saw 4x female looking Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) but guess these birds were the adult female and the 3 youngsters I had seen a few weeks ago, the young birds looked pretty much the same size as the adult bird but just a tad paler.

Another species of interest was the 9x Spanish (Yellow) Wagtails (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) including 4 immature birds which confirmed that the species breed locally, surprisingly the first time I have noticed this.

Spanish (Yellow) Wagtails (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) immature bird.

Other species included Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Reed Warblers (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) in the Maze crop which are usually early migrants heading south and a Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica) which have been scarce locally this year.

Butterflies for the trip, 5th to the 11th July 2023.

Butterfly List for the Trip. 

  Day One 5th.

 1, Great Banded Grayling (Kanetisa circe), 

 2, Iberian Marbled White (Melanargia lachesis), 

 3, Small White (Pieris rapae), 

 4, Cardinal Fritillary (Argynnis pandora),

 5, Adonis Blue (Lysandra bellargus),

 6, Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina),

 7, Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli),

 8, Long-tailed Blue (Lampides baeticus),

 9, Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous),

10, Spanish Gatekeeper (Pyronia bathsheba), 

 

Day Two 6th.

11, Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), 

12, Heath Fritillary (Melitaea athalia celadussa),

13, Clouded Yellow (Colias corceua),

14, Green-veined White (Pieris napi),

15, Marbled White (Melanargia galathea),

16, Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus),

17, Berger's Clouded Yellow (Colias alfacariensis), 

18, False Ilex Hairstreak (Satyrium esculi),

19, Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus),

20, Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera),

21, Large Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanus),

22, Lulworth Skipper (Thymelicus acteon), 

23, Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris),

24, Wood White (Leptidea sinapis), 

25, Large White (Pieris brassicae),

26, Knapweed Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe),

27, Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra),

28, Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni),

29, Silver-Washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia),

30, Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus alceae),

31, Sooty Copper (Lycaena tityrus),

32, Geranium Bronze (Cacyreus marshalli),

33, Queen of Spain (Issoria lathonia),

34, Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera),

35, Purple Emperor (Apatura iris),

36, Short-tailed Blue (Cupido argiades),

37, Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta),

38, Southern Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus malvoides),

39, Dingy Skipper (Erynnis tages), 

40, Red-underwing Skipper (Spialia sertorius),

41, Purple Hairstreak (Quercusia Quercus),

42, Weaver's Fritillary (Boloria dia),

43, Niobe Fritillary (Argynnis niobe),

44, Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Boloria selene),

45, Blue Spotted Hairstreak (Satyrium spini),

46, Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus),

Day Three 7th.

47, Marbled Skipper (Carcharodus lavatherae),

48, Gavarnie Blue (Agriades pyrenaica form asturiensis), 

49, Piedmont Ringlet (Erebia meolans),

50, Common Brassy Ringlet (Erebia cassioides),

51, Lefebvre's Ringlet (Erebia lefebvrei),

52, Turquoise Blue (Polyommatus dorylas),

53, Small Blue (Cupido minimus),

54, Mazarine Blue (Cyaniris semiargus),

 

Day Four 8th.

55, Scarce Copper (Lycaena virgaureae),

56, Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus),  

57, Dark-green Fritillary (Argynnis aglaja),

58, Black-veined White (Aporia crataegi),

59, Rock Grayling (Hipparchi alcyone),

60, Woodland Brown (Lopinga achine),

61, Chalk Hill Blue (Polyommatus coridon asturiensis),

62, Dusky Large Blue (Phengaris nausithous),

63, Spanish Heath (Coenonympha glycerion iphioides),

64, Lesser Marbled Fritillary (Brenthis ino),

65, Purple-edged Copper (Lycaena hippothoe),

 

Day Five 9th.

66, Lesser Purple Emperor (Apatura ilia), 

67, Large Wall Brown (Lasiommata maera),

68,  Grayling (Hipparchia semele),

69, Apollo (Parnassius apollo),

70, Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae),

71, Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus), 

 

Day Six 10th.

72, Chapman's Ringlet (Erebia palarica), 

73, Chapman's Blue (Polyommatus Thersites),

 

Day Seven 11th

74, Damon Blue (Polyommatus damon), 

75, Ripart's Anomalous Blue (Polyommatus ripartii),

76, Esper's Marbled White (Melanargia russiae),

77, Twin-spot fritillary (Brenthis hecate),

78, Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui),

79, Peacock (Aglais io),

Heading South home Via Cillamayor and Refugio Golobar in Palencia, Spain.

A few more Butterflies with Monica and Ed on my way Home.

Ripart's Anomalous Blue (Polyommatus ripartii).

Today I was heading south again after a great trip but thought I would try somewhere on the way so I contacted Ed and asked him if he had anywhere that would be good and not too far off my route back and he came up with Cillamayor saying that they were not far from there so they would meet me again.

Great Banded Grayling (Kanetisa circe).

Grayling (Hipparchia semele).

Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus).

Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus).

I loaded the car and set off over on the route south which took me up over Mirador de Piedrasluengas and down to Cervera de Pisuerga where I had breakfast before going to the point near Cillamayor where we were going to meet, on the way I saw Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Yellowhammer (Escribano Cerillo / Emberiza citronella), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix) heard only, Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) x2 and White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).

Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina).

Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas).

Esper's Marbled White (Melanargia russiae).

Esper's Marbled White (Melanargia russiae).

I was early so I went for a walk along the stretch of road that I knew Ed and Moonica would have to come along finding Red-backed Shrike (Alcaudón Dorsirrojo / Lanius collurio), Melodious Warbler (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Cirl (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus) and Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) along with Great Banded Grayling (Kanetisa circe), Grayling (Hipparchia semele), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina) and Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus).

Damon Blue (Polyommatus damon).

Clouded Yellow (Colias corceua).

Queen of Spain (Issoria lathonia).

I was a few hundred meters along the road when Monica and Ed arrived so I walked back up and once they had parked we headed out across the site, I was soon regretting putting on my shorts and sandles as the many thistle species were making their presence felt the whole time but it was worth the discomfort when Monica found an Esper's Marbled White (Melanargia russiae) and Ed came up with the first of a few Damon Blues (Polyommatus damon), both of which were new species for me.

Adonis Blue (Lysandra bellargus).

Long-tailed Blue (Lampides baeticus).

Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus).

Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus).

Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus).

Other records included Queen of Spain (Issoria lathonia), Clouded Yellow (Colias corceua) and  Berger's Clouded Yellow (Colias alfacariensis), Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Iberian Marbled White (Melanargia lachesis), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Spanish Gatekeeper (Pyronia bathsheba), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei) and Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica).

Twin-spot fritillary (Brenthis hecate).

Twin-spot fritillary (Brenthis hecate).

Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris).

Hummingbird Hawkmoth (Macroglossum stellatarum).

Hummingbird Hawkmoth (Macroglossum stellatarum).

On the drive up to this first spot Ed and I had both notice a flower rich roadside verge and area of Pine Woodland a few KMs back so we decided to go and check the area out which turned out to be a good idea, here we had many of the same species but added Adonis Blue (Lysandra bellargus), Long-tailed Blue (Lampides baeticus), Knapweed (Melitaea phoebe) and Twin-spot fritillary (Brenthis hecate) yet another new species for me, Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris), Chapman's Blue (Polyommatus Thersites), Ripart's Anomalous Blue (Polyommatus ripartii), Hummingbird Hawkmoth (Macroglossum stellatarum) and Ed also had a Silver-studded Blue (Plebejus argus) which I missed. 

Ripart's Anomalous Blue (Polyommatus ripartii).

Ripart's Anomalous Blue (Polyommatus ripartii).

Damon Blue (Polyommatus damon).

Damon Blue (Polyommatus damon).

Other species seen as we walked included Pine-cone Knapweed (Leuzea Conifera), Catananche caerulea, Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli) and Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) before we started to head back North for a while to reach the heights of Refugio Golobar.

Chapman's Blue (Polyommatus Thersites).

Chapman's Blue (Polyommatus Thersites).

Chapman's Blue (Polyommatus Thersites).

Once there Monica and Ed had some food whilst I had a walk down the road a short way finding

Chapman's Ringlet (Erebia palarica), Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae), Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Boloria selene),  Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) and Peacock (Aglais io).

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Boloria selene).

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Boloria selene).

Bird wise I added House (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Griffon (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) and Egyptian Vulture (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus), Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major) but missed the Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) Ed saw at the pool near to the car park.

Peacock (Aglais io).

Peacock (Aglais io).

Chapman's Ringlet (Erebia palarica).

Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae).

Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae).

Time was now getting on and I still had a long drive home so I said my farewells to Monica and Ed and headed back south getting home just before Midnight after a couple of stops for coffee on the way, just after turning right at the bottom of the hill my final new species for the trip was a Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus) sat on the wires.

Heading out West again into Castilo Y León, Spain.

A second try for the Brown but this time without any Luck.

Dark-green Fritillary (Argynnis aglaja),

I was out West earlier today hoping to find, get better views and photo's of the target Woodland Brown (Lopinga achine) but even though I put in four hours of tramping around the meadow and through the trees I didn't get a sniff of it.

Zygaena transalpina probably.

Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera).

Comma (Polygonum c-album).

However I really enjoyed the visit again and found Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Yellowhammer (Escribano Cerillo / Emberiza citronella), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Common (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) and Alpine Swift (Vencejo Real / Apus melba) x3, Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater) and Marsh Tit (Carbonero Palustre /Parus palustris), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei) and Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major).

Pearly Heath (Coenonympha arcania).

Heath Fritillary (Melitaea athalia).

Marbled White (Melanargia galathea).

Dark-green Fritillary (Argynnis aglaja).

Dark-green Fritillary (Argynnis aglaja).

On the butterfly front there were good numbers of Dark-green (Argynnis aglaja) and Heath Fritillaries (Melitaea athalia), Marbled White (Melanargia galathea), Comma (Polygonum c-album), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina), Pearly Heath (Coenonympha arcania), Small (Thymelicus sylvestris) and Large Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanus), Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus), Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus), Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera) ????, Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Swallowtail (Papilio machaon), Wood White (Leptidea sinapis), Sooty Copper (Lycaena tityrus), Clouded Yellow (Colias corceua) and Berger's Clouded Yellow (Colias alfacariensis), Small White (Pieris rapae) and Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) and I also saw a couple of Common Golden Ringed Dragonflies (Cordulegaster boltonii).

Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus).

Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina).

Berger's Clouded Yellow (Colias alfacariensis).

Silver-Washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia).

Large Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanus).

I gave up and started to make my way back towards Potes, on the way I stopped off at a few spots, the first was a roadside Mirador where I added Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus) and Heath Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza maculata).

Heath Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza maculata).

???????????

Round-leaved Sundew (Drosera rotundifolia).

As I dropped back down from the Mirador I checked several damp roadside flushes seeing lots more Heath Spotted Orchids, patches of Round-leaved Sundew (Drosera rotundifolia), Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Boloria selene), Chapman's Ringlet (Erebia palarica) and Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus).

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Boloria selene).

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Boloria selene).

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Boloria selene).

Further on I stopped at the fields I had called in at last time and found several Dusky Large Blues (Phengaris nausithous) on the wing but in the stongish breeze they were frustratingly active, along with Chapman's Blue (Polyommatus Thersites), Spanish Heath (Coenonympha glycerion iphioides) and Scarce Copper (Lycaena virgaureae).

Dusky Large Blue (Phengaris nausithous).

Chapman's Blue (Polyommatus Thersites).

After a change of direction I reached Mirador de San Gloria where I went for a walk along a small stream finding several young Dunnocks, Tree Pipit (Bisbita Arbóreo / Anthus trivialis) x3, Citril Finch (Verderón Serrano / Serinus citrinella) x5, Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Marsh and Crested Tit (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Robin and Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

Butterflies included Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae), Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris), Chapman's Ringlet and Dark-green Fritillary (Argynnis aglaja).

Dark-green Fritillary (Argynnis aglaja).

Chapman's Ringlet (Erebia palarica).

Chapman's Ringlet (Erebia palarica).

Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris).

Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis).

Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis).

Just a bit below San Gloria I stopped again to check out a wet flush and found Scarce Copper, Dark-green Fritillary, Common Blue and Small White.

Heath Fritillary (Melitaea athalia).

Scarce Copper (Lycaena virgaureae).

Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus).

At my last stop which was on a small grassy meadow futher down I only managed to add Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus) and Queen of Spain (Issoria lathonia) to the list before heading back to the hotel to pack.

Queen of Spain (Issoria lathonia).