Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

Huétor Fields again before the Heat get to much.

Ebird List.

Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

I was down on the fields earlish as it was expected to get up well over +40 today and it did with a max of +42.3.

Female type Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

Main species were 2x Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild) and Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae).

Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 4th Aug 23.
Garden Light, min +20.

7581 Neognopharmia stevenaria.

4855 Epinotia thapsiana x5, 5615 Synaphe lorquinalis x3, 5624 Bostra obsoletalis x1, 5742 Etiella zinckenella x3, 6001 Euzophera lunulella x1, 6521 Hellula undalis (Old World Webworm) x2, 6690 Palpita vitrealis x1, 7564 Itame vincularia x1, 7581 Neognopharmia stevenaria x1, 8211 Rhodometra sacaria (The Vestal) x1, 8899 Clytie illunaris (Trent Double-stripe) x1, 8965 Tyta luctuosa (Four-spotted Moth) x3, 9128 Odice pergrata x1, 9142 Eublemma parva (Small Marbled) x4.

8899 Clytie illunaris (Trent Double-stripe).

Dysgonia species.

7564 Itame vincularia.

9142 Eublemma parva (Small Marbled).

6521 Hellula undalis (Old World Webworm).

5742 Etiella zinckenella.

4855 Epinotia thapsiana.

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Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Another Early Mornig walk around the fields.

Ebird List.

I parked at the usual spot and then walked out as far as the Huétor Junction and then walked to the bridge and back along the Arroyo and the fields again to the car.

Dawn across the fields.

Interesting species included Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Melodious Warbler (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and a good number of Spanish (Yellow) Wagtails (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) most of which were immature birds.

A few of the masses of Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) which were feeding on the harvested cereal and Lucerne fields.

Spotless Starlings (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) feeding on the Lucerne Fields.

As I walked I also saw Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) x3, Bath White (Pontia daplidice) x5 and Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus) x1.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

An hour on the Terrace.

Ebird List.

I sat up on the Terrace for a while, most interesting species were 2x Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), 40 odd Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala).

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A walk around the fields.

Ebird List.

Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) Male.

I did a short out as far as the end of the Lucerne / Maze Fields, interesting species included Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), 3x Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), 2x Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), 3x Melodious Warbler (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta), 4x Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and 15x Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae).

Butterflies for the trip, 24th to the 31st July 2023.

Butterfly List for the Trip. 

Day One, 24th Aug.

 

 1, Small White (Pieris rapae),

 2, Bath White (Pontia daplidice),

 3, False Ilex Hairstreak (Satyrium esculi),

 4, Silver-spotted Skipper (Hesperia comma),

 5, Sage Skipper (Muschampia proto),

 6, Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli), 

 7, Common / Southern Blue (Polyommatus icarus / celina),

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

 9, Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus),

10, Chapman's Blue (Polyommatus Thersites),

11, Spanish Chalk-hill Blue (Lysandra albicans),

12, Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera),

13, Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), 

14, Knapweed Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe),

15, Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina),

16, Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera),

17, Spotted Fritillary (Melitaea didyma),

18, Red-underwing Skipper (Spialia sertorius),

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

 

 Day Two, 25th Aug.

 

20, Great Banded Grayling (Brintesia circe),

21, Iberian Marbled White (Melanargia lachesis),

22, Rock Grayling (Hipparchia alcyone),

23, Southern Gatekeeper (Pyronia cecilia), 

24, Queen of Spain (Issoria lathonia),

25. Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus),

26, Dusky Heath (Coenonympha dorus),

27, Azure Chalkhill Blue (Lysandra caelestissima),

28, Wood White (Leptidea sinapis),

29, Southern White Admiral (Limenitis reducta),

30, Provençal Fritillary (Melitaea deione),

31, Grayling (Hipparchia semele),

32, High Brown Fritillary (Fabriciana adippe), 

33, Lesser Marbled Fritillary (Brenthis ino),

34, Silver-Washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia),

35, Twin-spot fritillary (Brenthis hecate),

36, Safflower Skipper (Pyrgus carthami), 

37, Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria),

38, Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni),

39, Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas),

40, Comma (Polygonia c-album), 

41, Damon Blue (Polyommatus damon), 

42, Oberthur's Anomalous Blue (Polyommatus fabressei), 

43, Escher's Blue (Polyommatus escheri), 

Day Three, 26th Aug.

44, Black Satyr (Satyrus actaea),

45, Adonis Blue (Lysandra bellargus),

46, Striped Grayling (Hipparchia fidia),

47, Iberian Sooty Copper (Lycaena bleusei),

48, Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus), 

49, Southern Marbled Skipper (Muschampia baeticus),

50, Cardinal Fritillary (Argynnis pandora),

51, False Grayling (Arethusana arethusa),

Day Four, 27th Aug.

52, Large Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanus),

53, Lulworth Skipper (Thymelicus acteon), 

54, Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui),

55, Peacock (Aglais io),

56, Purple-shot Copper (Lycaena alciphron),

57, Dusky Meadow Brown (Hyponephele lycaon),

 

Day Five, 28th Aug.

 

58, Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta),

59, Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris),

60, Spanish Heath (Coenonympha iphioides), 

61, Mother of Pearl Blue (Polyommatus nivescens),

62, Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra), 

Day Six, 29th Aug.

63, Spanish Gatekeeper (Pyronia bathseba), 

Day Seven, 30th Aug.

64, Common Hermit (Chazara briseis),

65, Silver-studded Blue (Plebejus argus),

66, Swallowtail (Papilio machaon), 

 

Day Eight, 31st Aug.

 

Nothing New.

Moscardón, Teruel Province and driving Home to Granada Province, Spain.

A Mornings Butterfly hunting with Andy, Kath and Mick.

Mick, Andy and Kath.

I met the others at a bar just on the edge of town where we had a coffee before we headed out to the meadows at Moscardón where we parked, crossed the road and walked the meadows down as far as the concrete Troughs, out in the more open areas we found several Azure Chalkhill Blues (Lysandra caelestissima), Southern Gatekeeper (Pyronia cecilia), Safflower Skipper (Pyrgus carthami), Iberian Marbled White (Melanargia lachesis), False (Arethusana arethusa), Great Banded (Brintesia circe) and Rock Grayling (Hipparchia alcyone), Spanish Heath (Coenonympha iphioides) and then a very nice Iberian Sooty Copper (Lycaena bleusei).

Azure Chalkhill Blue (Lysandra caelestissima).

Azure Chalkhill Blue (Lysandra caelestissima).

Iberian Marbled White (Melanargia lachesis).

Spanish Heath (Coenonympha iphioides).

Iberian Sooty Copper (Lycaena bleusei).

Bird wise we saw and heard European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Iberian Green (Pito Real / Picus sharpei) and Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus) and Crested Tit (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla).

High Brown Fritillary (Fabriciana adippe).

High Brown Fritillary (Fabriciana adippe).

High Brown Fritillary (Fabriciana adippe).

Silver-Washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia).

Comma (Polygonia c-album).

Comma (Polygonia c-album).

As we moved in amongst the bushes and trees we picked up Adonis (Lysandra bellargus) and Common / Southern Blue (Polyommatus icarus / celina), Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Silver-spotted Skipper (Hesperia comma), Comma (Polygonia c-album), High Brown (Fabriciana adippe), Silver-Washed (Argynnis paphia) and a very tatty Twin-spot fritillary (Brenthis hecate), Queen of Spain (Issoria lathonia), Southern White Admiral (Limenitis reducta), Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Berger's Clouded Yellow (Colias alfacariensis), Wood White (Leptidea sinapis), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina) and Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus).

Grayling (Hipparchia semele).

Great Banded Grayling (Brintesia circe).

Rock Grayling (Hipparchia alcyone).

Safflower Skipper (Pyrgus carthami).

Adonis Blue (Lysandra bellargus).

As we walked back up towards the cars I added Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Red-underwing Skipper (Spialia sertorius), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus), False Ilex Hairstreak (Satyrium esculi), Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli), Knapweed Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe), Common Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis), Large Psammodromus (Psammodromus algirus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus), Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos).

Safflower Skipper (Pyrgus carthami).

We reached the cars and we went just up the road to a spot Karen, Bob and I found a few days earlier where we had seen some good Dragonfly species as well as a great number of Puddling Blues which today included Azure Chalkhill, Damon (Polyommatus damon) and Oberthur's Anomalous Blue (Polyommatus fabressei) as well as Small (Thymelicus sylvestris) and Red-underwing Skipper and a single Small Pincertail (Onychogomphus forcipatus). 

Common Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis).

I wanted to get back home at a reasonable time so I sad goodbye to Andy, Kath and Mick and left them with the Blues which I know they enjoyed and walked back to my car, up by the pools I again saw Azure Damselfly (Coenagrion puella), Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens), Southern Hawker (Aeshna cyanea) and Common Spreadwing (Lestes Sponsa) before setting off South and Home after a great trip.

Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous).

I drove straight back without a stop, the first part of the journey was through some very nice, interesting looking country side but one I was on the motorways it was not great as there were so many foreign plated cars driving at hellish speeds.

Valencia Airport, Valencia Province and The Rambla, Albarracín, Teruel Province, Spain.

A longer route to the Airport than planned and then back over to the Rambla near Albarracín.

Karen and Bob, Day Seven.

Almost but not quite, the Common Hermit (Chazara briseis).

We were up at "Oh my god what time of the day is this" and after a very early breakfast we headed for the Airport but what would normally be a 3 minute drive turned into a 12km trip due to road works.

Grayling (Hipparchia semele).

Adonis Blue (Lysandra bellargus).

Anyway we were there in plenty of time and I said goodbye until next Spring to Karen and Bob after a really nice and successful trip and then headed back over to the Rambla for one last try for the extremely elusive Southern Hermit (Chazara prieuri) but even after putting in over 20,000 steps up and down the Rambla I only found the commoner cousin the Common Hermit (Chazara briseis).

Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera).

I started by checking the area by the river as the sun had already reached that point, here I found Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), along with Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina) and Common Golden Ringed (Cordulegaster boltonii).

Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus).

Southern Marbled Skipper (Carcharodus baeticus).

I crossed the road and walked up the Rambla as far as a very small puddle up against the ravine wall, on the way I saw Striped Grayling (Hipparchia fidia), Grayling (Hipparchia semele), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Bath (Pontia daplidice) and Small White (Pieris rapae) and then the almost what I wanted Common Hermit (Chazara briseis).

Striped Grayling (Hipparchia fidia).

Large Psammodromus (Psammodromus algirus).

I also saw Roe Deer (Corzo / Capreolus capreolus), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Bonelli's (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Dartford (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata) and Western Subalpine Warbler (Curruca Carrasquena / Sylvia cantillans), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and a singing but unseen Western Orphean Warbler (Curruca Mirlona / Sylvia hortensis).

Silver-studded Blue (Plebejus argus).

Other Butterfly species Spanish Chalk-hill Blue (Lysandra albicans), Red-underwing Skipper (Spialia sertorius), Safflower Skipper (Pyrgus carthami) and at the Puddle I found a Silver-studded Blue (Plebejus argus), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Spanish Gatekeeper (Pyronia bathseba), Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris) and my first Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra).

Striped Grayling (Hipparchia fidia).

On the walk back I saw Swallowtail (Papilio machaon), Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli), Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina), Dusky Heath (Coenonympha dorus), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Berger's Clouded Yellow (Colias alfacariensis) and a single quite unexpected Small Pincertail (Onychogomphus forcipatus).

Safflower Skipper (Pyrgus carthami).

I returned to Albarracín and to my new accommodation before heading out later to meet up with friend Andy Tweed and his two friends Mick and Kath who very kindly invited me out for a drink and a meal which was very nice.