Sierra Nevada, Granada Province, Spain.

A few hours in the hills with friend Beth.

Ebird List for 2500m.

Looking back along the track.

As my car was in for some work Beth picked me up and we headed up around Granada and up to the car park at 2500m, on the way up we saw Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).

Spanish Brassy Ringlet (Erebia hispania).

Spanish Brassy Ringlet (Erebia hispania).

We parked at the car park at the 2500m mark and then walked out along the first section of the track out towards the Hoya de San Juan. 

Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) male.

Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax).

On the way we saw Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea), Arenaria tetraquetra, Ptilotrichum spinosum, Eryngium glaciale, Campanula herminii, Macroglossum stellatarum (Hummingbird Hawkmoth) x3, Black Satyr (Satyrus actaea) x8, Large Wall Brown (Lasiommata maera) x1, Queen of Spain (Issoria lathonia) x3, Silver-spotted Skipper (Hesperia comma) x4, Spanish Brassy Ringlet (Erebia hispania) x6 and Dusky Meadow Brown (Hyponephele lycaon) x5 plant and butterfly wise.

Queen of Spain (Issoria lathonia).

Macroglossum stellatarum (Hummingbird Hawkmoth).

Birds seen included House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) and Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

Niobe Fritillary (Argynnis niobe).

Niobe Fritillary (Argynnis niobe).

We returned to the car and dropped down to another spot to the side of the rather dreadful ski resort where we checked the damp areas along one of the tracks out onto the slopes finding Bath (Pontia daplidice) x2 and Small White (Pieris rapae) x4, Cardinal (Argynnis pandora) x1 and Niobe Fritillary (Argynnis niobe) x2, Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra) x1, Clouded Yellow (Colias corceua) x5, Iberian Scarce (Iphiclides feisthameli) x3 and Swallowtail (Papilio machaon) x1, Purple-shot (Lycaena alciphron) x5 and Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) x1, Long-tailed (Lampides baeticus), Lang's Short-tailed (Leptotes pirithous) x1, Silver-studded (Plebejus argus) x2 and Nevada Blue (Pleicula golgus) x2, Mountain Argus (Aricia montensis) x5, Small (Thymelicus sylvestris) x3 and Red-underwing Skipper (Spialia sertorius) x2.

Mountain Argus (Aricia montensis).

Mountain Argus (Aricia montensis).

Mountain Argus (Aricia montensis).

Other species included Robust Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza elata), Carpentor Bee (Xylocopa violacea), Rhodometra sacaria (The Vestal), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

Purple-shot Copper (Lycaena alciphron).

Purple-shot Copper (Lycaena alciphron).

Silver-spotted Skipper (Hesperia comma).

Silver-studded Blue (Plebejus argus).

On the drive down we stopped at El Desvio bar and I introduced Beth to the best Carne en Salsa baguette and was very pleased to see she got into even more mess than I did 😁😁😁😁

Nevada Blue (Pleicula golgus).

Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina).

We dropped back down to Granada and headed back towards Huétor, on the way back to the house I got a message to say that I could collect the car so we called there before going for a drink on the terrace  adding Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur) and Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) before Beth headed home.

Venta Neuva to Realenga, Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Another walk back from the Mechanic's.

Ebird list, 28 Species.

Today's walk was because I have had to drop the car off at Venta Nueva again to allow the on going battle between the mechanic and the engine warning light to continue and hopefully be resolved but not confident.

As I walked the 7km home I didn't see any thing unexpected but did have nice views of 5 Golden Orioles (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus) chasing each other around the Poplar trees along the banks of the Rio Genil from the new bridge.

Other Species included Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous) x2, Small White (Pieris rapae) x4, Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi), Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus), Common Chicory (Cichorium intybus), Field (Convolvulus arvensis) and Mallow-leaved Convolvulus (Convolvulus althaeoides).

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 24th July 24.

15W Actinic on the terrace, +26.

59 Moths of 20 Species.

Any corrections PLEASE send me a comment on the post, thanks.

 

0842 Placodoma ragonoti new for the garden.

Big drop in moth numbers now that the night time temperature has stayed up above +25, species included 0465 Myrmecozella ataxella x1, 0663 Trichophaga bipartitella x3, 0842 Placodoma ragonoti x1, 1361 Zelleria oleastrella x1, 2976 Symmoca signatella x1 ?????, 3768 Stomopteryx basalis x3, 5578 Lamoria anella x1, 5624 Bostra obsoletali x16, 5742 Etiella zinckenella x1, 5748a Tephris ochreella x1, 5875 Apomyelois ceratonnae x1, 6441 Aporodes floralis x1, 6551 Udea numeralis x1, 6619 Uresiphita gilvata x8, 6690a Palpita vitrealis x14, 7581 Neognopharmia stevenaria x1, 7725 Menophra japygiaria (Brassy Waved Umber) x1, 8059 Scopula marginepunctata (Mullein Wave) x1, 8211 Rhodometra sacaria (The Vestal) x1 and 9433 Caradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow) x1.

0465 Myrmecozella ataxella.

2976 Symmoca signatella ?????

3768 Stomopteryx basalis.

5578 Lamoria anella.

5875 Apomyelois ceratonnae.

5748a Tephris ochreella.

Idaea species.

9433 Caradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow).

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 22nd July 24.

15W Actinic on the terrace, +25.

53 Moths of 19 Species.

Any corrections PLEASE send me a comment on the post, thanks.

 

5283 Choreutis nemorana new species for the garden.

1655 Ethmia bipunctella x2, 3029 Dysspastus fallax x2, 3798 Aproaerema anthyllidella x1, 4855 Epinotia thapsiana x2, 5283 Choreutis nemorana x1, 5624 Bostra obsoletali x14, 5742 Etiella zinckenella x3, 5875 Apomyelois ceratoniae x2, 6012 Euzopherodes vapidella x1, 6493 Evergestis desertalis x1, 6619 Uresiphita gilvata x4, 6690a Palpita vitrealis x13, 6700 Dolicharthria punctalis x1, 7725 Menophra japygiaria (Brassy Waved Umber) x1, 8818 Bryopsis muralis (Marbled Green) x1, 8899 Clytie illunaris (Trent Double-stripe) x1, 8904 / 05 Dysgoia algira/torrida x1, 9128 Odice pergrata x1 and 9142 Eublemma parva (Small Marbled) x1.

3029 Dysspastus fallax.

3798 Aproaerema anthyllidella.

5875 Apomyelois ceratoniae.

6012 Euzopherodes vapidella.

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6493 Evergestis desertalis.

2 sites in Malaga Province and Moraleda de Zafayona in Granada Province, Spain.

Out looking for a Scrub Robin in Malaga and Dragon's in Granada.

Ebird List for Balsa de Regidor.

 

Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) male.

I was up early and at my first site of the day by 07:00 and after parking I walked a track checking the trees and cables looking for a Rufous-tailed Sceub Robin (Alzacola / Cercotrichas galactotes), as I walked I saw Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Collared (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) male.

Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) male.

After around an hour and a half I decided to push on and make for my second site for the Chat, on the way I added Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus) and once on site I picked up Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and eventually a Bush Robin which came up onto a distant length of chain-link fence and sang for a moment before disappearing into the vines.

Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator) male.

I returned to the car and then drove back towards home but went on to Moraleda where I had some breakfast at El Cruz and then visited Balsa de Regidor where I checked the margins which were more exposed than usual finding 8 Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Common (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) x1 and Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) x2, Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Reed (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) and Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), a big flock of Jackdaws (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) which flew over and a group of 6 Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) which turned up as I was about to leave.

Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata) female.

Other species included Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus), Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi), Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) x3, Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) x8, Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator) x2, Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum) x3 and Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata) x1.

Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus).

Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus).

Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

Cerro Hacho, Loja, Granada Province, Spain.

A walk around the lower loop.

Ebird List, 25 Species.

Tree Grayling (Neohipparchia statilinus).

I drove up to the middle car park at Hacho where most of the forestry work had gone on and was at last pretty much cleaned up, they had taken the wood away and shredded the remains which were now spread all over the parking area.

Striped Grayling (Hipparchia fidia).

I walked clockwise around the loop, interesting birds were Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Crested Tit (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli) and Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra).

Striped Grayling (Hipparchia fidia).

Once the sun broke the ridge line I saw the first butterflies which included Tree (Neohipparchia statilinus) x2 and Striped Grayling (Hipparchia fidia) x8, Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) x3 and Southern Gatekeeper (Pyronia cecilia) x1.

Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas).

Other species included Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris), Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus), Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Capra pyrenaica hispanica), Blue-winged Grasshopper (Oedipoda caerulescens) and Antirrhinum australe.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 20th July 24.

15W Actinic on the terrace, +23.

70 Moths of  20 Species.

Any corrections PLEASE send me a comment on the post, thanks.

 

5742 Etiella zinckenella.

0663 Trichophaga bipartitella x1, 3768 Stomopteryx basalis x1, 5144 Cydia pomonella (Codling Moth) x1, 5624 Bostra obsoletali x22, 5742 Etiella zinckenella x1, 6441 Aporodes floralis x2, 6599 Pyrausta sanguinalis (Scarce Crimson & Gold) x1, 6619 Uresiphita gilvata x7, 6690a Palpita vitrealis x11, 6700 Dolicharthria punctalis x4, 7564 Itame vincularia x1, 7581 Neognopharmia stevenaria x2, 7725 Menophra japygiaria (Brassy Waved Umber) x6, 8059 Scopula marginepunctata (Mullein Wave) x4, 8818 Bryopsis muralis (Marbled Green) x1, 8904 / 05 Dysgoia algira/torrida x1, 8965 Tyta luctuosa (Four-spotted Moth) x1, 9128 Odice pergrata x1, 9142 Eublemma parva (Small Marbled) x1 and 10351 Agrotis segetum (Turnip Moth) x1.

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8818 Bryopsis muralis(Marbled Green).

10351 Agrotis segetum (Turnip Moth).