Punta del Santo, Charca de Suárez, Tajos de los Vados, El Temple, the Cacín Valley, Huétor Fields and Balsa de Regidor, Granada Province Spain.

A morning birding with Juan Perez and the some more birds on the way home.

Ebird List for Punta del Santo, 17 Species.

Ebird List for Charca de Suárez, 41 Species.

Ebird List for Tajos de los Vados, 9 Species.

Ebird List for El Temple, 1 Species.

Ebird List for the Embalse, 14 Species.

Ebird List for Balsa de Regidor, 20 Species.

Dawn at Punta del Santo.

I started the day by driving down to Punta del Santo on the Granada Coast near to Motril where we set up the scopes and did a sea watch, new birds for the year were Balearic Shearwater (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus) x103 and a single Great Skua (Págalo Grande / Stercorarius skua) which did a couple of flypasts one going east and then west.

Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) Adult.

Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) Immature.

Other species seen from here included Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) x112, Razorbill (Alca Común / Alca torda) x4, Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

Moustached Warbler (Carricerin Real / Acrocephalus melanopogon).

Our next stop was at Charca, I dropped Juan and Chika off near their place and then went into the reserve and walked an anti-clockwise route around the hides starting at Laguna del Lirio where I picked up Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla) and Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus).

Moustached Warbler (Carricerin Real / Acrocephalus melanopogon).

As I walked around to the first of the hides overlooking Laguna del Treból I picked up the first of a couple of Kingfishers (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) and from the hide a female Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and Red-knobbed Coot (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata), Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus) and lots of Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa) which we saw from all the hides.

Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca) Female.

I continued on around to the other hide over looking this pool but the light was awful as the sun was shining directly onto the water right in front of the hide, however I still managed to find the wintering Moustached Warbler (Carricerin Real / Acrocephalus melanopogon) in the reeds opposite but the photo's are horrendous, other species included Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus).

Red-knobbed Coot (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata) x Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra).

After a while Juan joined me again and the  Moustached Warbler showed again briefly for him and then we moved around to the main hide, unfortunately the light wasn't much better here but we did managed to add Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) x4, Yellow-legged Gull, Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) x2.

Red-knobbed Coot (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata) x Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra).

We moved on around to the northern end of the Laguna del Taraje where we saw a Hybrid between Eurasian and Red-knobbed Coots before heading to the new hide and adding just Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus).

Red-knobbed Coot (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata) x Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra).

Our last stop was at the hide at the southern end of Laguna del Taraje where we saw Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca).

Red-knobbed Coot (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata).

Time was up so we made our way towards the exit where we meet Beatriz and Chika before I headed off and took the old road up towards Granada, after a few KMs I stopped on the roadside at a spot that Juan had told me about and searched the skies for Raptors and soon found a Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus) sat on a pylon which was followed by a displaying Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila-azor Perdicera / Hieraaetus faciatus).

Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago).

I continued on and took to the tracks of El Temple finding 2x Long-eared Owls (Búho Chico / Asio otus), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and my first Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius) of the year and I think probably my earliest. 

Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius).

I took the depresing drive over to Cacín again through all the Solar devistation seeing several Rabbits (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus) and a Red Fox (Zorro / Vulpus vulpus) on the way to the village and then carried on up the valley to the Conta-embalse de Bermejalis where I saw many of the species already seen but added Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) x2, Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) as well as 2 more Marsh Harriers.

Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius).

Once I had finished my scan of the Lake I headed home and got the fire going and did a bit of tidying up before heading back out to survey the roost at Balsa de Regidor, on the way I drove past the Lucerne fields finding Iberian  Magpies (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) x10.

It's not much but this is the first time in nearly 2 years since none irrigation water ran along the Arroyo Vilano.

I parked by the Balsa and started to scan the lake and picked up 31 Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and a single Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus) x1, Grey Heron x2, Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) x275 approx, Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and 19 more Common Pochards but no Great Cormarants coming into roost which was what I was there to look for.

Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus) and Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra).

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Sisikin's in the Fig Tree again.

Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus).

As the weather was doing it's best to rain I didn't do a great deal today but after sorting the Moths I spent the time doing a few jobs and some house work but had the time to get a few shots of the wintering flock of Siskin's (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus).

Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus).

Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus).

Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus).

Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus).

 

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 18th Jan 24.

15W Actinic on the terrace.

 

10034 Leucania loreyi.

10034 Leucania loreyi.

A few of new species for the year included 6184 Eudonia angustea x1, 8328 Nebula ibericata x1, 10034 Leucania loreyi x1 and 10351 Agrotis segetum (Turnip Moth) x2.

6184 Eudonia angustea.

10351 Agrotis segetum (Turnip Moth).

10351 Agrotis segetum (Turnip Moth).

Other regulars were 6496 Evergestis isatidalis x7, 8211 Rhodometra sacaria (The Vestal) x1, 9206 Cucullia calendulae (Marigold Shark) x4, 9676 Xylocampa areola (Early Grey) x1 and 10226 Cerastis faceta x2.

6496 Evergestis isatidalis.

6496 Evergestis isatidalis.

8211 Rhodometra sacaria (The Vestal).

9206 Cucullia calendulae (Marigold Shark).

9676 Xylocampa areola (Early Grey).

10226 Cerastis faceta.

10226 Cerastis faceta.

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A quick visit to the fields between the welcome showers.

Ebird List, 24 Species.

Small White (Pieris rapae).

I parked at the usual spot next to the Lucerne Fields but things were extremely mud as expected so when I walked up stream my height grew quite quickly as the layers of mud built up.

As I walked I found several Small White (Pieris rapae) butterflies on the wing which surprised me as the weather wasn't too good, there were also a couple of smaller white's but they didn't land and I didn't managed to Identify them.

Mediterranean stork's bill (Erodium malacoides).

I also recorded Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) as well as Mediterranean Stork's-bill (Erodium malacoides) and Common Stork's-bill (Erodium cicutarium), Field Marigold (Calendula arvensis) and Diplotaxis erucoides.

Common Stork's-bill (Erodium cicutarium).

I reached the pool and then turned around and went back passed the car and carried on around the Lucerne fields to the Walnut trees, on the way I saw Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis).

I returned to the house and filled the feeders to keep the Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus) happy for another few day.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 17th Jan 24.

15W Actinic on the terrace.

 

6496 Evergestis isatidalis.

It was a tad warmer again so I put the light out and moth numbers, whilst still low were getting better and last night there were 8 Moths of 5 species.

8211 Rhodometra sacaria (The Vestal).

Species were 6496 Evergestis isatidalis x3, 8211 Rhodometra sacaria (The Vestal) x1, 9206 Cucullia calendulae (Marigold Shark) x1, 9676 Xylocampa areola (Early Grey) x2 and 10346 Dark Sword-grass (Agrotis ipsilon) x1.

9206 Cucullia calendulae (Marigold Shark).

9676 Xylocampa areola (Early Grey).

10346 Dark Sword-grass (Agrotis ipsilon).

Loja and near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Dentist, Doctor's and some Siskin's.

The first appointment of the day was at the dentist in Loja, I was just there for a check up / plus a clean and as all was well I was again amazed when the young lady on reception said there was no charge !!!! again.

Second stop of the day was at the Hospital in Granada, I had hoped it would be Loja but as I was in bang on time and out 40 minutes later it wasn't too bad and I was back home just after lunch.

I have been getting Siskin's (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus) coming to the feeders in the fig tree, it started at 5, increased to 6 and today the flock was up to 9.

There were 7 very smart males and a couple of females as well as lots of House Sparrows (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), a few Blackcaps (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla) and a cracking looking male Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

Padul Wetlands, El Temple and Contra-embalse de Bemejalis, Granada Province, Spain.

A morning birding with Juan Perez and then El Temple and Cacín Valley on the way home.

Ebird List for Padul, 50 Species.

Ebird List for El Temple, 22 Species.

Ebird List for the Embalse, 18 Species.

Padul, the main Lake.

I was up, out and met Juan at 09.00 at Café / Bar Monte-Sol, I was there early so I had a coffee and so breakfast, when Juan arrived we spent a while scanning the main lake from the car park  and we started the list off with Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), several Marsh Harriers (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) one of which was feasting on a Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), a distant Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs).

Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata) male.

We walked down to the reserve and turned left and worked our way along the northern side of the lake where we picked up Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), a fine looking male Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), a drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Redwing (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus illacus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla).

Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata).

Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata).

We reached the Centro de Interpretación del Mamut where Juan spent some time chatting to José Rivas before we continued on part way down the eastern side of the adding Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus) and Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

Looking North across the Lake.

The reed beds from the raised platform.

We retraced our steps back around to the path to the car park but continued on along the board walk instead picking up a distant Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) up over the mountains behide us and amongst the bushes, reeds and along the stinking stream we also recorded Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Meadow (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) and Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago) x4 and a single Jack Snipe (Agachadiza Chica / Lymnocriptes minimus), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild).

Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus).

Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

We headed back towards the car and Juan headed off and I made my way out onto El Temple where I drove around several of the tracks where I picked up Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) and Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis) x6, Long-eared Owl (Búho Chico / Asio otus) x2 and my 2nd and 3rd Black-winged Kites of the day.

Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis) Male.

Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis) Males.

Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis) Female.

I continued on out over to Cacín, before I left El Temple and as I drove to Cacín it was apparent that the Spanish / Granada local Government is putting getting to NET ZERO above the environment by turning large areas of Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Little Bustard (two species that are under great pressure) and other species habitat into a Solar desert. 

I obviously understand that we need to sort things but at what cost, the destruction of huge areas of the countryside and wildlife habitats. 

Long-eared Owl (Búho Chico / Asio otus) taken from the car.

I reached Cacín and then went up to the Contra-embalse where I parked and scanned the water finding Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Northern Shoveler, Mallard, Eurasian Teal, Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), my second Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) and another Marsh Harrier.

Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos).

I headed back up the valley and home but as I drove through the fields I saw Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) and Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).