Cerro Hacho and Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

Looking for Orchids and Butterflies.

Ebird List, 19 Species.

Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa).

After getting the house work finished and giving the car a clean after the Lynx trip I decided to go for a walk up Hacho, I parked right at the bottom and did the full loop.

Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa).

I started by heading up the South facing slope where it was quite warm in the full sun and I started the butterfly list off with a nice but very active Portuguese Dappled White (Euchloe tagis) x1 which was followed by several Wall Browns (Lasiommata megera) x7 and Clouded Yellow (Colias corceua) x6.

Giant Orchid (Himanthoglosum Robertiana).

Giant Orchid (Himanthoglosum Robertiana).

As I walked I watched a guy run up the bank when he saw me and take in two of the small cages with Red-legged Partridges (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa) in them, guessing by his reaction he was up to something he shouldn't have been but I don't know the laws well enough to challenge him.

Fan-lipped Orchid (Anacamptis collina).

One thing it did do was bring in a fine looking Partridge which was calling from the rocks above me and down on the ground there was an amazing show of Amethyst Toadflax (Linaria amethystea) which is usually made up of about 200 spikes but this year there must have been at least 2000 plants which must have been helped by the recent rains.

Amethyst Toadflax (Linaria amethystea).

Amethyst Toadflax (Linaria amethystea).

Amethyst Toadflax (Linaria amethystea).

Also seen along this slope were Field Marigold (Calendula arvensis), Eruca (Eruca sativa), Broad-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia), Common Stork's-bill (Erodium cicutarium), Cymbalaria-leaved Speedwell (Veronica cymbalaria), Cloven Petalled Campion (Silene colorata), Purple Bugloss (Echium plantagineum), Gagea species, a tiny Large Psammodromus (Psammodromus algirus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

Gagea species.

Field Marigold (Calendula arvensis).

Cymbalaria-leaved Speedwell (Veronica cymbalaria).

I dropped down onto the main track and then made my way around the main loop passing the Quarry and through the old Almond terraces finding Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Giant (Himanthoglosum Robertiana) x45+ and Fan-lipped Orchid (Anacamptis collina) which was not quite in flower, Hummingbird Hawkmoth (Macroglossum stellatarum) x6+, Bath White (Pontia daplidice) x2 and Small White (Pieris rapae) x2.

Bath White (Pontia daplidice).

Bath White (Pontia daplidice).

Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta).

Around by the far side of the Quarry I found lots of spikes of Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca / foresteri) x100+, Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) x1, Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Spotless (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris) and Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla).

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca / foresteri).

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca / foresteri).

I reached the car and then drove down to the fields as Jenny and John Wainwright had sent me a message about seeing a pair of Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) but by the time I got there they had gone into Hiding, however I did see a couple of Little Owls (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) on the drive down as well as Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

Back at the house I found a couple of Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus) on the feeders and 4 Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) chasing each other along the barranco.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 16th Feb 24.

15W Actinic on the terrace.

 

10343 Agrotis puta puta (Shuttle Shaped Dart).

Just a single moth came to the light last night even though it stayed up at +7 but guessing the rain over the last few days has put things back, 10343 Agrotis puta puta (Shuttle Shaped Dart) x1.

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A walk around the fields and meet friends.

Ebird List, 17 Species.

Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus).

I drove down to the fields but after seeing how muddy it was I parked down by the Walnut Trees and walked from there but I didn't see anything special apart from a single Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) as well as several Clouded Yellows (Colias corceua) and Small Whites (Pieris rapae).

Sierra Morena, Andújar, Jaén Province, Spain.

Our last Morning in the stunning Sierra Morena.

Ebird List for La Caracola, 6 Species.

As we were leaving La Caracola.

We were up and out early, whilst loading the car Kiersten, Richard and myself picked up a very early female Northern Goshawk (Azor Común / Accipitor gentillis) which was out looking for breakfast as well as Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla).

Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) female.

Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) female.

We headed out to the normal area, on the way we saw Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Woodlark (Totovia / Lullula arborea), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and several Fallow Deer (Gamo común / Dama dama).

Fallow Deer (Gamo común / Dama dama).

Fallow Deer (Gamo común / Dama dama).

Fallow Deer (Gamo común / Dama dama).

We spent a while just before the normal spot and scanned the ridges in front of us before heading to the first shelter where we put the chairs out.

Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri).

Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri).

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui).

Species seen included Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus), Red Deer (Ciervo común / Cervus elaphus), Mouflon (Moflon / Ovis orientalis), Weasel (Mustela nivalis), Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Capra pyrenaica hispanica), Hummingbird Hawkmoth (Macroglossum stellatarum), Vagrant Emperor (Anax ephippiger), Bath (Pontia daplidice), Small (Pieris rapae) and Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri), Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra),  Clouded Yellow (Colias corceua), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Angel's tears Narcissus (Narcissus triandus), Andalucian Wall Lizard (Podarcis vaucheri), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Griffon (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) and Cinereous / European Black Vulture (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Blue-rock (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Mistle (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Crested Tit (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).

Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

Bumble-bee Species.

At 14:00 we started to make our way back to the main road and then we all went our own ways back home.

Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei).

Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Sierra Morena, Andújar, Jaén Province, Spain.

Another day in the stunning Sierra Morena.

Ebird List for Rio Jándula, 33 Species.

Ebird List for La Lancha, 36 Species.

 

Presa de El Encinarejo.

We were all up for a 06:45 breakfast and then we headed down to the Rio Jándula where we were going to look for the Otters (Nutria / Lutra lutra) I have seen there every time I have visited the area but today things were different due to the amount of water being released from the dam.

Rio Jándula in flood.

Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).

Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea).

Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei).

We still spent quite a while scanning the slower moving pools in the river and found Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Cetti's (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and both Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

Hoop-petticoat Daffodils (Narcissus bulbocodium).

Hoop-petticoat Daffodils (Narcissus bulbocodium).

The Ladies amongst the Hoop-petticoat Daffodils (Narcissus bulbocodium).

Getting the shots of the Hoop-petticoat Daffodil (Narcissus bulbocodium).

I think my shot of Kiersten was kinder 😀😀😀

After a while we decided to start to make our way back along the track towards the Área recreativa del Encinarejo, at a spot not to far along the track we stopped and scanned the river see a Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Woodlark (Totovia / Lullula arborea), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Hoop-petticoat Daffodil (Narcissus bulbocodium), Ramping Fumitory (Fumaria capreolata), Common Mallow (Malva sylvestris) and Common Stork's-bill (Erodium cicutarium).

One of the two Great Egrets (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba).

Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus).

Rio Jándula looking up stream.

We continued on and Derek who was a little ahead of us had seen 2x Great Egrets (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba) but they ad flown off by the time we got there but we relocated them a little further down stream.

Spanish Fighting Bull (Bos taurus taurus).

Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) male.

Iberian Milk-vetch (Astragalus lusitanicus).

We reached the Área recreativa and spent a while searching the trees and the river there adding Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea) but there was no sign of the Otter's.

Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri).

Angel's tears Narcissus (Narcissus triandus).

Next we drove back out to the Iberian Lynx (lince iberico / Lynx pardina) area, on the way we saw Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and several Fallow Deer (Gamo común / Dama dama).

Watching for the Lynx.

Cinereous / European Black Vulture (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus).

Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

We reached the where we spent the rest of the day and found 20+ Mouflon (Moflon / Ovis orientalis), Red Deer (Ciervo común / Cervus elaphus), Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Capra pyrenaica hispanica), Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Cinereous / European Black (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus) and Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Crested (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus) and Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes) x2, Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia).

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) female.

Mouflon (Moflon / Ovis orientalis) in the distance.

9206 Cucullia calendulae (Marigold Shark) Caterpillar.

Other species seen included Bath (Pontia daplidice), Western Dappled (Euchloe crameri) and Small White (Pieris rapae), Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), 9206 Cucullia calendulae (Marigold Shark) caterpillar, Angel's tears Narcissus (Narcissus triandus), Jonquil (Narcissus jonquilla), Grey-leaved Cistus (Cistus albidus), Iberian Milk-vetch (Astragalus lusitanicus) and Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris).

Red Deer (Ciervo común / Cervus elaphus).

Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris).

Annette and Sean headed off during the afternoon and the rest of us made our way back to La Caracola where we had Beer, Food and Wine again 😁😁😁