Cerro Hacho, Granada Province, Spain.

A walk around the Lower loop looking for Orchids.

Ebird List, 34 Species.

4 Orchid Species.

1 Butterfly Species.

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca / foresteri).

It had been raining for most of the night and Morning so I was catching up with a few bits on the laptop and after messaging with good friend Sue Eatock about some Orchids she had seen over her way I found a bit of motivation to go for a walk and see if anything new was flowering on my patch.

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca / foresteri).

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca / foresteri).

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca / foresteri).

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca / foresteri).

I parked and walked the top end of the loop and cut across through what was left of the Pine woodlands after the recent forestry works and down on to the Northern side of the Quarry finding the first of a 100+ spikes of the variable Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca / foresteri) and 40 or so Giant Orchid (Himanthoglosum Robertiana), Snake's Head Fritillary (Fritillaria  lusitanica), Broad-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia), Field Marigold (Calendula arvensis) and Amethyst Toadflax (Linaria amethystea).

Giant Orchid (Himanthoglosum Robertiana).

Giant Orchid (Himanthoglosum Robertiana).

Giant Orchid (Himanthoglosum Robertiana).

Bird wise interesting species included Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus) and Crested Tit (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia) and Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus).

Southern Early Purple (Orchis olbienis).

Southern Early Purple (Orchis olbienis).

On the top and far end of the loop I found a single Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) as well as more Somber Bee and Giant and added Southern Early Purple (Orchis olbienis) x2 and Fan-lipped Orchid (Anacamptis collina) x6 including 2 spikes of the pale Variant flavescens.

Fan-lipped Orchid (Anacamptis collina) var. flavescens.

Fan-lipped Orchid (Anacamptis collina) var. flavescens.

Fan-lipped Orchid (Anacamptis collina) var. flavescens.

Fan-lipped Orchid (Anacamptis collina).

Fan-lipped Orchid (Anacamptis collina).

On my way back home I checked the old Olives and yet again the usual Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) was on it's regular stump.

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 23rd Feb 24.

15W Actinic on the terrace.

 

With rain and wind for most of the night I was not surprised that there were only 3x 10343 Agrotis puta puta (Shuttle Shaped Dart). 

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 22nd Feb 24.

15W Actinic on the terrace.

 

8265 Catarhoe basochesiata.

Several species from last night, it was a bit warmer but wet and windy.  8265 Catarhoe basochesiata x1, 8328 Nebula ibericata x1, 8576 Eupithecia unedonata x1, 10022 Mythimna l-album (L-Album Wainscot) x1 and 10343 Agrotis puta puta (Shuttle Shaped Dart) x5. 

8576 Eupithecia unedonata.

10022 Mythimna l-album (L-Album Wainscot).

10343 Agrotis puta puta (Shuttle Shaped Dart).

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

Back down the fields.

Ebird List, 25 Species.

 

Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).

I popped down for a quick walk around the Lucerne fields, interesting species included the pair of Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis) x5, Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Clouded Yellow (Colias corceua) x8+, Western Dappled (Euchloe crameri) x1 and Small White (Pieris rapae) x23+.

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

Out for a mornings birding with friends Barbara, Derek and John.

Ebird List, 33 Species.

Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).

I met Barbara and Derek Etherton and John Cantelo up at the Hotel Cortijo de Tajar where we had coffee, some breakfast and a catch up as it had been a good few years since I had seen John before heading out onto the fields, best species were Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) x25, Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), a pair of Black-winged Kites (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos), Northern Goshawk (Azor Común / Accipitor gentillis), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) x25+, Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) and Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus).

After just over two hours I said goodbye to the others who headed off to the El Temple area and I made my way home and then to Loja for an appointment.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 20th Feb 24.

15W Actinic on the terrace.

 

7504 Watsonalla uncinula (Spiny Hook-tip).

The temp dropped down to +3 but the Moth numbers were up and included 6496 Evergestis isatidalis x1, 7504 Watsonalla uncinula (Spiny Hook-tip) x1, 7725 Menophra japygiaria (Brassy Waved Umber) x1 and 10343 Shuttle Shaped Dart (Agrotis puta) x5. 

7725 Menophra japygiaria (Brassy Waved Umber).

10343 Shuttle Shaped Dart (Agrotis puta) female.

10343 Shuttle Shaped Dart (Agrotis puta) male.

Embalse de Cubillas, Granada Provine, Spain.

A morning birding with Juan Perez and Javier Gomez looking for a Granada Lifer.

Ebird List, 47 Species.

Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes) one of 9 birds seen.

I met Juan at the usual place at the Embalse before we relocated to another spot nearby where we met Javier who had found Granada Provinces first confirmed record of Lesser-spotted Woodpecker (Pico Menor / Dryobates minor) a few days earlier. We spent the next few hours searching and listening for the bird but without success unfortunately.

Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major).

We did however find good numbers of species including Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Redwing (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus illacus) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica).

Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris).

We also checked the Embalse where we found Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).

Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris).

Javier headed off and Juan and I walked back to our cars adding Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) before we headed off.

Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris).

Chipiona Port, Costa Ballena, Playa de Montijo, Bonanza Salt Pans, Lagunas de Camino Colorado in Cadiz Province, A-394 near Arahal, La Puebla de Cazalla in Sevilla Province and Fuente de Piedra in Malaga Province, Spain.

A loop back home, Birding in Cadiz, Sevilla and Malaga Provinces on the way.

Ebird List for Chipiona--Puerto, 12 Species.

Ebird List for Costa Ballena--Parque de Los Lagos, 24 Species.

Ebird List for Playa de Montijo, 21 Species.

Ebird List for Salinas de Bonanza, 29 Species.

Ebird List for Lagunas de Camino Colorado, 24 Species.

Ebird List for A-394 near Arahal, 1 Species.

Ebird List for La Puebla de Cazalla, 8 Species.

Ebird List for Fuente de Piedra, 18 Species.

 

Common Gulls (Gaviota Cana / Larus canus).

I was up before light so I headed just up the road to Chipiona where I had some breakfast before going out to the Port area where I found several Little Swifts (Vencejo Moro / Apus affinis), lots of Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), a few House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

Common Gull (Gaviota Cana / Larus canus) adult.

Common Gull (Gaviota Cana / Larus canus) 1st Winter.

I returned to Costa Ballena and checked the Parque de Los Lagos area again, there was no sign of the Bonaparte's Gull (Gaviota de Bonaparte / Larus philadelphia) but I did find another couple of Common Gulls (Gaviota Cana / Larus canus), an adult and a second ringed 1st Winter bird. 

Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus).

Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus).

I decided to walk down to the Laguna Norte and do a loop there and come back to the car, on the walk I saw Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), what I think was a hybrid Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca) x Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Black-headed, Mediterranean, Lesser Black-backed and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) and Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia).

Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo).

White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala).

Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres).

Other less water based species included Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), House Martin, Barn Swallow, Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei).

Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca) x Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina).

Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres).

Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus).

I returned to the car and headed off around Chipiona to Playa de Montijo where I was hoping to catch up with Bar-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colipinta / Limosa lapponica) and I soon found several birds in a flypast along with a few Grey Plover (Chorlito Gris / Pluvialis squatarola) and plenty of Ruddy Turnstones.

Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus).

Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus).

Grey Plover (Chorlito Gris / Pluvialis squatarola).

Other species seen on the rising tide included Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Black-headed, Mediterranean, Lesser Black-backed and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis) and Great Cormorant.

The Horse and trainer.

A different type of Harrier.

As I stood there a guy came down and was training a fine looking horse but he did unfortunately flush all the birds, during the visit there were also two Harrier type aircraft doing flypasts.

Bar-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colipinta / Limosa lapponica) and Grey Plover (Chorlito Gris / Pluvialis squatarola).

Grey Plover (Chorlito Gris / Pluvialis squatarola) and Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula).

Grey Plover (Chorlito Gris / Pluvialis squatarola).

As I walked back to the car I also added Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Barn Swallow, Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Spotless Starling, Blackbird, Black Redstart and Large White (Pieris brassicae) x2.

Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina).

Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina).

Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina) and Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba).

My next stop was at Bonanza Salt Pans to the North of Sanlucar but it was generally quiet, however the first bird I saw was a very smart Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus) and then as I drove up the center track I added Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Slender-billed Gull (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Common Sandpiper, Common Redshank, Dunlin, Sanderling, White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Barn Swallow and Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti).

Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos).

I left the area and went just up the road to the Lagunas de Camino Colorado where I checked the three pools, all of which had more water in them than on my last visit but unfortunately still held more rubbish than birds, however I did see White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Northern Shoveler, Common and Red-crested Pochard (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Little Grebe, Eurasian Coot, Common Moorhen, Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Night Heron (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax), Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus) x1, Western Cattle (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and Little Egret and Black-headed Weaver (Ploceus melanocephalus).

Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus).

I started to make my way back towards home via Arahal, just before I reached the A92 I picked up a nice male Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), a Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and the a crack adult Egyptian Vulture (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus) flew over but as there was nowhere to stop I only had brief views of a stunning bird.

Black Kites (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans).

Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans).

A little further along the A92 I made a brief stop at the large rubbish dump near the town of La Puebla de Cazalla where there were a minimum of 220 Black Kites (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans) but probably many more, a few Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus) and good numbers of both White Storks and Jackdaws (Grajilla / Corvus monedula).

Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus).

My final stop of the day was at Fuente de Piedra, there was a good amount of water in the pools on both sides of the entrance track but far less in the main lagoon, I checked the roadside pool first adding Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) x2, Black-winged Stilt, Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Dunlin x4, Northern Shoveler, Eurasian Teal and Marbled Duck (Marmaronetta angustirostris) x8.

Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata).

Marbled Duck (Marmaronetta angustirostris).

Up at the main mirador I set up the scope and scanned the main lake seeing a good number of  Greater Flamingo'sand a flock of Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus) which flew out soon after I arrived and as I walked back towards the car I added Vagrant Emperor (Anax ephippiger) x4, Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) x2, Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) and several Small Whites (Pieris rapae).

Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii).

I left and headed back home via 3 Calles in Huétor where I finished the trip off with some food and a 00 beer.