Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

An afternoons visit to the fields between the showers.

Ebird List for Huétor Fields.

Ebird List for Realenga.

Another squall coming in over Sierra de Loja.

It was drizzling for most of the morning so when it cleared slightly later in the afternoon I popped down to the field and did a short walk and a bit of a drive.

Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) the female.

I walked the Lucerne fields seeing Montagu's (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) x5 and Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) x2, Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) x2, Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus).

Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra).

Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra).

Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

I returned to the car and then drove slowly to the crossroads and then turned right, on this stretch of the road I saw a nice looking Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra), a male Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus).

After crossing the river I took the track back towards the La Fabrica Road and then home, on the way I saw lots more Yellow Wagtails, some of which were of the Blue-headed (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava flava) race.

Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae).

Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) female.

Blue-headed (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava flava).

Other species seen included Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris).

Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur).

I reached the house and as I was getting out I noticed a small Dove on the wire just down the road which turned out to be my first Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur) of the year.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 29th March 24.

15W Actinic on the terrace, +7

 

With the temperature dropping back to +7 and showers all night things had quietened down and there were only 17 moth of 7 species which were 0706 Monopis nigricantella x1, 6619 Uresiphita gilvata x1, 8328 Nebula ibericata x7, 9056 Autographa gamma (Silver Y) x, 9433 Caradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow) x2, 9435/6 Caradrina noctivaga / flavirena x4 and 10351 Agrotis segetum (Turnip Moth) x1. 

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A quick walk on the Patch.

Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra).

Late on in the afternoon the rain stopped for a while so I went for a quick walk along the Lucerne fields where I saw a few new arrivals Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra), Willow Warbler (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus), lots of Western Yellow Wagtails (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix) and Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos).

Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator) looking a tad soggy.

More regular species included Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and Others. 

Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae).

Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

 

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 28th March 24.

15W Actinic on the terrace, +13.5

 

9927 Hecatera dysodea.

9927 Hecatera dysodea.

A warmer night with heavy cloud cover but less wind and rain so Moth numbers were up a little.

9243 Calophasia platyptera (Antirrhinum Brocade).

9243 Calophasia platyptera (Antirrhinum Brocade).

0706 Monopis nigricantella x2, 1655 Ethmia bipunctella x2, 6619 Uresiphita gilvata x1, 6719 Nomophila noctuella (Rush Veneer) x1, 7725 Menophra japygiaria (Brassy Waved Umber) x1 8265 Catarhoe basochesiata x1, 8328 Nebula ibericata x5, 8638 Lithostege griseata (Grey Carpet) x1, 9056 Autographa gamma (Silver Y) x6, 9140 Eublemma ostrina (Purple Marbled) x1, 9243 Calophasia platyptera (Antirrhinum Brocade) x1, 9367 Heliothis peltigera (Bordered Straw) x1, 9370 Helicoverpa armigera (Scarce Bordered Straw) x1, 9433 Caradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow) x12, 9435/6 Caradrina noctivaga / flavirena x23, 9895 Anarta trifolii (Nutmeg) x1, 9927 Hecatera dysodea x1, 10238 Peridroma saucia (Pearly Underwing) x2, 10343 Agrotis puta puta (Shuttle Shaped Dart) x10 and 10351 Agrotis segetum (Turnip Moth) x6. 

0706 Monopis nigricantella.

6619 Uresiphita gilvata.

9895 Anarta trifolii (Nutmeg).

9370 Helicoverpa armigera (Scarce Bordered Straw).

10351 Agrotis segetum (Turnip Moth).

9056 Autographa gamma (Silver Y).

9367 Heliothis peltigera (Bordered Straw).

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

More migrant arrivals.

Ebird List for the Fields.

Arroyo Vilano.

Between the showers I popped down the fields at just after 10:00 and did manage quite a decent walk before the rain returned but before that I picked up a few new arrivals and a few species that were lingering on.

Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus).

Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus).

Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) male with food.

New arrivals included Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix), Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) 3M and 1F, Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator)x2, Willow Warbler (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus)x2, Sedge Warbler (Carricerin Común / Acrocephalus schoenobaenus) x1, Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos) x2, Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra) x2, Western Black-eared Wheatear (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica) x1F, Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia) x2 and a pale morph Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus) which flew straight through and off north.

The next squall is on it's way.

Some lingers included a few Meadow Pipits (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), a single Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus).

Got back just in time.

Other species seen were Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) x2, Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Clouded Yellow (Colias corceua) x2 and Small White (Pieris rapae) x3. 

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 27th March 24.

15W Actinic on the terrace, +8.

 

1655 Ethmia bipunctella.

1655 Ethmia bipunctella x1, 6719 Nomophila noctuella (Rush Veneer) x1, 8265 Catarhoe basochesiata x1, 8328 Nebula ibericata x3, 9056 Autographa gamma (Silver Y) x4, 9433 Caradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow) x4, 9435/6 Caradrina noctivaga / flavirena x2, 10035 Mythimna unipuncta (White Speck) x1, 10238 Peridroma saucia (Pearly Underwing) x1, 10343 Agrotis puta puta (Shuttle Shaped Dart) x10, 10346 Dark Sword-grass (Agrotis ipsilon) x1 and 10351 Agrotis segetum (Turnip Moth) x7.

8265 Catarhoe basochesiata.

10035 Mythimna unipuncta (White Speck).

10346 Dark Sword-grass (Agrotis ipsilon).

10238 Peridroma saucia (Pearly Underwing).

 

 

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

Some newly arrived Migrants.

Ebird List for the fields, 23 Species.

Western Black-eared Wheatear (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica).

The weather had been a bit wet all night so when it stopped at 10ish I went down to the fields for a walk but before I got there it had started to rain again so I sat in the car and scanned the fields for a while picking up Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix), Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) x2, Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) 2M and 1F, Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), a passage flock of  Western Yellow Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava) and 2x male Western Black-eared Wheatear (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica) before I headed back home.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 25th March 24.

15W Actinic on the terrace, +5.5.

 

5864 Acrobasis obliqua.

5864 Acrobasis obliqua x1, 8328 Nebula ibericata x5, 9433 Caradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow) x2, 9435/6 Caradrina noctivaga / flavirena x2, 10029 Mythimna sicula x1, 10087 Ochropleura leucogaster (Radford's Flame Shoulder) x1, 10199 Xestia c-nigrum (Setaceous Hebrew Character) x1, 10343 Agrotis puta puta (Shuttle Shaped Dart) x3, 10347 Agrotis trux (Cresent Dart) x1 and 10351 Agrotis segetum (Turnip Moth) x2.

10087 Ochropleura leucogaster (Radford's Flame Shoulder).

10199 Xestia c-nigrum (Setaceous Hebrew Character).

10347 Agrotis trux (Cresent Dart).

Cubillas Reservoir, Granada Province, Spain.

Out birding with Juan Perez.

Ebird List for Cubillas, 29 Species.

Wryneck (Torcecuello / Jynx torquilla) in heavy rain.

I met Juan at a spot near Embalse del Cubillas, on the way in I was pleased to see that the Embalse was almost full but today we were birding along the river a little was passed the main Res.

Ophrys dyris.

Ophrys dyris.

Ophrys dyris.

Ophrys dyris.

Ophrys dyris.

We met and walked up and down the road seeing Wryneck (Torcecuello / Jynx torquilla), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Large White (Pieris brassicae) and Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea).

Hybrid Ophrys Xjuarezeii.

Hybrid Ophrys Xjuarezeii.

After a while Juan headed off, I stayed until it started to rain quite heavily then headed around to the other side of the Lake where I checked the Pine woodlands for Orchids, as I walked I found Somber Bee (Ophrys fusca), Sawfly (Ophrys tenthredinifera), Yellow Bee (Ophrys lutea), several spikes of  Ophrys dyris, and what I think is the hybrid Ophrys x juarezeii which has the parents Dyris and fusca.