Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A quick walk around the Lucerne Fields.

Ebird List.

 

Sierra de Loja's gone missing in the Calima.

After getting a delivery I popped down to the fields and had a short walk as it was muggy and the air was thick with the returning Sahara Dust / Calima, I tried to get up to my usual parking spot but thought that the pool across the track looked to deep so I went the other way at the ford and parked by the Walnut trees.

Parapanda has also gone.

I walked up to the parking spot but had to jump off the track when one of the tractors came along the top track as they, even in a big John Deer were not taking the chance to go through the pool so glade I didn't try.

Nearly tried it but would definitely have regretted it.

I continued on up stream and the turned around and went back to the car and then on as far as the crossroads, interesting species were Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix) x2, 2 Great Spotted Cuckoos (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius) which were being chased off by a couple of Common Magpies (Urraca / Pica pica), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Sedge Warbler (Carricerin Común / Acrocephalus schoenobaenus), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos) and Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae).

Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix).

Even through there was little sun due to the dust it was very warm and there were a few butterflies on the wing including Bath (Pontia daplidice) x2, Green-Striped (Euchloe belemia) x1, Small White (Pieris rapae) x28+, Geranium Bronze (Cacyreus marshalli) x1, Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) x1 and Clouded Yellow (Colias corceua) x5. 

Great Spotted Cuckoo's (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius).

As I was walking both ways there were good numbers of the common Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi) making lots of noisy from the reeds.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 5th April 24.

15W Actinic on the terrace, +13.

35 Moths of 19 Species.

 

Isophrictis species.

0706 Monopis nigricantella x1, 1655 Ethmia bipunctella x1, Isophrictis species x1, 5864 Acrobasis obliqua x1, 6551 Udea numeralis x1, 6619 Uresiphita gilvata x1, 6719 Nomophila noctuella (Rush Veneer) x1, 7564 Itame vincularia x1, 7725 Menophra japygiaria (Brassy Waved Umber) x1, 7926 Aspitates ochrearia (Yellow Belle) x1, 8599 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata (Double-striped Pug) x1, 8828 Raphia hybris x1, 9056 Autographa gamma (Silver Y) x1, 9433 Caradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow) x5, 9435/6 Caradrina noctivaga / flavirena x6, 10035 Mythimna unipuncta (White Speck) x2, 10238 Peridroma saucia (Pearly Underwing) x2, 10343 Agrotis puta puta (Shuttle Shaped Dart) x5 and 10351 Agrotis segetum (Turnip Moth) x2.

5864 Acrobasis obliqua.

8599 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata (Double-striped Pug).

6619 Uresiphita gilvata.

8828 Raphia hybris.

8828 Raphia hybris.

9433 Caradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow).

9435/6 Caradrina noctivaga / flavirena.

10238 Peridroma saucia (Pearly Underwing).

10238 Peridroma saucia (Pearly Underwing).

10035 Mythimna unipuncta (White Speck).

Sierra de Loja, Granada Province, Spain.

A few hours up my favorite hill with Anne and Peter.

Ebird List for Sierra de Loja.

A full Charca del Negro.

I met Anne and Peter and we headed straight across to the far side of the site, on the way we had views of Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), a calling but not seen Coal Tit  (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Viola dementria, Purple Bugloss (Echium plantagineum), Mallow-leaved Convolvulus (Convolvulus althaeoides), Cloven Petalled Campion (Silene colorata), Spring Cress (Arabis verna), Rusty-back Fern (Ceterach officinarum), Common Fumitory (Fumaria officinalis) and Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea).

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

On our way out over the tops we saw the first Western Black-eared Wheatears (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica) including some stunning males as well as Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Iris Subbiflora, Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus) and more unexpectedly a fine looking male Ring Ouzel (Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus) in amongst the Hawthorn trees beyond Carca del Negro.

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

We dropped down to the next junction but instead of turning around as I normally would we went out further seeing Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus), a calling Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and at least 50 or more Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) which moved through heading west.

Looking out west.

Down on the more open areas we checked some fields seeing Andaluz (Erodium primulaceum) and Common Stork's-bill (Erodium cicutarium), Wild Grape Hyacinth (Muscari neglectum), Woodlark (Totovia / Lullula arborea), Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Bath White (Pontia daplidice) and as we started to make our way back we saw an Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) sat in a small but distant bush, Wild Peony (Paeonia broteri), Blue Hedgehog Broom (Erinacea anthyllis), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Swallowtail (Papilio machaon) and Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta). 

Viola dementria.

Dropping back down along the crags I was pleased when we picked up a group of  Iberian  Magpies (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), a male Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) which unfortunately only I managed to get on, a large flock of migrating House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), a couple of Common Swifts (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), some European Bee-eaters (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) which passed overhead unseen calling, Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas), Buckler Mustard (Biscutella frutescens) and in the pines a calling Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla).

Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator).

We turned off the main track and went up to the middle quarry where we saw a very nice male Western Subalpine (Curruca Carrasquena / Sylvia cantillans) and Sardinian Warblers (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Clouded Yellow (Colias corceua), Wild Tulip (Tulipa sylvestris), Linaria tristris, Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum baeticum), Cymbalaria-leaved Speedwell (Veronica cymbalaria) before we dropped down to the car and head off after a nice days birding in good company, Thanks.

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A walk back down to the Mechanic's in a round about sort of way.

Ebird List for the Fields.

Snow on top of distant La Maroma.

I was up and out shortly after checking through the Moths I set off toward the Mechanic's in Ventanueva but I took a slightly longer walk there and looped around the fields, on the first stretch down to 4 Caminos I saw Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Cetti's (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and a couple of calling Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus).

Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).

Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).

I walked passed the 4 Caminos and on to the track out to the road into Huétor, along here I added Greater Short-toed (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla) and Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), a female Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) up on the roof of the large Cortijo and across the Arroyo on the Lucerne fields a calling Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix), Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) x2, Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) x4M and 2F and 2 more unexpected Great Spotted Cuckoo's (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius) which are not a common bird on the local patch. 

Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).

Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).

I followed the road down to Huétor, on the way I picked up Western Yellow Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava) of at least 2 different races, a couple of latish Meadow Pipits (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and as I walked through the town there were good numbers of House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and at least 5 newly arrived Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus).

Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur).

Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur).

The last section of the walk strated at the far side of the town on the bridge over the Rio Genil where I saw good numbers of domestic type Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser), Muscovy Duck (Cairina moschata), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and a fly over Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), I arrived and collected the car and then returned home.

Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) male.

From the terrace later I heard but did not see quite a good number of European Bee-eaters (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) which passed over heading North and had several Perez's Frogs (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi) calling noisily from the garden pool.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 3rd April 24.

15W Actinic on the terrace, +8.5.

45 Moths of 17 Species. 

 

Phycitinid Pyralid species ?????

0706 Monopis nigricantella x1, 1655 Ethmia bipunctella x1, 6599 Pyrausta sanguinalis (Scarce Crimson & Gold) x1, 6719 Nomophila noctuella (Rush Veneer) x1, 6775 Phyllodesma suberifolia x1, 7725 Menophra japygiaria (Brassy Waved Umber) x1, 7926 Aspitates ochrearia (Yellow Belle) x2, 8328 Nebula ibericata x5, 9056 Autographa gamma (Silver Y) x3, 9100 Acontia lucida (Pale Shoulder) x1, 9433 Caradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow) x6, 9435/6 Caradrina noctivaga / flavirena x9, 9895 Anarta trifolii (Nutmeg) x1, 10035 Mythimna unipuncta (White Speck) x1, 10343 Agrotis puta puta (Shuttle Shaped Dart) x7 and 10351 Agrotis segetum (Turnip Moth) x4.

6599 Pyrausta sanguinalis (Scarce Crimson & Gold).

6775 Phyllodesma suberifolia.

9100 Acontia lucida (Pale Shoulder).

9895 Anarta trifolii (Nutmeg).

10035 Mythimna unipuncta (White Speck).

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

A walk in the local area to meet friends and for a bit of Butterfly hunting.

Ebird List for the terrace.

The GOOD, or at least better than most.

I started the day with a short walk down to Bar Pedro where I met up with Friend Pau Lucio, his wife and son for a coffee and a chat which was very nice.

The BAD and the UGLY.

Later I walked back to the house but came the longer way back through the Olives, the first stretch which comes up from the Huétor to Montefrio road is as usual really good as the farmer is working the area a lot more environmentally friendly than most in the area and the areas between the trees are full of wild flowers which means there are lots of insects and birds.

Geranium Bronze (Cacyreus marshalli).

Geranium Bronze (Cacyreus marshalli).

Common / Southern Blue (Polyommatus icarus / celina).

Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera).

Species seen and heard included my first European Bee-eaters (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) of the year (I also had a second group go over the house later), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).

Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri).

Green-Striped White (Euchloe belemia).

Clouded Yellow (Colias corceua).

Butterflies / Moths where also on the wing in good numbers and included Bath (Pontia daplidice) x3, Green-Striped (Euchloe belemia) x2, Large (Pieris brassicae) x3, Small (Pieris rapae) and Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri), Clouded Yellow (Colias corceua) x25+, Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera) x4, Common / Southern Blue (Polyommatus icarus / celina) x15+, Geranium Bronze (Cacyreus marshalli) x2, Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus alceae) x12+, Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) x8+, Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) x6, Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) x2, at least 5x Hummingbird Hawkmoths (Macroglossum stellatarum) and several Autographa gamma (Silver Y).

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui).

Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus alceae).

Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus alceae).

In amongst the wild flowers there were Corn (Papaver rhoeas) and Rough Poppy (Papaver hybridum), Common Mallow (Malva sylvestris), Common Fumitory (Fumaria officinalis), Common Stork's-bill (Erodium cicutarium), Crown Daisy (Chrysanthemum carinatum), Field Marigold (Calendula arvensis), Hoary Cress (Lepidium draba), Mallow-leaved Convolvulus (Convolvulus althaeoides), Purple Bugloss (Echium plantagineum), Salsify (Tragopogon porrifolius) and Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis).

Salsify (Tragopogon porrifolius).

Rough Poppy (Papaver hybridum).

Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas).

I crossed the small Arroyo which was still flowing quite well and entered the dead zone and all the way back to the house I only saw a single Clouded Yellow, very sad.

Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).

Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).

Once I got home I went up onto the terrace with a coffee and decided that it was warm enough to sit up there for a while and whilst there I had Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) x2, Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and an Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli) which flew along the barranco.

Looking out from the Terrace.