Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.*

Moth Records for the 31st May 24.

15W Actinic on the terrace, +17. 

215 Moths of 48 Species.

Any corrections PLEASE send me a comment on the post, thanks.

 

10377 Ocneria atlantica new species for the Garden.

1426 Prays oleae x36, 1525 Plutella xylostella (Diamond backed Moth) x1, 1655 Ethmia bipunctella x32, 2976x Symmoca signatella agg x17, 3029 Dysspastus fallax x28, 3757 Sophronia humerella x3, 4855 Epinotia thapsiana x2, 5578 Lamoria anella x1, 5624 Bostra obsoletali x8, 5748a Tephris ochreella x1, 5898 Myelois circumvoluta (Thistle Ermine) x1, 6145 Ematheudes punctella x3, 6599 Pyrausta sanguinalis (Scarce Crimson & Gold) x2, 6604 Pyrausta aurata x2, 6619 Uresiphita gilvata x3, 6690 Palpita vitrealis x4, 6700 Dolicharthria punctalis x2, 6719 Nomophila noctuella (Rush Veneer) x1, 6775 Phyllodesma suberifolia x1, 

5898 Myelois circumvoluta (Thistle Ermine) also new for the Garden.

5748a Tephris ochreella a third new species.

7533 Stegania trimaculata (Dorset Cream Wave) x1, 7581 Neognopharmia stevenaria x2, 7725 Menophra japygiaria (Brassy Waved Umber) x5, 7765 Peribatodes ilicaria (Lydd Beauty) x1, 8017 Cyclophora puppillaria (Blair's Mocha) x1, 8059 Scopula marginepunctata (Mullein Wave) x6, 8073 Scopula minorata x1, 8167 Idaea subsericeata (Satin Wave) x1, 8169 Idaea cervantaria x5, 8211 Rhodometra sacaria (The Vestal) x1, 8246 Orthonama obstipata (The Gem) x4, 8509 Eupithecia centarueata (Lime-speck Pug) x1, 8599 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata (Double-striped Pug) x1, 9100 Acontia lucida (Pale Shoulder) x5, 9341 Aegle vespertinalis x1, 

6604 Pyrausta aurata.

6700 Dolicharthria punctalis.

9341 Aegle vespertinalis.

9370 Heliothis armigera (Scarce Bordered Straw) x1, 9425 Caradrina proxima x5, 9433 Caradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow) x6, 9454 Hoplodrina ambigua (Vine's Rustic) x2, 9460 Spodoptera exigua (Small Mottled Willow) x5, 9478 Athetis hospes (Porters Rustic) x1, 9895 Anarta trifolii (Nutmeg) x3, 10015 Leucania putrescens x1, 10034 Mythimna loreyi (Cosmopolitan) x4, 10035 Mythimna unipuncta (White Speck) x2, 10238 Peridroma saucia (Pearly Underwing) x1, 10351 Agrotis segetum (Turnip Moth) x1, 10377 Ocneria atlantica x1 and 10535 Crimson Speckled (Utetheisa pulchella) x1. 

6145 Ematheudes punctella.

4855 Epinotia thapsiana.

8073 Scopula minorata.

8059 Scopula marginepunctata (Mullein Wave).

8017 Cyclophora puppillaria (Blair's Mocha).

9895 Anarta trifolii (Nutmeg).

10034 Mythimna loreyi (Cosmopolitan).

10238 Peridroma saucia (Pearly Underwing).

6775 Phyllodesma suberifolia.

10033 Mythimna riparia.

9478 Athetis hospes (Porters Rustic).

Padul Town Hall, Granada Province, Spain.*

Ornithological inventory of the Province of Granada 2013-2022.

 

Down Load the book.

 

The Book.

I was pleased to be able to attend the presentation of the Ornithological Inventory of the Province of Granada (2013-2023) Co-written by Juan Pérez Contreras, José Gonzalez Cachinero and José Manuel Rivas Fernández.

Juan Pérez Contreras, José Manuel Rivas Fernández and José Gonzalez Cachinero.

Very interesting book with lots of good information, pleased to see a few of my records in there.

Fuengirola and Ronda, Malaga Province, Spain.*

A day out to Ronda.

I collected Brenda and Keith and we headed out along the coast and then inland up through the mountains on the winding road to the tourist town of Ronda, on the way I saw Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).

We parking on the edge of town and walk the main street down to the Bull Ring having a coffee on the way, after having a look at the bull we went for a walk along the Alameda del Tajo around to the Puente Nuevo and on to Mirador de Aldehuela.

Next we went up into the town on the Southern side of the Tajo and walked to the Plaza de María Auxiliadora where we sat and listened to a guy there playing his Spanish Guitar which bought back some memories and when he started to play Memories of the Alhambra (one of Jayne's all time favourate pieces of music) the memories got a little overwhelming for a minute but they were good memories.

We continued on to Plaza Duquesa de Parcent where we sat for a while before heading back to the main street and had some lunch in Plaza Del Socorro before we returned to the car and then drove back to Fuengirola via Ardales and Malaga after a very nice day.

Fuengirola, Malaga Province, Spain.*

A visit to the coast.

I got a few bits done at home before heading down to the coast at Fuengirola where I was going to meet up with Brenda (Jayne's sister) and brother in law Keith.

I met them out side their hotel and we went and had a walk and some lunch, later I walked back to my hotel and chilled, later in the evening we again got together, had a nice meal at their hotel and then a beer in the bar below.

During the day I saw Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Pallid (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) and Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) x2, Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.*

Down on the fields again.

Ebird List.

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

Today it was just a quick visit to the Fields, interesting species included Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oropéndola Europea / Oriolus oriolus), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Greater Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Common Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus) and Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae).

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.*

Moth Records for the 26th May 24.

15W Actinic on the terrace, +16.

326 Moths of 57 Species.  

Any corrections PLEASE send me a comment on the post, thanks.

 

3757 Sophronia humerella.

0663 Trichophaga bipartitella x1, 1361 Zelleria oleastrella x2, 1426 Prays oleae x67+, 1655 Ethmia bipunctella x47, 2967 Symmoca signatella x2, 3029 Dysspastus fallax x40+, 3757 Sophronia humerella x2, 4298 Aethes moribundana x6, 4359 Pontoturania posterana x1, 4390 Acleris variegana x1, 4592 Cacoecimorpha pronubana (Carnation Tortrix) x1, 4887 Crocidosema plebejana x1, 5144 Cydia pomonella (Codling Moth) x1, 5578 Lamoria anella x1, 5624 Bostra obsoletali x15+, 6001 Euzophera lunulella x1, 6145 Ematheudes punctella x4, 6441 Aporodes floralis x1, 6531 Udea ferrugalis (Rusty Dot Pearl) x2, 6599 Pyrausta sanguinalis (Scarce Crimson & Gold) x3, 6619 Uresiphita gilvata x7, 6690 Palpita vitrealis x2, 6702 Dolicharthria punctalis x2, 6719 Nomophila noctuella (Rush Veneer) x3,  

6145 Ematheudes punctella.

9137 Eublemma candidana.

4592 Cacoecimorpha pronubana (Carnation Tortrix).

8599 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata (Double-striped Pug).

6860 Hyles livornica (Striped Hawk-moth) x1, 7581 Neognopharmia stevenaria x3, 7725 Menophra japygiaria (Brassy Waved Umber) x5, 7761 Peribatodes umbraria x1, 7765 Peribatodes ilicaria (Lydd Beauty) x2, 7806 Adactylotis gesticularia x3, 8017 Cyclophora puppillaria (Blair's Mocha) x2, 8059 Scopula marginepunctata (Mullein Wave) x11, 8167 Idaea subsericeata (Satin Wave) x1, 8169 Idaea cevantaria x4, 8186 Idaea degeneraria (Portland Ribbon Wave) x1, 8246 Orthonama obstipata (The Gem) x7, 8509 Eupithecia centarueata (Lime-speck Pug) x3, 8599 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata (Double-striped Pug) x1, 9268 Lophoterges millierei x1, 8804 Bryophila ravula x3, 8828 Raphia hybris x1, 8899 Clytie illunaris (Trent Double-stripe) x1, 8965 Tyta luctuosa (Four-spotted Moth) x1, 9100 Acontia lucida (Pale Shoulder) x3, 9137 Eublemma candidana x1, 9140 Eublemma ostrina (Purple Marbled) x2, 

9895 Anarta trifolii (Nutmeg).

10018 Mythimna languida.

10096 Noctua pronuba (Large Yellow Underwing).

8828 Raphia hybris.

8804 Bryophila ravula.

9268 Lophoterges millierei.

9425 Caradrina proxima x13, 9433 Caradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow) x8,  9435/6 Caradrina noctivaga / flavirena x1, 9454 Hoplodrina ambigua (Vine's Rustic) x14, 9460 Spodoptera exigua (Small Mottled Willow) x4, 9895 Anarta trifolii (Nutmeg) x1, 10018 Mythimna languida x4, 10022 Mythimna l-album (L-Album Wainscot) x1, 10029 Mythimna sicula x2, 10034 Leucania loreyi (The Cosmopolitan) x5, 10096 Noctua pronuba (Large Yellow Underwing) x1, 10238 Peridroma saucia (Pearly Underwing) x3, 10351 Agrotis segetum (Turnip Moth) x3.

Sierra de Loja, Granada Province, Spain.*

A cracking day up my favourate mountain with Sonia and Ricky.

Ebird List for the Hill.

After getting breakfast at Venta Riofrío we headed up the Sierra, I always say I am going drive straight over to the far side and never manage to do it but Ricky did so we were soon at the area I call the far crags and shortly after arriving we were perched up in a spot where we waited for the stunning Common Rock Thrush (Roquero Roja / Monticola saxatilis) to do its stuff. 

Common Rock Thrush (Roquero Roja / Monticola saxatilis).

Common Rock Thrush (Roquero Roja / Monticola saxatilis).

We didn't have to wait too long and the fine looking male bird soon flew in and landed several times on different points along the crags, at some points it came quite close and sang and did several song flights, I managed some OK shots but Ricky got some amazing photo's.

Common Rock Thrush (Roquero Roja / Monticola saxatilis).

Common Rock Thrush (Roquero Roja / Monticola saxatilis).

We sat quietly and still for quite a while but in the end my back side was so painful I went for a walk and left Ricky to it, I had a drink at the car and started to walk to another spot nearby when Sonia said the bird has moved and it flew right passed us and on to a tree nearby where I managed a few more photo's.

Common Rock Thrush (Roquero Roja / Monticola saxatilis).

Common Rock Thrush (Roquero Roja / Monticola saxatilis).

Other species seen in the area included Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Western Black-eared (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica) and Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax).

Common Rock Thrush (Roquero Roja / Monticola saxatilis).

Common Rock Thrush (Roquero Roja / Monticola saxatilis).

I continued on around to the next spot I wanted to check where in the past I had seen Geranium Argus (Eumedonia eumedon) but unfortunately the area was so degraded by over grazing I suspect the species is now lost.

Common Rock Thrush (Roquero Roja / Monticola saxatilis).

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

Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia).

I did find Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera) x2, Cardinal Fritillary (Argynnis pandora) x1, Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) x2, Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) x1, Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) x4, Common (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) and Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Large Psammodromus (Psammodromus algirus), Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Capra pyrenaica hispanica), Erodium cheilanthifolium, Bitting Stonecrop (Sedum acre), Thapsia villosa, Viola dementria, Rusty-back Fern (Ceterach officinarum), Cerastium boissieri, Blue Dreams (Chaenorrhinum Glareosum),  Carduus granatensis and Blue Hedgehog Broom (Erinacea anthyllis).

Erodium cheilanthifolium.

Erodium cheilanthifolium.

Whilst I was looking for the butterflies Ricky and Sonia went a little further on along the track and picked up Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Western Orphean Warbler (Curruca Mirlona / Sylvia hortensis) and Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus).

Antirrhinum australe.

On the way down the hill we added a passing Short-toed Snake Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus), a couple of male Blue / Common Emperors (Anax imperator) on the two pools at Charca del Negro, further on we saw Spectacled Warbler (Curruca Tomillera / Curruca conspicillata), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Common Stork's-bill (Erodium cicutarium) and down at the middle quarry Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Curruca undata), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum).

Looking back along the crags.

We also saw Swallowtail (Papilio machaon) x1, Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera) x2, Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenoides) x3, Southern Marbled Skipper (Muschampia baeticus) x2, Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina) x4, Rosy Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus onopordi) x2, European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria), Venus's Navelwort (Iberodes linifolia), Purple Bugloss (Echium plantagineum), Sedum mucizonia, Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum baeticum) and Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum).

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

Once we were down at the bottom of the hill and back at my car we went for a drink in the services and the we headed off home after a really nice weekend.