Huétor Fields and near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

A quick walk along the Lucerne Fields and some time up on the terrace.

Ebird List for the walk.

Ebird List for the Terrace. 

Early morning cloud hiding the sun.

I was up early and then went down to the fields for a walk as we were having a quiet day around the house after yesterdays trip to the coast.

European Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur).

I parked at the usual spot and then walked out towards the Crossroads but turned around short of it as there was a meeting of hunters blocking the road, during the walk I saw Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Iberian (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki) and Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Whinchat (Tarabilla Norteña / Saxicola rubetra), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and the first Meadow Pipits (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) which will stay for the winter.

Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos).

I returned to the house and spent a while up on the terrace with Mom and John where I saw a Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) which was also the first returning bird I had seen of the Autumn, other species were Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Barn Swallow and more Iberian  Magpies.

Caleta de Velez and Nerja in Malaga Province, Spain.

A run along the Malaga coast and then back through Granada.

 

Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) showing characteristics of Baltic Gull (Larus fuscus fuscus).

We headed off towards the coast, taking the road south across country via Salar, Ventas de Zafarraya, Puente de Salia and Vélez-Málaga.

Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) showing characteristics of Baltic Gull (Larus fuscus fuscus).

Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) showing characteristics of Baltic Gull (Larus fuscus fuscus).

As we drove I saw Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Iberian  (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki) and Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), 

Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) showing characteristics of Baltic Gull (Larus fuscus fuscus).

We reached Caleta de Velez and after getting a coffee we went for a walk along the fenced of beach where the gulls roost and I found good numbers of birds but just a single Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus) and a dozen or so Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) amongst around 300 Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) with some of these birds showing characteristics of Baltic Gull (Larus fuscus fuscus) really stood out as much darker birds.

Paler looking Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus).

In the same area I also saw Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris).

Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

We moved on and took the coast road east to Nerja where we had a drive around trying to find somewhere to park as the main car park was closed so we ended up down by the hotel Monica and had some lunch in one of the bars there but as we ate the rain arrived so we decided not continue on into town but to head back to the house along the coast and then up around Granada and home.

Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada) male.

Later we sat up on the terrace for a while seeing Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus).

Riofrio, Granada Province, Spain.

A short walk along the Riofrio near Loja.

Ebird List for the walk.

Mom and John in Riofrio.

We decided to go down to Riofrio for a walk and a coffee, we parked and walked along the side of the river seeing Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Iberian  (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki) and Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Cetti's (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), European Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and a nice Hawfinch (Picogordo Común / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes).

Sturgeon.

Other species seen were Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) x3, Small (Pieris rapae) x2 and Large White (Pieris brassicae) x1 and Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus) x1.

Sturgeon.

We checked the man made pools where there used to be large numbers of trout reared, however today they were all full of Caviar producing Sturgeon.

After a coffee we drove back towards the house going through Loja, then to Mercodona for some shopping before later spending sometime up on the terrace. 

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 9th Oct 24.

15W Actinic on the terrace, +14

137 Moths of  24 Species.

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

9699 / 9700 Dryobotodes eremita / monochroma.

1655 Ethmia bipunctella x4, 6619 Uresiphita gilvata x1, 6690a Palpita vitrealis x3, 7926 Semiaspilates ochrearia (Yellow Belle) x1, 8059 Scopula marginepunctata (Mullein Wave) x1, 9142 Eublemma parva (Small Marbled) x1, 9425 Caradrina proxima x2, 9433 Caradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow) x35, 9436 Caradrina flavirena x12, 9454 Hoplodrina ambigua (Vine's Rustic) x4, 9460 Spodoptera exigua (Small Mottled Willow) x1, 9462 Spodoptera littoralis (Mediterranean Brocade) x1, 9621 Episema grueneri x4, 9628 Leucochlaena oditis (Beautiful Gothic) x3, 9653 Aporophyla canescens x2, 9876a Denticucullus mabillei x1 new for the garden, 10016 Leucania punctosa x4, 10029 Mythimna sicula x2, 10215 Xestia kermesina x15, 10326 Eucoptocnemis optabilis x2, 10343 Agrotis puta (Shuttle Shaped Dart) x25, 10347 Agrotis trux x8, 10351 Agrotis segetum (Turnip Moth) x3 and 10460 Earias insulana (Egyptian Bollworm) x2.

9653 Aporophyla canescens.

9876a Denticucullus mabillei x1 new for the garden.

10326 Eucoptocnemis optabilis.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

A few hours up on the Terrace.

Ebird List for the Terrace.

 

Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).

After a day of travelling Mom and John just wanted a day to rest, so apart from a trip down to Mercodona and a meal out in the evening we spent most of the day up on the terrace.

Whilst up there we saw Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Eurasian Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Woodlark (Alondra Totovía / Lullula arborea), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris) and Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina).

Malaga Airport, Malaga Province, Spain.

A trip down to Malaga to pick up my Mom and John with a bit of birding on the way.

Ebird List for the Airport.

 

Eurasian Dotterel (Chorlito Carambolo / Charadirus morinellus).

I got the last of the jobs done before I headed down to Malaga where I was going to collect my Mom and John from the Airport later in the evening, my first stop was at the eastern side of the airport near runway 2 where friends had seen a couple of Eurasian Dotterel (Chorlito Carambolo / Charadirus morinellus) a couple of days ago.

Eurasian Dotterel (Chorlito Carambolo / Charadirus morinellus).

I arrived at the Pin Derek and Barbara had sent me and quickly found the two birds feeding in a very dry looking grass area, in the same area I also saw Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula). 

Eurasian Dotterel (Chorlito Carambolo / Charadirus morinellus).

I later went into Ikea and Leroy Merlin before parking up and waiting for Mom to arrive, they were a little late but once they were through the airport we made our way up to Huétor and then to the house where after a chat and a quick drink we all turned in.

Eurasian Dotterel (Chorlito Carambolo / Charadirus morinellus) x2.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 5th Oct 24.

15W Actinic on the terrace, +15

293 Moths of 41 Species.

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

 

5865 Acrobasis romanella.

0465 Myrmecozela ataxella x1, 1655 Ethmia bipunctella x29, 5652 Hypsopygia costalis (Golden Triangle) x1, 5865 Acrobasis romanella x1, 6215x Euchromius gozmanyi agg x1, 6260 Agriphila inquinatella x1, 6531 Udea ferrugalis (Rusty Dot Pearl) x1, 6619 Uresiphita gilvata x1, 6690a Palpita vitrealis x6, 7926 Semiaspilates ochrearia (Yellow Belle) x1, 8186 Idaea degeneraria (Portland Ribbon Wave) x1, 8211 Rhodometra sacaria (The Vestal) x6, 8509 Eupithecia centaureata (Lime-speck Pug) x2, 8823 Bryophila microglossa x1, 9100 Acontia lucida (Pale Shoulder) x1, 9142 Eublemma parva (Small Marbled) x2, 9370 Helicoverpa armigera (Scarce Bordered Straw) x1, 9425 Caradrina proxima x1, 9433 Caradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow) x49, 9436 Caradrina flavirena x47, 9454 Hoplodrina ambigua (Vine's Rustic) x3, 9621 Episema grueneri x2, 9628 Leucochlaena oditis (Beautiful Gothic) x1, 9743a Mniotype occidentalis x1, 10003 Mythimna vitellina (The Delicate) x2, 10016 Leucania punctosa x26, 10029 Mythimna sicula x3, 10084 Dichagyris flammatra (Black Collar) x1, 10087 Ochropleura leucogaster (Radford's Flame Shoulder) x1, 10212 Xestia xanthographa (Square-spot Rustic) x4, 10215 Xestia kermesina x16, 10238 Peridroma saucia (Pearly Underwing) x1, 10273 Euxoa temera x2, 10335 Agrotis lata x11, 10343 Agrotis puta (Shuttle Shaped Dart) x32, 10347 Agrotis trux x21, 10351 Agrotis segetum (Turnip Moth) x8, 10460 Earias insulana (Egyptian Bollworm) x1, 10501 Eilema interposita x1, 10535 Crimson Speckled (Utetheisa pulchella) x1 and 10555 Cymbalophora pudica x1.

6215x Euchromius gozmanyi agg.

9621 Episema grueneri.

9621 Episema grueneri.

9743a Mniotype occidentalis.

10084 Dichagyris flammatra (Black Collar).