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Thursday 31 October 2024

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

An afternoon walk along the Arroyo Vilano and then a visit to the Curlew and Bustard fields.
Ebird List for the Lucerne fields. 

Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Eurasian Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) and in the back ground some of the Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).
After a morning of getting some jobs done I went down town for some shopping and for a walk along the Arroyo de Vilano but started from the Walnut trees and then followed the Arroyo down the track passing the road bridge and on down to the Railway line.
During this part of the walk I saw Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Cetti's (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).
Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) and Eurasian Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus).
At the far end of the walk I spent a while sat on the side of the track checking out a reed filled abandoned field which was next to a strip that had just been ploughed, her I saw lots more Corn Buntings, Eurasian Collared Doves, Iberian  Magpies along with Common Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) as well as Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus), Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) x1, Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) x1, Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) x5, Small White (Pieris rapae) x8. 
I then asked a farmer if I could walk the edge of the Asparagus fields over to the road, on the way I saw 3 Eurasian Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) before I reached the road and the I headed back to the crossroads passing the Poplar Plantation and then back to the Walnut trees.
During the section I added Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina), Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous) and a single Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera).
I dropped down to the fields nearer to town and checked to see if there were any birds there and I found 30 odd Eurasian Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), at least 12 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) and a single Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus). 
I popped into the garage and hoovered the inside of the car before returning to the house and catching up with a few more bits between so light showers.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 30th Oct 24.
15W Actinic on the terrace, +13
112 Moths of  30 Species.
Any corrections PLEASE send me a comment on the post, thanks.
 
9723 Polymixis argillaceago New for the Garden.

9723 Polymixis argillaceago New for the Garden.

1426 Prays oleae x1, 1655 Ethmia bipunctella x11, 4432 Oxypteron schawerdai  x4, 6496 Evergestis isatidalis x3, 6524 Hydriris ornatalis x1, 6531 Udea ferrugalis (Rusty Dot Pearl) x1, 6690a Palpita vitrealis x4, 6719 Nomophila noctuella (Rush Veneer) x2, 7882 Charissa mucidarius x1, 8211 Rhodometra sacaria (The Vestal) x3, 8256 Xanthorhoe fluctuata (Garden Carpet) x1, 8328 Nebula ibericata x3, 8576 Eupithecia unedonata x3, 9056 Autographa gamma (Silver Y) x1, 9142 Eublemma parva (Small Marbled) x1, 9433 Caradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow) x10, 
4432 Oxypteron schawerdai.

6531 Udea ferrugalis (Rusty Dot Pearl).

9591 Agrochola lunosa (Lunar Underwing) x23, 9621 Episema grueneri x2, 9628 Leucochlaena oditis (Beautiful Gothic) x3, 9648 Aporophyla chioleuca x3,  9651 Aporophyla nigra (Black Rustic) x2, 9723 Polymixis argillaceago x1 New for the Garden, 9724 Polymixis lichenea (Feathered Ranunculus) x1, 9743a Mniotype occidentalis x3, 10096 Noctua pronuba (Large Yellow Underwing) x1, 
8328 Nebula ibericata.

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8576 Eupithecia unedonata.

10212 Xestia xanthographa (Square-spot Rustic) x6, 10326 Eucoptocnemis optabilis x14, 10343 Agrotis puta (Shuttle Shaped Dart) x2, 10351 Agrotis segetum (Turnip Moth) and 10535 Crimson Speckled (Utetheisa pulchella) x2.
9621 Episema grueneri.

9743a Mniotype occidentalis.

9743a Mniotype occidentalis.

9724 Polymixis lichenea (Feathered Ranunculus).

9648 Aporophyla chioleuca.

9591 Agrochola lunosa (Lunar Underwing).

Wednesday 30 October 2024

Baza Area, Granada Province, Spain.

Checking the moth lights with Dave Grundy.
 
Some early morning cloud cover but better than yesterdays sky.
I started the day with a couple of Coffee's after a not so good nights sleep and then met Dave out side the hotel and we headed out to the site where we had set 5 LED lights last night, the area had dried out considerably over night, the two ramblers which were flowing strongly last night were now a trickle at most.
More of the morning skies just as the sun was coming up.
Looking west to the West.
One of the LED setups.
We parked and checked the traps, Dave thought they were fairly quiet but I was happy with what we saw but I am sure it was fairly low numbers but that's hardly surprising after the recent weather.
8307 Antilurga alhambrata.
8307 Antilurga alhambrata.
9632 Eremopola lenis.
9632 Eremopola lenis.
Some of the more interesting species seen were 4432 Oxypteron schawerdai, 6719 Nomophila noctuella (Rush Veneer), 7598 Perigune convergata, 7599 Perigune narbonea, 7945 Compsoptera opacaria, 8211 Rhodometra sacaria (The Vestal), 8307 Antilurga alhambrata, 8328 Nebula ibericata, 8576 Eupithecia unedonata, 8877 Catocala elocata, 9367 Heliothis peltigera (Bordered Straw), 9370 Helicoverpa armigera (Scarce Bordered Straw), 9433 Caradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow), 9454 Hoplodrina ambigua (Vine's Rustic), 9460 Spodoptera exigua (Small Mottled Willow), 9591 Agrochola lunosa (Lunar Underwing), 9632 Eremopola lenis, 9651 Aporophyla nigra (Black Rustic), 9723 Polymixis argillaceago, 9724 Polymixis lichenea (Feathered Ranunculus), 9814 Rhizedra lutosa (Large Wainscot), 10096 Noctua pronuba (Large Yellow Underwing), 10238 Peridroma saucia (Pearly Underwing), 10346 Dark Sword-grass (Agrotis ipsilon), 10347 Agrotis trux, 10351 Agrotis segetum (Turnip Moth), 10535 Crimson Speckled (Utetheisa pulchella).
9723 Polymixis argillaceago.
9723 Polymixis argillaceago.
9723 Polymixis argillaceago.
9814 Rhizedra lutosa (Large Wainscot).
9814 Rhizedra lutosa (Large Wainscot).
Bird wise we also saw Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Curruca undata), Thekla (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and Mediterranean Short-toed Lark (Terrera Marismena / Alaudala rufescens), Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).
7599 Perigune narbonea.
7598 Perigune convergata.
7599 Perigune narbonea and 7598 Perigune convergata.
7945 Compsoptera opacaria.
7945 Compsoptera opacaria.
Once we had finished the Moths we drove back to the hotel and had some breakfast before I headed back home and Dave continued on to the East.
8877 Catocala elocata.

8877 Catocala elocata.

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During the drive back home I added Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone) just before I reached Guadix, Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), a Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) which was being rescued from the side of the motorway by Seprona and several people from the road maintenance gangs, Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) on the A92 leavel with Santa Fe, Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki) and Eurasian Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus).
9724 Polymixis lichenea (Feathered Ranunculus).
10096 Noctua pronuba (Large Yellow Underwing) and 10238 Peridroma saucia (Pearly Underwing).


Tuesday 29 October 2024

Baza area, Granada Province, Spain.

A drive up to the NE of the Province for some Moth recording with Dave. 
Ebird List.

A washed out rainbow.
Dave and I spent the morning and some of the afternoon working on our laptops whilst the weather did it's best to try and persuade us not to head off to Baza for a night of Moth recording.
Even though it rained heavily of a few hours and the Barranco at the back of the house was flowing well we decided to give it a go and apart from a short bit of the road below the house and the motorway spray from the Lorries it wasn't a bad trip thankfully.
A soggy track.
On the way I only noticed a few Eurasian Magpies (Urraca Común / Pica pica) but after checking in at the hotel we went out onto the area where Dave has been before but didn't risk going too far out along the tracks as it was very wet and muddy, however we did see Mediterranean Short-toed (Terrera Marismena / Alaudala rufescens) and Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae),  x3, a single unexpected Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).
The end of the rain hopefully.
Whilst we were there we set up 5 LED lights in amongst the Esparto Grass tussocks hoping that we will catch some nice interesting species in the morning.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 28th Oct 24.
15W Actinic on the terrace, +11
Moths of  26 Species.
Any corrections PLEASE send me a comment on the post, thanks.
 
The trap on the terrace.
This morning I had the pleasure of Dave Grundy's company, Dave had arrived yesterday and we just ran the one trap as the weather was not looking great.
8841 Nodaria nodosalis new for the garden.
9621 Episema grueneri.
9651 Aporophyla nigra (Black Rustic).
Species included 1426 Prays oleae x2, 1655 Ethmia bipunctella x1, 4432 Oxypteron schawerdai  x3, 6496 Evergestis isatidalis x7, 6524 Hydriris ornatalis x1, 6531 Udea ferrugalis (Rusty Dot Pearl) x1, 6551 Udea numeralis x1, 6690a Palpita vitrealis x7, 7725 Menophora japygiaria (Brassy Waved Umber) x2, 8211 Rhodometra sacaria (The Vestal) x2, 8256 Xanthorhoe fluctuata (Garden Carpet) x2, 8328 Nebula ibericata x3,  8841 Nodaria nodosalis x1 new for the garden, 9142 Eublemma parva (Small Marbled) x1, 9433 Caradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow) x5, 9436 Caradrina flavirena x1, 9591 Agrochola lunosa (Lunar Underwing) x25, 9621 Episema grueneri x5, 9628 Leucochlaena oditis (Beautiful Gothic) x1, 9651 Aporophyla nigra (Black Rustic) x1, 9716 Trigonophora flammea (Flame Brocade) x1, 10034 Leucania loreyi (The Cosmopolitan) x1, 10035 Mythimna unipuncta (White Speck) x1, 10212 Xestia xanthographa (Square-spot Rustic) x5, 10326 Eucoptocnemis optabilis x14 and 10535 Crimson Speckled (Utetheisa pulchella) x1.
10034 Leucania loreyi (The Cosmopolitan).

10035 Mythimna unipuncta (White Speck).

Later in the day we headed off up to the Baza area where we were planning to set a few traps in the semi-desert area. 
10326 Eucoptocnemis optabilis.


Monday 28 October 2024

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 27th Oct 24.
15W Actinic on the terrace, +5.5
35 Moths of 14 Species.
Any corrections PLEASE send me a comment on the post, thanks.
 
8576 Eupithecia unedonata.

8211 Rhodometra sacaria (The Vestal) x1, 8256 Xanthorhoe fluctuata (Garden Carpet) x2, 8328 Nebula ibericata x1, 8576 Eupithecia unedonata x1, 9591 Agrochola lunosa (Lunar Underwing) x16, 9621 Episema grueneri x1, 9628 Leucochlaena oditis (Beautiful Gothic) x1, 9648 Aporophyla chioleuca x2,  9651 Aporophyla nigra (Black Rustic) x1, 10212 Xestia xanthographa (Square-spot Rustic) x1, 10326 Eucoptocnemis optabilis x4, 10347 Agrotis trux x1, 10351 Agrotis segetum (Turnip Moth) x1 and 10535 Crimson Speckled (Utetheisa pulchella) x1.
9591 Agrochola lunosa (Lunar Underwing).

9621 Episema grueneri.

9628 Leucochlaena oditis (Beautiful Gothic).

9648 Aporophyla chioleuca.

9648 Aporophyla chioleuca.

9651 Aporophyla nigra (Black Rustic).

10212 Xestia xanthographa (Square-spot Rustic).

10326 Eucoptocnemis optabilis.

10347 Agrotis trux.