Embalse de Cubillas and Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A mornings birding with Juan, a new species for my Granada List and a Year tick.

Ebird List for the Embalse.

Ebird List for the Fields.

Cubillas in the Gloomy cloud.

I met Juan Pérez Contreras just before 08:00, we parked and started a few hours of successful birding which began almost instantly when we found a couple of very smart looking Brambling (Pinzón Real / Fringilla montifringilla) sat up in a Walnut tree with several Common Chaffinches (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).

Brambling (Pinzón Real / Fringilla montifringilla).

In the same area we added Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Eurasian (Urraca Común / Pica pica) and Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Eurasian Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major) and Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).

Brambling (Pinzón Real / Fringilla montifringilla).

At this point Javier Gómez González arrived and we went for a walk to another area where we found a small number of Hawfinch (Picogordo Común / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla), Long-tailed Tit (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus), Mistle (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis).

Lesser-spotted Woodpecker (Pico Menor / Dryobates minor) Male.

We walked back towards the cars and just as we reached them we heard a call from the target species and within a minute or two we were watching a cracking male Lesser-spotted Woodpecker (Pico Menor / Dryobates minor) which was a new Granada Province species for Juan and myself but Javier had seen it a few times and was also found the first record, a female earlier in the year.

Unfortunately the bird was flushed by some cyclists and walkers that came through the area, so we went for a walk a bit further along the road into some pine trees and added Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Common Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapilla) and European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

Lesser-spotted Woodpecker (Pico Menor / Dryobates minor) Male.

We said bye to Javier and then went to another spot where we scanned the main Embalse seeing White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Spatula clypeata), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Muscovy Duck (Pato criollo / Cairina moschata), Egyptian Geese (Ganso del Nilo / Alopochen aegyptiaca), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus) and a single Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta).

European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola).

Just a little further along the margins we set up again and picked up Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola) and during a short walk to another area of Damp woodland we saw Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata).

European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola).

Juan stayed on at the Embalse for a while and I started to head home, on the way I saw Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus) sat on different Pylons during the drive and then out on the fields I picked up Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) and a good sized flock of Eurasian Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) x2, Red Admiral x2, Small (Pieris rapae) x4 and Large White (Pieris brassicae) x1 but nothing else new.

Along the Rio Genil, Huétor Tajar and Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A Chiffchaff filled walk along the Rio Genil and then out again along the Lucerne Fields.

Ebird List for the Rio Genil.

 

Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) Male.

I started by parking just over the bridge on the Southern side of the Town and walking along the bank of the Genil for a few hundred meters and could soon tell that there had been a huge increase in the number of Common Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) with over 300 being seen during my walk, many of them were still singing which was nice.

I then added Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Eurasian Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Eurasian (Urraca Común / Pica pica) and Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula).

Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) Female.

I walked back up to the road and then continued on through the fields for another couple of KMs seeing Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala) and Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Curruca undata), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) and European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

A cloudy Sunset.

Later in the day I did a short walk but I didn't see anything of interest.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 7th Nov 24.

15W Actinic on the terrace, +12.5

39 Moths of 17 Species.

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

 

9370 Helicoverpa armigera (Scarce Bordered Straw).

1361 Zelleria oleastrella x1, 3842 Dichomeris acuminatus x2, 4432 Oxypteron schawerdai  x1, 6496 Evergestis isatidalis x3, 6690a Palpita vitrealis x9, 6719 Nomophila noctuella (Rush Veneer) x2, 7504 Watsonalla uncinula (Spiny Hook-tip) x1, 8328 Nebula ibericata x7, 8576 Eupithecia unedonata x1, 9370 Helicoverpa armigera (Scarce Bordered Straw) x1, 9460 Spodoptera exigua (Small Mottled Willow) x1, 9591 Agrochola lunosa (Lunar Underwing) x3, 9651 Aporophyla nigra (Black Rustic) x2, 9724 Polymixis lichenea (Feathered Ranunculus) x2, 9716 Trigonophora flammea (Flame Brocade) x1, 10212 Xestia xanthographa (Square-spot Rustic) x1 and 10343 Agrotis puta (Shuttle Shaped Dart) x1.

Sierra de Loja and Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A Sunny but Windy and Cold visit to the Sierra.

Ebird List for the Sierra.

Ebird List for the Fields.

 

Looking south.

I left the house early and went for breakfast down in Huétor before heading along the motorway and then up the wonderful Sierra de Loja, my main objective was to get to the far side of the area to see if I could find the Ring Ouzels (Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus) and Alpine Accentors (Acentor Alpino / Prunella collaris).

Looking to the East.

On the way over to the crags I picked up White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real / Lanius meridionalis).

Looking to the West.

I arrived in the area but it was surprisingly cold and windy with a heavy cloud over the ridges, I dropped down into the Hawthorn area where I found several Ring Ouzel of the ssp alpestris still feeding in the area but the wind made it difficult to get decent views.

Ring Ouzel (Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus) male of the ssp alpestris.

Ring Ouzel (Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus) male of the ssp alpestris.

Other species seen included a single Hawfinch (Picogordo Común / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes) which I was not expecting this high at this time of the year, Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Song (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) and Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus).

Hawfinch (Picogordo Común / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes).

Hawfinch (Picogordo Común / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes).

I started to make my way back toward the upper crags where I spent a couple of hours searching for the Alpine Accentors we saw a few days ago but I only managed flight views but it was of 5 birds instead of the 2 we saw last time.

Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax).

I headed back down the hill adding Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus), Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Capra pyrenaica hispanica), Small White (Pieris rapae) before heading over to Huétor Fields.  

European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis).

I did a walk from my normal parking spot out to the crossroads and then back again picking up Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Eurasian Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 6th Nov 24.

15W Actinic on the terrace, +11

35 Moths of 16 Species.

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

 

3842 Dichomeris acuminatus.

1655 Ethmia bipunctella x1, 3842 Dichomeris acuminatus x1, 4432 Oxypteron schawerdai  x1, 6496 Evergestis isatidalis x4, 6604 Pyrausta aurata x1, 6719 Nomophila noctuella (Rush Veneer) x3, 8328 Nebula ibericata x4, 8576 Eupithecia unedonata x1, 9056 Autographa gamma (Silver Y) x1, 9206 Cucullia calendulae (Marigold Shark) x1, 9433 Caradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow) x1, 9460 Spodoptera exigua (Small Mottled Willow) x1, 9591 Agrochola lunosa (Lunar Underwing) x11, 9648 Aporophyla chioleuca x1, 9724 Polymixis lichenea (Feathered Ranunculus) x1 and 10326 Eucoptocnemis optabilis x2.

6604 Pyrausta aurata.

8576 Eupithecia unedonata.

9056 Autographa gamma (Silver Y).

9206 Cucullia calendulae (Marigold Shark).

9460 Spodoptera exigua (Small Mottled Willow).

9648 Aporophyla chioleuca.

9724 Polymixis lichenea (Feathered Ranunculus).

As I was checking the trap I also found an extra resident in the shape of an African Mantis (Sphodromantis viridis) which had no doubt reduced the Moth numbers during the night.

African Mantis (Sphodromantis viridis).

Fuente de Piedra, Malaga Province and Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A mornings birding with Barbara, Derek and Andy.

Ebird List for Fuente.

Ebird List for the Fields.

Eurasian Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus).

I was off early and on my way out to our meeting point I picked up Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) and Eurasian Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) on the fields near Huétor and a flock of Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) which were coming out from a roost somewhere near Antequera.

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

I arrived at Fuente and the others were not far behind so we were soon have breakfast in Bar Panymá and then we made our way down to the reserve where we first checked the field to the right of the entrance track finding 30 odd Eurasian Stone Curlews in a line next to a large flock of around 250 or so Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) along with a few Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula) and a more distant Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) on one of the many Pylons.

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus).

We drove slowly along side the pool on the left but there were just a couple of Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Spatula clypeata) so we headed up to the car park and then walked down to the boardwalk but it was fairly quiet as well and but we still added Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Eurasian Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola) and a small group of Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago).

Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki).

Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki).

Iberian  Magpies (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki).

We walked around the lower track and then up to the Mirador, on the way we heard and saw a Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) before we scanned the main lagoon and seeing Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Common Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Pied Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Common Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus) and surprisingly 6 more Eurasian Stone Curlews.

Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus).

Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) being chased by Starlings.

Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) being chased by Starlings.

We walked around to the two hides over looking the freshwater lagoons but they looked horribly green and bird numbers were low which I am guessing was due to the bad water quality.

Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus).

However we did see Gadwall (Anade Friso / Mareca strepera), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Common Buzzard and Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).

Common Crane (Grulla Común / Grus grus).

We returned to the cars and I said goodbye to the others and headed back home whilst they headed on to Navahermosa for some more birding, I got home and did a few jobs before going for a late walk around the fields where the best species was a single Common Crane (Grulla Común / Grus grus) which was on the Lucerne Fields but it was soon flushed by a tractor which was collecting in the silage.

Common Crane (Grulla Común / Grus grus).

Common Crane (Grulla Común / Grus grus).

Other species included 20 odd Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Green Sandpiper, Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), a Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) which was being seen off by a large flock of Spotless Starlings, Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and a large flock of Iberian  Magpies (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki).

Common Crane (Grulla Común / Grus grus).

As I walked I also saw Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) x1, Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) x2 and Small White (Pieris rapae) x5.

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A bit of stationary Birding from the car.

Ebird List.

 

Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) just as it flew behind a Reed head.

I was still having some ankle problems so I just went along to the Walnut trees and parked and scanned the fields finding a single Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Northern Raven (Cuervo grande / Corvus corax), Eurasian Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis) and European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea).

European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola) with a grasshopper.

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A short walk along the Arroyo.

Ebird List for the fields.

 

Sunset.

I parked at the usual spot but as my ankles were absolutely killing me I didn't walk very far but still recorded Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis).

Also seen were Bath White (Pontia daplidice) x1, Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) x2, Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) x3 and Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) x1.