Cerro Hacho and the Western Section of Rio Genil, Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

A walk around parts of the lower loop at Hacho and then a very pleasant walk with Juan, Beatriz and Chika along the Rio Genil.

Ebird List for Cerro Hacho.

Ebird List for Rio Genil West.

 

Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra).

I started the day by doing a few job and cleaned the car before going for a walk up on the lower loop at Cerro Hacho, I parked by the pretty much dry puddle and walked around to the far side of the Quarry.

Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus).

Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus).

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui).

On the way I saw Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Long-tailed (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus), European Crested (Herrerillo Capuchino / Lophophanes cristatus), Eurasian Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala) and Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Curruca undata), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra) and Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia).

Giant Orchid (Himanthoglosum Robertiana).

Giant Orchid (Himanthoglosum Robertiana).

Other species seen included Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) x4, Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros) x1, Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) x2, Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) x1, Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus) x3, Small White (Pieris rapae) x5, Broad-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia), Fan-lipped (Anacamptis collina) x2, Giant Orchid (Himanthoglosum Robertiana) x34 and Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys lupercalis) x40+.

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys lupercalis).

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys lupercalis).

Fan-lipped Orchid (Anacamptis collina).

On my way down the hill back to the road I made another stop and walked up the Northern slope of the valley finding Bellis microcephala, Common Whitlowgrass (Erophila verna), Cymbalaria-leaved Speedwell (Veronica cymbalaria), Field Marigold (Calendula arvensis), Friar's Cowl (Arisarum vulgare), Linaria amethystea and several Western Dappled Whites (Euchloe crameri) x5.

Broad-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia).

Broad-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia).

Bellis microcephala.

Cymbalaria-leaved Speedwell (Veronica cymbalaria).

As I drove back to the house I added one of the regular Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Common Fumitory (Fumaria officinalis) and a single spike of Giant Orchid at a new site in the Olives along the roadside.

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

I did a few more bits at home and then had some lunch, I then notice a message from friend Juan and Beatriz to say they were having lunch in the Cortijo de Tajar and then later they were going to have a walk along the Rio Genil near the town so I rang Juan and said I would meet them at 15:00.

We parked and walked along the southern side of the Rio Genil for around 1.75KM and then back again, Juan and Beatriz showed me 4 old Eurasian Penduline Tit (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus) nests and as we walked we also saw a single male bird which was calling regularly.

Old Eurasian Penduline Tit (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus) nest.

Other species seen included Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Common Kingfisher (Martin Pescador Común / Alcedo atthis), Eurasian Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tit, Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Green-Striped White (Euchloe belemia) x1, Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) x2, Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina) x1 and Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus).

After a very pleasant afternoon Juan, Beatriz and Chika headed off and I headed home.