Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A wet visit to the Fields.

Ebird List for the Fields.

 

It was a wet morning but as I need to get a few bits done down in Huétor I decided to have a quick look from the car as it was raining quite heavily.

As I sat on the track I saw Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix), European Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) x1, Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) x2, Eurasian Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Barn (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

On the way back up to the house I added Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum) and Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator).

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.**

Moth Records for the 11th April 25.

15W Actinic on the terrace, +14

19 Moth of 11 Species.

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

 

6488 Evergestis frumentalis.

6488 Evergestis frumentalis x1, 6509 Cornifrons ulceratalis x1, 6531 Udea ferrugalis (Rusty Dot Pearl) x2, 6719 Nomophila noctuella (Rush Veneer) x3, 7725 Menophora japygiaria (Brassy Waved Umber) x2, 8328 Nebula Ibericata x3, 9206 Cucullia calendulae (Marigold Shark) x1, 9367 Heliothis peltigera (Bordered Straw) x1, 9433 Paradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow) x3, 10343 Agrotis puta (Shuttle Shaped Dart) x1 and 10346 Dark Sword-grass (Agrotis ipsilon) x1.

6509 Cornifrons ulceratalis.

9206 Cucullia calendulae (Marigold Shark).

El Temple area and the Cacín Valley, Granada Province, Spain.

Out birding with Kiersten and Anne.

Ebird List for Alhendín ES-Granada.

Ebird List for El Temple.

Ebird List for Contraembalse de los Bermejales.

Ebird List for Camino del Turro al Castillo.

 

Looking through the Calima to Sierra Nevada.

I met Kiersten and Anne at Restaurante La Abadía near Padul, from here we went out west and our first stop was at a semi-derelict Cortijo where we had nice views of several  Lesser Kestrel (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni), 2x Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) which were giving a pale morph Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas) some stick, Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito ibérico / Picus sharpei), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), 4x Northern Ravens (Cuervo grande / Corvus corax), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica).

Northern Raven (Cuervo grande / Corvus corax).

Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas).

Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas).

We moved on and headed out on to the tracks around the El Temple area where we had nice views of at least 8 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) and heard several more along with Calandra Lark (Calandria Común / Melanocorypha calandra), Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas), Eurasian Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) male.

Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Calandra Lark (Calandria Común / Melanocorypha calandra).

Along the field edges we also found Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas), Corn Gromwell (Buglossoides arvensis), Eruca (Eruca sativa), Field Madder (Sherardia arvensis), Fine leaved (Fumaria parviflora) and Common Fumitory (Fumaria officinalis) and Henbit Deadnettle (Lamium amplexicaule).

Red-horned Poppy (Glaucium corniculatum).

Linaria hirta.

Just as we were about to head off along another of the tracks we met Francisco Contreras Parody (Steppe bird expert) and a couple of other birders so we had a chat and then moved on to another area where we saw Red-horned Poppy (Glaucium corniculatum), Roemeria hybrida, Linaria hirta, Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Eurasian Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Crested (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and Greater Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica).

Roemeria hybrida and other Wildflowers.

Roemeria hybrida.

We crossed the road through the site and checked a couple of spots on that side, at the first we found several Fan-lipped Orchids (Anacamptis collina) most of them were finished but there was still one in flower.

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui).

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui).

8638 Lithostege griseata (Grey Carpet) being eaten by a Pink Crab Spider (Thomisus onustus).

As we crossed the second area of fields we added Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix), Small White (Pieris rapae), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Pink Crab Spider (Thomisus onustus) and as we were driving off the site we had at least 3x Great Spotted Cuckoos (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius).

Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius).

Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius).

Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius).

We headed off the area and made our way to Ventas de Huelma where we went into Bernardo Restaurante for a drink and to get a sandwich which we took with us to the Cortijo Ochíchar through the Solar desert that has been created in the name of green power and net zero without any regard for the environment, habitats and wildlife, NET ZERO at ANY COST.

Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius).

Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius).

Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius).

As we sat and had our food we saw and heard Thekla's Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Short-toed Snake Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus) and Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri).

Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

We dropped down into the Cacín Valley and then drove up to the Contraembalse de Bermejalis where we had some really good views of at least 5 Western Marsh Harriers (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Booted Eagle x5, Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus) heard, Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito ibérico / Picus sharpei), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Common Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Barn Swallow, Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi), Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa), Yellow Bee (Ophrys lutea) and Mirror Orchid (Ophrys speculum).

Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).

Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) and a Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas) in areal combat.

As we made our way further up the Valley we made a stop in the pines where almost straight away we got views of a very smart Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila Perdicera / Aquila faciatus) and Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla).

European Roller (Carraca / Coracias garrulus).

European Roller (Carraca / Coracias garrulus).

We went up through El Turro and on to the road back towards Castillo de Tajarja and then on to Chimeneas, before we reached Castillo de Tajarja we found a very nice, newly in European Roller (Carraca / Coracias garrulus) and 2x more Great Spotted Cuckoos and on the fields near to Chimeneas we had male and female Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) and at least 2 Iberian Grey Shrikes (Alcaudón Real / Lanius meridionalis).

Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus).

We continued on and made our way back to the meeting point and then on home.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.**

Moth Records for the 10th April 25.

15W Actinic on the terrace, +13

98 Moth of 29 Species.

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

 

6207 Euchromius ocellea.

0706 Monopis nigricantella x2, 6207 Euchromius ocellea x1, 6493 Evergestis desertalis x1, 6509 Cornifrons ulceratalis x3, 6531 Udea ferrugalis (Rusty Dot Pearl) x2, 6690 Palpita vitrealis x2, 6719 Nomophila noctuella (Rush Veneer) x25, 6860 Hyles livornica (Striped Hawk-moth) x1, 7725 Menophora japygiaria (Brassy Waved Umber) x3, 7882 Charissa mucidaria x2, 8186 Idaea degeneraria (Portland Ribbon Wave) x1, 8211 Rhodometra sacaria (The Vestal) x1, 8256 Xanthorhoe fluctuata (Garden Carpet) x3.

6493 Evergestis desertalis.

 

6509 Cornifrons ulceratalis.

6860 Hyles livornica (Striped Hawk-moth).

7882 Charissa mucidaria.

7882 Charissa mucidaria.

8256 Xanthorhoe fluctuata (Garden Carpet).

8509 Eupithecia centaureata (Lime-speck Pug) x1, 8576 Eupithecia unedonata x2, 8599 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata (Double-striped Pug) x1, 8638 Lithostege griseata (Grey Carpet) x1, 9056 Autographa gamma (Silver Y) x1, 9100 Acontia lucida (Pale Shoulder) x4, 9140 Eublemma ostrina (Purple Marbled) x8, 9142 Eublemma parva (Small Marbled) x2.

8576 Eupithecia unedonata.

8599 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata (Double-striped Pug).

9140 Eublemma ostrina (Purple Marbled).

9142 Eublemma parva (Small Marbled).

9367 Heliothis peltigera (Bordered Straw) x3, 9433 Paradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow) x14, 9435/6 Caradrina noctivaga / flavirena x3, 9460 Spodoptera exigua (Small Mottled Willow) x4, 10029 Mythimna sicula x2, 10238 Peridroma saucia (Pearly Underwing) x1, 10343 Agrotis puta (Shuttle Shaped Dart) x4 and 10346 Dark Sword-grass (Agrotis ipsilon) x1. 

9435/6 Caradrina noctivaga / flavirena.

10346 Dark Sword-grass (Agrotis ipsilon).

Guadalhorce Ponds, Malaga, Malaga Province and near Huètor Tajar in Granada Province, Spain.

A quick visit to the Ponds but Derek and I were beaten by the ****** Mosquito's.

Ebird List for the Pools.

Ebird List for the Garden.

 

I started the day by taking Karen and Robert down to Malaga to catch their flight back to UK after what I hope was an enjoyable few days butterfly hunting for them seeing three out of the four targets we had wanted and a few extra species.

Marbled Duck (Cerceta pardilla / Marmaronetta angustirostris).

After saying goodbye to them I headed out to Guadalhorce where I met up with Barbara and Derek Etherton as well as Andy Patterson and his new dog Sally. 

After we had chatted for a while Andy and Sally headed off, Derek and I headed on to the reserve to look for a couple of reported Garganey (Cerceta Carretona / Spatula querquedula) whilst Barbara spent some time reading and watching the cars.

Almost straight away we were being bitten by the masses of Mosquitos which in the end was the reason it was a short visit, we made our way around to Observatorio de Laguna Grande where we picked up Common Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Slender-billed (Gaviota Picofina / Chroicocephalus genei), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Thalasseus sandvicensis), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Little (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Sedge Warbler (Carricerin Común / Acrocephalus schoenobaenus), Common Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis) and European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

Little Bittern (Avetorillo Común / Ixobrychus minutus).

As we couldn't find the Targets at Laguna Grande we walked around to Observatorio de Laguna Escondida where was saw White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Little Bittern (Avetorillo Común / Ixobrychus minutus), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum) and Western Subalpine Warbler (Curruca Carrasqueña Occidental / Curruca iberiae).
As the Mosquito's just kept getting worse we started to head off the reserve but call in at the mound that gives views over Laguna La Casilla where we saw lots more Marbled Ducks but nothing much else so we walked back to the car and then we all went for some breakfast and then I headed back home and got on with some jobs, later I went out to check the terrace and heard my first Red-necked Nightjar (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis) of the year and a couple of calling Little Owls (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

Arroyo Marin, Archidona in Malaga Province and Sierra de Loja, Granada Province, Spain.

Last day butterfly hunting with Karen and Robert.

Karen and Robert Day Seven.

Ebird List for Arroyo Marin.

Ebird List for Sierra de Loja.

 

Western Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli).

We headed out west to walk part of the Arroyo Marin Valley, we parked and straight away we could hear the first of several Common Nightingales (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), a Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis) new for the year, Western Bonelli's (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Cetti's (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), a nice male Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteño / Emberiza cirlus), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), European Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Eurasian Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Long-tailed Tit (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus), Iberian Green (Pito ibérico / Picus sharpei), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major) and Eurasian Wryneck (Torcecuello / Jynx torquilla), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui).

Black-eyed Blue (Glaucopsyche melanops).

Black-eyed Blue (Glaucopsyche melanops).

On the way we also found Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni) x2, Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) x8, Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli) x1, Black-eyed (Glaucopsyche melanops) x3 and Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina) x1, Large (Pieris brassicae) x3, Small (Pieris rapae) x7, Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) x8, Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) x3, Provence Hairstreak (Tomares ballus) x1, Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenoides) x5, Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) x2, Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus) x1 and Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina) x6.

Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina).

Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri).

Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri).

We also found a few species of Orchid and Wild Flower which included Fan-lipped (Anacamptis collina) x5, Italian Man Orchid (Orchis Italica) x1, Mirror (Ophrys speculum) x8, Sawfly (Ophrys tenthredinifera) x3, Small Woodcock (Ophrys picta) x1, Somber Bee (Ophrys lupercalis) x3 and Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea) x200+, Barbary Nut (Moraea sisyrinchium), Blue Hound's Tongue (Cynoglossum creticum), Cloven Petalled Campion (Silene colorata), Common Fumitory (Fumaria officinalis), Eruca (Eruca sativa), Field Marigold (Calendula arvensis), French Lavender (Lavandula stoechas), Grey-leaved Cistus (Cistus albidus), Purple Bugloss (Echium plantagineum), Southern Knapweed (Centaurea pullata), Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum baeticum), Wild Clary (Salvia verbenaca) and Wild Grape Hyacinth (Muscari neglectum).

Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas).

Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina).

We got back to the car and then went up into Archidona for a coffee and a late breakfast before spent a while on the lower slopes of Sierra de Loja, we parked near the Middle Quarry and walked back down to the main track and as we walked we saw Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum) and Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura).

Italian Man Orchid (Orchis Italica).

Small Woodcock Orchid (Ophrys picta).

Also seen were the yet to flower Wild Tulip (Tulipa sylvestris), Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum baeticum), Viola dementria and Provence Orange-tip.

Viola dementria.

Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenoides) male.

Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenoides) male.

We returned to the car and then headed for Mercodona to get a few bits for something to eat back at the house later.