Huétor Fields, Sierra de Huétor, Huétor Fields again and Balsa de Regidor, Granada Province, Spain.

Another day out with Lynn and Steve wildlife hunting and later in the day a bit of birding with Garry from Almeria.

Ebird List for the Fields.

Ebird List for Balsa de Regidor.

 

Sun Rise at the Walnut Trees.

I started the day by popping down onto the fields, I parked at the Walnut Trees and walked up to the usual parking spot and back again, interesting species included Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix), European Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oropéndola Europea / Oriolus oriolus) first of the year, Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Greater Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), Melodious Warbler (Zarcero políglota / Hippolais polyglotta), Common Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), a couple of male Western Orphean Warblers (Curruca Mirlona Occidental / Curruca hortensis), Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Whinchat (Tarabilla Norteña / Saxicola rubetra) which was another year tick, Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and a few Rabbits (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus).

Looking across the Lucerne Fields.

Long early morning shadows.

Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae).

Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Melodious Warbler (Zarcero políglota / Hippolais polyglotta).

Western Orphean Warbler (Curruca Mirlona Occidental / Curruca hortensis).

At 09:30 I met Lynn and Steve down in Huétor and we went along the A92 out to Los Mimbres Sur in the Sierra de Huétor where we did a walk around the Pine woodlands, here we found Eurasian Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Western Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater), European Crested (Herrerillo Capuchino / Lophophanes cristatus) and Long-tailed Tit (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina).

Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina).

As we strolled we also found Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus), Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina), Angel's tears Narcissus (Narcissus triandus), Adonis vernalis, Orchis cazorlensis, Barton's (Dactylorhiza insularis) and Dense-flowered Orchids (Neotinea maculata) all of which were not in flower yet but  Southern Early Purple (Orchis olbienis), Somber Bee (Ophrys lupercalis), Yellow Bee (Ophrys lutea) and Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera) were looking very nice.

Adonis vernalis.

We returned to the car and went to Venta del Molinillo where we walked up the side of the Arroyo Pardo Negro, new species included European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica), Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), Common Nightingale, Eurasian Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Western Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Eurasian Nuthatch, White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) and Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito ibérico / Picus sharpei).

Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros).

Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi).

Other species included Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli), Large (Nymphalis polychloros) and Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Large White (Pieris brassicae), Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina), Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi), Provence (Anthocharis euphenoides) and Common Orange-tip (Anthocharis cardamines), Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus), Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), a newly emerged Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula), Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi), Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa) and Stinking Hellebore (Helleborus foetidus).

Southern Early Purple (Orchis olbienis).

Southern Early Purple (Orchis olbienis).

Our next stop was at the picnic site at Las Mimbres where we had some food whilst watching a pair of Eurasian Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea) displaying and being very territorial.

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys lupercalis).

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys lupercalis).

We continuing on through the Park to the Alfaguara Botanical Garden where we walked the tracks finding Large Tortoiseshell, Holly Blue, Common Orange-tip, Adonis vernalis, Violet Limodore (Limodorum abortivum) which was not yet in flower, Iberian Green Woodpecker, Western Bonelli's Warbler, Short-toed Treecreeper, Eurasian Nuthatch and Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes).

Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera).

We got back to the car and headed back to Huétor as I had to get back to meet another friend Garry at the house as he was staying over before a trip up Sierra de Loja tomorrow.

Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula).

We reached Huétor and I said goodbye for now to Lynn and Steve and they headed back to their campsite and I met Garry at the house, shortly afterwards we headed out birding and started down on the fields as Garry needed Whinchat (Tarabilla Norteña / Saxicola rubetra) for the year and after a bit of a search we found one on the main fence at the far end of the Lucerne Fields, we also saw Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) and Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator).

Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas).

Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas).

Next we headed for Balsa de Regidor to have a look for the Tufted Duck (Porrón Moñudo / Aythya fuligula) which we found after a short while along with Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Western Cattle Egret, Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi) and Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa).

Later we went down town and had a couple of drinks and some food.

Mirador del Alto de Hondonero and Garganta del Guadalhorce, Malaga Province, Spain.

Another day in the hills with Lynn and Steve.

 

Looking out to the North.

I drove over to Lynn and Steve's campsite and we then dropped down to the Restaurante Paneque Rosario for breakfast and then headed off up into the hills.

and looking behind us at the crags.

Our first stop was at the highest point for the day at Mirador del Alto de Hondonero where we parked and then walked a largish loop taking in Fuente Toril and then down along the track beyond the fields, we then turned left across the stoney grassland eventually weaving our way up to the pool below the Observatorio Lagunas de Hondoner and then through the trees back to the car.

Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

As we walked we saw and heard Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Eurasian Jay (Arrendajo Euroasiático / Garrulus glandarius), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Eurasian Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Western Orphean (Curruca Mirlona Occidental / Curruca hortensis), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala) and Western Subalpine Warbler (Curruca Carrasqueña Occidental / Curruca iberiae), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla), Eurasian Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis).

Amongst the Orchids.

Pink Butterfly Orchid (Orchis papilionacea).

Southern Early Purple Orchid (Orchis olbienis).

Orchids included Pink Butterfly (Orchis papilionacea), Southern Early Purple (Orchis olbienis), Mirror (Ophrys speculum), Sawfly (Ophrys tenthredinifera), Ophrys dyris, Somber Bee (Ophrys lupercalis), Yellow Bee (Ophrys lutea), Small Woodcock (Ophrys picta) and Bumble-bee Orchid (Ophrys bombyliflora) but best of all was a couple of spikes of Ophrys x benaventei (Ophrys bombyflora x Ophrys picta) which was new to me.

Bumble-bee Orchid (Ophrys bombyliflora).

Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera).

Ophrys dyris.

Ophrys x benaventei (Ophrys bombyflora x Ophrys picta).

Ophrys x benaventei (Ophrys bombyflora x Ophrys picta).

Ophrys x benaventei (Ophrys bombyflora x Ophrys picta).

Photographing the Hybrid.

Butterflies were also on the wing and we found Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Provence Hairstreak (Tomares ballus), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) and Large White (Pieris brassicae).

Provence Hairstreak (Tomares ballus).

Provence Hairstreak (Tomares ballus).

Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas).

We got back to the car and then dropped just a short way back down the hill and parked again just passed the turning up to Observatorio Lagunas de Hondoner where we checked the roadside areas for butterflies finding Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina), Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina), Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenoides) and Small White (Pieris rapae) as well as Iberian Wingless Mantis (Apteromantis aptera) and Bombus terrestris ??????

Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina).

Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina).

Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenoides).

Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenoides).

Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina).

Further down we parked again and followed the Arroyo de Portillos for a short way up stream, here we added Rue-leaved Saxifrage (Saxifraga tridactylites), Tassel Hyacinth (Leopoldia comosa), Stinking Hellebore (Helleborus foetidus) and Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni).

Bombus terrestris ??????

Iberian Wingless Mantis (Apteromantis aptera).

Rue-leaved Saxifrage (Saxifraga tridactylites).

A grassy meadow next to the Arroyo de Portillos.

We dropped back down to Rosario and then took to the tracks just before the motorway and then followed a couple more tracks until we got to one which followed the Guadalhorce for awhile, we made a stop in a nice flower rich area finding Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Small and Large White, Clouded Yellow, Provence Orange-tip, Painted Lady, Macroglossum stellatarum (Hummingbird Hawkmoth), Crown Daisy (Chrysanthemum carinatum), Yellow Bee, Mirror and Giant Orchid (Himanthoglosum Robertiana).

Crown Daisy (Chrysanthemum carinatum) and ???????

As we continued on along the track we picked up Eurasian Hoopoe, Common Nightingale, European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), Short-toed Treecreeper, Corn Bunting, Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola) and a nice bit of exposed Geology.