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Friday, 9 October 2026

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for 8th October 2026.
15W Actinic on the terrace, +11
110 Moths of 27 Species.
Any corrections, PLEASE send me a comment on the post, thanks.
Licence from Junta de Andalucía.
 
3841 Helcystogramma lamprostoma.
1655 Ethmia bipunctella x3, 3841 Helcystogramma lamprostoma x1, 3842 Dichomeris acuminatus x2, 4432 Oxypteron schawerdai x3, 5670 Cryptoblabes gnidiella x1, 5830 Epischnia illotella x1, 6619 Uresiphita gilvata x1, 6690a Palpita vitrealis x7, 6700 Dolicharthria punctalis x1, 6719 Nomophila noctuella (Rush Veneer) x1, 8186 Idaea degeneraria (Portland Ribbon Wave) x1, 8211 Rhodometra sacaria (The Vestal) x1, 9433 Paradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow) x2,  9454 Hoplodrina ambigua (Vine's Rustic) x1, 9460 Spodoptera exigua (Small Mottled Willow) x11, 9462 Spodoptera littoralis (Mediterranean Brocade) x3, 9621 Episema grueneri x9, 9628 Leucochlaena oditis (Beautiful Gothic) x3, 9897 Anarta pugnax x2, 10016 Leucania punctosa x2, 10033 Mythimna riparia x2, 10084 Dichagyris flammatra (Black Collar) x1, 10212 Xestia xanthographa (Square-spot Rustic) x2, 10215 Xestia kermesina x12, 10335 Agrotis lata x31, 10343 Agrotis puta (Shuttle Shaped Dart) x3, 10351 Agrotis segetum (Turnip Moth) x3, 
5670 Cryptoblabes gnidiella.
 
 
4432 Oxypteron schawerdai.
 
 
8186 Idaea degeneraria (Portland Ribbon Wave).
 





9454 Hoplodrina ambigua (Vine's Rustic).
9897 Anarta pugnax.

10033 Mythimna riparia.

10084 Dichagyris flammatra (Black Collar).
10335 Agrotis lata.
10343 Agrotis puta (Shuttle Shaped Dart).

 

Thursday, 8 October 2026

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

An early walk with Paqui down on the fields.
Ebird List.
 
The Sunrise above the Sierra Nevada.
I met Paqui by the Walnut trees and as usual we went out as far as the gates and back, it was quiet but we had Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), 3x Little Owls (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Cetti's (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).
European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola) ♂.

Sunrise across the Lucerne Fields.

Wednesday, 7 October 2026

Huétor Fields and Presa y Meandros del Genil, Granada Province, Spain.

Out on the patch.
Ebird List for the Fields.
Ebird List for the Presa.

Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).
I got a few jobs done around the house then checked the Moth Trap before popping down to see Paqui for a minute on the Lucerne Fields, I then went to the Bank and finally called in at the fields near town where I found some of the wintering Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), only 5 birds but its the first time I have seen them in a while.
Also there were just over a 100 (probably many more) Eurasian Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Small White (Pieris rapae) x8, Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus) x1 and some croaking Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi) in the irrigation channel.
The Rio Genil at the Presa.
At 14:00 I waent down to Paqui's for another wonderful lunch, later we met up again and headed out to the Presa in the Rio Genil near Villanueva de Mesia where we saw 
Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Common (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) and Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), 4x Grey Herons (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), 2x Eurasian Eagle Owl (Búho Real / Bubo bubo), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs).

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for 6th October 2026.
15W Actinic on the terrace, +15.5
 Moths of Species.
Any corrections, PLEASE send me a comment on the post, thanks.
Licence from Junta de Andalucía.

5800 Phycita diaphana.

1655 Ethmia bipunctella x8, 4432 Oxypteron schawerdai  x2, 5800 Phycita diaphana x1, 5993 Euzophera pinguis x2, 6619 Uresiphita gilvata x1, 6690a Palpita vitrealis x8, 6700 Dolicharthria punctalis x1, 8599 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata (Double-striped Pug) x1, 9081 Ni Moth (Trichoplusia ni) x1, 9100 Acontia lucida (Pale Shoulder) x2, 9460 Spodoptera exigua (Small Mottled Willow) x9, 9621 Episema grueneri x12, 9628 Leucochlaena oditis (Beautiful Gothic) x1, 10018 Mythimna languida x1, 10212 Xestia xanthographa (Square-spot Rustic) x4, 10215 Xestia kermesina x2, 10335 Agrotis lata x17, 10343 Agrotis puta (Shuttle Shaped Dart) x3, 10351 Agrotis segetum (Turnip Moth) x2, 10501 Eilema interposita x1, 10535 Crimson Speckled (Utetheisa pulchella) x1 and 10555 Cymbalophora pudica x1.
5993 Euzophera pinguis.
8599 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata (Double-striped Pug).
9081 Ni Moth (Trichoplusia ni).
9621 Episema grueneri.
9621 Episema grueneri.
9621 Episema grueneri.
10212 Xestia xanthographa (Square-spot Rustic).
10215 Xestia kermesina.
10335 Agrotis lata.
10343 Agrotis puta (Shuttle Shaped Dart).
10501 Eilema interposita.

10555 Cymbalophora pudica.

Tuesday, 6 October 2026

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A quick evening visit to the fields.
Ebird List.

Sunset.
I met Paqui for a brief visit to the Fields where we had a short walk before it got dark, as we walked we saw Eurasian Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), 2x Little Owls (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Whinchat (Tarabilla Norteña / Saxicola rubetra), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) and Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild).
The Last of the Light.

Monday, 5 October 2026

Lower Cacín Valley and Presa y Meandros del Genil, Granada Province, Spain.

Mid-morning walk looking for more Owls. 
Ebird List for the Cacín Valley.
Ebird List for the Presa.

Paqui and I decided to go for a walk along the tracks which follow the lower stretches of the Rio Cacín, as we walked we saw or heard Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), a roosting Eurasian Eagle Owl (Búho Real / Bubo bubo), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Iberian (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki) and Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Woodlark (Alondra Totovía / Lullula arborea) and Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Eurasian Crag (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Long-tailed Tit (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).
Later in the day we want out to the spot near the Presa, new species for the day were Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Eurasian Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus). 

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for 4th October 2026.
15W Actinic on the terrace, +18
 Moths of  Species.
Any corrections, PLEASE send me a comment on the post, thanks.
Licence from Junta de Andalucía.
 
6275 Agriphila geniculea.
1655 Ethmia bipunctella x4, 3842 Dichomeris acuminatus x2, 4432 Oxypteron schawerdai  x4, 6275 Agriphila geniculea x3, 6604 Pyrausta aurata x1, 6690a Palpita vitrealis x13, 8211 Rhodometra sacaria (The Vestal) x1, 8823 Bryophila microglossa x1, 9100 Acontia lucida (Pale Shoulder) x2, 9370 Heliothis armigera (Scarce Bordered Straw) x1, 9425 Caradrina proxima x1, 9460 Spodoptera exigua (Small Mottled Willow) x9,  9462 Spodoptera littoralis (Mediterranean Brocade) x2, 9497 Thalpophila vitalba x1, 9621 Episema grueneri x2, 9628 Leucochlaena oditis (Beautiful Gothic) x3, 9743a Mniotype occidentalis x1, 9897 Anarta pugnax x2, 10016 Leucania punctosa x2, 10018 Mythimna languida x1, 10034 Leucania loreyi (The Cosmopolitan) x1, 10084 Dichagyris flammatra (Black Collar) x1, 10212 Xestia xanthographa (Square-spot Rustic) x2, 10215 Xestia kermesina x5, 10335 Agrotis lata x17, 10351 Agrotis segetum (Turnip Moth) x3 and 10535 Crimson Speckled (Utetheisa pulchella) x1.
9462 Spodoptera littoralis (Mediterranean Brocade).
9497 Thalpophila vitalba.
9621 Episema grueneri.
9621 Episema grueneri.
9743a Mniotype occidentalis.
9897 Anarta pugnax.
10018 Mythimna languida.
10084 Dichagyris flammatra (Black Collar).
10335 Agrotis lata.
10335 Agrotis lata.
10335 Agrotis lata.

Sunday, 4 October 2026

Huétor Fields, Mesia Service Road, Huétor Town Fields, Mesia Service Road and Realenga de Agicampe, Granada Province, Spain.

Out on the Local Patch.
Ebird List for Huétor Fields 1.
Ebird List for Huétor Fields 2.

I met Paqui down on the fields by the Walnut Trees and we walked out to the Gates and back, species seen included Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), a ♀ Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Iberian (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki) and Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Cetti's (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Spanish (Yellow) (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).
Desert Orange-tip (Colotis evagore) ♂.
Desert Orange-tips (Colotis evagore) ♂♀♀.
From the Fields we headed out to the Service road alongside the A92 near where we found lots of roosting or quite inactive Desert Orange-tip (Colotis evagore) as it was quite cloudy, we also saw Small White (Pieris rapae), Crimson Speckled (Utetheisa pulchella), Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus) and Wild Caper (Capparis spinosa).
Late in the afternoon I went down to Paqui's but made a stop at the Town Fields where I managed to find 186 Eurasian Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) but there were probably many more, European Stonechat, Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) and White Wagtail.
Desert Orange-tip (Colotis evagore) ♀.
Desert Orange-tip (Colotis evagore) ♀.
Desert Orange-tip (Colotis evagore) ♂♀.
I picked up Paqui and we drove back out to the A92 service road where we again found lots of Desert Orange-tips +50 but they were much more active and harder to photograph, we also saw Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma), Thekla's Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Sardinian Warbler and Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), we returned to Huétor and then had a nice quiet evening.

Saturday, 3 October 2026

Motril area, Granada Province, Spain.

A morning looking for birds, butterflies and more, then a swim in the afternoon.
Ebird List for near Playa Motril.
Ebird List for Desembocadura río Guadalfeo. 
Ebird List for Playa Maruja García.

Monk Parakeets (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus).
Paqui and I headed down the coast near Motril where we started the morning with a coffee in Estrella del Mar before going just up the road to a spot near the Playa Motril where I was hoping to see or at least hear a Rose-ringed Parakeet (Cotorra de Kramer / Psittacula krameri) which had been around for a whill but we were unlucky and only found a couple of Monk Parakeets (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus).
Monk Parakeets (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus).
Other Species included 
Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis).
European Honey Buzzard (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus).
European Honey Buzzard (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus).
We moved on along the coast to the Desembocadura Río Guadalfeo where after parking we could hear a singing Great Reed Warbler (Carricero Tordal / Acrocephalus arundinaceus) and whilst we were trying to see the bird we added 4 migrating European Honey Buzzards (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus), 2♂ and 6♀ Copper Demoiselles (Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis) and a ♀ Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata).
Copper Demoiselle (Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis) ♂.
As we walked along the River to the sea, we saw Small White (Pieris rapae), Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Sardinian and Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Common Blackbird, Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Red Avadavat (Bengali Rojo / Amandava amandava), House Sparrow and European Serin.
Red Avadavat (Bengali Rojo / Amandava amandava) ♂.
Red Avadavat (Bengali Rojo / Amandava amandava) ♂.
On the beach and out at sea we found 2x Eurasian Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus), Black-headed, Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Yellow-legged and Lesser Black-backed Gull, Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Thalasseus sandvicensis), Scopoli’s (Pardela cenicienta mediterránea / Calonectris diomedea) and Balearic Shearwater (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus) and a nice Common Kingfisher (Martin Pescador Común / Alcedo atthis).
Checking the Rocks.

Audouin's Gull (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii).
Common Kingfisher (Martin Pescador Común / Alcedo atthis).
Again we returned to the car and moved back to the east and to a spot for a couple of butterfly species, we saw several Plain Tigers (Danaus chrysippus) x12 and a couple of Monarchs (Danaus plexippus) x2 as well as Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous) x2, Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) x3, Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea) x2♂, Crimson Speckled (Utetheisa pulchella), Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas), another singing Great Reed Warbler and Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).
Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus).
Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus).
Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus).
Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus).
Monarch (Danaus plexippus).
Monarch (Danaus plexippus).
Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea) ♂.
Our last birding spot of the day was a spot given to me by friend Juan for Black-rumped Waxbill (Estrilda Culinegra / Estrilda troglodytes), we parked and soon found a good sized group of Waxbills feed in the shade of some Giant Reed (Arundo donax), most were Common Waxbill but as I scanned the birds which were feeding low down on what looked like Goose Grass (Eleusine indica) I counted at least 4 of the target Black-rumped Waxbills before a guy came along the fields edge and flushed them all.
Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).
Immature Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild).
Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus alcippus).
Other species seen in this area included African Grass Blue (Zizeeria knysna), Plain Tiger, Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), Eurasian Collared Dove, Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Crested Lark, Zitting Cisticola, Sardinian Warbler, European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), House Sparrow, Western Yellow (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava) and White Wagtail and European Serin.
After Tigers.
We again returned to the car and made our way to Torrenueva Costa where we had some lunch before spending some time on the beach and having a nice swim in some nice clear looking water.

Later we headed back to Huétor after a very nice day, on the way we saw a Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) and a second pale morph Booted.