Loja Wildlife, Granada Province, Spain.: 2026

Sunday, 15 February 2026

Contraembalse de Bermejalis, Granada Province, Spain.

Nearly 3 hours wandering around an almost empty reservoir.

Ebird List for the Contraembalse.

Looking North up the Valley.

I waited for it to warm up a tad and then had a drive down to the Contraembalse de Bermejalis for a walk, I parked near the southern end of the now almost completely empty Reservoir, the only water was from the Rio Cacín which flows in the southern end and out at the Dam.

Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus).

Along the Rio I picked up Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus) x3, Common Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) x2, Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) x5 and around the margins and in the reeds Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

Narrow-leafed Ash (Fraxinus angustifolia).

In the air, surrounding fields and woods I added Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), the first of at least 9x Western Marsh Harriers (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) but I think there were at least a couple more, 2x Northern Ravens (Cuervo grande / Corvus corax), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Cetti's (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and a singing ♂ Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteño / Emberiza cirlus).

Northern Goshawk (Azor Común / Accipitor gentillis).

I walked down the road to the south checking the trees and reed beds, here I saw and heard Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) ♀, Northern Goshawk (Azor Común / Accipitor gentillis) ♂, Eurasian Wryneck (Torcecuello / Jynx torquilla), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

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

I walked back up towards the car and then onwards past it towards the bridge over the Cacín, on the way Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito ibérico / Picus sharpei), Thekla's Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Field Marigold (Calendula arvensis), Cymbalaria-leaved Speedwell (Veronica cymbalaria) and White Wallrocket (Diplotaxis erucoides) were all seen.

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

Down by the bridge I spent a while checking the stuff flitting through the trees and added 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), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Eurasian Siskin (Jilguero Lúgano / Carduelis spinus).

Looking South up the Valley.

On the walk back towards the car I took the track down to the to of the dam as far as the gates, here there was a very skanky looking pool of water with 3x Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), 7x Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and a Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos).

Looking South up the Valley.

On the walk back up to the road and on to the car, Long-tailed Tit (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus) and Woodlark (Alondra Totovía / Lullula arborea) bought the list for the site up to a nice round 50.

After noticing that the electric was off at the house from feedback from the security system I headed straight back instead of calling in at another couple of places, when I got there I found that the fuse board had flicked off and that the fuse for the lights would not come back on, just one more bit of stress to add to the list after all the rain.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 14th February 2026.

15W Actinic on the terrace, +1.5.

1 Moth of 1 Species.

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

Licence from Junta de Andalucia.

It was clear overnight and cold, so I was surprised to find anything. Just a single 10226 Cerastis faceta x1.

Saturday, 14 February 2026

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A look around the Lucerne Fields after getting some Logs.

Ebird List for the Fields.

Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

After sorting a few bits at the house, I popped up to Bobadilla and picked up a boot full of Logs and then unloaded them back at home.

Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

Later I went down to the Fields and did a short walk along the Lucerne fields finding Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) x10, just the one Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Eurasian Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) and Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), 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), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina) and European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

Once I got back home, I started the clean-up inside the house after the recent very heavy rains and winds.

Friday, 13 February 2026

Malaga, Malaga Province, Spain.

Meeting friends for Lunch.

No proper birding today as the weather was still S**T, however I still had a nice day having lunch and chinwag with some good birding friends Andy Patterson, Barbara and Derek Etherton down in Malaga.

Only species seen noticed were Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Monk Parakeet.

Thursday, 12 February 2026

Town Fields, Balsa de Regidor, Huétor Fields and Cerro Hacho, Granada Province, Spain.

Out for a couple of hours whilst it's dry.

Ebird List for the Town Fields.

Ebird List for Balsa de Regidor.

Ebird List for the Lucerne Fields.

After a really nice evening yesterday with friends Jan and Garry I slept in slightly, I was still out by 09:00 and managed to get down to Huétor on the normal roads which at the time I went through were all open for the first time in a while, if not a little narrower due to the amount of soil piled up along the Barranco.

Just before I reached town I checked the fields as I could see a good number of Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) on the Lucerne and after doing a count I came up with 61 birds.

Balsa de Regidor.

I continued on through town and out to Moraleda and then to the Balsa where I parked and scanned the pool finding Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Spatula clypeata), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis).

Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis) ♂.

Around the pool I also found Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), ♂ Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) which was sat on the far side of the pool in a fig tree, Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Eurasian Crag (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Cetti's (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Mistle (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), House (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and ♂♀ Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and a couple of Rabbits (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus).

Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) ♂.

My next stop was at Click Clack where I got a few bits from Maria before going and checking the Lucerne Fields but it was generally fairly quiet, I did add Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), 2x Black-winged Kites (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), Eurasian Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) and Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Giant Orchid (Himanthoglossum Robertiana).

I went back up to the house and then a bit later I decided to pop up the road to Hacho to check the Orchids, I wasn't sure if I could get there, but the road had been cleared, it was passable with care, so I got to the spot where the Orchids are found.

I could see that a few of the Giant Orchids (Himanthoglossum Robertiana) were just starting to flower and as I dropped back down to the main road again I found several spikes of Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys lupercalis).

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys lupercalis).

Other species seen during this short visit included Broad-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia), Field Marigold (Calendula arvensis), Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila Perdicera / Aquila faciatus), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Crossbill and Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla).

Wednesday, 11 February 2026

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

A look around the Balsa and then up on to the Lucerne Fields.

Ebird List for Balsa de Regidor.

Ebird List for the Lucerne Fields.

Balsa de Regidor.

It rained for most of the night and the morning so when I stopped in the afternoon I popped out for a quick look at Balsa de Regidor where after parking I saw Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Spatula clypeata), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) out on the water.

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

On the margins there was a single Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), lots of Common Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Cetti's (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Spanish (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis) and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

Up in the air a smart Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) ♂, Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Eurasian Crag (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula).

As I walked back to the car I scanned the ridges to the north where I picked up Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis).

The next band of rain is on its way.

I cut across country through Mesia on the way back to the fields and then went out to the Walnut trees but by the time I got there it started to rain again so I just checked the fields from the car finding the ♂ Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius) sat on a lower branch of its usual perch but it wasn't there long as it was flushed by a big ♀ Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus).

♂ Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius).

I also saw Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, the usual pair of Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) which unfortunately look like they have abandoned their first breeding attempt of the year, Eurasian Magpie, Eurasian Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) and Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Barn Swallow, Western House Martin, Common Chiffchaff, Cetti's Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Common Blackbird, Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), House Sparrow, Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtail, Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina), Field Marigold (Calendula arvensis) and White Wallrocket (Diplotaxis erucoides).

The rain got heavier, so I went back home and got the fire going, later I went up the road for a very nice meal and all round evening with friends Jan and Garry.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 10th February 2026.

15W Actinic on the terrace, +13 very wet.

6 Moths of 2 Species.

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

Licence from Junta de Andalucia.

6496 Evergestis isatidalis x4 and 9676 Xylocampa areola (Early Grey) x2.

Sunday, 8 February 2026

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

A morning birding with Barbara and Derek and a quick visit to the Fields on my way home.

Ebird List for Fuente de Piedra.

Ebird List for Laguna Dulce.

Ebird List for Huétor Fields.

The Roadside Laguna.

I was up earlyish to met Barbara and Derek Etherton in Fuente de Piedra, on the drive over I picked up Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) and a couple of Common Buzzards (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).

Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) 2x AD and 1x Imm.

We went for some breakfast at Tirititran Bar in the town before heading down to the reserve, on the drive in we checked the fields seeing a group of Little (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta) and Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) in amongst the olives and on the roadside pool we found the first of a good number of Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Spatula clypeata), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), several Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), a single Pied Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta) and Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) 2x AD and 1x Imm.

We parked and walked back along the side of the entrance pool adding Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Western House (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum) and Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis) and European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

The flooded crop fields.

At the far end of the pool we took the track around to the far end of the Boardwalk and then across the pool back towards the main track, as we walked we saw Western Jackdaws (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula) on the tower, 30 odd Black-winged Stilts out on the flooded crop field, Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus) and Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).

Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus).

At the end of the boardwalk, we took the track around towards the Mirador del Cerro del Palo, on the way we saw more European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, European Serin, Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) and on the pool a good few more Black-winged Stilts, Northern Shoveler, Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) and Field Marigold (Calendula arvensis).

Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus).

At the Mirador del Cerro del Palo we scanned the main, very full Laguna adding Common Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Mareca strepera), Greater Flamingo's, Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and as we walk around to the hide a Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada).

The Boardwalk.

At Observatorio El Laguneto we saw Rabbits (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus), Northern Shoveler, Gadwall, Mallard, Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Black-necked (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis) and Little Grebe and at least 2 Dartford Warblers (Curruca Rabilarga / Curruca undata), around at the smaller Observatorio de las Palomas a distant Black Stork (Cigüena Negra / Ciconia nigra) which was circling off to the west, European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola) and a Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) which I unfortunately missed.

The view from Observatorio El Laguneto.

We returned to the cars picking up a fine looking ♂ Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius) as it flew across in front of us and 3 Common Buzzards (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), we then tried to reach Laguna Dulce via the western road but found that it was closed due to flooding so we turned around and went down the Eastern side, making a stop at some flooded fields, but we only found another couple of Black-winged Stilts.

At the almost full Laguna Dulce.

Just before we reached Laguna Dulce we saw a flock of Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus) on the fields and after parking we scanned the Laguna where we saw loads of Black-headed and Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Common Shelduck, Northern Shoveler, Gadwall, Common Pochard, White-headed Duck, Eurasian Coot, Black-winged Stilt, Northern Lapwing, Greater Flamingo, Black-necked and Little Grebe, 3x Western Marsh Harrier, a distant Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus), Western Jackdaw, Great Tit, Crested Lark, 100+ Eurasian Crag and Western House Martin, Barn Swallow, Common Chiffchaff, Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Black Redstart, White Wagtail and European Goldfinch.

Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis).

Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris).

Once the wind got up and the Temperature dropped we decided to head off, so after saying goodbye Barbara and Derek headed off back down towards the coast and I went back to Huétor where I went and had a quick look out on the fields adding a very distant ♂ Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Western Cattle Egret, Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), Common Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Iberian (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki) and Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Crested Lark, European Stonechat, Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), White Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Common Chaffinch, Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina), European Goldfinch and White Wallrocket (Diplotaxis erucoides).