Loja Wildlife, Granada Province, Spain.: Huétor Fields, Rio Genil East and back to the Fields later, Granada Province, Spain.

Saturday, 14 March 2026

Huétor Fields, Rio Genil East and back to the Fields later, Granada Province, Spain.

Some more local patch stuff on a cloudy, cold morning with rain later.

Ebird List for the Fields 1.

Ebird List for the Rio Genil East.

Ebird List for the Fields 2.

The sun tried but failed in the end.

I started by popping down to the fields, on the way I had a look at the bottom end of our road where a large digger has been working for the last two days cleaning out the Arroyo.

What used to be Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) habitat now planted with Olives increasing the worthless to wildlife monoculture.

They have made good progress and where they have cleared the road is now wide enough for two cars to pass again which make things easier as giving way on a single track road has not evolved yet amongst Spanish drivers.

Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola) ♀.

European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola) ♂.

I reached the fields where I drove as far as the gate and then worked my way back to the Walnut Trees, on the way I saw Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) x6, Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Black-winged Kites (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) x2, Iberian Magpies (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki) x35+, a Northern Raven (Cuervo grande / Corvus corax), Eurasian Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Red-rumped (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Spanish (Yellow) (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

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

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

I returned to the car and went down to the Rio Genil and walked to the east of the bridge adding Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Eurasian Wryneck (Torcecuello / Jynx torquilla) heard, Great Spotted (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major) and Lesser-spotted Woodpecker (Pico Menor / Dryobates minor) which was right by the car but was off as soon as I got out, Long-tailed (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus), Eurasian Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and some tracks in the mud which I think could be from a Common Genet (Genetta genetta) or Beech / Rock Marten (Martes foina).

Common Genet (Genetta genetta) or Beech / Rock Marten (Martes foina).

Later in the day I decided I needed another walk, so I drove back to the fields and walked from the Walnuts to the old dam and back again, new species for the day were Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) and a Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), also seen again were the Little Bustards which were flushed by a couple of Farm Works out strimming around the newly planted Olive trees, it turns out that there were still 7 birds here including 1♂ and 6♀.