Cerro Hacho and Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Recording with Dave and then some birding with Garry and Paul who had come up from Almeria.

 

Axis margarita.

Dave and I started the day up on Hacho sorting through the four moth traps we had set last night (under Licences from the Junta de Andalucia), we started with a trap we had set on the top of some rocks in a small quarry, the second trap was under a largish Oak Tree, the third and star trap was set down low in a quarry and the last one was in an area of pine trees.

Axis margarita.

Axis margarita.

In the third trap we were extremely pleased and surprised to find 6 Axis margarita, a species I had only seen a single specimen of back down at my house.

9282 Cleonymia pectinicornis.

9282 Cleonymia pectinicornis.

 9279 Cleonymia baetica.

9288 Amephana aurita.

6488 Evergestis frumentalis.

8512 Eupithecia gratiosata.

9005 Phytometra sanctiflorentis.

Some of the other species included 0734 Eriocottis andalusiella, 4166 Dyspessa ulula, 5850 Oxybia transversella, 6399 Hyperlais siccalis, 6488 Evergestis frumentalis, 6775 Phyllodesma suberifolia, 7564 Itame vincularia, 7599 Perigune narbonea, 8280 Epirrhoe sandosaria, 8502 Eupithecia venosata (Netted Pug), 8512 Eupithecia gratiosata, 9005 Phytometra sanctiflorentis, 9279 Cleonymia baetica, 9282 Cleonymia pectinicornis, 9288 Amephana aurita, 9298 Metopoceras felicina, 9438 Caradrina flava, 10528b Coscinia chrysocephala and 10600b Arctia angelica,  

4166 Dyspessa ulula.

8280 Epirrhoe sandosaria.

9298 Metopoceras felicina.

6399 Hyperlais siccalis.

10600b Arctia angelica.

10600b Arctia angelica.

Also seen during the time sorting through the Moths were Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater) and Eurasian Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), European Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala) and Western Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla), Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oropéndola Europea / Oriolus oriolus), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) x2, Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) x1, Pink Butterfly Orchid (Orchis papilionacea), Blue Hound's Tongue (Cynoglossum creticum), Common Asphodel (Asphodelus aestivus) and Tassel Hyacinth (Muscari comosum).

Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas).

Pink Butterfly Orchid (Orchis papilionacea).

Common Asphodel (Asphodelus aestivus).

Once the traps were checked we dropped back down to the house where we checked the one in the garden which was really fairly quiet in comparison but added 6531 Udea ferrugalis (Rusty Dot Pearl), 8328 Nebula Ibericata, 6599 Pyrausta sanguinalis (Scarce Crimson & Gold), 8246 Orthonama obstipata (The Gem), 8509 Eupithecia centaureata (Lime-speck Pug) and 10346 Dark Sword-grass (Agrotis ipsilon). We spent the rest of the day catching up with stuff on our laptops before Dave headed off to join another couple of Moth people up in Sierra Nevada.

Garry and Paul.

At just after 16:00 Garry and Paul arrived and after sorting their stuff into the bottom room we headed down to the fields as they wanted to see the local Montagu's Harriers (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) which showed very nicely, we also saw Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), European Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Thinornis dubius), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), White (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Green-Striped White (Euchloe belemia), Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) and Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas) before heading down town for some food and a couple of beers.

 Green-Striped White (Euchloe belemia).

Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum).

Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas) and friend.

and to finish the day.

Back up at the house later we heard Red-necked Nightjar (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis) which had arrived back a couple of days earlier and just as we were going to turn in Garry and I were chatting on the path down to the house and heard a flock of Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) flying over.