Huétor Fields and the Rio Genil East of the Bridge, Granada Province, Spain.

A morning on the patch, seeing some good birds and some sickening stuff. 

Ebird List for the Fields.

Ebird List for the Rio Genil.

 

A small break in the clouds, the first for a while.

I started the morning with a walk along the Lucerne fields, where even in the strong cold wind I managed to find the regular pair of Black-winged Kites (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) x12, Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Eurasian Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) and Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), 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), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis) and European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

I was about to leave and head home, but I notice two cars arriving, both of which I have been seeing driving around the area with a Thermal Imaging camera, so I parked again and watched.

Unfortunately what I witnessed was truly sickening to me, I really don't understand the mentality of people who get joy from killing any form of defenceless wildlife, but It takes a really sick, perthitic person to bring their 4 young children to watch two dogs chase down and rip a beautiful Iberian Brown Hare (Liebre ibérica / Lepus granatensis) to bits.

I know that Hare coursing is still unfortunately legal in Spain under the umbrella of "its traditional" a term that's often used to cover up cruelty, but I just don't get what these "people" get from killing.

Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

Anyway back to the birding, after they became aware I was there with binoculars and a camera they were off smartish, guessing the hunting is legal, but they were not for some reason, after they moved on I headed for the Rio Genil.

I parked just across the Rio on the eastern side of the bridge and walked for a short way but due to the wind I didn't see a great deal new, species did include Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Eurasian Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes) and European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula).

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys lupercalis).

I was feeling quite deflated after seeing what had witnessed earlier, I decided to head home and chilled for a while before I decided to have a drive up to Cerro Hacho to see if any of the Orchids had managed to flower even in this weather, Parked on the back half of the track and checked an area where I have seen early flowering Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys lupercalis).

Giant Orchids (Himanthoglossum Robertiana).

Navelwort (Umbilicus rupestris).

There were loads of Rosettes, a few with well-developed spikes but just a single flowering spike, around the other side of the Quarry I checked on the Giant Orchids (Himanthoglossum Robertiana) but they still had some way to go before they were going to flower.

On the quarry side of the area it was very obvious the damage done by the strong winds of the last few days with several trees down in one area, I also saw Field Marigold (Calendula arvensis), Navelwort (Umbilicus rupestris), Common Fumitory (Fumaria officinalis), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra).

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 30th January 26.

15W Actinic on the terrace, +8 and windy.

1 Moth of 1 Species.

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

Licence from Junta de Andalucia.

 

It was quite a night of weather, showers to start with but extremely windy all night, so I was not surprised there was just a single 9676 Xylocampa areola (Early Grey) x1.

 

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A pretty quick walk down the Lucerne Fields and an even quicker visit to Hacho.

Ebird List for the Fields.

 

I spent most of the morning around home as the weather was still not very good, with rain and high winds making it feel quite nasty.

Later once the rain stopped I went for a walk down along the Lucerne fields, it was a short walk as the wind was still brutal.

I still managed to see the usual pair of Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Iberian (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki) and Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Eurasian Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) and Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Cetti's (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula cabrerae), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

I returned to the house and did a few bits before chilling out.

Balsa de Regidor, Granada Province, Spain.

A very quick very wet scan of the pool.

Ebird List for Balsa de Regidor.

 

I wanted to head out for a while but the weather was not good for a walk, so I went around to Balsa de Regidor, it didn't improve there so I did a quick scan and count but it wasn't pleasant.

Whilst I got soaked I counted 58x Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Spatula clypeata), 9x Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), 26x Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) and a good number of Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) skimming the water for insect.

Around the margins and in the air I also saw Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Cetti's (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis).

The rain started to get heavier, so I admitted defeat and headed home, later in the evening I headed out to the Hotel Paraíso on the A92 for a quiz night, I have only been once in the last 6 years, so I thought I might give it a go again and stop being such an antisocial git 😁😁😁😁.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 28th January 26.

15W Actinic on the terrace, +14 wet and windy.

20 Moths of 7 Species.

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

Licence from Junta de Andalucia.

6496 Evergestis isatidalis.

Another very wet and windy night, even so it was the best selection so far in 2026 which included 6496 Evergestis isatidalis x8, 7694 Agriopis bajaria (Messenger Moth) x1, 7725 Menophora japygiaria (Brassy Waved Umber) x1, 9206 Cucullia calendulae (Marigold Shark) x2, 9676 Xylocampa areola (Early Grey) x6, 10226 Cerastis faceta x1 and 10346 Dark Sword-grass (Agrotis ipsilon) x1.

7694 Agriopis bajaria (Messenger Moth). 

7725 Menophora japygiaria (Brassy Waved Umber).

9206 Cucullia calendulae (Marigold Shark).

9676 Xylocampa areola (Early Grey).

10226 Cerastis faceta.

10346 Dark Sword-grass (Agrotis ipsilon).

Arroyo Vilano and Rio Genil, Huétor Tajar area, Granada Province, Spain.

Out for a bit of air after a scary morning's weather. 

The Barranco that runs at the back of the house.

After spending most of the morning at home as the weather was a tad lively to say the least I decided in the late morning things had calmed down for me to have a run out to check the fields to see what flooding had occurred, it was obvious as soon as I reached the road down to Huétor near La Fabrica where the road was closed due to the Arroyo Vilano had burst its banks.

The road is out there somewhere under the water.

Next I continued on down to Huétor and then back up to the Arroyo Vilano via the road passed the airport and up to the next bridge where there were quite a few people there taking pictures, so I joined them and then moved on around to the Walnut trees where I took a few more photos.

Looking down stream towards Villanueva de Mesia.

Looking down stream towards Villanueva de Mesia with the lake forming on the right as the banks burst in a few places.

Looking up stream towards La Fabrica along the Arroyo Vilano.

I retraced my steps back to Huétor and checked the Rio Genil which was a good deal higher than I had seen it for a few years but the old bridge and road out to the Motorway were still open.

Looking up stream along the Rio Genil.

Looking down stream along the Rio Genil.

My next stop was at the bar in the Combustibles Gomez Garage where I had a coffee before heading back home for a while, later I went back down to the Walnut trees where I had a walk along the Lucerne fields where I saw Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), 5x Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), 2x Black-winged Kites (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Eurasian Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) and Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), 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 Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis) and European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus). 

The crossing point gets washed away again.

The local Townhall workers already clearing the road to La Fabrica.

When I reached the car there was a very nice Spanish Lady there also watching the Arroyo, I have seen her several times before, but today we had a chat talking about some of the wildlife and about her wish to buy a real camera as all her photo's up to this point were all taken on her phone.

I returned to Town where I parked on the ring road and did a walk before I headed back home and chilled.

The Alhambra, Granada Province, Spain.

The release of the Aves de la Alhambra (Birds of the Alhambra).

 

I was pleased to be at the official release of this book in the amazing surroundings of the Palacio de Carlos V, which considering the weather was very well attended.

 

Javier Sánchez Gutiérrez, José María González Cachinero, Juan Pérez Contreras and Juan Ramón Fernández Cardenete.

The Three authors, José María González Cachinero, Juan Pérez Contreras and Juan Ramón Fernández Cardenete along with Javier Sánchez Gutiérrez, the Manager of the Garden Services de la Alhambra and Generalife presented the book, explaining its layout over a couple of hours and then took questions at the end.

 

One of the screens used during the talk.

 

It is very informative and of very good quality, not just the makeup of the book but the photo's, text and other information and to me is a very good price at just €18 for a hardback edition. 

There is a plan for an English version to be released in the future.

ISBN: 978-84-17518-28-8
Price: €18

As always, I was there early so I had a walk around the site, taking a few general shots of the architecture and the gardens.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 26th January 26.

15W Actinic on the terrace, +10 but wet.

20 Moth of 3 Species.

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

Licence from Junta de Andalucia.

 

6184 Eudonia angustea (Narrow-winged Grey).

6184 Eudonia angustea (Narrow-winged Grey) x2, 6496 Evergestis isatidalis x13 and 9676 Xylocampa areola (Early Grey) x5.

6496 Evergestis isatidalis.

9676 Xylocampa areola (Early Grey).

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A quick look at the Rio Genil and soggy visit to the Lucerne Fields.

Ebird List for the Fields.

 

Looking up stream.

I headed down to Huétor to get a couple of bits and then went to have a look at the Rio and took a few phone photo's before heading up to the Lucerne Fields.

and down stream.

I was going to park at the Walnut tree but after seeing a couple of guy using what looked like a thermal imaging camera for checking the fields and acting a tad strange so I followed them and made it quite obvious I was also watching the fields and once they were aware of me the did a quick U-turn and headed off giving me an unpleasant look as they passed, guessing they were hunters but not sure.

♂ Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius).

♂ Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius).

I went up to the end of the tarmac and also did a U-turn and as it had started to rain again I did the birding from the car, most of my time was spent watching the very smart ♂ Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius) but at the same spot there were the two regular Black-winged Kites (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), 10 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

♂ Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius).

Other species seen included Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Eurasian Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) and Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), 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 Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), a surprising group of 6 Common Crossbills (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis) and European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

The rain started to get heavier, so I headed back to the house where I finished off the clearing out of the Kitchen, starting the lounge tomorrow.