The Cacín Valley near Moraleda de Zafayona and Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

Out looking for Woodpeckers.

Ebird List for Cacín Valley near Moraleda de Zafayona.

Ebird List for Huétor Fields.

 

Moricandia moricandioides in pink.

I drove down to a point along the Rio Cacín near where it goes under the A92 and then to a spot in the valley where I parked and did a walk along the Rio, during this walk I picked up a Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis) which hoped out onto the track for a moment before disappearing back into an area of thick brambles, a year tick.

Moricandia moricandioides in white.

I also had Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Iberian (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki) and Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Long-tailed (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus), Eurasian Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Eurasian Crag (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Cetti's (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Hawfinch (Picogordo Común / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and right at the furthest point in my walk I picked up a stunning Eurasian Eagle Owl (Búho Real / Bubo bubo) which I took some distant photos of and when I checked them at home later I could see a young bird in the shot as well.

Eurasian Eagle Owl (Búho Real / Bubo bubo).

Eurasian Eagle Owl (Búho Real / Bubo bubo).

As I walked I also found Moricandia moricandioides in pink and white forms, Wild Grape Hyacinth (Muscari neglectum), White Wallrocket (Diplotaxis erucoides), Henbit Deadnettle (Lamium amplexicaule), Persian Speedwell (Veronica persica), Field Marigold (Calendula arvensis), Nonea vesicaria and Fumaria officinalis (Common Fumitory).

I returned to the car and drove back to the fields where I spent a while sat in the car scanning the fields find several new species for the days which were Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), Eurasian Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica).

Just as I was leaving Paqui came for walk so we had a chat, unfortunately I then had to head home to sort out a few jobs. 

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

A run to Granada for logs and then some birding on the way back.

Ebird List for Balsa de Regidor.

Ebird List for the Lucerne fields.

Balsa de Regidor.

I started the morning by heading up to Bobadilla for some logs as we are due to have a few more days rain, on the way back I called in at Balsa de Regidor where there were a good number of Hirundines, most were Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) there were also smaller numbers Sand (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia), Eurasian Crag (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Western House Martins (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum) all feeding low over the water.

Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina) ♀.

Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis).

Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis).

Other species were Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), an unexpected 1st winter Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Redwing (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus illacus), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

1st winter Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus).

1st winter Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus).

1st winter Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus).

Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).

I returned to the car and then did a bit of shopping in Huétor before going for a walk along the Lucerne Fields from the Walnut Trees out to the old dammed point, after the rain last night the Arroyo was a tad higher and loaded with another deposit of valuable topsoil which get washed away and silts up the reservoirs.

The Muddy Arroyo and the soggy fields.

Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

As I walked I picked up several new species for the day including Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Eurasian Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) and Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) leaf.

 Nonea vesicaria.

Persian Speedwell (Veronica persica).

Wild Grape Hyacinth (Muscari neglectum).

Other species seen included Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi), Small White (Pieris rapae) x1, Wild Grape Hyacinth (Muscari neglectum), White Wallrocket (Diplotaxis erucoides), Henbit Deadnettle (Lamium amplexicaule), Persian Speedwell (Veronica persica), Field Marigold (Calendula arvensis), Nonea vesicaria and Fumaria officinalis (Common Fumitory).

Rio Genil near Moraleda and Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

Out bird in the fog and then later a bit of sun, last for a few days.

Ebird List for the Rio Genil near Moraleda.

Ebird List for the Lucerne Fields.

 

Fan-lipped Orchid (Anacamptis collina) var. flavescens.

I started by heading for the Moraleda area, the fog was quite thick, so I decided to stop at Bar El Cruz where I had a coffee and some breakfast, I then popped down to the River, where I parked I was pleased to see a good many spikes of Fan-lipped Orchid (Anacamptis collina) including at least 4 spikes of the var. flavescens.

Fan-lipped Orchid (Anacamptis collina) var. flavescens.

Fan-lipped Orchid (Anacamptis collina).

Fan-lipped Orchid (Anacamptis collina).

Fan-lipped Orchid (Anacamptis collina).

Bird wise I picked up Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), a Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila Perdicera / Aquila faciatus), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Eurasian Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Mistle (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), 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 destruction along the Genil after the storm at the end of January.

I had only gone a very short way along the track when my path was blocked by a lot of downed trees which had been felled by the Storm at the end of January, this meant that my walk was very short indeed.

I returned to the car and went back to Huéotr and did some food shopping in Mercodona and popped to the Car place as the one headlight was not right, after just a few minutes one of the mechanics had sorted it and by the time I came out the fog had cleared enough for me to do a walk-up along the Lucerne Fields.

Steaming fields around Huétor.

Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica).

After parking by the Walnut Trees and walked out to the Gate, on the way out I saw a few new species for the day including Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), 6x Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) including a fine looking ♂ which spent its time chasing the 5 ♀ a round the Lucerne, Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), 3x Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), 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), Red-rumped (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), 2x Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Almond Tree (Prunus dulcis) blossom.

Around the gate I found a Small White (Pieris rapae) x1, Perez's Frogs (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi) croaking from the irrigation channel, Almond Tree (Prunus dulcis) blossom, Wild Grape Hyacinth (Muscari neglectum), White Wallrocket (Diplotaxis erucoides), Henbit Deadnettle (Lamium amplexicaule), Field Marigold (Calendula arvensis), Eruca (Eruca sativa), Nonea vesicaria and Fumaria officinalis (Common Fumitory).

♂ Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius).

♂ Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius).

As I walked back towards the car I picked up the ♂ Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius) flying into its favourite perch, by this time the sun was out, so along with the distance and the unexpected heat haze the photos are garbage but act as proof of life.

I reached the car and then headed back to the house where I caught up with a few more jobs before chilling later.

Huétor Fields and Rio Genil East and West, Granada Province, Spain.

A walk along the Lucerne Fields and then both ways along the Rio Genil.

Ebird List for the Fields.
Ebird List for the Rio Genil West.
Ebird List for the Rio Genil East.

Arroyo Vilano from the parking spot.

I started the day with a walk down along the Lucerne fields, I arrived and found that Paqui had also decided to have a walk and was already further up the track near to the gate, as I walked I could see the usual pair of Black-winged Kites (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), 2x Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) and Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica). 

The Sun was trying hard but failing to get through the Calima.

and it's still not breaking through.

I met Paqui coming back towards her car, we spent a while chatting, as we did it started to rain a bit and because we have quite a heavy Calima at the time it rained sand.

Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

After a while Paqui continued on to her car and I walked as far as the gate, on the way I added Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius) ♂. 

Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius) ♂. 

After turning around I walked back towards the car but scanned the fields to check the branch that is the regular perch for the ♂ Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius) which too my surprise it was sat there but not for long as it flew up chasing a Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) and then headed off to the west.

Looking across toward the Merlin Perch.

I also picked up Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Wild Grape Hyacinth (Muscari neglectum), Field Marigold (Calendula arvensis) and Common Fumitory (Fumaria officinalis).

Blooming Almond Trees (Prunus dulcis) with a Clima background.

I reached the car again, Paqui was still there taking some photo's so we chatted again or to be honest the translators were put to work, Paqui then headed off and I made my way around town to the Western side of the bridge over the Rio Genil where I parked and walked.

Eurasian PendulineTit (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus) ♂.

Eurasian PendulineTit (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus) ♂.

Eurasian PendulineTit (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus) ♂.

New species for the day included Mallards (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), at least 3 Eurasian Penduline (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus) 2♂ and 1♀, Long-tailed (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Eurasian Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), White Wallrocket (Diplotaxis erucoides) and Persian Speedwell (Veronica persica).

Long-tailed Tit (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus).

Long-tailed Tit (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus).

Long-tailed Tit (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus).

Once I was back at the car I had a quick look out along the Eastern side of the bridge adding a nice ♂ Hawfinch (Picogordo Común / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes) before I headed off home.

Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).