Huétor Fields, Presa y Meandros del Genil and the Arroyo Vilano above La Fabrica, Granada Province, Spain.

A more local day with Paqui, Lynn and Steve.

 

We started the day by popping down to the Fields where we met Paqui and did a short walk along the Arroyo Vilano watching the Montagu's Harriers (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) including some of this year's immature birds from the 8+ nests in the Lucerne fields.

Other species seen including Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Thinornis dubius), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) and Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui).

Small Pincertail (Onychogomphus forcipatus) ♀ Exuvia.

Small Pincertail (Onychogomphus forcipatus) ♀.

Our next stop was for some breakfast down in town and we then we all headed off to the Presa where we checked out the weir and the surroundings, the highlight was watching a ♀ Small Pincertail (Onychogomphus forcipatus) emerge, always amazing to watch new life starting.

Small Pincertail (Onychogomphus forcipatus) ♀.

Small Pincertail (Onychogomphus forcipatus) ♀.

Later we found several adult Small Pincertail x7♂1♀ around a fig bush and a couple of Iberian Bluetail (Ischnura graellsii) x2♂. 

Iberian Bluetail (Ischnura graellsii) ♂.

Small Pincertail (Onychogomphus forcipatus) ♂.

Bird wise we picked up European Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Little Ringed Plover, Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oropéndola Europea / Oriolus oriolus), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis).

Iberian Bluetail (Ischnura graellsii) ♂.

Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma) ♂.

Southern Skimmer (Orthetrum brunneum) ♂.

Southern Skimmer (Orthetrum brunneum) ♂.

Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea) ♂.

Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi) ♂.

We returned to the car and then headed back to Huétor where we dropped Paqui at her place before going up to the Arroyo Vilano again but this time at the stretch with water above La Fabrica, after parking we walked the river and found several dragon species including Iberian Bluetail x10+, White Featherleg (Platycnemis latipes) x2♂, Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator) x2♂, Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma) x3♂ and Southern Skimmer (Orthetrum brunneum) x1♂, Orange-winged (Trithemis kirbyi) x3♂ and Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata) x1♂ and Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea) x2♂.

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

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

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

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

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

Other species included Mediterranean Skipper (Gegenes nostrodamus) x2, Small White (Pieris rapae) x8, Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) x2, Painted Lady x5, Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi), Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa), Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus), Small Fleabane (Pulicaria vulgaris), Redshank (Persicaria maculosa), Common Mallow (Malva sylvestris), Heliotropium supinum, Common Woodpigeon, European Turtle Dove, a family of Red-rumped Swallows (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica), Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), European Greenfinch and European Goldfinch. 

Mediterranean Skipper (Gegenes nostrodamus).

The Arroyo Vilano before the point where the Arroyo is dammed so the farmers can take all the water for the Olives.

and more water.