Huétor Tajar and Cerro Hacho, Granada Province, Spain.

Lunch at Paqui's and then setting some Moth lights up on Cerro Hacho.

 

Dave and I checked the traps in the garden (previous post) and then caught up with some Laptop work, later we went down to Paqui's for a very nice lunch; thanks Paqui.

The Oak tree trap (which was the least successful, probably due to predation of the Moths.

After a while we went back up to my place and early in the evening went up to Cerro Hacho where we set up 4 of Dave's traps. 

Pine tree Trap.

As we were walking around the area we saw Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oropéndola Europea / Oriolus oriolus), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous), Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera) and Striped Grayling (Hipparchia fidia).

Limestone rock trap.

Once the traps were all in place we went off down to Huétor where we had hoped to meet Paqui again for drinks and food but unfortunately she was not feeling very good so decided not to join us sadly.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 7th August 2026.

15W Actinic on the terrace, +24.

55 Moths of 24 Species.

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

Licence from Junta de Andalucía.

 

2981 Symmoca tofosella New for the garden.

A quiet couple of traps in the garden with Dave Grundy, however there was still a new species for Dave.

1715 Agonopterix scopariella.

5993 Euzophera pinguis.

Species included 1715 Agonopterix scopariella x1, 2976 Symmoca signatella x3, 2981 Symmoca tofosella x1 NEW for my garden, 3029 Dysspastus fallax x6,  4855 Epinotia thapsiana x1, 5578 Lamoria anella x1, 5624 Bostra obsoletali x10, 5627 Pyralis farinalis x1, 5993 Euzophera pinguis x1, 6118 Cadra figulilella x1, 6441 Aporodes floralis x2, 6619 Uresiphita gilvata x1, 6690a Palpita vitrealis x2, 6700 Dolicharthria punctalis x1, 6702 Dolicharthria bruguieralis x1, 8145 Brachyglossina manicaria x2, 8211 Rhodometra sacaria (The Vestal) x1, 8599 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata (Double-striped Pug) x1, 8899 Clytie illunaris (Trent Double-stripe) x1, 9100 Acontia lucida (Pale Shoulder) x1, 9129 Odice suava x2 New for Dave, 9142 Eublemma parva (Small Marbled) x13 and 9460 Spodoptera exigua (Small Mottled Willow) x1.

8899 Clytie illunaris (Trent Double-stripe).

9129 Odice suava.

Spider species eating a Moth in the trap.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

A morning in the Garden, lunch with Paqui and an evening with Dave Grundy and Paqui.

 

I started the day by doing a few jobs ready for Dave Grundy's arrival later in the day and then headed down to have Lunch at Paqui's which as always was a pleasure.

Dave arrived at around 16:30, we chatted and later set up my trap on the terrace and one of Dave's down on the lower terrace before going down to Huétor for a few drinks and some food. 

After a little while we were joined by Paqui for a very nice evening. 

Huétor Fields, Olive Groves nearby and Rio Cacín, Granada Province, Spain.

A morning walk along the Lucerne Fields and a late visit to the Cacín Valley.

Ebird List for the Fields.

 

I met Paqui down at the walnut trees and we walked out to the Gate and back, recording a calling Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and European Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oropéndola Europea / Oriolus oriolus), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Greater Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Melodious Warbler (Zarcero políglota / Hippolais polyglotta), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Spanish (Yellow) (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi).

Looking towards Realenga from Paqui's Olives.

Paqui checking things out.

We reached the car, and then Paqui took me up to check on another area of her Olive Tree, which, when we got there, looked very good, with nice, fat-looking fruits.

The good looking Olives. 

We went back down to the Walnut trees where I collected my car and followed Paqui down to her place for a coffee before I went back home, later we met again for lunch and then late in the evening we went for a quick look for the Eurasian Eagle Owl (Búho Real / Bubo bubo) which we only heard tonight.

Other species seen included Red-necked Nightjar (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis), Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos),  Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki) and a Signal Crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) which was crossing the road near the Rio as we were leaving. 

Playa de las Amoladeras near Cabo de Gata, Almeria, Spain.

A day chilling with Paqui in Almeria.

Ebird List for Playa de las Amoladeras.

Playa de las Amoladeras.

We left Huétor and drove around the North of Granada and then down to the coast to the East of Almeria, once we were set up I started to check through a flock of Gulls on the beach; most were Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), there were also singles of Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii) and Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus).

Paqui's beach Food, ¡Qué rico!

Other species seen during the visit included Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Anarhynchus alexandrinus) x1, Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) x5, Curlew Sandpiper (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea) x2, Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina) x3, Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Thalasseus sandvicensis), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) x1 immature, Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum) and Sea Daffodil (Pancratium maritimum).

Huétor Fields and the Cacín Valley near A92, Granada Province, Spain.

Huétor Fields, a return to the Cacín Valley to look for the Eagle Owl, then had a Barn Owl on the way home.

Ebird List for Huétor Fields.

I started the day with a bit of gardening and then went down to the fields where I met Paqui for a short walk before going to her place for a coffee.

Later we met again and repeated yesterday's walk along the Cacín valley where we again saw and heard the Eurasian Eagle Owl (Búho Real / Bubo bubo) and many of the species seen yesterday.

We returned to Huétor where I popped Paqui back to her apartment before heading home, on the way I was surprised to see a Western Barn Owl (Lechuza Común / Tyto alba) fly across the road in front of me and away across the fields back towards Huétor. 

Rio Cacín near to the A92, Granada Province, Spain.

A late walk with Paqui along the Rio Cacín.

Ebird List for the Rio Cacín.

 

Paqui and I went for a walk along the lower part of the Rio Cacín near the A92 motorway, after parking we followed the river for a while.

During the walk we saw European Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Eurasian Eagle Owl (Búho Real / Bubo bubo), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oropéndola Europea / Oriolus oriolus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Melodious Warbler (Zarcero políglota / Hippolais polyglotta), Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos) and Hawfinch (Picogordo Común / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes).