Loja Wildlife, Granada Province, Spain.: 2026-11-08

Thursday, 12 November 2026

Huétor Town Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

Dodging the Dog S**T in search of a Bluethroat.

Ebird List for the Walk.

The Dog S**T Track.

I went down to Paqui's for some coffee and a tostarda, a little later we went for a walk along the well used dog walking track to the north of the town.

Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

On the way out we recorded Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), 9 of the 10 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Eurasian Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Eurasian Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala) and Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Curruca undata), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Eurasian Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), House (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and 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 Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), 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 Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Other species included Small White (Pieris rapae), Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi) and White Wallrocket (Diplotaxis erucoides).

The Rainbow.

An Arcoíris.

The incoming Rain.

As we reached the furthest point a Rainbow formed and we became aware that more rain was on it's way in so we turned around and started to walk back a little quicker, on the way we had brief views of a Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) which came up from the Irrigation channel and disappeared into the Asparagus.

Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

We popped to the shops and then we returned to Paqui's were we had some lunch before I headed home, on the way I briefly called in at the town fields where I saw the 10 Little Bustards again and several Eurasian Stone Curlews.

Eurasian Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus).

I got home and chilled for the rest of the day catching up with some of the blog.

Wednesday, 11 November 2026

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for 10th November 2026.

15W Actinic on the terrace, +14.

136 Moths of 40 Species.

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

Licence from Junta de Andalucía.

An extremely tatty 6826 Agrius convolvuli x1 NEW for the Garden.

A warm, cloudy and damp night but with more moths that I have seen in a while, species included 1361 Zelleria oleastrella x1, 1655 Ethmia bipunctella x3, 1722 x1, 4432 Oxypteron schawerdai x5, 5800 x2, 5830 x2, 6184 Eudonia angustea x2, 6496 Evergestis isatidalis x5, 6509 x1, 6521 (Old World Webworm) x2, 6619 Uresiphita gilvata x1, 6688 x1,

6509 Cornifrons ulceratalis.

6521 Hellula undalis (Old World Webworm).

6688 Spoladea recurvalis.

6690 Palpita vitrealis x27, 6719 Nomophila noctuella (Rush Veneer) x22, 6826 Agrius convolvuli x1 NEW for the Garden, 7663 Colotois pennaria (Feathered Thorn) x1, 6720c x1 NEW for the Garden, 7725 Menophora japygiaria (Brassy Waved Umber) x2, 8211 Rhodometra sacaria (The Vestal) x4, 8235 Scotopteryx peribolata (Spanish Carpet) x1, 8328 Nebula Ibericata x1, 8509 Eupithecia cenaureata (Lime-speck Pug) x1, 9142 Eublemma parva (Small Marbled) x9,

6720c Herpetogramma licarsisalis NEW for the Garden.

8235 Scotopteryx peribolata (Spanish Carpet).

9206 Cucullia calendulae (Marigold Shark) x1, 9367 Heliothis peltigera (Bordered Straw) x1, 9433 Paradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow) x3, 9454 Hoplodrina ambigua (Vine's Rustic) x2, 9460 Spodoptera exigua (Small Mottled Willow) x8, 9462 Spodoptera littoralis (Mediterranean Brocade) x3, 9565 Agrochola lychnidis (Beaded Chestnut) x3, 9591 Agrochola lunosa (Lunar Underwing) x3, 9621 Episema grueneri x1, 9628 Leucochlaena oditis (Beautiful Gothic) x1, 9648 x2, 9651 Aporophyla nigra (Black Rustic) x2,

9206 Cucullia calendulae (Marigold Shark).

9367 Heliothis peltigera (Bordered Straw).

9462 Spodoptera littoralis (Mediterranean Brocade).

9565 Agrochola lychnidis (Beaded Chestnut).

9648 Aporophyla chioleuca.

9651 Aporophyla nigra (Black Rustic).

10096 Noctua pronuba (Large Yellow Underwing) x1, 10238 Peridroma saucia (Pearly Underwing) x2, 10326 Eucoptocnemis optabilis x1, 10343 Agrotis puta (Shuttle Shaped Dart) x2 and 10535 Crimson Speckled (Utetheisa pulchella) x4.

10238 Peridroma saucia (Pearly Underwing).

10326 Eucoptocnemis optabilis.

Tuesday, 10 November 2026

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A morning walk with Paqui along the Fields amongst the mist.

Ebird List for the Fields.

I met Paqui down at the Walnut Trees and we walked out towards the Gates but we turned around early as my Plantar Fasciitis was still extremely painful.

As Paqui walked and I hobbled we saw Bath (Pontia daplidice) and Small White (Pieris rapae), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Iberian (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki) and Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Eurasian Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala) and Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Curruca undata), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Eurasian Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), 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 Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Monday, 9 November 2026

Contraembalse de los Bermejales and Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A visit to the empty Contraembalse and then a look at the fields with Paqui.

Ebird List for the Embalse.

The Contraembalse.

Paqui and I felt the need to go out into the countryside so we popped down the Cacín Valley to the Contraembalse de los Bermejales, I was surprised to find that the water was gone and there was just the water in the Rio Cacín flowing through the remains of the Embalse.

I guess they are hoping it will dry out enough to get it cleaned out before the birds start to breed, they tried last year but the Western Marsh Harriers (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) started building before they got to work and after I informed friend Juan who informed Medio Ambiente they postpone it.

The empty Embalse.

When we arrived we saw several Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago) and Green Sandpipers (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) on the Rio below us.

Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).

We got the chairs set up and scanned the area for the next hour or so until the rain started, during this time we saw Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), a calling Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), an adult and an immature Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Thekla's (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) 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), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Eurasian Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), 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), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis) and European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis).

Other species seen and heard whilst there were Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta), Bath (Pontia daplidice) and Small White (Pieris rapae), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi), Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa) and Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus).

On the way back up the valley heading towards Huétor we saw a smart looking Red Fox (Zorro / Vulpus vulpus) cross the road in front of us, we also had Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki) and Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops).

A Rainbow as the rain moved off for a while.

Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus).

Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea).

Before heading back to Paqui's we checked the fields after we had quite a storm, we added Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Eurasian Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus) along with another Grey Heron, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, lots of White Wagtails, Common Linnet and European Goldfinch.

White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) enjoying a new puddle.

White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina).

House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) ♂.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for 8th November 2026.

15W Actinic on the terrace, +15.

61 Moths of 20 Species.

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

Licence from Junta de Andalucía.

1722 Agonopterix subpropinquella.

1655 Ethmia bipunctella x5, 1722 x1, 3618 x2, 3822 Anarsia lineatella x1, 4432 Oxypteron schawerdai x3, 5800 x2, 6184 Eudonia angustea x2, 6496 Evergestis isatidalis x2, 6690 Palpita vitrealis x17, 6700 x1, 7663 (Feathered Thorn) x1, 9142 Eublemma parva (Small Marbled) x2, 9460 Spodoptera exigua (Small Mottled Willow) x5, 9565 Agrochola lychnidis (Beaded Chestnut) x3, 9591 Agrochola lunosa (Lunar Underwing) x6, 9621 Episema grueneri x1, 9724 10096 Noctua pronuba (Large Yellow Underwing) x1, 10343 Agrotis puta (Shuttle Shaped Dart) x3 and 10535 Crimson Speckled (Utetheisa pulchella) x2.