Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.*

A walk around the Patch.

Ebird List, 34 Species.

The Moon as I arrived.

As there is still no sign of or news on my car being bought back south from Cuenca I borrowed Friend Chis and Wayne's motor for a visit to the fields on my way to do some shopping in Huétor.

Just before Dawn.

I parked and walked the track around the Lucerne fields and out to the far side of the Poplar plantation and then back to the crossroads where I turned towards Huétor before returning to the car along the Arroyo.

Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) hunting before the sun came up.

Interesting bird species included a Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) which was out hunting before the sun was up, Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Common Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti).

♂ Copper Demoiselle (Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis).

On the return part of the walk I added European Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis), Melodious Warbler (Zarcero políglota / Hippolais polyglotta), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) and a flock of Great Cormorants (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo).

Teneral ♂ Southern Skimmer (Orthetrum brunneum).

Other species included Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi), a ♂ Copper Demoiselle (Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis), both ♂♀ Red-veined Darters (Sympetrum fonscolombii) and and a teneral ♂ Southern Skimmer (Orthetrum brunneum).

Epaulet Skimmers (Orthetrum chrysostigma) ♂.

I went down to the town and then back home, once I took the car back up to Chris's I did a bit more decorating in the bottom room getting it ready for friends to arrive in a couple of weeks, whilst I walked up and down I noticed a couple of Epaulet Skimmers (Orthetrum chrysostigma) chasing each other around the garden pool so I got the camera and took a few shots.

Epaulet Skimmers (Orthetrum chrysostigma) ♂.

A morning on the terrace, Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Some work and the birding on the terrace.

Ebird list for Terrace.

Ebird List for Hacho.

The full sun.

I started the day by putting my kit up on the terrace preparing for a day sat down in a straight backed chair trying to rest the back but the last stretch of Green Railing just kept staring back at me so I got the tools and spent a couple of hours wire brushing and sanding it down ready for some paint.

Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus).

Once it was finished I sat down and started to catch up with a few bits on the laptop and watching what was moving in and over the Olives, the best thing was that the pair of Blue Tits (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) had obviously been interested in the nest box for far longer than I realized and were actually feeding young this morning, funny how you miss the things that are happening right under your nose.

Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenoides) male.

Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenoides) male.

Other species included Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Common (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) and Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and 2x Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus). 

Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri),

Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri),

Later at around 14.00, just when it was starting to get a tad warm I decided to go for a walk up Hacho, well as far as the top car park.

Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea).

Pink Butterfly Orchid (Orchis papilionacea).

I parked under one of the many Almond trees near the start of the track and walked back down hill to start with as I had seen a couple of whites on some Mustard type plants, when I arrived the Western Dappled Whites (Euchloe crameri) x9 (total for walk) had been joined by the first of 20 or so Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenoides) I would see during the walk.

Knapweed Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe).

Knapweed Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe)

On the first stretch up to the Quarry I heard and saw Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater) and Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), as well as Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea), Common Asphodel (Asphodelus aestivus), Tassel Hyacinth (Leopoldia comosa), Southern Knapweed (Centaurea pullata), Geranium Bronze (Cacyreus marshalli) x1, Small White (Pieris rapae) x1, Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus) x8+, Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) x2 and Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) x2.

Geranium Bronze (Cacyreus marshalli).

At the fork by the Quarry I went uphill as far as the top car park, on the way I found several spikes of the beautiful Pink Butterfly Orchid (Orchis papilionacea), Grey-leaved Cistus (Cistus albidus), White Rockrose (Helianthemum apenninum), Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) x1F, Lorquin's (Cupido lorquinii) x7 and Panoptes Blue (Pseudophilotes panoptes) x5, Black-veined White (Aporia crataegi) x2, Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes) and some fly over European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster).

White Rockrose (Helianthemum apenninum).

Wild Peony (Paeonia broteri).

On my way back down the hill to the junction I found a patch of yellow flowers with at least 5 Black-eyed Blues (Glaucopsyche melanops) feeding on it, Blue Hound's Tongue (Cynoglossum creticum), Cloven Petalled Campion (Silene colorata), Field Marigold (Calendula arvensis), Ground-pine Germander (Teucrium pseudochamaepitys) and where I turned left along the top of the quarry I saw a nice male Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), a female Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura) and a more unexpected group of 4 Rock Sparrows (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia).

Panoptes Blue (Pseudophilotes panoptes).

Lorquin's Blue (Cupido lorquinii).

I continued on along the next section of the track finding a stunning Knapweed Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe), a stunning Ocellated Lizard (Timon lepidus) which was off before I could get the camera on it, Black Horehound (Ballota nigra), Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas), Hoary Cress (Lepidium draba), Mallow-leaved Convolvulus (Convolvulus althaeoides), Pitch Trefoil (Psoralea bituminosa) and Wild Clary (Salvia verbenaca).

Black-eyed Blue (Glaucopsyche melanops).

Black-eyed Blue (Glaucopsyche melanops).

On my way back down to the car I found Wild Peony (Paeonia broteri), Linaria tristris and lots of dry spikes of Giant Orchid (Himanthoglosum Robertiana).

Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas).

Linaria tristris.

I returned home and planted myself up on the terrace but I didn't add anything but I could hear the Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi) being extremely vocal.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

A morning preparing for some more painting and the afternoon sat on my backside on the terrace.

Ebird List.

The view from the terrace this afternoon.

I started the day by rubbing down the metalwork on the spiral staircase up to the terrace from the garden, a job that's well over due but not one that I enjoy at all.

Anyway once it was done, I showered and set myself up for an afternoon sat on the terrace, whilst up there I saw Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) both of which are species I don't often seen around the house, the latter was very interested in one of the nest boxes again.

Most interesting was a female Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus) and a male Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus).

Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos).

Other species included Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Collared (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), a decent sized party of Iberian  Magpies (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) and a singing Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos).

Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos).

There were also plenty of House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) with one of the males looking like it might be a hybrid between House and Spanish Sparrow as it had the nice big white cheeks, extensive black streaking on the breast but also had the grey central part of a chestnut edged crown.

Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major).

Butterfly wise I saw Small White (Pieris rapae) x3, Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus) x2 and Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) x1.

The Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi) in the garden pool were also very vocal at times, never see ay spawn in the pool but guessing there must be as there were a few tadpoles knocking around in the warmer shallow water.

Arroyo De Prado Negro and Los Mimbres, Granada Province, Spain.

A hot days Dragon and Butterfly hunting with Lynn and Steve.

Steve and Lynn, Day Two.

 

False Grayling (Arethusana arethusa).

I was up early and did a few bits around the house and whilst I was pottering I started the day list off with Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) x2, Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).

Beautiful Demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo).

Beautiful Demoiselles (Calopteryx virgo).

Beautiful Demoiselles (Calopteryx virgo).

Copper Demoiselle (Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis).

We started out at 09.30 and headed along the A92 passed Granada and into the Sierra de Huétor to a spot along the Arroyo de Prado Negro which I can safely say has the coldest water I have ever walked in.

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Volucella zonaria.

European Hornet (Vespa crabro).

We parked and walked out on to the first of the meadows where we started the list off with House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Iberian Marbled White (Melanargia lachesis) and a smart Common Golden Ringed (Cordulegaster boltonii).

Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera).

Tree Grayling (Hipparchia statilinus).

Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus).

Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina).

Safflower Skipper (Pyrgus carthami).

Rosy Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus onopordi).

Small White (Pieris rapae).

We jumped the first of the off shoot channels and checked an area of thistles adding Southern (Polyommatus celina) and Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus), Small White (Pieris rapae), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei) heard, Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

Common Winter Damselfly (Sympecma fusca).

The next section was a thicket of Hawthorn bushes which Lynn and I passed via the track to the one side and Steve navigated the bushes, as we walked we had Tree Grayling (Hipparchia statilinus), Bath White (Pontia daplidice) and at the other end of the trees near another of the stream diversions Spanish Chalk-hill Blue (Lysandra albicans), Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra) and a very large Hoverfly called Volucella zonaria which is a very successful Hornet Mimic.

Berger's Clouded Yellow (Colias alfacariensis).

Berger's Clouded Yellow (Colias alfacariensis).

We worked our way up the arroyo from where the second channel exits the main stream finding lots of both Copper (Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis) and Beautiful Demoiselles (Calopteryx virgo), more Common Golden Rings, Common Winter Damselfly (Sympecma fusca), Western Willow Spreadwing (Chalcolestes viridis), Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus) and Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla) which was only heard.

Berger's Clouded Yellow (Colias alfacariensis).

Berger's Clouded Yellows (Colias alfacariensis).

Berger's Clouded Yellows (Colias alfacariensis).

We moved out on to the grasslands again and headed up through what was an old water deposit and in amongst some thistles we had the first of three male Berger's Clouded Yellows (Colias alfacariensis), later on the walk back we also noted a female of the same species being chased relentlessly by one of these males.

Crab Spider (Thomisus onustus) with a Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus).

Cranefly species.

As we moved on up the stream we had the first Western Spectre (Boyeria Irene) of the morning, Safflower (Pyrgus carthami) and Rosy Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus onopordi), Small White (Pieris rapae), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus), Great Banded Grayling (Brintesia circe), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos).

Dasypogon diadema.

Dasypogon diadema.

We reached a point where there were so many fallen tree trunks it made hard to move forward so we turned around and made our way back towards the car, on the way we had a species of Crab Spider (Thomisus onustus) starting to devour a male Clouded Yellow butterfly, Striped Grayling (Hipparchia fidia), Cone-head Mantis (Empusa pennata), Large Psammodromus (Psammodromus algirus) and both dark and pale morph Booted Eagles (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus).

Buprestis novemmaculata.

We reached the car and had some food before driving down the road to another spot where we walked the track and then in to the Scrub next to the Pine Woodlands where we dropped on just my second ever
False Grayling (Arethusana arethusa) as well as Iberian Marbled White, Bath White, Clouded Yellow, Southern Brown Argus, Tree Grayling, Dasypogon diadema and Buprestis novemmaculata before we returned to the house and had a very nice evening chatting up on the terrace.