Embalse de Cubillas and Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A morning up near Granada at Cubillas and then a late walk along the Lucerne Fields.

Ebird List for Cubillas.

 

♂ Mandarin Duck (Pato mandarín / Aix galericulata) and others.

Paqui and I headed up to the North of Granada to the Embalse de Cubillas where I was looking for a ♂ Mandarin Duck (Pato mandarín / Aix galericulata) which had been around for a few day.

♂ Mandarin Duck (Pato mandarín / Aix galericulata).

♂ Mandarin Duck (Pato mandarín / Aix galericulata).

We arrived and fairly quickly found target which was spending most of it's time chasing a ♂ Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) and annoying a ♀ Mallard.

Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina).

We set up the chairs and spent a while scanning the water and the margins finding Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), singles of both Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Little (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta) and Great Egret (Garceta Grande / Ardea alba), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Iberian (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki) and Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica),  Eurasian Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater), 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), Long-tailed Tit (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Common Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapilla), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Mistle (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Eurasian Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and 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).

Great Egret (Garceta Grande / Ardea alba).

Great Egret (Garceta Grande / Ardea alba).

Other Speccies included Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope), Bath (Pontia daplidice) and Small White (Pieris rapae), Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) and Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus).

We packed the kit away and then headed into the city to Aldi and onwards to get some Logs before returning to Huétor where I dropped Paqui at home and went back to my place and unloaded the Logs.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for 2nd November 2026.

15W Actinic on the terrace, +7.

22 Moths of 13 Species.

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

Licence from Junta de Andalucía.

1426 Prays oleae.

1426 Prays oleae x1, 6496 Evergestis isatidalis x2, 6551 Udea numeralis x1, 8211 Rhodometra sacaria (The Vestal) x2, 8328 Nebula Ibericata x1, 8599 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata (Double-striped Pug) x1, 9142 Eublemma parva (Small Marbled) x1, 9591 Agrochola lunosa (Lunar Underwing) x8, 9648 Aporophyla chioleuca x1, 9651 Aporophyla nigra (Black Rustic) x1, 10215 Xestia kermesina x1, 10326 Eucoptocnemis optabilis x1, and 10351 Agrotis segetum (Turnip Moth) x1.

6496 Evergestis isatidalis.

8211 Rhodometra sacaria (The Vestal).

8328 Nebula Ibericata.

8599 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata (Double-striped Pug).

9142 Eublemma parva (Small Marbled).

9591 Agrochola lunosa (Lunar Underwing).

9591 Agrochola lunosa (Lunar Underwing).

9591 Agrochola lunosa (Lunar Underwing).

9648 Aporophyla chioleuca.

9651 Aporophyla nigra (Black Rustic).

10215 Xestia kermesina.

10326 Eucoptocnemis optabilis.

Sierra de Loja and Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A morning up on Sierra de Loja and a short walk along the Lucerne fields in the evening.

Ebird List for the Sierra.

This was a small Quarry with breeding Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura) and Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius).

Paqui and I were originally heading up to Embalse de Cubillas near Granada and then I wanted to collect some logs on the way back but just as we were leaving the town we suddenly realised that it was a holiday and that everything would be shut so we made a change and headed up to Sierra de Loja.

I had been a while since I had been up here due to fire restrictions so I was appalled to see how much of the lower Pine Woodlands have been destroyed, also the small quarry where there was some amazing visible geology as well as breeding Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) and other species.

Looking out to the West.

We moved on quickly as it was quite depressing and as we got out onto the tops things didn't get much better as the signs of massive over grazing were obvious immediately and all the way out to Charca del Negro and a few Kms further on.

Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real / Lanius meridionalis).

European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola) ♂.

European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola) ♀.

European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola) ♀.

On the way out we saw Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real / Lanius meridionalis), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Thekla's Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) and European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris).

Thekla's Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae).

Thekla's Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae).

Thekla's Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae).

Out towards Charca del Negro we picked up the first 2 Ring Ouzels (Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus), later we saw a couple more and finally a group which were coming down to some water at Fuente Alto where I lay on the ground near a tree where the birds flew into before dropping to the water.

Ring Ouzel (Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus).

Ring Ouzel (Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus).

Ring Ouzel (Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus).

Ring Ouzel (Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus).

Ring Ouzel (Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus).

Ring Ouzel (Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus).

Ring Ouzel (Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus).

Ring Ouzel (Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus).

Ring Ouzel (Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus).

Ring Ouzel (Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus).

Ring Ouzel (Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus).

7 Ring Ouzels (Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus) in one bush.

Around the cave and along the crags we also added Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Eurasian Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Northern Raven (Cuervo grande / Corvus corax), Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Eurasian Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina).

Paqui checking the cave out.

Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Capra pyrenaica hispanica).

Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Capra pyrenaica hispanica).

Amongst the Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) trees we found a group of Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Capra pyrenaica hispanica), Large Psammodromus (Psammodromus algirus), Bath (Pontia daplidice) x4 and Small White (Pieris rapae) x6, Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) x1, Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) x14, Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) x1, Vagrant Emperor (Anax ephippiger) x2, Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) ♂.

Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) ♂.

Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) ♂.

On our way down to Loja we picked up Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater), Eurasian Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Curruca undata) and Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura).

Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Curruca undata).

Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Curruca undata).

Huétor Fields and Presa y Meandros del Genil, Granada Province, Spain.

A walk along the Lucerne Fields and later another visit to the Owls.

Ebird List for the Fields.

Ebird List for the Presa.

Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea).

We met down at the Walnut trees and walked out towards the gates but turned around early as there were a group of 4 hunters with dogs searching for Iberian Brown Hare (Liebre ibérica / Lepus granatensis), I just don't understand how low someone's morals can be to get enjoyment out of Killing such a beautiful animal, sick people.

As we walked we saw 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), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Iberian (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki) and Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Eurasian Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Eurasian Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata),  Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), 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), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), 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), 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).

The Churros, very nice.

After returning to the car we went down to Paqui's where we had coffee and some very nice home mad Churros.

Later in the day we went back out to the area near the Presa to try and see the Eurasian Eagle Owl (Búho Real / Bubo bubo) but tonight was the first time for a long while we didn't see or hear any of the birds.

Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito ibérico / Picus sharpei).

We did however see Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Grey Heron, Great Spotted (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major) and Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito ibérico / Picus sharpei),  Iberian and Eurasian Magpie, Eurasian Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and Great Tit, Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Common Chiffchaff, Cetti's Warbler, Long-tailed Tit (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus), Eurasian Blackcap, Sardinian Warbler,  Spotless Starling, Common Blackbird, European Robin, Black Redstart, House Sparrow, 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 Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus).