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).

Presa y Meandros del Genil, Granada Province, Spain.

A visit to the Presa with Paqui.

Ebird List for the Presa.

Paqui and I headed out for an evening visit to the Presa after a busy day catching up with things around our houses.

We parked and then spent a while sat by the Rio Genil at the Presa, here we saw Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), European Turtle (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur) and Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Thinornis dubius), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) x3, Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oropéndola Europea / Oriolus oriolus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild),  Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

After a while we went for a walk along the track recording Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus), a Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis) and European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

As we drove out of the site, we saw a couple of Red-necked Nightjars (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis) on the track, there were at least 2 more at a spot near the Albergue Rural Cortijo del Guarda where we also had Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito ibérico / Picus sharpei), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator) and as the light dropped we heard a calling Eurasian Eagle Owl (Búho Real / Bubo bubo).

Near Huétor Tajar / La Fabrica, Granada Province, Spain.

Looking around Paqui's Olive trees.

 

Looking out into the Calima.

After a day at home getting some jobs done Paqui and I headed out to check on a couple of her Olive groves, we arrived and did a walk.

Paqui amongst her Olives.

Paqui was pleased with how everything looked, as there was a very good-looking crop on the trees; the only work needed was to remove the dry plants around the base of the trees.

The dry plants are there because Paqui doesn't use any herbicides on the land and cultivates the olives as ecologically as possible.  

Near Charca de Suarez, Carchuna Beach and Charca de Suarez, Granada Province, Spain.

Butterflies, Beach and Birding.

Ebird List for near Charca.

Ebird List for Charca.

 

Monarch (Danaus plexippus).

Paqui and I headed down to the coast near Motril, we started by visiting a spot near Charca de Suarez where we looked for and found some nice species of butterflies, which included Swallowtail (Papilio machaon), Monarch (Danaus plexippus), Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus) on its food plant Stranglewort (Cynanchum acutum), Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous) and Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina).

Monarch (Danaus plexippus).

Monarch (Danaus plexippus).

Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus).

Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus).

Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus).

As we walked around this site, we also saw European Turtle (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur) and Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Red Avadavat (Bengali Rojo / Amandava amandava) and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus). 

Carchuna Beach.

We moved on to the beach at Carchuna where we spent a few hours chilling out and having a swim in the sea, whilst there we saw Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Thalasseus sandvicensis), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis). 

Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

Audouin's Gull (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii).

Audouin's Gull (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii).

Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

At around 17:30 we packed our kit up and headed to Charca de Suarez where we met Juan Perez, we spent the next 2 hours walking around the reserve calling in at most of the Hides.

Laguna de las Aneas.

Gadwall (Anade Friso / Mareca strepera) ♀.

Gadwall (Anade Friso / Mareca strepera) ♀.

Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) ♀.

Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca) ♀.

Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca) ♀.

Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca) ♀.

Birds seen included Gadwall (Anade Friso / Mareca strepera), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), European Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and Red-knobbed Coot (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata) along with the hybrid between the 2 species, Western Swamp-hen (Calamón Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus), Little Bittern (Avetorillo Común / Ixobrychus minutus), Black-crowned Night Heron (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax), Little (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta) and Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Common Kingfisher (Martin Pescador Común / Alcedo atthis), Zitting Cisticola, Common Reed (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) and Great Reed Warbler (Carricero Tordal / Acrocephalus arundinaceus), Western House Martin, Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Red Avadavat (Bengali Rojo / Amandava amandava), House Sparrow, European Greenfinch and European Goldfinch.

Laguna del Taraje.

Red-knobbed Coot (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata).

Little Bittern (Avetorillo Común / Ixobrychus minutus).

Little Bittern (Avetorillo Común / Ixobrychus minutus).

Little Bittern (Avetorillo Común / Ixobrychus minutus).

Other species seen as we walked included Iberian Bluetail (Ischnura graellsii), Blue / Common (Anax imperator) and Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope), Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria), Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli), Small White (Pieris rapae), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Monarch, Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi), Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa), Wild Boar (Jabalí / Felis silvestris), Purple Morning Glory (Ipomoea purpurea), Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) and Small Fleabane (Pulicaria vulgaris).

Monarch (Danaus plexippus).

We came back out of the reserve at 20:00 and then went for a coffee before heading back to Huétor.

The Sunset.

Riofrio, Granada Province, Spain.

A nice stroll around Riofrio with Paqui, followed by some breakfast in La Casa del Pastel.

 

I picked Paqui up in Huétor and we headed down to Riofrio where we chilled for a while on one of the benches along the Rio, whilst we sat there and went for a walk we saw Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki),  Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis).

Other species seen were Brown Rat (Rattus norvegicus), Small White (Pieris rapae), Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina), Small Fleabane (Pulicaria vulgaris), Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) and Common Mallow (Malva sylvestris).

We walked up to the La Casa del Pastel where we had a coffee and a Tostarda before we headed back to Huétor. 

Riaño, Las Salas in Asturias and Bejes in Cantabria and then the drive home, Spain.

A good and disappointing morning in a hide before heading for a target butterfly and then the long drive home.

 

The view from the Hide.

I was up and out early as I was meeting Mario, the guide for the day in the centre of Riaño, I met him and the other three guests before we all headed out to the hide, on the way as we turned up towards the site a European Wildcat (Felis silvestris) was seen out in a newly cut Hay Meadow.

Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos).

Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos).

Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos).

Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos).

Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos).

Once we reached the hide Mario and his colleague put out the food for the Cats and the Golden Eagles (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos), once they had finished they left us for a few hours.

Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos).

Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos).

Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos).

Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos).

Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos).

After just a few minutes the first Eurasian Jay's (Arrendajo Euroasiático / Garrulus glandarius) flew in and started to feed on some of the meat that was put out, they were quickly followed by the two Golden Eagles (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos), this was the first of several visits during the morning.

Eurasian Jay (Arrendajo Euroasiático / Garrulus glandarius).

Eurasian Jay (Arrendajo Euroasiático / Garrulus glandarius).

Eurasian Jay (Arrendajo Euroasiático / Garrulus glandarius).

Eurasian Jay (Arrendajo Euroasiático / Garrulus glandarius).

Eurasian Jay (Arrendajo Euroasiático / Garrulus glandarius).

Unfortunately the main target for me, the Cat didn't show up but we did see Small White (Pieris rapae), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Great Banded Grayling (Brintesia circe), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), European Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Eurasian Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteño / Emberiza cirlus) and Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs).

Mario returned just before 12:00 and we returned to Riaño, on the way out we had a European Pine Marten (Martes martes) run across the track in front of us and gave us nice views as it went up the bank and away. 

Southern Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus malvoides).

Southern Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus malvoides).

Marbled Skipper (Muschampia lavatherae).

Dingy Skipper (Erynnis tages).

Dingy Skipper (Erynnis tages).

As soon as we reached Riaño I pushed off and made my way to Potes and then to a site that Caitriona and Martin had told me about, after parking I walked up a nearby track checking the verges for Large Chequered Skipper (Heteropterus morpheus), I had two sightings but neither sat and allowed me to get any photo's unfortunately.

Large Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanus).

Lulworth Skipper (Thymelicus acteon).

Skipper species I saw well were Southern Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus malvoides), Marbled Skipper (Muschampia lavatherae), Dingy Skipper (Erynnis tages), Large Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanus) and Lulworth Skipper (Thymelicus acteon).

False Ilex Hairstreak (Satyrium esculi).

Provençal Fritillary (Melitaea deione).

Chalk Hill Blue (Lysandra coridon).

Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus).

Pearly Heath (Coenonympha arcania).

Other species seen were False Ilex Hairstreak (Satyrium esculi), Provençal Fritillary (Melitaea deione), Chalk Hill Blue (Lysandra coridon), Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus), Pearly Heath (Coenonympha arcania), Common Golden Ringed (Cordulegaster boltonii), Western Spectre (Boyeria Irene), Horse Mint (Mentha longifolia), Field Eryngo (Eryngium campestris), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Eurasian Jay (Arrendajo Euroasiático / Garrulus glandarius), Red-billed (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) and Alpine Chough (Chova Piquigualda / Pyrrhocorax graculus).

I walked back down the hill to the car and then apart from a brief stop for a coffee and to get some food I did the 9.5 hour drive home in one go, arriving at just after 02:00.