At the Caer Beris Manor Hotel (The Wedding), Builth Wells, Mid Wales.

The Wedding.

Matt.

The Morning of the Wedding was dry, mainly sunny but breezy; this did not matter much as most of the day was spent in the Hotel. The ceremony went very well as did the afternoon meal and night do.

Signing the register.

An Elvis impersonator was the evening’s highlight, even for a person who is not an Elvis fan this chap was a true entertainer and every one had a laugh and enjoyed his show very much.

Famil Picture.

Thanks to Sarah and Matt for inviting us to the big day.

Louise and Jim (Mother and Father of the Groom).

The Silcock Brothers and Sisters.

ELVIS.

Travelling to Builth Wells, Mid Wales.

Making our way to the wedding.

The bridge in to Buithwells.

We were all up and about quite early this morning as we had to be over in Albrighton for 11:30 to meet up with Jayne Sister Brenda and Keith her husband who were kindly taking us down to Buithwells. Some of us felt better that others, Jayne had sensibly said no to the offer from the owner of the Indian restaurant of a third special coffee the night before, Barb and I did not. W got over to Albrighton on time and all got into Brenda and Keiths car and we started off down into Wales via Leominster where we stopped for lunch. On the way down we saw several Common Buzzards (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and at least three of the original Welsh population of Red Kites (Milano Real / Milvus milvus). We arrived at the hotel mid afternoon which gave me time to go and have a walk along the river and in the surrounding woods and grounds. On the river I spent quite some time watching three Goosanders (Serreta Grande / Mergus merganser) fishing. 

A statue by the river.

After some time the Goosander were joined by a male Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) which decided there feeding method was good and joined in and was diving along side and for almost as long as the Goosanders. In the woods I got some nice views of a tit flock which also contained several Treecreepers (Agateador Norteño / Certhia familiaris), Goldcrest (Reyezuelo Sencillo / Regulus regulus) and a single Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita). In the woods I picked up Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea) and Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).

Belvide Res, Gaily Res, Yoxall and Chasewater, Staffordshire, UK.

A days birding with good friend John Holian, followed by a cracking Indian meal.

Long-eared Owl (Búho Chico / Asio otus).

I meet John Holian out side Barb’s house and we headed out for a days birding in the county of Staffordshire and started at one of my old haunts Belvide Reservoir. 

Once I had worked out that the gate was not locked we parked up in the car park and made our way through the woods to the first hide, on the way we had a couple of Goldcrests (Reyezuelo Sencillo / Regulus regulus), Great (Carbonero Común / Parus major), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Long-tailed Tits (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and a calling Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major). 

From the hide we were soon seeing birds which used to be familiar sights to me but which I had not see for some time (up to 7 years). 

John and another birder watching the Owl.

On a spits some distance away we could see a single Common Gull (Gaviota Cana / Larus canus) amongst the many Black-head’s (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Herrings (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus) and a couple of Lesser Black-back’s (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus). 

On the water there were several flocks of one of my favorite ducks, around 30 Goldeneye (Porrón Osculado / Bucephala clangula) could be seen including several stunning males. Also on the water were Canada (Barnacla Canadiense / Branta Canadensis) and Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser), Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata), Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor) and Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo). 

Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser).

On the margins we added Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus) and Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), plus a Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) which showed well from a post just on the edge of a reed-bed. In the reeds a couple of Robins (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula) chased each other around and a group of three Reed Buntings (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus) sat up high calling.

We then made our way around to the next hide calling in at a spot along one of the tracks cut out by the local ringing group to view a roosting Long-eared Owl (Búho Chico / Asio otus) which showed well in the lower branches of a willow tree. 

Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer Montanus).

Here we also had Bullfinch (Camachuelo Común / Pyrrhula pyrrhula), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis) and heard a Marsh Tit (Carbonero Palustre / Poecile palustris). From the hide we added Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba subsp yarrellii), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Pheasant (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) which had become incredibly common since my leaving the UK. 

Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis).

On the way out we missed the gazebo hide and continued on to the furthest point getting good views of the Marsh Tit on the way. 

From the hide here we picked up the first Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera) and Eurasian Wigeon (Silbón Europeo / Anas Penelope) of the day and added Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaia) to the list. 

On the way back to the car park we popped into the Gazebo hide to look at the feeding station where we had close views of several Tree Sparrows (Gorrión Molinero / Passer Montanus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and a single Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) butterfly. 

Once back in the car park John got out the flash and we had a welcome cup of coffee, as nice as the weather was it felt really cold and I could not even focus my bins easily. 

Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis).

Whist we drank our nice hot coffee I picked up a dragonfly which dropped down onto the small bird tables mounted on nearby fence posts, it flew before I could get a shot but I managed to Id it as an Emerald species and going on distribution I can on guess that it was a very late tatty looking Downy Emerald (Cordulia aenea). 

A cracking Southern/ Blue Hawker (Aeshna cyanea) also did a fly passed and landed in a clump of Brambles and was very confiding and allowed some nice photos to be taken. On the bird tables we also got some nice views of a beautiful Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea) as it picked around for food.

Southern/ Blue Hawker (Aeshna cyanea).

Our next stop was at Gailey Res just down the road, we only add Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and Tufted Duck (Porrón Monudo / Aythya fuligula) so we decided to continue on to Yoxall where John had seen a Great White Egret (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba) a few days earlier. We arrived and quickly located two Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta) on the banks of the river and our second Kingfisher of the day which caught quite a large Perch and eventually after a lot of bashing managed to turn it and swallow.

Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum).

Also seen in this area were Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Rook (Graja / Corvus frugilegus), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone) and a large mixed flock of Fieldfare (Zorzal Real / Turdus pilaris) and Redwings (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus iliacus). 

Our next port of call was at Whitmoor Hay and Croxall Pool, out on fields at Whitmoor Hay we were hoping to catch up with Grey Partridge (Perdiz Pardilla / Perdix perdix) but there was a lot of construction work going on so the noise and disturbance was to much and we did not get any sightings of these now rear birds but we did record a pair of Yellowhammers (Escribano Cerillo / Emberiza citronella) on one of the barn roofs, several Stock Doves (Paloma Zurita / Columba oenas) out on the fields and a Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes) in the bottom of a Hawthorn hedge which contained the second flock of Tree Sparrows of the day.

John freezing his bits off at Chasewater.

On Croxall pool we added singles of Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago) and Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) to the list along with Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) and more delightful Bullfinches. 

An old Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) was also added to the Dragonflies for the day.

Our final stop was at Chasewater for the Gull Roost, a couple of Caspian Gulls (Larus cachinnans) and I quite fancied seeing one of these birds as it had been many years since my last view and they are now being recorded regularly in Spain. Gull numbers grew and included hundreds of Black-headed, Lesser Black Backed, Herring, a few Common and four Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) but unfortunately there were no Caspian’s seen. John returned me to Barbs only to pick me up again along with Jayne and Barb a few minutes later so that we could all go and have a cracking Indian meal with his wife Sharon at the local restaurant called Chili peppers.

Wednesfield, West Mids, Not so Great Britain.

Travelling to Barbs from Birmingham Airport.

Jayne and I travelled back to the UK for a few days to go to a family wedding in Builth Wells in Wales. After an uneventful flight and train journey to Wolverhampton we meet Jayne sister Barbara and caught the bus back to her house where we were staying for the first part of our stay. On the way I picked up several Carrion Crows (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone) a bird that I do not see back home very often, these were seen along side Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris) and in the garden a male Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) flushed out a couple of the local Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 11th October 2011.
15W Actinic on the terrace.
Any corrections PLEASE send me a comment on the post, thanks. 

 

9565 Agrochola lychnidis (Beaded Chestnut).

The trap was again run overnight and another couple of new species were recorded with a couple more needing to be identified.

9704 Dryobotodes tenebrosa.

The new species were 9565 Agrochola lychnidis (Beaded Chestnut) and 9704 Dryobotodes tenebrosa x3. Another species I do not catch often was 7504 Watsonalla uncinula (Spiny Hook-tip) which is very similar to the Oak hook-tip back in the UK.

7504 Watsonalla uncinula (Spiny Hook-tip).

These were caught along with more usual species including 1655 Ethmia bipunctella, 6690a Palpita vitrealis, 6619 Uresiphita polygonalis, 7725 Menophra japygiaria (Brassy Waved Umber), 8211 Rhodometra sacaria (The Vestal), 9106 Pseudozarba bipartita and a shed load of 10460 Earias insulana (Egyptian Bollworm) in different colour forms.

6690a Palpita vitrealis.

Malaga City, Malaga Province.

A visit to the Glass museum and Tyssen Art Gallery.

Group around the Museum.

Jayne and I meet several other members of the English Group for a coach trip down to the Glass Museum in Malaga (link on right hand side of blog), Jayne and I had been before but had really enjoyed it.

Viewing the painting.

We arrived and strolled through the streets of the City passing the Cathedral to the Museum where we were to meet Ian Phillips one of the owners and our guide for the visit.

Glass cabinet.

On arrival Ian gave us all a brief history of the building and it past uses before splitting us into two groups for the tour. The exhibits were varied and very interesting just to look at but with all the information supplied by Ian about the Glass, furniture and paintings the visit was made so much richer.

Fountain in the park.

Later we made our way though the City, had a coffee and eventually found the Tyssen Art Gallery. I enjoyed this but much preferred the earlier part of the day.
After having a nice lunch we spent some time around the shops and then had a stroll along the tree lines areas near the port, here we saw both Ring-necked and Monk Parakeets.

Government building in Malaga.

Later we had another drink before meet the coach and the journey home, a long but very enjoyable day.

Granada and the Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

Bargins and Birds.

Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

Jayne and I set off up towards the City of Granada to visit the large Saturday market as we were hoping to do a car boot sale on the Sunday morning when the other Granada market is on. On the way up I saw a small flock Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) which were raiding the remains of next doors grape vines, a very dark Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) which flapped low over the road by the A92 and a small flock of around 20 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) on a motorway side field.

We spent the next 2 ½ hours having a wonder around the market and both picked up a couple of bargins!

Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea).

On the way home we went via La Malahá and Ventas de Huelma on the way over to Cacín, on the way I added Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and another Common Buzzard but this time right at the other end of the colour scale as it was almost white below with just two dark brown bars.

We dropped down into the Cacín Valley and headed North stopping at the Embalse for a while, here I picked up Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo) and 3 Grey Herons (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea). 

Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra).

In the surrounding fields and bushes I caught up with Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Thekla (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and Crested Larks (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

Our last stop was out on the El Temple agricultural area nearby, here we only managed to pick up 3 new chat species for the day list, these were Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe).

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 7th October 2011. 
15W Actinic on the terrace.

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

 

6208 Euchromius vinculellus.

Another three new species caught on what was a nice warm October night, moth numbers were up, possibly due to a thin layer of cloud.

6524 Hydriris ornatalis.

The new species were 6208 Euchromius vinculellus, 6524 Hydriris ornatalis and 7882 Charissa mucidaria with a few more still to ID. 

7882 Charissa mucidaria.

9056 Autographa gamma (Silver Y).

Other interesting species were 1655 Ethmia bipunctella, 6604 Pyrausta aurata, a second 7761 Peribatodes umbraria after the first on the 6th, 8211 Rhodometra sacraria (The Vestal) x30+, 9056 Autographa gamma (Silver Y) x1, 9081 Ni Moth (Trichoplusia ni) x1, 9621 Episema grueneri, 9628 Leucochlaena oditis (Beautiful Gothic) and 10326 Eucoptocnemis optabilis.

9081 Ni Moth (Trichoplusia ni).

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 6th October 2011.
15W Actinic on the terrace.
Any corrections, PLEASE send me a comment on the post, thanks. 

6446 Cynaeda dentalis.

As usual, I decided to run the 15w trap and was pleased to find a drastic drop in the number of the black beetles which had been infesting the trap recently.

7761 Peribatodes umbraria.

Along with a few beetles there were a number of new species for the garden, these included 6446 Cynaeda dentalis, 7761 Peribatodes umbraria, 8045 Scopula ornata (Lace border) and 9408 Stilbia andalusiaca.

10460 Earias insulana (Egyptian Bollworm).

Other species were 0663 Trichophaga Bipartitella, 6521 Hellula undalis (Old World Webworm), 7987 Microloxia herbaria, 8189 Idaea degeneraria (Portland Ribbon Wave), 9621 Episema gruenri, 9628 Leucochlaena oditis (Beautiful Gothic), 10326 Eucoptocnemis optabilis, Pseudozarba bipartita, a dozen or more 10460 Earias insulana (Egyptian Bollworm), 10528b Coscinia chrysocephala and 10535 Utetheisa pulchella (Crimson Speckled).

9408 Stilbia andalusiaca.

RAM, Motril Port and Charca del Suarez, Granada Province.

Sea bird survey, Ring checking and a quick look at Charca.

Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis).

Today it was an early start; it was still dark as I was leaving the house which was the reason for me getting a new bird for my seen from the garden list. As I was walking out to the car an Eagle Owl (Buho Real / Bubo bubo) flew off my neighbor’s roof and out into the Olives. Dave Jackson a friend from the UK had seen one from the terrace a couple of years earlier but I had not recorded it which is surprising as they breed just up the road.

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

I met up with Juan at the usual place on Aki car park and we made our way down to the headland just to the east of Motril. We arrived a little early so we had a scan around the local scrub first picking up Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Tawny Pipit (Bisbita campestre / Anthus campestris), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla).

The sea watch started well it two Great Skua’s (Págalo Grande / Catharacta skua) chasing each other and a flock of Balearic Shearwater (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus) passing to the west. We also recorded 2 more Great Skua’s, many more Balearic’s along with a single Cory's Shearwater (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea), Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Audouin's Gulls (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii).

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Somria / Larus fuscus).

After the sea watch we made our way around to the fish port to check through the Gull flocks which roost there to see if we could find any birds that were ringed. On the drive round we picked up Common (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) and Pallid Swifts (Vencejo Pálido / Apus pallidus) both still moving along the coast in small numbers, House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Red-rumped (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica) and Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and both Western Cattle (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta).

Once we were in the port we located a largish flock of Gulls which contained all the species of Gull and tern mentioned earlier. We found several Lesser Black-backs with rings along with a single Yellow-legged.

Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus).

Our last stop was at Charca where we called at several of the hides and did a full loop around the site. The first small hide was quiet but we did add Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus) and Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) to the bird list and started the dragonflies off with Lesser (Anax parthenope) and Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator), Broad Scarlet (Crocothemis erythraea), Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma) and Small Red-eyed (Erythromma viridulum). 

We pushed on further round to the next hide where several Little Grebes (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) were seen and a nice Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) performed and posed until we got the cameras ready and then disappeared. As we were leaving the spot for the main hide we picked up a couple of male Red Avadavat (Bengali Rojo / Amandava amandava) which quickly dropped from the reed tops out of sight.

Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra).

At the main hide we picked up the only Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocorax carbo) of the morning, 4 more Little Egrets, a single Purple Swamp-hen (Calamón Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), a couple of squabbling Grey Herons (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata) for the bird list and Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria), Black Percher (Diplacodes lefebvrii), Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) and Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum) for the dragons.

We continued on passed a newly dig scrap which looks as though it will be interesting once it is completed and into the last hide by the long pool. Here we added females of Red-crested Pochard (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca) and Eurasian Wigeon (Silbón Europeo / Anas Penelope).

Sierra de Loja, Granada Province.

A morning in the mountains seeing some of my favorite birds.

Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

Got up to a nice morning with a few more clouds around than usual but the sun was trying hard to brake through, so I decided to carry on with last nights idea of a trip up Sierra de Loja. On the way over I started the list with a small flock of around 25 Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), several Common Chaffinches (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica).

Just as I started to make my way up the Sierra from the town of Loja I picked up 2 late Honey Buzzards (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus) moving west along with the first of 11 Marsh Harriers (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) seen during the morning (all female of immature birds). Once I was clear of the pine woods I started to see the expected Thekla Larks (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Rock Sparrows (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia) and Common Stonechats (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) either perched on rocks or making use of the road side barriers. 

Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia).

Along the crags good numbers of both Jackdaws (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and Red-billed Choughs (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) called noisily as they chased around the cliff faces. Once up on the more level areas I pushed on to the first of the water collection buildings to have a look for any remaining Rufous-tailed Rock Thrushes (Roquero Rojo / Monticola saxatilis) that may be hanging around. I parked right next to the building and got some nice views of several Rock Sparrows, Black Redstarts (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and several Northern Wheatears (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe). After about 10 minutes a bird jumped up on to a rock and sat there for some time, giving me chance to roll down the hill, park right across the road and get some nice views and a couple of shots. Also around here I added a late skulking Spectacled Warbler (Curruca Tomillera / Sylvia conspicillata) moving though the low thyme plants, Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) which was screeching from a nearby rock pile and a small flock of Corn Buntings (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) which flew by. 

Rufous-tailed Rock Thrushes (Roquero Rojo / Monticola saxatilis).

I then continued on up to Charca del Negro and on to the Goat Cave where Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Blue Rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa) were added along with a migrating flock of Sparrowhawks (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), I counted 19 birds over a few minutes.

On the way down I saw two large Spanish Ibex (Capra pyreaica hispanica) moving through one of the mountain top fields, Several flocks of Spotless Starlings (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and around 10 Whinchats (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra) all in a small track side field. A Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and a male Blue Rock Thrush were all seen perched in the same large Hawthorn bush, with the Shrike right on top singing its head off. 

Spanish Ibex (Capra pyreaica hispanica).

On my way back down passed the crags I eventually saw the first Black Wheatears (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura) of the morning and added Great Tit (Carbonero Común / Parus major), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca) and Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla) to the list. On the track up to and at the disused Quarry Dartford (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata) and Sardinian Warblers (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) were seen, along with Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulga / Falco tinnunculus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and a single Meadow Pipit (Bistita Común / Anthus pratensis).

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 24th September 2011.

15W Actinic on the terrace.

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

 

9370 Heliothis armigera (Scarce Bordered Straw).

Last night I made the decision to run the 125w MV lamp, what a mistake. I got up to find the trap, nearby plants and all the walls were swamped in small black beetles, literally 10s of thousands had been attracted in along with a few moths.

8699 Clostera pigra (Small Chocolate-tip).

New species or first time identified moths included a single 8699 Clostera pigra (Small Chocolate-tip) and 9370 Heliothis armigera (Scarce Bordered Straw) x2.

10528b Coscinia chrysocephala.

Other species of note were 9628 Leucochlaena oditis (Beautiful Gothic) and 10528b Coscinia chrysocephala and the Tiger species 10555 Cymbalophora pudica.

9628 Leucochlaena oditis (Beautiful Gothic).