Molina area, Fuente de Piedra and Laguna Dulce, Malaga Province and Sierra de Loja Granada Province.

A cracking first day with Deb and Renate from Australia.

Day One.

Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin (Alzacola / Cercotrichas galactotes).

After Deb and Renate arrived yesterday from Ronda but due to works on the railway lines through Loja they were transferred to a coach in Antequera and then to a minibus on the motorway before arriving at the station we had a steady start and headed out at a decent time to our first site near the town of Molina.

Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta).

We searched a arable area of land and soon located our first target species the locally uncommon Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin (Alzacola / Cercotrichas galactotes) which was singing very close to the road nearby so we rolled around towards it and had superb views. In the same area we picked up Gull-billed Tern (Pagaza Piconegra / Gelochelidon nilotica), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

After getting great views of the Chat which sat nicely for the camera we headed along the motorway to Fuente de Piedra and stopped along side the pool on the entrance track and scanned through the birds and soon boosted the list with a lot of new species including Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Wood Sandpiper (Andarrios Bastardo / Tringa glareola), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Whiskered Tern (Fumarel Cariblanca / Chilidonias hybridus), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) and Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis). 

Deb and Renate at Fuente.

We decided to move on when two car loads of British birding brain deads pulled up and all piled out of the cars making loads of noise and flushing everything to the far bank and beyond. 

We parked the car and walked down to the boardwalk and checked the waders on there and were pleased to quickly locate a very nice Temminck Stint (Correlimos de Temminck / Calidris temminckii) mixed in with several Littles and some Curlew Sandpipers (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea). We also had another nice Wood Sand, a Whiskered Tern which did several nice close flypasts for the camera, lots more Gull-billed Terns, Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus) and a couple of enormous Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula).

Our next stop was up at the Mirador, on the way round we checked the ditch at the side of the lowere track and I was very pleased to find three tandem pairs and two sing male Dark Spreadwings (Lestes macrostigma) which were Dragonfly lifers for me. After getting a few shots of the dragons and checking the next pool and finding Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna) and Great Reed Warbler (Carricero Tordal / Acrocephalus arundinaceus) we reached the mirador where we soon found two of the reported Lesser Flamingo's (Flamenco Enano / Phoenicopterus minor) way out on the main salt lake.

Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus).

In the same area we saw Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Western Cattle Egret, Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) before a huge bus load of school kids arrived and we moved on around to the first hide.

Male Dark Spreadwings (Lestes macrostigma).

We settled down in there and again quickly started to find new species including Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Red-crested (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina) and Common Pochards (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris). On our way to the second hide we saw a couple of Black-veined White (Aporia crataegi), Large White (Pieris brassicae) and Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus). In the hide we saw more Gadwall, Red-crested Pochards, Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator), Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), lots of Stripe-necked Terrapins (Mauremys leprosa) and Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). We returned to the mirador and found the Lesser Flamingo's again and walked back around the back and down the track passing the Spreadwings again and then whilst I tried to get some more shots of them Deb checked the board walk out and Renate went up to the visitors center

Male Dark Spreadwings (Lestes macrostigma).

where we met her a few minutes late seeing Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea) by the steps. We returned to the car and checked the entrance road pool again hoping to find the Temmincks on there after it got flushed from the other pool but could not so we carried on around the western side of the lake to the Mirador where we had lunch whilst scanning the much reduced pool below.
We added Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax) and Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Ground-pine Germander (Teucrium pseudochamaepitys), Navel-wort (Omphalodes commutata), Purple Bugloss (Echium plantagineum) and Southern Knapweed (Centaurea pullata ssp pullata) to the list from here before taking the road and the track across country to Laguna Dulce.

Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

During this drive we had very good viewed of a male Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Lesser Kestrel (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni), Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Short-toed Larks (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), Common Mallow (Malva sylvestris), Crown Daisy (Chrysanthemum carinatum var discolor), Wild Clary (Salvia verbenaca), Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas) and Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum).

When we reached the lake we headed around to the hide and scanned the waters but things were quite quite, even so we added Great Crested (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus) and Black-necked Grebes (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) and Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope) but nothing else new for the list.

Deb and Renate at Sierra de Loja.

Our last stop of the day was on the lower slopes of the Sierra de Loja where we checked the crags from the small quarry but could not locate the resident Eagle Owl (Buho Real / Bubo bubo) but we did see Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Orphean Warbler (Curruca Mirlano / Sylvia hortensis), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cyanus), Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenoides), Panoptes Blue (Pseudophilotes panoptes), Sage Skipper (Muschampia proto), Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalia) and Ocellated Lizard (Lacerta lepida) before we headed back to the house and sat up on the terrace and finishing off with a brief view of a flying Red-necked Nightjar (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis).

Moraleda and Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

A good days birding with a group from southern England.

Fluffy Seeds of the Poplars.

Sylvia, Dennis, Andrew and I set off from their accommodation at Casa Jazmin in Realenga and we made our way down on to the fields near Huétor where we started the days list off with Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cyanus), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), White (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor). We pushed on through Mesia and across the A92 to an agricultural area near Moraleda where we took to the dirt tracks. 

Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

On the way we saw Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and once we were out side the urbanization we picked up both Common (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) and Pallid Swifts (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).
Out on the fields we immediately we located a stunning Roller (Carraca / Coracias garrulus) which showed very well in the nearby Almond trees along with Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Bath  (Pontia daplidice), Small (Artogeia rapae), Large (Pieris brassicae) and a tatty Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri).
On a small area of uncultivated grassland we had a few interesting plants including Blue Hounds-tongue (Cynoglossum creticum), Common Asphodel (Asphodelus albus), Ground-pine Germander (Teucrium pseudochamaepitys), Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum), Navel-wort (Omphalodes commutata), Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis), Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum umbellatum), Tassel Hyacinth (Muscari comosum), Yellow Phlomis (Phlomis lychnitis) and Purple Bugloss (Echium plantagineum) and a single teneral male Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii).

Dennis, Andrew and Sylvia.

We continued on around the site and had flight views of a couple of Great Spotted Cuckoos (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) and Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) before dropping down into the valley and along to the bridge over the Rio Cacín. We parked and had a walk towards the dam and heard or saw Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Garden Warbler (Curruca Mosquitera / Sylvia borin), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Blue Tits (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus). Dennis, Andrew and I continued on past the car and had a walk in the Eucalyptus woods further along the river whilst Sylvia got some sun sat by the car,along this track we found Bee (Ophrys apifera), Dense-flowered (Neotinea maculata) and Yellow Bee Orchids (Ophrys lutea), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia) and Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula).

Our next stop was at the Contra Embalse de Bermejalis where we had a scan over the water and had views of Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) and a couple of male Red-veined Darters. 

Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera).

We continued on along the valley and along the top of the gorge and the back to the Roman bridge, during this time we had excellent views of Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila Perdicera / Aquila faciatus), Melodious Warbler (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Rock Pigeon (Paloma Bravia / Columba livia), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), a second Golden Oriole and a singing Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes).

We retraced our way back along the valley to Cacín and then went up over the top road to Ventas and then back to the house via Moraleda again, on the drive we had Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus) and Lesser Kestrel (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni) before getting back.

Thanks to Sylvia, Dennis and Andrew for a great day and for their company.

Arroyo de Casarabonela, Rio Guadalhorce and Rio Grande, Malaga Province.

A few hours on the rivers North of Malaga.

Female Blue / Common Emperors (Anax imperator).

Jayne spent a few hours in the city so I went out to the North in search of Dragonflies and started along the Arroyo Casarabonela where after quite a lot of searching I found just 2x male Blue / Common Emperors (Anax imperator), 4x male Epaulet Skimmers (Orthetrum chrysostigma), 2x male Orange-winged Dropwings (Trithemis kirbyi) and lots of Iberian Blue-tails (Ischnura graellsii).

Female Blue / Common Emperors (Anax imperator).

Butterflies included African Grass (Nina esmaltada / Zizeeia knysna) and Southern Blues (Polyommatus celina), Geranium Bronze (Cacyreus marshalli), Bath White (Blanqiverdosa / Pontia daplidice) and Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas).
I did not take my bins but I did see Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).

Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma).

 I moved on back towards Malaga and had a drive along the Rio Grande where I added Little  (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) and Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) to the list.

Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma).

Moving on again I headed down the tracks to the point where the Rio Grande joins the Rio Guadalhorce and searched the margins there and picked up Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathinerum), White (Platycnemis latipes) and Orange Featherlegs (Platycnemis acutipennis), Small Pincertail (Onychogomphus forcipatus), Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum) and Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata). 

Orange Featherleg (Platycnemis acutipennis).

New birds included Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and a Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans). 

Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos).

Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).

Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus).

Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs).

European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster).

Geranium Bronze (Cacyreus marshalli).

Sierra de Loja, Granada Province.

A morning of Birds, Butterflies, Dragonflies, Orchids and Wild Flowers in the beautiful Sierra de Loja.

Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush (Roquero Roja / Monticola saxatilis).

I headed out early and made my way to Salar and up the Sierra de Loja from the Eastern slopes for a change, on the way I started the list off with House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus).

Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).

Just out side the village I stopped by the small Arroyo de Salar and had a walk, the first bird I saw was a Garden Warbler (Curruca Mosquitera / Sylvia borin) followed by Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes) and just as I was returning to the car a very nice male Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus) flew over.

Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator).

I continued on up the road which soon change to track adding Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina).

Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalia).

I made a brief stop at a patch of uncultivated ground on the roadside where I checked for Orchids and plants seeing Yellow Bee (Ophrys lutea) and Mirror Orchids (Ophrys speculum) plus Common Asphodel (Asphodelus albus), Common Stork's-bill (Erodium cicutarium), Grey-leaved Cistus (Cistus albidus), Ground-pine Germander (Teucrium pseudochamaepitys), Large Blue Flax (Linum narbonense), Mediterranean Catchfly (Silene colorata), Mediterranean Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria), Navel-wort (Omphalodes commutata), Purple Bugloss (Echium plantagineum), Red Phlomis (Phlomis purpurea), Rosy garlic (Allium roseum), Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum umbellatum) and Southern Knapweed (Centaurea pullata ssp pullata).

Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa).

I continued up the track going through Olives, Almond, abandoned groves and eventually out on to the mountain tops, on my way up I saw Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Woodlark (Totovia / Lullula arborea), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator) and Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius).

Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis).

After having a chat with the Campo Guard and a farmer near one of the larger marble quarries I continued on along the track towards Charca del Negro, on the way I had Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Rock Pigeon (Paloma Bravia / Columba livia), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Black-eared (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalia) and not yet in flower Lizard Orchids (Himantoglosum hircinum).

Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia).

Once I was at Charca I parked and went and sat in the rocks near the pool and waited to see what would come in to drink or perch near by for the camera. The first new species seen was a nice male Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia) quickly followed by Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Subalpine Warbler (Curruca Carrasquena / Sylvia cantillans) and then the target species a fine male Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush (Roquero Roja / Monticola saxatilis) but this shy species knew I was there and stayed half hidden but it was still stunning.

Black-eared Wheatear (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica).

I moved a short way down the slope towards the goat house and again sat and waited, here I had distant but nice long views of a singing male Orphean Warbler (Curruca Mirlano / Sylvia hortensis), more Black-eared Wheatears, Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) and several butterflies including Knapweed Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe), Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina), Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) and Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus).

Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae).

Back up at the pool I checked what I could see in the water and soon had views of both Sharp-ribbed Salamander (Pleurodeles waltl) and Natterjack Toads (Sapo Corredor / Bufo calamita) as they came up for air, a couple of Andalucian Wall Lizards (Podarcis vaucheri) on the rocks and a very small Viperine Snake (Culebra Viperina / Natrix maura) which slipped away through the Pond Water Crowsfoot (Ranunculus Peltatus). 

Over the pool a couple of male Red-veined Darters (Sympetrum fonscolombii) battled for territory and several Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) passed over feeding.

I continued on to the next corned just passed the charca's in the car before turning around, on the boulders in this area I found a nice Male Black-eared Wheatear which sat nicely for the camera.

Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata)-

I dropped steadily down the hill to a spot I know where I usually see Spectacled Warbler (Curruca Tomillera / Sylvia conspicillata) and before I had even got out of the car a male was display flying from a large broom bush nearby, in the same area there were several Thekla Larks (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), a family party of Dartford Warblers (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata) which came right next to the car in an almond tree, Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus) and a single passing Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) which drifted off west. 

Again I continued down hill seeing a female Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Coal Tits (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater) on the way and then had a look at the area around the old quarry.

Female Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca).

On the crags I found a single off duty Eagle Owl (Buho Real / Bubo bubo), 2 more Dartford Warblers, Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), European Bee-eaters (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) which flew over high along with Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenoides), Panoptes Blue (Pseudophilotes panoptes), Small White (Artogeia rapae), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) and Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni).

I then dropped down to the motorway and headed for the Huétor Tajar junction, just before I got there a pair of Hawfinches (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes) flew across and right on the exit a Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) was seeing off a Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius).

After a visit to the supermarket I made my way home across the fields and finished the day with Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) and Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus).

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 30th April 2015.

15W Actinic on the terrace.

76 Moths of 17 Species.

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

8732 Pterostoma palpina (Pale Prominant).

Put the 125watt MV out last night and this morning checked the trap to find a goodish number of moths but less than expected as it was warm and cloudy overnight. 

8732 Cacoecimorpha pronubana.

Species seen included 8732 Pterostoma palpina (Pale Prominant) x1 which was a new species for the garden, 0663 Trichophaga Bipartitella x2, 0961 Hadena sancta x2, 3498 Mirificarma eburnella x 8, 4323 Aethes tornella x1, 8965 Tyta luctuosa (The Four-spotted) x2, 9367 Heliothis peltigera (Bordered Straw) x3, 9100 Acontia lucida (Pale Shoulder) x5, Aethes tornella x3 also possibly a new garden moth, 10022 Mythimna l-album (L-Album Wainscot) x1, 9927 Aetheria dysodea (Small Ranunculus) x1, Cacoecimorpha pronubana x1 again possibly another new species, 1655 Ethmia bipunctella x2, 4855 Epinotia thapsiana x 20+, 6719 Nomophila noctuella (Rush Veneer) x15+, 8186 Idaea degeneraria (Portland Ribbon Wave) x8, 10343 Agrotis puta (Shuttle Shaped Dart) x1, plus a few still to be named.

4323 Aethes tornella.

10022 Mythimna l-album (L-Album Wainscot).

9367 Heliothis peltigera (Bordered Straw).

9100 Acontia lucida (Pale Shoulder).

Balsa de Rigedor, Granada Province.

A quick look at a local pool after a visit to the Garden centre.

Male Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii).

Jayne and I went and picked up a few bits from the Garden Centre and on the way back I had half an hours scan around the man made but well naturalised pool just off the side of the A92. As I arrived I counted my way through the Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina) and found 27 males and 21 females out on the water. Other species on the water included Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos).

Male Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii).

On the margins I picked up Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and in the air there were good numbers of  Barn (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Red-rumped Swallows (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and both Common (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) and Pallid Swifts (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus).

I walked along the bank through the Poplars, Willows and Almonds to the jetty where over the water I saw Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum) x3, Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathinerum) x8, Iberian Blue-tail (Ischnura graellsii) x15, Red-veined Darters (Sympetrum fonscolombii) x 12m and lots of Stripe-necked Terrapins (Mauremys leprosa).

Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina).

In the Poplars there were singing Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Melodious Warblers (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla) and Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus). In the vegitation I saw Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Large (Pieris brassicae) and Small White (Artogeia rapae).

Also seen and heard in the area were Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).

Home near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

An afternoon on the Terrace catching up with the computer jobs.

After getting a few bits caught up with during the morning and prepping the lounge for a coat of paint tomorrow I spent the rest of the afternoon on the terrace catching up with a few tasks on the PC. 

Durng these few hours I recorded Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Melodious (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), the almost constant purr of the now common Turtle Doves (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), the rattle from the numerous Serins (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), a male Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), the always present Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus).

Some butterflies were on the wing later in the day and I saw several species moving along the barranco including Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni), Large  (Pieris brassicae) and Small White (Artogeia rapae), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) and Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli).

At several points during the aftenoon I was joined on the terrace by a large Moorish Gecko (Tarentola mauritanica) and the ever noisy Iberian Water Frogs (Rana Común / Rana Perezi) called from the garden pool and down in the barranco.

Embalse de Bermejales and the Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

A couple of hours Orchid hunting with Jayne.

Champagne Orchid (Orchis champagneuxii).

Jayne and I drove down to the lake via Moraleda, we parked then had a walk through the pine woodlands and after some time we walked back to the car with a very nice list of species including Champagne (Orchis champagneuxii), Fan-lipped (Anacamptis collina), Giant  (Himantoglossum robertiana), Mirror (Ophrys speculum), Naked / Italian Man (Orchis italica), Ophrys forestieri, Sawfly (Ophrys tenthredinifera), Small Woodcock (Ophrys picta), Yellow Bee (Ophrys lutea) and the two hybrids Orchiaceras bivonae (gone over) and Ophrys x chobautii.

Mirror Orchid (Ophrys speculum).

Birds included a calling Scop's Owl (Autillo Europeo / Otus scops), Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus) and Wryneck (Torcecuello / Jynx torquilla).

Ophrys x chobautii.

On our way back we came back north through the Cacín Valley and on the way we saw Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila-azor / Hieraetus faciatus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cyanus), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) and Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).

Small Woodcock (Ophrys picta).

Illora and near Sierra de Huétor, Granada Province.

Seeing a friend and some nice Orchids.

Lady Orchid (Orchis purpurea).

I met Ian Philips an Orchid expert from Malaga at the Huétor Tajar exit 203 before heading out to a site near Illora where we looked for the uncommon Lady Orchid (Orchis purpurea) but at this spot we only found 2 blind rosettes so we put another address in to the sat-nav and made our way to a site near to Sierra de Huétor just to the north of Granada city.

Lady Orchid (Orchis purpurea).

We arrived and searched the area of scrub and eventually turned up at least 7 very nice spikes and a lot of blind rosettes. In the same area we saw 100+ spikes of Southern Early Purple (Androrchis Olbiensis), a few Mirror (Ophrys speculum) and Yellow Bee Orchids (Ophrys lutea).

Lady Orchid (Orchis purpurea).

We also had birds including Woodlark (Totovia / Lullula arborea), Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus), Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus) and Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius).

Lady Orchid (Orchis purpurea) taking a few shots.

From here we went and had some lunch before Ian headed back off down to Malaga and I went home.

Malaga, Malaga Province.

Day eight for the Leicester Ladies.

Today was the end of a cracking weeks birding with five very keen Ladies from the UK, we had an earliy start and headed down to Malaga. Jane, Jane, Sue, Jan and Rona all managed over 40 new species during the four and a half birding days and the group total was over 140 with some very nice species being seen. We also had a good list of Butterflies, Orchids and Wildflowers all of which added interest to a really nice week. 

Thanks Ladies and hope to see you out here again in the future.