Moraleda Fields and Sierra de Loja, Granada Province.

A morning down the Valley and the afternoon in the hills.

Day one with Richard and Mike from the UK.

Scop's Owl (Autillo Europeo / Otus scops).

Richard, Mike and I set off for the first of a couple of days birding around my local area and made a good start down on the fields near to the house where we made a couple of stops and picked up Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and best of all 2 Great Spotted Cuckoos (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius) which were a lifer for Mike (the first of a few).

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

We drove through Mesia and along side the A92 to Balsa de Rigedor where we found Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) and Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) before crossing the motorway and heading for the fields. On the way we saw European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and a Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) which showed well sat out on a chainlink fence in the sun.

Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis).

Once we were out on the fields good birds just kept coming, including a nice male Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Short-toed (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla) and Calandra Larks (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), a couple of Roller (Carraca / Coracias garrulus) and last but the best were 3 Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis).

Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia).

We dropped down in to the Valley and turned south towards Cacín and drove down to a wooded spot along the river and soon got another good bird for the trip list an Eagle Owl (Buho Real / Bubo bubo) which was sat on a nearby ledge as well as Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus) and Blue Tits (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla). We moved a short distance up to the lake and found that the water level was low but we only managed to find a single Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) all new for the list.

Scop's Owl (Autillo Europeo / Otus scops).

Other species seen during the drive down the valley included Red-striped Oil Beetle (Berberomeloe majalis), Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa), Ocellated Lizard (Lacerta lepida), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Small (Artogeia rapae) and Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina), Violet Cabbage (Moricandia moricandioides), Blue Alkanet (Anchusa azurea), Sea Squill (Urginea maritima) and Globe Thistle (Echinops ritro).

Andalusian Storksbill (Erodium recorderi) meadow.

We made a short stop and had some lunch before moving on up to Sierra de Loja, our first stop on the hill was at the disused quarry above Loja. Here we boosted the day list with several new species for the day including Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) and Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus). We also had Viola dementria, Andalusian Storksbill (Erodium recorderi) and Brown Bluebell (Jacinto bastardo / Dipcadi serotinum), Southern Knapweed (Centaurea pullata ssp pullata),Wild Gladiolus (Gladiolus illyricus), Dianthus brachyanthus, Pyramidal Orchid (Orquidea Pyramidal / Anacamptis pyramidalia), Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenoides) and Red-underwing Skipper (Spialia sertorius).

Andalusian Storksbill (Erodium recorderi) meadow.

We moved on and headed straight out for the area of cliffs beyond Charca del Negro but had to make a couple of stops on the way for views of the stunning Black-eared Wheatear (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica) as well as Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius). We reached the furthest point and started to look for the Orphean Warbler (Curruca Mirlano / Sylvia hortensis) which was our target but just as we started Richard found a roosting Scop's Owl (Autillo Europeo / Otus scops) which showed brilliantly for us. I got some OK shot but we kept our distance to make sure we did not disturb it, after watching this superb bird for quite a while we dropped back down to Charca del Negro and soon found the Sharp-ribbed Salamander (Pleurodeles waltl) as they came up for air. 

Ladder Snake (Rhinechis scalaris).

Around the same area we had Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator), Southern Red Bartsia (Parentucellia latifolia), Saxifraga Camposii, Cerastium boissieri, Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator) and a cracking male Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush (Roquero Roja / Monticola saxatilis). We then dropped back down the hill and made our way back to the house where Jayne called us in quickly to show us a very smart Ladder Snake (Rhinechis scalaris) in our Quince tree.

Ladder Snake (Rhinechis scalaris).

Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

A day with Francis and Sheila in the Cacín Valley and surrounding areas.

Spanish Iris (Iris xiphium).

I picked Fracis and Sheila up in Granada City and then headed back along the A92 to Moraleda and then out on to the tracks and fields nearby. Our first stop was along side an Asparagus field where a couple pf chaps were out picking, on the wires along side the track we had views of European Bee-eaters (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and a couple of smartly marked Feral Pigeons (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia). Just a  short way further along the same track we stopped again to watch some more European Bee-eaters and whist we were admiring them we had good views of a couple of Great Spotted Cuckoos (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina).

Francis and Sheila in the Cacín Valley.

We continued up on towards the top fields but had a short walk out to a newly ploughed and planted area where we had good flight views of a couple of Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Large White (Pieris brassicae), Small White (Artogeia rapae), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Berger's Clouded Yellow (Colias alfacariensis), Spanish Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Spanish Marbled White (Melanargia ines) and Spanish Iris (Iris xiphium).

We again moved on and out on to the more open fields where we soon found a Roller (Carraca / Coracias garrulus) in amongst the Almond trees as well as Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and as we were walking along side a plantation we heard and saw a Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) in flight.

Watching the Short-toed Eagles (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus).

Our next stop was at a bar for a coffee in El Turro, on the way down we had Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and in the village House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Barn Swallow, Common Swift and Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris).  

We finished our coffee's and then drove to a spot on the roadside amongst the pines in the valley where we could hear but did not see Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus) and Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos) but we did get Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater) and Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and a rather tatty Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui).

Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus).

Our next stop was further down the valley where we had our lunch sat beside the irrigation canal watching the Rio Cacín, whilst we were hear we had a Golden Oriole flash through the trees, Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), a heard only Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), more Red-rumped Swallows, Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla) and Blue-eye (Erythromma lindenii) and Iberian Blue-tail (Ischnura graellsii). Just before we left this spot we had a look at some low crags across the valley and found a nice roosting Eagle Owl (Buho Real / Bubo bubo) which woke up whilst we watched and hopped out on to the more open rocks and showed well.

We moved up to the nearby Contra Embalse de Bermejalis but it was quiet and we only saw Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and more Pallid Swifts.

Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus).

Further along the valley we stopped a couple of times to check the cliffs and have a distant view of the Embalse de Bermjalis's bright blue waters. In this area we had Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Rock Pigeon (Paloma Bravia / Columba livia) and Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax).

We retraced our steps and went through the village of Cacín and along the road towards Ventas del Huelma where we had another Roller, Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator) and after a noticable lack of raptors we had 2 Short-toed Eagles (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus), 3x Booted Eagles (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas) and a Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo). Once we reached Ventas we made our way back towards the city where I dropped Fransic and Sheila at their hotel before heading home.

Thanks to you both for your company and supporting Granada Wildlife with a very nice Trip Advisor review, Thanks again Mick.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Trapping with Dave Grundy.

Day eight, 215 Moths of 59 Species.

 

7533 Stegania trimaculata (Dorset Cream Wave).

Today was Dave's last trap check for 2016 at ours and it was much as before the numbers were up as the night time temperature climbed again, species seen were 0321 Pseudopestega chalcopepla x1, 0489 Reisserata chrysopterella x2, 0582 Novotinea muricolella x1, 0663 Trichophaga bipartiella x2, 1243 Phyllonorrycter endryella x1, 1525 Plutella xylostella (Diamond backed Moth) x12, 1655 Ethmia bipunctella x8, 3029 Dysspastus fallax x5, 3498  Mirificarma eburnella x5, 3798 Aproaerema anthyllidella x1, 4855 Epinotia thapsiana x4, 5578 Lamoria anella x19, 5615 Synaphe lorquinalis x1, 5624 Pyralis obsoletalis x18, 5742 Etiella zinckenella x4, 

7533 Stegania trimaculata (Dorset Cream Wave).

5993 Euzophera pinguis concolorella x4, 5993 Euzophera pinguis concolorella x1, 6488 Evergestis frumentalis x2, 6521 Hellula undalis (Old World Webworm) x1, 6531 Udea ferrugalis (Rusty Dot Pearl) x2, 6551 Udea numeralis x3, 6599 Pyrausta sanguinalis x2, 6700 Dolicharthria punctalis x5, 6719 Nomophila noctuella (Rush Veneer) x4, 6860 Hyles livornica (Striped Hawk-moth) x1, 7533 Stegania trimaculata (Dorset Cream Wave) x2, 7564 Itame vincularia x1, 7725 Menophora japygiaria (Brassy Waved Umber) x2, 7765 Peribatodes manuelarius manuelarius (Lydd Beauty) x1, 8059 Scopula marginspunctata (Mullein Wave) x1, 8073 Scopula minorata x2, 8145 Idaea manicaria x1, 8167 Idaea subsericeata (Satin Wave) x4,

7564 Itame vincularia.

 8169 Idaea cervantaria x2, 8169 Idaea eugeniata x2, 8189 Idaea degeneraria (Portland Ribbon Wave) x19, 8246 Orthonama obstipata (The Gem) x4, 8509 Eupithecia cenaureata (Lime-speck Pug) x3, 8599 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata (Double-striped Pug) x2, 8828 Raphia hybris x1, 9011 Raparna conicephala x1, 9100 Acontia lucida (Pale Shoulder) x5, 9140 Eublemma ostrina (Purple Marbled) x5, 4142 Eublemma parva (Small Marbled) x3, 9367 Heliothis peltigera (Bordered Straw) x1, 9370 Heliothis armigera (Scarce Bordered Straw) x1, 9425 Caradrina proxima x6, 9433 Caradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow) x9, 9435 Caradrina noctivaga x2, 9454 Hoplodrina ambigua (Vine's Rustic) x13, 9460 Spodoptera exigua (Small Mottled Willow) x3, 10003 Mythimna vitellina (The Delicate) x2, 10029 Mythimna sicula x1, 10033 Mythimna riparia x1, 10054 Egira conspicillaris (Silver Cloud) x1, 10238 Peridroma saucia (Pearly Underwing) x1, 10346 Agrotis ipsilon (Dark Sword-grass) x1, 10493 Eilema caniola (Hoary Footman) x2 and 10528 Utetheisa pulchella (Speckled Footman) x1.

10238 Peridroma saucia (Pearly Underwing).

10033 Mythimna riparia.

8145 Idaea manicaria.

6521 Hellula undalis (Old World Webworm).

5578 Lamoria anella.

3798 Aproaerema anthyllidella.

8828 Raphia hybris.

1243 Phyllonorrycter endryella.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Trapping with Dave Grundy.

Day seven, 155 Moths of 56 Species.

 

8502 Eupithecia venosata (Netted Pug).

Overnight things stayed quite warm, so the Moth numbers were up a bit and we caught a few more species as well including 0321 Pseudopestega chalcopepla x1, 0663 Trichophaga bipartiella x6, 1525 Plutella xylostella (Diamond backed Moth) x13, 1655 Ethmia bipunctella x3, 3029 Dysspastus fallax x5, 3798 Aproaerema anthyllidella x1, 4166 Dyspessa ulula x2, 4592 Cacoecimorpha pronubana (Carnation Tortrix) x1, 4855 Epinotia thapsiana x6, 4887 Crocidosema plebejana x1, 5552 Emmelina monodactyla (Common Plume) x1, 5578 Lamoria anella x8, 5624 Pyralis obsoletalis x12, 5742 Etiella zinckenella x2, 

4592 Cacoecimorpha pronubana (Carnation Tortrix).

5864 Acrobasis obliqua x4, 5993 Euzophera pinguis concolorella x1, 6184 Eudonia angustia x1, 6488 Evergestis frumentalis x2, 6531 Udea ferrugalis (Rusty Dot Pearl) x5, 6551 Udea numeralis x4, 6604 Pyrausta aurata x1, 6700 Dolicharthria punctalis x3, 6719 Nomophila noctuella (Rush Veneer) x2, 7564 Itame vincularia x2, 7725 Menophora japygiaria (Brassy Waved Umber) x1, 7765 Peribatodes manuelarius manuelarius (Lydd Beauty) x2, 8073 Scopula minorata x1, 8167 Idaea subsericeata (Satin Wave) x5, 8169 Idaea cervantaria x3, 8169 Idaea eugeniata x1, 8189 Idaea degeneraria (Portland Ribbon Wave) x11, 8246 Orthonama obstipata (The Gem) x2, 8256 Xanthorhoe fluctuata (Garden Carpet) x1, 8489 Eupithecia pantellata x1, 8502 Eupithecia venosata (Netted Pug) x1, 8509 Eupithecia cenaureata (Lime-speck Pug) x2, 

9100 Acontia lucida (Pale Shoulder).

8578 Ephithecia abbreviata (Brindled Pug) x2, 8599 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata (Double-striped Pug) x1, 8965 Tyta luctuosa (The Four-spotted) x3, 9056 Autographa gamma (Silver Y) x1, 9097 Emmelia trabealis (Spotted Sulphur) x1, 9100 Acontia lucida (Pale Shoulder) x1, 9140 Eublemma ostrina (Purple Marbled) x1, 9367 Heliothis peltigera (Bordered Straw) x1, 9425 Caradrina proxima x2, 9433 Caradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow) x5, 9435 Caradrina noctivaga x1, 9436 Caradrina flavirena x1, 9454 Hoplodrina ambigua (Vine's Rustic) x2, 9460 Spodoptera exigua (Small Mottled Willow) x2, 9929 Hecatera corsica weissi x1, 10022 Mythimna l-album (L-Album Wainscot) x1, 10034 Mythimna loreyi (Cosmopolitan) x1, 10351 Agrotis segetum (Turnip Moth) x5, 10493 Eilema caniola (Hoary Footman) x2 and 10528 Utetheisa pulchella (Speckled Footman) x2.

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9140 Eublemma ostrina (Purple Marbled).

 

9056 Autographa gamma (Silver Y).

10351 Agrotis segetum (Turnip Moth).

8965 Tyta luctuosa (The Four-spotted).

9435 Caradrina noctivaga.

Sierra Nevada, Granada Province, Spain.

A day away from the traps with Dave in the mountains.

Day Six.

Grass Eggar (Lasiocampa trifolii) caterpillar.

Jayne, Dave and I left the house and headed up towards Granada City, on the way I was surprised to see a group of 5 Gull-billed Terns (Pagaza Piconegra / Gelochelidon nilotica) flying west along the route of the A92 near to the small pool called Balsa de Rigedor at Moraleda.  

Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina).

We dropped Jayne off for a morning around the shops and headed towards El Purche where we checked a large area of grassland for day flying moths but we did not find a great deal except for 5116 Cydia ulicetana x1, 7926 Aspitates ochrearius x1, 8341 Chloroclysta siterata (Red-green Carpet) x1 and the caterpillar of the 1636 Grass Eggar (Lasiocampa trifolii). 

Rosy Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus onopordi).

In the same area I also saw Rosy Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus onopordi), Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) for the butterfly list and Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Woodlark (Totovia / Lullula arborea) and Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus) for the birds.

Rosy Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus onopordi).

We moved to another nice flower rich roadside meadow just up the road but the moths were equally bad but I managed to find a few nice butterflies again including a new species for my Spanish list Provençal Fritillary (Melitaea deione) along with Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenoides), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus), Southern Marbled Skipper (Carcharodus boeticus) and Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros) just as we were dropping down to the car. 

Provençal Fritillary (Melitaea deione).

In the meadow the wild flowers included Andalusian Storksbill (Erodium recorderi), Bitting Stonecrop (Sedum acre), Blue Alkanet (Anchusa azurea), Common Grape Hyacinth (Muscari neglectum), Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas), Common Snapdragon (Antirrhinum major), Great Mullein (Verbascum giganteum), Mediterranean Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria), Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum), Purple Bugloss (Echium plantagineum), Rabbits bread (Andryala integrifolia), Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum umbellatum), Tassel Hyacinth (Muscari comosum), White Mignonette (Reseda Alba), Yellow flax (Linum tenue) and masses of small yellow Dandelion type things which I do not like to have to identify.

Lorquin's Blue (Cupido lorquinii).

We again moved on and drove out to a rocky area some way from the road and searched the slopes there but again there were no Moths of note but we did find Yellow Bee (Ophrys lutea) and Dense-flowered Orchids (Neotinea maculata), Cliffhanger (Chaenorhinum villosum), Ground-pine Germander (Teucrium pseudochamaepitys) and several species of flower that still need names.

Eumigus rubioi.

Lorquin's Blue (Cupido lorquinii), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus) were also recorded.

Lesser Spotted Fritillary (Melitaea trivia).

We next had a sandwich at a nearby bar before dropping down on the old road back in to the city, on the way we made a couple of stops including a roadside meadow where I found Lesser Spotted Fritillary (Melitaea trivia), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli), the Armour platted Eumigus rubioi, Yellow Phlomis (Phlomis lychnitis), Upland Peony (Paeonia coriacea), White stonecrop (Sedum album), White Rockrose (Helianthemum apenninum), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) and Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei).

Sword-leaved Helleborine (Cephalanatera longifolia).

At a couple of stops further on down we picked up Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Barton's Orchid (Dactylorhiza insularis), Sword-leaved Helleborine (Cephalanatera longifolia) and some nowhere near to flowering Small-leaved Helleborine (Epipactis microphylla), Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula), several Goldwing (Synthymia fixa) moths, Mediterranean Shieldbug (Carpocoris mediterraneus), another Shieldbug Haploprocta sulcicornis and a couple of unidentified wild flowers.

Barton's Orchid (Dactylorhiza insularis).

Barton's Orchid (Dactylorhiza insularis).

Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula).

Mediterranean Shieldbug (Carpocoris mediterraneus).

Haploprocta sulcicornis.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Trapping with Dave Grundy.

Day six, 105 Moths of 52 Species.

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With all the traps back at home and a warmer night, we did quite well in the garden.

0321 Pseudopestega chalcopepla.

Moths species seen were 0321 Pseudopestega chalcopepla x2, 0469 Crassicornella agenjoi x1, 0489 Reisserata chrysopterella x1, 0663 Trichophaga bipartiella x1, 0671 Tinea pellionella x1, 0687 Tinea trinotella x1, 1361 Zelleria oleastrella x1, 1525 Plutella xylostella (Diamond backed Moth) x17, 1648 Ethmia terminella x1, 1655 Ethmia bipunctella x4, 3029 Dysspastus fallax x2, 3498  Mirificarma eburnella x1, 3757 Sophronia humerella x1, 3798 Aproaerema anthyllidella x1, 3819 Mesohleps trinotella 1, 4166 Dyspessa ulula x1, 4855 Epinotia thapsiana x5, 5578 Lamoria anella x2, 5615 Synaphe lorquinalis x1, 5624 Pyralis obsoletalis x6, 5864 Acrobasis obliqua x2, 5993 Euzophera pinguis concolorella x1, 6184 Eudonia angustia x3, 6488 Evergestis frumentalis x1, 6531 Udea ferrugalis (Rusty Dot Pearl) x3, 6700 Dolicharthria punctalis x1, 6719 Nomophila noctuella (Rush Veneer) x1, 7504 Watsonalla uncinula x1, 7533 Stegania trimaculata (Dorset Cream Wave) x1, 7765 Peribatodes manuelarius manuelarius (Lydd Beauty) x1, 7806 Adactylotis gesticularia x1, 8073 Scopula minorata x1, 8167 Idaea subsericeata (Satin Wave) x3, 8169 Idaea cervantaria x5, 8175 Idaea eugeniata x1, 8189 Idaea degeneraria (Portland Ribbon Wave) x5, 8211 Rhodometra sacaria (The Vestal) x1, 8246 Orthonama obstipata (The Gem) x2, 8599 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata (Double-striped Pug) x1, 9142 Eublemma parva (Small Marbled) x2, 9367 Heliothis peltigera (Bordered Straw) x1, 9425 Caradrina proxima x3, 9433 Caradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow) x1, 9435 Caradrina noctivaga x1, 9436 Caradrina flavirena x1, 9454 Hoplodrina ambigua (Vine's Rustic) x1, 9460 Spodoptera exigua (Small Mottled Willow) x2, 9895 Anarta trifolii (Nutmeg) x1, 10029 Mythimna sicula x1, 10346 Agrotis ipsilon (Dark Sword-grass) x1, 10493 Eilema caniola (Hoary Footman) x3and 10528 Utetheisa pulchella (Speckled Footman) x1.

9142 Eublemma parva (Small Marbled).

8599 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata (Double-striped Pug).