Huétor Tajar, Granada Province.

A few hours warm birding around the Local Patch.

Female Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii).

After dropping the recycling off in Huétor Jayne dropped me on the road out to Mesia and headed off to Trabuco for the weekly craft group meeting and lunch with the ladies. I started by walking towards Mesia in the sun scanning the fields on both sides of the road and soon picked up Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), African Grass Blue (Zizeeia knysna), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) and Small White (Pieris rapae).

Small White (Pieris rapae).

Further along the road I took a track off to my right and followed a reed filled ditch out to the Arroyo Vilano finding Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and the first off 100s of Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) of three different subspecies. 

Female Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

In the reed chocked Arroyo I heard and then saw the first of several elusive Cetti's (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and Reed Warblers (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) and on the far fields a small flock of around 20 or so Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and a single Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) were following a tractor that was ploughing in the remains of burnt off Maze stubble. 

I walked along the raised bank at the side of the Arroyo looping back as far as the Mesia road, a Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago) flushed up from the reeds and a small band of Serins (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) flew off from a stand of weeds and thistles with a few Goldfinches and several Greenfinches (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris). 

Male Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

I walked back to the start of the track where I had turned off but this time went the opposite direction following the roadside ditch back in the direction of La Fabrica. 

The ditch was quite except for a couple of Cetti's, Reed and Sardinian Warblers (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) as were the remains of the small pools where I added just Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa), Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi) and a fly over Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica). 

Desert Orange-tip (Colotis evagore).

Just a short way further along the track I turned off and took another track along side the railway line which paid off with in seconds when I found a good group of Caper plants (Capparis spinosa) and then several Desert Orange-tip (Colotis evagore) butterflies along with a single Large White (Pieris brassicae), Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus) and Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui).

Desert Orange-tip (Colotis evagore).

Further along this track I came to a very reedy over grown irrigation ditch which looked promising so I sat down on a concrete block and waited to see what appeared, soon I had seen Reed Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Common Stonechat, Whinchat, Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus) and the bird I had hoped for a Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica).

Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica).

I then walked on along the Irrigation channel passing a large poplar plantation, on the way I found a nice Bridge Spider (Larinioides sclopetarius) with its web stretched out across one of the sluice gates in the channel, Swallowtail (Papilio machaon), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator), Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and just as I reached the tarmac again a Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) which rattled along the side of the railway line flushing up the Serins, Goldfinches and Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) from the stubble. 

Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica).

The next section of the walk was quiet so I took a short along the side of a couple of Asparagus fields to the side of the Arroya again seeing Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) and Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus). 

Bridge Spider (Larinioides sclopetarius).

The Arroyo was quiet but I scanned the roof tops of the old farm buildings and found a Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) sat in one of the chimney pots and down on the water there were males of both Southern Skimmer (Orthetrum brunneum) and Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi).

Bath White (Pontia daplidice).

My next stop was in the bar near by where I had a drink and sandwich which was disturbed when a female Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) flapped along the Arroyo. 

Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).

After lunch I walked back up to the house along the road checking the ditch all the way, new species seen before I reach home included Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla) and a Bath White (Pontia daplidice).

Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 4th October 2016.

15W Actinic on the terrace.

?? Moths of 16 Species.

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

7598 Perigune convergata,

Actinic trap in the garden, a clear night with a minimum temp of +17. Species included 6719 Nomophila noctuella (Rush Veneer), 7598 Perigune convergata, 7725 Menophora japygiaria (Brassy Waved Umber), 8045 Scopula ornata (Lace border), 8211 Rhodometra sacraria (The Vestal), 8802 Cryphia pallida, 9142 Eublemma parva (Small Marbled), 9433 Paradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow), 10347 Agrotis trux (Cresent Dart), 9621 Episema gruenri. 9628 Leucochlaena oditis (Beautiful Gothic), 10212 Xestia xanthographa (Square-spot Rustic), 10215 Xestia kermesina, 10326 Eucoptocnemis optabilis, 10335 Agrotis lata and 10343 Agrotis puta (Shuttle Shaped Dart).

Thanks to Eduardo Marabuto and José Luis Yela for the help with the identification of some of the species.

8802 Cryphia pallida,

10335 Agrotis lata.

9621 Episema gruenri.

10347 Agrotis trux (Cresent Dart),

10326 Eucoptocnemis optabilis,

9628 Leucochlaena oditis (Beautiful Gothic),

10212 Xestia xanthographa (Square-spot Rustic),

10215 Xestia kermesina,

9433 Paradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow),

10212 Xestia xanthographa (Square-spot Rustic),

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 3rd October 2016.

15W Actinic on the terrace.

?? Moths of 10 Species.

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

10273 Euxoa temera,

4592 Cacoecimorpha pronubana (Carnation Tortrix), 8877 Catocala elocata, 9462 Spodoptera littoralis (Mediterranean Brocade) new species for the garden, 9497 Thalpophila vitalba also another new species, 9565 Agrochola lychnidis (Beaded Chestnut), 9621 Episema grueneri, 10212 Xestia xanthographa (Square-spot Rustic), 10273 Euxoa temera, 10336 Agrotis crassa (Great Dart) and 10460 Earias insulana (Egyptian Bollworm).

4592 Cacoecimorpha pronubana (Carnation Tortrix).

10336 Agrotis crassa (Great Dart).

10212 Xestia xanthographa (Square-spot Rustic).

10212 Xestia xanthographa (Square-spot Rustic).

9497 Thalpophila vitalba.

10212 Xestia xanthographa (Square-spot Rustic).

9621 Episema grueneri.

8877 Catocala elocata.

9462 Spodoptera littoralis (Mediterranean Brocade).

10460 Earias insulana (Egyptian Bollworm).

9621 Episema grueneri.

Home near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Migrants around the house.

Spent the morning in the garden again and enjoyed the company of both Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca) a female type and a male Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus) and once I had finished the jobs I spent a while catching up on Computer work on the terrace. 

The Pied Flycatcher again showed well in the fig tree along with several Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), a male Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) both species gorging themselves on the last of the fruit along with Blackcaps (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Blue Tits (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus). Passage was also going on in the skies with parties of hirundines passng West including good numbers of Red-rumped (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica) and Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), a flock of around 35 Alpine Swifts (Vencejo Real / Apus melba) and a rather late group of 5 European Bee-eaters (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) low along the Barranco.

Insects included Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi) which popped over the wall a few times from next doors pool, Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Large White (Pieris brassicae) and a Swallowtail (Papilio machaon) which landed several times in the Almond tree.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

New species for the garden and some winter visitors already !!!

I spent the morning in the garden catching up with a few bits of tidying up and a bit of wildlife watching. I have now come to the conclusion that butterflies have a sense of humor, I have spent a bit of time this year looking for Desert Orange-tip (Colotis evagore) and have had some success finding it in 5 or six spots but today I had one flying around the garden !! I also had a couple of male Orange-winged Dropwings (Trithemis kirbyi), Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) and a Swallowtail (Papilio machaon).

The bird species are also changing, most of the summer visitors have gone, I did however have a couple of Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), several House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), some passage Alpine Swifts (Vencejo Real / Apus melba) going over quite high and both Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca) and Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus) in the Olives.

Resident birds seen included the locally common Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).

The first signs of winter were also seen, apart from 1490KM of logs that were delivered and stacked I also saw the first Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) and Blackcaps (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla) in the Barranco running along the back of the garden.

Rio Guadalhorce near Zapata, Malaga Province.

A return to Zapata.

Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia).

Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia).

Going back to yesterdays original plan Jayne and I headed off down to Malaga where Jayne had a look around the Larios centre whilst I revisited the ford area along the Rio Guadalhorce near Zapata. On the track along the entrance canal I checked some reed patches and soon had a stunning male Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) sat high up on a reed head with a male Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and a Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus). 

Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca).

In the same area I had good views of the first of at least four Marsh Harriers (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Cetti's Warblers (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild).

Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus).

I moved on to the ford where I soon had a Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) shooting the rapids and a couple of Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) and Grey Herons (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) further up stream by the next concrete bar.

Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus).

I looked for the Grasshopper Warbler (Buscarla Pintoja / Locustella naevia) that I had seen yesterday but could not find it but I had views of Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) and Blue / Common (Anax imperator) and Lesser Emperors (Anax parthenope), Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea) and Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria). 

Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius).

Further upstream near the concrete bar I had a look at the main pool and added Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Green (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) and Common Sandpipers (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and a distant soaring Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus) which never came to my side of the motorway bridge. 

Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala).

Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala).

On the mud near the concrete bar I found a single Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) and in the marginal vegetation a scolding Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus) and a second Bluethroat. 

Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).

The last birds of the visit were a noisy group of Monk Parakeets (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus) as the flew across the ford. 

I then drove back in to the city and met Jayne for some lunch and then continued the shopping.

Rio Guadalhorce near Zapata, Malaga Province.

Another meeting with Steve, Elena and Bob.

Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius).

I headed off down to Zapata to meet up with Steve, Elena and Bob on the Rio Guadalhorce to look for Dragonflies but also to collect my tablet which like a muppet I had left in Steve's car last week. Anyway due to a change of plan I headed of slightly earlier than planned with out Jayne so I went straight to the spot and arrived around 15 minutes before the others. 

During that 15 minutes I parked at the ford and soon started the day list with Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), a singing Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus) which seem to have been noticably common this autumn, Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) and then on the edge of a small pool in a gap in the reeds I saw a small bird feeding. 

Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).

I fully expecting it to be a Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) which are come here, so when I got the bins on it I was surprised and very pleased to see only my second ever Grasshopper Warbler (Buscarla Pintoja / Locustella naevia) in Spain. 

I watched the bird for a few moments and then a delivery van came at speed, throwing up loads of water flushing the bird and flooding the inside of my car as I did not get the window shut quickly enough. 

After drying the car dash off a bit (missed most of the wind screen as Jayne pointed the following morning) I relocated the car into a spot and waited to see if the warbler would reappear but it remained elusive. 

Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).

Steve, Elena and Bob arrived a few minutes later so we spent a while searching the area and soon added Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), several Sand Martins (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia), a single Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and around the rapids below the ford Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta), Blue / Common (Anax imperator) and Lesser Emperors (Anax parthenope) as well as several spraints from what looks like a good Otter (Nutria / Lutra lutra) population. 

Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus).

We walked futher up stream and had a chat with some more birders already there and picked up a few new species for the list including two very smart Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and in the reeds whilst I was photographing a Lesser Emperor I had a couple of Iberian Blue-tails (Ischnura graellsii), Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi) and on the rocks several Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa).

Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope).

Later back at the ford we saw a male Red-eared Terrapin (Trachemys scripta elegans), Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus) and Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii).

Exit 206 of the A92 and near Huétor Tajar, Western Granada Province.

A couple of quick visits to sites on the local patch.

Desert Orange-tip (Colotis evagore).

I started the day by removing the grapes from the vines at the front of the house to get rid of the many wasps, whilst doing this the local Feral Pigeons (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia) and Spotless Starlings (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) took flight and calling when a large female type Goshawk (Azor Común / Accipitor gentillis) rattled through them taking one of the white Pigeons off to a nearby pylon where she started to pluck it, after a few minutes she flew off through the olives. 

Desert Orange-tip (Colotis evagore).

During the morning I also had Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala).

Desert Orange-tip (Colotis evagore).

Later after visiting a nearby garden centres we stopped at a spot where a few days ago I and Steve and Elena Powell and Bob Wright saw several Desert Orange-tip (Colotis evagore) butterflies but failed to get shots. 

Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma).

It took a little while and a bit of patience on Jayne's behalf but eventually I found a very smart insect nectering on some track side plants which sat for the camera. 

Mediterranean Mantis (Iris oratoria).

In the same area I also had a very smart Swallowtail (Papilio machaon), Small White (Pieris rapae), Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Cardinal Fritillary (Pandora / Argynnis pandora) and Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui). 

I also had female Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma), a male Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi), Mediterranean Mantis (Iris oratoria), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and Willow Warbler (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus).

Mediterranean Mantis (Iris oratoria).

On the way back home we called in at the Hotel Cortijo de Tajar for a drink, whilst there I popped across the road to check another area of Capper plants and soon found another 6+ Desert Orange-tips, a Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

Swallowtail (Papilio machaon).