Arroyo Vilano, Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

Back along the Arroyo.

 

Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) male.

I drove down to the bridge across the Arroyo above La Fabrica and walked down to the bar again, on the way I was very pleased to see at least 15 male Spanish Sparrows (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis) and who knows how many females in a large patch of reeds.

Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) male.

Around a pool in the river bed I found a male Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) as well as a couple of Desert Darters (Sympetrum sinaiticum).

Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis) male.

As I walked I also saw Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Iberian  (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).

Spanish Sparrows (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis) males.

I reached the area where I could see across onto the fields and soon found Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) and Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata).

Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).

Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).

On my way back up the river and it had warmed up a tad so there were quite a few Butterflies on the wing including several Clouded Yellows (Colias croceus), Small (Pieris rapae) and Large Whites (Pieris brassicae) and a single Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui).

Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus).

Small White (Pieris rapae).

I also has Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus).

Hacho and Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A stroll up the hill and down to the fields.

E-bird list for Hacho.

 

Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).

After again getting some painting do in the morning I went out for a while, I drove up to Hacho and parked on the middle parking area and walked around in the pine woods there and sat by a puddle in one of the tracks but all that came down were a couple of Common Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).

Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).

As I followed the track I started to hear a daytime calling Tawny Owl (Cárabo Común / Strix aluco) which continued calling for around 20 minutes. I scanned the trees from the track but could not locate the birds so I continued on seeing and hearing Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), a flock of 6 passing Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala).

Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) male.

Crested (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus), Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Blue Tits (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla) and Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus) all moved through the Oaks on the slope in a loose flock. 

Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum).

I dropped back down on the upper track to the quarry adding Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), 2 Hoopoes (Abubilla / Upupa epops), a Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), a pair of Common Stonechats (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), a Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) over head and on the puddle by the car a male Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum).

Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta).

Later in the afternoon I started a walk by going through the Olives at the back of the house and over to the Montifrio Road and then down along the Arroyo which is the Municipal boundary, on one of the old Almonds near the road I found a slightly Tatty Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta).

Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

On the way through the Olives I picked up Serin, Goldfinch, Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), lots of Iberian  Magpies (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs).

Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

I reached the Arroyo and then walked down stream towards the ar at the end of the road, on the way adding Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and at the back of the bar where I popped up on to the far side of the Arroyo to check the Lucerne Fields which were being cut.

Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) male.

There were good numbers of Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) following the cutters, there were also plenty of Meadow Pipits (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), the odd Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) and a Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) which flew passed.

Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).

As I walked back up the road towards the house there were large numbers of Serins, Goldfinches and a few
Linnets (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), a female Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica).

Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) following the tractor.

Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) following the tractor.

Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) following the tractor.

Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

Huétor Fields and at home near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

A mornings stroll on the fields and an afternoon in the hide.

Sierra de Loja peeping out from behind the fog curtain.

I got a few bits done whilst it was foggy and damp but later I went for a walk around the part of the fields that are in the Loja area, not a large patch but from a hump I can see a large area of the Huétor area as well.

A row of Spotless Starlings (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) on the wires.

On my way down I saw a female Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), the first of many Spotless Starlings (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Goldfinches (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Serins (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).

Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).

I parked and put my mask on and went for a walk, in amongst the Asparagus fields I had Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), lots of Black Redstarts (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and masses of White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).

I walked up the field edges towards La Farica and scanned the Huétor Fields from a high point, in the fig trees between me and the fields there were lots of Common Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), 2 male Sardinian Warblers (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla).

Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).

Out on the fields there were a couple of Grey Herons (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) hunting in the Lucerne, flocks of Common Waxbills (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Iberian  Magpies (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa).

Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula).

Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula).

I continued on around the edge of the village and then across the fields again back to the car, on the way adding Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), a passing flock of 25 Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and just as I was leaving 3 Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) which flew off up towards Montifrio.

Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea).

Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea).

I drove back home seeing two Common Buzzards (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) circling the house and then after some lunch I went into the hide in the garden but it was hard going as there were so many cats around everything just kept flushing up, the problem is that we have a crazy cat woman next door who feeds all the strays that arrive which then breed and we have now reached a point where they are becoming a big problem. A solution will come I am sure !!!!!

Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla) male.

Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla) female.

Anyway I did get Robin, House Sparrow, Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Blackcap.

Around the pool I also had several Small Whites (Pieris rapae), a male Desert Darter (Sympetrum sinaiticum) and lots of Perez's Frogs (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi).

Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Buzzard Update.

 

Probable Long-legged Buzzard (Busardo Moro / Buteo rufinus).

Well after getting feedback from many sources the Buzzard over the garden is almost certainly a Long-legged Buzzard (Busardo Moro / Buteo rufinus). Most feedback came back as very positive and I ran the photos through Merlin Bird Guide and both of the photos came back as Long-legged. The record has now been sent to the Spanish rarities committee along with the Common Bulbul (Bulbul Naranjero / Pycnonotus barbatus) from the 1st Nov 20. Thanks for all the help.

Probable Long-legged Buzzard (Busardo Moro / Buteo rufinus).

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

In the garden again.

Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).

Into week three of a real Lockdown and Granada Province is in full lockdown so we have to stay home except of essentials movements, so it was birding in the garden again today.

Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris).

I set up the hide but angled it slightly differently and had a view of the Almond tree as well as the pool, during the time out there I saw and heard Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus).

Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus).

Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus).

As well as these I saw Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea).

Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea).

Later in the afternnon I went for a walk out along the road up towards Loja, on the way out and back again I picked up Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Spotless (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), 100+ Iberian  Magpies (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla) female.

Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).

Home near Huétor Tajar, Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Strange Buzzard over the garden.

 

Possbile Long-legged Buzzard (Busardo Moro / Buteo rufinus).

I spent the day catching up with a few jobs in the garden and then spent a while in the hide but things were quiet and I only had the normal species including Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and a couple of fly over Siskins (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus).

Possbile Long-legged Buzzard (Busardo Moro / Buteo rufinus).

I decided to pack it in at around 14:30 and put the hide away but as I walked back up to the house I saw a Buzzard coming towards me so I popped up on to the terrace and took a few shot before it drifted more distantly off to the East, at the time I thought it looked pale but once it was on the PC it was even more apparent. 

Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea).

The bird looked like a Long-legged Buzzard (Busardo Moro / Buteo rufinus) to me but I am aware that the Gibraltar Buzzard Hybrids can make this species difficult to confirm and as I have no great experience with the Hybrids I sent the pictures off to a guy (Javi Elorriaga) that does and await his help.

House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) male.

Whilst in the garden I also had a male Desert Darter (Sympetrum sinaiticum) again as well as Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) and Small White (Pieris rapae).

Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major).

House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) female.

Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula).

Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).

Sierra de Loja (a very quick visit) and Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

Dodging the Bunny blasters up high and down on the fields.

 

I started off by heading up the sierra de Loja but this was going to be a waste of time as the place (as I had sxpected) was crawling with Macho Bunny Blasters all stood around in groups look tough with their guns on their shoulders, good job the fluffy bunnies or hugely dangerous Partridges can't fight back !!!! 

Anyway during the time I was up there I had good numbers of Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius).

I came back down off the hill when the number of Hunters and Mushroom pickers made it pointless, so I dropped down on to the edge of the Arroyo, parked and walked towards Mesia.

As I walked I picked up Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Goldfinch, Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) and Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Iberian  (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Hoopoe, Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Black Redstart, Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Meadow Pipit, a late Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos).