Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Butterflies in the Olives.

 

Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina).

Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina).

I went for an afternoon walk through the Olive groves at the back of the house and as usual I saw naff all on the first section near the house but once I was over the Barranco I was finding good numbers of butterflies.

Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina).

The first were several Southern Blues (Polyommatus celina) including some older insects and a mating pair which were getting bothered by another male.

Spanish Brown Argus (Aricia cramera).

Spanish Brown Argus (Aricia cramera).

I also found lots of Clouded Yellows (Colias croceus), a few Provence Hairstreaks (Tomares ballus) which spent most of their time spiraling around chasing each other, False Mallow / Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus tripolinus / alceae) and Small White (Pieris rapae).

Provence Hairstreak (Tomares ballus).

Further along several Western Dappled Whites (Euchloe crameri) were flying amongst the Mustard plants, Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus), as were a couple of Spanish Brown Argus (Aricia cramera) and both Small (Pieris rapae) and Large Whites (Pieris brassicae).

Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus).

I dropped down to the barranco and found a couple of spikes of Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum Robertiana) which were flowering under the trees along with lots of Hoary Cress (Lepidium draba), Neapolitan Garlic (Allium neapolitanum), Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis), Wild Grape Hyacinth (Muscari neglectum) and White Mignonette (Reseda Alba).

False Mallow / Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus tripolinus / alceae).

I walked back down the dead side of the barranco seeing scuds of Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis).

Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri).

Further along there were several Somber Bee Orchids (Ophrys fusca / foresteri), Andalucian Gorse (Ulex baeticus), Common Fumitory (Fumaria officinalis), Henbit Deadnettle (Lamium amplexicaule), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major).

Large White (Pieris brassicae).

Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum Robertiana).

Neapolitan Garlic (Allium neapolitanum).

Hoary Cress (Lepidium draba).

 

 

Near Guadix and North of Baza, Granada Province, Spain.

A few hours up at the Northern end of the Province.

 

Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax).

I drove East along the A92 to a spot not too far from Guadix where I took a road which crosses from the Motorway heading down to Almeria back up to the A92 again heading up to Baza, just off the motorway I parked next to an Almond Plantation next to the railway line.

Corn Buntings (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

I walked down to the railway where I had a view of the area, I soon had views of a pair of noisy Great Spotted Cuckoos (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius) which flew through being pursued by 5 or more Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), a calling Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Jackdaws (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata).

Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone).

I continued on along the road making a few stops and building a nice list, just a couple of hundred yards on there were lots of Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia) but on the far side of this group I also picked up 3 Stock Doves (Paloma Zurita / Columba oenas) feeding on the ground. 

Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone).

As I drove on I added Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), Thekla (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), the first of three Little Owls (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) and Linnets (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina).

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

I parked by one of the larger derelict Cortijo and had some very convincing Rock Doves (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), a calling Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae).

At the far end of the area I parked and spent a while scanning the fields finding Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), calling but unseen Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) and 3 Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis) which flew distantly over the fields calling.

Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Cabra pyreaica).

I continued on up the Motorway and came off near Baza and checked out one of the Barranco's nearby, I parked and walked the main part of the Barranco along the track, on the way I found Black Wheatears, Red-billed Choughs, Corn Buntings, House Sparrows, Crested Lark, Woodpigeon, Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) and at least 3 Lesser Short-toed Lark (Terrera Marismena / Calandrella rufescens) which flew over several times.

Green Tiger Beetle (Cicindela maroccana).

I also had a very smart male Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Cabra pyreaica), a couple of Provence Hairstreak (Tomares ballus) and Green Tiger Beetle (Cicindela maroccana).

Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild).

Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild).

I drove back home crossing the fields near the house seeing a nice group of Common Waxbills (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), a rather scabby looking moulting Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta) and a very quick Montpellier Snake (Malpolon monspessulanus) which dropped down into the Irrigation channel.

Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta).

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 24th March 2021.

15W Actinic on the terrace.

29 Moths of 5 Species.

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

 

7581 Neognopharia stevenaria.

With the trap set up down on the terrace I thought that I might find a few new species for the year, and I was happy to find three new species and two which were new for the garden (I think) but not sure as I think I have seen Caradrina noctivaga before.

8944 Autophila dilucida.

7581 Neognopharia stevenaria x1, 8944 Autophila dilucida x1, 9056 Autographa gamma (Silver Y) x1, 9435 Caradrina noctivaga x1 and 10343 Shuttle Shaped Dart (Agrotis puta) x25.

9056 Autographa gamma (Silver Y).

9435 Caradrina noctivaga.

Cerro Hacho, Granada Province, Spain.

A walk around the lower loop dodging picnicking families.

 

Barbary Nut (Moraea sisyrinchium).

I parked at the bottom of the hill just up from the bins and started to walk up the main track but I suddenly remembered that it was Sunday as the area was full of families with there picnic tables out enjoying the sun. Just after leaving the car I found a fresh Barbary Nut (Moraea sisyrinchium) which was the first of the year and the only one of the walk. 

Provence Hairstreak (Tomares ballus).

As I walked up towards the quarry I was horrified to see that two elderly Spanish Ladies how were with there Grandkids had a little vase on the table with several Giant Orchids (Himantoglossum Robertiana) in it.

Grey-leaved Cistis (Cistis albidus).

I continued on up the hill seeing a Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros) which zipped passed me and off down into the quarry, lots of surviving unpicked Giant Orchids, as well as Somber Bee (Ophrys fusca / foresteri) and Sawfly (Ophrys tenthredinifera).

Conical Orchid (Neotinea conica).

Conical Orchid (Neotinea conica).

On the lower track which circles the quarry I had a couple of Provence Hairstreaks (Tomares ballus), Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) and Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri).

Southern Early Purple Orchid (Orchis olbienis).

Southern Early Purple Orchid (Orchis olbienis).

Southern Early Purple Orchid (Orchis olbienis).

On the Orchid front there were again plenty of the very smart but compact Conical Orchids (Neotinea conica) and during the walk I found around 400 spikes in all, most were in the top part of the walk but there were well over a hundred spikes in the Oaks down by the road.

Fan-lipped Orchid (Anacamptis collina).

Even more common was the Southern Early Purple Orchid (Orchis olbienis) which I estimated was flowering in the thousands, possibly as many as 3000 spikes which were in bloom all the way around the walk.

Common / Southern Blue (Polyommatus icarus / celina).

Common / Southern Blue (Polyommatus icarus / celina).

I also saw Fan-lipped Orchid (Anacamptis collina), Snake's Head Fritillary (Fritillaria hispanica), Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei).

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

 A quick walk along the Arroyo.

 

White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

I went down the road and parked in the usual slot and walked along the Northern side of the Arroyo but only down as far as the road bridge today, around the parking area there were lots of Spotless Starlings (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) which I gave a good scan hoping there might be a pink one in the mix but again I had no luck.

Along the arroyo there were good numbers of all three Wagtails and for the first time this year the Spanish (Yellow) (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) was the commonest followed by the White (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) but their numbers were well down and finally a single Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea( did a flyby. 

Also seen along the water were Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) again numbers were much lower as lots had started to move North, Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) x2, Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and a pair of Little Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) which flew off noisily when a farmer in his old Landrover came through the ford.

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

On the Lucerne fields I had Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus) and at the back of the fields in the deepest part of the Lucerne at least 3 female and 4 male Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) but there could easily have been more hiding.

Some of the wintering Green Sandpipers (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) were joined by some passage birds as by the time I reached the Bridge I had counted 9 individuals, all of which flew off noisily but dropped back in again a short way on, the Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) was obviously finding its usual Almond tree too hot so he had crossed the water and was snoozing nicely in the goat herders pipes and just as I turned around I had a small flock of around 15 Iberian  Magpies (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and a Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).

On my way back I only added a male Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild) and Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 13th March 2021.

15W Actinic on the terrace.

25 Moths of 2 Species.

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

9056 Autographa gamma (Silver Y).

With the trap back down in the open down on the lower terrace I had hoped for a few more species, but there were just 2 species with 25 moths. Temp dropped to +7.5

9056 Autographa gamma (Silver Y).

9056 Autographa gamma (Silver Y) x2 and 10343 Shuttle Shaped Dart (Agrotis puta) x23.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

An afternoon walk through the Olive groves.

 

False Mallow / Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus tripolinus / alceae).

I spent the morning doing jobs inside and out and then went for a stroll the the olives over to the farm on the road up to Montifrio. Once I was over the barranco I found the first of several Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina), Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus), False Mallow / Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus tripolinus / alceae) and Spanish Brown Argus (Aricia cramera).

Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus).

The Fan-lipped Orchids (Anacamptis collina) nearby were going well passed their best but after a bit of a search I found 15 or so spikes and in the same area I also had Field marigold (Calendula arvensis), Wild Grape Hyacinth (Muscari neglectum), Wild Clary (Salvia verbenaca), White Mignonette (Reseda Alba), Mallow-leaved Storksbill (Erodium malacoides) and Common Fumitory (Fumaria officinalis).

Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas).

I walked on and took a track about three rows back from the main track where I saw several Provence Orange-tips (Anthocharis euphenoides) but again they were all in too much of a hurry to sit in front of the camera for me and as I walked on I saw Small (Pieris rapae), Large (Pieris brassicae), Western Dappled (Euchloe crameri) and Bath Whites (Pontia daplidice) and lots of Clouded Yellows (Colias croceus).

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui).

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui).

Continuing on I had a calling Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa).

Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) male.

Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) female.

At the far end of the Olives I returned to the track and walked down to the farm before I turned around, on the way I saw Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra), a Provence Hairstreak (Tomares ballus) which was at the opposite end of the site from where I normally see the species and a Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera).

Small White (Pieris rapae).

I also saw Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus), Carpentor Bee (Xylocopa violacea), European Honey Bee (Apis mellifera), Spiked Fumitory (Platycapnos spicatus), Purple Bugloss (Echium plantagineum) and a Comma (Polygonia c-album) buttterfly.

Southern Marbled Skipper (Carcharodus baeticus).

Southern Marbled Skipper (Carcharodus baeticus).

I turned around and followed the main path back towards the house, on the way I had a nice Southern Marbled Skipper (Carcharodus baeticus) which settled several times and allowed me to get both Upper and underwing shots.

False Mallow / Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus tripolinus / alceae).

I also had Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) and Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 11th March 2021.

15W Actinic on the terrace.

22 Moths of 3 Species.

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

 

10029 Mythimna sicula.

The trap was put out under cover again and when I checked it I found 22 moths of 3 species.

10029 Mythimna sicula.

9056 Autographa gamma (Silver Y) x1, 10029 Mythimna sicula x1 and 10343 Shuttle Shaped Dart (Agrotis puta) x20.