Baza Area, Granada Province, Spain.

A second dip on the Greenish Black-tip.

 

Large Blue Flax (Linum narbonense).

I drove along the A92 passed Baza to a spot in the middle of nowhere where I was hoping to find the extremely rare Greenish Black-tip (Euchloe bazae) but with out success again, since the visit I have learnt that it is particularity poor year for the species which is difficult normally.

Large Blue Flax (Linum narbonense).

On the drive there I started the list off with Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica).

Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi).

Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi).

Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi).

I arrived at the spot and found that Anita and Walter from Granada were also visiting the site, I bumped into them briefly further up the Barranco, but I found out later they were as unsuccessful as I was but we all saw some nice stuff anyway.

Lesser Short-toed Lark (Terrera Marismena / Calandrella rufescens).

Lesser Short-toed Lark (Terrera Marismena / Calandrella rufescens).

As I walked along the track I had Large Blue Flax (Linum narbonense), White Rockrose (Helianthemum apenninum), Shrubby Gromwell (Lithodora fruticosa), Common stork's bill (Erodium ciconium), Giant Fennel (Ferula communis), Shrubby Russian Thistle (Salsola vermiculata), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) and the first of several Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi).

Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri).

There were good numbers of singing Corn Buntings (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), several Black Wheatears (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura) which were also in good voice, Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala).

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

After a while I met Anita and Walter and we had a chat before they carried on following a rough track and I walked back towards my car, on the way back I had the first of several nice male Black-eared Wheatears (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica), Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and 2 passing Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

Cistanche phelypaea subsp. lutea.

I dropped my fleece off at the car and had a drink before walking back out along the Barranco, I reached the point where I had turned around and the continued on along the track soon having good views of several Lesser Short-toed Larks (Terrera Marismena / Calandrella rufescens) which were singing and feeding in some abandoned fields.

Cistanche phelypaea subsp. lutea, the power of the plant.

As I walked around this area I also had Cistanche phelypaea subsp. lutea a curious Broomrape type species which was fairly common here and was even pushing it's way up through the track surface.

Cynomorium coccineum subsp. coccineum.

In this area and on my way back to the car I had Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Dartford (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata) and Spectacled Warbler (Curruca Tomillera / Sylvia conspicillata), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and the first of around 6 pairs of Stock Doves (Paloma Zurita / Columba oenas).

Yellow Pheasants eye (Adonis vernalis).

Yellow Pheasants eye (Adonis vernalis).

Yellow Pheasants eye (Adonis vernalis).

Once I got back to the car I drove along a few of the local tracks and found another area which looked good but I didn't find any Butterflies, however I did add Cynomorium coccineum subsp. coccineum, Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) and more Stock Doves.

Narcissus triandrus subsp. pallidulus.

Narcissus triandrus subsp. pallidulus.

I gave up on the Butterflies and headed back towards home but called in at Sierra Huétor where I checked out an area of Pine woodland finding Aristolochia paucinervis, Geum sylvaticum, Yellow Pheasants eye (Adonis vernalis), Narcissus triandrus subsp. pallidulus, Southern Early Purple Orchid (Orchis olbienis) and the leaf rosettes of Barton's Orchid (Dactylorhias insularis) and Orchis cazorlensis.

Aristolochia paucinervis.

In the same area I also saw Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Crested (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater) and Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra).

Southern Early Purple Orchid (Orchis olbienis).

Southern Early Purple Orchid (Orchis olbienis).

I returned to the car and drove back home through several quite heavy rain showers but there was nothing back at home.

Charca Suarez, Granada Province, Spain.

Mothing down on the coast at Charca Suarez.

 

7533 Stegania trimaculata (Dorset Cream Wave).

After spending a couple of hours birding I met up with Miguel Olvera at the back gate of the nature reserve where Pepe let us in and we went down to the visitor center.

8907 Grammodes bifasciata.

We set up 5 traps and then checked them several times during the evening and over night until we packed them up between 06.00 and 08.30 checking and photographing the species before releasing them all.

10035 Mythimna unipuncta (White Speck).

There were a great many species, most of which I didn't know and need to sort but there were a few I did thankfully.

10087 Ochropleura leucogaster (Radford's Flame Shoulder).

Over night the noise from the Perez's (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi) and Stripe-less Tree Frogs (Hyla meridionalis) was incredible and did not allow much chance of any sleep.

During the visit we also saw several Iberian Bluetail (Ischnura graellsii) and a Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) which also came into the one trap.

10550 Phragmatobia fuliginosa (Ruby Tiger).

The few moths I could identify included 6860 Hyles livornica (Striped Hawk-moth), 7533 Stegania trimaculata (Dorset Cream Wave), 8907 Grammodes bifasciata, 9461 Spodoptera cilium (Dark Mottled Willow), 10035 Mythimna unipuncta (White Speck), 10087 Ochropleura leucogaster (Radford's Flame Shoulder) and 10550 Phragmatobia fuliginosa (Ruby Tiger).

Charca Suarez area, Granada Province, Spain.

Year Ticks on the coast

 

Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii).

I drove down to the area the area around the back of the Charca reserve where I drove along the road known as Turtle Dove Alley where I parked and walked at several different points finding House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), House (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Reed (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) along with two year ticks.

Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus) male.

The first was a very nice but high flying Collared Pratincole (Canastera Común / Glareola pratincola) which was followed by a nice male Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus).

I also had a nice fresh Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) which flew around making  it difficult to get a photo.

Later I met up with Miguel Olvera and we went onto the main reserve to set up several Moth traps, during this time I added a nice male Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca), Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio) and White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia). 

The account of the nights mothing will be on a separate post.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Count.

 

10003 Mythimna vitellina (The Delicate).

Not really a count today as I had to be on the move early so just a small selection in the Photo's which included 

9435 Caradrina noctivaga.

6619 Uresiphita gilvata.

6700 Dolicharthria punctalis.

7926 Semiaspilates ochrearia (Yellow Belle).

4855 Epinotia thapsiana.

9206 Cucullia calendulae.

6719 Nomophila noctuella (Rush Veneer).

Isophrictis species.

Cacín Valley, El Temple and The Coast, Granada Province, Spain.

Back on the fields and then bad news and some good on the Coast.

Ebird List for the Beach.

Prickly Poppy (Papaver argenone).

I was going down to the Motril area to meet up with Juan Perez to check how the only breeding population in Granada of Kentish Plovers (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus) are doing.

I started out from the house and made my way down the Cacín Valley making my first stop at some cliffs near Moraleda where I started the list with Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) and Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).

Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae).

Further down the Valley I stopped in the Pine woods seeing and hearing Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos) and a noisy Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) which few off down the river making a right racket.

Just a further down the valley I stopped by the bridge over the Cacín and had a short walk picking up Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and a smart male Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus).

Audouin's Gull (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii).

I moved just up the road and parked in the usual place and walked out to the normal view point looking out over the lake seeing Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) and Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) out on the water.

Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus).

Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus).

Around the margins and in the air I added Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Iberian Green (Pito Real / Picus sharpei) and Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Cetti's (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and a pair of Marsh Harriers (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).

Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus).

I took the road heading back towards Granada, during this drive I added Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) and Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator).

Audouin's Gull (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii).

My next stop was out on the El Temple area where I drove the tracks finding Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), several noisy Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), a Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius) which was calling from a track side Pine Tree, Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) and my first Greater Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla) of the year, a calling Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), a hunting Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) which was sat in a dead Almond and best of all a stunning Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus).

The first of the lost nests.

The second of the destroyed Nest.

I drove down the Motorway to the coast, on the way I had views of Lesser Kestrel (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and a pale morph Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas).

Kentish Plovers (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus) mating.

I parked was joined by Juan a short while later, over the next few hours we walked the beach checking on the Kentish Plover population on the way. There was some good news as we found two new Nest site and watched another two males preparing scrapes for two more nests. However we were dismayed to find a second nest had been destroyed by being trampled on, this followed a nest being stood on a week earlier. 

Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus) from the car.

The adult bird count was higher than we had expected with 29 birds being counted along with Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus) x1, Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) x1, Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba) x14, Black-winged Stilt x1, Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii) x14, Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) x20 and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) x50, Mallard x2 and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

Another flyby.

Out to sea which was quite rough we had Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Cory's (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris borealis) x1 and Balearic Shearwater (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus) x2 and Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus).

Cyperus capitatus.

We stopped and had a drink and Tapas at a bar on the front which still allowed us good views of the sea and typically when Juan popped inside I had two Common Tern (Charrán Común / Sterna hirudo) fly passed heading East.

During the walk we saw quite a few wild flowers including Silene littorea, Sea Medick (Medicago marina), Linaria pedinculata, Ononis ramosissima, Sand Reichardia (Reichardia gaditana), Seaside Daisy (Asteriscus maritimus), European Searocket (Cakile maritima) and Cyperus capitatus.

Part of the Information board.

We reached the cars and we returned to the other end of the beach checking the birds again but not before he showed me a sign put up just full of bad information about the Gull species that are possible to see  from the beach, I wish it was Correct as there is a Spanish Lifer and two more that would be new for my Granada List.