Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Count.

 

9282 Cleonymia pectinicornis.

Better numbers this morning as the temperature stayed up at +14,  53 Moth of 27 species.

Thanks to the people of the Moths of Spain Facebook page for the help with a couple of the Identifications.

8186 Idaea degeneraria (Portland Ribbon Wave).

0663 Trichophaga Bipartitella x1, 0706 Monopis nigricantella x1, 1648 Ethmia terminella x2, 1655 Ethmia bipunctella x1, 2312 Esperia sulphurella x1, 4855 Epinotia thapsiana x1, 5381 Amblyptilia acanthadactyla x1, 6488 Evergestis frumentalis x1, 6551 Udea numeralis x1, 6599 Pyrausta sanguinalis (Scarce Crimson & Gold) x1, 7926 Semiaspilates ochrearia (Yellow Belle) x2, 8059 Scopula marginepunctata (Mullein Wave) x1, 8062 Scopula imitaria (Small Blood-vein) x1, 8167 Idaea subsericeata x1, 8186 Idaea degeneraria (Portland Ribbon Wave) x1, 8145 Brachyglossina manicaria x1, 8256 Xanthorhoe fluctuata (Garden Carpet) x1, 8638 Lithostege griseata (Grey Carpet) x1, 9056 Autographa gamma (Silver Y) x3, 9100 Acontia lucida (Pale Shoulder) x1, 9282 Cleonymia pectinicornis x2, 9367 Heliothis peltigera (Bordered Straw) x2, 9433 Caradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow) x10, 9435 Caradrina noctivaga x3, 9961 Hadena sancta x1, 10022 Mythimna l-album (L-Album Wainscot) x1, 10029 Mythimna sicula x2, 10343 Shuttle Shaped Dart (Agrotis puta) x8,  

1648 Ethmia terminella.

1655 Ethmia bipunctella.

6488 Evergestis frumentalis.

8638 Lithostege griseata (Grey Carpet).

8062 Scopula imitaria (Small Blood-vein).

8167 Idaea subsericeata.

9435 Caradrina noctivaga.

8059 Scopula marginepunctata (Mullein Wave).

0706 Monopis nigricantella.

10022 Mythimna l-album (L-Album Wainscot).

8145 Brachyglossina manicaria.

6599 Pyrausta sanguinalis (Scarce Crimson & Gold).

4855 Epinotia thapsiana.

2312 Esperia sulphurella.

5381 Amblyptilia acanthadactyla.

6551 Udea numeralis.

9961 Hadena sancta.

0663 Trichophaga Bipartitella.

Hacho, Granada Province, Spain.

Butterflies and more on the local hill.

 

Panoptes Blue (Pseudophilotes panoptes).

During the afternoon I went for a walk around the lower areas of Hacho, I parked near the road and walked the South facing slope above the track.

Southern Knapweed (Centaurea pullata).

Almost straight away I had the one and only Panoptes Blue (Pseudophilotes panoptes) of my walk, on the same slope I also had Southern Knapweed (Centaurea pullata), Tassel Hyacinth (Muscari comosum), White Rockrose (Helianthemum apenninum), Grey-leaved Cistus (Cistus albidus), Wild Clary (Salvia verbenaca), Shrubby Gromwell (Lithodora fruticosa), Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis), Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria), Hoary Cress (Lepidium draba) and Common Asphodel (Asphodelus aestivus).

Lorquin's Blue (Cupido lorquinii).

Lorquin's Blue (Cupido lorquinii).

Lorquin's Blue (Cupido lorquinii).

As I dropped down on to the grassy area amongst the Almond trees where I was pleased to find a couple of Lorquin's Blues (Cupido lorquinii) which were chasing around the flower heads along with several Southern Blues (Polyommatus celina) and a Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera).

Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri).

The plants included Mirror Orchid (Ophrys speculum), Starry Clover (Trifolium stellatum), Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas), Hare's-foot Plantain (Plantago lagopus), Tragopogon angustifolius, Red Vetchling (Lathyrus cicera), Henbit Deadnettle (Lamium amplexicaule) and Salsify (Tragopogon porrifolius).

Starry Clover (Trifolium stellatum).

I next walked up the hill along the main track seeing Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenoides), Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli) and Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).

Tragopogon angustifolius.

Linaria tristris.

Tassel Hyacinth (Muscari comosum).

I followed the lower track once I reached the quarry and in amongst the Pine woodlands I had Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera), Alexanders (Smyrnium olusatrum), Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria) and Prickly Poppy (Papaver argenone).

Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera).

Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi).

As I stood watching a group of Common Crossbills (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra) I heard a Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax) and then another and the a flock of at least 40 birds were moving through to the east and whilst watching these I picked up 4 Common Buzzards (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).

Valerian Species.

Valerian Species.

As I walked on along the track I found Pink Butterfly Orchid (Orchis papilionacea), Southern Early Purple Orchid (Orchis olbienis), a Valerian Species which I still need to name, Shepherds Needles (Scandix pecten-veneris), Southern Red Bartsia (Parentucellia latifolia) and Spring Cress (Arabis verna). 

Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenoides).

Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenoides).

Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenoides).

There were a couple of Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi) flying amongst the Thyme plants along with an Adonis Blue (Lysandra bellargus), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Large White (Pieris brassicae), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) and Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera).

Pink Butterfly Orchid (Orchis papilionacea).

On the far side of the quarry I stood for a while watching two male Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator) having a bit of a territorial dispute as well as Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia).

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A couple of year ticks on the patch.

 

Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) male.

Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) female.

I got a message from John and Jenny Wainwright to say that they had seen a Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra) down on the fields so I headed down there a little while later, I parked at the usual place and walked the Arroyo and then stayed on the road out to the plantation.

Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae).

Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae).

Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae).

As I walked I picked up Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) and on the fence at the far end of the Lucerne fields the male Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra).

House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica).

I continued on and added a nice fresh looking Melodious Warbler (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and a small group of Greater Short-toed Larks (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla).

House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) collecting mud.

House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica).

I returned to the car and drove back to the ford where I parked for a while and watch a group of House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) collecting mud for their nest building work.

Near Huétor Tajar, GranadaProvince, Spain.

Moth Count.

 

9282 Cleonymia pectinicornis.

Only a few species in the trap this morning, I only kept 4 for the camera which were 7691 Chemerina caliginearia, 8328 Nebula ibericata, 9100 Acontia lucida (Pale Shoulder) and 9282 Cleonymia pectinicornis. 

7691 Chemerina caliginearia.

8328 Nebula ibericata.

9100 Acontia lucida (Pale Shoulder).