Huétor Fields and Cerro Hacho, Granada Province, Spain.

A quick wander around the disused Almond groves on Hacho.

Ebird List for the Fields.

Ebird List for Hacho. 

Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

I did the usual walk around the fields, interesting species included Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaia), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica), Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) and Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Green-Striped White (Euchloe belemia).

Small White (Pieris rapae).

Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria).

I got back to the car and went back home to do a few bits and then went for another walk around the loop up on Hacho where I found Crested (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra) and Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus).

Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus).

Steve photographing a Giant Orchid.

I also saw Small White (Pieris rapae), Green-Striped White (Euchloe belemia), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) and Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria).

Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).

Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus).

Parque de Málaga, Río Guadaiza and Guadalhorce, Malaga Province, Spain.

A days birding before picking up Friend Steve Jones from Malaga Airport.

Ebird list for Parque de Malaga.

Ebird List for Rio Guadaiza.

Ebird List for Guadalhorce.

Red-breasted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Papirrojo / Ficedula parva).

I set off early and parked on the outskirts and walked the last 3kms into the park but I was still early so I went for some breakfast in a bar nearby.

Red-breasted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Papirrojo / Ficedula parva).

Red-breasted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Papirrojo / Ficedula parva).

I returned to the park and almost instantly I could hear the target Red-breasted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Papirrojo / Ficedula parva) calling from the taller trees and I soon located it and then watched it for the next hour on and off.

Red-breasted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Papirrojo / Ficedula parva).

Whilst there I was joined by José A. Campos and his wife, other species seen included Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Rose-ringed (Cotorra de Kramer / Psittacula krameri) and Monk Parakeets (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Cyanistes major), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris).

Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) collecting mud.

I had good views of the bird so I moved on to Guadalhorce where I spent a while birding and chatting with Andy Paterson, the target here was the Bonaparte's Gull (Gaviota de Bonaparte / Chroicocephalus philadelphia) which had been around for a while but we did not find it, however we did see Slender-billed (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), 12x Sanderlings (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and a Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus) which was a good year tick.

Eastern Yellow Wagtail (Lavandera de Chukotka / Motacilla tschutschensis).

Eastern Yellow Wagtail (Lavandera de Chukotka / Motacilla tschutschensis).

I said bye to Andy and headed back to the car and the down the coast to the Rio Guadaiza where the Eastern Yellow Wagtail (Lavandera de Chukotka / Motacilla tschutschensis) had been wintering, I arrived and sat on the stoney shore of the much lower flowing river and I was soon watching 4 different species of Wagtail including White (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Spanish (Yellow) (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) and the Eastern which was showing quite a bit better plumage colours.

Eastern Yellow Wagtail (Lavandera de Chukotka / Motacilla tschutschensis).

Eastern Yellow Wagtail (Lavandera de Chukotka / Motacilla tschutschensis).

In the same area I also recorded Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus) and Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis). 

Slender-billed Gull (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei).

Slender-billed Gulls (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei).

Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus).

Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus).

Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus).

After getting good views of the target I drove back along the coast to the beach at Guadalhorce and I then walked out to the hide over looking Laguna Grande, here I spent quite a while  birding and chatting with several other birders including Peter Alexander.

Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus).

Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia).

Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata) Male.

Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata) Female.

As we scanned the Laguna we added Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Grey Plover (Chorlito Gris / Pluvialis squatarola), White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) and the 7th and 8th Gull species of the day, a Little Gull (Gaviota Enana / Larus minutus) and the Bonaparte's.

Laguna Grande.

I walked back around to the car and then I parked by the airport and waited for Steve who arrived on time and after picking him up we headed back to the house.

Little Gull (Gaviota Enana / Larus minutus).

Little Gull (Gaviota Enana / Larus minutus).

Bonaparte's Gull (Gaviota de Bonaparte / Chroicocephalus philadelphia).

Bonaparte's Gull (Gaviota de Bonaparte / Chroicocephalus philadelphia).

Bonaparte's Gull (Gaviota de Bonaparte / Chroicocephalus philadelphia).

Bonaparte's (Gaviota de Bonaparte / Chroicocephalus philadelphia) and Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus).

Cerro Hacho, Loja, Granada Province, Spain.

A walk around part of the lower loop.

Ebird List.

Giant Orchids (Himanthoglosum Robertiana).

I parked near the almost dry puddle and went for a walk part way around the loop, in the Pines I found lots of nicely in flower Giant Orchids (Himanthoglosum Robertiana) including a nice white flowered hypochrimic spike.

Giant Orchid (Himanthoglosum Robertiana) hypochromic plant.

Giant Orchid (Himanthoglosum Robertiana) hypochromic plant.

I also found good numbers of Somber Bee Orchids (Ophrys fusca / foresteri), Field Marigold (Calendula arvensis) and a couple of Hummingbird Hawkmoths (Macroglossum stellatarum) which were nectering on the flowering Almond trees.

Somber Bee Orchids (Ophrys fusca / foresteri).

Bird wise I saw Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Iberian  (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and Common Magpies (Urraca / Pica pica), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Crested (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia).

Amethyst Toadflax (Linaria amethystea).

Amethyst Toadflax (Linaria amethystea).

Common Whitlowgrass (Erophila verna).

Common Whitlowgrass (Erophila verna).

I returned to the car and checked a south facing bank a bit further down the track, here I found Bellis microcephala, Amethyst Toadflax (Linaria amethystea), Common Whitlowgrass (Erophila verna), Large Psammodromus (Psammodromus algirus), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and then I hear a calling raptor which turned out to be a female Northern Goshawk (Azor Común / Accipitor gentillis).

Broad-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia).

Broad-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia).

Broad-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia).

It was quite warm on the bank and I recorded singles of Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Bath White (Pontia daplidice) and Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri) as well as  Carpentor Bee (Xylocopa violacea), Broad-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia), Groundsel (Senecio vulgaris), a Gagea species which is possibly Gagea lacaitae ????? and Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris).

Gagea lacaitae ?????

Gagea lacaitae ?????

 

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 19th February 23.
15W Actinic, min +8.4 

 

7725 Menophora japygiaria (Brassy Waved Umber).

Species recorded included 7 moths of 4 species, 6184 Eudonia angustea, 6496 Evergestis isatidalis x3, a darker 7694 Agriopis bajaria x1 than the one last week, 7725 Menophora japygiaria (Brassy Waved Umber) x1in better condition than the last one and 10226 Cerastis faceta x1.

6184 Eudonia angustea.

7694 Agriopis bajaria.

10226 Cerastis faceta.

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A quick visit to the fields.

Curt Löfberg, Geoff Chapman, Me and Gunilla Löfberg at the Lucerne fields.

I spent the morning in the garden and then when I came in for a show spotted a message from Liza Kempe Chapman to say that she was down on the patch looking for the Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) so I popped down for a quick bit of birding with them.

I met Liza, Geoff her husband and two friends Gunilla and Curt Löfberg from Sweden and we went to the Lucerne fields where we had views of a couple of the Bustards which were behaving a lot more elusively than yesterday.

Whilst there we also saw Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaia), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina).

After half an hour or so I made my way back home adding Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) on the way.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 18th February 23.
15W Actinic, min +5.5

6496 Evergestis isatidalis.

The trap was out on the terrace and it was a touch warmer but Moth numbers were lower with just 3 Moths of 1 species, 6496 Evergestis isatidalis x3. 

6496 Evergestis isatidalis.