Punta del Santo, Charca de Suarez and Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

Birding on the coast with friend Juan.

Ebird List for Punta del Santo.

Ebird List for Charca Suarez.

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

I was up and out early as I was meeting good friend Juan Perez on the coast for a morning's birding, starting at Punta del Santo where we got the scopes set up and did a bit of a sea watch. 

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

On the way down it was rather windy so I was very pleased to find it was quite calm at the watch point, I was a few minutes early but I was soon joined by Juan and Chika and we soon started to add a few species to the day list including 20x Balearic Shearwater (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus), 31x Northern Gannets (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), 1x Great Skua (Págalo Grande / Stercorarius skua) which was bird of the day for Juan, Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) along with 7 ducks which flew east but too far out to sea to be identified.

Balearic Shearwaters (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus).

Balearic Shearwaters (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus).

Other less pelagic species included Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), European Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis).

Just before 10.00 we left the beach, joined a few other people and went into Charca, our first stop was at Laguna del Alamo Blanco.

Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus).

We sat in the hide and a very smart pale morph Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus) came in and perched on one of the posts out in the water giving us very nice views, it was followed by another two pale morph birds along with a Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).

Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus).

Other species were Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), White Wagtail, Cetti's Warbler and Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild).

Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus).

We moved on and checked the hide at the Northern end of Laguna Taraje adding Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), a calling Sedge Warbler (Carricerin Común / Acrocephalus schoenobaenus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) before walking towards the hide overlooking Laguna de la Caña de Azucar, on the way we saw or heard Eurasian Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus), Eurasian Penduline Tit (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus), Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala).

Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus).

We didn't see anything new from the small hide so moved on to the main hide at Laguna de las Aneas, the light was bad but there were plenty of birds which included Little (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) and Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Black-crowned Night Heron (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Common Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Red-knobbed Coot (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata), Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Great Cormorant, Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Western House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Common Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis).

Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).

Around at the hide on Northern end of Laguna del Treból where we had another calling Sedge Warbler, lots more Red-knobbed Coot, Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi), Stripe-less Tree Frog (Hyla meridionalis) and several Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria).

Mediterranean Chameleon (Chamaeleo chamaeleon).

As we walked back around to the Laguna de las Aneas hide we saw Mediterranean Chameleon (Chamaeleo chamaeleon) and on our way back around to the other hide at Laguna Taraje and back to Alamo Blanca we picked up Monarch (Danaus plexippus) x3, Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), Swallowtail (Papilio machaon), 3x Vagrant Emperors (Anax ephippiger), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and 2x Little Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius). 

Mediterranean Chameleon (Chamaeleo chamaeleon).

We made our way to the Exit but had to hang around for a while until Pepe arrived to let us out but in the meantime Beatriz arrived and we had a chat through the gate before we were released and we headed off.

Looking west as the sun drops below Hacho.

Later in the day I went for a walk down onto the fields just before dark but the only species of interest were the 2 Black-winged Kites (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) and a passing flock of 39 European Golden Plovers (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaia).

Huetor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

Walking the fields again.

Ebird List for the Fields.

I Parked at the usual spot and walked out as far as the railway bridge, high lights were 8x Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), 2x Little Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), 2x Black-winged Kites (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata) and 2x Red Avadavat's (Bengali Rojo / Amandava amandava) which were only second record for the site.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 10th March 23.
Garden Light, min +8 

 

10037 Orthosia incerta (Clouded Drab).

6496 Evergestis isatidalis x2, 6551 Udea numeralis x1, 8328 Nebula ibericata x1, 10037 Orthosia incerta (Clouded Drab) x1, 10226 Cerastis faceta x1 and 10343 Shuttle Shaped Dart (Agrotis puta) x1.

6551 Udea numeralis.

8328 Nebula ibericata.

6496 Evergestis isatidalis.

10226 Cerastis faceta.

10343 Shuttle Shaped Dart (Agrotis puta).

 

El Temple, Cacín Valley and Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain

A day out with Maia and her Mom.

Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus).

I met Maia and her Mom at the Cortijo de Tajar and then we headed off up the motorway towards Granada and then went out on to the tracks to the south of the A92, on the way we started the day list off with two Black-winged Kites (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) at two different spots and Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica).

Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus).

Once we were out on the main site we added Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris).

Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus).

We parked on the track side and from here we had great views of a male Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), several Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) and a calling Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius).

Some fuzzy shots of some of the Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis).

We continued on out on to the larger area of fields seeing Western Dappled (Euchloe crameri) x8 and Small White (Pieris rapae) x1, Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) x2, Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Calandra Lark (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).

Maia and her Mom watching Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis).

We dropped down to the mid road and then out onto another track where we had distant views of at least 14 Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis) and 2 more Black-winged Kites.

Further along the road we turned off again and took to the tracks again adding Spanish (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis) and Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Lesser Kestrel (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni), 3x Common Buzzards (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) 2 of which were seen mobbing a male Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus),  Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli).

Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

We left the fields and stopped to collect a Sandwich at a bar in Ventas de Huelma and then headed out towards the Cacín Valley, on the way we saw more Common Buzzards,  a Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), 3x Iberian Green Woodpeckers (Pito Real / Picus sharpei) one which I saw briefly but the others were only heard and remained out of sight unfortunately.

Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

We dropped down into the Valley and went down to the gorge finding Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Crag (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and later we went back up the Valley to the Contra-embalse, on the way we had Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and at the Lake we also saw Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), 2x Marsh Harriers, 4x Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), 2x Great Cormorants (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) and a good number of Vagrant Emperors (Anax ephippiger) around 25.

Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli).

A bit further up the valley we stopped in the Pine woodlands where we added two more new species to Maia's list which were Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra) and Crested Tit (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus).

We popped in to the Cliffs below Moraleda but we did not find anything new so we headed back to Huétor Fields finding a couple of Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) one of which was a very smart Male and another 2x Black-winged Kites before returning to the hotel.

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A good walk around the patch produces 53 species.

Ebird List for Fields.

Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaia) x29.

I parked at the halfway point along the Lucerne fields as I tought the usual end of the track would be muddy after the bit of rain we had over night, however when I got down there It was OK.

Northern Wheatears (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) Left and Right and a Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus) in the midle and below right.

I reached the pool in the river where the farmer has dammed the Arroyo which I am not sure is really legal but it does form a nice pool and small boggy area.

Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) male.

From there I returned to the car passed the Lucerne fields and then I continued on out to the Poplar Plantation and then on to the far end of the normal walk at the end of the track by the Railway bridge.

Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus).

High lights during the walk were Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), 29x Golden Plovers (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaia), 2x Little Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), 2x Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), 2x Black-winged Kites (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica), 4x Northern Wheatears (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Spanish (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis) and Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus) and Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea). 

Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 8th March 23.
15W Actinic, min +11 

 

9676 Xylocampa areola (Early Grey).

A warmer night but not a great deal in the trap, 4 Moths of 3 Species, which were 6496 Evergestis isatidalis x2, 9676 Xylocampa areola (Early Grey) x1 and 10226 Cerastis faceta x1.

10226 Cerastis faceta.

 

Huétor Tajar Loop of the Town and Cerro Hacho, Granada Province, Spain.

A morning walk around the fields and then a visit to the Puddle on Hacho.

Ebird List for the Fields.

Ebird List for Cerro Hacho.

Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

I popped down to Huétor for a few bits of shopping, on the way back I went for a walk around the loop of the town, high lights included Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Crag (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Sand (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia) and House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Red-rumped (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea).

Crested Tit (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus).

On my way home I popped into the fields briefly just to see if the pair of Black-winged Kites (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) were still around and I was pleased to see they were, I also had some distant views of the Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) and a Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

I sorted the shopping at the house and then went up to the Puddle on the track at Hacho but a part from a single Crested Tit (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus) nothing showed up, so I dropped back down to the house seeing a very nice Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) on the way.

Cerro Hacho, Granada Province, Spain.

A walk around the lower loop and then a visit to the Puddle.

Ebird List.

Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra).

I parked by the Puddle and then went for a walk around the lower loop, on the first section I saw several Rock Buntings (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), good numbers of Common Crossbills (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) x5, Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus) x2, Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).

Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra).

As I started to drop down the far side of the hill I found a few spikes of Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca / foresteri), Wild Grape Hyacinth (Muscari neglectum), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus).

Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus).

I dropped down along the side of the quarry and down to the road, in the Quarry I found a nice male Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos).

Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla).

Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla).

Along the road and then back up the track to the car, on the way I caught up with Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius) and Giant Orchid (Himanthoglosum Robertiana).

Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).

Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis).

Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis).

Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

I got to the the conifers just before the puddle where I picked up Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Crested Tit (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus), Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus) and Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca / foresteri).

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca / foresteri).

At the puddle I got shots of Black Redstart, Meadow Pipit, Chiffchaff and Blackcap. 

Giant Orchid (Himanthoglosum Robertiana).

Giant Orchid (Himanthoglosum Robertiana).

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

Around the Lucerne Fields and along the Arroyo.

Ebird List.

Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

I parked at the usual spot and walked along the Arroyo out as far as the Railway bridge, on the way there and back again I recorded 20+ Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), a Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), 2x Black-winged Kites (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), 5x Bluethroats (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild) and Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus).

Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).