Near Huétor Tajar in Granada Province, Fuente de Piedra, Malaga Province and Cerro Hacho, Granada Province, Spain.

A days out birding with Dave Grundy after doing the Moth Trap.

Ebird list for the Garden, 1 species.

Ebird List for Fuente de Piedra, 61 species.

Dave with his Bin's in action.

Whilst Dave and I were checking the Moths in the garden we heard our first Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus) of the year.

Curlew Sandpiper (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea).

Spotted Redshank (Archibebe Oscuro / Tringa erythropus).

Once the Moths were finished with we headed off west along the A92 to Fuente de Piedra to see what waders and migrants were around, once we were on site we started by checking the pool on the left of the entrance road.

Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) adult.

Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) Immatures x3.

Waders included my first Curlew Sandpipers (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea) of the year along with Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta), Wood (Andarrios Bastardo / Tringa glareola) and Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) and a Spotted Redshank (Archibebe Oscuro / Tringa erythropus) which was also a new species for the year.

Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta).

Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta).

Also on the pool we saw Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Marbled Duck (Marmaronetta angustirostris), Gull-billed Tern (Pagaza Piconegra / Gelochelidon nilotica), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Red-rumped (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) and Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Marbled Duck (Marmaronetta angustirostris), Wood (Andarrios Bastardo / Tringa glareola) and Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos).

Wood Sandpiper (Andarrios Bastardo / Tringa glareola).

We moved up to the car park, then used the facilities in the pretty much empty visitor's center before we went around to the Mirador where we saw more Greater Flamingo's, good numbers of Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos) and Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).

Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax).

Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo).

Next we went around to the two hides over looking the fresh water pools adding White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Red-crested (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina) and Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Little (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).

Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus).

Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus).

Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus).

We walked back around to the Mirador and then took the lower track around to the boardwalk, on the way we picked up Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) and Small White (Pieris rapae).

Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax) male.

Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax) male.

Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax) male and female.

From the boardwalk we had better views of Ruff, Curlew Sandpiper, Snipe, Black-winged Stilt, Avocet and added a nice group of Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus), heard a noisy Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) and Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata).

Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago).

Curlew Sandpiper (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea).

We walked back to the roadside pool and had a couple of new species for the day, Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia) and a couple of Black-veined Whites (Aporia crataegi) before going back to the car, heading for the village for something to eat and the off back to the house.

The Quarry Trap.

Dave setting the third trap in the Pine Woodlands.

Later we went up to Cerro Hacho where we set 3x 2W LED Moth lights ready for checking in the morning.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 18th April 23.
15W Actinic, min +10.3

25 Moths of 16 Species.

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

 

0663 Trichophaga bipartitella.

I was Joined by friend Dave Grundy and his permit so I set the Actinic trap on the lower terrace and in the morning we checked the contents but eventhough the Min temp was just over 10' it was still fairly quiet.

5765 Merulempista turturella.

5615 Synaphe lorquinalis.

Species included 0663 Trichophaga bipartitella x1, 5615 Synaphe lorquinalis x2, 5624 Bostra obsoletalis x2, 5765 Merulempista turturella x1, 6488 Evergestis frumentalis x4, 6551 Udea numeralis x1, 6619 Uresiphita gilvata x1, 7926 Aspitates ochrearia (Yellow Belle) x3, 8509 Eupithecia cenaureata (Lime-speck Pug) x1, 9298 Metopoceras felicina x1, 9433 Paradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow) x2, 9435 Caradrina noctivaga  / flavirena x2, 10003 Mythimna vitellina (The Delicate) x1, 10238 Peridroma saucia (Pearly Underwing) x1, 10346 Agrotis ipsilon (Dark Sword-grass) x1 and 10528b Coscinia chrysocephala x1.

9298 Metopoceras felicina.

10003 Mythimna vitellina (The Delicate).

10238 Peridroma saucia (Pearly Underwing).

10346 Agrotis ipsilon (Dark Sword-grass).

10528b Coscinia chrysocephala.

10528b Coscinia chrysocephala.

 

Sierra de Loja, Granada Province, Spain.

The Creaky four are out and about again.

Ebird List, 52 species.

Back along the far crags.

I met friends Barbara, Derek and Andy down at Rio Frio and after some breakfast we went for a days birding up on my favourate patch, Sierra de Loja where we were hoping for several upland species. 

Looking out to the West.

We started off by checking the lower quarry where we began the day list with Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major).

Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus).

As we drove up to the middle Quarry we passed through the Pines adding Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Crested Tit (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus), Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and on the track to the middle quarry we saw Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea), Wild Tulip (Tulipa sylvestris), Viola dementria, Tassel Hyacinth (Leopoldia comosa), Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum baeticum), Southern Knapweed (Centaurea pullata), Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis), Red Phlomis (Phlomis purpurea), Ground-pine Germander (Teucrium pseudochamaepitys), Common Asphodel (Asphodelus aestivus), Bladder Campion (Silene vulgaris), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Coal Tit  (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa) and Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax).

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

We returned to the car and drove up the crags and out onto the tops, on the way we saw Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and both Northern (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) and Black-eared Wheatear (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica).

Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

As we carried on further, passing Charca del Negro and moving on along the far crags, we had views of an unexpected Wryneck (Torcecuello / Jynx torquilla), Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Spectacled (Curruca Tomillera / Sylvia conspicillata) and Western Orphean Warbler (Curruca Mirlona / Sylvia hortensis), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Pallid (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) and Common Swifts (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), at least 10 Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) and then two male Rufous-tailed Rock Thrushes (Roquero Roja / Monticola saxatilis) showed well but distantly on the cliff tops.

Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe).

Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura).

Black-eared Wheatear (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica).

We dropped down as far as the junction to the pools where we saw a single Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and then turned around and started to make our way back down, we called in at a small dell where I found a couple of Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina) x2, Queen of Spain (Issoria lathonia) x1 and a single Knapweed Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe) and a little further down our only Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) of the day and a small number of Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Capra pyrenaica hispanica).

Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina).

Knapweed Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe).

As we dropped we  took the track back up to the Middle Quarry, it was a bit warmer now and we found singing Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenoides) and Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus).

Wild Tulip (Tulipa sylvestris).

We dropped back down to the service area and to my car and then we headed off home.

A morning on the terrace, Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Some work and the birding on the terrace.

Ebird list for Terrace.

Ebird List for Hacho.

The full sun.

I started the day by putting my kit up on the terrace preparing for a day sat down in a straight backed chair trying to rest the back but the last stretch of Green Railing just kept staring back at me so I got the tools and spent a couple of hours wire brushing and sanding it down ready for some paint.

Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus).

Once it was finished I sat down and started to catch up with a few bits on the laptop and watching what was moving in and over the Olives, the best thing was that the pair of Blue Tits (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) had obviously been interested in the nest box for far longer than I realized and were actually feeding young this morning, funny how you miss the things that are happening right under your nose.

Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenoides) male.

Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenoides) male.

Other species included Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Common (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) and Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and 2x Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus). 

Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri),

Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri),

Later at around 14.00, just when it was starting to get a tad warm I decided to go for a walk up Hacho, well as far as the top car park.

Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea).

Pink Butterfly Orchid (Orchis papilionacea).

I parked under one of the many Almond trees near the start of the track and walked back down hill to start with as I had seen a couple of whites on some Mustard type plants, when I arrived the Western Dappled Whites (Euchloe crameri) x9 (total for walk) had been joined by the first of 20 or so Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenoides) I would see during the walk.

Knapweed Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe).

Knapweed Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe)

On the first stretch up to the Quarry I heard and saw Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater) and Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), as well as Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea), Common Asphodel (Asphodelus aestivus), Tassel Hyacinth (Leopoldia comosa), Southern Knapweed (Centaurea pullata), Geranium Bronze (Cacyreus marshalli) x1, Small White (Pieris rapae) x1, Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus) x8+, Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) x2 and Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) x2.

Geranium Bronze (Cacyreus marshalli).

At the fork by the Quarry I went uphill as far as the top car park, on the way I found several spikes of the beautiful Pink Butterfly Orchid (Orchis papilionacea), Grey-leaved Cistus (Cistus albidus), White Rockrose (Helianthemum apenninum), Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) x1F, Lorquin's (Cupido lorquinii) x7 and Panoptes Blue (Pseudophilotes panoptes) x5, Black-veined White (Aporia crataegi) x2, Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes) and some fly over European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster).

White Rockrose (Helianthemum apenninum).

Wild Peony (Paeonia broteri).

On my way back down the hill to the junction I found a patch of yellow flowers with at least 5 Black-eyed Blues (Glaucopsyche melanops) feeding on it, Blue Hound's Tongue (Cynoglossum creticum), Cloven Petalled Campion (Silene colorata), Field Marigold (Calendula arvensis), Ground-pine Germander (Teucrium pseudochamaepitys) and where I turned left along the top of the quarry I saw a nice male Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), a female Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura) and a more unexpected group of 4 Rock Sparrows (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia).

Panoptes Blue (Pseudophilotes panoptes).

Lorquin's Blue (Cupido lorquinii).

I continued on along the next section of the track finding a stunning Knapweed Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe), a stunning Ocellated Lizard (Timon lepidus) which was off before I could get the camera on it, Black Horehound (Ballota nigra), Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas), Hoary Cress (Lepidium draba), Mallow-leaved Convolvulus (Convolvulus althaeoides), Pitch Trefoil (Psoralea bituminosa) and Wild Clary (Salvia verbenaca).

Black-eyed Blue (Glaucopsyche melanops).

Black-eyed Blue (Glaucopsyche melanops).

On my way back down to the car I found Wild Peony (Paeonia broteri), Linaria tristris and lots of dry spikes of Giant Orchid (Himanthoglosum Robertiana).

Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas).

Linaria tristris.

I returned home and planted myself up on the terrace but I didn't add anything but I could hear the Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi) being extremely vocal.

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

An evening walk around the fields.

Ebird List.

 A small amount of snow still left on the Sierra Nevada.

After another day of painting the **¡'+¿?¿ green railings I needed a walk so I went down and parked at the usual spot and walked the the fields out as far as the Poplar Plantation.

Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) male.

Main species seen were the male Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) and on an area of field that was being flood with irrigation water a pair of Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), a single unexpected Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), 2x Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) and a Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus).

Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) female.

Other species seen included Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos) and Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae).

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 15th April 23. 
15W Actinic on the terrace, min +12

33 Moths of 18 Species.

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

 

7765 Peribatodes ilicaria (Lydd Beauty).

1655 Ethmia bipunctella x1, 4887 Crocidosema plebejana x1, 5864 Acrobasis obliqua x2, 6488 Evergestis frumentalis x1,  6700 Dolicharthria punctalis x1, 6719 Nomophila noctuella (Rush Veneer) x1, 7725 Menophra japygiaria (Brassy Waved Umber) x2, 7765 Peribatodes ilicaria (Lydd Beauty) x1, 7926 Aspitates ochrearia (Yellow Belle) x3, 8211 Rhodometra sacaria (The Vestal) x1, 8328 Nebula ibericata x1, 9100 Acontia lucida (Pale Shoulder) x1, 9433 Paradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow) x10, 9435 / 6 Caradrina noctivaga / flavirena x1, 9957 / 8 Hadena perplexa / nevadae x1, 10029 Mythimna sicula x1, 10343 Shuttle Shaped Dart (Agrotis puta) x3 and 10351 Agrotis segetum (Turnip Moth) x1.

4887 Crocidosema plebejana.

 6700 Dolicharthria punctalis.

9435 / 6 Caradrina noctivaga / flavirena.