Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 28th March 24.

15W Actinic on the terrace, +13.5

 

9927 Hecatera dysodea.

9927 Hecatera dysodea.

A warmer night with heavy cloud cover but less wind and rain so Moth numbers were up a little.

9243 Calophasia platyptera (Antirrhinum Brocade).

9243 Calophasia platyptera (Antirrhinum Brocade).

0706 Monopis nigricantella x2, 1655 Ethmia bipunctella x2, 6619 Uresiphita gilvata x1, 6719 Nomophila noctuella (Rush Veneer) x1, 7725 Menophra japygiaria (Brassy Waved Umber) x1 8265 Catarhoe basochesiata x1, 8328 Nebula ibericata x5, 8638 Lithostege griseata (Grey Carpet) x1, 9056 Autographa gamma (Silver Y) x6, 9140 Eublemma ostrina (Purple Marbled) x1, 9243 Calophasia platyptera (Antirrhinum Brocade) x1, 9367 Heliothis peltigera (Bordered Straw) x1, 9370 Helicoverpa armigera (Scarce Bordered Straw) x1, 9433 Caradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow) x12, 9435/6 Caradrina noctivaga / flavirena x23, 9895 Anarta trifolii (Nutmeg) x1, 9927 Hecatera dysodea x1, 10238 Peridroma saucia (Pearly Underwing) x2, 10343 Agrotis puta puta (Shuttle Shaped Dart) x10 and 10351 Agrotis segetum (Turnip Moth) x6. 

0706 Monopis nigricantella.

6619 Uresiphita gilvata.

9895 Anarta trifolii (Nutmeg).

9370 Helicoverpa armigera (Scarce Bordered Straw).

10351 Agrotis segetum (Turnip Moth).

9056 Autographa gamma (Silver Y).

9367 Heliothis peltigera (Bordered Straw).

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

More migrant arrivals.

Ebird List for the Fields.

Arroyo Vilano.

Between the showers I popped down the fields at just after 10:00 and did manage quite a decent walk before the rain returned but before that I picked up a few new arrivals and a few species that were lingering on.

Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus).

Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus).

Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) male with food.

New arrivals included Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix), Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) 3M and 1F, Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator)x2, Willow Warbler (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus) x2, Sedge Warbler (Carricerin Común / Acrocephalus schoenobaenus) x1, Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos) x2, Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra) x2, Western Black-eared Wheatear (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica) x1F, Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia) x2 and a pale morph Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus) which flew straight through and off north.

The next squall is on it's way.

Some lingers included a few Meadow Pipits (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), a single Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus).

Got back just in time.

Other species seen were Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) x2, Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) x2 and Small White (Pieris rapae) x3. 

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 27th March 24.

15W Actinic on the terrace, +8.

 

1655 Ethmia bipunctella.

1655 Ethmia bipunctella x1, 6719 Nomophila noctuella (Rush Veneer) x1, 8265 Catarhoe basochesiata x1, 8328 Nebula ibericata x3, 9056 Autographa gamma (Silver Y) x4, 9433 Caradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow) x4, 9435/6 Caradrina noctivaga / flavirena x2, 10035 Mythimna unipuncta (White Speck) x1, 10238 Peridroma saucia (Pearly Underwing) x1, 10343 Agrotis puta puta (Shuttle Shaped Dart) x10, 10346 Dark Sword-grass (Agrotis ipsilon) x1 and 10351 Agrotis segetum (Turnip Moth) x7.

8265 Catarhoe basochesiata.

10035 Mythimna unipuncta (White Speck).

10346 Dark Sword-grass (Agrotis ipsilon).

10238 Peridroma saucia (Pearly Underwing).

 

 

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

Some newly arrived Migrants.

Ebird List for the fields, 23 Species.

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

The weather had been a bit wet all night so when it stopped at 10ish I went down to the fields for a walk but before I got there it had started to rain again so I sat in the car and scanned the fields for a while picking up Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix), Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) x2, Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) 2M and 1F, Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), a passage flock of  Western Yellow Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava) and 2x male Western Black-eared Wheatear (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica) before I headed back home.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 25th March 24.

15W Actinic on the terrace, +5.5.

 

5864 Acrobasis obliqua.

5864 Acrobasis obliqua x1, 8328 Nebula ibericata x5, 9433 Caradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow) x2, 9435/6 Caradrina noctivaga / flavirena x2, 10029 Mythimna sicula x1, 10087 Ochropleura leucogaster (Radford's Flame Shoulder) x1, 10199 Xestia c-nigrum (Setaceous Hebrew Character) x1, 10343 Agrotis puta puta (Shuttle Shaped Dart) x3, 10347 Agrotis trux (Cresent Dart) x1 and 10351 Agrotis segetum (Turnip Moth) x2.

10087 Ochropleura leucogaster (Radford's Flame Shoulder).

10199 Xestia c-nigrum (Setaceous Hebrew Character).

10347 Agrotis trux (Cresent Dart).

Cubillas Reservoir, Granada Province, Spain.

Out birding with Juan Perez.

Ebird List for Cubillas, 29 Species.

Wryneck (Torcecuello / Jynx torquilla) in heavy rain.

I met Juan at a spot near Embalse del Cubillas, on the way in I was pleased to see that the Embalse was almost full but today we were birding along the river a little was passed the main Res.

Ophrys dyris.

Ophrys dyris.

Ophrys dyris.

Ophrys dyris.

Ophrys dyris.

We met and walked up and down the road seeing Wryneck (Torcecuello / Jynx torquilla), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Large White (Pieris brassicae) and Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea).

Hybrid Ophrys x juarezeii.

Hybrid Ophrys x juarezeii.

After a while Juan headed off, I stayed until it started to rain quite heavily then headed around to the other side of the Lake where I checked the Pine woodlands for Orchids, as I walked I found Somber Bee (Ophrys lupercalis) x60+, Sawfly (Ophrys tenthredinifera) x75+, Yellow Bee (Ophrys lutea) x15+, several spikes of  Ophrys dyris x9+, and what I think is the hybrid Ophrys x juarezeii x 4 which has the parents Dyris and lupercalis.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 24th March 24.

15W Actinic on the terrace.

 

6531 Udea ferrugalis (Rusty Dot Pearl).

After the heavy rain over night and high winds I was surprised to find over 20 species had come into the light.

8265 Catarhoe basochesiata.

8328 Nebula ibericata.

0706 Monopis nigricantella x1, 6531 Udea ferrugalis (Rusty Dot Pearl) x1, 6719 Nomophila noctuella (Rush Veneer) x1, 8265 Catarhoe basochesiata x1, 8328 Nebula ibericata x1, 7725 Menophra japygiaria (Brassy Waved Umber) x1 8211 Rhodometra sacaria (The Vestal) x1, 8965 Tyta luctuosa (Four-spotted Moth) x2, 9056 Autographa gamma (Silver Y) x5, 9140 Eublemma ostrina (Purple Marbled) x1, 9367 Heliothis peltigera (Bordered Straw) x1, 9433 Caradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow) x8, 9435/6 Caradrina noctivaga / flavirena x9, 9460 Spodoptera exigua (Small Mottled Willow) x1, 10029 Mythimna sicula x1, 10238 Peridroma saucia (Pearly Underwing) x1, 10343 Agrotis puta puta (Shuttle Shaped Dart) x13 and 10351 Agrotis segetum (Turnip Moth) x4.

7725 Menophra japygiaria (Brassy Waved Umber).

8965 Tyta luctuosa (Four-spotted Moth).

9056 Autographa gamma (Silver Y).

9140 Eublemma ostrina (Purple Marbled).

9367 Heliothis peltigera (Bordered Straw).

10238 Peridroma saucia (Pearly Underwing).

Fuente de Piedra, Monda, Sierra de Mijas, Malaga Province and Embalse de los Bermejales, Contra-embalse de los Bermejales and near Moraleda, Granada Province, Spain.

Orchids and birds in Malaga and Granada Province.

Ebird List for Fuente de Piedra, 47 Species.

Ebird List for Contra-embalse de los Bermejales, 19 Species.

Ophrys x fernandii.

After spending the evening with a friend down on the coast and an unexpected return home and then back again in the early hours due to an alarm malfunction but with a slight change of plan we did some birding first before seeing some nice Orchids later.

Ophrys x fernandii.

Ophrys x fernandii.

Ophrys x fernandii.

After the changes to our plans we met at Fuente de Piedra first at 07:30 where we first checked the roadside pool picking up Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus) and White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).

Bumble-bee Orchid (Ophrys bombyliflora) one of the parents.

After Parking we walked our onto the board walk were we had a calling Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Gull-billed Tern (Pagaza Piconegra / Gelochelidon nilotica), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).

Mirror Orchid (Ophrys speculum) and the other.

I walked around to the Mirador on the lower track seeing more of the same species and added Sedge Warbler (Carricerin Común / Acrocephalus schoenobaenus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and a group of 5 Great Cormorants (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) which flew over. From the Mirador I saw more Greater Flamingo's, Shelducks, Gull-billed Terns and Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys lupercalis).

Around the back at the hides which over look the fresh water pools I added several new species including Marbled Duck (Marmaronetta angustirostris), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Red-crested (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina) and Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Little (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and Black-necked Grebes (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), Whiskered Tern (Fumarel Cariblanca / Chilidonias hybridus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), 3 fly over Grey Herons (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus).

Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera).

We returned to the cars and went to find some Orchids, the first point of call was near Monda where we was very pleased to find 4 spike of the uncommon Ophrys x fernandii the hybrid between Bumble-bee (Ophrys bombyliflora) and Mirror Orchid (Ophrys speculum).

Italian Man Orchid (Orchis Italica).

Italian Man Orchid (Orchis Italica).

At the same site there were also numbers of Mirror (Ophrys speculum), Bumble-bee (Ophrys bombyliflora), Yellow Bee (Ophrys lutea) and Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys lupercalis).

Tufted Duck (Porrón Monudo / Aythya fuligula) and Common Pochards (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina).

Tufted Duck (Porrón Monudo / Aythya fuligula) and Common Pochards (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina).

I moved to a nearby site where I parked and searched the Pine Woodlands finding spikes of Pink Butterfly (Orchis papilionacea), Sawfly (Ophrys tenthredinifera) and Fan-lipped Orchids (Anacamptis collina), Bermuda Buttercup (Oxalis pes-caprae), Common Vetch (Vicia sativa), Field Marigold (Calendula arvensis), Palmate Anemone (Anemone palmata) and Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis).

Dark Spider Orchid (Ophrys incubacea).

I started to head home but got a message from friend Juan Perez about a male Tufted Duck (Porrón Monudo / Aythya fuligula) which had been seen at the Contra-embalse de los Bermejales so I headed there but first of all went to the Embalse de los Bermejales where I looked for some orchids but only found very small numbers which I was surprised at as I have been finding better numbers in most places this year, species included Somber x40+, Yellow Bee x100+, Mirror, Sawfly and Italian Man Orchids (Orchis Italica) 25+.

Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera).

I made my way along the Cacín Valley up to the Contra-embalse where I soon found the male Tufted in amongst a diving flock of Common Pochards, other species included Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Black-winged Stilt x4, Green Sandpiper x6, Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia), Red-rumped (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

Bumble-bee Orchid (Ophrys bombyliflora).

My last stop was at a spot near Moraleda where I found 5 spikes of Somber Bee x4, Bumblebee x140+, Yellow Bee x35, Mirror x 15 and Dark Spider Orchid (Ophrys incubacea) x8, Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and noisy Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius).

I headed home as the weather was closing in and the Calima was getting much worse.