Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 3rd April 24.

15W Actinic on the terrace, +8.5.

45 Moths of 17 Species. 

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

 

Phycitinid Pyralid species ?????

0706 Monopis nigricantella x1, 1655 Ethmia bipunctella x1, 6599 Pyrausta sanguinalis (Scarce Crimson & Gold) x1, 6719 Nomophila noctuella (Rush Veneer) x1, 6775 Phyllodesma suberifolia x1, 7725 Menophra japygiaria (Brassy Waved Umber) x1, 7926 Aspitates ochrearia (Yellow Belle) x2, 8328 Nebula ibericata x5, 9056 Autographa gamma (Silver Y) x3, 9100 Acontia lucida (Pale Shoulder) x1, 9433 Caradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow) x6, 9435/6 Caradrina noctivaga / flavirena x9, 9895 Anarta trifolii (Nutmeg) x1, 10035 Mythimna unipuncta (White Speck) x1, 10343 Agrotis puta puta (Shuttle Shaped Dart) x7 and 10351 Agrotis segetum (Turnip Moth) x4.

6599 Pyrausta sanguinalis (Scarce Crimson & Gold).

6775 Phyllodesma suberifolia.

9100 Acontia lucida (Pale Shoulder).

9895 Anarta trifolii (Nutmeg).

10035 Mythimna unipuncta (White Speck).

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

A walk in the local area to meet friends and for a bit of Butterfly hunting.

Ebird List for the terrace.

The GOOD, or at least better than most.

I started the day with a short walk down to Bar Pedro where I met up with Friend Pau Lucio, his wife and son for a coffee and a chat which was very nice.

The BAD and the UGLY.

Later I walked back to the house but came the longer way back through the Olives, the first stretch which comes up from the Huétor to Montefrio road is as usual really good as the farmer is working the area a lot more environmentally friendly than most in the area and the areas between the trees are full of wild flowers which means there are lots of insects and birds.

Geranium Bronze (Cacyreus marshalli).

Geranium Bronze (Cacyreus marshalli).

Common / Southern Blue (Polyommatus icarus / celina).

Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera).

Species seen and heard included my first European Bee-eaters (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) of the year (I also had a second group go over the house later), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).

Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri).

Green-Striped White (Euchloe belemia).

Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus).

Butterflies / Moths where also on the wing in good numbers and included Bath (Pontia daplidice) x3, Green-Striped (Euchloe belemia) x2, Large (Pieris brassicae) x3, Small (Pieris rapae) and Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) x25+, Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera) x4, Common / Southern Blue (Polyommatus icarus / celina) x15+, Geranium Bronze (Cacyreus marshalli) x2, Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus alceae) x12+, Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) x8+, Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) x6, Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) x2, at least 5x Hummingbird Hawkmoths (Macroglossum stellatarum) and several Autographa gamma (Silver Y).

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui).

Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus alceae).

Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus alceae).

In amongst the wild flowers there were Corn (Papaver rhoeas) and Rough Poppy (Papaver hybridum), Common Mallow (Malva sylvestris), Common Fumitory (Fumaria officinalis), Common Stork's-bill (Erodium cicutarium), Crown Daisy (Chrysanthemum carinatum), Field Marigold (Calendula arvensis), Hoary Cress (Lepidium draba), Mallow-leaved Convolvulus (Convolvulus althaeoides), Purple Bugloss (Echium plantagineum), Salsify (Tragopogon porrifolius) and Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis).

Salsify (Tragopogon porrifolius).

Rough Poppy (Papaver hybridum).

Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas).

I crossed the small Arroyo which was still flowing quite well and entered the dead zone and all the way back to the house I only saw a single Clouded Yellow, very sad.

Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).

Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).

Once I got home I went up onto the terrace with a coffee and decided that it was warm enough to sit up there for a while and whilst there I had Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) x2, Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and an Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli) which flew along the barranco.

Looking out from the Terrace.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 2nd April 24.

15W Actinic on the terrace, +7.5.

16 Moths of 7 Species.  

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

 

7725 Menophra japygiaria (Brassy Waved Umber).

A bit warmer but still a relatively low count. 7725 Menophra japygiaria (Brassy Waved Umber) x1, 8328 Nebula ibericata x1, 9056 Autographa gamma (Silver Y) x1, 9433 Caradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow) x2, 9435/6 Caradrina noctivaga / flavirena x2, 10035 Mythimna unipuncta (White Speck) x1, 10343 Agrotis puta puta (Shuttle Shaped Dart) x5 and 10351 Agrotis segetum (Turnip Moth) x4. 

9433 Caradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow).

 

10035 Mythimna unipuncta (White Speck).

10343 Agrotis puta puta (Shuttle Shaped Dart).

South and to the North of Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

A 7 Km walk home from the Mechanic's.

Ebird List.

Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

I was up early and after checking the Moths and having some breakfast I took the Car down to Ventanueva and left it with the Mechanic's there, hopefully they will sort out a few of the rattles its developed over the years of being driven on some not so smooth tracks 😀😀😀.

I left the car walked from there to the Rio Genil just to the south of the town, on the way I saw and heard a migrant Sedge Warbler (Carricerin Común / Acrocephalus schoenobaenus), as well as Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), domestic type Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser), Muscovy Ducks (Cairina moschata) and a couple of Mallards (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos).

Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator).

I passed through the town and out onto the fields where I saw good numbers of migrant Western Yellow Wagtails (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava) along with several Spanish (Yellow) Wagtails (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) before I turned onto the track which further on runs along side the Arroyo Vilano and gives me a view over the Lucerne fields but from the far bank.

Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator).

As I walked the track I picked up Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Greater Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti),  Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) and Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus).

I reached the road at the end of the track and headed back up to the house adding Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla) on the way.

Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator).

Once I was home I did a bit of tidying up on the road, front yard and the terrace, whilst doing this I heard several birds calling quite high overhead and soon realized there was a group of Gull-billed Terns (Pagaza Piconegra / Gelochelidon nilotica) going over, I got the bins and managed to count 11 birds before they got too distant.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 1st April 24.

15W Actinic on the terrace, +4.

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

 

10238 Peridroma saucia (Pearly Underwing).

The first dry night for a while but it was clear so the temperature went down to just +4 which showed as all I found when I checked the trap were 10238 Peridroma saucia (Pearly Underwing) x1, 10343 Agrotis puta puta (Shuttle Shaped Dart) x4 and 10351 Agrotis segetum (Turnip Moth) x2. 

10351 Agrotis segetum (Turnip Moth).

Near Moraleda and Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

Orchids, Wildflowers and Birds out on the Patch after the rain stopped.

Ebird List for Huétor Fields.

Dark Spider Orchid (Ophrys incubacea).

After a morning at the Hospital and visiting a couple of fiends I returned home to collect my camera's and bins before heading off to an area of abandoned Almond trees where I found several spikes of the beautiful Dark Spider Orchids (Ophrys incubacea) x11 but they were starting to go over.

Dark Spider Orchid (Ophrys incubacea).

Dark Spider Orchid (Ophrys incubacea).

In the same area I found over with Fan-lipped (Anacamptis collina) x8 and Somber Bee Orchids (Ophrys lupercalis) x8 along with good condition Bumble-bee (Ophrys bombyliflora) x140+, Yellow Bee (Ophrys lutea) x15, Mirror (Ophrys speculum) x18 and Sawfly Orchids (Ophrys tenthredinifera) x6 including one spike which was slightly odd looking.

Bumble-bee Orchid (Ophrys bombyliflora).

Bumble-bee Orchid (Ophrys bombyliflora).

At the same spot I also recorded Wild Grape Hyacinth (Muscari neglectum), Linum strictum, Southern Red Bartsia (Parentucellia latifolia), White Rockrose (Helianthemum apenninum), Wild Clary (Salvia verbenaca), Groundsel (Senecio vulgaris), Field Madder (Sherardia arvensis), Eruca (Eruca sativa), Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas), Common Stork's-bill (Erodium cicutarium), Cloven Petalled Campion (Silene colorata), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) and Small White (Pieris rapae).

Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea).

Mirror Orchid (Ophrys speculum).

Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera).

I returned to Huétor and went for a walk along the Lucerne fields, species included Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) x7, Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Sand (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia) and House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Barn (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Spanish (Yellow) (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

The fields in the sun for the first time in a while.

As I was driving off the site I checked a spot where I had seen a Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra) and found the bird was still in the area but soon went into hiding when a female Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius) dashed through and perched on a post in a newly planted Olive patch.

Distant female Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius).

Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

A bit of weather.

My usually dry crossing point in the Arroyo Villano.

Quite a bit of rain and wind over night, the Arroyo Vilano was in full flood and impassable and the Rio Genil was also flowing pretty well.

The Arroyo Vilano.

The Rio Genil at Huétor Tajar.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 30th March 24.

15W Actinic on the terrace, +8

 

6551 Udea numeralis.

After another night of rain and wind I was not surprised to see just a few moths had come into the light and they were 6551 Udea numeralis x1, 8328 Nebula ibericata x3, 8576 Eupithecia unedonata x1, 9056 Autographa gamma (Silver Y) x2, 9433 Caradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow) x6, 9435/6 Caradrina noctivaga / flavirena x4, 9895 Anarta trifolii (Nutmeg) x1, 10238 Peridroma saucia (Pearly Underwing) x1, 10343 Agrotis puta puta (Shuttle Shaped Dart) x6 and 10351 Agrotis segetum (Turnip Moth) x2. 

8576 Eupithecia unedonata.

9895 Anarta trifolii (Nutmeg).

10238 Peridroma saucia (Pearly Underwing).