Baza area, Granada Province, Spain.

Out for a days Butterfly hunting with friends Lynn and Steve.

 

The Habitat.

Knowing that good friends from the UK, Steve and Lynn were in the Embalse de Negratín area I headed up there to meet them for a day out looking for a very special butterfly species the Spanish Greenish Black-tip (Euchloe bazae) which is listed as Endangered and has eluded me for the last 15 years.

Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra).

On the way up there I picked up Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).

Matthiola fruticulosa.

I reached the spot where Lynn and Steve were staying and whilst I was waiting as I was a bit early I started the list with a good number of Common Crossbills (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra) most of which were immature birds, Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala).

Spectacled Warbler (Curruca Tomillera / Sylvia conspicillata).

Spectacled Warbler (Curruca Tomillera / Sylvia conspicillata).

Steve and Lynn joined me and we drove the 20 odd KM to a spot near Baza where over the last few years I have looked for the Spanish Greenish Black-tip without success, we parked and walked around 4.5 KM out into the area but due to the very heavy Calima and cloud there was very little / no sun and no butterflies but we did see several Spectacled Warblers (Curruca Tomillera / Sylvia conspicillata), Mediterranean / Lesser Short-toed (Terrera Marismena / Calandrella rufescens) and Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) x3, Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia) and Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura).

Cistanche lutea.

Cistanche lutea.

We also recorded Cistanche lutea, Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus), Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus), Large Psammodromus (Psammodromus algirus) and a very smart Ocellated Lizard (Timon lepidus) which Steve found in a small hole in the track side bank.

Ocellated Lizard (Timon lepidus).

Steve and the Ocellated Lizard (Timon lepidus).

We turned around and retraced our way back to the Barranco crossing, just before we got there we had the first butterflies of the day, 2x Western Dappled (Euchloe crameri) and a single Small White (Pieris rapae).

Adonis annua.

It had started to warm up but there was still no sun so when we reached the Barranco crossing point we went off track and walked the bottom of the barranco back up towards the car, on the way we picked up Stock Dove (Paloma Zurita / Columba oenas), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and a couple of very smart Western Black-eared Wheatear (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica).

Small White (Pieris rapae).

Plants included Adonis annua, Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria), Buglossoides incrassata, Purple Bugloss (Echium plantagineum), Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis), Red-horned Poppy (Glaucium corniculatum), Large Blue Flax (Linum narbonense), Tree Mallow (Malva arborea), Matthiola fruticulosa and Field Marigold (Calendula arvensis).

Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri).

Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri).

As it warmed up we saw more and more butterflies and Moths including Western Dappled x20+, Portuguese Dappled (Euchloe tagis) x3, Bath (Pontia daplidice) 8+,  Small x30+ and Large White (Pieris brassicae), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) x2, Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) x2, Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) x2, 6843 Macroglossum stellatarum (Hummingbird Hawkmoth) and 6619 Uresiphita gilvata.

Bath White (Pontia daplidice).

We walked and suddenly I heard Steve call excitedly saying he had a Spanish Greenish Black-tip flying off up the steep bank on the far side of the Barranco, Lynn saw it and I had a glimpse but not enough to know what I was seeing. 

Spanish Greenish Black-tip (Euchloe bazae) an egg laying female.

We continued on and I walked a little higher up on the far side of the Barranco and after a while I had another Black-tip fly up in front of me and then drop down into the Barranco where Steve and Lynn kept an eye on it until I caught up and had some nice views.

Swallowtail (Papilio machaon).

We again continued on getting another fly over by what was possibly the same insect, we got close to the car and I started to walk towards it to get some water when I heard Steve call to say he had another, so I got to him as quickly as possible and we had more good views and this time she landed to lay eggs but stayed on the ground long enough for us to get some shots, brilliant moment.

Red-striped Oil Beetle (Berberomeloe majalis).

Red-striped Oil Beetle (Berberomeloe majalis).

On the way back to the car after the Black-tip shot off up the crags and away, as we walked we had several Red-striped Oil Beetles (Berberomeloe majalis) and a Swallowtail (Papilio machaon) which was laying eggs on Fennel Leaves.

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Once back at the car we drove back towards where Lynn and Steve we staying but stopped for some Lunch on the way before going for a short walk in the area above the Embalse de Negratín but my ankle started to give me some stick so we returned to the bar where they were staying for a drink before I headed home, during the walk we saw Ground-pine Germander (Teucrium pseudochamaepitys), Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea), Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), a badly damaged Provence Hairstreak (Tomares ballus) which was being eaten by a spider and a couple of Red-rumped Swallows (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica).

Happy butterfly hunters.

I headed home adding a pale morph Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus) to my day list before I reached the house, Tired but a very happy bunny.

Embalse de Negratín.

Very pleased to have shared a great moment with two good friends, Thanks.  

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A quick walk around the Lucerne Fields.

Ebird List.

 

Sierra de Loja's gone missing in the Calima.

After getting a delivery I popped down to the fields and had a short walk as it was muggy and the air was thick with the returning Sahara Dust / Calima, I tried to get up to my usual parking spot but thought that the pool across the track looked to deep so I went the other way at the ford and parked by the Walnut trees.

Parapanda has also gone.

I walked up to the parking spot but had to jump off the track when one of the tractors came along the top track as they, even in a big John Deer were not taking the chance to go through the pool so glade I didn't try.

Nearly tried it but would definitely have regretted it.

I continued on up stream and the turned around and went back to the car and then on as far as the crossroads, interesting species were Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix) x2, 2 Great Spotted Cuckoos (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius) which were being chased off by a couple of Common Magpies (Urraca / Pica pica), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Sedge Warbler (Carricerin Común / Acrocephalus schoenobaenus), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos) and Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae).

Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix).

Even through there was little sun due to the dust it was very warm and there were a few butterflies on the wing including Bath (Pontia daplidice) x2, Green-Striped (Euchloe belemia) x1, Small White (Pieris rapae) x28+, Geranium Bronze (Cacyreus marshalli) x1, Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) x1 and Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) x5. 

Great Spotted Cuckoo's (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius).

As I was walking both ways there were good numbers of the common Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi) making lots of noisy from the reeds.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 5th April 24.

15W Actinic on the terrace, +13.

35 Moths of 19 Species. 

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

 

Isophrictis species.

0706 Monopis nigricantella x1, 1655 Ethmia bipunctella x1, Isophrictis species x1, 5864 Acrobasis obliqua x1, 6551 Udea numeralis x1, 6619 Uresiphita gilvata x1, 6719 Nomophila noctuella (Rush Veneer) x1, 7564 Itame vincularia x1, 7725 Menophra japygiaria (Brassy Waved Umber) x1, 7926 Aspitates ochrearia (Yellow Belle) x1, 8599 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata (Double-striped Pug) x1, 8828 Raphia hybris x1, 9056 Autographa gamma (Silver Y) x1, 9433 Caradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow) x5, 9435/6 Caradrina noctivaga / flavirena x6, 10035 Mythimna unipuncta (White Speck) x2, 10238 Peridroma saucia (Pearly Underwing) x2, 10343 Agrotis puta puta (Shuttle Shaped Dart) x5 and 10351 Agrotis segetum (Turnip Moth) x2.

5864 Acrobasis obliqua.

8599 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata (Double-striped Pug).

6619 Uresiphita gilvata.

8828 Raphia hybris.

8828 Raphia hybris.

9433 Caradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow).

9435/6 Caradrina noctivaga / flavirena.

10238 Peridroma saucia (Pearly Underwing).

10238 Peridroma saucia (Pearly Underwing).

10035 Mythimna unipuncta (White Speck).

Sierra de Loja, Granada Province, Spain.

A few hours up my favorite hill with Anne and Peter.

Ebird List for Sierra de Loja.

A full Charca del Negro.

I met Anne and Peter and we headed straight across to the far side of the site, on the way we had views of Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), a calling but not seen Coal Tit  (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Viola dementria, Purple Bugloss (Echium plantagineum), Mallow-leaved Convolvulus (Convolvulus althaeoides), Cloven Petalled Campion (Silene colorata), Spring Cress (Arabis verna), Rusty-back Fern (Ceterach officinarum), Common Fumitory (Fumaria officinalis) and Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea) x40+.

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

On our way out over the tops we saw the first Western Black-eared Wheatears (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica) including some stunning males as well as Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Iris Subbiflora, Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus) and more unexpectedly a fine looking male Ring Ouzel (Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus) in amongst the Hawthorn trees beyond Carca del Negro.

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

We dropped down to the next junction but instead of turning around as I normally would we went out further seeing Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus), a calling Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and at least 50 or more Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) which moved through heading west.

Looking out west.

Down on the more open areas we checked some fields seeing Andaluz (Erodium primulaceum) and Common Stork's-bill (Erodium cicutarium), Wild Grape Hyacinth (Muscari neglectum), Woodlark (Totovia / Lullula arborea), Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Bath White (Pontia daplidice) and as we started to make our way back we saw an Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) sat in a small but distant bush, Wild Peony (Paeonia broteri), Blue Hedgehog Broom (Erinacea anthyllis), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Swallowtail (Papilio machaon) and Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta). 

Viola dementria.

Dropping back down along the crags I was pleased when we picked up a group of  Iberian  Magpies (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), a male Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) which unfortunately only I managed to get on, a large flock of migrating House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), a couple of Common Swifts (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), some European Bee-eaters (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) which passed overhead unseen calling, Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas), Buckler Mustard (Biscutella frutescens) and in the pines a calling Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla).

Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator).

We turned off the main track and went up to the middle quarry where we saw a very nice male Western Subalpine (Curruca Carrasquena / Sylvia cantillans) and Sardinian Warblers (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Wild Tulip (Tulipa sylvestris), Linaria tristris, Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum baeticum), Cymbalaria-leaved Speedwell (Veronica cymbalaria) before we dropped down to the car and head off after a nice days birding in good company, Thanks.

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A walk back down to the Mechanic's in a round about sort of way.

Ebird List for the Fields.

Snow on top of distant La Maroma.

I was up and out shortly after checking through the Moths I set off toward the Mechanic's in Ventanueva but I took a slightly longer walk there and looped around the fields, on the first stretch down to 4 Caminos I saw Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Cetti's (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and a couple of calling Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus).

Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).

Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).

I walked passed the 4 Caminos and on to the track out to the road into Huétor, along here I added Greater Short-toed (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla) and Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), a female Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) up on the roof of the large Cortijo and across the Arroyo on the Lucerne fields a calling Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix), Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus) x2, Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) x4M and 2F and 2 more unexpected Great Spotted Cuckoo's (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius) which are not a common bird on the local patch. 

Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).

Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).

I followed the road down to Huétor, on the way I picked up Western Yellow Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava) of at least 2 different races, a couple of latish Meadow Pipits (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and as I walked through the town there were good numbers of House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and at least 5 newly arrived Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus).

Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur).

Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur).

The last section of the walk strated at the far side of the town on the bridge over the Rio Genil where I saw good numbers of domestic type Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser), Muscovy Duck (Cairina moschata), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and a fly over Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), I arrived and collected the car and then returned home.

Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) male.

From the terrace later I heard but did not see quite a good number of European Bee-eaters (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) which passed over heading North and had several Perez's Frogs (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi) calling noisily from the garden pool.