Huétor Fields, Granada Province.

A couple of hours on the local patch with a good local rarity.

Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis).

I dropped down to the fields for a couple of hours with the bins and camera, I started along the Rio Vilano at the ford and then followed it down to the railway bridge.

Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis).

At the ford and on the field section I started the list off with Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Spotless (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Common Starlings (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulg aris), White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis).

House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) male.

On the way off this site I stopped by some Walnut trees and spent some time photographing some birds as they flew in and during the time there I was very pleased to see a locally rare Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis) as well as Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major) and Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus). 

House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus).

After a while I moved on around to the Mesia road where I checked the ditches and what remained of the pool and soon found Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus), Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) and Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).

Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

I drove around to the fields on the central stripe and very quickly did a count of the Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) and quickly reached 475 birds along with 58 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and surprisingly 2x Northern Wheatears (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe).

Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus).

Cabo de Gata and Los Norias Laguna, Almeria Province.

A cracking days birding with friends Ellie and David.

Eurasian Dotterel (Chorlito Carambolo / Eudromias morinellus).

I met Ellie and David at Plaza Mayor in Malaga and the we headed East in Davids motor (thanks for driving David), on our way there we started the list off with a Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius), Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and as we drove through Retamarwe saw several Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) feeding ove a man made pool as well as Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica).

Eurasian Dotterel (Chorlito Carambolo / Eudromias morinellus).

Our first stop was near to Torre Garcia where we found around 20 or so winter plumage Eurasian Dotterel (Chorlito Carambolo / Eudromias morinellus) feeding in amongst the low growing plants and stones just inland from the beach. 

Eurasian Dotterel (Chorlito Carambolo / Eudromias morinellus).

In the same area we picked up Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulg aris), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris). 

Eurasian Dotterel (Chorlito Carambolo / Eudromias morinellus).

Once the Dotterel had walked on past us we drove a little further on and parked where we had some breakfast and checked what was out to sea and found Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), a single flyby Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) and a single Cory's Shearwater (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea) but only David got on to this bird. 

Eurasian Dotterel (Chorlito Carambolo / Eudromias morinellus).

As we were driving out of the site and making our way around to Rambla Morales we made a stop for some plants which we saw including the purple flowered Lycium intricatum, Fleshy-leaved Thymelaea (Thymelaea hirsuta), Launea lanifera and Salsola opositifolia and whilst Ellie and I were photographing These David had a Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) fly past but again we missed it.

Lycium intricatum.

We also called in at the hide at the Northern end of the saltpans and found the first Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) of the day as well as Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus), Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa), Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax), Red Knot ( Correlimos Gordo / Calidris canutus) and Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina).

Salsola opositifolia.

We moved from the hide and made our way along the beach to the seaward end of the pool at the Rambla and straight away we saw good numbers of waders including Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus), Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Ringed (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) and Little Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) and a Bar-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colipinta / Limosa lapponica). 

Launea lanifera.

On the water we picked up quite a few new species for the day including 2 eclipes Tufted Ducks (Porrón Monudo / Aythya fuligula), 2x female Northern Pintails (Ánade Rabudo / Anas acuta), 50+ Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) and another 100 or so Greater Flamingo's. 

Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba).

Whilst we were watching the water species we had a Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta) fly over along with a large Gull species with a black head which got the heart beating a bit but when we checked the photographs it was just a Yellow-legged that had been feeding in something unpleasant. In the same area we had a Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope) and several  Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) butterflies on their way south.

Bar-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colipinta / Limosa lapponica).

The wind on the beach was cutting and cold so we retreated to the car and headed for the hides along side the salinas seeing a smart Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) on the way. 

We parked by the beach and checked the first of the three hides and as we walked out across the dune type habitat we saw 2 Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax). 

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

Out on the water and mud we found quite a few new species including several fine Slender-billed Gulls (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and 2x Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Anas penelope). 

Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

We unintentionally missed the second hide but returned to it after the far hide, before we went out to the far hide we checked some birds in the beach side vegetation. Most were Greenfinches but we also had at least two Trumpeter Finches (Camachuelo Trompetero / Bucanetes githagineus) come up and fly over us and away. From the hide we did quite well again adding Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Avocets (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Spotted Redshank (Archibebe Oscuro / Tringa erythropus), Curlew Sandpiper (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea), Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) and over 100 Black-necked Grebes (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis).

Narcissus obsoletus.

On our way down to the middle hide David found several spikes of Narcissus obsoletus growing in the path which was a new species for both Elle and Myself and a stunning looking plant. Once Ellie and I had took lots of photographs of the plant we reached the hide where David had found 2x Grey Plover (Chorlito Gris / Pluviali squatarola) and then we had a nice Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata) show for us several times.

We drove out to the lighthouse next but only picked up Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura) but had large numbers of Cory's Shearwaters passing at sea.

Narcissus obsoletus.

Our last stop of the day was on the way back along the motorway amongst the plastic hell hole of Los Norias where we scanned the large lake from two points and located Great Crested (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus) and Little Grebes (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Penduline Tit (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus), Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas), Red-crested Pochard (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina) x3M &1F, Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera) and Night Herons (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax) x4.

Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae).

We travelled back along the motorway to Plaza Mayor and on the way we finished the list off with Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and a very late Swift species but the light was fading fast by the time we saw this and identification was not possible.

Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura).

Thanks to Ellie and David for a cracking day during which we saw around 90 species in total.

Bar El Sitio, Huétor Tajar, Granada Province.

A very nice evening with Jayne in Huétor at Bar El Sitio.


Jayne and I spent a very nice couple of hours in one of the bars, El Sitio having some good tapas, food and drinks. The beer was especially nice.

RAM, Charca Suarez and local fields, near Motril, Granada Province.

80+ species seen on the Granada Coast and the local patch.

Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

I met Juan Pérez Contreras at just after 07:00 and we headed off down to Peñón de Jolúcar to do the RAM sea watch, on the way down we started the list with a Northern Goshawk (Azor Común / Accipitor gentillis) which flashed across the motorway in front of us before it was properly light.

Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia).

We reached the watch point, on the way up to the top of the cliffs we saw Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and several flyover Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia).

Once we were up on the cliffs we started counting good numbers of Cory's (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea) and Balearic Shearwaters (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus), Northern Gannets (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Great Skua (Págalo Grande / Stercorarius skua) x3, Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis) x4, Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Audouin's Gull (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), European Shag (Cormorán Mondudo / Phalacrocorax aristotelis) x3, a single immature Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia) and a hunting Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus).

Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus).

Once we were finished counting we headed for the wetlands at Charca Suarez, on the way we saw Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) and Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulg aris).

Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio).

Once we were in the reserve we went to the small hide at the end of Laguna del Taraje where we saw and heard Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), European Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Black-headed Gull, Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta), Eurasian Penduline Tit (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla) and Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata).  

Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).

On the same pool we had Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope), Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa) and Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi).

Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca).

We walked along the edge of the pool to the hide at the opposite end of the Laguna where we had nice views of a Eurasian Spoonbill, Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca) and a Common Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus). 

Red-knobbed Coot (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata).

We moved to the new hide overlooking a much fuller new pool, which was a bit of a let-down as we had hoped the mud might produce some interesting visitors. 

Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).

However, we did see Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas), Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), Common Kestrel, Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Red Avadavat (Bengali Rojo / Amandava amandava), Common Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), European Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus) and Juan had views of a female Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica).

Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea).

We had a walk after a while around to the main hide overlooking Laguna de las Aneas, on the way we had good views of Common Waxbills (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild) along with a single Black-rumped Waxbill (Estrilda Culinegra / Estrilda troglodytes) as well as a male Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis).

Great Egret (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba).

From the hide we soon had views of another Eurasian Spoonbill, Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Great Egret (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba), White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Anas penelope), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), a female Red-crested Pochard (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina), 2x Northern Pintails (Ánade Rabudo / Anas acuta), Red-knobbed Coots (Focha cornuda / Fulca cristata), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and in the air above the pool there were several Eurasian Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) x5. 

Northern Goshawk (Azor Común / Accipitor gentillis).

Just before we were going to move on to the next hide all the birds on the island suddenly scattered and when we looked we were pleased to see a stunning immature female Northern Goshawk which crossed the lake and briefly perched in a pool side tree before heading off again, I got some very bad shots as it moved on so quickly.

Red-crested Pochard (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina) female and a male Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos).

Next we looked in on the two hides looking over Laguna del Trebol but we only added European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) as well as Mediterranean Chameleon (Chamaeleo chamaeleon), Stripe-less Tree Frog (Hyla meridionalis), Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta), Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea) and Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator).

Mediterranean Chameleon (Chamaeleo chamaeleon).

We called in at the hide overlooking Laguna del Lirio but added nothing so we carried on back to our starting point at Laguna del Taraje and then the new hide where I added nothing but Juan had a quick view of a Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago) as it landed.

White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

We exited the reserve and drove out on to some nearby fields where we scanned several areas and added a few new species to the day list including Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Thekla (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and Eurasian Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), lots more Western Cattle Egrets, hundreds of White Wagtails, the Black-winged Kite again and a Monarch (Danaus plexippus). 

Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

From here we headed back North to Granada adding just Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) before I dropped Juan off and headed home via the fields at Huétor where I picked up Western Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Eurasian Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Mistle (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and Song Thrushes (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major).

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

Huétor Fields, Huétor Tajar, Granada Province.

Winter visitors return and some summer / passage birds still linger on.

Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild).

I had a couple of hours to kill so I dropped down on to the fields and had a wander around my local patch, I started by checking central fields where I found one of the regular pairs of Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) sat on the roof of an old out building on the roadside. Out on the fields nearby I had good numbers of Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) and a nice flock of Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild).

I moved down on to Mesia road and did a walk along one of the irrigation ditches which cross the fields where I saw 5+ Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), a single but very welcome returning Jack Snipe (Agachadiza Chica / Lymnocriptes minimus), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) and a male Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus) which is locally a rare bird. 

Along the way I had single males of Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma) and Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) as well as Lang's Short-tailed (Leptotes pirithous) and African Grass Blues (Zizeeia knysna), Small White (Pieris rapae) and Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui).

Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild).

Back at the start of the ditch I found Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina). Just before I crossed the road I had a look through the dozen or so Common Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) hoping for something more unusual but only managed a Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) and several Blackcaps (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla).

Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum).

On the opposite sde of the track I checked an area of reeds in a disused fild and bumped the list up after finding a nice male Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) along with Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) and Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus).

White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

Just down the road I made a stop near a well over grown irrigation ditch which had a small unused orchard made up of mainly dead trees, here I started off with House Sparrows (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), a late male Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and in the nearby poplar trees a Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major). Later I made my way back to the house and got on with a few more jobs.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 31st October 2016.

15W Actinic on the terrace.

20 Moths of 10 Species.

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

6496 Evergestis isatidalis

I put the Actinic trap out in the garden and was pleased with the contents, all of which were photographed and released during the morning. 

9621 Episema gruenri.

Identified species included 0707 Monopis imella x1, 6496 Evergestis isatidalis x2, 9454 Hoplodrina ambigua (Vine's Rustic) x1, 9591 Agrochola lunosa (Lunar Underwing) x1, 9621 Episema gruenri x5, 10034 Mythimna loreyi (Cosmopolitan) x1, 10212 Xestia xanthographa (Square-spot Rustic) x1, 10215 Xestia kermesina x1, 10326 Eucoptocnemis optabilis x6 and 10238 Peridroma saucia (Pearly Underwing) x1 with a few still needing names.

9591 Agrochola lunosa (Lunar Underwing)

10238 Peridroma saucia (Pearly Underwing)

10326 Eucoptocnemis optabilis

9621 Episema gruenri

0707 Monopis imella

10215 Xestia kermesina

10212 Xestia xanthographa (Square-spot Rustic)

10034 Mythimna loreyi (Cosmopolitan)

10326 Eucoptocnemis optabilis

9454 Hoplodrina ambigua (Vine's Rustic)

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