Near Archidona, Malaga Province and Moraleda Fields and Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

A days birding with Jacki and Gary from the UK.

Several Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).

I met Jacki and Gary at their hotel in Salinas and we drove the short distance to Archidona, on the way we saw Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans) and Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus).

Once at the first spot in nearby wooded valley we had a walk along the main track where our main target was to find Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus) and very soon we heard a male doing it shortened call. As we walked towards the sound we picked up Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Wryneck (Torcecuello / Jynx torquilla), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and then the first of the good number of Hawfinches (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes).

Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus).

A little further along the track we found the male Golden Oriole which was soon found followed by a less showy but welcome female and the first of several Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus).

Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).

We also was heard several Perez's Frogs (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi) in the river, on the far side of the river a few Rabbits (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus) shot off under the Olive trees and as things warmed up a few Small Whites (Pieris rapae) and Clouded Yellows (Colias croceus) started to fly.

As we returned back to the car where we had views of another male Golden Oriole, a Melodious Warbler (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta) which was carrying food, European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), a single Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus).

We then headed off towards Moraleda picking up a Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and a fly passed Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).

Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).

Once we were out on the fields we added a roosting Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) on a pile of rocks, several Short-toed (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), Thekla (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and Crested Larks (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and out by the ruin 3 flying Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis) which showed brilliantly as they came round us. Out in the Almond groves we picked up Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Feral Pigeons (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia) and as we went off the site we found a female Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) in one of the weedy fields. We stopped again out on the road and had a short break for a drink and watched a large flock of passing Swifts which included mostly Commons but a good numbers of Pallid (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) and a few Alpines (Vencejo Real / Apus melba).

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

A bit further along the road we popped in to visit the Little Owl families in the roadside Almonds but only found the a single bird, however he showed well and was quite happy for us to get a few shots. We moved on to a small water pumping house where we found a couple of calling Rock Sparrows (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and out on the ridge on our way down to Cacín we found a couple of Booted Eagles (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus), one pale phase and one dark. On the pylons we also picked up an immature Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus) and lower down a couple of Red-rumped Swallows (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica) and lots of plants of the Wild Capers (Capparis spinosa).

Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus).

We next stopped by the side of the Embalse de Cacín where we scanned the water and quickly found Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Common (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) and Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Reed Warblers (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) calling from the reedy margins and just as we were leaving a female Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) came in over the reeds.

We also had a nice male Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Bath White (Pontia daplidice) and Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui). Just down the road we called in at the bridge over the Rio Cacín where we had a walk seeing or hearing Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Wryneck, Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi), Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra), Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus) and Carpentor Bee (Xylocopa violacea).

On the drive back to the hotel in Salinas we saw Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and another Black Kite but this time in Granada Provnce.

Alcala la Real, Jaen Province.

A day out around Alcala and the Fortaleza de la Mota.

Jayne and I headed across country through Montefrio to Alcala, we arrived early and went down into the town for a coffee and some breakfast before returning to the Fortaleza. We paid our €6 and followed then spent a really good 2.5 hours wandering around following a audio tour which was included in the price and well worth doing.

Later we went to the town and had some lunch before visiting the Archeological museum which was also included in the €6 entry fee to the Fortaleza. 

Late in the afternoon it was getting hot so we had a steady drive home after a really good day out.

During the day I saw a few species including White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Turtle (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur) and Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Red-rumped (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Common (Urraca / Pica pica) and Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Geranium Bronze (Cacyreus marshalli) and Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui).

Sierra Nevada, Granada Province.

A walk along the old tram line in the Sierra Nevada near Gűejar Sierra.

Nettle-tree Butterfly (Libythea celtis).

As it was Pam and Johns full day so we asked them where they would like to go and Pam said she would like to have a walk along the old tram line where John and I had been the day before. 

We parked by the river and checked the marginal areas where there were again lots of  Southern Marbled (Carcharodus baeticus) and Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris), Swallowtail (Papilio machaon), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Marsh Fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia), False Mallow / Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus tripolinus / alceae), Holly (Celastrina argiolus) and Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus), Red-underwing Skipper (Spialia sertorius), Small White (Pieris rapae), Comma ( Polygonia c-album) and Spanish Purple Hairstreak (Laeosopis roboris) as well as Large Pincertail (Onychogomphus uncatus) and Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator).

Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) in a nest in one of the tunnels.

We walked up on to the road and then went through the tunnel out on to the track along the river, on the Broom and Bramble bushes we recorded Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra), Spanish Marbled White (Melanargia ines), Spanish Gatekeeper (Pyronia bathseba), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Large White (Pieris brassicae) and Cardinal Fritillary (Argynnis pandora) and a very smart male Common Golden Ringed Dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltonii).

We came to a damp area on the roadside and found a nice male Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens) and literally 100s of Southern Marbled Skippers, a single Nettle-tree Butterfly (Libythea celtis) which was particularly pleasing as I had not got the camera on one before, Silver-studded Blue (Plebejus argus), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Bath (Pontia daplidice) and Black-veined White (Aporia crataegi).

We made a stop at one of the bars and had a couple of drinks before making our way back down the track towards the car adding Knapweed Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe) and two Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros) and a Grayling (Hipparchia semele).

Grayling (Hipparchia semele).

Birds during the walk included Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Crag (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus) and Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea).
We dropped back down the hill and headed back to the house for a quiet afternoon on the terrace.

Sierra Nevada, Granada Province.

A return to the mountains with John whilst Jayne and Pam tour the City.

Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) male.

Jayne, Pam, John and I set off for the City of Granada where Jayne and Pam spent the day whilst John and I headed back up to the 2500 meter mark on Sierra Nevada where we again tried to find some of the higher altitude Butterfly species but it is obviously going to be a late season for them. We could not find either of the target species even though the weather conditions were a lot better than on our last visit a few days ago and again came away from our first site with just a few species including Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Nevada Blue (Polyommatus golgus), Clouded Yellow (Colias  croceus), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) and Southern Mountain Argus (Aricia montensis).

Birds included 5x Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Tawny Pipit (Bisbita campestre / Anthus campestris), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Common (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) and Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus).

Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera).

We also had Mountain Stone Grasshopper (Eumigus monticolus), Carpentor Bee (Xylocopa violacea), Nevada House Leek (Sempervivum minutum), Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria), Astragalus incanus subsp. nummularioides, Jasione amethystina, Rhamnus myrtifolia and Sierra Nevada Violet (Viola crassiuscula / Violeta de Sierra Nevada).

We dropped down to a lower track where we walked out on to the slope of the ski resort but again in general it was quiet however we Southern (Polyommatus celina) and Idas Blue (Plebejus idas), Bath (Pontia daplidice), Large (Pieris brassicae) and Small Whites (Pieris rapae), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Marsh Fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia) and Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera). We also saw Digitalis purpurea, Acinos alpinus subsp. meridionales, Aquilegia nevadensis, Gentiana sierrae, Marsh Violet (Viola palustris), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis). 

Aquilegia nevadensis.

Next came lunch as we appeared to be stuck in the area for an hour due to a bike race, whilst we ate we saw a female type Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) and Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).

We made our way down the hill and took the old road down off the hill and made our first stop at an area of open grassland amongst the Oaks and Pines where we soon found Lesser Spotted Fritillary (Melitaea trivia), Silver-spotted Skipper (Hesperia comma), Swallowtail (Papilio machaon), Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli) and Dusky Heath (Coenonympha dorus) as well as Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Coal Tit (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater).
Again we dropped down to a wood spot with a very damp verge where we found just a single spike of the beautiful Robust Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza elata) and lots of flowering Fragrant Clematis (Clematis flammula). On the ash trees along the side of the road we found good numbers of Spanish Purple Hairstreaks (Laeosopis roboris), Iberian Marbled White (Melanargia lachesis), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Great Banded Grayling (Kanetisa circe) and Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni).
Just down the road we stopped again and soon had good views of more Spanish Purple Hairstreaks along with Epipactis fageticola, Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla) and Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major).

Nevada Blue (Polyommatus golgus).

Down by the Rio Genil we made another stop where we checked the rocks by the water looking for puddling butterflies and found a single Nettle-tree Butterfly (Libythea celtis), Southern Marbled Skipper (Carcharodus baeticus), Cardinal Fritillary (Argynnis pandora), Blue Spotted Hairstreak (Satyrium spini), Lulworth (Thymelicus acteon) and Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris), Queen of Spain Fritillary (Issoria lathonia), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina), Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra) and Spanish Gatekeeper (Pyronia bathseba).
In this area we also had a couple of fly through Dipper (Mirlo Acuático / Cinclus cinclus), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and a couple of Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and on the way home just before we arrived we picked up a roosting Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

Rio Guadalfeo, Castillo de Ferro, Cerro Gordo and Salabrena, Granada Province.

A day down on the coast with Pam and John.

Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata).

We set off and headed down to the Granada coast calling in at a spot on the Rio Guadalfeo where we looked for but did not see a Dipper (Mirlo Acuático / Cinclus cinclus), however we did find loads of Spotted Flycatchers (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and a calling Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus).

Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata).

The only other species seen were Common Golden Ringed Dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltonii subsp algirica), Small White (Pieris rapae), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Common / Southern (Polyommatus icarus / celina) and Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous), Spanish Brown Argus (Aricia cramera) and a Viperine Snake (Culebra Viperina / Natrix maura) which was chasing a group of small fish around in the shallows.

Viperine Snake (Culebra Viperina / Natrix maura).

We moved on down to the coast and east to Castillo de Ferro where we found several ver nice Desert Orange-tip (Colotis evagore) butterflies around their food plant the Wild Caper (Capparis spinosa) along with Swallowtail (Papilio machaon), Bath White (Blanqiverdosa / Pontia daplidice), Banded Groundling (Brachythemis impartita), Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), a family party of Western Orphean Warblers (Curruca Mirlano / Sylvia hortensis), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura) and Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).

Wild Caper (Capparis spinosa).

Our next stop was down in the town for some lunch where we had a Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator) fly in under the canopy whilst we were eating.

We later turned around and went back west along the coast as far as Cerro Gordo where we were hoping to find more butterfly species but it was rather windy and we struggled but found a single Striped Grayling (Pseudotergumia fidia) which was new for John and a few birds including Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and to finish a female Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Cabra pyreaica).

Western Orphean Warbler (Curruca Mirlano / Sylvia hortensis) female.

Heading back east we stopped off at Salabrena and had a very welcome Leche frio before Pam and John had a dip in the sea. Later we headed back home to the house and had good views of a couple of Red-necked Nightjars (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis) from the terrace.

Desert Orange-tip (Colotis evagore) Archive shot from same site as macro lens U/S.

Pam and John at Cerro Gordo.

Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous).

Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Cabra pyreaica) with a nice view.

Sierra Nevada, Granada Province.

A day on the windy Sierra with Pam and John from Norfolk, UK.

Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) male.

Pam, John and I set off up to the 2500 meter or there abouts mark on Sierra Nevada, on the way we started the day list off with a juvenile Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), several Turtle Doves (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur) perched on the roadside wires along with the commoner Collards (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) and in Huétor before we reached the motorway lots of screaming Common Swifts (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) belting around between the houses.

Up nearer to Granada we had Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), a Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major) which flew across the road in front of us at Santa fe and large numbers of Feral Pigeons (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia).

Libelloides longicornis,

Our first stop in the mountains was next to the Visitor's Center where we checked an area of roadside thistles which in a normal year would be shoulder high and covered in Butterflies but as everything appears to be several weeks behind up the sierra they were only just above ankle high and the only butterflies we found were singles of Silver-studded Blue (Plebejus argus) and Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus).

Birds in this area included a family party of Crested Tits (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus), a singing Melodious Warbler (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs).

Sierra Nevada Violet (Viola crassiuscula / Violeta de Sierra Nevada).

Further up the hill we stopped at the parking area for the Botanical Gardens where we checked the grassland around the edge of the pine woods seeing several more Clouded Yellows, Spanish Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli), Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris), Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina), Spanish Marbled White (Melanargia ines), Small White (Pieris rapae) as well as several of the brilliant Thread-winged Lacewings / Spoonwings (Nemoptera bipennis) and a good number of the quick flying Libelloides longicornis, a species of Owlfly which was new to me.

Our next stop was for a second breakfast in the ski resort, which without the snow always looks extremely tatty and rather ugly but the coffee and toast with tomato was rather good and set us up for our short walk out along the barranco de San Juan trail. It was shorter than expected due to the amount of snow still there and because it was blowing a gale.

Butterflies were few but we managed more Clouded Yellow, Small, Bath (Pontia daplidice) and Large Whites (Pieris brassicae), Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) and the first of a small number of Nevada Blues (Polyommatus golgus).

In this area we also found Tawny Pipit (Bisbita campestre / Anthus campestris), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), a family of Northern Wheatears (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) at least three male Rufous-tailed Rock Thrushes (Roquero Roja / Monticola saxatilis).

The wild flowers were noticeable by there absence but I did find several including Nevada House Leek (Sempervivum minutum) which were not quite out, Sierra Nevada Violet (Viola crassiuscula / Violeta de Sierra Nevada), Ptilotrichum spinosum, Mediterranean Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria), Minature Wild Plum (Prunus prostrata) and St Bruno's Lilly (Paradisia liliastrum).

John at 2500 meters.

Lower down we called in at one of the tracks out on to the ski slopes but again as at the last site we did not find many butterflies even though the wind was much reduced here. 

We did add a single Purple-shot Copper (Lycaena alciphron), more Clouded Yellows, Nevada Blues, Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera) and a Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni) which flew past rapidly.

We had a late lunch and then called at our last location in the El Purche area on the way down the hill, on the slopes John and I searched the scrub and Thistles whilst Pam again got the paints out again in the shade of a roadside tree.

On the bank and along the road we added quite a few species including Cardinal Fritillary (Argynnis pandora), Lang's Short-tailed (Leptotes pirithous), Holly (Celastrina argiolus) and Long-tailed Blues (Lampides boeticus), Black-veined White (Aporia crataegi), Blue Spotted (Mancha Azul / Satyrium spini) and False Ilex Hairstreaks (Satyrium esculi), Small (Coenonympha pamphilus) and Dusky Heaths (Coenonympha dorus), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina), Swallowtail (Papilio machaon), Rock Grayling (Hipparchia alcyone) and Sage Skipper (Muschampia proto). 

Also seen were Spiny Restharrow (Ononis spinosa), Spanish Thistle (Scolymus hispanicus), Southern Knapweed (Centaurea pullata ssp pullata), Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) which were over and Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) not yet in flower. We moved on and made our way back to the house.

Moraleda Fields, La Malaha, Bermejalis, and the Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

A day on the far side of the Patch with Steven from Órgiva.

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) immature.

I met Steven just out side Moraleda de Zafaona and we headed straight out on to the fields nearby, as we made our way through the Almonds and Olives we started the day list off with Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), several Woodpigeons (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) and the first of several Little Owls (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) immature.

Once we were up on the flat areas above, still amongst the Almonds we found one of the days main targets, an immature Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius) which showed well until Steve raised the camera and predictably it flew off. 

In this area we also had our first of a few Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Thekla (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and Crested Larks, Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), the first Turtle Doves (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur) of the day, as well as Onopordum nervosum a very tall thistle, Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus) and Iberian Brown Hare (Liebre ibérica / Lepus granatensis).

Once we were out of the trees we searched the fields for new species and followed a group / family party of Hoopoes (Abubilla / Upupa epops) in to a solitary old Almond in the middle of a cut cereal field where we also found a second but this time immature Little Owl. 

In the same area we had 3 Calandra Larks (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) fly past us and drop into the stubble by the ruined Cortijo.

Immature Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) being mobbed by a Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica).

As we drove off the fields we passed the ruin where there were at least two more Little Owls on the Cortijo and in the weeds around the walls we picked up Iberian Scarce (Iphiclides feisthameli) and Swallowtail (Papilio machaon), Small White (Pieris rapae), Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina) and Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus). Down in the next dip a nice male Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) which went straight into stealth mode when we arrived and hid well amongst the rows of cereal cuttings.

As we left the site we had a Greater Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla) which flew up from the track and out into the field.

Immature Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) being mobbed by a Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica).

Our next stop was a regular site for me where I have been watching several pairs of Little Owls in a row of old Almonds for a few ears now and today they could not have cooperated better. 

One particular immature walked up and down a branch on a dead roadside tree and showed superbly for us. Along here we also had Barn Swallow, House Martins, House Sparrows, European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) and a Large Psammodromus (Lagartija colilarga / Psammodromus algirus) which sat on the road as we drove past.

We went across country to the fields near La Malaha where we had a flyby Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis) but it was gone far to quickly to get good views. 

Immature Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos).

We drove right through the site out to Ventas de Huelma adding a belting immature Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) which was being mobbed by a Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica). 

On a wire fence we saw Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), 2x soaring Booted Eagles (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus), Roller (Carraca / Coracias garrulus) which I had a brief view of but Steven missed, Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Lesser Kestrel (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni) and Spotless Starling. 

We went through Ventas de Huelma and drove down toward Embalse de Bermijalis making a roadside stop finding Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura) and Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax). 

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) immature.

We had lunch just down the hill by the Embalse before going over the dam and into the pine woodlands by one of the inflows to the lake. 

We parked and walked around the inlet where we saw a family party of Crested (Herrerillo Capuchino / Lophophanes cristatus) and Long-tailed Tits (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus) up in the trees and down in the mudd channel Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) and Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus). We also had several more Southern and African Grass Blue (Zizeeia knysna), Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) and Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi).

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) immature.

We moved just up the road to a spot over looking the Gorge of the Cacín where we stopped at two spots and picked up singing Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina), Mediterranean skipper (Gegenes nostrodamus), Wild Caper (Capparis spinosa), Sedum sediforme and Field Eryngo (Eryngium campestris).

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) adult.

Our next stop was further up the Valley at the Embalse de Cacín where we quickly found our second Golden Eagle flying along a nearby ridge. Out on the water we found Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), 4x Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), 2x Green Sandpipers and in the marginal reeds Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), We also heard a Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei) distantly back down the valley and saw a male Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) shoot off from the top of one of the many Globe Thistle (Echinops ritro).

Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator).

Just down the road we had a walk along the Rio Cacín and had good views of a calling Wryneck (Torcecuello / Jynx torquilla), we also heard Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos) and Coal Tit (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater) and saw a male Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes), Squirting Cucumber (Ecballium elaterium), Pitch Trefoil (Psoralea bituminosa), Purple Bugloss (Echium plantagineum) and Blue Alkanet (Anchusa azurea) which was covered in Small Whites and Clouded Yellows.

4x Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus).

Our last stop on our before returning to Steven's car was back up on the Moraleda Fields where We picked up Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), another Roller which Steven had good views of and even more Little Owls.

We dropped back down to the meeting point and Steven headed off to Orgiva and I drove home seeing a flock of 13 Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) as I washed the car in Huétor.

Pinos Genil and the Outskirts of Granda City, Granada Province.

A really nice evening with three good friends.

Glow Worm possibly (Nyctophila reichii).

Jayne and I met Beatriz, Juan and Chika and went up to Pinos Genil where we sat by the river at Restaurante Mesón Casa Guillermo and had a few drinks and some excellent food. Whilst there I noticed White (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis).

We sat chatting for quite a while then walked back to the car and headed back to our car near Juan's where we went for a very short walk to a spot in a built up area. For the last few nights there had been a single Glow Worm possibly (Nyctophila reichii) but when we got there there were three nice females glowing low down on a wall. Very nice find by Juan and Beatriz as they are extremely rare this far south on the peninsular.