Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 29th January 2021.

15W Actinic on the terrace.

15 Moths of 3 Species.

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

Second Municipal Lockdown Day 14.

10037 Orthosia incerta (Clouded Drab).

As the forecast said it was going to be mild over night I switched the trap on again, the numbers were up slightly again, 15 Moths of 3 species.

10037 Orthosia incerta (Clouded Drab).

6496 Evergestis isatidalis x13, 10037 Orthosia incerta (Clouded Drab) x1 and 10226 Cerastis faceta x1.

Huétor Fields and Hacho, Granada Province, Spain.

Out in the heat for a walk.

Second Municipal Lockdown Day 13.

 

Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago).

I went down onto the fields again and most of the species were as expected, 36 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) were right out on the far end of the Lucerne fields and 2 Reed Buntings (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus) were still knocking around the reeds along the Arroyo.

Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago).

In a damp patch on one of the fields I found a couple of Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), a male Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica), Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta) and some noisy Perez's Frogs (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi).

Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni).

Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni).

Around the Poplar plantation I had good numbers of Iberian  Magpies (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), a fly over Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major) and Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa).

Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).

Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).

I drove passed the house and did a short walk through the lower pine woods, on the ground there were masses of Broad-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia), lots of nearly in flower Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum Robertiana), one of Iris flowers had a freshly emerged Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni) nectaring on it and there was a Hummingbird Hawkmoth (Macroglossum stellatarum) whizzing around the same area of plants.

In the same area and lower down the track I had Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus) and Crested Tit (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus), Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra) and Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes).

Cerro Hacho, Loja, Granada Province, Spain.

A good walk up one of the local hills.

Second Municipal Lockdown Day 12. 

Ebird List.

The view out from the Southern side of Hacho looking South East.

After a visit to the Physio I drove up to the start of the track up Hacho and parked then started up along the main track to the top parking area. 

Looking West from the Summit.

On the way there were lots of the rosettes of Giant Orchids (Himantoglossum Robertiana) some of which were nearly in flower, there were also loads of Ophrys type Orchid rosettes amongst the many flowering Andalusian Gorse (Ulex baeticus) bushes and masses of Broad-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia) of several colour shades.

Way out East looking towards Sierra Nevada.

Up in the trees and bushes I heard and saw Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), quite a few Common Crossbills (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla) and in the top car park I had a group of 4 Firecrests (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus).

Broad-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia).

Broad-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia).

Broad-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia).

As I took to the Southern track I added Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Crested (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura) x2, Dartford (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata) and Sardinian Warblers (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala).

Andalusian Gorse (Ulex baeticus).

As I reached the summit it was quite warm and I found a couple of Small Coppers (Lycaena phlaeas), several Small Whites (Pieris rapae) and a single Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta).

Sierra Nevada Crocus (Crocus nevadensis).

Sierra Nevada Crocus (Crocus nevadensis).

On the rocky slopes as I went back down the Northern side I found Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and several spikes of the beautiful Sierra Nevada Crocus (Crocus nevadensis).

Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum Robertiana).

I arrived at the main track and then walked back to the car where I dropped off the long lens and fleece and then I walked up through the Pine woods and old Almond groves where I found a group of Buntings including 2x Cirl (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus) and at least 6 Rock Buntings (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia). 

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca / foresteri).

I also had Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and several spikes of flowering Somber Bee Orchids (Ophrys fusca / foresteri).

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 27th January 2021.

15W Actinic on the terrace.

16 Moths of 5 Species.

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

7694 Agriopis bajaria.

I ran the Actinic trap up under the covered terrace as the weather report said it would be warmer and drizzle. 6184 Eudonia angustea x2, 6496 Evergestis isatidalis x5, 7694 Agriopis bajaria x1, 7725 Menophora japygiaria (Brassy Waved Umber) x1 and 10226 Cerastis faceta x7.

6184 Eudonia angustea.

6496 Evergestis isatidalis.

10226 Cerastis faceta.

7725 Menophora japygiaria (Brassy Waved Umber).

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

Back on the patch.

Second Municipal Lockdown Day 11.

Ebird List.

 

Sierra Nevada in the distance.

The water level in the Arroyo Vilano had dropped so I crossed at the ford and parked at the normal spot and walked the Arroyo down to the plantation and a little further.

Female Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus).

Again the species were much as they normally are, the Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) x31 were on the Lucerne fields along with Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), female Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) on a telegraph post.

Female Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus).

Further down the road near the Plantation I got a year tick when 2 Bramblings (Pinzón Real / Fringilla montifringilla) flew up into a Fig tree, the one bird was in stunning plumage but the second more like what I expected at this time of the year.

Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

In the same area there was a high flying Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), lots of
Iberian  Magpies (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), a calling Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea).

Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).

Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).

On my way back I watched a trio of male Blackbirds (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) scrapping in the reeds at the side of the road, had a large group of Common Waxbills (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild) mixed in with good numbers of Tree Sparrows (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus).

Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), one of the battling males.

Down along the Arroyo I had the only Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) of the walk and a pair of noisy cronking Ravens (Cuervo / Corvus corax).

Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina).

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain

A visit to the Dentist in Loja followed by a walk on the fields.

Second Municipal Lockdown Day 10.

 

Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

I went for another dental appointment, last of the heavy work thankfully but later I went for a walk down on the fields again.

Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax)

I parked and did the usual walk, 24 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) were in there normal area but a small group of 8 birds were right down at my end of the fields but I did not see them until they flushed up and flew to the back edge of the fields with the other 24.

Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

I continued along the Lucerne fields adding Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).

Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

Down along the river there were good numbers of Corn Buntings (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea).

Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

Out on the fields before the Poplar Plantation I found Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Iberian  (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala).

Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina).

Around the Poplars I could hear a Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos).

White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

On my back to the car I had a good sized flock of Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa) and Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris).

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 25th January 2021.

15W Actinic on the terrace.

8 Moths of 2 Species.

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

 

6496 Evergestis isatidalis.

Ran the actinic trap last night for the first time in a while. Well, the first time when there were any Moths in it next morning. There were just 8 Moths of 2 species, 6496 Evergestis isatidalis x7 and 10226 Cerastis faceta x1.

10226 Cerastis faceta.

Home, Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

A wet walk up the road.

Second Municipal Lockdown Day 9. 

 

It rained pretty much all day so in the end I decided I needed to get out of the house rain or not but I only walked the road uphill from the house.

I did get very wet but also added a singing Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus) to my year list which now stands at 170.

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

The Bulbul is sticking around, well I thought it was.

 

Common Bulbul (Bulbul Naranjero / Pycnonotus barbatus).

After not seeing the Common Bulbul (Bulbul Naranjero / Pycnonotus barbatus) for a few days I was pleased to see it down on the ground eating small bits of plants along the Arroyo but this was to be the last time I was to hear or see the bird.

Common Bulbul (Bulbul Naranjero / Pycnonotus barbatus).

Later I saw it again as I drove back towards the house in one of the track side reed beds and then in a Pomegranate tree it often protects from all comers.

Common Bulbul (Bulbul Naranjero / Pycnonotus barbatus).

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A walk down on the fields again.

Second Municipal Lockdown Day 7.

Ebird List.

 

Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) with a good mouthful.

Again it was the usual route to start with but then I diverted along the Arroyo down to the Railway line and back again. The Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) x34 were still in their normal patch of the Lucerne fields as were most of the other species I usually see.

Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) forcing down a large fly.

There were good numbers of Tree Sparrows (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus) in the fields with quite a few other Finches and a group of Common Waxbills (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild).

Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus).

Cerro Hacho and Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

First flowering Orchids of the year.

Second Municipal Lockdown Day 6.

 

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca / foresteri).

I parked and went for a walk around the lower loop around the woods at Hacho just up the road, all along the track through the Almond trees there were masses of the common Broad-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia), most were blue but there were some nice white flowers as well.

Broad-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia).

There were a few singing Common Crossbills (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra) further along the track and as I came back down the other side I found Dartford (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) and the first flowering Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca / foresteri) of the year.

Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea).

I finished the loop and then I dropped down on to the field but just for a quick scan to see what was on the Lucerne fields, I found Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and loads of Spotless (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Common Starlings (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris).

Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).