El Temple and Cacín Valley, Granada Province, Spain

A days birding with Kim and Nick.

 

Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus).

I met Kim and Nick up at the Cortijo de Tajar and we went along the A92 and turning towards Chimeneas where we parked on the roadside just before the town where we soon started to build a decent day list with Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Barn (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala).

Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus).

We took to the tracks and parked several times and checked the cereal fields between the Olive and Almond trees where we found Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Calandra Lark (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), an immature Roller (Carraca / Coracias garrulus), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), a fine male Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus) and we also heard Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis) and Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus).

Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus).

We drove down to the tarmac again and our next stop was near some Oil pits out on another of the many track but on the way we had views of a couple of very smart Black-winged Kites (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), a immature and female type Montagu's Harriers, another 3 Booted Eagles, a fly over Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Greater Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla) and Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae).

Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus).

At the Oil pits we added Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator) and a distant passing Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus) before we headed out on to the road over to Cacín finding, Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei) and another Short-toed Eagle which sat on a pylon before flying of down in to the Valley.

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

Down in the valley we had a pair of Bonelli's Eagles (Aguila Perdicera / Aquila faciatus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and down by the Roman Bridge we had a male Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius).

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

Further up the valley we mad a stop at the Contra Embalse de Bermejalis and spent a shortish time scanning the water as it was starting to get quite hot, during this short stop we gave the list a boost with Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Black-necked (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis) and Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and a calling Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus).

Eurasian Eagle Owl (Búho Real / Bubo bubo).

On our way up the valley we stopped at the bridge over the Cacín where we had our food sat in the shade of a large Pine tree and found Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus) and Coal Tit  (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and a smart male Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator).

We did a short diversion and got some nice views of a Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) before going to our last stop of the day which was looking up at the cliffs near to Moraleda where we had a distant but very nice Eurasian Eagle Owl (Búho Real / Bubo bubo) and we finished off with several Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica).

Rio Pesquera, Zagra, Granada Province, Spain.

A return to a favourite site for us all.

Steve and Lynn, Day Three.

 

Purple Heron (Garza Imperial / Ardea purpurea).

We headed out towards Zagra via a slightly roundabout way due to the roadworks on the road between Loja and Ventoros de San José but we were soon parked just above the Rio Pesquera where we started things off with two immature Purple Herons (Garza Imperial / Ardea purpurea), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), House (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Corn (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus), Melodious Warbler (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).

Purple Heron (Garza Imperial / Ardea purpurea).

We walked down to the water and went off down stream finding Small Pincertail (Onychogomphus forcipatus), Iberian Bluetail (Ischnura graellsii), White Featherleg (Platycnemis latipes), Epaulet (Orthetrum chrysostigma), Southern (Orthetrum brunneum) and Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens) and masses of Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi).

Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea).

Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma).

Orange-winged (Trithemis kirbyi) male.

Small Pincertail (Onychogomphus forcipatus) male.

We turned around and headed back up towards the gorge adding African Grass Blue (Zizeeia knysna), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Large (Pieris brassicae), Bath (Pontia daplidice) and Small White (Pieris rapae), Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera) and Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura).

Iberian Bluetail (Ischnura graellsii) female.

Iberian Bluetail (Ischnura graellsii) male.

Iberian Bluetail (Ischnura graellsii) female.

Iberian Bluetail (Ischnura graellsii) female.

We passed through the gorge and continued on up stream finding some nice bird species which included an immature Night Heron (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus).

Mediterranean Bluet (Coenagrion caerulescens) male.

Mediterranean Bluet (Coenagrion caerulescens) teneral.

White Featherleg (Platycnemis latipes).

Copper Demoiselle (Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis) female.

Copper Demoiselle (Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis) female.

Copper Demoiselle (Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis) nymph.

As we walked the river we had several more species of Dragon and Damsel including Orange-winged (Trithemis kirbyi) and Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata), Scarlet (Crocothemis erythraea) and an immature male Desert Darter (Sympetrum sinaiticum) and several Copper Demoiselles (Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis) and several Mediterranean Bluet's (Coenagrion caerulescens).

African Grass Blue (Zizeeia knysna).

Sage Skipper (Muschampia proto).

Night Heron (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax) immature.

Signal Crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus).

Butterflies where also seen and they included Safflower (Pyrgus carthami) and Red-underwing Skipper (Spialia sertorius), Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus) and Striped Grayling (Hipparchia fidia). 

Desert Darter (Sympetrum sinaiticum) male.

Desert Darter (Sympetrum sinaiticum) male.

Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens) male.

Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma) older female.

Other species we saw before we left included Large Psammodromus (Psammodromus algirus), Signal Crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus), Small Fleabane (Pulicaria vulgaris), Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus) and on the way home we added Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).

Steve getting shots of a Small Pincertail.

Small Pincertail (Onychogomphus forcipatus) Exuvia.

Arroyo De Prado Negro and Los Mimbres, Granada Province, Spain.

A hot days Dragon and Butterfly hunting with Lynn and Steve.

Steve and Lynn, Day Two.

 

False Grayling (Arethusana arethusa).

I was up early and did a few bits around the house and whilst I was pottering I started the day list off with Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) x2, Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).

Beautiful Demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo).

Beautiful Demoiselles (Calopteryx virgo).

Beautiful Demoiselles (Calopteryx virgo).

Copper Demoiselle (Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis).

We started out at 09.30 and headed along the A92 passed Granada and into the Sierra de Huétor to a spot along the Arroyo de Prado Negro which I can safely say has the coldest water I have ever walked in.

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Volucella zonaria.

European Hornet (Vespa crabro).

We parked and walked out on to the first of the meadows where we started the list off with House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Iberian Marbled White (Melanargia lachesis) and a smart Common Golden Ringed (Cordulegaster boltonii).

Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera).

Tree Grayling (Hipparchia statilinus).

Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus).

Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina).

Safflower Skipper (Pyrgus carthami).

Rosy Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus onopordi).

Small White (Pieris rapae).

We jumped the first of the off shoot channels and checked an area of thistles adding Southern (Polyommatus celina) and Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus), Small White (Pieris rapae), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei) heard, Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

Common Winter Damselfly (Sympecma fusca).

The next section was a thicket of Hawthorn bushes which Lynn and I passed via the track to the one side and Steve navigated the bushes, as we walked we had Tree Grayling (Hipparchia statilinus), Bath White (Pontia daplidice) and at the other end of the trees near another of the stream diversions Spanish Chalk-hill Blue (Lysandra albicans), Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra) and a very large Hoverfly called Volucella zonaria which is a very successful Hornet Mimic.

Berger's Clouded Yellow (Colias alfacariensis).

Berger's Clouded Yellow (Colias alfacariensis).

We worked our way up the arroyo from where the second channel exits the main stream finding lots of both Copper (Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis) and Beautiful Demoiselles (Calopteryx virgo), more Common Golden Rings, Common Winter Damselfly (Sympecma fusca), Western Willow Spreadwing (Chalcolestes viridis), Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus) and Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla) which was only heard.

Berger's Clouded Yellow (Colias alfacariensis).

Berger's Clouded Yellows (Colias alfacariensis).

Berger's Clouded Yellows (Colias alfacariensis).

We moved out on to the grasslands again and headed up through what was an old water deposit and in amongst some thistles we had the first of three male Berger's Clouded Yellows (Colias alfacariensis), later on the walk back we also noted a female of the same species being chased relentlessly by one of these males.

Crab Spider (Thomisus onustus) with a Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus).

Cranefly species.

As we moved on up the stream we had the first Western Spectre (Boyeria Irene) of the morning, Safflower (Pyrgus carthami) and Rosy Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus onopordi), Small White (Pieris rapae), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus), Great Banded Grayling (Brintesia circe), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos).

Dasypogon diadema.

Dasypogon diadema.

We reached a point where there were so many fallen tree trunks it made hard to move forward so we turned around and made our way back towards the car, on the way we had a species of Crab Spider (Thomisus onustus) starting to devour a male Clouded Yellow butterfly, Striped Grayling (Hipparchia fidia), Cone-head Mantis (Empusa pennata), Large Psammodromus (Psammodromus algirus) and both dark and pale morph Booted Eagles (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus).

Buprestis novemmaculata.

We reached the car and had some food before driving down the road to another spot where we walked the track and then in to the Scrub next to the Pine Woodlands where we dropped on just my second ever
False Grayling (Arethusana arethusa) as well as Iberian Marbled White, Bath White, Clouded Yellow, Southern Brown Argus, Tree Grayling, Dasypogon diadema and Buprestis novemmaculata before we returned to the house and had a very nice evening chatting up on the terrace.