Huétor Fields and Balsa de Regidor, Granada Province, Spain.

A day around a couple of local sites with John.

Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina).

John and I headed out locally and we were soon down on the fields walking up stream along the Arroyo Vilano finding Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina), Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Bath (Pontia daplidice) and Small White (Pieris rapae), Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Geranium Bronze (Cacyreus marshalli) and Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus alceae) on the butterfly front.

John and an 8'foot tall Verbascum pulverulentum.

Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera).

Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera).

Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas).

Bird wise we heard and saw Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Iberian  (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).

Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus).

Our second site was back at Balsa de Regidor where we were looking for Dragon's, we were soon watching Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator) x3, Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope) x8, Violet (Trithemis annulata) x2 and Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi) x1,  Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea) x8, Iberian Bluetail (Ischnura graellsii) x4, Small Red-eye (Erythromma viridulum) x3, Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) x2, Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathinerum) x21 and Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum) x2.

Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum) female.

Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata).

Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata).

Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata).

Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathinerum) blue female.

Birds including Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) and Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina). 

Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina).

Other species seen included Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi), Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa) and Brown Rat (Rattus norvegicus).

Charca Suarez, Motril and Cerro Gordo, Granada Province, Spain.

A day down on the coast.

Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata).

We were out early and on our way down to Charca Suarez for a wonder around the wetlands and hides there, on the way down we picked up House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Eurasian Turtle (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur) and Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus).

Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria).

Once we were in the reserve we walked out towards the Hide overlooking Laguna Alamo Blanca, on the way we saw Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Western House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) and Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) from the first screen and we just added Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) x11, Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator) and Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea) x2 from the hide.

Eurasian Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur).

We walked back to Pam who had set up by the entrance and met Juan before heading back around to the hides over looking Laguna del Taraje where we picked up Eurasian Turtle Dove, Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Red-knobbed Coot (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata) and Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).

Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).

From the main hide at Laguna de las Aneas we found Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca), Common Pochard, Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Common Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), European Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster).

Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria) Male.

We also saw Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) x2, Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum) x6, Black Percher (Diplacodes lefebvrii) x6, Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria) x6 and Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope) x4.

Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea) Male.

We continued on around the reserve calling in at the last three hides overlooking the Laguna del Trebol and Laguna del Lirio where we saw Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Common Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa), Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi), African Grass Blue (Zizeeia knysna) x15+, Geranium Bronze (Cacyreus marshalli) x2 and Small Red-eye (Erythromma viridulum) x6.

Black Percher (Diplacodes lefebvrii) Male.

We left the reserve and went just down the road to the pools on the Golf course, there were quite a few Yellow-legged Gulls, a couple of immature Audouin's Gull (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus) and a fly through Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus) x1 which was a new species for John.

African Grass Blue (Zizeeia knysna).

Our final stop was just along the coast at Cerro Gordo where we made a few stops at different points around the headland adding Northern Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), European Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and a year tick for me a White-rumped Swift (Vencejo Cafre / Apus caffer).

Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris).

Other species included Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra), Small White (Pieris rapae), Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina) and a nice Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris).

Looking along the coast from Cerro Gordo.

On the way home we went across country, as we drove we saw Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus), Iberian (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor). 

Torre de Cerro Gordo.

Osuna Area in Sevilla Province, Fuente de Piedra in Malaga Province, Spain.

Out in the very hot West plains of Osuna and then a call at Fuente de Piedra on the way back.

Roller (Carraca / Coracias garrulus).

We were out quite early looking for birds today more than butterflies, on the way over to the Osuna area we saw Collared (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans).

Lesser Kestrel (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni) Male.

Lesser Kestrel (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni) Male.

Once on site we drove the usual route along the railway line taking views from the brigdes along the road, as we did we saw Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus), Iberian Brown Hare (Liebre ibérica / Lepus granatensis),  Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Alpine Swift (Vencejo Real / Apus melba) and Gull-billed Tern (Pagaza Piconegra / Gelochelidon nilotica) from the first bridge and nearby tracks.

Lesser Kestrel (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni) Immature.

Lesser Kestrel (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni) Immature.

We crossed to the second bridge and took the track out onto the far fields where we added Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus) and a Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus).

The dry remains of the main Lagoon at Fuente.

We crossed the main road and checked a ruin where we had nice views of a colony of Lesser Kestrels (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni) and at least 4x Rollers (Carraca / Coracias garrulus).

An Escapee at Fuente.

We made our way to Lantejuela where we had a drink and some lunch before having a quick look at the pools neaby, we only managed a view of the one lagoon down the side of the locked hide but added Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus),  Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator), Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea), Small White (Pieris rapae) and Swallowtail (Papilio machaon).

Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa).

We crossed the fields again and headed back to the Motorway and back east calling at Fuente on the way, here we checked the entrance road pool finding Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa), Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Greater Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla) and Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris).

Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus).

We popped around to the Mirador where we had a view out over the almost completly dry main Lagoon, on the very small area of water in the western corner there were a few Greater Flamingo's, White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), several Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna) and in the bushes below a cursing Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos).

Dómenes Sierra Martilla, Cerro Hacho, Granada Province, Spain.

A Step back in Time.

Pam and John at the top of the Sierra.

Pam, John and I headed out to a spot not too far away at Sierra Martilla near to Ventorros de San José, on the way we saw House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Turtle (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur) and Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica).

The View out to Sierra de Loja.

Some of the Graves hued straight out of the Limestone.

We parked and John and I went for a walk looking for Butterflies whilst Pam sat herself down and got the Paints out.

Dolmen's.

and another.

from a different Angle.

Butterflies were thin on the ground but we did manage to record Small White (Pieris rapae) x6, Bath White (Pontia daplidice) x9, Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera) x5, Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus) x3, Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) x13, Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera) x4, Southern Gatekeeper (Pyronia cecilia) x1, Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina) x3 and Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus) x2.

Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus).

Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus).

We also saw plenty of Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Thekla Larks (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) including a recently fledged bird, European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) and Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris).

Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina).

Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina).

Bath White (Pontia daplidice).

Later we dropped back towards the house calling in at Cerro Hacho for a short walk on the way picking up Adonis Blue (Lysandra bellargus), Iberian Scarce (Iphiclides feisthameli) and Common Swallowtail (Papilio machaon), Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra), Sage (Muschampia proto) and Lulworth Skipper (Thymelicus acteon),  Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) and Dusky Heath (Coenonympha dorus).

Salvia argentea.

Linum tenue.

Other species included Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Salvia argentea and Linum tenue. 

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 22nd June 23.

15W Actinic on the terrace, min +19. 

9 Moths of 5 Species.

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

5615 Synaphe lorquinalis x1, 5624 Bostra obsoletalis x3, 8145 Idaea manicaria x1, 9460 Spodoptera exigua (Small Mottled Willow) x3 and 10238 Peridroma saucia (Pearly Underwing) x1.