Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A morning walk with Paqui.

Ebird List for the Fields.

 

I met Paqui down on the fields, where we parked by the Walnut trees and then walked out as far as the gate and back.

Species seen included Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), European Turtle (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur) and Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oropéndola Europea / Oriolus oriolus), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Melodious Warbler (Zarcero políglota / Hippolais polyglotta), Common Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Barn (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Cetti's (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Spanish (Yellow) (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Near Huétor Tajar / La Fabrica, Granada Province, Spain.

Looking around Paqui's Olive trees.

 

Looking out into the Calima.

After a day at home getting some jobs done Paqui and I headed out to check on a couple of her Olive groves, we arrived and did a walk.

Paqui amongst her Olives.

Paqui was pleased with how everything looked, as there was a very good-looking crop on the trees; the only work needed was to remove the dry plants around the base of the trees.

The dry plants are there because Paqui doesn't use any herbicides on the land and cultivates the olives as ecologically as possible.  

Near Charca de Suarez, Carchuna Beach and Charca de Suarez, Granada Province, Spain.

Butterflies, Beach and Birding.

Ebird List for near Charca.

Ebird List for Charca.

 

Monarch (Danaus plexippus).

Paqui and I headed down to the coast near Motril, we started by visiting a spot near Charca de Suarez where we looked for and found some nice species of butterflies, which included Swallowtail (Papilio machaon), Monarch (Danaus plexippus), Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus) on its food plant Stranglewort (Cynanchum acutum), Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous) and Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina).

Monarch (Danaus plexippus).

Monarch (Danaus plexippus).

Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus).

Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus).

Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus).

As we walked around this site, we also saw European Turtle (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur) and Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Red Avadavat (Bengali Rojo / Amandava amandava) and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus). 

Carchuna Beach.

We moved on to the beach at Carchuna where we spent a few hours chilling out and having a swim in the sea, whilst there we saw Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Thalasseus sandvicensis), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis). 

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

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

Audouin's Gull (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii).

Audouin's Gull (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii).

Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

At around 17:30 we packed our kit up and headed to Charca de Suarez where we met Juan Perez, we spent the next 2 hours walking around the reserve calling in at most of the Hides.

Laguna de las Aneas.

Gadwall (Anade Friso / Mareca strepera) ♀.

Gadwall (Anade Friso / Mareca strepera) ♀.

Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) ♀.

Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca) ♀.

Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca) ♀.

Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca) ♀.

Birds seen included Gadwall (Anade Friso / Mareca strepera), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), European Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and Red-knobbed Coot (Focha Moruna / Fulca cristata) along with the hybrid between the 2 species, Western Swamp-hen (Calamón Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus), Little Bittern (Avetorillo Común / Ixobrychus minutus), Black-crowned Night Heron (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax), Little (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta) and Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Common Kingfisher (Martin Pescador Común / Alcedo atthis), Zitting Cisticola, Common Reed (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) and Great Reed Warbler (Carricero Tordal / Acrocephalus arundinaceus), Western House Martin, Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Red Avadavat (Bengali Rojo / Amandava amandava), House Sparrow, European Greenfinch and European Goldfinch.

Laguna del Taraje.

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

Little Bittern (Avetorillo Común / Ixobrychus minutus).

Little Bittern (Avetorillo Común / Ixobrychus minutus).

Little Bittern (Avetorillo Común / Ixobrychus minutus).

Other species seen as we walked included Iberian Bluetail (Ischnura graellsii), Blue / Common (Anax imperator) and Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope), Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria), Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli), Small White (Pieris rapae), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Monarch, Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi), Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa), Wild Boar (Jabalí / Felis silvestris), Purple Morning Glory (Ipomoea purpurea), Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) and Small Fleabane (Pulicaria vulgaris).

Monarch (Danaus plexippus).

We came back out of the reserve at 20:00 and then went for a coffee before heading back to Huétor.

The Sunset.

Presa y Meandros del Genil, Granada Province, Spain.

Back to the Presa for a morning walk.

Ebird List.

 

Paqui and I headed down to the Presa before the heat built too much, we started by spending some time by the dam seeing Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and European Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oropéndola Europea / Oriolus oriolus), Eurasian Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Barn (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba). 

After a while we went for a walk along the track adding Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Iberian (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki) and Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Western Bonelli's (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Cetti's (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Long-tailed Tit (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis) and European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

Just out of the Oven.

Later I went around to Paqui's where she had prepared some food, I am not sure what the correct name of it is but it was absolutely amazing and one of the best things I have eaten, thanks Paqui.

It didn't last long.

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A walk along the Lucerne Fields with Paqui.

A well placed Cloud.

We met at the walnut trees and walked out to the gate, on the way we saw the two remaining Montagu's Harriers (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) a ♀ and a juvenile bird.

The view over the fields.

Other species included Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Barn (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Spanish (Yellow) (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Greater Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), White (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Rio Frio, Granada Province, Spain.

An early morning walk before the heat arrives again.

Paqui and I headed down to Riofrio and had a walk along the river, to start with we sat by the River on one of the benches for a while and enjoyed the coolness of the early morning.

As we sat by the river and during the walk we saw Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oropéndola Europea / Oriolus oriolus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala) and Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), Eurasian Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) ans Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Eurasian (Urraca Común / Pica pica) and Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Small White (Pieris rapae) and Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria).

We walked along the river to La Casa del Pastel where we had some breakfast before returning to Huétor where I dropped Paqui at home before topping up the car with fuel as it looks like the price is going to jump again.

I got back home and got on with a few jobs, out on the terrace I could hear several European Turtle Doves (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur).

Later in the Evening Paqui and I went around to one of her friends where we watched the final of the World Cup which we were all very pleased to see Spain win.