The Wildlife of Sierra de Loja and surrounding areas.
  • Home
    • Area One
    • Area Two
    • Area Three
    • Area Four
    • Area Five
    • Area Six
    • Area Seven
    • Area Eight
    • Area Nine.
  • Birds One.
    • Wildfowl
    • Partridges and Pheasants.
    • Grebes.
    • Great Cormorant.
    • Herons, Storks and Flamingo's.
    • Raptors
    • Rails and Crakes.
    • Cranes and Bustards.
    • Waders
    • Gulls and Terns
    • Sandgrouse
  • Birds Two
    • Pigeon, Doves, Cuckoos and Owls.
    • Nightjars, Swifts, Hoopoe, Kingfisher, Bee-eater, Roller and Woodpeckers.
    • Larks
    • Swallows and Martins.
    • Pipits, Wagtails, Dipper and Accentors.
    • Thrushes and Chats
    • Warblers
    • Wren, Flycatchers, Tits, Nuthatch and Treecreeper.
    • Shrikes, Crows, Starlings and Oriole.
    • Sparrow, Finches and Buntings
  • Mammals
    • Mammals
  • Insects
    • Butterflies - Swallowtails to Blues.
    • Butterflies - Nettle-tree to Skippers
    • Moths
    • Dragonflies
    • Other Insects
  • Plantlife
    • Wildflowers >
      • Wild Flowers A-F
      • Wild Flowers G-M
      • Wild Flowers N-S
      • Wild Flower T-Z
    • Orchids
    • Trees
  • Reptiles
    • Reptiles
  • Amphibians
    • Amphibians
  • Other Photographs
    • Sierra de Loja
    • Huétor Fields
  • Links

Species information.

Rock / Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravia / Columba livia).
A very common species which sometimes forms huge flocks in the countryside and cities alike. It is still possible to find some convincing populations of Rock doves but they are fewer each year.
Picture
Stock Dove (Paloma Zurita / Columba oenas).
An uncommon winter visitor in area 2 with a count of 28 birds being the best flock, more usual are two or three birds.
Picture
Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).
Common everywhere, in some poplar plantation can hold winter roost of several thousand birds in the Genil Valley.
Picture
Adult Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).
Picture
Immature Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).
Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur).
A fairly common summer visitor that can be seen in all areas but less common higher up in the sierra.
Picture
Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur).
Picture
Picture
Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur).
Picture
Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).
Common in all areas except rght on top of the sierra.
Picture
Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).
Picture
Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).
Picture
lecustic Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).
Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus).
A very common escape in coastal areas and around Granada City but I have only seen a single bird which spent a few days just to the North of Huétor Tajar in area 2.
Picture
Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus).

Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius).

A stunning and noisy species which arrives back in the area at the end of February in good numbers. Found locally in several spots but commonest in areas 3 and 6 where its hyper active yaffle can be heard up until June from the adult birds before they leave and head south, the young take over then moving around with there adopted parents which are usually Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica).
Picture
Adult male Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius).
Picture
Adult male Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius).
Picture
Adult male Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius).
Picture
Pair of Great Spotted Cuckoo's (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius) female above.
Picture
Adult female Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius).
Picture
Adult female Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius).
Picture
Adult female Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius).
Picture
Immature Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius).

Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus).

A regularly heard species which arrives in April and can be heard all summer but more difficult to see. Best areas are 3,6 and 9 down the eastern side and 4 and 5 down the west.
Picture
Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus) Adult.
Barn Owl (Lechuza Común / Tyto alba).
An uncommon species only seen once or twice a year, most sightings are in areas 1, 2 and 3 along the A92 motorway amongst the fields.
Scop's Owl (Autillo Europeo / Otus scops).
Regularly heard but very hard to see, it's sonar call is heard in all areas including a the top of the sierra amongst the stunted Hawthorn bushes.
Picture
Scop's Owl (Autillo Europeo / Otus scops).
Eagle Owl (Buho Real / Bubo bubo).
Not an uncommon species with several nest platforms in the area.
Picture
Eagle Owl (Buho Real / Bubo bubo).
Tawny Owl (Cárabo Común / Strix aluco).
A very uncommon species which has been reported just the once calling in area 3.
Picture
Tawny Owl (Cárabo Común / Strix aluco) photo from the UK.

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

A common species found in all areas and can often be found perched out in the open in the full sun and during the breeding season can regularly seen hunting in day light.
Picture
Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).
Picture
Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).
Picture
Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).
Picture
Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).
Picture
Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).
Picture
Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).
Picture
Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).
Long-eared Owl (Buho Chica / Asio otus).
A difficult to find species but is suposed to be regular in pine woodlands within the area, I have seen just a single bird in flight in area 9 but a friend had one at my house in area 2 which I missed.
Picture
Long-eared Owl (Buho Chica / Asio otus).
Picture
Long-eared Owl (Buho Chica / Asio otus).
Short-eared Owl (Buho Campestre / Asio flammeus).
An uncommon wintering species recorded just once in area 3. There was a roost of several birds just outside the area for a few years until it was destroyed.
Picture
Short-eared Owl (Buho Campestre / Asio flammeus).
Picture
Short-eared Owl (Buho Campestre / Asio flammeus).
Picture
Short-eared Owl (Buho Campestre / Asio flammeus).
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.