Near Moraleda de Zafayona and Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A quick look for some Orchids and then a walk around the Olive Groves near the house later in the day.

 

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys lupercalis).

I got up and did some more filling of cracks in the bedroom and then got a bit of housework done, later in the morning I popped to a spot near Moraleda where I wanted to check on the progress at a good Orchid site, but it was too early and all I found in flower were a few Fan-lipped Orchids (Anacamptis collina) and lots of Somber Bee's (Ophrys lupercalis).

Fan-lipped Orchid (Anacamptis collina).

Fan-lipped Orchids (Anacamptis collina).

Fan-lipped Orchids (Anacamptis collina).

Other species seen around the site included Broad-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia), Field Marigold (Calendula arvensis), Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus), White Wallrocket (Diplotaxis erucoides), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito ibérico / Picus sharpei), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), 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) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys lupercalis).

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys lupercalis).

I returned to the house and did a few more odd bits, then later I went for a walk through the Olives at the back of the house, I didn't find much in the first section but at least they haven't sprayed everything yet but sure they will.

Less bad Olive Grove.

I reached the more Eco farmed section and started to find some nice Butterflies including Small White (Pieris rapae) x1, Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri) x4, Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) x5, Provence Hairstreak (Tomares ballus) x2 and Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) x2.

Provence Hairstreak (Tomares ballus).

Orchids and wildflowers included Fan-lipped Orchid x13, Groundsel (Senecio vulgaris), Red Dead-nettle (Lamium purpureum), Wild Grape Hyacinth (Muscari neglectum), Field Marigold, Mallow-leaved Storksbill (Erodium malacoides) and Shepherd's Purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris).

Fan-lipped Orchids (Anacamptis collina).

Groundsel (Senecio vulgaris).

Field Marigold (Calendula arvensis).

Other species seen and heard were Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Sardinian Warbler, Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Great Tit, European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis).

Very old Olive Trunks.

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 12th March 2026.

15W Actinic on the terrace, +6.

2 Moths of 2 Species.

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

Licence from Junta de Andalucia.

10343 Agrotis puta (Shuttle Shaped Dart).

After not recording anything the last 3 time I put the light on I was pleased to see a couple of moths had come in, these were 8328 Nebula Ibericata x1 and 10343 Agrotis puta (Shuttle Shaped Dart) x1.

Cerro Hacho, Granada Province, Spain.

A walk through the Pine Woodland and around part of the Loop.

Ebird List for Hacho.

 

I started the day by bleaching the ceiling and walls in the bedroom which had been damaged by the January / February rains and got most of the filling done, but I ran out so decided to pop out for a walk-up Cerro Hacho as after the few days of sun I had hoped that there might be a few more butterfly species around.

The fallen Pines, lots more throughout the area.

I parked near the Puddle (which was full, unsurprisingly😁😁😁) and walked up the top track through the Pine woods, many of the trees had been felled by the very high winds which probably had more of an effect after the rains and forestry works that were done last year allowing the wind in amongst the trees more.

Giant Orchid (Himanthoglossum Robertiana).

Giant Orchid (Himanthoglossum Robertiana).

As I walked I saw many Giant Orchids (Himanthoglossum Robertiana) unfortunately the one Hypochromic plant I found last year was under one of the fallen Pines.

Giant Orchid (Himanthoglossum Robertiana).

Giant Orchid (Himanthoglossum Robertiana).

Further on there were quite a few Somber Bee Orchids (Ophrys lupercalis) and 2 spikes of Italian Man Orchid (Orchis Italica) but they weren't yet in flower.

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys lupercalis).

Other species seen during this part of the walk were Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater), Eurasian Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Common Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapilla), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni) x2, Broad-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia), Field Marigold (Calendula arvensis), Ramping Fumitory (Fumaria capreolata) and Tassel Hyacinth (Muscari comosum).

Broad-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia).

I dropped back down to the car and then on around part of the loop, almost straight away I found the first Provence Hairstreak (Tomares ballus) x8 which sat for the camera nicely which is more than can be said for the Western Dappled Whites (Euchloe crameri) x6 I saw which were pretty much on the wing all the time, so I only managed some bad shots.

Provence Hairstreak (Tomares ballus).

Provence Hairstreak (Tomares ballus).

Provence Hairstreak (Tomares ballus).

Provence Hairstreak (Tomares ballus).

Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri).

Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri).

As I walked on I picked up Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Long-tailed Tit (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus), Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Curruca undata), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), Corn (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteño / Emberiza cirlus), Conical Orchid (Neotinea conica), Fan-lipped Orchid (Anacamptis collina), Southern Early Purple Orchid (Orchis olbienis), Wild Grape Hyacinth (Muscari neglectum), Wild Clary (Salvia verbenaca), Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritima) and Common Fumitory (Fumaria officinalis).

Conical Orchid (Neotinea conica).

Fan-lipped Orchid (Anacamptis collina).

Fan-lipped Orchid (Anacamptis collina) var. flavescens.

Southern Early Purple Orchid (Orchis olbienis).

Southern Early Purple Orchid (Orchis olbienis).

On my way back to the House I saw a couple more Little Owls and a smallish Ocellated Lizard (Timon lepidus).

Monda Area, Near there and Sierra de Mijas, Malaga Province, Spain.

Over the border, down on the Coast in Malaga Province looking for Orchids.

 

Ophrys x eliasii (O. lupercalis x O. speculum).

I started the morning by driving down to the first of a couple of spots around Monda in Malaga Province, at the first spot I was looking for a hybrid which I haven't seen before but after visiting the spot a while ago with Kevin and Perry I recognised a clump of Somber Bee Orchids (Ophrys lupercalis) in someone's photo on Facebook, so I went for a look and found it.

Ophrys x eliasii (O. lupercalis x O. speculum).

Ophrys x eliasii (O. lupercalis x O. speculum).

I soon found the spot again, it was a difficult location to get a photo and even harder for a bit of a porker to get back down again however I came away unscathed and happy to have seen this beauty.

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys lupercalis).

Ophrys x vanmunsterii (Ophrys Alpujata x O. Lupercalis).

Ophrys alpujata.

In the same area I picked found Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys lupercalis), Ophrys x vanmunsterii (Ophrys Alpujata x O. Lupercalis), Ophrys alpujata, Common Asphodel (Asphodelus aestivus), Field Marigold (Calendula arvensis), Cut-leaved Lavender (Lavandula multifida), Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritima), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Eurasian Jay (Arrendajo Euroasiático / Garrulus glandarius), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Eurasian Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

Ophrys x diazii (O. alpujata × O. scolopax).

Ophrys x diazii (O. alpujata × O. scolopax).

The next stop was nearby, where I checked an area of Olive trees seeing several spikes of the Hybrid Ophrys x diazii (O. alpujata × O. scolopax), Ophrys alpujata, Woodcock Orchid (Ophrys Scolopax), Giant Orchid (Himanthoglossum Robertiana), Eurasian Jay and Large White (Pieris brassicae) x5.

Ophrys alpujata.

Ophrys alpujata.

My third stop of the day was not far away near Guaro where I was very pleased to see a great number of Orchids including many Atlas Orchid (Ophrys atlantica) along with Sawfly (Ophrys tenthredinifera), Mirror (Ophrys speculum), Somber Bee, Conical (Neotinea conica), Champagne (Orchis champagneuxii) and Fan-lipped Orchid (Anacamptis collina).

Atlas Orchid (Ophrys atlantica).

Atlas Orchid (Ophrys atlantica).

Atlas Orchid (Ophrys atlantica).

Atlas Orchid (Ophrys atlantica).

Champagne Orchid (Orchis champagneuxii).

Champagne Orchid (Orchis champagneuxii).

Champagne Orchid (Orchis champagneuxii).

Also seen were Yellow Anemone (Anemone palmata), Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus), Clouded Apollo (Parnassius mnemosyne) x1, Small White (Pieris rapae) x2, Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina) x2, Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus) x1, Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteño / Emberiza cirlus), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Mirror Orchid (Ophrys speculum).

Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus).

I returned to the car and saw an elderly guy at the end of the track putting up a sign to sell the land, which means this site very important site for a rare Orchid could be lost, unfortunately. 

Two-leaved Gennaria (Gennaria diphylla).

Two-leaved Gennaria (Gennaria diphylla).

Two-leaved Gennaria (Gennaria diphylla).

Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera).

I moved on again to another site where I found several spikes of Two-leaved Gennaria (Gennaria diphylla) which weren't in flower the last time I visited the area, today they were good, so I got some shot of them and also found spikes of Sawfly and Somber Bee Orchid.

Anacamptis x dafnii (Anacamptis collina x Orchis papilionacea) going over.

Woodcock Orchid (Ophrys Scolopax).

My final stop of the day was in the Sierra de Mijas where I did a walk to look in on some spikes that I saw a couple of weeks ago, I first checked the hybrid Anacamptis x dafnii (Anacamptis collina x Orchis papilionacea) which was now going past it's best, there were still plenty of Woodcock Orchid some still in good condition, some pretty much over with Fan-lipped Orchid and several spikes of Ophrys x castroviejoi (O. Speculum x O. Scolopax), unfortunately some spikes had been damage after being rooted out by Wild Boar (Jabalí / Felis silvestris).

Spanish Festoon.

Other species seen here were Spanish Festoon x2, Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni) x2, Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) x1, Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Long-tailed Tit (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis).