Finca La Sayuela, Roadside stop nearby, Embalse de Rosarito, Ávila, Spain.

A second day out with Keith on his patch.

 

We were all out fairly early as it was forecast to be another warm one, before we left the Finca we saw and heard Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oropéndola Europea / Oriolus oriolus), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Eurasian Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis).

Our first stop was at a roadside spot that Keith knew for European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), unfortunately they didn't want to play and disappeared as soon as we pulled up. 

We did see Black Kite, Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus).

Embalse de Rosarito.

We continued on to the shore of the Embalse de Rosarito, which we could see from the Finca where we parked under a tree near the shoreline and scanned the lake, finding some nice bird species including Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), European Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Great (Garceta Grande / Ardea alba) and Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta), Black Kite, European Bee-eater, Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Common Nightingale, Crested Lark and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis).

As we walked around the shore and amongst an area of brambles we added a few Butterflies and Dragons, butterflies included Small White (Pieris rapae), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus),  Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus) and Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui).

♂ Banded Groundling (Brachythemis leucosticta).

 Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum) ♀.

 Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum) ♀.

Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata) ♀.

Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata) ♀.

Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea) teneral ♂.

The dragonflies were starting to fly, we soon found a nice ♂ Banded Groundling (Brachythemis leucosticta), several Violet Dropwings (Trithemis annulata) including a very cooperative ♀, Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum), a couple of teneral Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea) and the star of the day, a stunning ♂ Green Hooktail (Paragomphus genei).

♂ Green Hooktail (Paragomphus genei).

♂ Green Hooktail (Paragomphus genei).

♂ Green Hooktail (Paragomphus genei).

♂ Green Hooktail (Paragomphus genei).

We returned to the car and headed to a spot not too far away on the same Embalse, on a narrower arm which looked more like a section of river we found European Turtle Dove, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Cinereous  / Eurasian Black Vulture (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus), Black Kite, Eurasian Golden Oriole, Iberian Magpie, Small White x3, Wood White (Leptidea sinapis) x2, Clouded Yellow x3, Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera) x12, Tree Grayling (Hipparchia statilinus) x1, Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus) x2 and Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina) x6.

Embalse de Rosarito.

Cinereous  / Eurasian Black Vulture (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus).

Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera).

Wood White (Leptidea sinapis).

Tree Grayling (Hipparchia statilinus).

We went a little way back along the track we checked the shoreline again for waders and found Common (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) and Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Thinornis dubius), more Banded Groundlings x14+ and a couple of Violet Dropwing x2♂.

Banded Groundling (Brachythemis leucosticta) ♀.

As Keith and I were walking back to the car we heard a calling Lesser-spotted Woodpecker (Pico Menor / Dryobates minor) before we went to a cracking spot along a nearby river which was very good for more dragonflies, species seen included Beautiful Demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo), Western Willow Spreadwing (Chalcolestes viridis), White Featherleg (Platycnemis latipes), Small Pincertail (Onychogomphus forcipatus), Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) and Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata).

Western Willow Spreadwing (Chalcolestes viridis) ♀.

Western Willow Spreadwing (Chalcolestes viridis) ♂.

White Featherleg (Platycnemis latipes) ♂.

White Featherleg (Platycnemis latipes) ♀.

Small Pincertail (Onychogomphus forcipatus) ♂.

Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) ♂.

Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) ♂.

Other species included Small White, Meadow Brown, Yellow Loosestrife (Lysimachia vulgaris), Barn Swallow, Common Kingfisher (Martin Pescador Común / Alcedo atthis), Melodious Warbler (Zarcero políglota / Hippolais polyglotta), Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis) and Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteño / Emberiza cirlus).

The River.

Yellow Loosestrife (Lysimachia vulgaris).

We left this really nice river site and headed into Candeleda where we sat in a very pleasant Plaza and had some lunch, as we sat there, we saw Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and a surprise White Featherleg which flew past us.

We walked back to the car and moved on to the nearby Ermita-Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Chilla where we walked around the gardens which were very nice even in the heat as there was lots of water around.

Cardinal Fritillary (Argynnis pandora).

Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus).

Species seen were Eurasian Golden Oriole, Common Blackbird, European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), White Wagtail, Eurasian Jay (Arrendajo Euroasiático / Garrulus glandarius), Small White, Clouded Yellow, Nettle-tree Butterfly (Libythea celtis), Cardinal Fritillary, Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) and Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi). 

Ermita-Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Chilla.

On the way back to the car, Karen spotted that the Restaurante El Refugio de Chilla was open, so we spent a while sitting on the terrace testing out some of the different flavours of the homemade ice cream before heading back to the Finca where we had another very nice evening with Keith and Jane on their own terrace.

Finca La Sayuela, La Herguijuela, Puerto de Peñanegra, El Pinar de Hoyocasero in Áliva, Spain.

Out in the Gredos with Karen, Rob and Keith.

Karen and Rob, Day Three.

 

Southern White Admiral (Limenitis reducta).

We were out early as it was going to be another hot day, before we left the Finca we started the list with Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oropéndola Europea / Oriolus oriolus), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Eurasian Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos).

High Brown Fritillary (Fabriciana adippe).

We headed to the North East where our first stop of the day was on a roadside near La Herguijuela, on the way we saw Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas), Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito ibérico / Picus sharpei), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Rock (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia) and Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteño / Emberiza cirlus) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis).

Iberian Marbled White (Melanargia lachesis).

At this site, we saw several new species for the trip including Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris) x2, Small White (Pieris rapae) x3, Southern White Admiral (Limenitis reducta) x1, High Brown Fritillary (Fabriciana adippe) x2, Iberian Marbled White (Melanargia lachesis) x10+, Great Banded Grayling (Brintesia circe) x1 and Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) x2.

Great Banded Grayling (Brintesia circe).

Other species seen included Hummingbird Hawkmoth (Macroglossum stellatarum) x1, Common Chicory (Cichorium intybus), Common Mallow (Malva sylvestris), Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria), Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea), White Campion (Silene latifolia), Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Western Bonelli's (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli) and Melodious Warbler (Zarcero políglota / Hippolais polyglotta).

Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea).

We headed off and made our way to Puerto de Peñanegra, on the way we saw Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus).

After parking we moved out into an area of Broom type scrub where we found Common Quail, Common Cuckoo, Eurasian Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Dunnock, European Stonechat, Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Ortolan (Escribano Hortolano / Emberiza hortulana) and Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia).

The Habitat at Puerto de Peñanegra.

Libelloides longicornis.

Chimney Sweeper (Odezia atrata).

Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris).

Essex skipper (Thymelicus lineola).

During the walk we also saw Libelloides longicornis, Hummingbird Hawkmoth, Chimney Sweeper (Odezia atrata) and butterfly wise we found Small x8 and Essex Skipper (Thymelicus lineola) x2, Purple-shot Copper (Lycaena alciphron) x2 and Cardinal Fritillary (Argynnis pandora) x5.

Iberian Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica azuricallis).

Iberian Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica azuricallis).

Iberian Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica azuricallis).

Iberian Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica azuricallis).

As we dropped down the hill from this site we stopped to check a couple of roadside butterflies and Rob then said there are a couple of birds in the bush next to the fence which turned out to be a family group of 3 juvenile Iberian Bluethroat (Ruiseñor Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica azuricallis) which showed well, giving us great views of this rare subspecies.

Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris).

Dusky Meadow Brown (Hyponephele lycaon).

Purple-shot Copper (Lycaena alciphron) ♂ right ♀ left.

Scarce Copper (Lycaena virgaureae) ♂.

Scarce Copper (Lycaena virgaureae)  ♂ and Purple-shot Copper (Lycaena alciphron) ♀.

Scarce Copper (Lycaena virgaureae) ♂.

Scarce Copper (Lycaena virgaureae) ♂.

Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas).

Spanish Heath (Coenonympha iphioides).

Spanish Heath (Coenonympha iphioides).

A little further down the road we stopped on the roadside and spent quite a while photographing lots of different species which included Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) x4, Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) x2, Scarce Copper (Lycaena virgaureae) x3, Queen of Spain (Issoria lathonia) x2, Small Pearl-bordered (Boloria selene) x2 and Southern Heath Fritillary (Melitaea nevadensis) x4, Esper's (Melanargia russiae) x1 and Iberian Marbled White x30+, Dusky Meadow Brown (Hyponephele lycaon) x5, Spanish Heath (Coenonympha iphioides) x4, Mylabris quadripunctata and Chlorophorus trifasciatus.

Esper's Marbled White (Melanargia russiae).

Iberian Marbled White (Melanargia lachesis).

Iberian Marbled White (Melanargia lachesis).

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Boloria selene).

Southern Heath Fritillary (Melitaea nevadensis).

Queen of Spain (Issoria lathonia).

Zygaenidae species ??????

Mylabris quadripunctata.

Chlorophorus trifasciatus.

We moved on again and after a drive along different country roads we made a stop at a roadside stream where we found some new species for the day which included a lifer dragonfly for me, a Yellow-winged Darter (Sympetrum flaveolum) which, if I had realised what it was at the time I would have tried to get better shots of.

Yellow-winged Darter (Sympetrum flaveolum).

Other species seen in this area we picked up Beautiful Demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo), Common Golden Ringed (Cordulegaster boltonii), Cardinal Fritillary, Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Black Kite, Woodchat Shrike, Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail and Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina). 

Cardinal Fritillary (Argynnis pandora).

After we passed through the pueblo of Hoyos de Miguel Muñoz we made a stop at a small roadside pool where we picked up Iberian Bluetail (Ischnura graellsii), Dainty Damselflies (Coenagrion scitulum), Broad-bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa), Lesser (Anax parthenope) and Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator), Clouded Yellow, Iberian Marbled White, Small (Aglais urticae) and Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros), Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi) and Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone).

Dainty Damselflies (Coenagrion scitulum) ♂.

Dainty Damselflies (Coenagrion scitulum) ♂♀ .

Broad-bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa) ♂.

Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator) ♀.

Our last stop of the day was going to be in the El Pinar de Hoyocasero woodlands, on the way we called at a spot to the North of Navarrevisca where we were hoping to see Marbled Fritillary (Brenthis daphne) which would be a butterfly lifer for me, on the way we stopped at a roadside spot where Keith found us several Spanish Purple Hairstreak (Laeosopis roboris) x5, Clouded Yellow, Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni), Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra), Cardinal and Niobe Fritillary (Fabriciana niobe) and Great Banded Grayling.

Spanish Purple Hairstreak (Laeosopis roboris).

Spanish Purple Hairstreak (Laeosopis roboris).

Cardinal Fritillary (Argynnis pandora).

Cardinal Fritillary (Argynnis pandora).

Niobe Fritillary (Fabriciana niobe) and a Longhorn Beetle species.

Great Banded Grayling (Brintesia circe).

At the Frit spot we soon found the target as well as a very tatty looking Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma), Queen of Spain, Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus) and Great Banded Grayling.

Marbled Fritillary (Brenthis daphne).

Marbled Fritillary (Brenthis daphne).

Marbled Fritillary (Brenthis daphne).

Marbled Fritillary (Brenthis daphne).

Queen of Spain (Issoria lathonia).

Our last spot was in the El Pinar de Hoyocasero, by now it was warm, so the visit was shorter than expected but it is a place I want to return to as the meadows Keith showed me were spectacular and full of butterflies including Comma (Polygonia c-album), Southern White Admiral, Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), High Brown Fritillary (Fabriciana adippe) and Silver-Washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia).

Comma (Polygonia c-album).

Iberian Marbled White (Melanargia lachesis).

Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera).

Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera).

High Brown Fritillary (Fabriciana adippe).

High Brown Fritillary (Fabriciana adippe).

Other species included a Stick Insect species, a Zygaena species, Alpine Pasqueflower (Pulsatilla alpina), Martagon Lily (Lilium Martagon), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito ibérico / Picus sharpei), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Eurasian Wryneck (Torcecuello / Jynx torquilla), Eurasian Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla) and Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs).

Zygaena loti ??????

Zygaena loti ??????

Stick Insect species.

Pine Cone Thistle (Rhaponticum coniferum).