Southwold, Suffolk and travelling.

A day trip to the beach with Jayne, Becky, Ryan and Chewie.

Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus).

We set off for the coast to spend a few hours on the beach, on the way I saw Bullfinch (Camachuelo Común / Pyrrhula pyrrhula), Yellowhammer (Escribano Cerillo / Emberiza citronella), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Rook (Graja /  Corvus frugilegus), Canada Geese (Barnacla Canadiense /Branta canadensis) and Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos).

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui).

After we parked we walked across the dunes to the beach, on the way we flushed up several Meadow Pipits (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) and a single Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis).

We set everything up and then I went for a walk into the narrow area of dunes and checked several plants of Sea Holly (Eryngium maritimum) where I found several species of butterflies including Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) and Small White (Pieris rapae).

As we were playing down by the sea I also recorded Herring (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Kittiwake (Gaviota Tridáctila / Rissa tridactyla), Sandwich (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis) and Common Tern (Charrán Común / Sterna hirudo) and back inland Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) and Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone).

Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas).

Later in the afternoon after some lunch at a nearby pub we packed up the kit when it started to rain, as we walked back to the car a largish dragonfly flew passed which I was in Spain I would not have hesitated to put down as a Vagrant Emperor (Anax ephippiger) but I was in Suffolk.

Ayway a few days later I heard that there were a few Vagrant Emperors seen in the area so it probably was one.

Once the Kit, Ryan and Chewie were all in the motor we headed back to the house, thanks to Becky for a nice day out.

Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.

Catching the train for a day in town.

White-letter Hairstreak (Satyrium w-album).

Becky dropped Jayne and I off at the railway station in Needham Market where we caught the train into Bury St Edmonds whilst the went to a nearby lake to feed the ducks.

Entrance to the Abbey Gardens.

We caught the 10:26 and we soon heading west towards the town, as we sat i noticed a movement by the window and turned to find a fine looking White-letter Hairstreak (Satyrium w-album) sat there on the window. After trying but failing to get  decent shot I released the insect when we reached Stowmarket.

We walked up from the railway station into town and spent a very nice few hours around the town visiting the Cathedral and Saint Mary's church where we found the grave of Mary Tudor tucked away in the corner of the area near the alter.

We also walked around the grounds of the the abbey seeing the gardens and the ruin, well worth a visit and a sit on one of the many benches for a while.

We had some lunch in one of the pubs in town later afer having a walk around the shops, most of which seemed to be charity run place with odd nice places dotted between them.

In the pub we had some English style "Tapas", nice but not quite the same as what we are used to but the beer (2 pints of Ghost Ship) went down very nicely.

As we walked around the town I saw Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Herring (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Large (Pieris brassicae) and Small Whites (Pieris rapae) and Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina ssp hispulla).

Nice view from the bench in the gardens.

At around 16:30 we caught the train back to Needham Market after having a very nice day, just after we reached Needhan Alan turned up to take us back to his place.

The Cathedral from the Abbey ruins.

Enjoyed a couple of Pints of this local Beer.

Great Bricett, near Wattisham, Suffolk.

An afternoon woodland walk.

Common Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus).

After a rather wet weekend I decided to have a walk to a woodland near to our Son's house, the roadside woodlans was in the village of Great Bricett. As I walked there I saw lots of immature and adult Common Starlings (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), House Sparrows (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) and the first butterflies including Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina ssp hispulla) and the first Common Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus) that I had seen in a very long time.
The hedgerow wild flowers included Agimony (Agrimonia eupatoria), Common Mallow (Malva sylvestris), Hedgerow Cranesbill (Geranium pyrenaicum), Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis), Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), Wild Carrot (Daucus carota) and Old-mans Beard (Clematis vitalba).

Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria).

I turned off on to a grassy track where I had more Gatekeepers, Meadow Browns as well as Small White (Pieris rapae) and when I cut into the wood several Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) of the Northern more creamy form.

As I walked along the field margins I saw more of the species already seen and when I reached the stream at the far end I added a male Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla) which was feeding in an Elder Flower Bush and female type Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis) which showed briefly in a tall gorse bush a little further along the track.
I walked in to the wood on a wide ride and found another nice Ringlet, more Gatekeepers and a very active Southern / Blue Hawker (Aeshna cyanea) which flew up and down the ride continously without settling.
As I walked back through the wood and then along the field edge I found a famil party of  Pheasants (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus), Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus) and Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major) and a noisy Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).
I got back to Alan's and in the garden there was a rather fat looking Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) pinching the fat balls.

Malaga and Caleta de Velez, Malaga Province.

A second go at the Booby.

Red-footed Booby (Piquero Patirrojo / Sula sula).

Jo, Brian and I set off from the house and dropped down to Malaga airport where they were catching a flight up to Barcelona before heading back to Australia.

Red-footed Booby (Piquero Patirrojo / Sula sula).

Once they were on their way I drove along the coast to see if the Red-footed Booby (Piquero Patirrojo / Sula sula) was still around, I arrived but there was no sign of the bird on any of it's usual perches up on the light fittings so I looked at what else was hanging around.

Red-footed Booby (Piquero Patirrojo / Sula sula).

In the beach I found Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus) and House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica).

Red-footed Booby (Piquero Patirrojo / Sula sula).

After about 15 mins I looked up at the most right hand post to see that the Booby had flown in and was having a preen so I went ack around to the port side and took some shots but just as I started to take a few it took off but this gave me the chance to get some nice flight shots as it circled the port a couple of times.

Red-footed Booby (Piquero Patirrojo / Sula sula).

The bird then disappeared of out over the far wall and did not return so I left the site and drove back to the house.

Red-footed Booby (Piquero Patirrojo / Sula sula).

Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii) and Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus).

Travelling South from Madrid and Alcázar de San Juan Lagunas.

Travelling again but a spot more wetland birding with Jo and Brian.

Madrid and Travelling South, Day Nine.

Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus).

We were up and about early as Judy and Mike had an early flight, after getting them away we dropped Sofia and Bob off at a hotel nearby where they were going to rest up until their flight.

Brian, Jo and I then dropped south heading for Granada, on the way we headed just a short way off to the west of the main motorway to the lakes near to the town of Alcázar de San Juan Lagunas.

Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser).

We drove onto the site and then walked out to the first of three hides and soon started to find some interesting species including White-headed Ducks (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Red-crested (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina) and Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Little (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and Black-necked Grebes (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) and above the reed beds good numbers of Marsh Harriers (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) and Black Kites (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans) were hunting, Whiskered Terns (Fumarel Cariblanca / Chilidonias hybridus), Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and several Heron and Egret species like Grey (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and Purple Heron (Garza Imperial / Ardea purpurea), Little (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) and Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) as well as loads of White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).

Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

All around the hide there were plants of Zygophyllum fabago which had lots of Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) dragonflies perched on them. We moved around to the second hide and had many of the species already listed but added Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser), Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), quite a few very noisy Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), as well as Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) and out in the slightly deeper water a small flock of Black-tailed Godwits (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa).

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

On the muddy margins there were lots of House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) coming down to bath amongst lesser numbers of Tree Sparrows (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Little Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius).

Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus).

In the air over this part of the pool there were lots of Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), a few House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and some drinking Common Swifts (Vencejo Común / Apus apus). In the reed beds good numbers of both Great Reed (Carricero Tordal / Acrocephalus arundinaceus) and Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), calling Cetti's (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and Savi's Warbler (Buscarla Unicolor / Locustella luscinoides) and Penduline Tit (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus) but the latter species remained unseen.

Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus).

Back by the van we saw Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum), Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator), Bath White (Blanqiverdosa / Pontia daplidice), Clouded Yellow (Colias Común / Colias corcea), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) and Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas).

Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis).

We moved on around to the third hide and scanned the largest area of water finding a small group of Collared Pratincoles (Canastera Común / Glareola pratincola) which were feeding or roosting on one of the muddy islands, Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis).

House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) female.

We returned to the motorway and headed of South to the house, on the way we saw Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (Ganga Ibérica / Pterocles alchata), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator) and Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica).

Collared Pratincole (Canastera Común / Glareola pratincola).

We arrived at the house where I dropped Jo and Brian off and then headed back to Malaga with the Van, after dropping it off I caught a bus to Malaga City and then up to Huétor where Brian met me at the bus stop.

Travelling to Madrid, Via Leon and Fuentes de Nava.

On the road but some good birding on the way.

Somiedo and Travelling South, Day Eight.

Rook (Graja /  Corvus frugilegus).

We started the day by driving South from Someido through the mountains and passed the Pooooo Pile spot where the male Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush (Roquero Roja / Monticola saxatilis) was sat up on the wires.

At the end of the road we turned to the East, towards Leon, on the way we made a stop on the road side to make use of some bushes but also pick up a few species including the first Nightingales (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos) of the trip which was singing from a nearby Hawthorn hedgerow. In the same area we heard Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix) and saw a couple of Red-backed Shrikes (Alcaudón Dorsirrojo / Lanius collurio), Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis), Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), over a nearby ridge several Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) and during the stop we heard both Great Spotted (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major) and Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei).

Rooks (Graja /  Corvus frugilegus).

As we again continued on we had our only Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus) down on the side of the road but to our horror it flew up as the van in front of us got there and bounced of its windscreen so all that most of the group saw was a cloud of yellow feathers. As we passed over one of the many river bridges on the way I saw a pair of Red-rumped Swallows (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica) did not get anyone on to them and as it was a busy road there was no place to turn around so this species remained a guide only for the trip.
As we continued to drive we also had a single Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus), a couple of Red Kites (Milano Real / Milvus milvus) and several Common Buzzards (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).
We headed on and around the City of Leon until we reached the La Camdamia round about when we spotted a field full of Corvids which I thought looked like the some of the local population of Rook (Graja /  Corvus frugilegus) so we turned into the city and then out to the fields. We soon confirmed that they were mostly Rooks as we thought along with a few Jackdaws (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Carrion Crows (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) and a fly over White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).

Rooks (Graja /  Corvus frugilegus).

We continued on and made a short stop (as it was dam hot) at a Mazuecos de Valdeginate where on the roadside church of San Migel we had great views of several Lesser Kestrel (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni) as well as Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus).
Just down the road we turned off and parked by the first hide over looking over the pools of La Corralillos and we soon boosted the list with several new species including Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Yellow Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Little (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) and Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Greater Flamingos (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and around the carpark lots of Red-veined Darters (Sympetrum fonscolombii) as well as a couple of Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope).
We got back into the van and drove just down the road to the next car park and then walked out to the tower hide via the short boardwalk out to the screens over looking a couple of pools. As we walked out we heard Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and a fly over Gull-billed Tern (Pagaza Piconegra / Gelochelidon nilotica).

White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).

In the trees as we walked up to the tower hide we heard Penduline Tit (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus) but could not locate any of them but did see lots of finches including Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and out on the fields a couple of feeding Ravens (Cuervo / Corvus corax). We also found Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum), White Featherleg (Platycnemis latipes) and Small Spreadwing (Lestes virens).
We climbed up to the top of the tower hide and quickly started to find even more species, down in the reeds there were a good number of Great Reed Warblers (Carricero Tordal / Acrocephalus arundinaceus) singing loudly as well as a reeling Savi's Warbler (Buscarla Unicolor / Locustella luscinoides) somewhere off in the distant reeds.
On an area of water and on its muddy margins we picked out Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Ringed (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) and Little Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Green (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) and Wood Sandpiper (Andarrios Bastardo / Tringa glareola), Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and a few more White Storks.
Over the reeds in front of us and amongst the trees we had loads of Marsh Harriers but whilst there we also picked up male and female Montagu's Harriers (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) and more surprisingly a female Hen Harrier (Aguilucho Pálido / Circus cyaneus) which showed several times between two rows of trees in front of us.

Iberian Marbled White (Medioluto Ibérica / Melanargia lachesis).

On a small pool just to the right of the hide we added several species to the heron list with singles of Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus), a couple of Purple Herons (Garza Imperial / Ardea purpurea) and several Grey Herons (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) scattered about.
After a while and as it was stinking hot I walked back to the van to bring it to the hide to save the group the walk back, just as I reached the board walk a single adult Night Heron (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax) flew out of the track side trees and away over the marsh and as I crossed the road to the car park 4 Great Bustards (Avutarda Común / Otis tarda) flew up the field in front of me and over the ridge.
I collected the Van and drove up to the parking area and just as I got out of the Van a Short-eared Owl (Buho Campestre / Asio flammeus) flew from the marsh and out over the fields, I hoped the group might have had this bird fly in but unfortunately not so all three of the good species I had seen fetching the van remained as guide Only.
We spent a short while longer scanning from the hide but did not add anything else until we returned to the van when we heard a squealing Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus) and found several Iberian Marbled White (Medioluto Ibérica / Melanargia lachesis),  so we decided to head for Madrid and the Hotel but just down the road we pulled off and quickly checked the next hide along the road, we added Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) and down in the ditch a Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea).
We drove on and reached the hotel late afternoon and then went out for out last evening meal together in a very nice smart nearby restaurant.

Puerto de Somiedo Poooo Piles, above Brañas de Arriba, Puerto de Leitariegos, Caboalles de Arriba Capper centre, Piedrafita de Babia and Valle de Lago, Asturias.

Back to the Poo piles, then into the hills again before finding an interesting pool near Somiedo.

Somiedo Day Seven.

Brañas de Arriba just above the fog, for the moment.

Bob and I had a short walk before breakfast finding Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

Yellowhammer (Escribano Cerillo / Emberiza citronella).

We had breakfast and headed out south again past La Peral and up to the Poooooo piles just through Puerto de Somiedo, on the way we started the days list with Rock Dove (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).

White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

At the Poo Piles we again walked some of the tracks adding Egyptian Vulture (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), several Water (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta) and Tree Pipit (Bisbita Arbóreo / Anthus trivialis), Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix), a couple of Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), a few Yellowhammers (Escribano Cerillo / Emberiza citronella) and a nice but brief male Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush (Roquero Roja / Monticola saxatilis) again.

Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis).

We continued our journey passing through banks of fog until we were in a parking area above the village of Brañas de Arriba, the fog came and went but persisted down in the valley so the villige was visible one minute and gone the next.

Owlfly species.

During some of the prolonged periods of sun we did se several more Dunnocks in the shrubs on the bank aove us as well as Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes) and down below us Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Meadow Fritillary (Mellicta parthenoides).

Once it warmed up a it more several species of butterfly started to fly along with the cracking Owlfly species which eventually sat for the camera, which was more than the butterflies did. The butterflies included Meadow Fritillary (Mellicta parthenoides), Marbled White (Melanargia galathea), Clouded Yellow (Colias Común / Colias corcea), Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae), an extreamly tatty Queen of Spain (Issoria lathonia), our only Purple-edged Coppers (Lycaena hippothoe) of the trip and Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina ssp hispulla).

Queen of Spain (Issoria lathonia).

The cloud then came in back in so we dropped South east to the ski resort at Puerto de Leitariegos where we parked and checked out the roadside scrub and woodlands where we looked for Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) but except for a couple of snippets of song from deep cover we failed on this species but we did see more Common Whitethroats, Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Red-backed Shrike (Alcaudón Dorsirrojo / Lanius collurio), several Common Stonechats (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) which perched nice and high, a female Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), Black Redstart, Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Water Pipit, Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla) and Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris).

Heath Spotted (Dactylorhiza maculata).

On the roadside bank we found several species of Orchid, most were the very common Heath Spotted (Dactylorhiza maculata), a few Man Orchid (Orchis anthropophora) and what I am thinking is a Hybrid of some sort amongst the Dactylorhiza's but it still is unnamed at this point.
In the same area we also found a single flowering spike of Large-flowered Butterwort (Pinguicula grandiflora) amoungst the massed of leaf rossettes, Cleopatra (Cleopatra / Gonepteryx cleopatra) and both Large (Pieris brassicae) and Small White (Pieris rapae).
I walked back to the van and dropped down the bank where I picked the group up and when just down the road and the took a track up to the far side of the valley where we checked out an area of mixed woodland, we parked and walked on the lower side of the wood on a track seeing Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Blue Tits (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus),  some really nice views of a pair of Bonelli's Warblers (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Common Frog (Rana temporaria), Wild Clary (Salvia verbenaca) and Green Alkanet (Pentaglottis sempervirens).

Hybrid Orchid.

Our next stop was at a visitor centre dedecated to the Western Cappercalle but unfortunatilly we did not learn a great deal there so we continued on to Village of Piedrafita de Babia where we had some lunch and checked out some breeding White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia) in the large pines above the road.
We retraced our way down to Somiedo and too a road from the town out towards some lakes in the Valle de Lago, we drove up the valley making a few stops on the way along the stream and eventually we reached a pool on the roadside. This was as far as we could get at this point as the road ahead of us was being resurfaced, we parked and had a walk around this lake and soon found Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathinerum) and Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator). On the water there were a few Mallards (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) but nothing much else. Along the track running along the far side of the pool towards the dam we had a few High Brown Fritillaries (Fabriciana adippe), Adonis (Lysandra bellargus) and Lorquin's Blue (Cupido lorquinii), Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenodes), Chestnut Heath (Coenonympha glycerion), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), a very nice Wood White (Leptidea sinapis) and down closer to the Dam a couple of Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus).

Large-flowered Butterwort (Pinguicula grandiflora).

Birds seen included a small group of Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) above a nearby ridge, a couple of Common Swifts (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), and in the trees near the dam a calling Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major) and both singing Iberian (Mosquitero Ibérico / Phylloscopus brehmii) and Common Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).

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Once the workmen had finished the road works we pushed on to the end of the road and parked, here we scanned the cliffs above us and soon had both Red-billed (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) and Alpine Chough (Chova Piquigualda / Pyrrhocorax graculus), another distant male
Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush and a calling Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia) in a small orchard on the edge of the village.

Common Frog (Rana temporaria).

On the bank we saw Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris), Common Orange-tip (Anthocharis cardamines), a quite a few more Clouded Yellows and a Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalia).

Burnet Moth.

We got back in to the valley and dropped ack to Somiedo where we dropped of some of the group at the hotel but Jo, Brian and I decided to go and have a look at some Iris plants we had seen on the road side up at Gúi. We parked and photographed the plants before finding a track down through the woodlands.
As we walked we came across a site of a mass grave from the Civil war and futher along the track lots of Ivy Broomrape (Orobanche hederae), Common Cow-wheat (Melampyrum pratense), Hart's Tongue Fern (Asplenium scolopendrium), Martagon Lily (Lilium Martagon), Wall Pennywort (Umbilicus rupestris), Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), Wild Strawberry (Fragaria vesca), Solomon's Seal (Polygonatum multiflorum), Heath Spotted Orchid, Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) and lots more Blackcaps.
We dropped back down to the Hotel and then went out again for a very nice meal in bar El Meirel, a real treat again after the very poor meal last evening.

Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathinerum).

Wood White (Leptidea sinapis).

Lorquin's Blue (Cupido lorquinii).

Adonis Blue (Lysandra bellargus).

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High Brown Fritillay (Fabriciana adippe).

Iris species.

Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalia).

Common Cow-wheat (Melampyrum pratense).

Hart's Tongue Fern (Asplenium scolopendrium).

Brian Photographing Hart's Tongue Fern (Asplenium scolopendrium).