Orchids near Ronda, Malaga and Cadiz Provinces.

Another new species.

Sulphur Orchid (Dactylorhiza sulphurea).

I spent the morning with Brenda Jones from Ronda searching for Orchids in the Genil Valley and at the Botanical Gardens in El Bosque. At the first site (information given by Ian Philips of Malaga) we had amazing views of 200+ spikes of Sulphur Orchid (Dactylorhiza sulphurea) in full bloom. Along with several Champagne Orchid (Orchis chanpagneuxii), Dense flowered Orchid (Neotinea maculata) and Sword-leaved Helleborine (Cephalanthera longifolia) it made quite a show.

We then made a bit of a mistake and drove the winding roads all the way to El Bosque which took along time and the Violet Limodore (Limodorum abortivum) we were hoping for were there but need another week before they were to be in flower. We would have been better spending the morning in the Genil Valley looking for other species.

 Sulphur Orchid (Dactylorhiza sulphurea).

On our travels we picked up Griffon Vulture (Buitre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Golden (Aguila Real / Aquila chrysaetos), Short-toed (Culebrera Europea / Circaetus gallicus) and Booted Eagles (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus), Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli) and Iberian Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Ibérica / Phylloscopus brehmii) was heard at the Botanic Gardens.