Ophrys Fusca subsp fusca, El Turro, Granada Province.

First Orchids of the year.

Ophrys forestieri

Ophrys forestieri

Whilst out birding in the Cacin Valley near El Turro today we found several spikes of Ophrys forestieri in flower, the first orchids of the year. Standing between 6 and 10 cms tall, about 30 plants were found on a roadside verge under Pine trees, plants can reach a hight of 40 cms. Most spikes have between 2 and 9 blooms. This species is usually one of the first to be found in flower but this year after the wet winter and a few days of sun shine they are earlier than usual. All the plants found were of the sub species fusca the most common form in our region. Two others can be seen, subspecies Dyris (some botanists consider this subsp to be a true species) and Ophrys subfusca. This species is found commonly though out the Iberian Peninsula and the Mediterranian.

Red-knobbed Coots at Embalse del Cacin and at the Pantaneta de Alhama, Granada Province.

Red-knobbed Coot (Focha moruna / Fulica cristata).

Male Red-knobbed Coot (Focha moruna / Fulica cristata).

Whilst on a visit to the Embalse del Cacin with a group of Spanish Friends (Alice, Zoe, Candi, Lourdes, Antonio, Jesús, Jorge, Juanra and Juanfra) we discovered a pair of Red-knobbed Coot feeding on the road edge of the lake. After a controversial bird at Pantaneta de Alhama back in 2008 (photo's above) it was great to see what appear to be a genuine pair in a good breeding habitat. The species is a very rare bird through out Southern Spain with a strong, long running reintroduction program.

Sierra de Loja, Granada Province.

Sierra Nevada Crocus (Crocus nevadensis).

Sierra Nevada Crocus (Crocus nevadensis).

Two plants were found today after information from John Wainwright, growing amongst gorse scrub on a limestone covered slope in the Sierra de Loja. One of the plants was well over but the second was still in good condition.

An endemic of Iberia and North Africa which can be seen in flower as early as February just as the snow starts to thaw.

The is a plant of between 4 and 5 cms tall with narrow leaves of green with a paler center rib.