A day in the Sierra Nevada with SEO, Granada Province.

The Genil Valley.

Rio Genil in a wooded valley.

A group of 13 set off on a wild life walk along the Rio Genil in the wooded valleys in the north of the National Park. The walk started at Estacion de Maitena just east of Guejar-Sierra and followed the Rio Genil for quite a few KMs. Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), European Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica) and Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) were all seen before leaving the road and following the disused tram line. Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Eurasian Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) were all feeding in a small group of Sweet Chestnut Trees (Astanea sativa) along the way. 

Digitalis obsura.

Pyrenean Oak (Quercus pyrenaica) and Yew (Taxus baccata) were both found near the first Venta and just before we left the tram way to join la Vereda de la Estrella we found several spikes of Robust Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza elata) in a track side flush along with Digitalis obsura and Dianthus Pungens. Acer granatense, Acer monspessulanum and Sorbus torminalis were three new tree species I had not seen before in Granada Province which were all described by our walk leader Jorge Garzón.  

Western Bonelli’s Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), European Robin (Petirrrojo / Erithacus rubecula), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla) and Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos) all sang from the scrub growing on the slopes.

Pyrenean Oak (Quercus pyrenaica).

We stopped for lunch on the bank of the Rio Genil where a White-throated Dipper (Mirlo Acuático / Cinclus cinclus) put in an appearance up stream from us.

The weather then took a turn for the worse, thunder, lightening, hail, rain and snow all took their turn before the sun returned. 

The storm rumbled away behind us for the rest of the day but did not cause any problems, so we added Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Eurasian Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Eurasian Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Blue-Rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Common Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) and Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) to the day's list on the way back to the cars. 

Some snow on the  Sierra.

Many more species were seen during the day (too many to list here) and every one had a most enjoyable walk.

A day in the Sierra Nevada with SEO, Granada Province, (part two).

Some of the Butterflies in Sierra Nevada.

Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus alceae).

Whilst on the walk, a good number of butterflies were seen in the sunshine that was with us for most of the day. Many species were seen collecting minerals and water from the small flows of water along the pathways.

False Mallow / Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus tripolina / alceae).

Many False Mallow / Mallow (Carcharodus tripolina / alceae) and Small Skippers (Thymelicus sylvestris) and Marsh Fritillaries (Euphydryas aurinia) were found at these wet flushes.  

Large (Pieris brassicae), Small (Artogeia rapae) and Black-Veined Whites (Aporia crataegi), Spanish Gatekeeper (Pyronia bathseba) and Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) were all seen commonly flying amongst the trees.

Cardinal Fritillary (Argynnis pandora).

Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Spanish Marbled White (Melanargia ines), Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenoides),  and Common Orange-tip (Anthocharis cardamines), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae), Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina), Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli) the southern form of this species, Cardinal Fritillary (Argynnis pandora), Southern Blue (Polyommatus  celina) which is also quite different from the Northern European form (female having blue upper wings), Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) also differing slightly from Northern forms by having Orange instead of cream spots and Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera) were all also seen during the day.

Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina).