El Torcal, Malaga Province.

Another Saturday walk in amongst the rock formations.

David giving a Surmen from the rock pulpit.

Only four of us set out today, Sophie, Rowina, David and I made our way around the longer of the two routes at Torcal. It was much better than the last time I did this walk, as the skies were clear, we could see for miles from the many view points. 

Malaga from Torcal.

On the walk I noted Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Barn (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Red-rumped Swallows (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), Western House (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Eurasian Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Blue Rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Western Bonelli’s Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) x6 just as we reached the visitors centre, Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), European Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Eurasian Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes) and I also had several nice views of Western Orphean Warbler (Curruca Mirlona / Sylvia hortensis).

Looking back to the Visitors Centre.

At the furthest point in the walk we disturbed at least 5 Spanish Ibex (Capra pyreaica hispanica) from the rocks and along the way I added Cardinal Fritillary (argynnis Pandora), Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Clouded Yellow (Colias crocea), Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus) and Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria).