Near Grazalema, Cadiz Province.

A visit to a friends garden.

Wasp Spider (Arana Tigre / Argiope bruennichi).

Jayne and I made a late start for an unexpected trip over to Grazalema to see our friend Sue and her young son Sam, on the way we called in at the Visitors centre in the town to see Clive. After meeting up with Sue in the town we went back to the house and had some lunch and then I spent some time wandering around the large garden. Down by the river I had some stunning views of a couple of Western Spectre’s (Boyeria Irene), loads of Copper Demoiselle (Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis) and a single teneral male Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii). 

Pink Crab Spider (Thomisus onustus).

Several butterflies were also along the river including a species that I had not seen before, Purple Hairstreak (Quercusia Quercus). Other insects included a Wasp Spider (Arana Tigre / Argiope bruennichi) a fearsome looking thing which was in the centre of a large web over the drive side stream, a Pink Crab Spider (Thomisus onustus), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina ssp hispulla), Clouded Yellow (Colias crocea), Long-tailed (Lampides boeticus), Lang's Short-tailed (Leptotes pirithous), Common / Southern Blue (Polyommatus icarus / celina) and Holly Blues (Celastrina argiolus). 

Lang's Short-tailed (Leptotes pirithous).

Birds included Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido / Apus pallidus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur) and Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei).

Lacewing eggs in a Rosemary bush.

While we were driving over we added a pair of Bonelli's Eagles (Aguila-azor Perdicera / Hieraaetus faciatus), a number of Montagu's Harriers (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) and loads of Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

Sue with Sam.