Near Atarfe, Granada, Granada Province.

A cracking day seeing a new Orchid Hybrid for Granada Province and possibly Andalucia.

Ophrys fusca (lupercalis/foriesteri) × Ophrys tenthredinifera = Ophrys × sancti-leonardii.

Ophrys × sancti-leonardii.

After seeing and commenting on a post by Granada Natural on Facebook I was contacted and offered the chance to go and see these exciting plants found by Jose Antonio Cucharero.

I met Jose Antonio Díaz  from Granada Natural at a service area just off the A92 and we headed to the site where we were soon joined by Lucas Gutiérrez Jiménez, Jose Antonio Cucharero, Eduardo Duro and Angel Esteban.

Ophrys × sancti-leonardii.

As we walked through the Pine woods to the spot we saw good numbers of spikes of Ophrys dyris, Mirror Orchid (Espejo de Venus / Ophrys speculum subsp speculum) and Sawfly Orchid (Flor de avispa / Ophrys tenthredinifera).

Ophrys × sancti-leonardii.

When we reached the location for the hybrid I was amazed to see how many spikes there were and how variable the flowers were, I soon had the camera to work and for the first time I actually used a tripod for the job which helped greatly as to start with the light was not great. some 300 shots later I had a look around with the others and added Yellow Bee Orchid (Orquídea Abejera / Ophrys lutea) to the list.

Ophrys × sancti-leonardii.

Birds seen and heard whilst we were in the woods included Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Bonelli's (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Subalpine Warbler (Curruca Carrasquena / Sylvia cantillans), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Crested (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cyanus), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius) and Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus).

Ophrys × sancti-leonardii.

Once things warmed up a few butterflies started to put in an appearance including several Green Hairstreaks (Callophrys rubi), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Bath  (Pontia daplidice), Large (Pieris brassicae) and Small Whites (Artogeia rapae), Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Swallowtail (Papilio machaon), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenoides) and Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra).

Ophrys dyris.

I would like to say a big thanks to the chaps who made me very welcome during their Orchid meeting and for the help and tips with the photograph. I had a great morning in good company with some special plants.

Ophrys dyris.

Ophrys dyris.

Mirror Orchid (Ophrys speculum).

Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera).

Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera).