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 Común / Colias corcea), Bath  (Blanqiverdosa / 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), Moroccan Orange-tip (Anthocharis belia) and Cleopatra (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).