Grazalema Area, Cadiz Province.

Looking for Narcisuss and Amphibians.

Sam, Sue and Jayne on their way up the track.

After a late breakfast we headed out for a walk along a footpath in the valley above the village of Grazalema following the road towards El Bosque. We parked and started the walk, in the car park we could hear Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus) and Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and just after crossing the first bridge we had the first of quite a few Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

Andalusian Storksill (Erodium recorderi).

We continued on along the track, some of which had good vegetation on the side but most of the area had been strimmed which meant that there was a lack of plants but we did find Andalusian (Erodium recorderi) and Mallow-leaved Storksbills (Erodium malacoides), Oleander (Nerium oleander), Southern Knapweed (Centaurea pullata ssp pullata), Southern (Bellis cordifolia) and Annual Daisy (Bellis annua) and then the species we had gone for the stunning Narcissus cuatrecasasii which was flowering from several cracks in a large block of rock on the track side. 

Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

On the rock there was also a small Crusifer type plant which I am still needing to name along with Rusty-backed Fern (Ceterach officinarum) and Maidenhair Spleenwort (Asplenium trichomanes) and Southern Knapweed (Centaurea pullata ssp pullata). 

Narcissus cuatrecasasii.

In one of the small concrete water cisterns along side the track we found 5 or 6 larvae of Fire Salamanda (Salamandra salamandra) and on the way back down towards the car we found a large number of Pine Processionary Moth Caterpillar's (Thaumetopoea pityocampa) but managed to avoid them but got some photographs. 

Pine Processionary Moth Caterpillar's (Thaumetopoea pityocampa).

As we walked back down towards the car we found Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Crested Tit (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) along with Small White (Artogeia rapae), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) and Clouded Yellow (Colias Común / Colias corcea).

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Once we were back at the car we went for lunch at the Venta near the house before going for a walk out on to the nearest part of La Rana where we were going to check out a small pool for Amphibians. 

Sam chilling at the Venta.

On the way round we found several spikes of Samwfly Orchids (Ophrys tenthredinifera) before getting to the pool. 

Pygmy Marbled Newt (Triturus pygmaeus).

Once there we spent some time searching amongst the Blanket Weed and eventually we found several Pygmy Marbled Newts (Triturus pygmaeus) which was a new species of Amphibian for my Spanish List. 

Southern Early Purple Orchid (Androrchis Olbiensis).

We walked back around to the bar and on the way we heard a couple of calling Green Woodpeckers (Pito Real / Picus viridis), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor). 

Marsh Chamomile (Chamaemelum fuscatum).

We reached the car and then went back to the house where I took some shots of a very nice Southern Early Purple Orchid (Androrchis Olbiensis) and Marsh Chamomile (Chamaemelum fuscatum) which was growing in Sue's Garden.