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Friday 7 April 2017

Padul, La Malaha and the Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

A days birding with Sue and Ian from the UK.

Long-tailed Tits (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus) nest.
I met Sue and Ian at the very smart looking Alhambra Palace Hotel, whilst I was waiting I did see Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus).
Once we had met up we went south down to Padul wetlands where we looked for the Spotted Crakes (Polluela Pintoja / Porzana porzana) which had been around for a while but today they did not want to put on a show. We did however find Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Willow (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Reed  (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) and Cetti's Warblers (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and an active Southern Water Vole (Rata topera / Arvicola sapidus) in a stream in the Eastern side of the reserve.
We also checked a Long-tailed Tits (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus) nest I had found a few days earlier, it was now finished and was still looking intact but vulnerable.
Female Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).
We moved on and called in at a Cortijo on our way out to the La Malaha area where we had good views of a large number of Lesser Kestrels (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni), several Crested Larks (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and a couple of pale phase Booted Eagles (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus) one of which soared quite close over head.
We moved on and parked on the roadside just outside the village where we found Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica) and Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica).
Out on the nearby fields we could hear and then found a fine male Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), there were at least another two males calling in the same area along with several Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) and  Short-toed Larks (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), a female Little Bustard which walked away from us and into a cereal field and on the far side of the site a Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius) which was seen in  row of Almond trees. In a set aside field we checked the plants and found Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas), Roemeria hybrida, Prickly Poppy (Papaver argenone), Red-horned Poppy (Glaucium corniculatum) as well as Clouded Yellow (Colias Común / Colias corcea) and Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) and as we left the site Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis).
We moved on and crossed the ridge between Ventas de Huelma and Cacín, on the way we stopped and had the sandwiches we had picked up in Ventas whilst watching a Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) being mobbed by a pair of Common Buzzards (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos).
Calandra Larks (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra).
Once we were down in the Valley we went up to the Contra-embalse de Bermejalis finding Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) and Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis).
In the trees along the river and amongst the Pines further up the Valley Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Coal Tit (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater) were seen along with my first Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca) of the year.
Our last stop of the day was on the fields near to Moraleda adding Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei) and around a dozen Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis). 
On our way off the site we stopped and checked a patch of ground amongst the Olives and saw Bumblebee (Ophrys bombyliflora), Dark Spider (Ophrys incubacea), Fan-lipped (Anacamptis collina), Mirror (Ophrys speculum) and Yellow Bee Orchids (Ophrys lutea) before heading back into the City.

Thursday 6 April 2017

Malaga Port, Malaga Province.

Goodbye to Kate and Jim and an evening in Malaga Port.

After taking Kate and Jim back to Malaga airport and saying goodbye Jayne and I went into Malaga and spent the rest of the evening in the port having a stroll and enjoying a drink and good meal.


Wednesday 5 April 2017

Serra de Loja, Granada Province.

A second trip up Sierra de Loja to mop up on a few species.
Kate and Jim McCusker, Day Eight.

Southern Early Purple Orchid (ChupaerosAndrorchis Olbiensis).
We started off by driving up to the lower quarry and checking the slopes again and we had good views of Dartford (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Spectacled (Curruca Tomillera / Sylvia conspicillata) and Sardinian Warblers (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Barn (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Red-rumped Swallows (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina).
Southern Early Purple Orchid (ChupaerosAndrorchis Olbiensis).
We also had Clouded Yellow (Colias corcea), Common / Southern Blue (Polyommatus icarus / celina), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Mirror (Ophrys speculum), Sawfly (Ophrys tenthredinifera), Southern Early Purple Orchid (Androrchis Olbiensis) in good numbers and varyng colours, Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea), Andalusian Storksbill (Erodium recorderi), Mediterranean Catchfly (Silene colorata), Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum umbellatum), Southern Daisy (Bellis cordifolia), Southern Knapweed (Centaurea pullata) and Viola dementria.
Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata) by Kate / Jim.
We moved off up the crags and before we reached the tops we saw Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), a late Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) which flew up the slope in front of the car, Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs).
Spectacled Warbler (Curruca Tomillera / Sylvia conspicillata) by Kate / Jim.
Once we were up on the tops we had an Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) which was singing from the top of a nearby Oak tree, Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Black-eared Wheatears (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus).
Viola dementria.
Up around the pools at Charca Negro and the far crags we found Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), a pair Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) which were dsplaying on a nearby crag, Alpine Swift (Vencejo Real / Apus melba), 3x Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) soaring over head, Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), a group of 50 or so Red-billed Choughs (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) and on a small pool below us there were a couple of pairs of Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos). 
Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula).
In the same are we saw Upland Peony (Paeonia coriacea) flowering amongst the rocks as well as Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera) and an Andalucian Wall Lizard (Podarcis vaucheri) which disappeared into a crack in a large rock.
Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) by Kate / Jim.
On our way back down we called into a couple dells and gullies where in the calmer areas we saw Iris Subbiflora, Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina), my first Knapweed Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe) of the year, Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenodes) and Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus).
Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia) by Kate / Jim.
Just before we headed off the hill we returned to the Quarry and scanned the cliffs again and found the Eagle Owl (Buho Real / Bubo bubo) was sat on the front of the nest platform and just before we drove out we found Spanish Toadflax (Linaria amethystea), Linum trigynum and a line of Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Pine Processionary) catapillars.
Black-eared Wheatear (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica).
This was the end of Kate and Jims tour with Granada Wildlife but they are back in June for the butterflies, Thanks for this tour and looking forward to seeing you both again in June, Mick.
Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).
Red-billed Choughs (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax).
Knapweed Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe).
Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina).
Eagle Owl (Buho Real / Bubo bubo).
Iris Subbiflora.
8691 Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Pine Processionary) catapillars.
Spanish Toadflax (Linaria amethystea).
Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea).
Unnamed Linaria sp.

Tuesday 4 April 2017

Padul, Rio Guadalfeo, Charca Suarez and Moraleda Fields, Granada Province.

Back to Kate and Jims trip after their second rest day.
Kate and Jim McCusker, Day Eight.

Spotted Crake (Polluela Pintoja / Porzana porzana).
Our first stop was back at a spot on the Padul Wetlands where we had watched a cracking Spotted Crake (Polluela Pintoja / Porzana porzana) a week earlier, this time we were hoping that both Jim and Kate get shots as Jim was in the wrong spot last time and the bird showed just briefly. This time they were both in the right spot and the shutter was soon rattling as the bird came into view and fed right in front of us and the only person in the wrong place was me and that did not matter.
Spotted Crake (Polluela Pintoja / Porzana porzana).
In the same area we also saw Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta), Reed (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) and Cetti's Warblers (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) as well as Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) and Small White (Pieris rapae).
Monarch (Danaus plexippus).
We dropped down towards the coast and paid a visit to the banks of the Rio Guadalfeo where we watched a pair of Dippers (Mirlo Acuático / Cinclus cinclus) whizzing up and down the river along with White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Large White (Pieris brassicae) and several Speckled Woods (Pararge aegeria).
Monarch (Danaus plexippus).
We moved down to the area to the rear of the Charca Suarez nature reserve where we quickly found a very tolerant Monarch (Danaus plexippus) which sat very nicely on the wildflowers along with a Swallowtail (Papilio machaon), an African Grass Blue (Nina esmaltada / Zizeeia knysna), Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) and Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).
Monarch (Danaus plexippus).
We made our way back North and then out on to the fields near Moraleda, on the way we had a very well behaved Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) which after a good yawn posed nicely for us.
Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).
Once we were out on the fields we went to the ruined Cortijo and tried but struggled to photograph the good numbers of butterflies which included Bath (Blanqiverdosa / Pontia daplidice) and Green-Striped Whites (Euchloe belemia), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera) and Swallowtail (Papilio machaon). Birds included Short-toed (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), Thekla (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and Calandra Larks (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and European Bee-eaters (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster). 
Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

We moved across to the far side of the site where we checked some areas of Almond trees and found Common / Southern Blue (Polyommatus icarus / celina), Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenodes), Mirror Orchid (Ophrys speculum), Fan-lipped Orchid (Anacamptis collina) and a flock 12+ Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis), they were flighty but Kate and Jim managed some distant shots before we headed back to the hotel.
European Bee-eaters (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster).

Monday 3 April 2017

Padul Wetlands, La Malaha and the Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

A days birding with Lesley and John from the UK.

Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus) collecting nesting material.
I met Lesley and John in the center of Granada and after a rather rapid pick up due to traffic, people and stages being put up for Easter in my usual spot we were on our way south out of the City heading for the wetlands at Padul. Once parked we walked out on the board walk to a spot where over the last couple of weeks I had seen up to 3 Spotted Crakes (Polluela Pintoja / Porzana porzana) and as we arrived one bird disappeared off to the left and into the reeds but we soon had another bird right in front of us which was joined by the original bird. A few seconds later a third bird flew out off the reeds and ran into some distant vegetation and then to my surprise a fourth bird called from behind us.
In the same area we had Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Cetti's (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and Reed (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) and Willow Warblers (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus).
Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus) collecting nesting material.
After watching the Crakes we walked along the boardwalk where we checked through the warblers that were flitting through the willows calling and singing, in the area we saw or heard Common (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and Iberian Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Ibérico / Phylloscopus brehmii), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), a little further along the trail we found a nest building Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus) which had built in a most unexpectedly exposed location in the V of a tree. The bird continued to collect fine bark from a tree just above our heads and showed very well for us. From a point further along the track we watched a female Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and a group of four Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus) which flicked up above the reeds briefly. 
During the walk we also saw Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenodes), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Small (Pieris rapae) and Large Whites (Pieris brassicae).
Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus) nest building.
We returned to the car and then headed out to a semi-disused Cortijo where we had good views of several pairs of Lesser Kestrels (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica).
We moved on and spent a few minutes on the edge of La Malaha seeing Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica) and Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata).
Out on the nearby fields we parked on the roadside where we could hear at least 3 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) and just a few minutes later Lesley picked up a stunning male in a field next to us, a great find.
We also had Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) and Short-toed Larks (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), a Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) and a calling Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) which remained out of sight.
Spotted Crake (Polluela Pintoja / Porzana porzana).
Further along the track near the oil pits we a male Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and a couple of Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) which were sat on a chainlink fence around the site along with a surprisingly late Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris) which flew off with the other two. As we were leaving the site we had a Ocellated Lizard (Lacerta lepida) sunning its self on a rock pile.
We moved on and had some lunch in the bar in Ventas de Huelma before driving over the ridge to Cacín adding House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina).
Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).
We dropped down the Valley to the gorge and Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius) and Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) showed to boost the day list.
Back further up the valley we stopped at the Embalse and Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) were all out on the water and there were Little Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus) and Green Sandpipers (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) on the sand bars as the water was low. In the same area we also had a soaring Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) and a calling Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus), the first of the year for me.
Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenodes).
Further up the valley we heard a Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla) and saw several Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).
Our last stop of the day was up on the fields near Moraleda, things were quiet but we found Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and then right at the end of the day Lesley again came up with the birds when she spotted 3 Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis) in the gap between a long line of Almonds. We then moved of the site and headed for Granada where I dropped Lesley and John back in the center of the city.

Sunday 2 April 2017

Sierra de Loja and Zafarraya Road, Granada Province.

Mountain birds, orchids and a few butterflies.
Kate and Jim McCusker, Day Seven.

Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti).
Kate, Jim and I headed for Loja after a quick look around the fields along the side of the Arroyo Vilano where we started the day off with the song of several Nightingales (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Cetti's (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and Reed Warblers (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), around 50 Common Waxbills (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Common (Urraca / Pica pica) and Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).
Common Waxbills (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild).
After a hour or so we moved on and made our way up to the lower Quarry on Sierra de Loja and had a wander around the area at the top of the track adding to the day list with singing Dartford (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Subalpine (Curruca Carrasquena / Sylvia cantillans) and Spectacled Warblers (Curruca Tomillera / Sylvia conspicillata) all of which were dashing around between the many Gorse bushes, Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata). 
Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Cabra pyreaica).
There were a small number of butterflies including Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenodes), Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) and Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera). 
Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina).
We also saw several orchids, the commonest as usual were the Yellow Bee's (Ophrys lutea) but we also saw a few Southern Early Purple (Androrchis Olbiensis) in various colour forms lining the quarry top, several spikes of Sawfly (Ophrys tenthredinifera) were growing along side the track along with several past their best Somber Bee Orchids (Ophrys fusca / O. forestieri). 
Conical Orchid (Neotinea conica).
Goodnumbers of wild flowers were also starting to show and these included the rare Viola dementria, Southern Red Bartsia (Parentucellia latifolia), Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum umbellatum), Red Phlomis (Phlomis purpurea), Mediterranean Catchfly (Silene colorata), Mallow-leaved Bindweed (Convolvulus althaeoides), Common Grape Hyacinth (Muscari neglectum), Common Fumitory (Fumaria officinalis), Common Snapdragon (Antirrhinum major) and Andalusian Storksbill (Erodium recorderi).
A female Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura).
We moved on out on to the crags and found a pair of Black Wheatears (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Jackdaws (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Buckler Mustard (Biscutella frutescens), Field marigold (Calendula arvensis), Grey-leaved Cistus (Cistus albidus) and Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas).
Viola dementria.
Up on the tops we pushed on to the far side where we were looking for Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush (Roquero Roja / Monticola saxatilis) but we diddipped on this species but did see Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Black-eared (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica) and Northern Wheatears (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) and Woodchat Shrikes (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia) as well as a couple of groups of Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Cabra pyreaica).
Andalusian Storksbill (Erodium recorderi).
On the way down the hill we stopped in a small dell and saw Weasel (Comadreja / Mustela nivalis), Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina) and a single spike of Conical Orchid (Neotinea conica) which was the first time I had seen this species on to of the sierra and near Charca del Negro I found that the Narcissus bugei were in flower on the crags.
Black-eared Wheatear (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica).
Once we were down we made our way down the western side of the Sierra and made a coupe of stops between Venta del Raya and Zafarraya, on the way we had some lunch and found Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli), Clouded Yellow (Colias corcea), Carpentor Bee (Xylocopa violacea) and Hummingbird Hawkmoth (Macroglossum stellatarum) all nectering at a nice Lilac Tree. 
Narcissus bugei.
On the way down the valley we saw a couple of Montagu's Harriers (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) displying above a regular field where we see them every year. 
Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli).
Between the two stops we picked up Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), a drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), a singing Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus), Giant (Himantoglossum robertiana) and Pink Butterfly Orchids (Anacamptis papilionacea) which were new, also seen were more Yellow Bee, Conical, Fan-lipped and Southern Early Purples
Pink Butterfly Orchids (Anacamptis papilionacea).
There were no new butterflies but we did see more Moroccan Orange-tips, Spanish Festoon, Wall Brown and Large White before we headed back up to the hotel.