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Saturday 10 June 2017

Travelling South to Malaga via Tablas de Daimiel in Ciudad Real.

Granada Wildlifes tour of Belchite and the Pyrenees.
Day Eight. 
An 1100KM drive with a stop at Tablas wetlands.

Norfolk / Green-eyed Hawker (Aeshna isoceles) a new species for my Spanish dragonfly list.
Photographing the Norfolk Hawker.
Today was going to be a long one as we had a long drive ahead of us, on the way down the Hecho Valley we started the list off with House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Black (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans) and Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and a couple of Red-backed Shrikes (Alcaudón Dorsirrojo / Lanius collurio) sat on roadside wires.
Norfolk / Green-eyed Hawker (Aeshna isoceles).
Once we were out of the Valley we made our way south past Zaragoza and around Madrid, on the way adding Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Rock Pigeon (Paloma Bravia / Columba livia), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) and Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur). 
Red-crested Pochard (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina).
South of Madrid we added Roller (Carraca / Coracias garrulus), Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush (Roquero Roja / Monticola saxatilis), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and after coming off the motorway we saw a Rufous Bush Robin (Alzacola / Cercotrichas galactotes) sat on the top of a roadside telegraph pole.
Red-crested Pochard (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina).
Our only proper birding stop of the day was Tablas de Daimiel, a superb wetland site with board walks that take you through and across pools and reedbeds. 
On the board walk at Tablas.
After we parked we spent three hours wandering around the seeing some really nice species, in the car park on some Lavender we found a good selection of Butterflies including Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni), Bath (Pontia daplidice) and Small Whites (Pieris rapae), Long-tailed (Lampides boeticus) and Common / Southern Blue (Polyommatus icarus / celina), Sage (Muschampia proto) and Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris).
Great White Egret (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba).
On the board walks and islands birds including Woodchat Shrike, Red-rumped and Barn Swallow, European Bee-eater, Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Reed (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Great Reed (Carricero Tordal / Acrocephalus arundinaceus), Cetti's (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Savi's (Buscarla Unicolor / Locustella luscinoides) Western Olivaceous Warblers (Zarcero Pálido Occidental / Hippolais opaca), Bearded Tit (Reedling) (Bigotudo / Panurus biarmicus), 
Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica).
Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Penduline Tit (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus), Yellow (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) and White Wagtails, Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Little Bittern (Avetorillo Común / Ixobrychus minutus), Night (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax), Purple (Garza Imperial / Ardea purpurea) and Grey Herons (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Great White (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba), Little (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) and Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), Great Crested (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus) and Little Grebes (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Red-crested Pochard (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Yellow-legged Gulls, Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).
Little (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) and Great White Egrets (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba) and a female Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos).
Norfolk / Green-eyed Hawker (Aeshna isoceles), Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum), Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea), Lesser (Anax parthenope) and Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator) and Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) were also seen.
Catfish and its youngsters.
After the three hours it was getting a tad warm so we headed south through Jaen, Granada and down to Malaga where we dropped Andy M into the city, Andy P to the starting point where his daughter picked him up and the Juliet and David home before I dropped the Van back and Jayne picked me up and we went home.
Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea), male.
I would like to say thanks to Andy M, Andy P, Juliet and David for a super trip and for making the 9 days so memorable, we saw a great number of bird species along with some butterflies, dragonflies, orchids, wildflowers and mammals and I do not think I have laughed quite so much on a tour before, THANKS.
Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea).
Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).

Friday 9 June 2017

Astún and Candanchú, Aragon and travelling.

Granada Wildlifes tour of Belchite and the Pyrenees.
Day Seven. Back to the high mountains.

Old Bridge over the Rio Aragon.
Around the hotel after a great breakfast we saw Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).
Aquilegia vulgaris.
En-route to the mountains we took the cross country route and stopped a few times picked up Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major),  
Spanish Heath (Coenonympha glycerion iphioides).

Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Egyptian Vulture (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus) and then on the bridge which crosses the Rio Aragon we picked up Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Black Redstart, Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Garden Warbler (Curruca Mosquitera / Sylvia borin),
Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera).
Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalia), Ivy-leaved Toadflax (Cymbalaria muralis), Aquilegia vulgaris, Large Blue Flax (Linum narbonense), White Rockrose (Helianthemum apenninum) and Large Wall Brown (Lasiommata maera).
Robust MarshOrchid (Dactylorhiza elata).
Moving on we came to a picnic area and had a good look around the area of Pine woods and along the river seeing Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), at least three Bonelli's Warblers (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli) which were chasing each other round the trees, Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), Crested Tit (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus) and along a small damp patch in the center of the site Greater Butterfly (Platanthera chlorantha), Robust Marsh (Dactylorhiza elata), Fragrant (Gymnadenia conopsea), Pyramidal, Bee (Ophrys apifera) and several well over with Lady Orchids (Orchis purpurea).
Greater Butterfly Orchid (Platanthera chlorantha).
In the same area we also found Branched Asphodel (Asphodelus ramosus), Marsh Violet (Viola palustris), Spanish Heath (Coenonympha glycerion iphioides), Large White (Pieris brassicae) and Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris).
Greater Butterfly Orchid (Platanthera chlorantha).
Further along the road in an area of more open fields we made another stop and checked the hay meadows for birds but they came from the skys first including Egyptian and Griffon Vultures, Red Kite, Carion Crow, Common Magpie, Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), male and female Red-backed Shrikes (Alcaudón Dorsirrojo / Lanius collurio) sat out on a wire along with a male Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra). In the hedgerow bushes a Nightingale sang and a couple of Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa) called. 
Agrimony (Agrimonia Eupatoria).
There were also a couple of new plants found Agrimony (Agrimonia Eupatoria), Sainfoin (onobrychis viciifolia) and lots of Perez's Frogs (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi) which were calling from  nearby farm pool.
Common Marbled White (Melanargia galathea).

In a wooded valley futher on we stopped and had a pair of Bonelli's Eagles (Aguila-azor / Hieraetus faciatus) which circled over nearby trees along with a Booted (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus), these were followed by an American F15 being chased down by a Euro-fighter.
Spanish Chalk-hill Blue (Polyommatus albicans).

In the same area we had Wren, Nightingale, Chaffinch, a singing Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Spanish Gatekeeper (Lobito listado / Pyronia bathsheba), Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Boloria euphrosyne), Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus), Common Marbled White (Melanargia galathea) and Lesser Butterfly Orchid (Platanthera bifolia).
Wild Strawberry (Fragaria vesca).

At high spot in the road near a refugio we parked up and wandered seeing Roe Deer (Corzo / Capreolus capreolus), Spanish Chalk-hill Blue (Polyommatus albicans), Large Wall Brown, Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and little further on we saw a few road side Lizard Orchids (Himantoglosum hircinum).
Lizard Species.

On the way up to the mountain summits we picked up Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and just after we parked at Astún and started the walk we saw Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Citril Finch (Verderón Serrano / Serinus citrinella), Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), a singing Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), a Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) which came up over the ridge with a Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) in tow.
Purple-edged Copper (Lycaena hippothoe).

We continued on along the track finding more butterflies as it warmed up including Clouded Yellow (Colias corcea), Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus), Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus malvae), Little Blue (Cupido minimus), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Purple-edged Copper (Lycaena hippothoe), Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae), Swallowtail (Papilio machaon), Large (Pieris brassicae) and Wood Whites (Leptidea sinapis), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera) and Adonis Blue (Lysandra bellargus) as well as Hummingbird Hawkmoth (Macroglossum stellatarum) and a Forester Moth Species.
Purple-edged Copper (Lycaena hippothoe).

More species were seen including Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), another Golden Eagle, Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), 2 Tree Pipits (Bisbita Arbóreo / Anthus trivialis) one of which was singing whilst the other was carrying food, Citril Finch, Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) as well as Wild Strawberry (Fragaria vesca), Common Spotted (Dactylorhiza fuchsii), Broad-leaved Marsh (Dactylorhiza majalis), a single spike of Early Purple Orchid (Orchis mascula) and a couple of yelling Marmot (Marmota / Marmota marmota).
Heath Spotted (Dactylorhiza maculata).
We had some lunch in Candanchu and then went above the town seeing a good number of Alpine Choughs (Chova Piquigualda / Pyrrhocorax graculus) along with a few Red-billed (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax). 
Wood White (Leptidea sinapis).
Later we had a walk along a track along a small stream where we had good views of a stunning male Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush (Roquero Roja / Monticola saxatilis), Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).
Forester Moth Species.
In the grassy areas around the stream we found Broad-bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa), Mountain Ringlet (Erebia epiphron), Large-flowered Butterwort (Pinguicula grandiflora), Alpine Bartsia (Bartsia alpina), Alpine Asphodel (Tofieldia calyculata), Heath Spotted (Dactylorhiza maculata), Broad-leaved Marsh Orchids (Dactylorhiza majalis) and what were possibly a few Alpine Marsh Orchids (Dactylorhiza alpestris) but this is a difficult group to sort.
Working them too hard??????

Once we returned to the van we headed back to the hotel on the quick roads but finished off with Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) on the Rio Aragon.
Mountain Ringlet (Erebia epiphron).
Alpine Marsh Orchids (Dactylorhiza alpestris).
Alpine Asphodel (Tofieldia calyculata).
Alpine Asphodel (Tofieldia calyculata).
Alpine Bartsia (Bartsia alpina).
Large-flowered Butterwort (Pinguicula grandiflora).


Thursday 8 June 2017

Irati Woods, Navarra.

Granada Wildlifes tour of Belchite and the Pyrenees.
Day Six.
Woodpecker hunting.

The start of the walk.
Around the hotel we started the day list off as usual with Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus).
Piedmont Ringlet (Erebia meolans).
On our way out to the woods we stopped at as few spots as possible as it was 80 odd KM along a very winding road but we did see Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), a nice male Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) which took the species off the guide only list, Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes) and Large White (Pieris brassicae).
Large Skipper (Ochlodes venatus).
Near Garde, Ochavagia and along the NA40 we boosted the list with Egyptian Vulture (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Bullfinch (Camachuelo Común / Pyrrhula pyrrhula), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Red-billed (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) and Alpine Choughs (Chova Piquigualda / Pyrrhocorax graculus), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe).
Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri).
Once we were down in the woodlands we parked and had a chat with the lady in the shed and she gave us info about the bird we wanted and which trail to look for it on. So we started the walk and soon had good views of Goldcrest (Reyezuelo Sencillo / Regulus regulus), Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater) and Crested Tits (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus), Dipper (Mirlo Acuático / Cinclus cinclus), Great Spotted Woodpecker, Common Treecreeper (Agateador Norteño / Certhia familiaris), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla) and then for the second time I missed a White-backed Woodpecker (Pico Dorsiblanco / Dendrocopos leucotos) by seconds but I was pleased that Andy M managed to get brief but good views of one when it flew past him and disappeared into a lager pine tree just before the rest of us came around the corner.
High Brown Fritillary (Fabriciana adippe).
We continued on to the spot we were told that they are regularly seen but after spending quite a while there we decied to walk back for lunch and on the way we picked up Wood (Leptidea sinapis), Small (Pieris rapae) and Western Dappled Whites (Euchloe crameri), Large Skipper (Ochlodes venatus) and Lulworth Skipper (Thymelicus acteon), High Brown (Fabriciana adippe) and Cardinal Fritillaries (Pandora / Argynnis pandora), Piedmont Ringlet (Erebia meolans), Large Wall Brown (Lasiommata maera), Hummingbird Hawkmoth (Macroglossum stellatarum), a pair of soaring Northern Goshawk (Azor Común / Accipitor gentillis) along with a couple of Griffon Vultures and a singing male Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus). 
High Brown Fritillary (Fabriciana adippe).
Once we were back at the van we had some lunch and then started to make our way back towards the hotel, we stopped on the top of the highest point and had a stretch of the legs and in a bit of pine woodland came across a mixed flock of tits including Blue, Great, Coal, Crested, Long-tailed and Marsh Tit (Carbonero Palustre / Parus palustris) along with Goldcrest (Reyezuelo Sencillo / Regulus regulus) and during the rest of the drive back we added Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Bullfinch, Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Carrion Crow as well as Lizard (Himantoglosum hircinum), Fragrant (Gymnadenia conopsea) and Pyramidal Orchids (Anacamptis pyramidalia).
Sheildbug Species.
We reached the hotel and after getting freshened up had another good evening meal and a few more laughs.

Wednesday 7 June 2017

Sierra de Alano, Aragon.

Granada Wildlifes tour of Belchite and the Pyrenees.
Day Five. A stroll in the mountains !!!!

Our target today, the left hand cutting in the cliff.
OK, today was always going to be hard work but it is by far my favourate day of this tour. Around the hotel we started off with Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).
Chamois (Rebeco / Rupicapra rupicapra).
It was only a shortish drive up to the start point but on the way we saw Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Carrion Crow, Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Common Magpie, Blackcap, Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus), Bullfinch (Camachuelo Común / Pyrrhula pyrrhula), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris).
The left hand Gap is looking closer or so I kept telling everyone.
We drove up the valley towards the car park seeing White Wagtail, Dipper (Mirlo Acuático / Cinclus cinclus), Citril Finch (Verderón Serrano / Serinus citrinella), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major) as well as several Chamois (Rebeco / Rupicapra rupicapra) and a strange looking Wild Goat
Alpine Choughs (Chova Piquigualda / Pyrrhocorax graculus).
Once we were in the car park we kitted up and started to walk up the track part of this hike, during this first stretch we saw Grey Wagtail, Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Marsh (Carbonero Palustre / Parus palustris) and Crested Tits (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), an immature Bullfinch (Camachuelo Común / Pyrrhula pyrrhula), Dingy Skipper (Erynnis tages), Fragrant Orchid (Gymnadenia conopsea) and Red Squirrel (Ardilla común / Sclurus vulgaris).
Alpine Chough (Chova Piquigualda / Pyrrhocorax graculus).
Just before we broke through the trees we saw Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Common (Agateador Norteño / Certhia familiaris) and Short-toed Treecreepers (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Welsh Poppy (Meconopsis cambrica), Large-flowered Butterwort (Pinguicula grandiflora), Wood Spurge (Euphorbia amygdaloides), Lesser Butterfly Orchid (Platanthera bifolia), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) and Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta).
Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax).
Continuing on we found a singing Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae), Clouded Yellow (Colias corcea), Small (Pieris rapae) and Large Whites (Pieris brassicae), Piedmont Ringlet (Erebia meolans), Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Boloria euphrosyne) and Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas).
On the lower meadows catching out breath.
We reached the point where we were going to leave the main track, Andy P at this point headed further along the track and Andy M, David, Juliet and I headed further up the hill making for the gap above us. 
A breather on the last leg on the way up.
On the way we had Black Vanilla (Nigritella angustifolia), Elder-flowered (Dactylorhiza sambucina) and Frog Orchids (Dactylorhiza viride), Moonwort (Lunaria menor / Botrychium lunaria), Alpine Bistort (Polygonum viviparum), Alpine Toadflax (Linaria alpina), Chamois (Rebeco / Rupicapra rupicapra), Yellowhammer (Escribano Cerillo / Emberiza citrinella), Water Pipit, Red-billed (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) and Alpine Choughs (Chova Piquigualda / Pyrrhocorax graculus) and in the narrow approach to the top of the cutting we came across a family party of Alpine Accentors (Acentor Alpino / Prunella collaris) and two of the birds allowed us to get very close but we were in the deep shade of the cliffs which made getting descent shot hard.
Alpine Accentors (Acentor Alpino / Prunella collaris).
We continued on up and through to the Alpine meadows above the cutting, just as we reached the top the first Snowfinch (Gorrión Alpino / Montifringilla nivalis) flew over us and away down the hill. 
Alpine Toadflax (Linaria alpina).
At the top we had a while to get our breath and eat our lunch, we had done the climb faster than expected so we had a good look around the meadows having several more views of the Snowfinches but all in flight. 
Black Vanilla Orchid (Nigritella angustifolia).
On the meadows we also had Peacock (Aglais io), Little Blue (Cupido minimus), Small Tortoiseshells, Spring Gentian (Gentiana verna) and masses of Pyrenean Buttercup (Ranunculus pyrenaeus).
Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe).
Just before we started the decent we had a drifting Lammergeier / Bearded Vulture (Quebrantahuesos / Gypaetus barbatus) pass along a ridge on the far side of the meadows and a Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus) which circled over head and dropped down into the valley below.
Yellowhammer (Escribano Cerillo / Emberiza citrinella).
As we dropped down we saw much the same species as on the way up including Dipper, Marsh Tit, Yellowhammer, Cardinal Fritillary (Pandora / Argynnis pandora) and Swallowtail (Papilio machaon).
Frog Orchid (Dactylorhiza viride).
We were down the hill quicker than expected so we decided to go and have a look at the meadow area below Gabadito but on the way there we made a stop and found Southern White Admiral (Limenitis reducta), Bullfinch, Egyptian and Griffon Vultures and Jay.
Just coming over the top.
On the meadows we picked up Red-backed Shrike (Alcaudón Dorsirrojo / Lanius collurio), Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus), Adonis Blue (Lysandra bellargus), Dingy Skipper (Erynnis tages) and Large White.
Our Lunch stop.
Later we were back at the hotel and had another very good meal before hitting the pit after a hard but great day.
Spring Gentian (Gentiana verna).
Spring Gentian (Gentiana verna).
A small pool on the alpine meadows.
The view back down the hill from our lunch spot where we saw the Snowfinches.
Peacock (Aglais io).
Moonwort (Lunaria menor / Botrychium lunaria).
Adonis Blue (Lysandra bellargus).