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Friday 23 June 2017

Undisclosed site, Granada Province.

Cream-coloured Courser (corredor Sahariano / Cursorius cursor) Spanish Lifer in Granada Province. 

Cream-coloured Courser (corredor Sahariano / Cursorius cursor).
I met up with Juan Pérez Contreras at his home as Juan, Beatriz, Jayne and I were meant to be going for a walk along the Rio Genil but plans change and Beatriz and Jayne went and did the walk whilst Juan and I went birding. 
Cream-coloured Courser (corredor Sahariano / Cursorius cursor).
With info Juan had got from the finder of the bird (Francisco Contreras Parody, thank you) we went out to a locaton in Granada Province where we found Juan Fransico Jimenez and then the Cream-coloured Courser (corredor Sahariano / Cursorius cursor) but not just one but a pair and when Juan came over to us he told us that when he arrived there had been three birds. 
Cream-coloured Courser (corredor Sahariano / Cursorius cursor).
After getting good but distant views of these stunning birds we left and met up with Beatriz and Jayne at a bar in Pinos Genil where we had a beer and tapas. A great evening.
Cream-coloured Courser (corredor Sahariano / Cursorius cursor).

Wednesday 21 June 2017

Sierra Nevada, Granada Province.

Back in to the mountains Butterfly hunting.
Day Three: with Kate and Jim from the UK.

Cardinal Fritillary (Argynnis pandora).
Today we went to the lower track near the Ski Resort in search of the photographs that were wanted and then later we dropped down the old road again to the river and during the day we saw and photographed. 
Cardinal Fritillary (Argynnis pandora).
During the walks around the ski resort and on the old road we had good views and took shots of Silver-studded (Plebejus argus hypochionus), Idas (Plebejus idas), Common / Southern (Polyommatus icarus / celina), Holly (Celastrina argiolus), Lang's Short-tailed (Leptotes pirithous), Long-tailed (Lampides boeticus), Escher's Blue (Agrodiaetus escheri), Spanish Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Southern Mountain Argus (Aricia montensis), Apollo (Parnassius apollo subsp nevadensis), Queen of Spain (Issoria lathonia), Marsh (Euphydrayas aurinia beckeri), Niobe (Argynnis niobe) and Cardinal Fritillary (Pandora / Argynnis pandora), Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra), False Ilex (Satyrium esculi), Blue Spotted (Satyrium spini) and Spanish Purple Hairstreaks (Laeosopis roboris).
Iberian Marbled White (Melanargia lachesis).
We also had Clouded Yellow (Colias corcea), Grayling (Hipparchia semele), Iberian Marbled White (Melanargia lachesis), Large White (Pieris brassicae), Purple-shot (Lycaena alciphron) and Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli) and Swallowtail (Papilio machaon), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Spanish Gatekeeper (Pyronia bathsheba), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina), Dusky Heath (Coenonympha dorus), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Comma (Polygomum c-album), Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Red-underwing (Spialia sertorius) and Small Skippers (Thymelicus sylvestris).
Iberian Marbled White (Melanargia lachesis).
Birds seen included Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Common Whitethroat  (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis), Melodious Warbler (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta), Coal Tit (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla).
Iberian Marbled White (Melanargia lachesis).
By mid afternoon the heat had grown and we decided to drop back down to the house and call it a day.
Epipactis fageticola.
Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe).

Clouded Yellow (Colias corcea).
Silver-studded Blue (Plebejus argus hypochionus).
Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris).
Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra).
Purple-shot Copper (Lycaena alciphron).
Provençal (Melitaea deione) or Heath Fritillary (Melitaea athalia).
Idas Blue (Plebejus idas) ???????
Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra).
Purple-shot Copper (Lycaena alciphron).

Tuesday 20 June 2017

Sierra Nevada, Granada Province.

Butterfly hunting up high again to try and avoid the heatwave below.
Day Two: with Kate and Jim from the UK.

Apollo (Parnassius apollo subsp nevadensis).
Today we went up even higher to get away for the heat and as we got nearer to the ski resort we could see the results of last nights storm, some of the slopes were again white but not with snow this time but large hail stones, the roads were also covered in debris after the rains had washed down the slopes.
Eurrhypis pollinalis.
After dropping Kate and Jim by the barrier and parking lower down we walked a short way out on the track to the Hoya de San Juan. In the short time we were along this track we caught up with some really good species including Apollo (Parnassius apollo), Spanish Brassy Ringlet (Erebia hispania), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Queen of Spain (Issoria lathonia), Niobe (Argynnis niobe) and Cardinal Fritillaries (Argynnis pandora), Clouded Yellow (Colias corcea), Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra), Small White (Pieris rapae), Silver-studded Blue (Plebejus argus), a moth called Eurrhypis pollinalis and several Dung Beetles rolling the pooooo balls. 
Idas Blue (Plebejus idas).
We also saw some birds and wild Flowers during the walk including Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Tawny Pipit (Bisbita campestre / Anthus campestris), House (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia).
Dung Beetle species.
We dropped down to an area near the resort and parked before taking another walk out on a track on to the slopes, where we parked we had a very smart Niobe Fritillary (Argynnis niobe) nectering on Knapweeds, here we also saw False Mallow / Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus tripolinus / alceae) and a Queen of Spain Fritillary.
Niobe Fritillary (Argynnis niobe).
Along the track we had Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis), Melodious Warbler (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra), two Cardinals which both sat nicely for the camera's, Purple-shot Copper (Lycaena alciphron), Southern Brown (Aricia cramera) and Southern Mountain Argus (Aricia montensis), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera) and Iberian Marbled White (Melanargia lachesis).
Niobe Fritillary (Argynnis niobe).
We dropped back down a good way and took the road behind the visitors center which was the original old road up and down the Sierra. 
Marsh Fritillary (Euphydrayas aurinia beckeri).
We stopped near the visitor center and checked the Thistles on the roadside where we saw Grayling (Hipparchia semele), Idas (Plebejus idas) and Escher's Blue (Agrodiaetus escheri).
Large Skipper (Ochlodes venatus).
Further down we stopped by a roadside meadow and had False Ilex (Satyrium esculi) and Blue Spotted Hairstreaks (Satyrium spini), Dusky Heath (Coenonympha dorus), Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli) and near the santuary and parked in the shade, we walked a little way up the road seeing lots more Iberian Marbled Whites, a couple more Cardinals, Spanish Purple Hairstreak (Laeosopis roboris), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina) and a little further down the road we had much the same species along with Comma (Polygomum c-album), Marsh (Euphydrayas aurinia beckeri) and High Brown Fritillaries (Fabriciana adippe).
Cardinal Fritillarie (Argynnis pandora).
We also found Epipactis fageticola, Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli) and Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla).
False Mallow / Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus tripolinus / alceae).
Again we dropped down and had a quick look at the river but it was hot and the stop was just a quick one, however we picked up Southern Marbled Skipper (Carcharodus baeticus), Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris), Black-veined White (Aporia crataegi) and Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus).
Grayling (Hipparchia semele).
At this point we called it a day as it was getting on and more to the point hot. 
Southern Mountain Argus (Aricia montensis).
Large Skipper (Ochlodes venatus).
Small White (Pieris rapae).
Epipactis fageticola.
Iberian Marbled White (Melanargia lachesis).
Iberian Marbled White (Melanargia lachesis).
False Ilex Hairstreak (Satyrium esculi).
Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli).
Southern Mountain Argus (Aricia montensis).
Black-veined White (Aporia crataegi).
Queen of Spain Fritillary (Issoria lathonia).

Monday 19 June 2017

Sierra Nevada, Granada Province.

Butterfly hunting up high to avoid the heatwave below.
Day One: with Kate and Jim from the UK.

Escher's Blue (Agrodiaetus escheri).
As we were in the middle of a middle of June heat wave we headed for the hills and spent the day in the Sierra Nevada. 
Escher's Blue (Agrodiaetus escheri).
After a coffee on the way up and a search of some waste ground opposite the bar which started the list off with Common / Southern Blue (Polyommatus icarus / celina), a fast flying Cardinal Fritillary (Argynnis pandora), Clouded Yellow (Colias corcea) and Swallowtail (Papilio machaon).
Apollo (Parnassius apollo subsp nevadensis).
During this day we called in at several sites and picked up Grayling (Hipparchia semele), Striped Grayling (Pseudotergumia fidia), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria),  Small (Thymelicus sylvestris) and Red-underwing Skippers (Spialia sertorius) Spanish Gatekeeper (yronia bathsheba), Bath (Pontia daplidice), Large (Pieris brassicae), Small (Pieris rapae), Cleopatra (Gonepteryxcleopatra), Escher's Blue (Agrodiaetus escheri), Spanish Purple (Laeosopis roboris), False Ilex (Satyrium esculi) and Blue Spotted Hairstreaks (Mancha Azul / Satyrium spini) and Hermit (Chazara briseis) but I missed this and it was only seen in Jims photographs later.  
Idas (Plebejus idas) or Silver-studded Blue (Plebejus argus hypochionus).
Iberian Marbled White (Medioluto Ibérica / Melanargia lachesis), Apollo (Parnassius apollo subsp nevadensis), Idas (Plebejus idas), Silver-studded (Plebejus argus hypochionus), Long-tailed  (Lampides boeticus), Holly (Celastrina argiolus), Adonis (Lysandra bellargus) and Escher's Blues (Agrodiaetus escheri), Spanish Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Queen of Spain (Issoria lathonia) and Marsh Fritillary (Euphydrayas aurinia beckeri), Red-underwing Skipper (Spialia sertorius), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) were also seen along with others.
Spanish Brown Argus (Aricia cramera).
During the day we also had Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) and Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli) amongst others. 
Clouded Yellow (Colias corcea).
As the afternoon went on the heat built and the clouds came in so we returned to the house and over night the area had quite a storm which we were to see the signs of next day.
Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris).

Grayling (Hipparchia semele).
Marsh Fritillary (Euphydrayas aurinia beckeri).
Red-underwing Skipper (Spialia sertorius).
Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra).