Sierra Nevada, Granada Province.

Searching for more Butterflies in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Emma and Aiden, Day Two.

♂ Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

We started out from the hotel a little earlier than yesterday so that we had time to get to the spot to catch the minibus, in the car park we had great views of a nice ♂ Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) along with Crag (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Pallid (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) and Common Swifts (Vencejo Común / Apus apus). 

Alpine Accentor (Acentor Alpino / Prunella collaris).

We got the minibus up to 3200m where we walked a train near by looking for Alpine Accentor (Acentor Alpino / Prunella collaris) but we did not find any did see Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and a soaring Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus). 

Sat photographing the Accentors (Taken by Emma or Aiden).

We returned to the main track and carried on up to the refuge building, on the way we recorded Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous), Queen of Spain Fritillary (Issoria lathonia), Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Large White (Pieris brassicae), Spanish Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) and Hummingbird Hawkmoth (Macroglossum stellatarum).

Alpine Accentor (Acentor Alpino / Prunella collaris).

Plants seen included Eryngium bourgatii, Eryngium glaciale, Hard Fern (Polystrichum lonchitis), Carduus carlinoides subsp. hispanicus, Chaenorrhinum glareosum, Cerastium alpinum subsp. nevadense, Senecio nevadensis and Centranthus nevadensis.

Emma and Aiden at 3200m.

In the area around the refuge we had fantastic views of a couple of adult and an immature Alpine Accentors (Acentor Alpino / Prunella collaris) which gave amazing views and were to close to photograph for a lot of the time.

Searching for the Accentors.

We walked back down to the spot where we caught the minibus and then dropped back to the car and the down to another trail near the Ski Resort where we had some lunch before walking out on to the slopes seeing Oriental Meadow Brown (Hyponephele lupinnus), Iberian Marbled White (Melanargia lachesis), Rock Grayling (Hipparchia alcyone), Small (Lycaena phlaeas) and Purple-shot Coppers (Lycaena alciphron), Small White (Pieris rapae), Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra), Nevada (Polyommatus golgus), Lang's Short-tailed (Leptotes pirithous), Silver-studded (Plebejus argus) and Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina), Clouded Yellow, Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris), Niobe (Fabriciana niobe), Southern Heath (Melitaea nevadensis) and Dark-green Fritillary (Speyeria aglaja).

Purple-shot Copper (Lycaena alciphron).

During the walk down we also saw Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica).

Silver-studded Blues (Plebejus argus).

Once we were back at the car and then dropped down to the car park at the Botanical Gardens where we checked the flower meadows near the entrance and found Cardinal Fritillary (Argynnis pandora), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Hermit (Chazara briseis), Spanish Chalk-hill Blue (Lysandra albicans), False Ilex Hairstreak (Satyrium esculi), Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Clouded Yellow, Rock Grayling, European Mantis (Mantis religiosa), Saddle-backed Bushcricket (Steropleurus andalusius), Large Psammodromus (Lagartija colilarga / Psammodromus algirus), Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli) and Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra).

Rock Grayling (Hipparchia alcyone) and Oriental Meadow Brown (Hyponephele lupinnus).

The day had flown by and it was time to head back to the Cortijo de Tajar hotel again where we said goodbye and went on our ways.

Knapweed Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe).

Thanks for the two days in the hills, I am pleased that you enjoyed the trips and thank you for doing such a great Trip Advisor review and for the notes which made the blog easier. 

Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas).

Hope to see you over this way at some time in the future.

Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris).

Nevada Blue (Polyommatus golgus).

Queen of Spain Fritillary (Issoria lathonia).

Spanish Chalk-hill Blue (Lysandra albicans).

Cardinal Fritillary (Argynnis pandora).

Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus).

Large Psammodromus (Lagartija colilarga / Psammodromus algirus).

Sierra Nevada, Granada Province.

Searching for Butterflies in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Emma and Aiden, Day One.

Spanish Brassy Ringlets (Erebia hispania).

I met Ema and Aiden near Huétor Tajar and we headed straight off up into the mountains, our first stop was near the ski resort on the A395 when we picked up a raptor which we never got onto properly after we parked but in the vegetation around the pull off we started the Butterfly list with Iberian Marbled White (Melanargia lachesis), Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus) and Spanish Brown Argus (Aricia cramera).

Tawny Pipit (Bisbita campestre / Anthus campestris).

We continued on up to the car parks at 2500m and found a roadside slot as the main parking areas were full being a Sunday. 

Nevada House Leek (Sempervivum minutum).

We got our kit together and then went for a walk out on one of the tracks nearby, luckily most of the people up there were going to the summit so this trail was relatively quiet. 

Queen of Spain Fritillary (Issoria lathonia).

As soon as we started out we picked up the first of many Spanish Brassy Ringlets (Erebia hispania) which appeared to be having a good year going by the numbers seen. 

Gentiana pneumonanthe subsp depressa,

We also had quite a few Apollo's (Parnassius apollo) but most of them were quite worn and seemed to be going over early this year, probably due to the extreme heat. 

Gentianella tenella,

We also had good views of Tawny Pipit (Bisbita campestre / Anthus campestris), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), an immature Coal Tit (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater) which looked a bit out of place amongst the rocks and in the air Crag (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Common (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) and Pallid Swifts (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) and drifting Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

Gentiana boryi,

As we continued along the track the list of butterflies grew and included Nevada Blue (Polyommatus golgus), Queen of Spain (Issoria lathonia) and Cardinal Fritillaries (Argynnis pandora), Black Satyr (Satyrus actaea), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Idas Blue (Plebejus idas), Rock Grayling (Hipparchia alcyone), Purple-shot Copper (Lycaena alciphron), Oriental Meadow Brown (Hyponephele lupinnus) and Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra) by the time we reached the area of wet gullies. 

Grass of Parnassus (Parnassia palustris).

We also had a few interesting wildflowers along the track sides, Chickweed (Cerastium boissieri), Fox Glove (Digitalis purpurea),  Hard Fern (Polystrichum lonchitis), Nevada House Leek (Sempervivum minutum), Sideritis glacialis, Arenaria imbricata and both Eryngium bourgatii and Eryngium glaciale.

Silver-spotted Skipper (Hesperia comma).

In this area we found several nice wild plants including Gentiana pneumonanthe subsp depressa, Gentiana boryi, Gentianella tenella, Grass of Parnassus (Parnassia palustris), Pinguicola nevadensis but not in flower, Epilobium atlanticum, Plantago nivalis also not in flower but locally very common, Saxifraga stellaris which was flowering in the damp gullies, Euphrasia willommii, Minature Wild Plum (Prunus prostrata) and then as we walked back we found the first Niobe Fritillary (Fabriciana niobe), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Silver-spotted Skipper (Hesperia comma), Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae), Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) and Bath White (Pontia daplidice).

Hermits (Chazara briseis) ♂.

Once we were back at the car we had a drink at a nearby bar and then dropped down to the thistle beds near the Visitors centre where we again boosted the list with Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli), Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni), Escher's Blue (Polyommatus escheri) and both ♂ and ♀ Hermits (Chazara briseis) as well as more Silver-spotted Skippers, Cardinal and Queen of Spain Fritillaries, Iberian Marbled Whites, Rock Grayling, Cleopatra and Spanish Brown Argus.

Hermits (Chazara briseis) ♀.

On a bend further down the hill we found Sage Skipper (Muschampia proto), Dusky Heath (Coenonympha dorus), Iberian Scarce Swallowtail, Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli).

Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli).

Further down the narrow road which was the original road up and down the Sierra we stopped again near to the Entrance to the Seminario amongst the broad leaved woods. The site was much quieter that on my last visit just 10 days earlier, mainly due to the fact that the verges and many of the plants had been strimmed down. 

We did however see Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Small White (Pieris rapae), Spanish Gatekeeper (Pyronia bathseba) and a short way further on Great Banded Grayling (Brintesia circe), Comma (Polygonia c-album), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus).

Cardinal Fritillaries (Argynnis pandora).

We dropped further down the hill but found that as it was a Sunday it was busy with people bathing in the Rio Genel so we carried on and headed back towards Huétor but called in at Balsa de Regidor where we had a look for some dragonflies and found Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata) x3♂, Small Red-eyed (Erythromma viridulum) x2♂, Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum) x1♂ and a Iberian Blue-tail (Ischnura graellsii) x1♂.

Birds at this site included an immature Night Heron (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and a Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos).

Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina).

Just down the road we stopped again to check an area of Wild Capers (Capparis spinosa) but found nothing butterfly wise but added Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).

We left this site and made our way back to the hotel where I dropped Emma and Aiden off and set up for the morning, day two.