Sierra de Mijas and Torremolinos, Malaga Province.

A nice unexpected day out with Jayne.

Atlas Orchid (Ophrys atlantica).

Jayne was having a good day after her treatment so in the late morning we headed down to the coast for a visit to the shops, so after checking on the internet that the shops would be open even though it was the Easter holiday week we set out only to find that google was wrong and everywhere except for Deals was shut. 

Atlas Orchid (Ophrys atlantica).

So after collecting a few bits from Deals in Malaga we went out to the Sierra de Mijas where I checked out a couple of spots for Orchids, at the first there were lots of Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera) along with a lesser numbers of Ophrys Dyris and Yellow Bee Orchids (Ophrys lutea) but the star was a single spike of the beautiful Atlas Orchid (Ophrys atlantica) which is alway a great privilage to see. 

Ophrys Dyris

Birds included Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla) and Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula).

Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea).

At the second nearby spot I found several more species of Orchid including Pink Butterfly Orchid (Anacamptis papilionacea), Woodcock Orchid (Orquídea becada / Ophrys scolopax) and Mirror Orchid (Ophrys speculum subsp speculum).

Pink Butterfly Orchid (Anacamptis papilionacea).

Other species seen included Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenodes), Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra), Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Spotted Rockrose (Tuberaria guttata), Barbary Nut (Moraea sisyrinchium), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater) and Crested Tits (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus) and Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

Pink Butterfly Orchid (Anacamptis papilionacea).

I finished taking my photographs so we headed back down to the coast and went for Lunch at an Italian in Plaza Mayor and then for a walk along the prom at Toremolinos. 

Woodcock Orchid (Orquídea becada / Ophrys scolopax).

On the drive down to the coast we saw Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus) and Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator).

Mirror Orchid (Ophrys speculum subsp speculum).

During the walk along the sea front I picked up Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) and Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) and several Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis).

Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera subsp tenthredinifera).

Woodcock Orchid (Orquídea becada / Ophrys scolopax).