Sierra Huétor and Alfacar, Granada Province.

The last day with Bent looking for Dragonflies.

Female Broad-bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa).

I again met Bent in Granada and we headed out to the North and into the Sierra de Huétor and on to one of the fast flowing rivers in the area. 

After parking we checked a couple of meadows on the opposite side of the road where we were looking for insects but as it was quite early we only had a quick view of a passing Common Golden Ringed Dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltonii), several Tree Graylings (Hipparchia statilinus), Spanish Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina), Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Spanish Marbled White (Melanargia ines), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) and Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus). 

Common Golden Ringed Dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltonii).

On the bird front we saw pale and dark phase Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus), a single pasing Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Dipper (Mirlo Acuático / Cinclus cinclus), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica).

Beautiful Demoiselles (Calopteryx virgo).

We crossed back over the road and started to walk along the river checking along the margins and in the surrounding Hawthorn Scrub where we soon found the first of many Beautiful Demoiselles (Calopteryx virgo) as well as more Common Golden Rings, a rather elderly female Broad-bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa), Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum), Copper Demoiselle (Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis) and Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator).

Knapweed Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe).

We also recorded more butterfly species including Knapweed (Melitaea phoebe), Cardinal (Argynnis pandora) and High Brown Fritillary (Fabriciana adippe), Large White (Pieris brassicae), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina), Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli), Striped Grayling (Pseudotergumia fidia), Southern Gatekeeper (Pyronia cecilia), Sage Skipper (Muschampia proto), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) and Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera). 

Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea).

Birds seen and heard included Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), a Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) which was singing but remained unseen, Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus).

Mother of Pearl (Plebicula nivescens).

We made our way back to the car and then had some lunch a little way down the motorway before going back into the Sierra above Alfacar and parking by the Botanical Gardens and walking a couple of trails. 

During these walks we picked up Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Goshawk (Azor Común / Accipitor gentillis), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta), Rock Grayling (Hipparchia alcyone), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) and Mother of Pearl (Plebicula nivescens). 

Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli).

We dropped back down the Sierra a short way and made a short stop adding just Oriental Meadow Brown (Hyponephele lupinnus), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura) before heading back to the city where I said goodbye to Bent until next time and headed back home.