Rio Pesquera, Zagra, Granada Province, Spain.

A walk along the Pesquera Gorge looking for Dragons.

Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi).

I drove out to Zagra via Ventoross de San Jose, on the way I picked up Red-rumped Swallows (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), European Bee-eaters (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens) teneral male.

Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens) teneral male.

Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens) teneral male.

I park near to the start of the walk and droped down into the river where I found a strange looking Horsefly type thing and the first of a great many Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi) which were very common all the way up the river and as I passed through the crags there were several more European Bee-eaters calling, a singing male Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) and a couple of Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) which were feeding along the cliff faces.

Bath White (Pontia daplidice).

Out the other side I followed the river until it reached a pool which made it difficult to pass and the surrounding scrub was impassable and so I turned around.

Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi).

On my way up I found a 3 male and 1 female Violet Dropwings (Trithemis annulata), 2 male Southern Skimmer (Orthetrum brunneum), 4 male Copper Demoiselle's (Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis), Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma) x 1 teneral male and 1 female, a smart male Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator) and a few White Featherlegs (Platycnemis latipes).

Violet Dropwins (Trithemis annulata).

I also saw a few butterfly species including Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli), Mediterranean Skipper (Gegenes nostrodamus) and Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas)

Violet Dropwins (Trithemis annulata).

In the air there were several large flocks of Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), a few fast moving Turtle Doves (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and in the trees and scrub Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla).

Southern Skimmer (Orthetrum brunneum).

As I walked back I found a singles of both Large Pincertail (Onychogomphus uncatus) and Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria), the latter was the first I had seen at this site.

Fly needing a name.

I got back to the car and headed back home, later I did a loop of the town and saw Red-necked Nightjar (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis) and Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) as well as a flock of 500+ Jackdaws (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) going to roost in river side trees.