Los Palacios y Villafranca, Brazo del Este, Bonanza Pools and Saltpans, Cadiz Province, Spain.

Travelling west for tomorrows Pelagic trip off Rota.

Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).

I decided to head over to Cadiz Province a day early to make a bit of a trip of chance to go out on one of the Pelagic trips organised by Javi from Birding the Strait. I set the alarm for 04.00 and hit the road about 04.40 heading for my first stop near the town of Los Palacios y Villafranca, it was dark for most of the drive but I still started the species list off with Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) and Red-necked Nightjar (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis) and along the motorway a Red Fox (Zorro / Vulpus vulpus) which managed to dodge the bit of traffic there was out in the early hours and several Rabbits (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus) most scattering in the right direction but one that did'nt and was hit by the car infront of me, shame.

Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii).

After stopping for some breakfast I started to pick up a few new species as the sun came up including Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), 50 or so Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) on a freshly cut lucerne field, White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia) most sat up on their nest on roadside pylons, gangs of Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) heading out from their roost site to feed on the surrounding fields, House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Crested Larks (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and a flappy Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) which put in just enough effort to skim over my windscreen.

Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus).

Once at the first spot of the day I parked and had a walk along a track on the North bank of the dry river, I decided to go this way first as there was an incredible amount of bird noise but as soon as I could see water I found out why. 4 young lads with around 8 dogs were causing absolute mayhem in the reed beds, the lads were throwing dog treats out in to the area and the dogs were going after them causing loads of disturbance.

Squacco Heron (Garcilla Cangrejera / Ardeola ralloides).

Being 4 of them with 8 large dogs I did not challenge them directly but I dd make sure they knew I was there and watching them and within 5 minutes they but not all their dogs had exited the site. They watched me as I walked back and got into my car and went around to the road on the opposite bank and made sure they knew I was watching them again.  

White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).

They watched me until all there dogs were out of the site, I turned around and again stopped opposite them but this time I raised the camera and took a shot, at this two of the lads shouted across and started to come in my direction so I drove off and parked behind some Prickly pears nearby and waited for them to leave before I continued to bird in the area.

Night Heron (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax).

I went back onto the track I was first on and scanned the now quite pools finding the first of a great many Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus), Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Goldfinch, Western Cattle Egret, Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) a pair were feeding well grown youngsters in a Prickly Pear plant, Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), a few Night Herons (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax) a couple still in the roost but most returning after being disturbed earlier as were several Purple Herons (Garza Imperial / Ardea purpurea), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and over the water there were quite a few Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica).

Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans).

I again walked back to the car and checked out some pools back up the river bed, I soon found a few new wader species including one of the best Collared Pratincole (Canastera Común / Glareola pratincola) along with Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Little Ringed (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) and Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), the first of several Wood (Andarrios Bastardo / Tringa glareola), Green (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) and Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos).

Whiskered Tern (Fumarel Cariblanca / Chilidonias hybridus).

In the same area I also had views of Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild) and a few very smart Turtle Doves (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur).

Whiskered Tern (Fumarel Cariblanca / Chilidonias hybridus) roosting.

All the time when I was at this site I was seeing masses of Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) on all the low vegetation , this continued on all day and later in the day out on the Rice Paddies there were even more, during the day there must have been 100,000s most teneral insects.

Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

I drove around the town and out onto another dirt track heading out towards Braza del Este, on the way I stopped off at a Cerro de las Cigüeñas another small wet land but the disturbance continued with a group of powered para-gliders skirting the wetland. 

Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia) and 2x Great Egret (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba).

Anyway I set up the scope and scanned the heronry, finding Night, Grey, Purple and Squacco Heron (Garcilla Cangrejera / Ardeola ralloides) as well as Western Cattle and Little Egrets and again loads of Glossy Ibis.

Mix of birds, I have found 12 species.

Lower down in the reed beds there were adult and the young of Whiskered Tern (Fumarel Cariblanca / Chilidonias hybridus), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus) and a couple of adult Western Swamp-hens (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Mallards, Eurasian Coot, Common Moorhen, White Stork, Black-winged Stilts and plenty of Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) and along the dry river behind me the first of several Marsh Harriers (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) and several more Collared Pratincoles which were hawking insects, I suspect catching some of the masses of Red-veined Darters.

Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

I continued on following the dry river up to the main drive across the site, on the way seeing Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Yellow-crowned Bishop (Euplectes afer), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Gull-billed Tern (Pagaza Piconegra / Gelochelidon nilotica) and a single Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus) which flew across the road and continued on over the Cotton fields.

Collared Pratincoles (Canastera Común / Glareola pratincola) a quarter of the feeding flock.

Eventually I reached the main track across the site and just as I started out along it I got some nice views of an adult Night Heron sat on a post. At the first of the wet areas there were lots of birds either roosting or feeding including large numers of Whiskered Terns, Glossy Ibis, White Storks, a few Western Swamp-hens (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Black-tailed Godwits (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa) x7, Curlew Sandpiper (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea) x2, Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax) x1, Little Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) lots, Black-winged Stilts and half a dozen Avocets (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta). 

White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala).

Out on the water there were a few Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Mallards, Squacco Heron, Little Egrets and several Western Cattles.

Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).

I moved on up the track to the second area of water and there were hundreds of Whiskered Terns roosting along with 100+ Black-tailed Godwits, Curlew, Wood, Green and Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), a single Collared Pratincole, Ringed Plovers, Black-winged Stilts, Avocet, the first of quite a few Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Glossy Ibis, Little Egrets, Grey and Purple Herons, White Storks, Zitting Cisticola, Black-headed Gull, Mallard, Yellow Wagtail, Spoonbill and 2x Great Egret (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba) mixed in with the Spoonbills and smaller Egrets.

Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta).

I continued on along the track checking the wet areas all the way to the end of the road, adding Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), 2 x female Red-crested Pochards (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina) and at the junction there were hundreds of Collared Pratincoles feeding, quite a sight and sound experience.

Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus).

I left the site and headed for the salt pans near Bonanza via some small pools on the way, as I drove over I had Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus) and a male Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus).

Curlew Sandpiper (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea).

On the way to the pools I got some food and then checked them out but the water levels and colour were not good so bird numbers were low, however I added White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala) and saw more Squacco and Purple Herons, Black-winged Stilts, Green Sandpiper, Black Kite, Common Pochard but nothing else.

Curlew Sandpiper (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea).

I then drove around to the back pool which looked in much better condition but held nothing new before heading out to the salt pans. On the drive out to the pump house there were loads of Curlew Sandpipers, Several Avocets, Black-winged Stilts, Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta) x6, Black-tailed Godwits and Greater Flamingo's.

Curlew Sandpiper (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea).

On the top track down to the Pump house there were lots of Little Egrets, Grey Heron, Glossy Ibis and White Storks along the ditches and out at the pumping station Little (Charrancito Común / Sterna albifrons), Caspian (Pagaza Piquiroja / Sterna caspia) and Gull-billed Terns, Slender-billed Gull (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei) and 6x Lesser Short-toed Larks (Terrera Marismena / Calandrella rufescens) did a fly by. 

Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus).

There were two Spanish guys there with nets and the were catching the small shrimps that are used to make the famous Tortilla de Camarones, which is basically a Shrimp rosti, superb and I had some later in the evening.

Little Tern (Charrancito Común / Sterna albifrons).

On the far shore there were a few waders including a single Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Kentish Plovers (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus), Ruff and a few summer plumaged Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina).

Fishing for Camarones.

As I drove back towards the entrance I had both Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax) and House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica).

Slender-billed Gull (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei).

My last stop of the day was along the track around the Laguna del Tarelo, the only new species was Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) but there were loads of Egrets and Heron and big numbers of Little Grebes (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) x50+.

Slender-billed Gull (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei).

Out the back on the marsh there were Common Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover, Ruff and Dunlin.

Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus).

I left the site and headed into Sanlucar de Barrameda and to the hotel. Later I went out for a walk and something to eat in the town, lots of good memories.

Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia).

Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus) immature.

Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos).

Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax).

Arroyo Vilano, Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

A couple of hours wading along the Arroyo.

Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea) male.

After getting a few jobs done during the morning including painting the news gates I decided to go for a walk out to and along the Arroyo. I started by going up stream and found several Scarlet Darters (Crocothemis erythraea) x7M, Southern (Orthetrum brunneum) x6M and Keeled Skimmers (Orthetrum coerulescens) x2M x1F, Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator) x3M and Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi) x2M.

Mediterranean Skippers (Gegenes nostrodamus).

On the walk upstream I also had Perez's Frogs (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi), a mating pair of Mediterranean Skipper (Gegenes nostrodamus), Small (Pieris rapae) and Bath White (Pontia daplidice), several Rabbits (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster).

Mediterranean Skippers (Gegenes nostrodamus).

I walked back to the bridge nd then down stream finding another single male Orange-winged Dropwing, Southern Skimmers x5M and another male Blue / Common Emerald.

Southern Skimmer (Orthetrum brunneum).

New birds included Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and a pale morph Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus) which drifted down the valley.

Southern Skimmer (Orthetrum brunneum).

I walked back over the olives back to the house and once I was back I showered as I was a bit warm.

Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator).

Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens).

Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi).

Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi).

Embalse de Cubillas, Granada Province, Spain.

A few hour catching up with good friend Juan Perez (totals are for whole 4 hours).

 

Click on the link below for Ebird list.

https://ebird.org/checklist/S71713944

Purple Heron (Garza Imperial / Ardea purpurea).

I left the house just after 6 and drove to the meeting point, on the way I saw a Red-necked Nightjar (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis) on the road and a Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) up on a telegraph post.

I arrived about a minute before Juan, we went down to a shelf above the water and sat there for the next few hours watching the comings and going around the scrub and bushes at the Northern end.

We scanned and found the roost of Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and shortly after we arrived they started to leave and by the time the last one flew out Juan had reached a count of 746. 

On some logs we found adult and Immature Night Herons (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax) the first of 5 we saw in total, Other species there when we first arrived included Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) x7, Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) x4, Purple Heron (Garza Imperial / Ardea purpurea) x5 in total during the morning (3 immatures and 2 adults) and just as the last of the Egrets left the roost a Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus) came up into the top of a tree and the flew deeper in.

Out on the water and over it we recorded Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) x37+, Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus) x6, Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) x6, Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) x5 including some youngsters, Common (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) x3 and Pallid Swifts (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) x4, House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) x50 and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) x300+.

ittle Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).

During the morning we also saw Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) x1, Green (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) x1 and Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) x8, Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) x1, Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus) x2, Rock Dove (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia) x4, Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) x300+, Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur) x3, Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) x2, European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) x2, Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus) x1, Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) x8, a flock of Jackdaws (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) x18 which I missed, Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) x1, Crested (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus) x1, Coal  (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater) x1 and Long-tailed Tits (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus) x4, Cetti's (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) x2, Bonelli's (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli) x1 and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) x1, Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla) x1, Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla) x1, Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes) x1, Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) x2, Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) x2, Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) x1, Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild) x2, House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) x3, White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) x1, Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) x2, Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) x7 and Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) x2.

Thanks to Juan for an enjoyable few hours, my first real birding since I returned to Spain a few weeks ago.

Sierra Nevada, Granada Province, Spain.

Back up the mountain yet again but over in the East today.

Rosy Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus onopordi).

Andy and I headed out past Granada, to another area in the mountains where we parked up and started to head up high. Just as we left the car we had a single Citril Finch (Verderón Serrano / Carduelis citrinella) mixed in with a group of 5 or 6 Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina). 

Tawny Pipit (Bisbita Camprstre / Anthus campestris).

As we walked up through an area of Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) and Berberis hispanica bushes we had Subalpine Warbler (Curruca Carrasquena / Sylvia cantillans), Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis), Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli) which were in many bushes and trees in good numbers, Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and a Rosy Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus onopordi). 

Rock Grayling (Hipparchia alcyone).

Along the stream we had the first of a good number of Rock Grayling (Hipparchia alcyone), Iberian Marbled Whites (Melanargia lachesis) and as we moved out on to the moorland area we had a rather tatty female Silver-studded Blue (Plebejus argus).

Apollo (Parnassius apollo).

Moving up hill there were good numbers of Thekla Larks (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), a few Tawny Pipits (Bisbita Camprstre / Anthus campestris) and then the first of the Black Satyr (Satyrus actaea) butterflies flew across and led Andy a merry dance trying to get one sat down, a very well behaved Apollo (Parnassius apollo) which bobbed about on a scabious flower for a while and then landed down on the ground and finally the main target of the day the ultra rare Nevada Grayling (Pseudochazara hippolyte) which flew towards us and sat right on the edge of the track and we both got some very nice shots. 

Apollo (Parnassius apollo).

We continued on the track for a short way and saw another Grayling, we had got the target so we turned round and dropped back down the hill towards the stream adding Oriental Meadow Brown (Hyponephele lupinus), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Large Psammodromus (Psammodromus algirus) and Alpine Gentian (Gentiana alpina).

Nevada Grayling (Pseudochazara hippolyte).

Down along the stream we watched a stunning female Common Golden Ringed Dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltonii) egg laying in the small pools and had a male Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator) patrolling amongst the Hawthorns.

Nevada Grayling (Pseudochazara hippolyte).

On the Horse Mint (Mentha longifolia) and puddling in the mud there were good numbers of Niobe (Fabriciana niobe) and Dark-green Fritillary (Speyeria aglaja), Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra), Small White (Pieris rapae), Silver-spotted Skipper (Hesperia comma) and Purple-shot Copper (Lycaena alciphron). 

Nevada Grayling (Pseudochazara hippolyte).

We made it back to the car and the dropped back down the hill and into Sierra Huétor where we parked and walked out on to an area of Grassland and Thistle beds. 

Alpine Gentian (Gentiana alpina).

Straight away we started to find Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus) flashing around the grass and bramles, Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus) and down by the stream the first of many Beautiful Demoiselle's (Calopteryx virgo).

Dark-green Fritillary (Speyeria aglaja).

During our first stop at the big Thistle patch we found  Cardinal Fritillary (Argynnis pandora), Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina), Great Banded (Brintesia circe) and lots of Rock Graylings, Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli), Oriental Meadow Brown, a couple of flighty High Brown Fritillaries (Fabriciana adippe) and in the water ditch around the thistles a couple of male Southern Skimmers (Orthetrum brunneum).

Silver-spotted Skipper (Hesperia comma).

We followed the valley further along adding Large Pincertail (Onychogomphus uncatus), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei) and Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris).

Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus).

On the side of the stream where the man made channels run in we checked a damp area and found several species puddling including our first of a few Spanish Chalk-hill Blues (Lysandra albicans), Silver-spotted Skipper, Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus), Southern Blue and a cracking Iberian Scarce Swallowtail which was settled for ages.

Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli).

We turned around and returned to the thistle patch where we managed to get shots of the High Brown Fritillary and a few others before returning to the car and carrying on to the spot.

Large Pincertail (Onychogomphus uncatus).

We parked and walked along the track and checked an area of rocky grassland, we recorded Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Tree Grayling (Hipparchia statilinus), Lulworth Skipper (Thymelicus acteon), Mountain Argus (Aricia montensis) and Blue Spotted Hairstreak (Satyrium spini).

Southern Skimmer (Orthetrum brunneum).

We returned to the car and drove back towards the hotel but made one last stop a Balsa de Rigidor, a small made made lake near the motorway where we looked for a few dragonfly species. 

Spanish Chalk-hill Blue (Lysandra albicans).

We arrived and started to check the place and straight away my heart sank when I saw all the rubbish and mess the so called fishermen discarded, very very sad that a nice spot like this is being destroyed.

Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli).

Along the dam wall track we saw Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata), Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria), Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum) and Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator) as well as Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina) and Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos).

Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus).

We walked back passing the car and then went down the side of the pool where we picked up Iberian Bluetail (Ischnura graellsii), White Featherleg (Platycnemis latipes), a Mantis Species and an adult Night Heron (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax).

Beautiful Demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo).

Just as we got back to the car it started to rain quite heavily so we returned to the hotel where we had a drink whilst we looked through some of the photographs and totted up the list for the two days which totalled up to 56 at least.

Dark-green Fritillary (Speyeria aglaja).

Dark-green Fritillary (Speyeria aglaja).

Mountain Argus (Aricia montensis).

Lulworth Skipper (Thymelicus acteon).

Tree Grayling (Hipparchia statilinus).

Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata) female.

Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata) male.

Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria).

Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum).

White Featherleg (Platycnemis latipes).

Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator).

Mantis Species.