Cerro Hacho, Loja, Granada Province, Spain.

A good walk up one of the local hills.

Second Municipal Lockdown Day 12. 

Ebird List.

The view out from the Southern side of Hacho looking South East.

After a visit to the Physio I drove up to the start of the track up Hacho and parked then started up along the main track to the top parking area. 

Looking West from the Summit.

On the way there were lots of the rosettes of Giant Orchids (Himantoglossum Robertiana) some of which were nearly in flower, there were also loads of Ophrys type Orchid rosettes amongst the many flowering Andalusian Gorse (Ulex baeticus) bushes and masses of Broad-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia) of several colour shades.

Way out East looking towards Sierra Nevada.

Up in the trees and bushes I heard and saw Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), quite a few Common Crossbills (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla) and in the top car park I had a group of 4 Firecrests (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus).

Broad-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia).

Broad-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia).

Broad-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia).

As I took to the Southern track I added Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Crested (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura) x2, Dartford (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata) and Sardinian Warblers (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala).

Andalusian Gorse (Ulex baeticus).

As I reached the summit it was quite warm and I found a couple of Small Coppers (Lycaena phlaeas), several Small Whites (Pieris rapae) and a single Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta).

Sierra Nevada Crocus (Crocus nevadensis).

Sierra Nevada Crocus (Crocus nevadensis).

On the rocky slopes as I went back down the Northern side I found Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and several spikes of the beautiful Sierra Nevada Crocus (Crocus nevadensis).

Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum Robertiana).

I arrived at the main track and then walked back to the car where I dropped off the long lens and fleece and then I walked up through the Pine woods and old Almond groves where I found a group of Buntings including 2x Cirl (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus) and at least 6 Rock Buntings (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia). 

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca / foresteri).

I also had Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and several spikes of flowering Somber Bee Orchids (Ophrys fusca / foresteri).