Cerro Hacho, Granada Province, Spain.

An afternoon root around on the hill.

Second Lock down Day 50, released to Provincial area.

 

Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum Robertiana).

During the afternoon I went for a walk up on Cerro Hacho and parked near the bins at the bottom of the hill and spent about 3 hours wandering around the slopes between there and the top car parking area.

Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus).

On the Southern side I had the first of several Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus), lots of Common Asphodel (Asphodelus aestivus) which were just starting to flower in the hundreds, Andalucian Gorse (Ulex baeticus), Common Daisy (Bellis perennis), Field marigold (Calendula arvensis) and Wild Clary (Salvia verbenaca).

Common Asphodel (Asphodelus aestivus).

I crossed the track and walked around in the Pine woods, there were lots of flowering Giant Orchids (Himantoglossum Robertiana), good numbers of Somber Bee (Ophrys fusca / foresteri), a few Southern Early Purple (Orchis olbienis) and Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera).

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca / foresteri).

I reached the Pylon on the left of the track and continued to find lots more Orchids and a few birds including Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Crested (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) and Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs).

Southern Early Purple Orchid (Orchis olbienis).

Southern Early Purple Orchid (Orchis olbienis).

In the upper pine woods there were many 100s more Giant Orchids as well as plants of Ranunculs spicatus ssp blepharicarpos which were just starting to come into flower, Wild Grape Hyacinth (Muscari neglectum), White Rockrose (Helianthemum apenninum) and Southern Daisy (Bellis sylvestris).

Ranunculs spicatus ssp blepharicarpos.

Ranunculs spicatus ssp blepharicarpos.

I continued on up to the top car park and found Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris), a single Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus) and Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).

Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera).

I dropped back down the main track finding just a single spike of Fan-lipped Orchid (Anacamptis collina) before I had a look along the lower track out to the quarry. 

Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum Robertiana).

Along here I found a few surviving spikes of Broad-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia).

Southern Daisy (Bellis sylvestris).

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca / foresteri).