Hacho, Granada Province, Spain.

An afternoon walk around the lower woodlands and scrub.

 

Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia).

It was much quieter today, during my last visit which was on a Sunday I saw some Giant Orchids (Himantoglossum Robertiana) being used to decorate picnickers tables and today I found the spot where at least 20 spikes had been ripped out of the ground, so sad that people feel the wildlife of this country means so little.

Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri).

Down in the broom bushes I found quite a few Rock Buntings (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), several Sardinian Warblers (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major).

Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi).

On the slopes above the Almond trees there were lots of flowering Andalucian Gorse (Ulex baeticus), Common Asphodel (Asphodelus aestivus), Wild Grape Hyacinth (Muscari neglectum), Field marigold (Calendula arvensis), Barbary Nut (Moraea sisyrinchium), Andaluz storksbill (Erodium primulaceum), Wild Clary (Salvia verbenaca), Henbit Deadnettle (Lamium amplexicaule), Common Fumitory (Fumaria officinalis), Linaria amethystea as well as Fan-lipped (Anacamptis collina), Somber Bee (Ophrys fusca / foresteri) and Giant Orchids (Himantoglossum Robertiana).

Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus).

Provence Hairstreak (Tomares ballus).

In the same area I also had Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus), Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenodes) and Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra).

Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata).

On my way up to and passed the quarry I found Southern Early Purple (Orchis olbienis) and Sawfly Orchids (Ophrys tenthredinifera) along the track side and up in the trees Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Crested (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus) and Coal Tit  (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes).

Fan-lipped Orchid (Anacamptis collina) var. flavescens.

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca / foresteri).

Conical Orchid (Neotinea conica).

I walked out into the scrubby area where I had a fly through Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychlorus) which I later saw land on an Almond tree but it shut its wings straight away, whilst I was watching this a smaller butterfly whizzed passed and landed which turned out to be the first of a couple of Green Hairstreaks (Callophrys rubi).

Common Asphodel (Asphodelus aestivus).

Ranunculs spicatus ssp blepharicarpos.

In the same area I found Provence Hairstreak (Tomares ballus), Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Snake's Head Fritillary (Fritillaria hispanica), Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra).

Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi).

Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi).

I turned around and walked back down towards the car adding Conical Orchid (Neotinea conica), Cloven Petalled Campion (Silene colorata), Carpentor Bee (Xylocopa violacea) and as I passed a large puddle I found a big number of Honey Bees (Apis mellifera) collecting water for the nearby hives.

Honey Bee (Apis mellifera).