Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

An afternoon walk through the Olive groves.

 

False Mallow / Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus tripolina / alceae).

I spent the morning doing jobs inside and out and then went for a stroll the the olives over to the farm on the road up to Montifrio. Once I was over the barranco I found the first of several Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina), Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus), False Mallow / Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus tripolina / alceae) and Spanish Brown Argus (Aricia cramera).

Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus).

The Fan-lipped Orchids (Anacamptis collina) nearby were going well passed their best but after a bit of a search I found 15 or so spikes and in the same area I also had Field marigold (Calendula arvensis), Wild Grape Hyacinth (Muscari neglectum), Wild Clary (Salvia verbenaca), White Mignonette (Reseda Alba), Mallow-leaved Storksbill (Erodium malacoides) and Common Fumitory (Fumaria officinalis).

Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas).

I walked on and took a track about three rows back from the main track where I saw several Provence Orange-tips (Anthocharis euphenoides) but again they were all in too much of a hurry to sit in front of the camera for me and as I walked on I saw Small (Pieris rapae), Large (Pieris brassicae), Western Dappled (Euchloe crameri) and Bath Whites (Pontia daplidice) and lots of Clouded Yellows (Colias croceus).

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui).

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui).

Continuing on I had a calling Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa).

Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) male.

Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) female.

At the far end of the Olives I returned to the track and walked down to the farm before I turned around, on the way I saw Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra), a Provence Hairstreak (Tomares ballus) which was at the opposite end of the site from where I normally see the species and a Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera).

Small White (Pieris rapae).

I also saw Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus), Carpentor Bee (Xylocopa violacea), European Honey Bee (Apis mellifera), Spiked Fumitory (Platycapnos spicatus), Purple Bugloss (Echium plantagineum) and a Comma (Polygonia c-album) buttterfly.

Southern Marbled Skipper (Carcharodus baeticus).

Southern Marbled Skipper (Carcharodus baeticus).

I turned around and followed the main path back towards the house, on the way I had a nice Southern Marbled Skipper (Carcharodus baeticus) which settled several times and allowed me to get both Upper and underwing shots.

False Mallow / Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus tripolina / alceae).

I also had Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) and Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).