Hacho, Granada Province, Spain.

Butterflies and more on the local hill.

 

Panoptes Blue (Pseudophilotes panoptes).

During the afternoon I went for a walk around the lower areas of Hacho, I parked near the road and walked the South facing slope above the track.

Southern Knapweed (Centaurea pullata).

Almost straight away I had the one and only Panoptes Blue (Pseudophilotes panoptes) of my walk, on the same slope I also had Southern Knapweed (Centaurea pullata), Tassel Hyacinth (Muscari comosum), White Rockrose (Helianthemum apenninum), Grey-leaved Cistus (Cistus albidus), Wild Clary (Salvia verbenaca), Shrubby Gromwell (Lithodora fruticosa), Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis), Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria), Hoary Cress (Lepidium draba) and Common Asphodel (Asphodelus aestivus).

Lorquin's Blue (Cupido lorquinii).

Lorquin's Blue (Cupido lorquinii).

Lorquin's Blue (Cupido lorquinii).

As I dropped down on to the grassy area amongst the Almond trees where I was pleased to find a couple of Lorquin's Blues (Cupido lorquinii) which were chasing around the flower heads along with several Common / Southern Blues (Polyommatus icarus / celina) and a Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera).

Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri).

The plants included Mirror Orchid (Ophrys speculum), Starry Clover (Trifolium stellatum), Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas), Hare's-foot Plantain (Plantago lagopus), Tragopogon angustifolius, Red Vetchling (Lathyrus cicera), Henbit Deadnettle (Lamium amplexicaule) and Salsify (Tragopogon porrifolius).

Starry Clover (Trifolium stellatum).

I next walked up the hill along the main track seeing Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenodes), Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli) and Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).

Tragopogon angustifolius.

Linaria tristris.

Tassel Hyacinth (Muscari comosum).

I followed the lower track once I reached the quarry and in amongst the Pine woodlands I had Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera), Alexanders (Smyrnium olusatrum), Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria) and Prickly Poppy (Papaver argenone).

Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera).

Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi).

As I stood watching a group of Common Crossbills (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra) I heard a Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax) and then another and the a flock of at least 40 birds were moving through to the east and whilst watching these I picked up 4 Common Buzzards (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).

Valerian Species.

Valerian Species.

As I walked on along the track I found Pink Butterfly Orchid (Orchis papilionacea), Southern Early Purple Orchid (Orchis olbienis), a Valerian Species which I still need to name, Shepherds Needles (Scandix pecten-veneris), Southern Red Bartsia (Parentucellia latifolia) and Spring Cress (Arabis verna). 

Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenodes).

Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenodes).

Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenodes).

There were a couple of Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi) flying amongst the Thyme plants along with an Adonis Blue (Lysandra bellargus), Clouded Yellow (Colias corcea), Large White (Pieris brassicae), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) and Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera).

Pink Butterfly Orchid (Orchis papilionacea).

On the far side of the quarry I stood for a while watching two male Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator) having a bit of a territorial dispute as well as Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia).