Sierra Tejeda, Granada Province, Spain.

A short visit to the Sierra again.

Steve and Lynn, Day Twenty two.

 

Emerging Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum).

We decided to spend Steve and Lynn's last day back in the Sierra Tejeda which had given us so much already and we again had a great walk but this time down stream from the first area of car parking.

Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) Teneral Male.

Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) Male.

We went straight into the water and Steve quickly found the first of a few Common Darters (Sympetrum striolatum) but this first one was still emerging from it Exuvia, there were other Teneral and adult insects seen throughout the walk.

Western Spectre (Boyeria Irene).

Western Spectre (Boyeria Irene).

We also found a recently emerged Western Spectre (Boyeria Irene) which was tucked in low amongst some vegitation as well as Copper Demoiselle (Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis), Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi), Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator) and a nice male Desert Darter (Sympetrum sinaiticum).

Copper Demoiselle (Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis) female.

Desert Darter (Sympetrum sinaiticum) immature male.

Birds seen during the wade along the downstream section included Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Rock Dove (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), White (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and a couple of Reed Warblers (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) feeding in the willows.

Volucella zonaria.

Other species seen included Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Volucella zonaria, Large Psammodromus (Psammodromus algirus), Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi), Common Toad (Bufo bufo) and Throatwort (Trachelium caeruleum).

Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi).

Common Toad (Bufo bufo).

Just up the road we stopped again and had lunch and checked the area along the streams there where we added Small (Pieris rapae), Bath (Pontia daplidice) and Wood White (Leptidea sinapis), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), African Grass (Zizeeia knysna) and Adonis Blue (Lysandra bellargus) and a few passing European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) before heading back to the house so that Lynn and Steve could pack before returning to the UK tomorrow.