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Friday 23 April 2021

Cerro Hacho, Granada Province, Spain.

Back out on the closest hill to the house.
 
Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri).
I parked in a bit of shade amongst the Almond trees and spent about an hour searching the south facing slope above the Almonds and started the list with Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri), Panoptes Blue (Pseudophilotes panoptes), Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus), Clouded Yellow (Colias corcea) and Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera).
Sedum mucizonia.
There were still a few Mirror Orchids (Ophrys speculum), Bladder Campion (Silene vulgaris), Sedum mucizonia, Cloven Petalled Campion (Silene colorata), Common stork's bill (Erodium ciconium), Field marigold (Calendula arvensis), Common Asphodel (Asphodelus aestivus), Mallow-leaved Convolvulus (Convolvulus althaeoides), Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria) with a smart female Lorquin's Blue (Cupido lorquinii) egg laying amongst the flower head.
Rock Phagnalon (Phagnalon saxatile).
As I walked around on the rocky slope I saw
Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs),  Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Linaria tristrisOrnithogalum narbonense, Rock Phagnalon (Phagnalon saxatile), Red Phlomis (Phlomis purpurea), Love-in-a-Mist (Nigella damascena), Large Psammodromus (Psammodromus algirus), quite a lot of Synthymia fixa (Goldwing) a fairly common day flying Moth and even bigger numbers of the smaller Synaphe Moldavica.
Ornithogalum narbonense.
Red Phlomis (Phlomis purpurea).
Love-in-a-Mist (Nigella damascena).
I dropped down to the main track and then spent quite a while searching the North facing slope amongst the Pine trees where I heard and saw Crested (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus), Coal  (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla) and from further up the slope a calling Scops Owl (Autillo Europeo / Otus scops).
Synthymia fixa (Goldwing).

Panoptes Blue (Pseudophilotes panoptes) Male.

Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas).

Under the pines I also had Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenodes), Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea), Barbary Nut (Moraea sisyrinchium), Ground-pine Germander (Teucrium pseudochamaepitys), Paeonia broteri and lots of signs of Wild Boar (Jabalí / Felis silvestris).
Synaphe Moldavica.
???????????
Exosoma lusitanicum ??????
I dropped back to the track and walked up to the quarry and took the lower track out into the area of Oak scrub finding Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Knapweed Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe), Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi), Clouded Yellow (Colias corcea) and a large number of Painted Lady's (Vanessa cardui).
Barbary Nut (Moraea sisyrinchium).
Mirror Orchid (Ophrys speculum).
Blue Hound's Tongue (Cynoglossum creticum).
Around at the furthest point of the walk I had a two butterfly moment when I photographed a
Black-eyed Blue (Glaucopsyche melanops) that then took off and I went after it, it flew behind a bush and when I got there it was on another plant but when I got down to take a shot I realised that this was in fact a male Adonis Blue (Lysandra bellargus) so at some point behind the bust they pulled off a quick swap that had me going for a few seconds.
Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli).

Knapweed Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe).

Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria).

In the same area I had
Bombycilaena discolor, Blue Hound's Tongue (Cynoglossum creticum), Exosoma lusitanicum a beetle that I was not 100% sure of, Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Western Orphean Warbler (Curruca Mirlona / Sylvia hortensis) which was still as elusive but singing loudly in the same area of bushes as on my last visit, Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia) and Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus).
Rosy Garlic (Allium roseum).
Another heavier shower was approaching so I started to walk back down towards the car finishing the walk off with both Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), a calling Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) which was on the far side of the quarry somewhere, Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and the Scops Owl called again several more times from above ther track in the pine.
Lorquin's Blue (Cupido lorquinii) female.
Black-eyed Blue (Glaucopsyche melanops).
Adonis Blue (Lysandra bellargus).
Adonis Blue (Lysandra bellargus).
I reached the car and drove back home, later in the evening I stood on the terrace and listened to calling
Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Eurasian Eagle Owl (Búho Real / Bubo bubo) and a couple of Red-necked Nightjars (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis) which were new in all of which were nearly drown out by the amount of noise coming from the Perez's Frogs (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi) in the garden pond.

Thursday 22 April 2021

Fields near the House, Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

A walk through the Olives behind the house.
 
Ornithogalum narbonense.
Ornithogalum narbonense.
As the weather was quite damp and cloudy all morning I took advantage of a few breaks in the rain and went for a bit of a muddy walk as far as the Montefrio road.
Garden Anchusa (Anchusa azurea).

Garden Anchusa (Anchusa azurea).
On the way I found several nice species of wild flowers including Ornithogalum narbonense, Garden Anchusa (Anchusa azurea), Euphorbia medicaginea, Rough Poppy (Papaver hybridum), Annual Scorpion vetch (Coronilla scorpioides) and Bellardia trixago in it's yellow form. 
Annual Scorpion vetch (Coronilla scorpioides).

Along the arroyo I heard and saw Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus).
Rough Poppy (Papaver hybridum).

Rough Poppy (Papaver hybridum).
When the sun did shine which was infrequently a lot of
Clouded Yellow (Colias corcea) butterflies started to fly long with smaller numbers of Bath (Pontia daplidice), Small (Pieris rapae) and Western Dappled Whites (Euchloe crameri), Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus) and Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui).
Bellardia trixago.
Along the far end of the track towards the farm I added
Wild Mignonette (Reseda lutea), Shepherds Needles (Scandix pecten-veneris), Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas), Cloven Petalled Campion (Silene colorata), Mallow-leaved Convolvulus (Convolvulus althaeoides) and Southern Knapweed (Centaurea pullata).
Mallow-leaved Convolvulus (Convolvulus althaeoides).
As I turned around and walked back I picked up
Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur),  a calling Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla).
???????
Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas).

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Count.
 
7984 Chlorissa etruscaria.
Still quite cool but a slight improvement as it stayed up at +9 and I had 15 moths of 12 species.
10351 Agrotis segetum (Turnip Moth).
0663 Trichophaga Bipartitella x1, 1648 Ethmia terminella x2, 1655 Ethmia bipunctella x2, 6860 Hyles livornica (Striped Hawk-moth) x1, 7806 Adactylotis gesticularia x1, 7984 Chlorissa etruscaria x1, 8186 Idaea degeneraria (Portland Ribbon Wave) x1, 8593 Eupithecia ultimaria x1, 9433 Caradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow) x2, 9454 Hoplodrina ambigua (Vine's Rustic) x1 and 10351 Agrotis segetum (Turnip Moth) x1.
1648 Ethmia terminella.

0663 Trichophaga Bipartitella.

9454 Hoplodrina ambigua (Vine's Rustic).

8593 Eupithecia ultimaria.

9433 Caradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow).
7806 Adactylotis gesticularia.

8186 Idaea degeneraria (Portland Ribbon Wave).

Coleophora species.


Wednesday 21 April 2021

Sierra Huétor, Granada Province, Spain.

Orchid hunting for the Lady with the Ladies.
 
Lady Orchids (Orchis purpurea).
I drove out to a spot North of Granada near the Sierra de Huétor where I was going to meet up with Anita, Kiersten, Laura and Ann a little later but I arrived early to check things out before they arrived and I was pleased with what I found.
Lady Orchid (Orchis purpurea).
Lady Orchid (Orchis purpurea).

Lady Orchid (Orchis purpurea).
Lady Orchid (Orchis purpurea).
Lady Orchid (Orchis purpurea).
Lady Orchid (Orchis purpurea).
In an area of Oak scrub land I returned to the spot where I had seen several spikes of the stunning Lady Orchids (Orchis purpurea) and today they were in even better state than the week before but the weather was not much better and the light did not make for great shots.
Ophrys dyris.
Ophrys dyris.
Anita arrived and was followed shortly afterwards by the other three ladies and soon after that we were all enjoying these stunning plants and taking loads of photographs before we spent another hour or so checking some more of the area. By the time we finished we had found between 35 and 40 flowering spikes of the Lady and at least another 50 or so leaf rosettes for future years.
Linaria aeruginea.
Narrow-leaved rock-rose (Cistus monspeliensis).
As we searched the area we added Linaria aeruginea, Narrow-leaved rock-rose (Cistus monspeliensis), Shrubby Gromwell (Lithodora fruticosa), Tassel Hyacinth (Leopoldia comosa), Large Blue Flax (Linum narbonense), Hippocrepis bourgaei, Paeonia broteri as well as a few more orchids including Yellow Bee (Ophrys lutea), Mirror (Ophrys speculum), Southern Early Purple (Orchis olbienis) and some not yet in flower Lizard Orchid (Himanthoglosum hircinum). 
Paeonia broteri.
We also saw and heard several bird species which included Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Woodlark (Totovia / Lullula arborea), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus) and Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus).
Plantain-leaved Leopard's-bane (Doronicum plantagineum).
Yellow Pheasants eye (Adonis vernalis).
We moved on to our next spot in another part of the Sierra Huétor where we walked through an area of mixed woodland found lots of Yellow Pheasants eye (Adonis vernalis), a new plant for me Plantain-leaved Leopard's-bane (Doronicum plantagineum), Grey-leaved Cistus (Cistus albidus), Lesser Celendine (Ranunculus ficaria), Polygala boissieri, Narcissus triandrus subsp. pallidulus and lots of signs of Wild Boar (Jabalí / Felis silvestris).
Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi).
Flatpod (Adenocarpus decorticans).
Snowy Mespilus (Amelanchier ovalis).
All the time we were there we could hear Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea) making several of its many calls, as well as a singing Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), Crested Tit (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major) and Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla).
Wood White (Leptidea sinapis).
We again moved on towards our last spot of the day but made a couple of roadside stops where we found Saxifraga carpetana, Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi), Laurel-leaved Cistus (Cistus laurifolius), Flatpod (Adenocarpus decorticans), Snowy Mespilus (Amelanchier ovalis) and the leaves of the Paeonia coriacea.
Southern Early Purple Orchid (Orchis olbienis).
Dense-flowered Orchid (Neotinea maculata).
We stopped again down the road for our lunch and the continued on to our last stop near the A92 where we searched the Pine Woodlands for more Orchids and Flowers, we found Ornithogalum algeriense, more Yellow Pheasants eye, Wild Clary (Salvia verbenaca), Spring Cress (Arabis verna),  Aristolochia paucinervis, Geum sylvaticum, Valeriana tuberosa, as well as Dense-flowered (Neotinea maculata), Barton's (Dactylorhias insularis), Somber Bee (Ophrys fusca / foresteri), Sawfly (Ophrys tenthredinifera) and the rosettes of a few Orchis cazorlensis. We also found a hatch of moth caterpillars which Anita said are a species of Malacosoma.
Barton's Orchid (Dactylorhias insularis).
Barton's Orchid (Dactylorhias insularis).
We were also very lucky when a very nice Wood White (Leptidea sinapis) sat for us and we all managed to get some very nice photographs before we walked back to the cars and the headed off home.
Malacosoma species ????