Sierra de Loja, Granada Province, Spain.

Up my favourite hill for a day with Anita from Granada.

The view out West towards Archidona.

After an hour of pain with Rafa the Physio who is helping to sort my back out I met Anita at the Cortijo de Tajar where we had a Coffee / Tea before heading up onto Sierra de Loja for a look round.

The view East to Sierra Nevada.

It was somewhat cloudier than I had hoped but we still managed a few nice species including the uncommon Three-leaved Crocus (Colchicum triphyllum), lots of Broad-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia), Maidenhair Spleenwort (Asplenium trichomanes), Arisarum simorrhinum, Erodium primulaceum and Giant Orchid (Himanthoglosum Robertiana).

Three-leaved Crocus (Colchicum triphyllum).

Three-leaved Crocus (Colchicum triphyllum).

Three-leaved Crocus (Colchicum triphyllum).

Birds were quiet but included Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus),  Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Coal Tit  (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and Alpine Accentor (Acentor Alpino / Prunella collaris).

Erodium primulaceum.

Erodium primulaceum.

Fern Species.

Other species seen were Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris), Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus), Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Capra pyrenaica hispanica) and Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta).

Giant Orchid (Himanthoglosum Robertiana).