Out on the Patch, Huétor Fields and Home, Granada Province, Spain.

A  return to a patch Orchid site, followed by a couple of walks on the Patch.

Ophrys x sommieri (Ophrys bombyliflora x Ophrys tenthredinifera).

I started the day by begining the clean up at a friends house but in the afternoon decided to go back to a localish spot where I had seen a strange looking Orchid spike in amongst hundreds of spikes of Bumble-bee Orchid (Ophrys bombyliflora) which was not in flower on my last visit but I suspected it was Ophrys x sommieri (Ophrys bombyliflora x Ophrys tenthredinifera) and today I was able to confirm it was this Hybrid.

Ophrys x sommieri (Ophrys bombyliflora x Ophrys tenthredinifera).

Bumble-bee Orchid (Ophrys bombyliflora).

Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera).

In the same area I also had spikes of Sawfly (Ophrys tenthredinifera), Yellow Bee (Ophrys lutea), Mirror (Ophrys speculum), Dark Spider (Ophrys incubacea) and Fan-lipped Orchid (Anacamptis collina).

Mirror Orchid (Ophrys speculum).

Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea).

As I walked around I also recorded Cloven Petalled Campion (Silene colorata), Field Marigold (Calendula arvensis), Henbit Deadnettle (Lamium amplexicaule), Mallow-leaved Storksbill (Erodium malacoides), Wild Grape Hyacinth (Muscari neglectum) and Tassel Hyacinth (Leopoldia comosa), Ox-eye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare), Wild Clary (Salvia verbenaca) and White Rockrose (Helianthemum apenninum).

Dark Spider Orchid (Ophrys incubacea).

Dark Spider Orchid (Ophrys incubacea).

Dark Spider Orchid (Ophrys incubacea).

Dark Spider Orchid (Ophrys incubacea).

Birds included Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica).

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca / foresteri).

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca / foresteri).

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca / foresteri).

I drove back to the local patch picking up a good number of Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca / foresteri) spikes on the roadside as well as a few more Dark-spiders, I parked at the Walnut Trees on the fields and then walked along the Lucerne Fields right up to the dammed point.

Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator).

Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator).

On the way I had the first pair of Montagu's Harriers (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) on the fields for the year, Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Sedge Warbler (Carricerin Común / Acrocephalus schoenobaenus), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Willow Warbler (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus) and the Iberian Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Ibérico / Phylloscopus brehmii) which had been here yesterday was still singing from the trees but nearer the dam.

Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).

Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

I returned to the car and drove passed the house and went out to the Olive Groves near the house looking for butterflies but after the resent weather I was not surprised they were thin on the ground, however I did see Common / Southern Blue (Polyommatus icarus / celina) x3, Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera) x2, Clouded Yellow (Colias corceua) x9, Large White (Pieris brassicae) x2, Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) x6 and Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus) x2. 

Common / Southern Blue (Polyommatus icarus / celina).

Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera).

Birds seen were Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major) and Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa).