Sad Hill Cemetery, Burgos Province, Spain.

One of my favourite places, made even better with a few Orchids and Butterflies.

The Cemetrey.

When ever I visit Santi I look forward to a visit to Sad Hill, partly because I like the film (The Good, the Bad and the Ugly) and for some more personal reason but today it was also to see what was growing and flying at this time of the year.

Lady Orchid (Orchis purpurea).

Lady Orchid (Orchis purpurea).

On the way up we looked at the Juniper woods as we drove through and saw really good numbers of what look like Early Purple Orchid (Orchis mascula), a male Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) and at the top of the hill I found two spikes of the beautiful Lady Orchid (Orchis purpurea), one of which was looking spot on as well as a possible Lange's Orchid (Androrchis langei).

Early Purple Orchid (Orchis mascula).

Early Purple Orchid (Orchis mascula).

Lange's Orchid (Androrchis langei) ???????

We drove down to the parking spot and then walk around the edge of the Cemetery seeing Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Subalpine (Curruca Carrasquena / Sylvia cantillans), Bonelli's (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli) and Western Orphean Warbler (Curruca Mirlona / Sylvia hortensis), Wryneck (Torcecuello / Jynx torquilla), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Crested Tit (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus), Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Crag (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica).

Barton's Orchid (Dactylorhias insularis).

Barton's Orchid (Dactylorhias insularis).

We also found lots more Champagne Orchids (Orchis champagneuxii), a few spikes of Barton's Orchid (Dactylorhias insularis), Sand Crocus (Romulea bulbocodium), Hoop-petticoat Daffodil (Narcissus bulbocodium) and a new butterflySpecies for me the Southern Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus malvoides) which Ed MacKrill helped to sort for me.

Southern Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus malvoides).

Southern Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus malvoides).

We walked back up through the Cemetrey paying a visit to Jayne's post on the way and then went back down to the house. 

Early Purple Orchid (Orchis mascula).

Early Purple Orchid (Orchis mascula).

Hoop-petticoat Daffodil (Narcissus bulbocodium).