A crack at the Otters and another go at the Woodpeckers.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Cft3jGwcMWXTPyYctltp1bBblvbfPDwP3jriqr9iDFK9tbWp5AU6fbHqgt5uFGCL5qx3c2FQjkukJFLrmgF5PCc7Dl7nEr-oeARB2ty8giO-RZjaZiidfI9NrhG3yImagFO_QnnqQfjHiynFe1DddUa80jdf7ibm6fGjXdqm-HsPv4Ykjvz-toeL/w640-h426/13th-April-22-4.jpg) |
Looking down the Rio Jándula.
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We had breakfast a little earlier this morning and went down to the Rio Jándula and drove straight down to the small bridge near the Dam, almost straight away we saw two
Otters (Nutria / Lutra lutra) but they were already under the bridge and heading down the river so we only got distant views.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBsjHe9PeltbTRjYIO73wq75DM3NQgMKzIdGS7pkS1ogTLVdcyWA94hnVFBoK_21LsV1tg9192CLc_LF1w1SqrmT7WYINGQoORldEMGLKzvmPkgBt2Lem5sQ_5vTJ4nBqFOjY4HDT_cKIefzPQ56YEKhPs6qI4b1ikGPBaMMUSeY8-tnn0mUnT6Xbz/w640-h524/13th-April-22-5.jpg) |
Otter (Nutria / Lutra lutra). |
In the same area we had views of
House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica),
Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula),
Iberian (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and
Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica),
Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti),
White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba),
Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes),
Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris),
Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis),
Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), a calling
Wryneck (Torcecuello / Jynx torquilla), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and several flocks of
Great Cormorants (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) which flew over in formation.
Steve went for a walk down stream a short way and I walked up the ruin on the hill on the far shore, on the way I saw several Red-rumped Swallows (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica) and a Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia) which were sat looking cold on an overhead wire.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzg37OPTg0NfKfszNIa8xhQrBB1_K-LPKnss5Y3ldWUzVmRLwPpfh256gSFrouAe63bhflngmjg1zJOtOsvOaAwH5GR3m-psill0z-uDLOCIb_fuojMpuJdMdC_Z2ntKTBBgVQSyIfe876oU4KmAz-0UHNAzvIBBK7kPHN2aRLCNirhrW4GZtYyCl6/s16000/13th-April-22-2.jpg) |
Lesser-spotted Woodpecker (Pico Menor / Dryobates minor). |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeUqfUH0-krvd3Mxox_eDQVJ-nEuQGSZaK7tuBGMr49SJ2AmYQvzhBY3V0r3MztOpfd4a8LE6wVRukv0Jd8dQPLI8E578w8eXv1kjX2v0vflAGiHbbgqhT0udI-2Igjk2cBAqEEOfAoTgQmm9PJEPvjsvZ8dcdBXJyJJGy4Pti6ChecNN41jcIpJze/s16000/13th-April-22-3.jpg) |
Lesser-spotted Woodpecker (Pico Menor / Dryobates minor). |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlvDL6AQfvIlX7sVA2mTe1heez8E5PNq5Lf2YoG6etNuPhpk03CGmTVDSH7arLpvTsbI8ppOYWtVhx9jiNm7WI0rCD_kstkjBf03a0UdLbde9LtZ7eLEOpKVoCqKjC6qVnMeTgiyC7fGr-1B9rwoGCkZbG5cfALRKf6vZpyw5SXSv6xCTpRm6dOegN/w640-h426/13th-April-22-6.jpg) |
Lesser-spotted Woodpecker (Pico Menor / Dryobates minor). |
There were also quite a few wildflowers in bloom including
Bladder Campion (
Silene vulgaris), Blue Hound's Tongue (Cynoglossum creticum), Brown Bluebell (Dipcadi serotinum), Common Asphodel (Asphodelus aestivus), lof what I think could be
Silene psammitis,
Tassel Hyacinth (Leopoldia comosa), Wild Clary (Salvia verbenaca),
White Rockrose (Helianthemum apenninum), Shepherds Needles (Scandix pecten-veneris),
Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis) and Purple Bugloss (Echium plantagineum).![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTHkWXVL7UVIXUUpm0OxufA4h8qGlEJIAjlcGUvGesKH9s6M7KkxvwhGgj-q3lAw79JSIfLj02qAGuzyJ5jbbq6IxvgQYmZt4xHxpZAJK5WGEUjIxvInjEJXBEKB1_yl402sLiWkfFN1BMjPujZUcXwRYVy6G_jTXxwAwE1TCrZ7Oq-khbNgy8UsLU/w622-h640/13th-April-22-9.jpg) |
House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus). |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzBA4OTQvLmsExJGgmkNxPZzMXL_a4ZLmmQwf8A_oY-Y9QKd8nk91rOqDrwbxNGAfNUMy8GH13X_QA3_xHpvFotm3OWAJttzhek3-J5PwVjECj3bQ2KMvi3uEMmfiJImyJ1qS-T9Rnx_6SQmF5Nez-R9cPzJ1xj3g2woYga-6mGeMjfqku4k3U_ZnR/w640-h412/13th-April-22-8.jpg) |
Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) male. |
We dropped back to the main road and parked near the Área recreativa del Encinarejo where we were soon watching a nice male Lesser-spotted Woodpecker (
Pico Menor / Dryobates minor) which showed well for quite a while which was calling and drumming in a tall Eucalyptus.![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMLS1Z_daz1Un12HzgDshxnMBMJVZKOuBM8yXU_4BPoCn15CNzte6rU7Sv3y3SRRtB9xx4Pd8kuPv76CYB4AIa2gxYdaLhdH5u-Gs3DxXPv-UmARJqA2hZ0QC_aI_kWzQhPu2nwN9IvetKXAWc5-kg7YcVtNTKL8zh9lFosU4UYLyy1fW7C-3jANRe/w640-h556/13th-April-22-11.jpg) |
Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki). |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMOIPA-JkcwAZPYjbMEFRR9NJ8MfqGkmk6Iuz5bUD__JCaU5eWAnoS9DV_VEvvcXUCaaD9c8XlduBk4AfbDjabsql8-RkD9QMpniHymA53vu2IV8dMIuaHU-7_zGXwAH0S_Tk1XN2OkkVxVDMNI8DYtjjbBMHnIxlr5GYKVhwOZcwrsJZKLBJpFI8p/w640-h588/13th-April-22-12.jpg) |
Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki). |
In the same area we had views of Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus),
Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla),
Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus),
Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula),
Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei),
Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula),
Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster),
Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris),
Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus), Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus),
Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla) and a calling
Scops Owl (Autillo Europeo / Otus scops).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNmhbSgo-_074JY1NJW36JCpExXS1_TJyxyi_oyuL80QnVZLeZMbZH5LwgdYIlOsy_ulMYE5I6qiSppRMyarcpOX9Z3Gyp78GdGk5ZUPK5Ecttw0bnBm_tiFKXxGy3k8LE4HT4Jolszdrq74Az2vRbrFo6z_PkiHVL46UFBe6iKPfBst4E_GZaFfBw/w640-h506/13th-April-22-13.jpg) |
Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea). |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGcYa3hHgdGdmgrUuw5kwjouSN8_rTckL5K4hX6QueCyIPvF-a7gmeZmnUoglP6u3dB8mKoD2-N6apxmI_UbH2n00s93xhEJvA0qT5eSIZq4TTO6lkSDv_z7MPvF2ALNOF-_ijsztSnTaMuU1-6FaEmGXQ8L0qvcfUchBF3THyKydzObz-cDX91aGT/w640-h504/13th-April-22-14.jpg) |
Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea). |
We returned to La Caracola and spent a couple of hours in the hide where we picked up
Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Crested (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus) and
Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus) and
Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) but it was quiet so we packed up.
We left La Caracola and I drove Steve's car back to Huétor and then Steve headed off home and I had a walk along the fields but was equally quiet and I only added Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra),
Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae),
Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur),
Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) and
Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis). ![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLE6hvZoiGcF1XksbrEDiNbbLSCEmPTpLGDxsD7vzucgIcLAsIJR_Xck4b7qgKJEMLivw2CX9phw4ZmU5LRNj7aFel9U1FDkvvcWJlLtLu4geHdUhzyShYZbFE8aFaDuDVuIoLkRjTYjhky2ER5iDOzAP--_eXqAey4F7klfAcI7cFv6WgU5bK3pQX/s16000/13th-April-22-19.jpg) |
Italian Man Orchid (Orchis Italica). |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7TOPdnK241hQJc9q55io2mNfSR9iMcq1czNyaPx5llOc4rGT7psMkGSY2ceTfqLsXl857zV7jL1VdqHFlEq8H71KyReUk7ngG-N59ev4eyRKlU1E_kw6WQId-jYDO120jWROyXLxWZfKzFcR9pMv4U9NMNTPj7T5YD8pOa-bazWeJtnWu-pZhnLVX/s16000/13th-April-22-20.jpg) |
Italian Man Orchid (Orchis Italica). |
I went home and unloaded my kit before going up to Cerro Hacho to look for some spikes of Italian Man Orchid (Orchis Italica) that friends Linda and Jan had found a few days earlier on a walk there.![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgw3wOxfYGjCECYx5EHeWB2sieU6Cneh5Se8EhybceirqnL8s4w7Ys6EmAKWf4YDM2_1U3yiflpdsse6thUv_fEGKOMo8J6lm9T13yxhbop_0dlvoQMaLOkOE0MiNQgSNkqiGANzAQW7RJT_bVasuJfgU5QqPGQgIgJuYY4e5u6Dhnrz1PnpMwk1Yy/w566-h640/13th-April-22-21.jpg) |
Pink Butterfly Orchid (Orchis papilionacea). |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_YsMgn-Pq1Bp_zLgfUkvBqE10iRZIIl54vCQHGjbpc-GiN1yerQkgkTn0Y27uh-b99kjBU2oT_kclvLrOj94uG8DcMeiuxaN4A_opT2k5a1a9mYpdvF9quJqg9II1zxKEDGJx_XiVPrOd8vsPKxcPlWQb9L-dTrkR2Fb4TsV1hclF_DThfHbonqPW/w640-h590/13th-April-22-22.jpg) |
Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea). |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4uzL37dn-ebLQnNXnT3iJxEmaOXKPDSBnP2fSI4kwC_TKYaaGHHnCGW1kNmsxx_7-1FrI70PS775OMyttZEcSIMxb7EZb5Hw6ckNgasUCIlaLWQDtNlUhMKlnch9uGEv4otujqn6RP3eK6VO_k-DpZSfod9l03Y_A0TolRn5bfa1wZZw-ZnL9tfqL/s16000/13th-April-22-23.jpg) |
Giant Orchid (Himanthoglosum Robertiana). |
I checked the area and soon found 5 spikes of this stunning plant which was new for me at this site, I also saw Pink Butterfly (Orchis papilionacea), Yellow Bee (Ophrys lutea),
Mirror (Ophrys speculum),
Giant (Himanthoglosum Robertiana) and
Southern Early Purple Orchids (Orchis olbienis).