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Friday 20 May 2022

El Tocal, Antequera Butterfly Site and Fuente de Piedra, Malaga Province, Spain.

A walk around the rocks at the Torcal and some birding at Fuente.

Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Capra pyrenaica hispanica).
We left Almuñécar and headed along the coast and then inland to the visitors Center at El Torcal, on the way in we had several large male Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Capra pyrenaica hispanica) lazing on the rocks, we parked and after Loo visits we went on a walk around the shorter of the walks.
Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).
On the first section we picked up Small (Pieris rapae) x4 and Large White (Pieris brassicae) x2, Clouded Yellow (Colias corceua) x3, False Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus tripolinus) x1 and Lorquin's Blue (Cupido lorquinii) x3.
Ophrys ficalhoana.
Karen found the first of several spikes of
Ophrys ficalhoana and as we continued on we added Pyramidal (Anacamptis pyramidalia), Lizard (Himanthoglosum hircinum) and Small Woodcock Orchid (Ophrys picta), Bladder Campion (Silene vulgaris), Linaria verticillata subsp. anticaria, Spanish Bluebell (Scilla hispanica), Tassel Hyacinth (Leopoldia comosa), Yellow Phlomis (Phlomis lychnitis) and Bitting Stonecrop (Sedum acre).
Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Capra pyrenaica hispanica).
Birds were
Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Bonelli's (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli) and Melodious Warbler (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and several Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).
Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Capra pyrenaica hispanica).
We reached the halfway point and came across a large group of 30+ Spanish Ibex which were moving slowly across the area and then up the rocky slopes but contiued to feed and just move slowly passed us.
Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Capra pyrenaica hispanica).
We took the track back towards the visitors center, on the way we saw Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) x8 and Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus) x11+.
Linaria verticillata subsp. anticaria.
We reached the car again and drove to another spot in the same range of hills but a bit more to the West where we parked and walked along a track looking for butterflies but again as with most spots it was quiet, however we did add Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera) x3, Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina) x4, Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris) x2, Spanish Gatekeeper (Pyronia bathsheba) x15, Clouded Yellow (Colias corceua) x8 and most surprising was a single Spanish Fritillary (Euphydryas desfontainii).
Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes).
We also saw Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) as well as Black Horehound (Ballota nigra), Common Fumitory (Fumaria officinalis), Mallow-leaved Convolvulus (Convolvulus althaeoides), Love-in-a-Mist (Nigella damascena), Ground-pine Germander (Teucrium pseudochamaepitys), Red Phlomis (Phlomis purpurea), Cleonia lusitanica, Sedum mucizonia, Southern Knapweed (Centaurea pullata), Wild Clary (Salvia verbenaca) and Purple Bugloss (Echium plantagineum).
Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris).
Our last stop of the day was at Fuente de Piedra, on the way in we checked to see if the Barn Owl (Lechuza Común / Tyto alba) was in the usual roost spot and it was, along with several Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).
Cleonia lusitanica.
On the lake on the way in we added Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Gull-billed Tern (Pagaza Piconegra / Gelochelidon nilotica), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Little (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) and Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Small Skipper x3, Black-veined White (Aporia crataegi) x6 and out on the board walk Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea) x5, Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator) x3 and
Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea).
Iberian Bluetail (Ischnura graellsii) x9.
It was getting hot so we returned to the car and then went for something to eat before heading back down to the coast where later we had another good meal in the hotel, as I walked the I saw Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

Thursday 19 May 2022

Barranco del Anciano, near Padul, El Purche and the Old road down the Sierra Nevada, Granada Province, Spain.

Back up in the mountains with Karen and Robert.

Spanish Marbled White (Melanargia ines).
We set off for another spot we had been given for the uncommon Spanish Fritillary (Euphydryas desfontainii) but this time we were not so lucky but we did see Spanish Marbled White (Melanargia ines) x3, Panoptes Blue (Pseudophilotes panoptes) x30+, Knapweed Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe) x6, Clouded Yellow (Colias corceua) x3, Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) x4, Small (Pieris rapae) x4 and Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri) x3, Adonis Blue (Lysandra bellargus) x2, Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus) x45+ and Spanish Gatekeeper (Pyronia bathsheba) 25+.
Spanish Marbled White (Melanargia ines).

Clouded Yellow (Colias corceua).
Birds and other species seen included Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) as well as Owlfly Libelloides baeticus, Small Woodcock Orchid (Ophrys picta), Yellow (Phlomis lychnitis) and Red Phlomis (Phlomis purpurea), White (Helianthemum apenninum) and Helianthemum angustatum, Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria), Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis), Rosy Garlic (Allium roseum), Rough Poppy (Papaver hybridum), Ground-pine Germander (Teucrium pseudochamaepitys) and Spanish Foxglove (Digitalis obscura).
Panoptes Blue (Pseudophilotes panoptes).
Panoptes Blue (Pseudophilotes panoptes).
Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina) female.
Spanish Foxglove (Digitalis obscura).
From here we wnt up the Sierra Nevada to a couple of spots near to El Purche, the first was a meadow area but it was quite butterfly wise and all we found were Painted Lady x4, Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina) x2, Small Heath 10+ and Clouded Yellow x3. 
Bug Orchid (Anacamptis coriophora).
The whole time we were there we could hear a Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus) singing from the Oaks above us and down in the valley below there were a group of Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) were feeding in the grass where I also found several spikes of Bug Orchid (Anacamptis coriophora).
Panoptes Blue (Pseudophilotes panoptes).
Panoptes Blue (Pseudophilotes panoptes).

Panoptes Blue (Pseudophilotes panoptes).
As we returned to the car we found singles of both
Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli) and Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina) before we went just down the road to a grassy slope along the roadside, again it was quiet but we found a mating pair of Panoptes Blue x3 in total, our first and only Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra) x1, Painted Lady x3,  Small White (Pieris rapae) x2, Clouded Yellow x3 and a passing pale morph Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus).
Lorquin's Blue (Cupido lorquinii).
Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus).
We drove up towards the Visitors Centre having a Coffee on the way, we parked and found 3x
Lorquin's Blue (Cupido lorquinii), 8x more Panoptes, a Black-eyed Blue (Glaucopsyche melanops) x1 and 3x Small Whites
Sword-leaved Helleborine (Cephalanathera longifolia).
Barton's Orchid (Dactylorhias insularis).
We started to make our way down the Old road calling at a regular spots on the way back around to Granada, before we finished the day by adding Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli) x1, Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychlorus) x1, Marsh Fritillary (Euphydrayas aurinia) x8, Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Red-underwing Skipper (Spialia sertorius) x2, Knapweed Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe) x1, Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus) x2, Wood White (Leptidea sinapis) x2, Sword-leaved Helleborine (Cephalanathera longifolia), Barton's (Dactylorhias insularis) and Lizard Orchid (Himanthoglosum hircinum).
Knapweed Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe).

Marsh Fritillary (Euphydrayas aurinia).

Marsh Fritillary (Euphydrayas aurinia).

Wednesday 18 May 2022

Mirador del Alto de Hondonero, Malaga Province, Spain.

After a long break I am out butterfly hunting with Friends Karen and Robert for a few days.

Spanish Fritillary (Euphydryas desfontainii).
It was great to catch up with Karen and Robert again after a long break due to Covid and other bits, I drove down to meet them at Almuñécar before we drove up to Mirador del Alto de Hondonero, near Rosario where we were going to be looking for a butterfly that I know Robert had been wanting to see for a very long time.
Spanish Fritillary (Euphydryas desfontainii).
We arrived and made our way down onto the meadows where we quickly found the first of several Knapweed Fritillaries (Melitaea phoebe) x6, an unmarked Black-eyed Blue (Glaucopsyche melanops) x2, Clouded Yellow (Colias corceua) x9, Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenodes) x1, Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) x9, Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus) x25+ and around the pool our first of at least 4 Spanish Fritillary (Euphydryas desfontainii).
Knapweed Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe).
We alked along the track below the meadow where we saw another Spanish Fritillary and a second Fritillary which I can only put down as a female Aetherie Fritillary (Melitaea aetherie) which would be a new species for me if confirmed.
Black-eyed Blue (Glaucopsyche melanops).
Birds seen here included Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Melodious (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta), Western Subalpine (Curruca Carrasquena / Sylvia cantillans) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus) and Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius).
Aetherie Fritillary (Melitaea aetherie).????????

Wild flowers and Orchids included
Yellow Phlomis (Phlomis lychnitis), Wild Clary (Salvia verbenaca), White Rockrose (Helianthemum apenninum), Tassel Hyacinth (Leopoldia comosa), Starry Clover (Trifolium stellatum), Southern Knapweed (Centaurea pullata), Shepherds Needles (Scandix pecten-veneris), Rosy Garlic (Allium roseum), Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum), Mallow-leaved Convolvulus (Convolvulus althaeoides), Large Blue Flax (Linum narbonense), Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria), Bladder Campion (Silene vulgaris), Lizard (Himanthoglosum hircinum), Pyramidal (Anacamptis pyramidalia), Small Tongue Orchid (Serapias parviflora) and Small Woodcock Orchid (Ophrys picta).
Escher's Blue (Agrodiaetus escheri).
We dropped down to the Bird Observatory area and checked the tracks and pool around there finding Panoptes (Pseudophilotes panoptes) x8 and Escher's Blue (Agrodiaetus escheri) x4, Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) x1, Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera) x3, Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous) x2, Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli) x2, Swallowtail (Papilio machaon) x1, Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina) x3, Black-veined (Aporia crataegi) x11, Small (Pieris rapae) x3, Bath (Pontia daplidice) and Large Whites (Pieris brassicae) x1. 
Escher's Blue (Agrodiaetus escheri).
We also saw Wild Peony (Paeonia broteri),
Southern Red Bartsia (Parentucellia latifolia), Tufted Vetch (Vicia cracca), Spanish Iris (Iris xiphium), Peruvian Squill (Scilla peruviana) and Lange's Orchid (Androrchis langei).  
We finished off and headed back down to the coast where I dropped Robery and Karen off at their hotel before checking in at mine, later I joined them at their hotel where we had very nice meal.

Tuesday 17 May 2022

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Recording.

6860 Hyles livornica (Striped Hawk-moth).
I put the Actinic trap up on the terrace again, it was a warmer night with a low of +14 so there were a better number of moths, 48 moths of 19 species including 0663 Trichophaga Bipartitella, 1655 Ethmia bipunctella, 5624 Bostra obsoletalis, 5626 Pyralis lienigialis, 6493 Evergestis desertalis, 6599 Pyrausta sanguinalis (Scarce Crimson & Gold), 6719 Nomophila noctuella (Rush Veneer), 6860 Hyles livornica (Striped Hawk-moth), 7984 Phaiogramma  etruscaria, 8186 Idaea degeneraria (Portland Ribbon Wave), 8509 Eupithecia cenaureata (Lime-speck Pug), 9056 Autographa gamma (Silver Y), 9100 Acontia lucida (Pale Shoulder), 9367 Heliothis peltigera (Bordered Straw), 9425 Caradrina proxima, 9433 Caradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow), 9454 Hoplodrina ambigua (Vine's Rustic), 10029 Mythimna sicula / scirpi and 10493 Eilema caniola (Hoary Footman).
5624 Bostra obsoletalis.
6599 Pyrausta sanguinalis (Scarce Crimson & Gold).
7984 Phaiogramma  etruscaria.

5626 Pyralis lienigialis.
9425 Caradrina proxima.
9433 Caradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow).
9454 Hoplodrina ambigua (Vine's Rustic).
8509 Eupithecia cenaureata (Lime-speck Pug).

9100 Acontia lucida (Pale Shoulder).

9367 Heliothis peltigera (Bordered Straw).

Monday 16 May 2022

Mirador del Alto de Hondonero, Malaga Province, Spain.

Looking for a new butterfly.

Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenodes).
I drove out to Villanueva del Rosario and then up to the Mirador where I parked and went for a walk down the slope on to the meadows and then further on down the track.
Black-eyed Blue (Glaucopsyche melanops).
Black-eyed Blue (Glaucopsyche melanops).
Black-eyed Blue (Glaucopsyche melanops).
As I walked I saw Bonelli's (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and at the top of the slope above the pools I heard a Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus) calling and when I looked up I saw a pair do a mid air food pass, just a brilliant start to the morning.
Lorquin's Blue (Cupido lorquinii).
Lorquin's Blue (Cupido lorquinii).
Lorquin's Blue (Cupido lorquinii).
I continued on down to the bottom of the meadows and checked the grassy areas around the pools where I found a couple of
Black-eyed Blues (Glaucopsyche melanops) x2 and a Lorquin's (Cupido lorquinii) x2 on the damp mud taking in some minerals.
Knapweed Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe).
Knapweed Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe).
Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui).
I continued to search this area around the small pools finding
Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Subalpine Warbler (Curruca Carrasquena / Sylvia cantillans), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenodes) x4, Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) x5, Knapweed Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe) x5, Lizard (Himanthoglosum hircinum), Small Woodcock (Ophrys picta), Pyramidal (Anacamptis pyramidalia) and Southern Early Purple Orchid (Orchis olbienis) most of the latter were well over with..
Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenodes).
Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenodes).
Green-Striped White (Euchloe belemia).
Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri).
I dropped down the bank at the end of the meadows and amongst the rocks and wild flowers I found
Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) x1, Western Dappled (Euchloe crameri) x2, Small (Pieris rapae) x8 and Green-Striped White (Euchloe belemia) x1,  Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina) x4, Clouded Yellow (Colias corceua) x6 and then I found what I had come looking for, the first of 4x Spanish Fritillaries (Euphydryas desfontainii).
Spanish Fritillary (Euphydryas desfontainii).
Spanish Fritillary (Euphydryas desfontainii).
I watched the one from the track and then went up to try and get a better view and found more but they were very flighty and after allowing just a couple of shots they were gone and over the wire fence which prevented me from following.
Escher's Blue (Agrodiaetus escheri).
Escher's Blue (Agrodiaetus escheri).
Small Woodcock Orchid (Ophrys picta).
Small Tongue Orchid (Serapias parviflora).
Very happy with the find as it had been a species I had long wanted to see I returned to the car and dropped down the hill to the pool near the observatory watch point, I walked around the Hawthorns here and found several spikes of what look like Ophrys dyris, as well as Yellow Bee (Ophrys lutea), Small Tongue Orchid (Serapias parviflora), Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator) x1, Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina) x2, Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera) x1, Escher's Blue (Agrodiaetus escheri) x1, Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus) x15+ and Panoptes Blue (Pseudophilotes panoptes) x10+.
Ophrys dyris.
Ophrys dyris.
Ophrys dyris.
Birds in this area included Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Melodious Warbler (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta), Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus),  Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos) and Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).