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Tuesday, 21 February 2023

Cerro Hacho, Loja, Granada Province, Spain.

A walk around part of the lower loop.
Ebird List.

Giant Orchids (Himanthoglosum Robertiana).
I parked near the almost dry puddle and went for a walk part way around the loop, in the Pines I found lots of nicely in flower Giant Orchids (Himanthoglosum Robertiana) including a nice white flowered hypochrimic spike.
Giant Orchid (Himanthoglosum Robertiana) hypochromic plant.
Giant Orchid (Himanthoglosum Robertiana) hypochromic plant.
I also found good numbers of Somber Bee Orchids (Ophrys fusca / foresteri), Field Marigold (Calendula arvensis) and a couple of Hummingbird Hawkmoths (Macroglossum stellatarum) which were nectering on the flowering Almond trees.
Somber Bee Orchids (Ophrys fusca / foresteri).

Bird wise I saw
Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Iberian  (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and Common Magpies (Urraca / Pica pica), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Crested (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia).
Amethyst Toadflax (Linaria amethystea).

Amethyst Toadflax (Linaria amethystea).

Common Whitlowgrass (Erophila verna).

Common Whitlowgrass (Erophila verna).

I returned to the car and checked a south facing bank a bit further down the track, here I found Bellis microcephala, Amethyst Toadflax (Linaria amethystea), Common Whitlowgrass (Erophila verna), Large Psammodromus (Psammodromus algirus), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and then I hear a calling raptor which turned out to be a female Northern Goshawk (Azor Común / Accipitor gentillis).
Broad-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia).
Broad-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia).
Broad-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia).
It was quite warm on the bank and I recorded singles of Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Bath White (Pontia daplidice) and Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri) as well as  Carpentor Bee (Xylocopa violacea), Broad-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia), Groundsel (Senecio vulgaris), a Gagea species which is possibly Gagea lacaitae ????? and Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris).
Gagea lacaitae ?????

Gagea lacaitae ?????

 

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