Track in the Lynx area, Sierra Morena, Jaen, Spain.

Day two in the wonderful Sierra Morena, Looking for the Lynx.

 

Sierra Morena.

We were out after a good breakfast at La Caracola and on our way up to the watch point early hoping to see the Iberian Lynx (lince iberico / Lynx pardina), there were a few people in the area but not as many as I had expected as it was a holiday.

Sierra Morena.

Steve went to a spot just around the corner from the view point and I stayed, a little later there was a movement along the road across from us and a female Lynx was on the road but unfortunately just as I got on to it a lady ran around the corner and flushed the Lynx up the bank and off into the woods, so sadly, I only got a few seconds view before it was chased off.

Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri).

Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri).

Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri).

Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri).

During the rest of the day we didn't get any more views of the Lynx but we did record Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia) and Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa).

Long-tailed Blue (Lampides baeticus).

After a while we went for a walk along the track down towards the next View point, on the way we saw several Western Dappled Whites (Euchloe crameri), a single Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), 2x Long-tailed Blues (Lampides baeticus) and quite a few Clouded Yellows (Colias corceua), Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus), Large Psammodromus (Psammodromus algirus), Hoop-petticoat Daffodil (Narcissus bulbocodium), Angel's tears Narcissus (Narcissus triandus), Iberian Milk-vetch (Astragalus lusitanicus) and Hummingbird Hawkmoth (Macroglossum stellatarum).

Iberian Milk-vetch (Astragalus lusitanicus).

Angel's tears Narcissus (Narcissus triandus).

Storksbill Species.

Sand Crocus Species.

We returned to the watch point and as most of the people had moved on we set out our seats up and waited again picking up Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti), Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos), Rabbits (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus) or as we referred to it "Lynx Food", Red (Ciervo común / Cervus elaphus) and Fallow Deers (Gamo común / Dama dama).

Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti).

Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti).

Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti).

We returned to La Caracola and had a very nice meal, later Steve went out to photograph Jupiter and Venus as they were very close together and he gave me a call to hear a Tawny Owl (Cárabo Común / Strix aluco) that was calling.

Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus).