Belchite, Zaragoza and heading South, Spain.

Starting the trip back South.

Ebird List for Belchite.

Way marker with the bird everyone wants, we didn't find it but we weren't confident as it was too late in the year for the bird to be calling.

We were up and out of the accommodation early and on our way down to the well known reserve of El Planerón on the plains near to Belchite, on the way we saw Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax).

Mediterranean / Lesser Short-toed Lark (Terrera Marismena / Calandrella rufescens).

Mediterranean / Lesser Short-toed Lark (Terrera Marismena / Calandrella rufescens).

We arrived in the area and as we approached the turn off onto the dirt tracks we passed a couple of small raodside pools adding Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) and Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis).

Greater Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla).

Mediterranean / Lesser Short-toed Lark (Terrera Marismena / Calandrella rufescens).

We turned off the road and parked almost straight away and just after we got out of the cars we had the first of several Mediterranean / Lesser Short-toed Larks (Terrera Marismena / Calandrella rufescens) as well as Greater Short-toed (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla) and Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), 2 distant Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis) with 2 more at least being heard later, we also heard Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (Ganga Ibérica / Pterocles alchata) at least 3 times but could not locate the birds, Booted (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus) and Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus), Black-eared Wheatear (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), a calling Western Orphean Warbler (Curruca Mirlona / Sylvia hortensis) which was heard over the road in some Almond trees and just as we were leaving a Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) did a flyby.

Ricky off for a stroll.

Some tracks in the Mud, don't what made them yet.

As we drove around the rest of the site we did pick up Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Black Kite, our first Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) of the trip, Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera) and a good number of Rabbits (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus).

Defiantly seemed to be more agricultural and less wild areas since my last visit.

Bath White (Pontia daplidice).

The rain started to fall so we started off South for our overnight stop in Horche, near Guadalajara, on the way we made a stop at the Civil War ruins in Belchite and picked up Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus) and as we drove down the A2 at KM263 / 4 I saw a big raptor which turned out to be a very smart Cinereous / European Black Vulture (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus).

The Storms starting to build again.

Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans).

We arrived and checked in at the Hotel, wouldn't go there again as there were a few problems with the food and the bill but it did the job for one night. 

Ainso Valley, Aragón, Spain,

Our final day in the Pyrenees, a new site for me with some great birds.

Ebird List for Puértolas.

Looking up at the Vulture Crags.

We were up and around quite early and headed out east again, before we left I saw Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli) and Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

Egyptian Vulture (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus) the first of three Vulture species from the first stop on the way up.

Lammergeier / Bearded Vulture (Quebrantahuesos / Gypaetus barbatus).

Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

We headed for the abandoned village of Garganta de Escuain where the only place open was a visitor's center where you can get information about the wildlife in the area, on the way we saw and heard Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Red (Milano Real / Milvus milvus) and Black Kites (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Red-backed Shrike (Alcaudón Dorsirrojo / Lanius collurio) and Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris).

Watching the raptors.

Lammergeier / Bearded Vulture (Quebrantahuesos / Gypaetus barbatus).

Lammergeier / Bearded Vulture (Quebrantahuesos / Gypaetus barbatus).

Lammergeier / Bearded Vulture (Quebrantahuesos / Gypaetus barbatus).

Lammergeier / Bearded Vulture (Quebrantahuesos / Gypaetus barbatus).

A few KMs before we reached the village we pulled off the road to check a couple of Raptors which were another couple of Common Buzzards but whilst there we also had fly over Griffon and Egyptian Vulture (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Red Kite and our first of a few Lammergeier / Bearded Vulture (Quebrantahuesos / Gypaetus barbatus).

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Large White (Pieris brassicae).

Turquoise Blue (Polyommatus dorylas).

Provençal Fritillary (Melitaea deione).

Also seen were Jay, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Bonelli's Warbler, Nightingale, Carrion Crow and Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax).

Common Twayblade (Neottia ovata).

Common Twayblade (Neottia ovata).

Fly Orchid (Ophrys insectifera).

Lesser Butterfly Orchid (Platanthera bifolia).

A little further on we stopped again near a large water tank where we saw lots more Egyptian and  Griffon Vultures, Booted Eagle (Aguililla Calzada / Hieraaetus pennatus) and a minimum of 6 more Lammergeier / Bearded Vulture but I suspect that there were a few more birds involved.

Clouded Yellow (Colias corceua).

Swallowtail (Papilio machaon).

Swallowtail (Papilio machaon).

Common Orange-tip (Anthocharis cardamines).

Other species seen were Alpine Swift (Vencejo Real / Apus melba), Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus), Alpine Chough (Chova Piquigualda / Pyrrhocorax graculus), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Dingy Skipper (Erynnis tages), Large White (Pieris brassicae), Turquoise Blue (Polyommatus dorylas), Provençal Fritillary (Melitaea deione) and Clouded Yellow (Colias corceua).

Hepatica (Hepatica nobilis).

We arrived at the village and went straight into the office and got all the info we needed except for the fact that the birds had already been feed and the chances of any thing being at the hide was zero!!!

On the way, worth the walk just for the views.

Ricky, Derek and I started the 1.5 hour walk out to the hide, some of it was hard going, particularly the last few hundred meters but we did it even though we met an English lady on her way down who did tell us that most things we already gone but we still decided to continue just so that we knew what to expect if we were to return.

On the way up we saw we had Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Griffon, Egyptian andLammergeier / Bearded Vulture, Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Yellowhammer (Escribano Cerillo / Emberiza citronella), Red-backed Shrike, Bullfinch (Camachuelo Común / Pyrrhula pyrrhula), Great, Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Coal Tit  (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Carrion Crow, Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos) and Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).

Egyptian Vulture (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus).

Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus).

Plants and butterflies included Common Twayblade (Neottia ovata), Early Purple Orchid (Orchis mascula), Fly Orchid (Ophrys insectifera), Lesser Butterfly Orchid (Platanthera bifolia), Sword-leaved Helleborine (Cephalanathera longifolia), Wood Ruff (Galium odoratum), Stinking Hellebore (Helleborus foetidus), Hepatica (Hepatica nobilis), Cowslip (Primula veris), Wild Strawberry (Fragaria vesca), Linum viscosum, Swallowtail (Papilio machaon), Common Orange-tip (Anthocharis cardamines) and Adonis Blue (Lysandra bellargus).

Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

We eventually got back to the cars and the rest of the group and then started to make our way back down towards the House for our last night, on the way we had good views of a couple of Egyptian's, Red Kite and just before e reached Ansó we made a stop to check a group of Griffon's which dropped in low behind some Pine trees but they were all just having a rest either sat on the track or in one of the Pines.

Upper Ansó Valley, the Hecho Valley and San Juan de la Peña, Aragon, Spain.

Another try for the Woodpecker bogey bird.

Ebird List for Valles Occidentales PNat (Linza).

Ebird List for the Hecho Valley. 

Ebird list for the drive down to and at the watch point.

 

Looking back down the Valley.

Headed further up the Ansó Valley after reading the sign we had seen yesterday which told us there was another chance to see the wanted White-backed Woodpeckers (Pico Dorsiblanco / Dendrocopos leucotos) but even though we gave it a good try it remains unseen.

Welsh Poppy (Papaver cambricum).

Birds-nest Orchid (Neottia nidus-avis).

A bit of low Cloud.

We parked by the Refucio de Linza and walked up through the woodlands following the Barranco de Petrechema, it was quite wet after over night rain and as we went we saw Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater) and a Marsh Tit (Carbonero Palustre /Parus palustris), Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), Goldcrest (Reyezuelo Sencillo / Regulus regulus), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Garden Warbler (Curruca Mosquitera / Sylvia borin), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Mistle (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos),  Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

A damp woodland.

On the return walk I found several spikes of the Birds-nest Orchid (Neottia nidus-avis) but most were still to flower along with the leaves of a Lungwort type species, Wood Ruff (Galium odoratum) and Welsh Poppy (Papaver cambricum).

Garden Warbler (Curruca Mosquitera / Sylvia borin).

Garden Warbler (Curruca Mosquitera / Sylvia borin).

We returned to the cars and drove back down the valley, after a couple of KMs we stopped again to check some of the woods but on a more open area of rocky slopes I found a couple of Orchid species, there were 3 spikes of Lady Orchid (Orchis purpurea), a dozen or so spikes of what looked like Woodcock Orchid (Ophrys Scolopax), a single almost in flower Fragrant Orchid (Gymnadenia conopsea) and a couple of Burnt Orchids (Neotinea Ustulata).

Woodcock Orchid (Ophrys Scolopax).

Woodcock Orchid (Ophrys Scolopax).

Lady Orchid (Orchis purpurea).

Lady Orchid (Orchis purpurea).

Burnt Orchid (Neotinea Ustulata).

Another stop was made a little further along where we had great views of a singing Garden Warbler which showed uncharacteristically well.

Red-backed Shrike (Alcaudón Dorsirrojo / Lanius collurio) in the rain.

Yellowhammer (Escribano Cerillo / Emberiza citronella).

We pushed on back through Ansó as the rain had started to get heavier seeing Dipper (Mirlo Acuático / Cinclus cinclus) on the way and went for another drive up the Hecho Valley where it better for a while and we had nice views of Bullfinch (Camachuelo Común / Pyrrhula pyrrhula), another Dipper, Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Grey Wagtail, House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Yellowhammer (Escribano Cerillo / Emberiza citronella), Red-backed Shrike (Alcaudón Dorsirrojo / Lanius collurio), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Egyptian (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus) and Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

Greater Butterfly Orchid (Platanthera chlorantha).

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Plant wise we found loads of Elder-flowered Orchid (Dactylorhiza sambucina) of both colour forms, as well as Greater Butterfly Orchid (Platanthera chlorantha), Early Purple (Orchis mascula) including a nice hypochromatic spike and several Common Spotted Orchids (Dactylorhiza fuchsii).

Early Purple Orchid (Orchis mascula).

Common Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii).

The rain had cleared so we decided to give the San Juan de la Peña Monastery a go and I was very pleased we did, as we drove up the hill towards the car park I picked up a large showy Orchid on the bank, so I remembered the spot for the drive back down as I suspected it was a Military Orchid (Orchis militaris).

White Helleborine (Cephalanthera damasonium).

White Helleborine (Cephalanthera damasonium).

White Helleborine (Cephalanthera damasonium).

We parked while the rest of the group headed for the woods I made for the more open areas looking for butterflies but instead I found another Orchid for the trip White Helleborine (Cephalanthera damasonium), Nottingham Catchfly (Silene nutans), Deptford Pink (Dianthus armeria) as well as the first Dragonfly which was a teneral Robust Spreadwing (Lestes dryas).

Deptford Pink (Dianthus armeria).

Teneral Robust Spreadwing (Lestes dryas).

Birds included Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Nuthatch, Robin, Black Redstart, Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla) and Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata).

Woodcock Orchid (Ophrys Scolopax).

On the way back down the hill to the Raptor watch point car park we stopped for the Orchid and as suspected it was a very nice spike of Military Orchid but whilst in the area we also found several spikes of the delicate but beautiful Fly Orchid (Ophrys insectifera) and more of both White Helleborine and Woodcock Orchid.

Military Orchid (Orchis militaris).

Military Orchid (Orchis militaris).

Military Orchid (Orchis militaris).

We continued on down the hill and just before we reach the car park had a Northern Goshawk (Azor Común / Accipitor gentillis) fly over, once at the watch point we saw a good number of Griffon and Egyptian Vultures, a Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus) and a nice big Wild Boar (Jabalí / Felis silvestris) feeding on the crags.

Fly Orchid (Ophrys insectifera).

Jerry Photographing the Fly Orchid.

On the way back to Ansó we only added Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos) and Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).