Cerro Hacho and Fields near the house, Granada Province, Spain.

A couple of hours up Hacho with Polly and then more local near to the house.

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys lupercalis).

I started the day by meeting friend Polly in Huétor and heading up to the nearby Cerro Hacho to have a look for some Orchids, we did a full walk around the lower loop, on the way we saw 4 species including Somber Bee (Ophrys lupercalis), Giant (Himanthoglosum Robertiana), Southern Early Purple (Orchis olbienis), Fan-lipped Orchid (Anacamptis collina) including 2 spikes of the variant flavescens.

Snake's Head Fritillary (Fritillaria  lusitanica).

We also saw quite a few wild flower species, Broad-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia), Field Marigold (Calendula arvensis), White Mignonette (Reseda Alba), Henbit Deadnettle (Lamium amplexicaule), Cloven Petalled Campion (Silene colorata), Common Fumitory (Fumaria officinalis), Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum baeticum), Grey-leaved Cistus (Cistus albidus), Common Whitlowgrass (Erophila verna), Eruca (Eruca sativa), Mediterranean Stork's-bill (Erodium malacoides), Purple Bugloss (Echium plantagineum), Wild Clary (Salvia verbenaca), Wild Grape Hyacinth (Muscari neglectum), Southern Knapweed (Centaurea pullata) and Snake's Head Fritillary (Fritillaria  lusitanica).

The unfortunate state of most of the Olive plantations in the area, managed with weed killers and pesticides meaning they are largely dead zones for wildlife.

Bird wise it was quiet but we did find Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and calling Hoopoes (Abubilla / Upupa epops).

But what a difference just a few hundred meters and some better educated farmers makes.

On our way back to the Town we called in at the house so that Polly could see the Siskins (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus) on the feeders and then I dropped her back at the Garage and headed off to a spot near my house where the father and son who work the Olives allow the wild flowers to grow which means there is a much higher number of species there.

Provence Hairstreak (Tomares ballus).

Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus alceae).

Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus alceae).

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui).

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui).

As I walked the tracks in the Olives I saw and heard Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus), Hummingbird Hawkmoth (Macroglossum stellatarum), Bath (Pontia daplidice), Small (Pieris rapae), Large (Pieris brassicae) and  Western Dappled Whites (Euchloe crameri), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus alceae), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus), Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Common / Southern Blue (Polyommatus icarus / celina) and the star species was Provence Hairstreak (Tomares ballus).

Small White (Pieris rapae).

Bath White (Pontia daplidice).

Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera).

Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas).