Cerro Hacho, Granada Province, Spain.

Bits and Bob's then a walk around Hacho.

The south facing slopes.

I started the morning by doing a few jobs around the house, mid morning the mechanic contacted me to say the car was ready and he would collect me so I could get it back.

Conical Orchid (Neotinea conica).

Conical Orchid (Neotinea conica).

Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera).

Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera).

On my way back I popped up to see a friend who was having car problems as well and waited with her until the Grua had been and got it started and then we went down to Huétor where she got a new battery.

Giant Orchid (Himanthoglosum Robertiana).

Fan-lipped Orchid (Anacamptis collina).

Fan-lipped Orchid (Anacamptis collina) var. flavescens.

Fan-lipped Orchid (Anacamptis collina).

I returned home briefly before going down to Loja hospital to arrange an appointment and then went for a walk around the lower loop on Hacho to see if any new Orchids were in flower and in total I found 6 species, Conical (Neotinea conica) x6 and Sawfly (Ophrys tenthredinifera) x4 were both new and were seen along with several Giant (Himanthoglosum Robertiana), 30+ Fan-lipped (Anacamptis collina) including var. flavescens, 60+ Southern Early Purple (Orchis olbienis), 100+ Somber Bee (Ophrys fusca).

Southern Early Purple Orchid (Orchis olbienis).

Southern Early Purple Orchid (Orchis olbienis).

Southern Early Purple Orchid (Orchis olbienis).

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca).

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca).

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca).

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca).

Since my last visit there were quite a few more species of wild flower in bloom, they included Bellis microcephala, Broad-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia), Field Marigold (Calendula arvensis), Cymbalaria-leaved Speedwell (Veronica cymbalaria), Ox-eye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare), Cloven Petalled Campion (Silene colorata), Eruca (Eruca sativa), Common Fumitory (Fumaria officinalis), Common Whitlowgrass (Erophila verna), Grey-leaved Cistus (Cistus albidus), Groundsel (Senecio vulgaris), Linaria aeruginea, Amethyst Toadflax (Linaria amethystea), Field Madder (Sherardia arvensis), Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis), Wild Grape Hyacinth (Muscari neglectum) and Wild Clary (Salvia verbenaca).

Bellis microcephala.

Cloven Petalled Campion (Silene colorata).

Amethyst Toadflax (Linaria amethystea).

Linaria aeruginea.

Wild Grape Hyacinth (Muscari neglectum).

Wild Clary (Salvia verbenaca).

There were also good numbers of butterflies on the wing as things warmed up, the commonest by far was the Clouded Yellow (Colias corceua) x30+, in smaller numbers I also recorded Large White (Pieris brassicae) x2, Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri) x4, Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) x1, Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) x8, Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus) x4 and Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera) x3.

Field Marigold (Calendula arvensis).

Eruca (Eruca sativa).

Snake's Head Fritillary (Fritillaria  lusitanica).

Common Whitlowgrass (Erophila verna).

Birds were also seen and included Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Crested (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus), Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus). 

Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas).

Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas).

Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus).

On my way back home I was surprised to see 5x Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) as well as Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).

Back at the house I saw that there were still several Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus) on the feeders.