Aisa Valley, Aragón, Spain.*

Back out east but up higher today.

The view from the top of the steep hill.

I decided to return to the Aisa valley where I had seen the Mountain Alcon Blue (Phengaris rebeli) a few days earlier but this time I started by walking up higher from the end of the road above the site I went to before.

A different looking Fragrant Orchid (Gymnadenia species) taller, more robust and later flowering than the many conopsea which were mostly completely over with but I am assured that it is the same????

Burnt Orchid (Neotinea Ustulata).

Broad-leaved Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza Majalis).

Lesser Butterfly Orchid (Platanthera bifolia).

I parked and walked up the first part of the track which Friends Ed and Steve had forgot to mention was a tad steep, by the time I reached the top I thought my Heart was going to come out of my chest, I have got unfit.

Alpine Aster (Aster alpinus).

Mediterranean Sea Holly (Eryngium bourgatii).

Alpine Asphodel (Tofieldia calyculata).

Large-flowered Butterwort (Pinguicula grandiflora).

Bellflower species.

During this walk when I could breath I saw Coal Tit  (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Western Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes) and Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum). 

Piedmont Ringlet (Erebia meolans).

Piedmont Ringlet (Erebia meolans).

Piedmont Ringlet (Erebia meolans).

Plants included Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalia), Wild Strawberry (Fragaria vesca), Martagon Lily (Lilium Martagon), Ox-eye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare) and Pyrenean Cranesbill (Geranium pyrenaicum).

Southern Heath Fritillary (Melitaea nevadensis).

Meadow Fritillary (Melitaea parthenoides).

Provençal Fritillary (Melitaea deione).

Once the ground levelled out and I had got my breath I started to check the beautiful area of Alpine meadows finding Fragrant (Gymnadenia conopsea), Burnt (Neotinea Ustulata), Broad-leaved Marsh (Dactylorhiza Majalis) and Lesser Butterfly Orchid (Platanthera bifolia), Yellow Rattle (Rhinanthus minor), Large-flowered Butterwort (Pinguicula grandiflora), Mediterranean Sea Holly (Eryngium bourgatii), Alpine Asphodel (Tofieldia calyculata) and Alpine Aster (Aster alpinus).  

Idas Blue (Plebejus idas).

Turquoise Blue (Polyommatus dorylas).

Silver-studded Blue (Plebejus argus).

Silver-studded Blue (Plebejus argus).

Common / Southern Blue (Polyommatus icarus / celina).

Common / Southern Blue (Polyommatus icarus / celina).

There weren't that many butterflies up at the high area but I did find Provençal (Melitaea deione) x1, Southern Heath (Melitaea nevadensis) x3 and Meadow Fritillary (Melitaea parthenoides) x2, Idas (Plebejus idas) x2, Silver-studded (Plebejus argus) x3, Turquoise (Polyommatus dorylas) x2 and Common / Southern Blue (Polyommatus icarus / celina) x1, Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) x3, Red-underwing (Spialia sertorius) x1 and Oberthür's Grizzled (Pyrgus armoricanus) x2.

Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus).

Queen of Spain (Issoria lathonia).

Red-underwing Skipper (Spialia sertorius).

Oberthür's Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus armoricanus).

Oberthür's Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus armoricanus).

On the walk back down which was much easier on the heart and lungs but not the knees, I had a fly over male Eurasian Bullfinch (Camachuelo Común / Pyrrhula pyrrhula), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), European Crested Tit (Herrerillo Capuchino / Lophophanes cristatus), Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Large Pincertail (Onychogomphus uncatus), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera) x5, Southern White Admiral (Limenitis reducta) x2, Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni) x2, Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina) x8, Blue Spotted Hairstreak (Satyrium spini) x1, Southern Heath x3, Dark-green (Speyeria aglaja) x2 and Lesser Marbled Fritillary (Brenthis ino) x5, Swallowtail (Papilio machaon) x1, Macroglossum stellatarum (Hummingbird Hawkmoth) and  Xiphion latifolium.

Blue Spotted Hairstreak (Satyrium spini).

Macroglossum stellatarum (Hummingbird Hawkmoth).

Lesser Marbled Fritillary (Brenthis ino).

Lesser Marbled Fritillary (Brenthis ino).

I got back to the car and dropped down to the lower area where I had seen the Mountain Alcon Blue, parked and went for a walk along the track to the south hoping to find a small area of water Peter the guide I had meet a few day earlier had told me about.

Southern Heath Fritillary (Melitaea nevadensis).

On the way I found at least 10x Mountain Alcon Blue but today at least 4 of them were very active males which didn't land the whole time I watched them, the females were better and allowed me to get some nice shots.

Knapweed Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe).

Dark-green Fritillary (Speyeria aglaja).

Large Wall Brown (Lasiommata maera).

Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata).

I carefully checked the Cross-leaved Gentian (Gentiana cruciata) plants I had seen the females laying on a few days ago and right in the tops were what I am guessing are the eggs placed there.

Mountain Alcon Blue (Phengaris rebeli).

Mountain Alcon Blue (Phengaris rebeli).

Mountain Alcon Blue (Phengaris rebeli) on a Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalia).

Mountain Alcon Blue (Phengaris rebeli) eggs on Cross-leaved Gentian (Gentiana cruciata).

I continued on along the track finding Knapweed (Melitaea phoebe) x1 and Silver-Washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia) x1, Large Wall Brown (Lasiommata maera) x2, Marbled White (Melanargia galathea) x25+ and by the small area of water which took some finding I had puddling Safflower Skipper (Pyrgus carthami) x3, Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens) x3 and Broad-bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa) x2.

Green-veined White (Pieris napi).

Southern Heath Fritillary (Melitaea nevadensis).

Marbled White (Melanargia galathea).

Burnet species.

Other species seen included Southern White Admiral x2, Green-veined White (Pieris napi) x3, Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata), Red-backed Shrike (Alcaudón Dorsirrojo / Lanius collurio), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and Eurasian Jay (Arrendajo Euroasiático / Garrulus glandarius).

Safflower Skipper (Pyrgus carthami).

Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens).

Broad-bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa).

When I got back to the car I had a drink and then went for a walk on the other side of the river but apart from Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula), Dingy Skipper (Erynnis tages) x2 and Eurasian Wren I didn't add any thing else before I headed back to Ansó seeing Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus) and Northern Raven (Cuervo grande / Corvus corax).