Driving back home.*

An early start to try and get home.

As the chest was getting no better I decided to abandon the trip to the north and head home a lot earlier than I wanted to unfortunately so at 07:30 I started the drive and as I had filled up last thing yesterday I had the fuel for a straight through trip.

I headed east and reached the motorway south and just kept going as I was feeling fine and knew that if I stopped I would not feel like getting going again, I got home just after 16:00.

During the drive I saw Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Black (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans) and Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Northern Raven (Cuervo grande / Corvus corax), Iberian  (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki) and Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Red-backed Shrike (Alcaudón Dorsirrojo / Lanius collurio), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito ibérico / Picus sharpei), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

San Martin de Perapertú in Palencia, Spain.*

A day off my feet.

Today was basically spent in bed but on the odd occasion I got up and looked out of the window I did see and hear Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito ibérico / Picus sharpei), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Yellowhammer (Escribano Cerillo / Emberiza citronella) and Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone).

Near Argüébanes, Potes in Cantabria, Mirador de Las Matas and Cervera de Pisuerga, Tejeda De Tosande and San Martín de Perapertú in Palencia, Spain.*

Meeting Andy first thing and then heading South a bit.

False Ilex Hairstreak (Satyrium esculi).

I made the decision to move on to a hotel for a couple of night to see if I could start to shack the infection so I packed up my tent and kit before going to meet Andy at a site not far out of Potes, after parking we walked up a track into one of the valleys which I remembered was steep but I forgot how steep but with quite a few stops and Andy patiently waiting for me we reached the top end of the meadows as the sun started to come over the hill tops.

Large Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanus).

Large Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanus).

Marbled White (Melanargia galathea).

On the way up and whilst wandering the top meadow we picked up Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Coal Tit  (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater), Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Eurasian Jay (Arrendajo Euroasiático / Garrulus glandarius), Common Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major),

Southern Heath Fritillary (Melitaea nevadensis).

Lizard Orchid (Himanthoglosum hircinum).

As it warmed up we started to find a few butterflies coming active, Marbled White (Melanargia galathea) x15, Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra) x3, Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina) x13 and lots of Hairstreaks which most were to worn to id but the few we sorted were False Ilex (Satyrium esculi).

Spotted Fritillary (Melitaea didyma).

As things got hotter we had the first Silver-Washed Fritillaries (Argynnis paphia) x5 on the wing which were followed by Large Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanus) x3, Southern Heath (Melitaea nevadensis) x4 and Dark-green Fritillary (Speyeria aglaja) x2,  Pearly Heath (Coenonympha arcania) x8, Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni) x2, Common / Southern (Polyommatus icarus / celina) x4 and Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus) x2.

The lower meadows at Tejeda De Tosande.

After a while I started to feel off so I said bye to Andy and headed back down the hill picking up Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli) x1 and a Common Golden Ringed (Cordulegaster boltonii) which whizzed passed me heading back up the track.

Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous).

Sloe Hairstreak (Satyrium acaciae).

Sloe Hairstreak (Satyrium acaciae).

I reached the car and then headed off back through Potes and then up over the top Puerto de Piedrasluengas and down to a spot on the outskirts of Cervera de Pisuerga which Ed Mckrill had told me about.

Grayling (Hipparchia semele).

Queen of Spain (Issoria lathonia).

Cardinal Fritillary (Argynnis pandora).

Southern Heath Fritillary (Melitaea nevadensis).

I made a brief stop at the Mirador de Las Matas where I walked a short distance on both sides of the road finding Southern Heath x2 and Silver-Washed Fritillary x2, Queen of Spain (Issoria lathonia) x1, Wood (Leptidea sinapis) x1, Marbled x5 and Small Whites x3, Pearly Heath x4, Cleopatra x2, Meadow Brown x4, Brimstone x1, Mallow (Carcharodus alceae) x1 and Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris) x3 and Lizard Orchids (Himanthoglosum hircinum) x3.

Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens) male.

Beautiful Demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo).

I parked and walked the track near Cervera, on the way I saw and heard Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Red-backed Shrike (Alcaudón Dorsirrojo / Lanius collurio), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) x3, Peacock (Aglais io) x2, Spotted Fritillary (Melitaea didyma) x1, Small White (Pieris rapae) x5 and Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina) x15.

Southern Heath Fritillary (Melitaea nevadensis).

I walked as far as a fence across the track but wasn't sure whether it was OK to pass it so I turned around and walked back to the car and moved on to another site to the south, I parked at the start of the Tejeda De Tosande walk and decided to try the first part of it as it was highly recommended by Ed, I dropped down the hill to the railway bridge seeing Heath Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza maculata), Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens) x3, Beautiful Demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo) x4, Grayling (Hipparchia semele) x1, Queen of Spain x2 and a good numbers of Iberian Marbled Whites (Melanargia lachesis) x36+ on the way.

Iberian Marbled White (Melanargia lachesis).

Iberian Marbled White (Melanargia lachesis).

I spent some time by the bridge as there was quite a large damp area in the track and a few species were puddling including Southern Heath x2 and Cardinal Fritillary (Argynnis pandora) x1, Silver-studded (Plebejus argus) x5 and Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus) x1.

Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus).

Silver-studded Blue (Plebejus argus).

Silver-studded Blue (Plebejus argus).

Silver-studded Blue (Plebejus argus).

Further down the track I had another couple of Peacock x1, the first of a couple of Sloe Hairstreak (Satyrium acaciae) x2, Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Western Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis) and on the way back up the hill a singing Yellowhammer (Escribano Cerillo / Emberiza citronella), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and another couple of Sloe Hairstreaks on some Yarrow (Achillea millefolium).

Peacock (Aglais io).

Peacock (Aglais io).

I reached the car eventually and then headed for the Hotel in San Martin de Perapertú where after checking in at 18:00 I had a coffee and fell asleep and didn't wake until 03:30.

Fuente De and Argüébanes, Potes, Cantabria, Spain.*

Thinking about going up High but just couldn't be bother in the end.

Looking down the slope of the top meadow.

Over night I again heard the Tawny Owl (Cárabo Común / Strix aluco) calling several times and the churring of the European Nightjar (Chotacabras Europeo / Caprimulgus europaeus) and later once it was light I added Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito ibérico / Picus sharpei).

Sooty Copper (Lycaena tityrus).

Sooty Copper (Lycaena tityrus).

Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas).

I was out at 08:00 and drove down to the Cable Car station at Fuente de, on the way I saw Eurasian Jay (Arrendajo Euroasiático / Garrulus glandarius), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and around the building at the station Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Eurasian Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada). 

Lesser Marbled Fritillary (Brenthis ino).

Lesser Marbled Fritillary (Brenthis ino).

As I sat there waiting for 09:00 to arrive I decided that due to the dodgy chest, cough and a lingering headache I just couldn't be bothered to go up so I drove back down the valley and turned up the road to Argüébanes again and parked next to Andy's car, I did the usual walk up to the butterfly spot but today it seemed a hell of a lot harder than usual.

Silver-Washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia).

Silver-Washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia).

Just after I left the car I had the first Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus) of the trip and a Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and in the grassy area in front of the church Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus alceae) x1, Marbled White (Melanargia galathea) x2 and Beautiful Demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo).

Marbled Skipper (Muschampia lavatherae).

Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus alceae).

Marbled Skipper (Muschampia lavatherae) and Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus alceae).

Up on the fields just before I reached the first of the puddling area I picked up Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni) x2, Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) x1, Southern Heath Fritillary (Melitaea nevadensis) x2 and at the damp flush Common / Southern (Polyommatus icarus / celina) x2 and Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus) x3 and Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) x1.

Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous).

I walked on up the hill and met Andy who had just started to make his way back down, we chatted and then returned to the fields a little further up the track to see some nice freshly emerged Sooty Coppers (Lycaena tityrus) x3 he had seen, we first found a Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) x2 which was surprisingly the first of my trip and then a couple of very nice Sooty Coppers, Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus) x1, a Lesser Marbled Fritillary (Brenthis ino) x1, Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina) x5 and Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris) x2.

Marbled Skipper (Muschampia lavatherae).

Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris).

We returned to the track and slowly made our way down to the furthest of the wet patches and stayed there for a while and added Marbled (Muschampia lavatherae) x4, another Mallow Skipper x1 and a fly through Northern Goshawk (Azor Común / Accipitor gentillis) before Andy headed off.

Short-tailed Blue (Cupido argiades).

I decided to stay for a while and during the next hour and a half or so I found Silver-Washed (Argynnis paphia) x2 and Queen of Spain (Issoria lathonia) x1, Small White (Pieris rapae) x8, Short-tailed (Cupido argiades) x2 and Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous) x1, Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens) x2, Common Golden Ringed (Cordulegaster boltonii) x1, Middle-spotted (Pico Mediano / Dendrocopos medius) and Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Eurasian Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).

Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens).

Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens).

On the walk down I stopped at the water trough, had a drink and found several Speckled Woods (Pararge aegeria) x4, a Wood White (Leptidea sinapis) x1 and Large Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanus) x1 and then just before I reached the car I found 4 migrants up from Malaga, Barbara and Derek Etherton with Sonia and Ricky Owen who where up for a few day birding.

Large Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanus).

After a chat I reached the car and then headed back to the Campsite to collapse in a S**TY heap and do a bit of stuff on the laptop. 

Argüébanes, Potes, Cantabria, Spain.*

A few hours in the field, some with Andy again.

 

Sooty Copper (Lycaena tityrus) male.

After a better nights sleep than expected after spending all afternoon coughing I was awake about 06:00, during the night I had again heard Tawny Owl (Cárabo Común / Strix aluco) and European Nightjar (Chotacabras Europeo / Caprimulgus europaeus).

I met Andy in Potes after getting some breakfast in town and we headed out to a spot which Ed Mckrill showed me last year but I was not confident we would see much as it was very cloudy and spitting with rain occasionally.

We parked in the village and walked up hill (which was harder than it should have been as the chest was still not very good) and out into the woods and then to an area of track that had been concreted in amongst woods and grassland.

It was still cloudy and all we managed to see butterfly wise were singles of Marbled White (Melanargia galathea) x12, Wood White (Leptidea sinapis) x1, Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina) x3, Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera) x1 and Southern Heath Fritillary (Melitaea nevadensis) x1.

Bird wise I saw and heard Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), Eurasian Jay (Arrendajo Euroasiático / Garrulus glandarius), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Middle-spotted (Pico Mediano / Dendrocopos medius) and Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and European Crested Tit (Herrerillo Capuchino / Lophophanes cristatus), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Mistle (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs).

Spanish Purple Hairstreak (Laeosopis roboris).

After a couple of hours it still hadn't brightened up so Andy headed off and I lay down on the bank at the site and promptly had another 40 winks and I only woke when the sun got bright in my eyes and I found that things had livened up quite a bit so I got to work.

During the period of sun I added two species to the trip list, singles of Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus alceae) x1 and Sooty Copper (Lycaena tityrus) x1 along with Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus) x3, Small White (Pieris rapae) x13, Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) x1, Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) x3, Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris) x2, Silver-Washed (Argynnis paphia) x1 and Knapweed Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe) x1, Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) x1 and Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni) x2.

After a while the thick cloud returned and I dropped back down to the car, on the way I added Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus) x1, Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) x3, Spanish Purple Hairstreak (Laeosopis roboris) x1 and both male and female Beautiful Demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo) x3.

I returned to the campsite early and did some washing, showered and went to sit in the bar and do some of the blog.

Counts next to the species are from the whole day or the site.

Puerto de San Gloria and north of Portilla de la Reina, Castilla y León, Spain.*

A morning up high with Andy looking for Ringlets.

Chapman's Ringlet (Erebia palarica).

I met Andy up at Puerto de San Gloria just before 09:00, he had been there a while and had already seen his main target the Chapman's Ringlet (Erebia palarica) I caught him up and we went up and saw another Chapman's and it was at this point I realised that I had not put my cards back in the cameras after doing a down load last night so we returned to the car and I sorted it.

Chapman's Ringlet (Erebia palarica).

Chapman's Ringlet (Erebia palarica).

Piedmont Ringlet (Erebia meolans).

We then went for a walk down the track along side the road checking the wet flush, we found Broad-leaved Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza Majalis), Heath Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza maculata), Ragged Robin (Lychnis flos-cuculi), Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), Bistort (Bistorta officinalis), Yellow Rattle (Rhinanthus minor), 

Bath White (Pontia daplidice).

Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae).

Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus).

Dark-green Fritillary (Speyeria aglaja) on Heath Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza maculata).

Butterfly wise we found Meadow (Melitaea parthenoides) x2, Knapweed (Melitaea phoebe) x1, Dark-green (Speyeria aglaja) x2, Southern Heath (Melitaea nevadensis) x5 and Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Boloria selene) x2, Bath White (Pontia daplidice) x1, Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus) x6, Purple-edged Copper (Lycaena hippothoe) x3, Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) x2, Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) x2, Common / Southern Blue (Polyommatus icarus / celina) x2 and Olive Skipper (Pyrgus serratulae) x1.

Purple-edged Copper (Lycaena hippothoe) male.

Purple-edged Copper (Lycaena hippothoe) male.

Purple-edged Copper (Lycaena hippothoe) male.

Purple-edged Copper (Lycaena hippothoe) male.

Purple-edged Copper (Lycaena hippothoe) female.

As we walked we also saw and heard Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), Tree Pipit (Bisbita Arbóreo / Anthus trivialis), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Eurasian Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina).

Bistort (Bistorta officinalis).

Heath Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza maculata).

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Olive Skipper (Pyrgus serratulae).

Olive Skipper (Pyrgus serratulae).

We moved back up the track and then back up to the Chapman's area but at the top of the rise the first sign of the coming chest infection showed up when I became breathless, dizzy and felt extremely sick so I curled up on the side of the track for the next 15 minutes or so until the problems passed and I the caught up with and who was watching another nice Chapman's x4.

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Boloria selene).

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Boloria selene).

Meadow Fritillary (Melitaea parthenoides).

I decided to walk back to the car and head for my next spot leaving Andy to spend some more time searching the area, on the walk back I saw a Piedmont Ringlet (Erebia meolans) x1 before moving on.

Southern Heath Fritillary (Melitaea nevadensis).

Knapweed Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe).

I drove a few Kms to a damp roadside field / hay meadow, on the way I added Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra) and Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris).

Lesser Marbled Fritillary (Brenthis ino).

Lesser Marbled Fritillary (Brenthis ino).

I parked and then walked back to the spot, on the way I heard Yellowhammer (Escribano Cerillo / Emberiza citronella), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone) and then on the field I quickly found around a dozen or so Dusky Large Blues (Phengaris nausithous) x11 which were very active and made getting photo's very difficult.

Dusky Large Blues (Phengaris nausithous).

Dusky Large Blues (Phengaris nausithous).

Dusky Large Blues (Phengaris nausithous).

I the same area I also saw Common Frog (Rana temporaria), Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera) x3, Lesser Marbled Fritillary (Brenthis ino) x4, Common / Southern Blue (Polyommatus icarus / celina) x2 and Spanish Heath (Coenonympha iphioides) x3.

Common / Southern Blue (Polyommatus icarus / celina).

Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera).

I returned to the car, I had planned to go on to another site further up the valley but I was still not feeling anything like 100% so I turned around and returned to the campsite and chilled.