Malaga Airport, Malaga Province and Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A trip down to Malaga Airport to pick up Sue and Dave who were flying in from Australia.

Sue and Dave, Day one.

Ebird List for the Fields. 

 

I started the day by doing a tad of gardening, painting, cleaning to get the place finished off ready for Sue and Dave who would be arriving later at Malaga from Doha which was a stop over on their way here from Adelaide in South Australia.

I had spent a few days birding with Sue and Dave whilst I was staying with Deb and Ian who had been over earlier in the year for 9 weeks and I was looking forward to showing them around southern Spain.

I drove down later than expected as there had been a 2 hour delay in Doha but picked them up at around 17:15 and we headed back up to the house. 

After settling in we popped down to the fields for a short walk seeing Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).
We returned to the house and spent a very nice evening up on the terrace with a few drinks and some food.

Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

A before light trip down to Huétor.

 

I started the day by popping down to Huétor for a walk, as I drove down a Red-necked Nightjar (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis) flushed up off the road and I saw at least 5 Little Owls (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) sat up on the roadside posts and wires.

On the walk I saw Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oropéndola Europea / Oriolus oriolus), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula cabrerae), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis).

Mollina and Fuente de Piedra, Malaga Province, Spain.

Some birding with friends Barbara and Derek.

Ebird List for Mollina.

Ebird List for Fuente de Piedra.

 

I met Barbara and Derek on the outskirts of Mollina for some breakfast and a coffee at Restaurante Salida 138, we then headed to a nearby spot where we were hoping to see the extremely elusive Rufous-tailed Sceub Robin (Alzacola Rojizo / Cercotrichas galactotes) but unfortunately they remained as elusive as they had been on my last two visits and we didn't see any.

Iberian Brown Hare (Liebre ibérica / Lepus granatensis) disappearing at high speed.

However whilst there we did record Iberian Brown Hare (Liebre ibérica / Lepus granatensis), Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator) an immature, Northern Raven (Cuervo grande / Corvus corax), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina).

Iberian Brown Hare (Liebre ibérica / Lepus granatensis).

After we gave the area a good go we decided to cut our loses and head for what was to turn out to be a productive but dry Fuente de Piedra, on the drive in we passed the dry roadside pool where we saw another 9 Eurasian Hoopoe, quite a few feeding Barn Swallows and at least 2 calling Eurasian Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) which were over in the Olive groves nearer to the town. 
We parked and then walked on the lower track around to the Mirador, on the way we saw Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared and European Turtle Dove, Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Common Blackbird, House Sparrow and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis).

Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops).

Up at the Mirador we scanned the main lagoon which was virtually dry except for the usual patch of water in the North East corner where we could see a good number of Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), a couple of Grey Heron's (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), a single Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa) and several Mallards (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos).

In the bushes and over head we added Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Common Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Western Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Red-rumped Swallows (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica), Western Yellow Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris) and Common Linnet.

We moved around to the Observatorio El Laguneto which looked quiet but as we sat there we picked up several new species including Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Spatula clypeata), Marbled (Cerceta pardilla / Marmaronetta angustirostris) and White-headed Ducks (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) and Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Little (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and Black-necked Grebes (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas), Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Great Tit, Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti) and best species of the morning a fly through Spotted Redshank (Archibebe Oscuro / Tringa erythropus).

Around at Observatorio de las Palomas we did rather well finding Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Thinornis dubius) x3, Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta) x2, and several Western Olivaceous Warbler (Zarcero bereber / Iduna opaca).

Other species seen during the walk included Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator), Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi), Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa) and Rabbit.  

Our next stop was up in Fuente village where we went for a drink in bar Panymá, I then headed off home as I still had quite a few tasks to get done before some friends from Australia arrive on Friday, Barbara and Derek headed off to Laguna Dulce. 

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A quick walk out from the Walnut tree.

Ebird List.

 

I went and did a walk around part of the loop near to the town before going out to the fields and parking near to the Walnut trees.

Species seen included 9 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and on part of the Lucerne field that was being irrigated there were a good number of Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) around 70 birds including a good number of immatures.

 

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A walk along the Lucerne Fields.

Ebird List, 30 species.

 

I started the day with a walk around part of the Huétor Ring Road and then on my way home I popped into the Fields but parked by the Walnut trees and started from there, species seen included European Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), 6x Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), Eurasian Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Black-winged Kite (Elanio Común / Elanus caeruleus), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oropéndola Europea / Oriolus oriolus), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Cecropis daurica), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild) and 80 odd Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) including a good number of immature birds.

Huétor Tajar, Granda Province, Spain.

A walk around a bit of the Ring Road.

Ebird List.

I did a bit of a walk along part of the newer stretch of the Ring Road around tow, on the way I picked up Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oropéndola Europea / Oriolus oriolus), Eurasian Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis).   

Near Albarracín, Teruel Province and back home, Granada Province, Spain.

My last morning try to and get the Hermit in front of the Camera.

 

I was up and out and in Albarracín for 08:00 as the Mesón de la Vega Albarracín opened ready for breakfast, later I went just up the road but there was already a minibus there and a group of butterfly hunters from Holland who were just about to head out into the Rambla so we had a quick chat and we all headed off. 

Bath White (Pontia daplidice).

The group headed up the Rambla and I went up on to the slopes but as hard as I tried today I didn't get any views of the Southern Hermit (Chazara prieuri) either here or on a walk up the Rambla later.

On the slopes I saw Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito ibérico / Picus sharpei), Eurasian Crag (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Dartford (Curruca Rabilarga / Curruca undata) and Western Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteño / Emberiza cirlus).

Sage Skipper (Muschampia proto).

As things warmed up more butterflies came on the wing including Swallowtail (Papilio machaon), Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Southern (Polyommatus celina), Lang's Short-tailed (Leptotes pirithous) and Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus),  Grayling (Hipparchia semele), Rock (Hipparchia alcyone) and Striped Grayling (Hipparchia fidia), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina), Sage Skipper (Muschampia proto), Pearly Heath (Coenonympha arcania) and Cardinal Fritillary (Argynnis pandora).

Striped Grayling (Hipparchia fidia).

Up the Rambla I added Western Black-eared Wheatear (Collalba Rubia Occidental / Oenanthe hispanica), Blue-winged Grasshopper (Oedipoda caerulescens), Carpentor Bee (Xylocopa violacea), Hummingbird Hawkmoth (Macroglossum stellatarum), Small White (Pieris rapae), Spotted Fritillary (Melitaea didyma), Spanish Heath (Coenonympha iphioides), Berger's Clouded Yellow (Colias alfacariensis) and Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Spanish Chalk-hill Blue (Lysandra albicans), Silver-spotted Skipper (Hesperia comma), Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Southern Gatekeeper (Pyronia cecilia), Field Eryngo (Eryngium campestris), Southern Globe Thistle (Echinops ritro), Spike Lavender (Lavandula latifolia) and Spiny-footed Lizard (Acanthodactylus erythrurus). 

Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera).

Oberthur's Anomalous Blue (Polyommatus fabressei).

Southern Gatekeeper (Pyronia cecilia).

As I walked back into the area near the bridge I picked up Tree Grayling (Hipparchia statilinus), Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli), Oberthur's Anomalous (Polyommatus fabressei) and Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus).

Spanish Chalk-hill Blue (Lysandra albicans).

At around 12:00 I decided to headed back home so I started the drive, on the way I picked up Woodchat (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator) and Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real / Lanius meridionalis), Griffon (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) and Cinereous Vulture (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus), Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Eurasian (Urraca Común / Pica pica) and Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula) and Northern Raven (Cuervo grande / Corvus corax).

Near Albarracín and Moscardón area, Teruel Province, Spain.

A semi successful hard going morning with an easier afternoon. 

 

I started the day by driving through to Albarrasín to a spot where I was again going to try and find the very uncommon and difficult to see Southern Hermit (Chazara prieuri) but armed with extra information from Jon Dunn I felt a little more confident and it had been seen a couple of times in the days running up to my visit.

I parked and started the search early on the rocky slopes, straight away I was finding plenty of the very smart Striped Grayling (Hipparchia fidia) as well as a few Grayling (Hipparchia semele) and then after about half an hour I had a butterfly come up from the base of one of the Juniper bushes and straight away I knew it was my target from things Jon had said, it was distinctly larger and and well marked on the upper wings which was really easy to see even in flight but unfortunately it disappeared behind one of the bushes.

I continued on searching and during the next hour or so I saw it twice but it again was elusive off before I managed to get the camera on it, Jon and the Mariposa group then turned up and they searched the lower areas so I continued on the slopes but didn't have any more sightings.

Cardinal Fritillary (Argynnis pandora).

Cardinal Fritillary (Argynnis pandora).

Other butterfly species seen included Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus), Spotted (Melitaea didyma) and Cardinal Fritillary (Argynnis pandora), Small (Pieris rapae) and Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Swallowtail (Papilio machaon), Cinquefoil Skipper (Pyrgus cirsii), Great Banded (Brintesia circe) and Rock Grayling (Hipparchia alcyone).

Western Black-eared Wheatear (Collalba Rubia Occidental / Oenanthe hispanica)

Bird wise Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Northern Raven (Cuervo grande / Corvus corax), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Western House (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum) and Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Western Black-eared Wheatear (Collalba Rubia Occidental / Oenanthe hispanica), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Eurasian Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Dartford (Curruca Rabilarga / Curruca undata) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis) were seen or heard.

Back near the bridge I heard a calling Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oropéndola Europea / Oriolus oriolus), and under the bridge where some dirty git had used the tunnel as a toilet there were several more Striped and a few Tree Graylings (Hipparchia statilinus) as well as Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli), Lang's Short-tailed (Leptotes pirithous) and Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus). 

Adonis Blue (Lysandra bellargus).

After a while I returned to the car for a drink and decided to pop back to a bar just down the road for some breakfast and a couple of coffee's, by the time I returned to the butterfly spot the Mariposa group where back at their bus so I said goodby to Jon and the others before continuing my search.

As I walked in to the site I saw a good number of passage Black Kites (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans) 80+, a single Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and a couple of Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

Once I was up on the slopes again I soon found the Southern Hermit again and this time it landed around 10m away from me and I got the bin's on it to confirm the ID which I was happy with but a few moments later just as I was about to push the shutter button on the camera it was off again and that was the last I saw of it even though I continued to search for another couple of hours. 

After a while I dropped off the slopes and walked up the Rambla for a while finding Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito ibérico / Picus sharpei), Iberian Marbled White (Melanargia lachesis), Southern Gatekeeper (Pyronia cecilia), Adonis (Lysandra bellargus) and Spanish Chalk-hill Blue (Lysandra albicans).

Zapata's Ringlet (Erebia zapateri).

I returned to the meadows at Moscardón where I again searched to slopes in amongst the Pine Woodlands and I again bumped into Robert who I had met yesterday, we soon found a smart Zapata's Ringlet (Erebia zapateri) which as Yesterday  flicked around but didn't and for any amount of time.

Zapata's Ringlet (Erebia zapateri).

Zapata's Ringlet (Erebia zapateri).

However after while it flew and landed on my leg then it went up onto Roberts watch and started to take salts from his arm, unfortunately this was the only time it stayed still long enough for us to get photo's.

Ruddy Darter (Sympetrum sanguineum).

Whilst there I also saw Silver-Washed (Argynnis paphia) and Cardinal Fritillary, False Grayling (Arethusana arethusa), Berger's Clouded (Colias alfacariensis) and Clouded Yellow, Azure Chalkhill Blue (Lysandra caelestissima), Silver-spotted Skipper (Hesperia comma), Grayling, Rock and Great Banded Grayling, Iberian Marbled White (Melanargia lachesis) and Ruddy Darter (Sympetrum sanguineum).

Cinquefoil Skipper (Pyrgus cirsii).

Cinquefoil Skipper (Pyrgus cirsii).

Silver-spotted Skipper (Hesperia comma).

Robert went back to his Motor for some lunch and I dropped back down the road to check in on the puddling spot where I again found good numbers of Azure Chalkhill, Oberthur's Anomalous and Common Blue, Small, Cinquefoil and Silver-spotted Skipper, Knapweed Fritillary, Berger's Clouded and Clouded Yellow, Rock Grayling, a Common Golden Ringed (Cordulegaster boltonii) and Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi).

Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus).

Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus).

By now it was getting hot so I retreated to the Hotel and then later I went down to the Bar again before hitting the pit early as I wanted to give the Hermit another try in the morning before I headed off home. 

Moscardón area, Teruel Province, Spain.

A second day in the Moscardón area.

 

Iberian Sooty Copper (Lycaena bleusei).

I started the day by heading back to to the meadows near to Moscardón which were only 5 minutes away from where I was staying and I was out there by 08:00 finding a few bits still roosting which always makes getting photo's a little bit easier.

Azure Chalkhill Blue (Lysandra caelestissima) male.

Azure Chalkhill Blue (Lysandra caelestissima) female.

Azure Chalkhill Blue (Lysandra caelestissima) male.

Azure Chalkhill Blue (Lysandra caelestissima) female.

Chapman's Blue (Polyommatus Thersites).

Along the roadside I found Iberian Sooty Copper (Lycaena bleusei), Azure Chalkhill (Lysandra caelestissima) and Oberthur's Anomalous Blue (Polyommatus fabressei), Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus), Iberian Marbled White (Melanargia lachesis) and Silver-spotted Skipper (Hesperia comma).

Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus).

Iberian Marbled White (Melanargia lachesis).

Oberthur's Anomalous Blue (Polyommatus fabressei).

Oberthur's Anomalous Blue (Polyommatus fabressei).

At around 09:30 I walked down the road when I saw the Mariposa group arrive so that I could say hello to their leader Jon Dunn who is always kind and helpful with info which has been useful on several occasions.

Silver-Washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia).

Silver-Washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia).

Silver-Washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia).

Queen of Spain (Issoria lathonia).

After a short chat I left them and walked back up the road and out onto the meadows again and as I walked up to the far end where the Pines started I saw Small White (Pieris rapae), Twin-spot (Brenthis hecate), Silver-Washed (Argynnis paphia) and Cardinal Fritillary (Argynnis pandora), Queen of Spain (Issoria lathonia), Berger's (Colias alfacariensis) and Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Chapman's (Polyommatus Thersites), Long-tailed (Lampides boeticus) and Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous), False (Arethusana arethusa), Rock Grayling (Hipparchia alcyone) and Tree Grayling (Hipparchia statilinus), Spanish Heath (Coenonympha iphioides), Southern White Admiral (Limenitis reducta), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Cinquefoil Skipper (Pyrgus cirsii) and Silver-spotted Skipper.

Grayling (Hipparchia semele), 

False Grayling (Arethusana arethusa).

Cinquefoil Skipper (Pyrgus cirsii).

Silver-spotted Skipper (Hesperia comma).

Rock Grayling (Hipparchia alcyone).

Rock Grayling (Hipparchia alcyone).

Azure Chalkhill Blue (Lysandra caelestissima).

Azure Chalkhill Blue (Lysandra caelestissima).

Azure Chalkhill Blue (Lysandra caelestissima).

Bird wise I saw and heard Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Eurasian Jay (Arrendajo Euroasiático / Garrulus glandarius), Great Spotted (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major) and  Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito ibérico / Picus sharpei), Eurasian Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla), European Crested (Herrerillo Capuchino / Lophophanes cristatus), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater) and Eurasian Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada),   Western Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteño / Emberiza cirlus) and Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs).

Mediterranean Shieldbug (Carpocoris mediterraneus).

 Hornet Mimic Hover Fly (Volucella zonaria). 

Striped Shieldbug (Graphosoma italicum).

Other species seen during the walk included Common Golden Ringed (Cordulegaster boltonii),  Hornet Mimic Hover Fly (Volucella zonaria), Striped (Graphosoma italicum) and Mediterranean Shieldbug (Carpocoris mediterraneus), Carpentor Bee (Xylocopa violacea), Field Eryngo (Eryngium campestris), Southern Globe Thistle (Echinops ritro),  Wild Teasel (Dipsacus fullonum), False Meadow Saffron (Colchicum montanum), Armeria alliacea and Common Agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria).

Twin-spot fritillary (Brenthis hecate).

Grayling (Hipparchia semele).

Rock Grayling (Hipparchia alcyone).

Rock Grayling (Hipparchia alcyone).

At the Puddling site I saw Swallowtail (Papilio machaon), Bath (Pontia daplidice) and Small White (Pieris rapae), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Cinquefoil Skipper and Silver-spotted Skipper, Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli), Knapweed Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe), Azure Chalkhill, Oberthur's Anomalous and Damon Blue (Polyommatus damon).

Damon Blue (Polyommatus damon).

Chapman's Blue (Polyommatus Thersites).

Whilst here I met Robert (NaturebikerMadrid) and we spent a while chatting before the Mariposa group turned up and Jon told me that Teppo a Finnish Guy I had seen earlier was watching some Zapata's Ringlets down at the meadow so I headed down there.

Azure Chalkhill Blue (Lysandra caelestissima).

Azure Chalkhill Blue (Lysandra caelestissima).

Azure Chalkhill Blue (Lysandra caelestissima) and 

Silver-spotted Skipper (Hesperia comma).

Cinquefoil Skipper (Pyrgus cirsii).

Back at the Moscardón site I found where Teppo was parked and then we went back over to the spot where he had see the Zapata's Ringlets (Erebia zapateri) earlier in the day, after a while we had a single fly around for a while, just landing for a few seconds each time but not long enough for a decent photo but I was well happy as this had been a target for some time.

Zapata's Ringlets (Erebia zapateri).

Grayling (Hipparchia semele).

I returned to Moscardón where I again went down to Bar Moscardon where I enjoyed a couple of beers before turning in.