Loja Wildlife, Granada Province, Spain.: Cerro Hacho, Granada Province, Spain.

Thursday, 12 March 2026

Cerro Hacho, Granada Province, Spain.

A walk through the Pine Woodland and around part of the Loop.

Ebird List for Hacho.

I started the day by bleaching the ceiling and walls in the bedroom which had been damaged by the January / February rains and got most of the filling done, but I ran out so decided to pop out for a walk-up Cerro Hacho as after the few days of sun I had hoped that there might be a few more butterfly species around.

The fallen Pines, lots more throughout the area.

I parked near the Puddle (which was full, unsurprisingly😁😁😁) and walked up the top track through the Pine woods, many of the trees had been felled by the very high winds which probably had more of an effect after the rains and forestry works that were done last year allowing the wind in amongst the trees more.

Giant Orchid (Himanthoglossum Robertiana).

As I walked I saw many Giant Orchids (Himanthoglossum Robertiana) unfortunately the one Hypochromic plant I found last year was under one of the fallen Pines.

Giant Orchid (Himanthoglossum Robertiana).

Further on there were quite a few Somber Bee Orchids (Ophrys lupercalis) and 2 spikes of Italian Man Orchid (Orchis Italica) but they weren't yet in flower.

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys lupercalis).

Other species seen during this part of the walk were Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater), Eurasian Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Common Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapilla), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni) x2, Broad-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia), Field Marigold (Calendula arvensis), Ramping Fumitory (Fumaria capreolata) and Tassel Hyacinth (Muscari comosum).

Broad-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia).

I dropped back down to the car and then on around part of the loop, almost straight away I found the first Provence Hairstreak (Tomares ballus) x8 which sat for the camera nicely which is more than can be said for the Western Dappled Whites (Euchloe crameri) x6 I saw which were pretty much on the wing all the time, so I only managed some bad shots.

Provence Hairstreak (Tomares ballus).

Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri).

As I walked on I picked up Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Long-tailed Tit (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus), Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Curruca undata), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), Corn (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteño / Emberiza cirlus), Conical Orchid (Neotinea conica), Fan-lipped Orchid (Anacamptis collina), Southern Early Purple Orchid (Orchis olbienis), Wild Grape Hyacinth (Muscari neglectum), Wild Clary (Salvia verbenaca), Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritima) and Common Fumitory (Fumaria officinalis).