Santander Airport in Cantabria and Unquera, Rio Deva, Playa de Andrín and Punta la Tejera, Asturias, Spain.

Saying goodbye to Karen and Rob and then a second dip on the Skipper.

 

We were up and out early from the hotel which had served its purpose but I would not return for a few little problems, we were soon at the Airport and saying goodbye after a really nice trip with a good number of interesting species seen.

I was going to give the Large Chequered Skipper (Heteropterus morpheus) another try, on the way I saw Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica).

I called in at Unquera where I had some breakfast in Cafe Rio Deva before going out to the Rio Deva, whilst there I checked the river and saw Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada) and Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica).

The Flood Plains of the Rio Deva, Unquera.

After breakfast I headed out onto the fields nearby where the usual Pylon for the White-tailed Eagle (Pigargo Europeo / Haliaeetus albicilla) was empty.

White-tailed Eagle (Pigargo Europeo / Haliaeetus albicilla).

In the area I found Common Woodpigeon, Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Eurasian Blackcap, Common Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Eurasian Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Eurasian Wren, Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis).

White-tailed Eagle (Pigargo Europeo / Haliaeetus albicilla).

White-tailed Eagle (Pigargo Europeo / Haliaeetus albicilla).

After a while I suddenly became aware that the White-tailed Eagle had flown in and was on the usual perch, after a while the bird headed off and joined an Egyptian Vulture (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus) and eventually disappeared off over a nearby hillside.

Egyptian Vulture (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus).

Other species seen were Small (Pieris rapae) and Large White (Pieris brassicae), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) and Large-flowered Evening-Primrose (Oenothera glazioviana).

Large-flowered Evening-Primrose (Oenothera glazioviana).

After a while I headed along the coast to Playa de Andrín, then I walked out on to the Punta la Tejera, after parking I checked the fields and verges around the lanes above the beach and out to the coast where I saw Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Eurasian Wren, Melodious (Zarcero políglota / Hippolais polyglotta) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Red-backed Shrike (Alcaudón Dorsirrojo / Lanius collurio) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis). 

The Habitat along the coast.

Looking East.

Looking West along the coast.

Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae).

Butterfly and Insect wise, I only saw a couple of Marbled Whites (Melanargia galathea) but I was not surprised as it was quite cloudy and generally cool, I also unfortunately saw what looked like the invasive Yellow-legged Hornet (Vespa velutina). 

Yellow-legged Hornet (Vespa velutina).

Yellow-legged Hornet (Vespa velutina).

Out on the coastal areas there were several species in flower, these included Cornish (Erica vagans) and Dorset Heath (Erica ciliaris), Golden Samphire (Limbarda crithmoides), Fringed Pink (Dianthus hyssopifolius), Bird's-foot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), Rock Samphire (Crithmum maritimum), Sea Campion (Silene uniflora), Common Centaury (Centaurium erythraea), Swallow-Wort (Vincetoxicum hirundinaria), Common Hedge-Nettle (Betonica officinalis), Sticky Flax (Linum viscosum) and Heart-flowered Tongue Orchid (Serapias cordigera) which were well past their best.

Common Hedge-Nettle (Betonica officinalis).

Cornish Heath (Erica vagans).

Dorset Heath (Erica ciliaris).

Common Centaury (Centaurium erythraea).

Fringed Pink (Dianthus hyssopifolius).

Golden Samphire (Limbarda crithmoides).

Heart-flowered Tongue Orchid (Serapias cordigera).

I returned to the car and headed back to the Eagle site my the hotel for tonight was near there, I looked at the usual spot but there was no sign of the Eagle so I parked at a different spot and went for a walk.

Great Horsetail (Equisetum telmateia).

Common Teasel (Dipsacus fullonum).

In a small ditch which ran along the side of the road I found several Long-tailed Tit (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus), Small Red Damselfly (Ceriagrion tenellum) x6 and Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens) x8, Small White, Clouded Yellow, Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) x3, Common Teasel (Dipsacus fullonum) and lots of Great Horsetail (Equisetum telmateia).

Small Red Damselfly (Ceriagrion tenellum).

Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens) ♂.

Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens) ♂.

Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens) ♀.

Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens) ♀.

As I was leaving I picked up an adult looking White-tailed Eagle up high with at least 3 Egyptian Vultures (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus), Black Kite x3 and a Buzzard species.

Buzzard species ???????????????

Egyptian Vulture (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus) and White-tailed Eagle (Pigargo Europeo / Haliaeetus albicilla).

The weather was starting to turn a tad rough so I went to my hotel where I had a beer and some tapas before checking in, as I sat in my room I scanned the fields and rooftops seeing Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Yellow-legged Gull, Black Kite, Common Swift, Barn Swallow, Western House Martin, Black Redstart, Carrion Crow, Northern Raven (Cuervo grande / Corvus corax), White Wagtail and  European Goldfinch.

During the evening the weather turned and there was quite a storm including some very heavy rain.

 

Butterflies.

1. Adonis Blue (Lysandra bellargus), 
2. African Grass Blue (Zizeeria knysna), 
3. Bath White (Pontia daplidice), 
4. Berger's Clouded Yellow (Colias alfacariensis), 
5. Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni),   
6. Cardinal Fritillary (Argynnis pandora),  
7. Chapman's Ringlet (Erebia palarica),  
8. Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra), 
9. Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus),  
10. Comma (Polygonia c-album),
11. Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus), 
12. Dark-green Fritillary (Speyeria aglaja),  
13. Dingy Skipper (Erynnis tages),  
14. Dusky Large Blue (Phengaris nausithous),
15. Dusky Meadow Brown (Hyponephele lycaon), 
16. Esper's Marbled White (Melanargia russiae),
17. Essex Skipper (Thymelicus lineola), 
18. False Ilex Hairstreak (Satyrium esculi),  
19. Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus), 
20. Gavarnie Blue (Agriades pyrenaica form asturiensis),
21. Geranium Bronze (Cacyreus marshalli),  
22. Great Banded Grayling (Brintesia circe),  
23. High Brown Fritillary (Fabriciana adippe),
24. Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus),  
25. Iberian Marbled White (Melanargia lachesis), 
26. Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli),  
27. Ilex Hairstreak (Satyrium ilicis), 
28. Knapweed Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe),  
29. Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous),  
30. Large Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanus),
    
31. Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros),
32. Large Wall Brown (Lasiommata maera), 
33. Large White (Pieris brassicae), 
34. Lesser Marbled Fritillary (Brenthis ino),  
35. Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus), 
36. Lulworth Skipper (Thymelicus acteon),  
37. Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus alceae), 
38. Marbled Skipper (Muschampia lavatherae),
39. Marbled Fritillary (Brenthis daphne), 
40. Marbled White (Melanargia galathea),
41. Mazarine Blue (Cyaniris semiargus),
42. Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina),  
43. Mountain Clouded Yellow (Colias phicomone),  
44. Nettle-tree Butterfly (Libythea celtis),  
45. Niobe Fritillary (Fabriciana niobe),  
46. Oberthür's Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus armoricanus),  
47. Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui),  
48. Peacock (Aglais io),  
49. Pearly Heath (Coenonympha arcania), 
50. Piedmont Ringlet (Erebia meolans),  
51. Provençal Fritillary (Melitaea deione),  
52. Purple Hairstreak (Favonius Quercus),  
53. Purple-edged Copper (Lycaena hippothoe),
54. Purple-shot Copper (Lycaena alciphron),  
55. Queen of Spain (Issoria lathonia),  
56. Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta),
57. Red-underwing Skipper (Spialia sertorius), 
58. Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus),
59. Scarce Copper (Lycaena virgaureae),  
60. Silver-Washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia),  
61. Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas),  
62. Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus), 
63. Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Boloria selene),
64. Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris), 
65. Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae),  
66. Small White (Pieris rapae),  
67. Sooty Copper (Lycaena tityrus),  
68. Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera),  
69. Southern Gatekeeper (Pyronia cecilia),  
70. Southern Heath Fritillary (Melitaea nevadensis),  
71. Southern White Admiral (Limenitis reducta),  
72. Spanish Heath (Coenonympha iphioides),  
73. Spanish Purple Hairstreak (Laeosopis roboris),  
74. Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), 
75. Swallowtail (Papilio machaon), 
76. Tree Grayling (Hipparchia statilinus),
77. Turquoise Blue (Polyommatus dorylas), 
78. Two-tailed Pasha (Charaxes jasius), 
79. Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), 
80. Weaver's Fritillary (Boloria dia),  
81. Western Brassy Ringlet (Erebia arvernensis), 
82. White Admiral (Limenitis camilla),
    
83. Wood White (Leptidea sinapis), 

 Dragonflies. 

1. Banded Groundling (Brachythemis leucosticta),
2. Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator), 
3. Beautiful Demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo),  
4. Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum),  
5. Broad-bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa),  
6. Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum),
   
7. Common Golden Ringed (Cordulegaster boltonii), 
8. Dainty Damselfly (Coenagrion scitulum),  
9. Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma),  
10. Green Hooktail (Paragomphus genei), 
11. Iberian Bluetail (Ischnura graellsii), 
12. Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens), 
13. Large Pincertail (Onychogomphus uncatus),  
14. Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope),
15. Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta),  
16. Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii),  
17. Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea),   
18. Small Pincertail (Onychogomphus forcipatus), 
19. Southern Hawker (Aeshna cyanea),  
20.  Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata), 
21. Western Willow Spreadwing (Chalcolestes viridis),
22. White Featherleg (Platycnemis latipes),  
23. Yellow-winged Darter (Sympetrum flaveolum),