A day wondering in Jaen, Jaen Province.

The Provincial Capital.

In the City.

Jayne and I set off North to spend the day in the city of Jaen, we arrived a little earlier than we had expected as a large amount of repairs has been carried out on the motorway between Granada and Jaen. Parking was no problem and quite near the centre. 

We headed straight for the Cathedral, whilst I do not think it was quite as impressive as Sevilla or Granada it was well worth a visit, it took a good hour and a half to have a good look around. 

Several Lesser Kestrels (Cernicalo Primilla / Falco naumanni) were seen around the towers and good numbers of both Common (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) and Pallid Swifts (Vencejo Pálido) screamed along the streets.

One of the many great buildings.

We then walked through the narrow streets to the Palacio de Villadompardo which was built in 1592 over the top of the Arab Baths, they were rediscovered in 1913 and have now been well restored. 

In the part of the Palacio there is an art gallery which had a display of modern works from Spain and Portugal. 

From the galleries, you can make your way down to the Arab baths and into a museum of agricultural equipment. 

The whole two and a half hours spent here was worthwhile, there were so many things of interest that we will be back there again.

We then made our way back though the streets, calling at several more smaller Churches and monuments before finding our way back to the car.

Orchids above Alhama de Granada, Granada Province.

Orchis Collina var flavescens.

Fan-lipped Orchid (Orchis collina var flavescens).

Armed with directions from John Wainwright, Jayne and myself headed off towards Alhama and on to a track on the opposite side of the gorge from the town, where we quickly found several spikes of Fan-lipped Orchid (Orchis collina). 

All except two spikes were of the usual pink variety, the two other spikes were white, edged green, a named variety called flavescens. 

According to Flora Iberica it is recorded in the Provinces of Albacete, Almería and Murcia, Granada can now be added to that list.

Fan-lipped Orchid (Orchis collina var flavescens).

I have once before seen this variety, a single plant flowered on the Northern slopes of Sierra de Loja back in 2007. 

On the opposite side of the track, there was the most fantastic show of Grape Hyacinths (Muscari neglectum). Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura) and Blue Rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) were both heard singing down in the gorge and a Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila Perdicera / Aquila faciatus) passed over head.

Butterflies at the house near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Firsts for 2009.

Swallowtail (Papilio machaon).

Whilst doing a bit of gardening in the sunshine (+29 max), several species of butterflies were seen including my first Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenoides) x3, Provence Hairstreak (Tomares ballus) x2 and Swallowtail (Papilio machaon) of the year.
Other species seen included Small White (Artogeia rapae), Large White (Pieris brassicae), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) and Bath White (Pontia daplidice).

Bath White (Pontia daplidice).

Orchid meadows near Zafarraya, Granada Province.

Orchids and the Guadia.

Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum robertiana).

After a day down on the coast we returned home via Zafarraya and several good orchid sites, the first stop was at a large area of rocky grassland which had a good display of Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum Robertiana) and a single Fan-lipped Orchid (Orchis Collina), I had hoped to see more but after the wet cold winter I think some species are going to be later flowering this year. 

We continued on and made several more stops but only the same two species were seen. 

At the final site I was taking some photographs of the location when a Guadia Civil 4X4 pulled up and the officers asked if we were having any problems. 

I explained to them I was photographing Orchids, the one policeman did not think any orchids grew in the area but within minutes him and the second officer were both taking an interest and looking at Fan-lipped and Giant Orchid a site I never thought I would see!

Embalse De Iznájar, Cordoba Province.

Spider Orchid hunt.

Italian Man Orchid (Orchis italica).

The main reason for visiting this site was to try and find Dark Spider Orchid (Ophrys incubacea) amongst the Pine trees. 

It was not to be my day for this species, but I did see some of the best Italian Man Orchid (Orchis italica) I have ever seen (right and below), Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys lupercalis), Sawfly (Ophrys tenthredinifera), Mirror (Ophrys Speculum) and a single spike of Giant Orchid (Himanthoglosum robertiana).

Italian Man Orchid (Orchis italica).

Further around the lake on the Southern Road / track we saw more Somber Bee Orchid, Spanish Toadflax (Linaria amethystea), Vinca difformis, Fedia (Fedia cornucopiae), Galactites tomentosa and at the view point halfway around there was a nice show of Narcissus baeticus. 

Birds were few, but we did see Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and Red-billed Chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax / Chova Piquirroja).

Laguna de Fuente de Piedra, Malaga Province.

Greater Flamingos at Fuente de Piedra.

Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus).

On my way down to Coin I called in at Fuente de Piedra to catch up with a few species I had not seen for a while. 

The lake and surrounding pools and marshes were all full of water after the very wet winter. Several thousand Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus) could be seen out on the main Lagoon and some were much closer on the smaller pool on the entrance road.  

White-headed Duck x1(Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucophala), Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Red-crested Pochard x9 (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina), Mallard (Azulón Europeo / Anas platyhynchos) and Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera) were all seen.

Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus).

Several waders were present including Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa), Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnas), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), European Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaia), Dunlin (Correlimos Común /Calidris alpina), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus) and Pied Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta).

Early Orchids in Malaga Province.

Searching for rare Orchids in Malaga Province.

 

Atlas Orchid (Ophrys Atlantica).

Ian Phillips, an Orchid expert from Malaga and I spent an exciting (well it was for me) few hours tracking down some very interesting species in the area around Alhaurín el Grande and Coin. 

The first site visited produced an amazing show of 100s of Woodcock Orchid (Ophrys scolopax) a single Man Orchid (Aceras anthropophorum) and many Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera). 

We moved on and with Ian's guidance and local knowledge of the area we managed to find a single spike of Atlas Orchid (Ophrys Atlantica) at the next site, a species I have wanted to see for many years, and I was not disappointed. 

Also in the same area we saw Champagne Orchid (Orchis champagneuxii), Ophrys dyris and it's hybrid with Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca), Somber Bee Orchid and Sawfly Orchid. 

Ophrys dyris.

We then moved to a site which is unfortunately under severe threat from a nearby quarry. Here we saw Two-leaved Gennaria (Gennaria diphylla) about 15/20 plants. 

Also seen were Mirror Orchid (Ophrys speculum), Somber Bee Orchid and Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea).

The final location was in pine woodland near Alharín, we hoped for Atlas Orchids again, but the site had been scrapped with some kind of digger, there were still some none flowering Orchids. 

In an abandoned orchard nearby we found several spikes of both Fan-lipped (Orchis Collina) and Conical Orchids (Orchis Conica) and the very small Narcissus beticus. 

Other species seen included Barbary Knut (Gynandiris sisyrinchium), Grey-leaved Cistus (Cistus albidus), Friar's Cowle (Arisarum vulgare) and Dutchmans Pipe (Aristolochia baetica). 

A couple of species of Butterfly were also noted including Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina) and Large White (Pieris brassicae) and just as we were leaving the last site a pale phase Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus) was soaring quite close by.

Two-leaved Gennaria (Gennaria diphylla).

A walk in the Sierra de Víznar, Granada Province.

Resting place of Poet Frederico García Lorca.

Resting place of the poet Federico García Lorca.

Jayne and I were fortunate today to be shown the area that is believed to be the resting place of the poet Federico García Lorca. He along with many other victims of the Spanish Civil War lie in mass graves in the Sierra de Víznar.
Jorge Garzón a friend spent some time telling us the history of the event and what it still means to the small but beautiful village of Viznar today. 

The monument is set in a pine fringed gully just a Km out of the village.

A walk in the Sierra de Víznar, Granada Province.

Sierra de Víznar, the birds.

Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator glandarius).

Whilst having our stroll around an area of Pines just outside the village we saw 2 Great Spotted Cuckoos (Crialo Europeo / Clamator glandarius) harassing the local Eurasian Magpies (Urraca / Pica pica), Common Stonechat (Tarabill Común / Saxicola torquata), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Common Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus) and Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

Ophrys Fusca subsp fusca, El Turro, Granada Province.

First Orchids of the year.

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys lupercalis).

Whilst out birding in the Cacin Valley near El Turro today, we found several spikes of Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys lupercalis) in flower, the first orchids of the year. Standing between 6 and 10 cms tall, about 30 plants were found on a roadside verge under Pine trees, plants can reach a height of 40 cms. 

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys lupercalis).

Most spikes have between 2 and 9 blooms, this species is usually one of the first to be found in flower but this year after the wet winter and a few days of sun shine they are earlier than usual. 

Red-knobbed Coots at Embalse del Cacin and at the Pantaneta de Alhama, Granada Province.

Red-knobbed Coot (Focha moruna / Fulica cristata).

Male Red-knobbed Coot (Focha moruna / Fulica cristata).

Whilst on a visit to the Embalse del Cacin with a group of Spanish Friends (Alice, Zoe, Candi, Lourdes, Antonio, Jesús, Jorge, Juanra and Juanfra) we discovered a pair of Red-knobbed Coot feeding on the road edge of the lake.
After a controversial bird at Pantaneta de Alhama back in 2008 (photo's above) it was great to see what appear to be a genuine pair in a good breeding habitat. 

The species is a very rare bird throughout Southern Spain with a strong, long-running reintroduction program.

Sierra de Loja, Granada Province.

Sierra Nevada Crocus (Crocus nevadensis).

Sierra Nevada Crocus (Crocus nevadensis).

Two plants were found today after information from John Wainwright, growing amongst gorse scrub on a limestone covered slope in the Sierra de Loja. 

One of the plants was well over, but the second was still in good condition, an endemic of Iberia and North Africa which can be seen in flower as early as February just as the snow starts to thaw.

This is a plant of between 4 and 5 cms tall with narrow leaves of green with a paler centre rib.

Kittiwakes in Motril Harbour, Granada Province.

Kittiwakes a new Province tick.

Black-legged Kittiwake (Gaviota Tridáctila / Rissa tridactyla).

On Saturday the 7th February Juan Pérez Contreras and I took part in the RAM seabird survey at Peñón de Jolúcar just to East of Motril.
The first bird recorded that morning was a Juv Black-legged Kittiwake (Gaviota Tridáctila / Rissa tridactyla) flying west towards Motril, followed closely by almost 1000 Great Cormorants (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocórax carbo).

Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea).

After the survey we visited the fishing docks at Motril and found at least a further 11 Black-legged Kittiwakes of various ages sheltering from the strong winds out in the Mediterranean.
We then moved to Charca de Suárez on the other side of Motril where we saw our first Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Western House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) of the year, several of each.
Also there we saw Western Swamp-hen (Calamón Común / Porphyrio porphyrio) and 50+ Grey Herons (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea).

Cabo Sacratif, Motril, Granada Province, Spain.

Sea watching with Juan Pérez-Contreras.

Balearic Shearwater (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus) x1E, Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) x50E and 62W, Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) x4E and 977W, Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) x3E and 27W, Little Gull (Gaviota Enana / Larus minutus) x2E and 1W, Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) x8W, Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis) x1E, Pomarine Skua (Págalo Pomarino / Stercorarius pomarinus) x1E and two more Skua's which remained unidentified, as well as a flyby Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus).

Huétor Tájar, Granada Province.

A good start to the year.

Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

The weather was not fantastic, so I just went locally on New Year's Day and visited the agricultural areas around the town of Huétor Tájar, about 2 KMS from the house.
The first birds seen included Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and a small Group of 18 Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo /Athene noctua).

The next stop produced a flock of Eurasian Stone Curlew 250+ (Alcaraván Común /Burhinus oedicnemus) roosting in an asparagus field with Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo /Athene noctua) all there.
To the west of the area another flock of Little Bustards (214 birds) was seen, along with Northern Lapwing 440+ (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Euroean Golden Plover 250+ (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaria) and several Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera /Bubulcus ibis).
Then the rain arrived, so back to watching the Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) from the kitchen window.