Sierra de Loja, Granada Province.

A days birding with the Axarquia bird group.

Ophrys tenthredinifera x Ophrys Picta.

I usually end up missing the groups meeting so I was very pleased when Steve Foster a visitor holidaying here said he would be interested in going as well and could get us to the meeting place. 

We arrived to met a group of ten more birders ready to brave the wind, possible heavy rain and cold, as it turns out we got two of the three and avoided the rain. 

We left the car park in three cars (thanks to the drivers who gave Steve and myself a lift up the hill) and started off by parking at the bottom of the narrow track up to the disused quarry and started the walk up. 

We soon picked up several Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Coal Tit (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater) and Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) all before we left the cover of the Pine Woodlands.

Eagle Owl (Buho Real / Bubo bubo).

Once we were out in the open we started to find a wide selection of wildflowers including a few species of Orchid including one very special plant. Straight away we found Viola dementria, Southern Knapweed (Centaurea pullata ssp pullata), White Rockrose (Helianthemum apenninum), Wild Gladiolus (Gladiolus illyricus), White Mignonette (Reseda Alba), Rusty-back Fern (Ceterach officinarum) and nearer the top of the track we found several spikes of the Small Woodcock Orchid (Ophrys picta) and along side these was a single spike of a rare hybrid which we originally found on this meeting back on the 17th May 2012 between Ophrys tenthredinifera and Ophrys Picta and with information seen recently it was the first record of this Orchid for Granada Province at that time. 

We eventually (the plant hunters) reached the quarry to find that Bob and the others had already got the Eagle Owl (Buho Real / Bubo bubo) in the scopes, in and around the quarry we also saw a very smart Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus).

Linaria anticaria.

In the quarry and on the banks nearby there were also quite a few wildflowers including Chickweed (Cerastium boissieri), Common Poppy (Papaver rhoeas), Common Snapdragon (Antirrhinum major), Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum umbellatum), Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis), Tassel Hyacinth (Muscari comosum), Mediterranean Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria), Linaria anticaria, Mediterranean Catchfly (Silene colorata), Navel-wort (Omphalodes commutata), Carduus granatensis and Crambe filiformis.

During the walk back down the hill we had good numbers of Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) heard only and Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto). We got back into the cars and headed up along the track through the Pine Woods where we heard and some of the saw a Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), plus Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla) heard only. 

We made a quick stop at the lower end of the crags where we watched both Jackdaw and Red-billed Choughs (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) enjoying the brisk breeze and doing some stylish aerobatics. Slightly higher up the crags we parked again and scanned the Hawthorn bushes where we could hear but did not see both Spectacled (Curruca Tomillera / Sylvia conspicillata) and Orphean Warblers (Curruca Mirlano / Sylvia hortensis), plus Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina).

Spanish Gatekeeper (Pyronia bathseba).

Plants around here were Buckler Mustard (Biscutella frutescens) which was in seed, Common Stork's-bill (Erodium cicutarium), Rosy garlic (Allium roseum) and Dianthus pungens. We then ventured out on to the tops and started seeing the first of the days Thekla Larks (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and Black-eared Wheatears (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica) seeing both variations of the species. 

We steadily made our way to Charca del Negro, on the way we also saw Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Spectacled Warbler and Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis). Plants included Pink Butterfly Orchid (Orchis papilionacea), Pyramidal Orchid (Orquidea Pyramidal / Anacamptis pyramidalia), Blue Hedgehog Broom (Erinacea anthyllis), Southern Red Bartsia (Parentucellia latifolia), White Rockrose (Helianthemum apenninum) and Brown Bluebell (Dipcadi serotinum). 

We had our lunch whilst we were at Charca and during this hour or so we had fantastic view of a male Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush (Roquero Roja / Monticola saxatilis) which came down quite close and showed very well, we also had nice views of Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and more Black Redstarts, Red-billed Choughs including a bird on a nest in the cliff nearby and Black-eared Wheartears including a stunning male. On the cliffs there were several cushions of the uncommon Saxifraga Camposii.

Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush (Roquero Roja / Monticola saxatilis) taken by Bob Wright.

We moved on around the corner towards the goat cave and in the fields below the road we saw a fine male Spanish Ibex (Cabra pyreaica hispanica), lots more Rock Sparrows, a pair of Black Wheatears and Erodium cheilanthifolium.
From here we started to make our way back down the hill but we did not add anything new. Other things seen during the day included Grayling (Hipparchia semele), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Large White (Pieris brassicae), Panoptes Blue (Pseudophilotes panoptes), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus) and Spanish Gatekeeper (Pyronia bathseba).
We arrived back at the small quarry on the way down and had more good views of the Eagle Owl and picked up a male Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) to finish the day off nicely. Steve and myself then went in the service area for a coffee and waited for Jayne to pick us up on her way back from the Trabuca Craft Group.

The Group consisted of Bob Wright, Mary-Ann Murphy, Lesley Laver, Bryan Stapley, James Moore, Michael McLaine, Eric and Pat Lyon, Gerry Collins, Steve Forster and Myself.

Sierra Nevada, Granada Province.

A morning on the Northern lower slopes.

Panoptes Blue (Pseudophilotes panoptes).

I headed out of Granada City after dropping Jayne in the city to visit Ford to get the car sorted but they were only doing jobs on cars that had been booked in so I had to arrange to take it back on Monday. In the mean time I headed back through the City and out on to the old road up the Northern slopes of Sierra Nevada. I was making for the Sweet chestnut woods along the upper parts of this beautiful drive.

Meadow Saxifrage (Saxifraga granulata) with a Bee-fly species.

As I was driving between Guejar-Sierra a very old Spanish chap leap out in front of me and asked for a lift to a point further on which I did not know but I said yes and he jumped in and started to give me directions, a way along the road we came across a group of horse-men who were herding around 20 large cattle along the road which made getting along the road impossible but luckily the chap wanted to go to a bar along the road which follows the Rio Genil so we turned left and made our way there where I dropped him off and turned around and headed back to the road up the hill. 

On the way I tried but failed to get shots of the biggest Common Toad (Bufo bufo) I was amazed how fast the dam thing could go and it was soon in the cover of the track side vegetation.

Southern Marbled Skipper (Carcharodus boeticus).

Along this track I also came across the beautiful Spanish Rusty Foxglove (Digitalis obscura), Rosy Garlic (Allium roseum), Bellardia trixago and Common Snapdragon (Antirrhinum major). I reached the road to find the Cattle had spent ten minutes resting on a large grass area but had just started off and the road was again blocked so I turned around and headed back through the tunnels and parked down near one of the bars and had a walk along one of the tracks down to the Rio Genil across a small bridge and up the track on the far side of the river.

View up to the Sierra.

Along here I found several species of Butterflies including Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Panoptes Blue (Pseudophilotes panoptes), both Marsh (Euphydryas aurinia) and Queen of Spain Fritillaries (Issoria lathonia) and Small White (Artogeia rapae). 

Birds included Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus).

Water Avens (Geum rivale).

From here I went a few hundred meters up the road where I parked up again and checked the gravel margins for mineral collecting Butterflies, first I counted another 20 or so Panoptes Blues, several Southern Marbled Skipper (Carcharodus boeticus), a Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros), Large White (Pieris brassicae) and Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina). 

I then jumped back into the car and followed the trail of cow pats up the hill until I caught up with the herd, at this point there was a convenient parking slot so I left the car and walked the rest of the way up to the spot I had hoped to reach. I searched and quickly found half a dozen or so spikes of Barton's Orchid (Dactylorhiza insularis), lots of Sword-leaved Helleborine (Cephalanatera longifolia) and a few none flowering Robust Marsh Orchids (Dactylorhiza elata).

Sword-leaved Helleborine (Cephalanatera longifolia).

Birds included two singing Common Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula). 

I turned around and started to make my way back down towards the car, by a spot that I call the stone wall site I found a few none flowering spikes of the uncommon Epipactis fagicola in a roadside ditch.

Barton's Orchid (Dactylorhiza insularis).

Whilst I was searching for these orchids I was aware of a shuffling in the woods above the wall and soon found this to be a very large male Wild Boar (Felis silvestris) which stood looking at me for a few seconds before trotting off into the wood.

Barton's Orchid (Dactylorhiza insularis).

Before I reached the car I saw Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli), Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus), Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Coal Tit (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Large Psammodromus (Psammodromus algirus) and Tufted vetch (Vicia cracca).

Huétor Fields and Sierra de Loja, Granada Province.

Another successful Spring walk for GRANADA WILDLIFE.

Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa).

I started the day off by having a quick look on the fields North of Huétor Tájar, I parked behind the bar where I parked beside the river and scanned the fields on the opposite bank and along the margins of the Arroyo where I soon located Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata). I then went back to the bar and had a coffee before meeting Mike Loombe and his wife and heading off to the meeting point at the Abades service area on the A92. Pretty soon there we twelve of us ready to head up the mountain, our first stop was at the turning point where we parked and had a walk up towards the disused quarry at the end of the narrow track.

Oyster type shells fossel.

We started our walk with views of Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Coal Tit (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus). In amongst the mediterranian scrub we started to find lots of wild flowers and orchids including Mirror (Ophrys speculum subsp speculum), Yellow Bee (Ophrys lutea) and Pyramidal Orchids (Orquidea Pyramidal / Anacamptis pyramidalia), Chickweed (Cerastium boissieri), Common Grape Hyacinth (Muscari neglectum), Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum umbellatum), Viola dementria, White Rockrose (Helianthemum apenninum), Southern Knapweed (Centaurea pullata ssp pullata), Rusty-back Fern (Ceterach officinarum), Mediterranean Catchfly (Silene colorata), Grey-leaved Cistus (Cistus albidus), Common Snapdragon (Antirrhinum major), Common Stork's-bill (Erodium cicutarium),  some going over Southern Wild Tulip (Tulipa sylvestris ssp. australis) and Panoptes Blue (Pseudophilotes panoptes).

Black-eared Wheatear (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica).

Once we reached the quarry we started to hear a Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia) but it took quite a while to locate it but eventually we saw it, also seen were Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and a distant Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus). Also on the crag we had nice views of three Spanish Ibex (Cabra pyreaica hispanica) but we had much better views of four animals on our walk back towards the car. We also added a male Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) and back at the car we saw a distant soaring Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).

Panoptes Blue (Pseudophilotes panoptes).

We all then jumped back into the cars and headed for the crags area, we parked and soon added Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), a singing Spectacled Warbler (Curruca Tomillera / Sylvia conspicillata), a fine male Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), another male Stonechat, several more Jackdaws and our first Red-billed Choughs (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax). We had a look at the fossels of what have been described as Oyster type shells where we had a nice male Iberian Wall Lizard (Podarcis hispanica). We moved on towards Charc del Negro but we did make several stops on the way and had good views of Black-eared Wheatears (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica), several Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), 22+ Honey Buzzards (Aberjero Europeo / Pernis apivorus), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and a very nice male Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

Erodium cheilanthifolium.

We parked just below Charca del Negro as the track is a bit rough and walked up to the pools which were both covered in carpet of Pond Water Crowsfoot (Ranunculus Peltatus), on the margins there were saw a good number of Linnets (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), along with a pair of Rock Sparrows (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia) and several more Rock Buntings.
In and around the pool we saw several Sharp-ribbed Salamanders (Pleurodeles waltl), a few male Red-veined Darters (Sympetrum fonscolombii) and a single male Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator). From here we started to walk off around towards the goat cave and at the first crag we had cracking views of both Blue (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) and Rufous-tailed Rock Thrushes (Roquero Roja / Monticola saxatilis) display flying from the highest point. Here we also saw more Black Redstarts, Crag Martins, Rock Buntings and Rock Sparrows.

Iberian Worm Lizard (Blanus cinereus).

Continuing on we added a few more wild flowers to the list including the very nice Erodium cheilanthifolium, Mediterranean Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria), Cynoglossum cheirifolium, Saxifraga Camposii and an Iberian Worm Lizard (Blanus cinereus). Some of the group had already started the walk back to the car and on down the hill and once we had had a look at the cave the rest of the group started the journey back down to the service area. On my way down I managed to get a few shots of the birds before heading off home.

Mollina, Laguna Herrera and Arroya Marin, Malaga Province.

An enjoyable days birding.

Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin (Alzacola / Cercotrichas galactotes).

I took Jayne over to her meeting in Trabuco and then continued on to the Ford Garage in Antequera and after sorting out there I went on towards a site near Mollina. 

Here I was hoping to see a pair of Rufous-tailed Scrub Robins (Alzacola / Cercotrichas galactotes) which I had seen in both of the last two years.

Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus).

I arrived and almost straight I got a fleeting glimpse of what looked like a female flying into the nearby field. 

I parked the car on the side of the track and set up the scope on the window and waited for the bird to reappear, after just a few minutes a male bird appeared and then a second bird which I had expected to be the female flew in and landed next to the first male.

Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia).

This bird turned out to be a second male bird and a short scrap started but ended very quickly when the female bird turned up. 

At one point there were three Chats perched on a fence all within a meter of each other, after a short while the one male flew off and the two remaining birds copulated on the ground right in front of the car!!

Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia).

I spent quite a while watching the birds but they were not quite as cooperative as last year and remained at the far end of the fence so the shots were not as good but I kept well back as they had only arrived on site in the last few days.

Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii).

Also seen here were  House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Barn Swallow (GolondrinaComún / Hirundo rustica), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) and (Greater) Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).

Great Reed Warbler (Carricero Tordal / Acrocephalus arundinaceus).

Later I made my way over toward Laguna Herrera but took a quite complicated cross country route by a lot of farm tracks. 

I made a quick stop by a scrubby area amongst an area of grape vines where I watched a very nice male Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) quartering a large area of newly planted Olive trees, whilst I was watching this I became aware of another male Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin singing from a large patch of very tall Milk Thistles (Silybum marianum). 

At first I could not locate the bird but the song was carrying well, eventually after moving around to the side of the field I had distant views of the bird which was actually sat on a wooden post in amongst the thistles.

Poppy Field.

A some time I headed onward to the small area of flooded fields near Herrera which Bob Wright had said in his blog were drying out fast and he was not wrong, the furthest one had gone as had the five or six Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus) nest which had been ploughed up by the farmer, a great shame. 

On what was left of the other pools there were still a few Black-winged Stilts, a single Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), a couple of Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus) and an Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta).

Iberian Orchid (Ophrys vernixia).

I continued on down the track checking the fields on the way picking up a male Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), a group of Red-legged Partridges (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Lesser Kestrel (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni) and a pair of Ravens (Cuervo / Corvus corax). 

Before I got to the road I made another stop to take a couple of shots of a Common Poppy (Papaver rhoeas) field which looked fantastic. I then made my way around to the main Lagoon, on the track I picked up Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).

Man Orchid (Orchis anthropoporum).

From the track that runs along the side of the main lagoon I flushed a very smart Squacco Heron (Garcilla Cangrejera / Ardeola ralloides) from amongst the reeds, also seen along here I had some nice views of several pairs of Great Crested Grebes (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), at least three Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), dozens of Gull-billed Terns (Pagaza Piconegra / Gelochelidon nilotica), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Great Reed Warbler (Carricero Tordal / Acrocephalus arundinaceus). 

At the far end of the pool we added Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator) and Melodious Warbler (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta).

Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera).

Also seen along the margins were some Dragonflies including Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator), Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope) and Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii).

Small Flowered Tongue Orchid (Serapias parviflora).

From the Lagoon I headed back towards Trabuco calling at Arroya Marin for an hour on the way, straight away I could hear or see Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Wryneck (Torcecuello / Jynx torquilla), Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Coal Tit (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parusater) and Orphean Warbler (Curruca Mirlano / Sylvia hortensis).

Wild Gladiolus (Gladiolus illyricus).

During the trip along the valley I made a few stops looking for Orchids and was very pleased to find at least three spikes of the uncommon Iberian Orchid (Ophrys vernixia), Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea), Man Orchid (Orchis anthropoporum), Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera) and Small Flowered Tongue Orchid (Serapias parviflora). 

Butterflies included Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Large White (Pieris brassicae), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus), Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina) and Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera). 

I then made my way back towards Trabuco to pick Jayne up but could not resist stopping to take a few shots of a fields which was stuffed full of the beautiful Wild Gladiolus (Gladiolus illyricus).

Padul, Granada Province.

A walk around the Padul wetland with Juan.

 

Borage (Borago officinalis) Hypochromatic plant.

Jayne and I headed up to Granada to Juan Perez and Beatriz's apartment where Jayne and Beatriz spent a coupleof hours working on Beatriz's English. Juan and I headed off to Padul for a couple of hours birding. We parked at the bar above the site and took the track down towards the visitor centre checking out the willow scrub areas on the way to the ringing / feeding station amongst the taller trees.
During this walk we saw several Nightingales (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), a nice male Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), both male and female Pied Flycatchers (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus).
We turn around from feeding station and made our way back the way we had just come on the way we picked up the species Juan had wanted a Garden Warbler (Curruca Mosquitera / Sylvia borin) and a group of white flowered Borage (Borago officinalis) plants. Once we were out in the open with a view of the main lake we could see the nest of a Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) which was right out in the middle of the lake in an isolated tree. From this area we could also see a pair and a half of Great Crested Grebes (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) on the lake and in the air there were a few House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica).
We then moved on and continued along the board walk around to the hide on the smelly channel, on the way we had good views of a Great Reed Warbler (Carricero Tordal / Acrocephalus arundinaceus) singing from the top of a track side tree, Melodious Warbler (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).
On the way we also saw a few Iberian Water Frogs (Rana Común / Rana Perezi), Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) and Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii).

From the hide we did not add many species but we did pick up Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica). We then headed back around to the car and then we headed back to Juans and then home.

Charca del Suarez, Granada Province.

A morning of mixed wildlife, included another three year ticks for the bird list.

Mediterranean Chameleon (Chamaeleo chamaeleon).

Juan Perez and I set off from Granada at 06:30 and headed for the area around Charca del Suarez near Motril, our first stop was on the road through the field just North of the main reserve. Straight away we started to see good numbers of both adult and immature Red Avadavats (Bengali Rojo / Amandava amandava), most were feeding on the roadside picking throught the vegetation for seeds but some sat up nicely on the Pampus Grass tussocks and showed well.

Montpellier Snake (Malpolon monspessulanus).

In the areas of thicker cover there were several calling Common Quail (Codorniz Común /Coturnix coturnix), Cetti's Warblers (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Nightingales (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos) but we could not hear the species I most wanted to see the Savi's Warbler (Buscarla Unicolor / Locustella luscinoides) which Juan had heard a few days earlier. On a semi ruined farm shack there we watched a Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and a Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) have a bit of a stand off, we guessed that both species were breeding in the gapes in the block walls but neither was very happy with their neighbors. We continued on to the junction and again parked and had a bit of a walk around the site listening for the reeling call of the Savi's but we failed to see or even hear the bird during the visit, we did however have very nice views of an immature Montpellier Snake (Malpolon monspessulanus) which was warming its self on the side of the track.

Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis).

The snake was only about 25cm long but it was quite happy to strike at the camera when it had warmed up a bit before heading off into the grass. Along this track we also added both Turtle (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur) and Collared Doves (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) to the day list along with Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) and Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus). We got back to the road and Juan went and fetched the car so that we could head towards the golf course pools to check what was in this area, we arrived and quickly sorted out Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major).

Squacco Heron (Garcilla Cangrejera / Ardeola ralloides).

We took the track which led down towards the beach via the small pool and reedbed on the golf course, along here we added Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), a couple of Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra), at least 8 Northern Wheatears (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), on the beach a single Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus) and out to sea an adult Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus). We then started to make our way back to the car but stopped and cheched out an area of scrub and shrubs which looked good for migrants, almost straight away we located an Olivaceous Warbler (Zarcera Pálido / Hippolais pallida) which was flycatching from some Caster-oil type plants and then a Melodious Warbler (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta). Before heading to Charca we had a look at the second larger pool on the course and quickly located a Squacco Heron (Garcilla Cangrejera / Ardeola ralloides), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and a Sand Martin (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia).

Squacco Heron (Garcilla Cangrejera / Ardeola ralloides).

We entered Charca through the back gate with the work party which placed us on the far side of the reserve so we had a look at the hide which looks over the small pool near to the main hide. From here we had the first of a few Western Swamp-hens (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), both male and female Little Bitterns (Avetorillo Común / Ixobrychus minutus), several Common Sandpipers (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica). We later moved around to the main hide and were soon watching a very nice Whiskered Tern (Fumarel Cariblanca / Chilidonias hybridus) which was skimming the pool feeding, Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), a fly over Purple Heron (Garza Imperial / Ardea purpurea) and a squabbling pair of Little Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) which flew around the pool but did not land. We then spent some time watching and photographing a nice male Little Bittern which was perched on a log in the water straight out from the hide. After a while we walked out of the hide and spent some time searching the area of planted trees on the edge of the reserve behind the hide, this turned out to be a good move as we soon added a Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata) to both our year lists.

Mediterranean Chameleon (Chamaeleo chamaeleon).

We returned to the hide just in time to see the Little Bittern swallowing a very large Iberian Water Frog (Rana Común / Rana Perezi) which I got a couple of shots of. I then left Juan in the hide and went back out to try and get some shots of the Flycatcher but it had gone more distant by the time i found it but I did see my second Olivaceous Warbler of the morning along with a couple of Willow Warblers (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus), another Melodious and the third year tick for the day a skulking Garden Warbler (Curruca Mosquitera / Sylvia borin). I returned to the hide where Juan was talking with the chap who does the ringing there, he then went out side and found us a fine Mediterranean Chameleon (Chamaeleo chamaeleon) which was happy to have his portrait taken, later I found a second slightly smaller individual which was much less happy to have its photo take and moved higher up in the bush much quicker than expected. While we were watching these beauties several European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) flew over along with Common Swifts (Vencejo Común / Apus apus).

Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur).

After a cracking morning we made our way back to the entrance and out of the reserve and back to Juans car but we did see a couple of Stripe-less Tree Frogs (Hyla meridionalis) on the Iris leaves near the gate. We headed back to Granada and then I headed home, on the way I added Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator) and Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus). Also during the visit we saw several other species including Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator), Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Large White (Pieris brassicae), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) and Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta).

Guadalhorce, Malaga Province.

3 more species for the year list (now 212).

Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula).

I arrived at the river mouth and went up on to the bank and down to the sea watch point, straight away I picked up a nice summer plumage Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), several Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) which were flying passed with an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), several Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus) were also calling nosily from the reeds and lots of both Barn Swallows(Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) filled the air. I then went back down to the car and parked down by the school and went in to the reserve over the main bridge, from the bridge I had more Little Egrets, Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus). I then headed to the main hide on the way the Great White Egret (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba) which had been around for some time flew in over the motorway and landed in the tamarisk scrub around the main lake.

Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina).

From the hide it was generally quiet, I did however see several Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), White-headed Ducks (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and a male Red-crested Pochard (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina). I then briefly had a look at the next pool round where a very nice pair of European Bee-eaters (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) were showing well in a nearby Shrub Tobacco plant, a couple of fly over Sand Martins (Avión Zapador / Riparia riparia) also gave us good views and along with a fine male Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator). I took a look at the time and decided to make my way around to the wader hide and pool down by the beach as one of the English guys in the second hide said that there was a Temminck Stint (Correlimos de Temminck / Calidris temminckii) there.

White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala).

I passed the first hide along the back by and went straight to the wader scrap, on the muddy margins there were lots of Black-winged Stilts, Dunlins (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina) and Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) and these were accompanied by a few Common Redshank, Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover and singles of both Curlew Sandpiper (Correlimos Zarapitin / Calidris ferruginea) and Bar-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colipinta / Limosa lapponica) but there was no sign of the Stint so I continued on to the pool a little further along the bank, here there were good numbers of all the species at the wader hide plus a single summer plumaged Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta), Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus), a Spotted Redshank (Archibebe Oscuro / Tringa erythropus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), a couple of roosting Little Terns (Charrancito Común / Sterna albifrons) and in the surrounding Tammarisks there were lots of roosting Turtle Doves (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur).

Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus).

I did not see the stint so I started to walk back and just as I was reaching the wader scrap fine Squacco Heron (Garcilla Cangrejera / Ardeola ralloides) flew right over head and into the reeds along the side of the pool, later I watched it fishing whilst giving the Temmincks one last chance from the hide but all I added was a couple of Little Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Melodious Warbler (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta) and a nice Wood Sandpiper (Andarrios Bastardo / Tringa glareola) which flew in touched the mud for around two seconds and left again. I moved on and had a quick look in the next hide where there were more White-headed Ducks, Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), a single male Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata) and some Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera).

Bar-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colipinta / Limosa lapponica).

I started to make my way back towards the car but went the long way round via the main hide again where the day list grew a little with Gull-billed Tern (Pagaza Piconegra / Gelochelidon nilotica), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), a late migrant Sedge Warbler (Carricerin Común / Acrocephalus schoenobaenus), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) all being added. I then went back to the car and went to pick Jayne up in the city.

Hacho, Loja, Granada Province.

A couple of new Orchids for a site just up the road.

Iberis pectinata.

Juan Perez and Beartiz came over from Granada and while Beatriz and Jayne did the all important English lesson Juan and I headed up to Hacho which is a small sierra just 5 minute up the road from the house. We parked at the bottom of the track a with Chika we headed up towards the quarry through the mixed woodlands and oak scrub. Stright away we started to find the first of hundreds of Yellow Bee Orchids (Ophrys lutea), a lot of well over with Giant Orchids (Himantoglossum robertiana), a couple of just hanging on Fan-lipped Orchids (Orchis conica) and then the first of the new species, we found a nice group of Pink Butterfly Orchids (Orchis papilionacea).

Biscutella auriculata.

During the walk we must have seen well over a hundred spikes of this fantastic looking plant. Before we reached the pines we also saw good numbers of Sawfly Orchids (Ophrys tenthredinifera) in varying states of flower with some completely over with and a few still in perfect condition, along with these there were a few dried spikes of the early flowering Southern Early Purple Orchid (Orchis olbiensis).
The Wild Peony's (Paeonia broteroi) which were growing under the Oaks were in full flower, as were the carpets of  Tassel Hyacinths (Muscari comosum), Iberis pectinata, Linaria anticaria, Biscutella auriculata, Navel-wort (Omphalodes commutata), Warty Spurge (Euphorbia squamigera), White Rockrose (Helianthemum apenninum), Med Catchfly (Silene colorata), Mediterranean Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria) and Grey-leaved Cistus (Cistus albidus).

Pink Butterfly Orchids (Orchis papilionacea).

During this part of the walk we also recorded several birds species including Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos).

Linaria anticaria.

We then moved on up through to the Pine woods and again straight away we were finding good numbers of the Pink Butterfly Orchids all the way through this area and right along through the Oak scrub and all the way back down the banks back as far as the car. Also in the pines we found a single spike of Naked / Italian Man Orchid (Orchis italica) and a dozens or so of Ophrys forestieri. Other wildflowers in this area included Field marigold (Calendula arvensis), Yellow Anemone (Anemone palmata) and Rosy Garlic (Allium roseum).

Red-striped Oil Beetle (Berberomeloe majalis).

On the way back down to the car we added Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris).