Laguna's near Trabuco and Salinas, Malaga Province.

A day's Dragonfly hunting just over the border into Malaga Province.

Steve, Lynn and Adam, Day two.

Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum).

Steve and I headed out along the A92 for a days Dragonfly hunting whilst Lynn and Adam had a days unwinding back at the house. We made our way along the motorway towards the site, on the way we picked up Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).

We arrived at the site but after last winters rains the track had become impassable to normal cars so we parked a short way down the hill and walked up to the lake.

Small Red-eyed Damselfly (Erythromma viridulum).

We started off straight away by picking up the first of hundreds of Red-veined Darters (Sympetrum fonscolombii) and whilst checking these out we found the first of a few Desert Darters (Sympetrum sinaiticum), this one was a teneral male but later we also saw a couple of adult males. We then moved down to the waters edge and then in to the lake to check out several more insects, out on the water there were large numbers of waterfowl including Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus). As we moved along the margins we flushed dozens of Iberian Water Frogs (Rana Común / Rana Perezi), in the same areas we saw the first of many Small Red-eyed Damselflies (Erythromma viridulum), several Broad Scarlets (Crocothemis erythraea) and the first of quite a few male Long Skimmers (Orthetrum trinacria).

Small Spreadwing (Lestes virens).

In amongst the trees around the pool we picked up European Bee-eaters (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and Long-tailed Tits (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) and over the water there were good numbers of Red-rumped Swallows (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica) and Pallid Swifts (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus).
We continued on up the side of lake adding Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum), Blue / Common (Anax imperator) and Lesser Emperors (Anax parthenope) and then in a small bay half way along the pool we found the first of three new species for the site which was a fine male Black Percher (Diplacodes lefebvrii) but the dam thing eluded my camera but Steve got a few. In the bay we had more views of a couple of male Long Skimmers, loads of Broad Scarlets, the first of several Small Spreadwings (Lestes virens) and a nice male Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata).

Southern Skimmer (Orthetrum brunneum).

We continued on on foot passed the small ruin on the margins where Steve found the second of the new site species, a single Common Winter Damselfly (Sympecma fusca) which huged the vegetation around the shaded walls around the building. We again continued on and down near the far end of the lake we had views of a pale phase Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus) and a very nice male Orphean Warbler (Curruca Mirlano / Sylvia hortensis).
Up in this area we located Blue-eye / Goblet-marked Damselfly (Erythromma lindenii), Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathinerum), Iberian Blue-tail (Ischnura graellsii) and several Dainty Damselflies (Coenagrion scitulum) which was a new species for Steve.

We then started to make our way back along the edge of the lake towards the car, back near the ruin I found the third of the new species for the site which was a couple of Western Willow Spreadwings (Chalcolestes viridis) which again liked the shade of the large Eucalyptus trees. For the whole of our visit we could hear an Eagle Owl (Buho Real / Bubo bubo) calling from the Oak trees on the opposite side of the lake but we did not see the bird. In the area we also saw several butterflies which included Adonis Blue (Lysandra bellargus), Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera) and Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus). We reached the car and then made our way out to a small pool near Salinas, we visited the site last year but then it was nearly dry but this year there was still plenty of water. Our first species was a male Blue / Common Emperor which flew around the main pool.

Iberian Bluetail (Ischnura graellsii).

On a near by small stream which ran along side the track next to the harvested fields, here we quickly found several more Small Spreadwings, some of them in tandem. In the same areas there were lots of Southern Skimmers (Orthetrum brunneum) including a nice individual which posed nicely for the camera, along with this nice chap we saw Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens), another Western Willow Spreadwing, a male Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi) and then several Mercury Bluet's (Coenagrion mercuriale), some nice males, a female and a pair in tandem. On the way back we had nice views of a male Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma) and plenty of Red-veined Darters. Birds in the area included another Booted Eagle, Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei) and several immature Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator).

From here we had a quick look at an almost dry pool on the opposite side of the nearby motorway where we did not see any new dragons but we picked up White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and a Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius).

From here we headed back to the house with a dragon list totalling 22 species which was cracking for a single day at just two sites.

Arroyo del Guantero, Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Steve, Lynn and Adam arrive from the UK.
Day one.

Western Willow Spreadwing (Chalcolestes viridis).

Steve, Lynn and Adam Jones arrived early afternoon and as they soon unpacked Steve and I were out and about looking for Dragonflies. We started off on a small Arroyo near the house on the way out we soon picked up the first of many Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).
As soon as we arrived at the water we added a new species to my local patch list which was a fine Western Willow Spreadwing (Chalcolestes viridis), this was soon followed by a second new patch species, a female Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens). In the same area we had several Red-veined Darters (Sympetrum fonscolombii), a pair of mating Bath Whites (Pontia daplidice), Small White (Artogeia rapae), Spanish Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) and Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria).

Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens).

On the walk back we picked up several European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus).

Jayne produced a cracking evening meal, later we sat on the terrace and had a few drinks and picked up a calling Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) and had nice views of a Red-necked Nightjar (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis) which did a fly passed at dusk.

The Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

A day birding along the valley with 78 species seen, not bad for the last day of July.

Jonathon and I set off at 07:00 and headed out to our first site which was the agricultural areas near Moraleda, on the way we started the list with several Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and just as we neared the motorway a single Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) flew over the road in front of us. A little further on and nearer the site we also saw Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and several Turtle Doves (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur).

We made our way out on to the site and started to add new species to Jonathon's list, these included Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) just as we came on to the track, a little further along we heard but only had distant views of a singing Calandra Lark (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) and down by the large solar panel farm we had a some very nice views of a Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla). We continued on to the far fields and as we arrived we picked up a flock of six Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax), a Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica). We turned around and made our way back towards the solar panel farm and took the track along the side of them, along here we had some very nice views of a family party of Woodchat Shrikes (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs).

Our next stop was down in the valley near a disused substation building where we were looking for species in the Pine Woodlands but here it was quite quiet and we only saw Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla). We moved on down the valley to the bridge which crosses the Rio Cacin where we parked up again and walked down the track towards the dam, we soon had several new species for the list including European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and up near a large White Poplar we heard a Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), had brief views of a male Orphean Warbler (Curruca Mirlano / Sylvia hortensis) and had nice views of a family of Hawfinches (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes). We walked up to the dam and here we saw several Rock Pigeon (Paloma Bravia / Columba livia), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata) and as we started to walk back we scanned the ridge and picked up a pair of adult Golden Eagles (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos). We walked back along the track and passed the car along the road, as we walked we were followed for a while by a dragonfly which when I eventually got good views turned out to be a Western Spectre (Boyeria Irene) a new species for my Granada Province. We continued on along the road and then took the track along the stream, along here we added Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), a Wryneck (Torcecuello / Jynx torquilla) which was only heard, Melodious Warbler (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Coal Tit (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla) and Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus). In the same area we also had Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) and Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas).

We then went up to the Embalse where we scanned the lake and found a few new species including several Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) out on the water and on the muddy margins a Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), several Green Sandpipers (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), a single Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) and two Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus). Whilst we were there several birds started to mob a bird in amongst the dead trees in the water which turned out to be a female Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), one of the species mobbing this bird was a juvenile Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae).

Our next stop was down at the bottom of the valley above the gorge, we did manage to add a few species here but it was much quieter that usual, however we saw a nice male Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), several Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and a Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

We called in at the bar in Cacin to collect a sandwich and then headed off up on to the ridge above the village, we parked after a few KM and had our sandwich but we did not see much so we carried on along the road towards Ventas de Huelma, on the way we had great views of a very pale immature Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus) before we turned of along one of the tracks where we had a female Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) hunting over the Olives and a little further on along the road a pale phase Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus) showed Well over head.

From here we went back to the site where we started the day off at near Moraleda hoping to pick up the Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis) that we missed earlier in the day and almost as soon as we drove on to the site we picked up a pair in a stumble field, they flew just after we picked them up but only went a short distance so we had good view.

Our last stop was at the small pool on the side of the A92 called Balsa de Regidor just so that we could add Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), this bought the days list to a very pleasing 78 which for this time of the year is a good total. Thanks Jonathon.

Balsa de Rigedor, Granada Province.

An hour photographing Dragonflies and of the creepy crawlies.

Ornate Shield Bug (Eurydema ornata).

Jayne, Sue, Sam and myself headed off for a couple of hours local Dragonfly hunting at a small pool not too far from the house. As we arrived we met a Spanish chap called Carlos who we had a chat with and exchanged a few site details with. We then started to check the area for insects, the first were several Small Red-eye's (Erythromma viridulum) which were on some floating vegetation near the concrete platform. In the same area we had a couple of nice male Black-tailed Skimmers (Orthetrum cancellatum), Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathinerum), Iberian Blue-tail (Ischnura graellsii) and Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator).

Ornate Shield Bug (Eurydema ornata).

Out on the water there were good numbers of Common Pochards (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Mallards (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and around the margins and in the air there were Barn (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Red-rumped Swallows (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala).

Ornate Shield Bug (Eurydema ornata).

From here we moved further around the pool after Carlos called us over to look at a beautiful male Broad Scarlet (Crocothemis erythraea) which kept on returning to the same perch, knowing that this was one of Sues target species which see had seen many time but wanted to get better shots of I let her in to the spot first, this had nothing to do with the fact that there were loads of thistles and spicky plants that needed flattening.
Whilst Sue was getting here shots a cracking male Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria) dropped in right next to the Broad Scarlet. After Sue's great work at clearing the spot I went in and had a go but the Long Skimmer stayed well out range but the Scarlet returned. In the same spot we saw several more species including Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope) and Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata).

Ornate Shield Bug (Eurydema ornata).

Again we moved a bit further around the pool to a patch of white mint plants which were covered in insects including Ornate Shield Bug (Eurydema ornata) in some of it varied colour forms and ages. On our walk back to the car we had some nice views of White Featherleg (Platycnemis latipes), Swallowtail (Papilio machaon), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) and Small White (Artogeia rapae). We then headed off home as the temprature was climbing nicely.

Sierra Nevada, Granada Province, Spain.

A bucket load of new species for Sue.

Aculepeira armida.

Jayne, Sue, Sam and I set off up the Sierra Nevada for a days birding, botany and butterfly hunting, our first stop was along a small road side flush where we were looking for plants, we started the list with Myosotis decumbens subsp teresiana, Great Mullein (Verbascum giganteum), Prunella vulgaris, also amongst the plants we found dozens of the beautiful spider Aculepeira armida and butterflies seen included Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina), Bath White (Pontia daplidice) and Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina).
We next stopped on the road side above the ski resort where we had some very nice clumps of the Digitalis purpurea, the low growing Omalotheca supina var pusilla and plenty of over with Blue Hedgehog Broom (Erinacea anthyllis).

Digitalis purpurea.

We then continued on up to the carpark near the barrier at around 2500 meters on the way up we started the bird list with Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia) and House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica).
Once there we started off by watch a JCB digging a ditch which impressed Sam no end before starting a walk out along one of the nearby trails, straight away butterflies were being added to the species list, the first two were Apollo (Parnassius apollo subsp nevadensis) and Cardinal Fritillary (Argynnis pandora) both of which were feeding on some Jurinea humilis.
We continued on and soon found lots more plants including Arenaria imbricata, Chickweed (Cerastium boissieri), Biscutella glacialis, Dianthus subacaulis subsp brachyanthus, Ptilotrichum spinosum, Eryngium bourgatii and Nevada House Leek (Sempervivum vicentei ssp lainzii). We moved on along the track and we found a small area of snow remaining just below the track and Sam wanted some snowballs so I carefully shuffled my way down the slope and got him three, one for him to throw at each of us!!! Further on still we saw several more species of butterfly including Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae), Iberian Marbled White (Melanargia lachesis), Silver-studded Blue (Plebejus argus), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) and Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus).

Eryngium bourgatii.

The Plant list grew again with several new species including Astragalus sempervirens subsp nevadensis, Lotus corniculatus subsp. glacialis, Leontodon boryi, Digitalis purpurea, Anarrhinum laxiflorum, Sideritis glacialis and a good many others. 

Birds seen along the far end of this track included Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) which was mobbing a male Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax).

Jayne on the way to the Hoya de San Juan.

On the walk back to the car we added Galium nevadensis and Sierra Nevada Violet (Viola crassiuscula / Violeta de Sierra Nevada), Meadow Saxifrage (Saxifraga granulata).
From here we dropped down to a nice spot in some pine woodland where we had a picnic sat on a large rock, whilst here we had a flyby Great Banded Grayling (Brintesia circe) and down on a patch of thyme there were several Sage Skippers (Muschampia proto), a Grayling (Hipparchia semele), Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus) and Small White (Artogeia rapae).
After the picnic we went back into the town and parked near one of the closed hotels and had a walk out along another one of the many tracks and straight away we found a new orchid for Sue's list in the shape of a spike of Robust Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza elata) we later found several more spikes not yet in flower.

Forester Moth Species.

In the same area we also had views of a Forester Moth species which remains unnamed at the moment, several blue butterflies including loads of Silver-studded, Spanish Brown Argus (Aricia cramera) and possibly a quick view of Mountain Argus (Aricia montensis), in the same area we also saw our first Niobe Fritillary (Fabriciana niobe), Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros) and Swallowtail (Papilio machaon).
Further along the same track we saw our first Purple-shot Copper (Lycaena alciphron) which was feeding on a small patch of Thyme along with a Niobe Fritillary, Silver-studded Blue and an Apollo. A little higher up we saw a single male Nevada Blue (Polyommatus golgus), Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris), Southern Marbled Skipper (Carcharodus boeticus) and Southern Heath Fritillary (Melitaea nevadensis).
Plants included the rare and beautiful Aquilegia nevadensis and Black Sedge (Carex nigra / Carex negro). Birds included Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes).

Sue photographing the Marsh Orchids.

After Sam had seen the Cable Car he wanted to have a ride so we went down into the town and Sue and Sam went for a trip up to the upper station whiles Jayne and I had a walk around the area.
In the flower beds I found a couple plants including Chenopodium foliosum, Sedum alba and Sedum Acre. When Sue and Sam came back down we found a bouncy castle in the town and Sam had a good finish to his busy day.

Nevada Blue (Polyommatus golgus).

Our last stop was on the way down at a largish wet flush to look at some more Robust Marsh Orchids which were quite different in structure with the spike being tight and flat topped.
In this area we saw a lot more Aculepeira armida and several more plants including Santolina rosmarinifolia subsp canescens, more Myosotis decumbens subsp teresiana, Veronica anagallis-aquatica and Erigeron frigidus.

Aculepeira armida on the Marsh Orchids

From here we headed back down the hill and home by which time Sam was fast a sleep in the back of the car.

Sam at the end of a busy day.

Salinas area and near Trabuco, Malaga Province.

A day of Dragonfly hunting.

Small Spreadwing (Lestes virens).

I started off by taking Jayne to the Craft Group meeting in Trabuco before doing a run around some of the nearby Hotels doing leaflet drops. After this I went and had a look at a small pool and stream near Salina's, straight away I picked up a nice male Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator), Broad Scarlet (Crocothemis erythraea), Iberian Blue-tail (Ischnura graellsii) and a male Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum).
I started by checking out the well vegetated small stream which ran alongside the road and found a very nice male Small Spreadwing (Lestes virens) in a small group of juncus clumps and on the stream there was a pair of Mercury Bluet's (Coenagrion mercuriale) in tandem.

Blue-eye / Goblet-marked Damselfly (Erythromma lindenii).

Birds in the area as I walked around included Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis).
Further along the track I located several male Southern Skimmers (Orthetrum brunneum), one of which was guarding an egg laying female, also seen here were Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma), Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens), Migrant Spreadwing (Lestes barbarus) and a tandem pair of Western Willow Spreadwings (Chalcolestes viridis).

Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens).

I walked back towards the car and picked up a few butterflies on the way including Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), False Ilex Hairstreak (Satyrium esculi), Southern Marbled (Muschampia baeticus) and Sage Skipper (Muschampia proto), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera) and Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli).
From here I crossed the motorway and visited a second but much bigger pool on my way back towards Trabuco.

Small Red-eyed (Erythromma viridulum).

As soon as I parked I added a nice male Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Small White (Artogeia rapae) and Spanish Gatekeeper (Pyronia bathseba).

Small Red-eyed (Erythromma viridulum).

Once I was down by the water I was soon out in the water amongst large numbers of the delicate but beautiful Small Red-eyeds (Erythromma viridulum), along with smaller numbers of both Blue-eye / Goblet-marked (Erythromma lindenii) and Common Blue Damselflies (Enallagma cyathinerum). Further out in the pool there were several Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope), Red-veined Darters (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Black-tailed Skimmers and perched back nearer the bank a teneral Keeled Skimmer.
Whilst I was wading I saw and heard loads of Iberian Water Frogs (Rana Común / Rana Perezi) and disturbed several Viperine Snakes (Culebra Viperina / Natrix maura) all of which went away from me this time.

Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathinerum).

Birds included good numbers of Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Great Crested Grebe(Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Woodlark (Totovia / Lullula arborea), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica).

Sierra Nevada, Granada Province.

Up amongst the raptor's and endemic Wildflowers.

Immature Lammergeier / Bearded Vulture (Quebrantahuesos / Gypaetus barbatus).

I dropped Jayne off for a few hours of retail therapy while I made my way up to the car park near the barrier at 2500 meters. On the way up there were swathes of Santolina rosmarinifolia subsp. canescens on the roadside. I parked up and took around 5 steps then I noticed a huge bird soaring over a near by ridge, thinking it was going to be a Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) I raised my bins to have a look and soon realized that it was in fact an immature Lammergeier / Bearded Vulture (Quebrantahuesos / Gypaetus barbatus). Anyone who knows me knows that this body is not designed for speed but I was across the open area between me and the ridge where it was circling like a flash (well quite quickly anyway) and the bird continued to soar nearby. I watched this magnificent bird for Nealy an hour at distances down to 2 meters right over head. It came in close enough that I got some bad shots of it on my little 5x zoom coolpix.

Immature Lammergeier / Bearded Vulture (Quebrantahuesos / Gypaetus barbatus).

The bird drifted off after some time and disappeared down towards Granada City so I carried on along the track that I had started along and almost straight away I hit a large slab of snow which I needed to cross to get to the spot I was heading for to see the plants I wanted. Almost straight away I found flowering clumps of the beautiful endemic Nevada House Leek (Sempervivum vicentei ssp lainzii), Eryngium bourgatii, Erigeron frigidus, Arenaria pungens, Anthyllis vulneraria subsp pseudoarundana, Silene boryi, Sideritis glacialis, Leontodon boryi and Draba hispanica subsp hispánica. I moved on along the track and made my way on to the area of borreguillies, on the way I saw the days first Apollo (Parnassius apollo subsp nevadensis) butterflies along with several Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae), Niobe Fritillary (Fabriciana niobe), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Grayling (Hipparchia semele) and lots of Silver-studded Blues (Plebejus argus).

Gentiana sierrae.

Just as I reached the wet area I met a young chap from the Junta who was doing some work with the butterflies, we only had a brief chat as he was desperate to get back along the track to get some views of the Vulture which had reappeared over the distant ridge. In the same view as we looked back we also had 2 Golden Eagles (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos), a single Griffon Vulture  and two tiny specks which were mobbing the Lammergeier which turned out to be Common Kestrels (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) once I had them in the bins.

Alpine Gentian (Gentiana alpina).

I said good luck to him before walking out into the area of wet flushes and searching for more endemic plants, the first and most obvious were hundreds of spikes of both Gentiana sierrae and Pinguicola nevadensis, next came Starry Saxifrage (Saxifraga stellaris subsp robusta), Myosotis decumbens subsp teresiana, Lotus corniculatus subsp glacialis, Digitalis purpurea subps nevadensis on the drier rocky areas, Black Sedge (Carex nigra / Carex negro) and the tiny uncommon Moonwort (Lunaria menor / Botrychium lunaria) which was growing on a small ridge just out of the wetter areas.

Pinguicola nevadensis.

A little further down towards the bottom of the flushes I came across a nice patch of the Gentiana sierrae and a couple of larger blue trumpets which turned out to be a new plant for my list, they were the beautiful Alpine Gentian (Gentiana alpina). Just up above this spot I came across several spikes of St Bernard's Lily (Anthericum baeticum) and down in the water there were several flowers of  Viola palustris subsp palustris, Anarrhinum laxiflorum, Alchemilla glabra and just at the start of the walk back Linaria aeruginea subsp nevadensis.

St Bernard's Lily (Anthericum baeticum).

I then walked back along the same track towards the car adding a family party of  Rufous-tailed Rock Thrushes (Roquero Roja / Monticola saxatilis) to the day list along with Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), House (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and Tawny Pipit (Bisbita campestre / Anthus campestris).

Nevada House Leek (Sempervivum vicentei ssp lainzii).

Once I reached the car I dropped down through the resort and parked up again. From here I started to walk out on one of the many tracks out on to the slopes along side the Ski Resort, as soon as I got on to the track I started to pick up new butterfly species for the day, the first was a very nice Black Satyr (Satyrus actaea) but unlike last year when I saw a couple of hundred of this species during this walk this and three or four others were my lot, however there were good numbers of the endemic Apollo along here again, dozens of the beautiful Silver-studded Blues, Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Queen of Spain Fritillary (Issoria lathonia), Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Small White (Artogeia rapae), Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Cardinal Fritillary (Argynnis pandora), Iberian Marbled White (Melanargia lachesis), a single Meadow Fritillary (Melitaea parthenoides) and Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui).

Leontodon boryi.

Birds were less numerous but I did locate Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus), Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus), Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis) and a singing Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis). Several more species of wildflower were seen along the edge of the track and on the banks and streams, these included Aquilegia nevadensis, more Digitalis purpurea, Nevada Mullien (Verbascum nevadense), Veronica anagallis-aquatica and Lactuca tenerrima.

Apollo (Parnassius apollo subsp nevadensis).

From here I started to make my way down the hill back towards Granada to pick up Jayne but noticed a group Dactylorhiza type orchids in a small wet area which looked slightly odd so I stopped for a look. In the area there were several spikes of what will probably just be elata but they looked very different in structure, looking more compact, flat topped and with tightly grouped flowers and much more variable in colour ranging from pale pink through to dark purple. Also here there were lots of the spider Aculepeira armida who's webs covered most of the gapes between the clumps of Juncus.
From here I dropped down and Jayne and myself went for some lunch and then headed home.

Aquilegia nevadensis.

The Lammergeier / Bearded Vulture was released back in June 2012 in Sierra de Segura and is called Encina.