Zafarraya Road, Granada Province.

A morning along the Western valley.

Montagu's Harriers (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) with a Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra) snack.

I started the day by heading passed the meeting point for today's tour and spending an hour or so at a spot nearby watching the local Montagu's Harriers (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) as I had a few days earlier and again they performed well and I saw at least three males and two females. 

In the same area I saw several Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and a very brave or stupid Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Astragalus stella.

I returned to Venta del Raya where I met up with Lisca, Graham, Sheila and Roger before returning to the same spot. At the bar where we met we saw a nice male Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), several Collared Doves (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) before leaving. Back at the Montagu's fields we soon had cracking views of several males and a female displaying.
We watched these birds for quite a while before moving on down the valley to the first of our Orchid stops, straight away we found large numbers of the common but beautiful Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea) and nearby a couple of spikes of Sawfly (Ophrys tenthredinifera) which were still in nice condition.

Sword-leaved Helleborine (Cephalanatera longifolia).

Other flowers on the first short stretch included Common Fumitory (Fumaria officinalis), Dove's Foot Cranesbill (Geranium molle), Eruca (Eruca sativa), Cymbalaria-leaved Speedwell (Veronica cymbalaria), Gorse (Ulex europaeus), Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), Wild Peony (Paeonia broteroi), Silvery Paronychia (Paronychia argentea), Common Mallow (Malva sylvestris) and Astragalus stella.

Birds were also seen and heard here including Woodlark (Totovia / Lullula arborea), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus) heard only, Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and a fine male Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus).

We spent a short while sheltering under a large Round-leaved Oak (Quercus rotundifolia) as a brief but heavy squall passed over.

Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera).

The shower passed and we continued on and were soon looking at the first of quite a few Conical Orchid (Orchis conica) which was growing on the edge of a small clearing, under the nearby trees we found another twenty or so spikes still in good condition in the shade, this was followed by a just passed its best Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum robertiana). 

We moved out on to the edge of a small cereal field where we had our first Butterflies of the morning which were Small White (Artogeia rapae) and Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina).
On the field margins we found several new plant including Blue Hounds-tongue (Cynoglossum creticum), Shepherds Needles (Scandix pecten-veneris), Southern Knapweed (Centaurea pullata ssp pullata), Warty Spurge (Euphorbia squamigera), Pitch Trefoil (Psoralea bituminosa), Purple Bugloss (Echium plantagineum), Spring Rockcress (Arabis verna), Southern Daisy (Bellis cordifolia) and Field Madder (Sherardia arvensis).
We continued on to a larger clearing and then into another area of Oaks where we quickly found quite a few spikes of the just about flowering Sword-leaved Helleborine (Cephalanatera longifolia) and a couple of nice pink Southern Early Purple Orchids (Orchis olbiensis).

Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus).

We could also hear Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli) but we could not see it, however we did see Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and just before reaching the car a fly over Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus). 

Our next stop was at the disused railway line above Venta de Zafarraya where we were looking mainly for birds, on the way we had both Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator) and Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) sat on a wire fence. Once at the railway we got off to a good start with a male Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura) sat on a rock near the car park, several Red-billed Choughs (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) over the main crag, Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes) all recorded before we reached the tunnel.

Pink Butterfly Orchid (Orchis papilionacea).

Near the tunnel we saw several new plant species including Bitting Stonecrop (Sedum acre), Crambe filiformis, Mediterranean Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria), Rusty-back Fern (Ceterach officinarum), Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis) and a couple of butterflies Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera) and Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas). 

We did not see anything new on the far side of the tunnel but had better views of a Rock Sparrow. 

Our final stop was on the way back just North of Zafarraya where again we were mainly targeting Orchids, on the way we made a short stop in the village while we watched a very nice Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus) drift by. 

Once at the next spot we started off with a field full of Yellow Bee and a few Mirror Orchids (Ophrys speculum), here we also had more Common Blue Butterflies and a very nice Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina).

Graham, Lisca, Sheila and Roger.

We walked a short distance and looked for some spikes of Small Woodcock Orchid (Ophrys picta) but all we found were blind rosettes. Just over the next rise we came across a fantastic show of the beautiful Pink Butterfly Orchid (Orchis papilionacea) with around 30 spikes growing close together in a small clearing. 

From here we walked slowly back to the car adding Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenoides), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Bath White (Pontia daplidice) and Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra) to the butterfly list. 

Once back at the car we took a slow drive back to the meeting point picking up Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur) and Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) on the way.

Thanks to Lisca, Graham, Sheila and Roger for supporting Granada Wildlife and the great comments at the end of the tour.

Home near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

In the Fig Tree.

A Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), one of two seen early this morning.

Huetor Fields, Granada Province.

A walk on the local patch.

Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata).

After a trip in to Loja I dropped the car off at the garage for a full service and to have a few niggles taken care of whilst its still under guarantee which meant it was shanks pony back home. During the walk I picked up a few interesting species including the first Turtle Doves (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur) of the year, a cracking male Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), plenty of Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), European Bee-eaters (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica) and Tree Sparrow (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus).

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

Later in the day I did the return trip and added Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) and a male Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) to the list.

Villaneuva del Trabuco area, Malaga Province and Zafarraya road, Granada Province.

A morning talk at the Amiga's de Casa group in Trabuco and then some birding later.

Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus).

The morning was spent in Trabuco doing a short talk to the ladies group there about the wildlife around their village, later I dropped Jayne at the Craft group meeting nearby and then headed out to a spot nearby. I arrived at an area of agricultural land a few KM from the town where I had in the past seen several pairs of the fantastic Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus).

Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus).

I sat at the side of the site in the car and waited to see what happened, straight away a nice male few right along side the car and then later another bird sat on a fence post quite close to me. 

During the next couple of hours I had some amazing views of this stunning bird, in flight and on the ground, at one point there were at least 4 males and two females in the air displaying.

Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus).

Also seen whilst I was sat there were House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos) and Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).

Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus).

A few butterflies came passed as well including Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Small (Artogeia rapae), Large (Pieris brassicae) and Bath Whites (Pontia daplidice), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra) and Swallowtail (Papilio machaon).

Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica).

After a couple of hours I made my way back towards Trabuco on several tracks adding Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix).

Sierra Loja and Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

A day of two halves with the Leslie family from the UK.

The Leslie family on Sierra de Loja.

The seven of us set out at 08:30 heading for Sierra de Loja where we were all going to spend the morning birding and looking for Amphibians for the lads.
We started on the grassy slopes near the A92 where we checked out the roadside rocks and found our first Orchids of the morning which included lots of Yellow Bee (Ophrys lutea), several Mirror (Ophrys speculum), a single just going over Sawfly (Ophrys tenthredinifera) and several well over with Fan-lipped Orchid (Orchis conica).

Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe).

Wild flowers included Blue Hounds-tongue (Cynoglossum creticum), Common Stork's-bill (Erodium cicutarium), Dove's Foot Cranesbill (Geranium molle), Common Grape Hyacinth (Muscari neglectum), Field marigold (Calendula arvensis), Rusty-back Fern (Ceterach officinarum), Southern Daisy (Bellis cordifolia) and Common Fumitory (Fumaria officinalis).
We also started the bird list off with Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica). 

Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia).

We continued up towards the first quarry just stopping briefly on the way to have a look at a Red Squirrel (Sclurus vulgaris) which was running around on the ground amongst the pine trees. Just before we arrived at the quarry we watched a pair of Rock Buntings (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia) which were feeding on the track ahead of us.
At the same spot we saw our first Sardinian Warblers (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) of the day which were quickly followed by both Spectacled (Curruca Tomillera / Sylvia conspicillata) and Dartford (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), as well as Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra) but they were only heard and Coal Tit (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater).

Iris Subbiflora

We continued on to the quarry and parked before walking in amongst the rocks, it was fairly quiet and in the shade we only added Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and two female type Spanish Ibex (Cabra pyreaica hispanica). As we left the quarry a nice male Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura) sat out on a small bush which gave Richard his first lifer of the day, we had nice views of this bird and then caught up with a fine male Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) on the old quarry building below us. I the area we also recorded Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Bath White (Blanqiverdosa / Pontia daplidice), Common Fumitory (Fumaria officinalis), Torcal Toadflax (Linaria anticaria), Mediterranean Catchfly (Silene colorata), Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum umbellatum), Shepherds Needles (Scandix pecten-veneris), Rusty-back Fern (Ceterach officinarum) and Western ramping-fumitory (Fumaria occidentalis).

Jim watching the Little Bustard.

We got back into the cars and started to make our way back down the narrow track but we were soon out again and watching two female Subalpine Warblers (Curruca Carrasquena / Sylvia cantillans) and a very nice Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator). 

We continued on stopping briefly on the crags where we saw several Jackdaws (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and a male Black-eared Wheatear (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica) before going out on to the flatter upland areas. Here we were soon watching Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and the first of a few Little Owls (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua). We stopped by the marble quarry to photograph some flowering spikes of the uncommon Iris Subbiflora, whilst here we also recorded a few more butterflies including Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Small White (Artogeia rapae), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) and Panoptes (Pseudophilotes panoptes) and Common Blues (Icaro (Dos Puntos) / Polyommatus icarus). On again and this time we pushed on to Charca de Negra with only brief pauses for another fine male Black-eared Wheatear, Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) and a couple of Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax).
Once at the pools we checked them for Amphibians but to start with we could only see several strings of Natterjack Toad (Sapo Corredor / Bufo calamita) spawn so Richard and myself wandered off and checked the crags as the second species were where here to find was Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia).

Calandra Lark (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra).

After a short walk we had several birds fly in and a nice confiding bird which gave us good views, we continued on in front of the rocks seeing Narcissus bugei on our way to the top pool where we soon started to see some Sharp-ribbed Salamanders (Pleurodeles waltl) coming up for air.
When the rest of the group joined us they said that they had been seeing lots of Natterjacks doing the same thing down in the lower pool so we went and had a look.
As we walked down we saw a male and several female Black Redstarts (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), 2 Short-toed Eagles (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus) and a Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) which popped up above the ridge for just a second. We continued on around towards the goat cave where we had better views of the Griffon plus another pair of Black Wheatears and a Blue-rock Thrush. 

We later dropped back down the mountain to just below the old quarry building picking up a large flock of Pallid Swifts (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) on the way, when we reached this point Fiona, Judith and the boys headed off for some lunch leaving Richard, Jim and myself to an afternoons birding in the Cacín Valley.

Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis) female.

Before that we checked the woods out and found another Blue-rock Thrush, heard several Wrens and added Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Large White (Pieris brassicae), Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina) and Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) to the butterfly list.

After grabbing some food we headed out on to the agricultural areas near to Moraleda and quickly found a nice male Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) whilst we ate our rolls, also seen this side of the almonds were Short-toed (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Calandra Larks (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) and Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).
On the far side of the almonds we quickly located two groups of Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis), the nearest contained just 2 birds but the second held 11 birds and gave us cracking flight views as they dropped down on a nearby field. We drove out onto the field and had some decent on the ground views before heading down to look for the Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius) around the solar panels but this was to be our only dip of the day.

Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis) Male.

We did however see Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) and Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) which were new for the day list.  In this area we also had Swallowtail (Papilio machaon) and Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli).

We dropped down into the valley and headed straight to the Embalse and boosted the day list with a couple of waders and a few water species, these included Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and a very obliging Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus). Other species seen and heard in the area included White (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus) and Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos). There were also several Stripe-necked Terrapins (Mauremys leprosa) grovelling around in the mud along the margins and amongst the dead trees in the water.

Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus).

We continued on down the valley, on the way we stopped a couple of times and added Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) and several Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenoides). In the gorge we had distant views of a female Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila-azor / Hieraetus faciatus) which was being mobbed by a couple of Jackdaws and a single Alpine Swift (Vencejo Real / Apus melba). 

We headed back up the valley and stopped at the bridge over the Cacín and had a walk along the river, here we had a pair of Common Crossbills on the wires, heard Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli) and watched a pair of Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus) which were the 70th species seen by Richard during the day, by now it was 17:30 so we headed back towards Huétor and home on the way we picked up Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).

Thanks to the Leslie family for their booking and for an interesting days birding and botanising.

Padul Wetlands, Granada Province.

A short three hour visit mostly spent watching just one bird.

Baillon's Crake (Polluela Chica / Porzana pusilla).

I dropped Jayne off at a friends house in Granada and made my way down to Padul wetlands, I parked where I usually do and walked the 100 meters or so along the smelly stream to the foot bridge.

Baillon's Crake (Polluela Chica / Porzana pusilla).

On the way to this point I recorded Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), a single Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos) and Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus).

Baillon's Crake (Polluela Chica / Porzana pusilla).

I turned and crossed the foot bridge and as I did a small Crake flew out from under the bridge and dived for the cover of the reeds about 5 meters along the stream, I quickly sat down on the bridge and waited to see if the bird would show. After just a couple of minutes a cracking Baillon's Crake (Polluela Chica / Porzana pusilla) was the reward and for the next 2.5 hours I watched this stunning bird down to just a meter or so (far to close for the camera at times) as it fed amomongst the vegetation on the margins.

Baillon's Crake (Polluela Chica / Porzana pusilla).

Just before leaving I did have a quick look from the hide where I caught brief views of a Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus) along with Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) and Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina).  I then returned to the City and collected Jayne and we headed home.

Embalse de Iznajar, Malaga Province.

A mornings stroll looking for Orchids.

 Italian Man Orchids (Orchis italica).

I started the day by driving over to Iznajar and then taking the track along side the southern edge of the Embalse to the Helipad near the Dam, on the way I saw my first European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) of the year, plenty of Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus) and heard both Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes) and Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos).

Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum robertiana).

I arrived at the dam early as planned as I wanted check a few things out before I met up with the small group back at the Helipad. Just before 10:00 seven of us (Jenny and Bob Wright, Pat and Eric Lyon and two friends who where visiting them) met up and started the walk down the road, almost straight away we were seeing our first of hundreds of Italian Man Orchids (Orchis italica) of varying colours and sizes. During the first stop we also saw several Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea), Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera), Mirror Orchid (Ophrys speculum), Violet cabbage (Moricandia moricandioides), Field marigold  (Calendula arvensis), Common Grape Hyacinth (Muscari neglectum) and Grey-leaved Cistus (Cistus albidus).

Dark Spider Orchid (Ophrys incubacea).

We continued on down the road seeing lots more Naked Man, Yellow Bee and Mirror Orchids as well as Southern Daisy (Bellis cordifolia), White Mustard (Sinapis alba), Western ramping-fumitory (Fumaria occidentalis), Southern Knapweed (Centaurea pullata ssp pullata), Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), Pitch Trefoil (Psoralea bituminosa), Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum), Little Robin (Geranium Purpureum), Curry Plant (Helecrisum stoechaes), Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas), Common Fumitory (Fumaria officinalis), Common Asphodel (Asphodelus albus), Blue Hounds-tongue (Cynoglossum creticum) and Eruca (Eruca sativa).

Orchiaceras bivonae.

We also saw our first Butterflies during this part of the walk which included Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Small White (Artogeia rapae), Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenoides), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) and Large White (Pieris brassicae).
Several birds were also seen and heard which included Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Coal Tits (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax).

Mirror Orchid (Ophrys speculum).

We reached the road down to the dam and turned right seeing several spikes of just passed their best Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum robertiana), Mediterranean Daphne (Daphne gnidium), Dove's Foot Cranesbill (Geranium molle), Fedia (Fedia cornucopiae), Snakes-head Fritillary (Fritilaria hispanica), some Somber Bee Orchids (Ophrys fusca) which were all finished, Shepherds Needles (Scandix pecten-veneris), Mediterranean Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria), Rosy garlic (Allium roseum), Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum umbellatum), Henbit Dead-nettle (Lamium amplexicaule), Common Stork's-bill (Erodium cicutarium) and Red Phlomis (Phlomis purpurea).

Man Orchid (Orchis anthropophora).

Butterflies included Swallowtail (Papilio machaon), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) and Bath White (Pontia daplidice). We heard but did not see both Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli). 

Somber Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca).

We retraced our steps and headed into the main area for Orchids and were soon photographing large patches of the beautiful but less than colourful Bumblebee Orchid (Ophrys bombyliflora) along with more Naked Man and a single but different from last your Hybrid between Italica and Man Orchid (Orchis anthropophora) which is given the name Orchiaceras bivonae. Just a few meters away from this beauty were a couple of spikes of the rare Dark Spider Orchid (Ophrys incubacea) during the walk we saw four spikes of the cracking Orchid in total. In the area nearby we increased the list by seeing Man Orchid, Ophrys subfusca and just a little further on a spike of Small Woodcock Orchid (Ophrys picta).

Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea).

As we walked back towards the car we saw a very nice Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina), once back at the cars we had a drink and a snack before walking across the dam and checking the crags at the far end for plants and birds. On the way cross we saw several species of flower growing in the gutter including Common (Antirrhinum major) and White Snapdragons (Antirrhinum controversum), White Mignonette (Reseda Alba), Small Melilot (Melilotus indica), Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis), Sedum sediforme, Cut-leaved Valerian (Centranthus calcitrapae), Cliffhanger (Chaenorhinum villosum), Soft Stork's-bill (Erodium malacoides), Purple Bugloss (Echium plantagineum), Mucizonia hispida and Nonea vesicaria.

Ophrys subfusca

On and around the dam we also saw Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and Rock Pigeon (Paloma Bravia / Columba livia).
Birds were also seen over and around the large crags at the far end of the dam and these included a nice pale phase Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).

Bumblebee Orchid (Ophrys bombyliflora).

We walked along the short track around the tunnel and added a few more plants species to the growing list including Brown Bluebell (Dipcadi serotinum), Mediterranean Catchfly (Silene colorata), Rusty-back Fern (Ceterach officinarum), Tassel Hyacinth (Muscari comosum) and Wild Clary (Salvia verbenaca) along with a single Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli).

Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera).

We retraced our way back to the cars and all headed off towards Iznajar on the lake side road, I stopped and photographed Iberis pectinata and Large Pimpernel (Anagallis monelli) and had nice views of a female Northern Goshawk (Azor Común / Accipitor gentillis), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa) and Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi) along the way.

Small Woodcock Orchid (Ophrys picta).

Thanks to the group for supporting Granada Wildlife and for their company on an enjoyable and productive morning.

Sierra de Loja and Zafarraya Road, Granada Province.

A day of birds and Orchids with Kalpana and Will.

Day two.

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

Our second days birding started on a much brighter note with the sun shining nicely as we made our way down to Loja and up on to the Sierra above the town. We came up the step track and made our way up towards the smaller quarry, on the way we stopped in amongst the pine woods and had brief flight views of our first Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), in the same area we also had MistleThrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and a Red Squirrel (Sclurus vulgaris).

Torcal Toadflax (Linaria anticaria).

We continued on to the quarry and walked in along the track, just as we left the car we saw a fine male Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), quickly followed by Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica).

Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae).

We walked back out of the quarry and spent some time looking at the wildflowers and Orchids on the rocky slopes, on one large rock we had several plants of the rare endemic Torcal Toadflax (Linaria anticaria), Rusty-back Fern (Ceterach officinarum), Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum umbellatum) and Western ramping-fumitory (Fumaria occidentalis). 

Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea).

In the same area we also found Viola dementria, White Mustard (Sinapis alba), Warty Spurge (Euphorbia squamigera), Southern Wild Tulip (Tulipa sylvestris) not yet in flower and White Rockrose (Helianthemum apenninum).

From here we made our way up the hill and along the crags were we had nice views of Red-billed Choughs (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Jackdaws (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), heard a Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei) lower down amongst the trees and Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa).

Jackdaws (Grajilla / Corvus monedula).

Again we carried on up onto the level areas and soon started to see good numbers of Thekla Larks (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Black-eared Wheatears (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica) of both face pattern varients, a single male Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) and several Meadow Pipits (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis). 

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

We made a roadside stop and had a walk in to the broom scrub and eventually saw a male Spectacled Warbler (Curruca Tomillera / Sylvia conspicillata) but he was not helpful and did a single song flight and disappeared in to the distance.

Southern Early Purple Orchid (Orchis olbiensis).

We continued on heading for Charca del Negra but the cloud cover dropped and we decided that it was pointless going on as we could not see any thing so we turned around and started to drop back down.
On the way we had two Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) drift by and on our second visit to the track up to the quarry we had nice views of a male Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata).

Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera).

We dropped down even further and headed back towards Loja, on the way we had some good views of a pair of Iberian Magpies building a nest in a flimsy looking Almond tree.

Our next stop was lunch down in Riofrio Montagu's Harriers (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) one in flight and another perched on a fence post. Our next port of call was at an area of grassland near Zafarraya where were we looking for Orchids, straight away we had several spikes of Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum robertiana), followed by several Yellow Bee (Ophrys lutea), Conical (Orchis conica), Mirror (Ophrys speculum) and by far the best were several spikes of just opening Pink Butterfly (Orchis papilionacea).

Pink Butterfly Orchid (Orchis papilionacea).

In the same area we saw Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus), Bath White (Pontia daplidice) and heard a distant Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix). We retraced our way back up the valley and stopped again on the way back towards Loja and checked out another patch of Oak Woodland.
Here we saw several of the Orchid species already seen but added Southern Early Purple Orchid (Orchis olbiensis), Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera) and lots of not yet flowering Sword-leaved Helleborine (Cephalanatera longifolia).

Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum robertiana).

where we had an OKish menu del dia at Paco Rama before heading down the western side of the Sierra. Our first stop was to watch a couple of male

Birds seen or heard included Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).

Conical Orchid (Orchis conica).

Again we moved a little way down the road and had our last walk of the day through some more open Oak trees, here we saw Woodlark (Totovia / Lullula arborea), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina) and many more of the same species of Orchid already recorded.

Thanks to Kalpana and Will for two very enjoyable days Birding and Botanising.