Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Records for the 30th April 2015.

15W Actinic on the terrace.

76 Moths of 17 Species.

Any corrections, PLEASE send me a comment on the post, thanks.

8732 Pterostoma palpina (Pale Prominant).

Put the 125watt MV out last night and this morning checked the trap to find a goodish number of moths but less than expected as it was warm and cloudy overnight. 

8732 Cacoecimorpha pronubana.

Species seen included 8732 Pterostoma palpina (Pale Prominant) x1 which was a new species for the garden, 0663 Trichophaga Bipartitella x2, 0961 Hadena sancta x2, 3498 Mirificarma eburnella x 8, 4323 Aethes tornella x1, 8965 Tyta luctuosa (The Four-spotted) x2, 9367 Heliothis peltigera (Bordered Straw) x3, 9100 Acontia lucida (Pale Shoulder) x5, Aethes tornella x3 also possibly a new garden moth, 10022 Mythimna l-album (L-Album Wainscot) x1, 9927 Aetheria dysodea (Small Ranunculus) x1, Cacoecimorpha pronubana x1 again possibly another new species, 1655 Ethmia bipunctella x2, 4855 Epinotia thapsiana x 20+, 6719 Nomophila noctuella (Rush Veneer) x15+, 8186 Idaea degeneraria (Portland Ribbon Wave) x8, 10343 Agrotis puta (Shuttle Shaped Dart) x1, plus a few still to be named.

4323 Aethes tornella.

10022 Mythimna l-album (L-Album Wainscot).

9367 Heliothis peltigera (Bordered Straw).

9100 Acontia lucida (Pale Shoulder).

Balsa de Rigedor, Granada Province.

A quick look at a local pool after a visit to the Garden centre.

Male Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii).

Jayne and I went and picked up a few bits from the Garden Centre and on the way back I had half an hours scan around the man made but well naturalised pool just off the side of the A92. As I arrived I counted my way through the Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina) and found 27 males and 21 females out on the water. Other species on the water included Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos).

Male Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii).

On the margins I picked up Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and in the air there were good numbers of  Barn (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Red-rumped Swallows (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and both Common (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) and Pallid Swifts (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus).

I walked along the bank through the Poplars, Willows and Almonds to the jetty where over the water I saw Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum) x3, Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathinerum) x8, Iberian Blue-tail (Ischnura graellsii) x15, Red-veined Darters (Sympetrum fonscolombii) x 12m and lots of Stripe-necked Terrapins (Mauremys leprosa).

Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina).

In the Poplars there were singing Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Melodious Warblers (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla) and Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus). In the vegitation I saw Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Large (Pieris brassicae) and Small White (Artogeia rapae).

Also seen and heard in the area were Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).

Home near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

An afternoon on the Terrace catching up with the computer jobs.

After getting a few bits caught up with during the morning and prepping the lounge for a coat of paint tomorrow I spent the rest of the afternoon on the terrace catching up with a few tasks on the PC. 

Durng these few hours I recorded Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Melodious (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), the almost constant purr of the now common Turtle Doves (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), the rattle from the numerous Serins (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), a male Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), the always present Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus).

Some butterflies were on the wing later in the day and I saw several species moving along the barranco including Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni), Large  (Pieris brassicae) and Small White (Artogeia rapae), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) and Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli).

At several points during the aftenoon I was joined on the terrace by a large Moorish Gecko (Tarentola mauritanica) and the ever noisy Iberian Water Frogs (Rana Común / Rana Perezi) called from the garden pool and down in the barranco.

Embalse de Bermejales and the Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

A couple of hours Orchid hunting with Jayne.

Champagne Orchid (Orchis champagneuxii).

Jayne and I drove down to the lake via Moraleda, we parked then had a walk through the pine woodlands and after some time we walked back to the car with a very nice list of species including Champagne (Orchis champagneuxii), Fan-lipped (Anacamptis collina), Giant  (Himantoglossum robertiana), Mirror (Ophrys speculum), Naked / Italian Man (Orchis italica), Ophrys forestieri, Sawfly (Ophrys tenthredinifera), Small Woodcock (Ophrys picta), Yellow Bee (Ophrys lutea) and the two hybrids Orchiaceras bivonae (gone over) and Ophrys x chobautii.

Mirror Orchid (Ophrys speculum).

Birds included a calling Scop's Owl (Autillo Europeo / Otus scops), Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus) and Wryneck (Torcecuello / Jynx torquilla).

Ophrys x chobautii.

On our way back we came back north through the Cacín Valley and on the way we saw Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila-azor / Hieraetus faciatus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cyanus), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) and Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).

Small Woodcock (Ophrys picta).

Illora and near Sierra de Huétor, Granada Province.

Seeing a friend and some nice Orchids.

Lady Orchid (Orchis purpurea).

I met Ian Philips an Orchid expert from Malaga at the Huétor Tajar exit 203 before heading out to a site near Illora where we looked for the uncommon Lady Orchid (Orchis purpurea) but at this spot we only found 2 blind rosettes so we put another address in to the sat-nav and made our way to a site near to Sierra de Huétor just to the north of Granada city.

Lady Orchid (Orchis purpurea).

We arrived and searched the area of scrub and eventually turned up at least 7 very nice spikes and a lot of blind rosettes. In the same area we saw 100+ spikes of Southern Early Purple (Androrchis Olbiensis), a few Mirror (Ophrys speculum) and Yellow Bee Orchids (Ophrys lutea).

Lady Orchid (Orchis purpurea).

We also had birds including Woodlark (Totovia / Lullula arborea), Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus), Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus) and Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius).

Lady Orchid (Orchis purpurea) taking a few shots.

From here we went and had some lunch before Ian headed back off down to Malaga and I went home.

Malaga, Malaga Province.

Day eight for the Leicester Ladies.

Today was the end of a cracking weeks birding with five very keen Ladies from the UK, we had an earliy start and headed down to Malaga. Jane, Jane, Sue, Jan and Rona all managed over 40 new species during the four and a half birding days and the group total was over 140 with some very nice species being seen. We also had a good list of Butterflies, Orchids and Wildflowers all of which added interest to a really nice week. 

Thanks Ladies and hope to see you out here again in the future.

Sierra de Loja, Granada Province.

A day with the Ladies birding on my favourate hill.

Day Seven.

The Ladies on the lower slopes.

We had a slower start than yesterday as we were heading just up the road to the superb Sierra de Loja, this is a site where you can catch up with all the best upland species to be found in Andalucia along with some special plants and butterflies.

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

We started off by having a look for the Eagle Owl (Buho Real / Bubo bubo) from the lower quarry but there was no sign of the bird and all we managed to pick up was a pair of Common Kestrels (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa).

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

From here we moved up along the crags seeing Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cyanus) and out on to the flatter tops and soon picked up the first of many Thekla Larks (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Black-eared (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica) and Black Wheatears (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and Linnets (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina).

Common Stork's-bill (Erodium cicutarium).

Just above the large marble quarry we made a track side stop and successfully searched the area of broom scrub for the small and elusive Spectacled Warbler (Curruca Tomillera / Sylvia conspicillata) and in the same area we found Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

Southern Early Purple Orchid (Chupaeros / Androrchis Olbiensis).

We drove quiet quickly out to Charca del Negro stopping just the once just before the turn to the pool to look at Viola dementria, Southern Early Purple Orchid (Chupaeros / Androrchis Olbiensis), Common Asphodel (Asphodelus albus), Common Stork's-bill (Erodium cicutarium), White Rockrose (Helianthemum apenninum) and Upland Peony (Paeonia coriacea).

Viola dementria.

We parked near the Charca and soon added a nice male Subalpine Warbler (Curruca Carrasquena / Sylvia cantillans) to the list which was singing in a small stunted Hawthorn along with a cracking male Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia). 

We spent a little time getting views of the Sharp-ribbed Salamanders (Pleurodeles waltl) as they came up for air and whilst we were watching these interesting amphibians we had a fine male Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush (Roquero Roja / Monticola saxatilis) singing on a hunting sign on a mid distance outcrop.

Goat herders house.

We had nice views through the scope before the bird flew off, I was pleased we had these views as this was the only time we saw this bird during the day. 

In the same area we saw more Black-eared Wheatears, lots of Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), a soaring Goshawk (Azor Común / Accipitor gentillis), Crag Martin, Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) and a possible male Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis) but this interesting bird disappeared before I got the scope on it.

Rock formations on the tops.

We continued on around the track passed the Goat cave and on passed the twin rocks and down in to the next valley where we found Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Rock Pigeon (Paloma Bravia / Columba livia), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra) and European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster).

Erodium cheilanthifolium.

We stopped by the Goat Cave and the ladies took some shots from inside and I went and checked a nearby rock for Erodium cheilanthifolium and managed to find a small plant with one flower open.
Once the photographs were taken we went back around to the Charca and had some lunch before dropping slowly back down the hill, on the way we met John and Jenny Wainwright who said that the Eagle Owl was showing so we returned to the small quarry.

Along the top crags.

Once out of the vehicle we scanned the cliffs but could not find the bird so we checked the gorse clad slopes where we discovered Man (Orchis anthropophora), Mirror (Ophrys speculum), Yellow Bee  (Ophrys lutea), Sawfly (Ophrys tenthredinifera) and a Conical Orchid (Neotinea conica).

Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

There were also good numbers of Southern Wild Tulip (Tulipa sylvestris ssp. australis), Common Stork's-bill (Erodium cicutarium), Tassel Hyacinth (Muscari comosum), Southern Knapweed (Centaurea pullata ssp pullata), Mediterranean Catchfly (Silene colorata), Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenoides), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) and a Moorish Gecko (Tarentola mauritanica).

Southern Wild Tulip (Tulipa sylvestris ssp. australis).

On our way back to the vehicle we heard Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Red-rumped (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and then back at the van we had very nice views of the Eagle Owl as it sat out in the afternoon sun.

Eagle Owl (Buho Real / Bubo bubo).

We had intended to go on to another site but we had had such a good time on the hill the day had flown by and as we were heading out to a star gazing night later we headed back to the houses. Later we made our way out in to the campo near to Trabuco to Liz Marshes very nice house and had a chilly followed by  a short talks and then some star gazing.

Moorish Gecko (Tarentola mauritanica).

Osuna, Fuente de Piedra and Molina, Sevilla and Malaga Province.

Out on the fields Bustard hunting with the Leicester Ladies.

Day Five.

European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster).

We set out nice and early and before long the rain was hammering off the wind screen and Rona was asleep again in the Van again (wish I could sleep like that). We drove along the A92 towards Sevilla and as the journey went on a slither of brighter sky started to grow in the distance and by the time we pulled off the motorway and stopped for a coffee the sun was out.

Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis).

We moved out on to the fields and made our first stop in a layby where we scanned the fields, posts and pylons and started the day list off with Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), Gull-billed Tern (Pagaza Piconegra / Gelochelidon nilotica), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and a pair of Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).

On the verge there we flowering Common Mallow (Malva sylvestris), Crown Daisy (Chrysanthemum carinatum var discolor), Eruca (Eruca sativa), Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum), Purple Bugloss (Echium plantagineum) and Shepherds Needles (Scandix pecten-veneris).

We moved on to the next bridge scanning the roadside wires and fences seeing Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris). Once we were up on the bridge we scanned the open fields but could ot find any of the Great Bustards (Avutarda Común / Otis tarda) we were looking for but did see a very nice Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus). After the rains the track that continued on from the bridge was a bit on the slippy side but we mad it as far as the better gravel track with out getting bogged in to the Ladies relief as I don't think they like the idea of pushing me and the Van out of a hole !!!

Roller (Carraca / Coracias garrulus).

Once we were on the gravel we stopped again and scanned the fields out towards a large concrete factory building in the distance and had views of a couple of Little Bustards in flight, Short-toed Lark, Iberian Grey and Woodchat Shrikes (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Hoopoe and a little further along the track we had the first of many Montagu's Harriers (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), a small number of Calandra Larks (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) and several more European Bee-eaters which were sat on the fence around the factory with several Common Stonechats. 

We retraced our way back along this track but turned and went up to the second bridge where again we dipped on the Bustards but did manage to see more Black Kites, Montagu's Harriers, a good sized flock of Ravens and a Spectacled Warbler (Curruca Tomillera / Sylvia conspicillata) which disappearded before we had views. We again moved on and checked another track which went between to large semi abandoned Cortijos, here we saw large numbers of Lesser Kestrels (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni), Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and further along the track a couple of hunting Short-toed Eagles (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus).

White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia).

We made our way back to the road along side the railway tracks and parked up on the third bridge and after some searching found a group of 12 Great Bustards in the distance back towards bridge two. We had views in the scope but decied after we had done the next nearby spot we would go back and see if we could ge better views. Whilst we were on the bridge we watched a flock of bathing Collared Pratincole (Canastera Común / Glareola pratincola) which showed well and called all the time we were watching them. Our next stop was just down the road where we parked by a large stand of Eucalyptus trees which was being used by a huge number of both House (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Spanish Sparrows (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis) as a breeding site, we checked the nearby fences and puddles and soon had nice views of males of both species. We also heard Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos) and had a very close fly over Black Kite.

Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator).

We tried to get out to a nearby disused Cortijo but as we drove along the track a Spanish Chap in a 4x4 told us that we would stuggle due to the mud, a little way on we bottled out and turned around and returned to another large Cortijo nearer to the road where we had stunning views of lots of Lesser Kestrels, three Hoopoes, a brief flight view of a Roller (Carraca / Coracias garrulus) and my first Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur) of the year.
We decided to head back to the road and on to have a look for the Bustards again, on the way we had great views of the Roller again as it fed on a roadside field.We went back to the second bridge and on a little way along the track on the far side until we were over looking a set of farm buildings, on the way we had a very nice Woodchat Shrike and a migrating Common Whitethroat (Curruca Zarcera / Sylvia communis). On the field behind the the buildings we had much better views of the 12 Great Bustards which were wandering around in a large crop field.

Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla).

We again retraced our way around to the bridge and then took the road passed the turning to the third bridge and on the a spot near a river and railway bidge where we had good views of some White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia) that were on nests and feeding in the fields, we also had views of Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) and Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo). Our final stop in this area was at Laguna del la Ballestera but birds were few and far between but we did add Green (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus) and Common Sandpipers (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Kentish (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus) and Little Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta), Gull-billed Tern (Pagaza Piconegra / Gelochelidon nilotica) and a pair of Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos).

Black Tern (Fumarel Común / Chlidonias niger).

We decided to cut our loses in this area as the rest of the Lagoons we checked were dry and return to Fuente de Piedra where we had been a few days earlier to see if any new species had arrived, as we arrived we were soon aware of a good flock of Black Terns (Fumarel Común / Chlidonias niger), along with good numbers of Gull-billed and a couple of Whiskered (Fumarel Cariblanca / Chilidonias hybridus), along with Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Wood Sandpiper (Andarrios Bastardo / Tringa glareola), Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax), Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) and Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) but nothing new for the trip list so we moved on again. This time to a spot near Molina where we were hoping for a very early arriving Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin (Alzacola / Cercotrichas galactotes) but as we had expected we were far too early so we headed back to the houses.

Hacho, Moraleda area, Western side of Sierra de Loja and Sierra de Loja Quarry, Granada Province.

A days Orchid hunting with Steve ans Sue from the UK.

Pink Butterfly Orchid (Orchis papilionacea).

The Ladies were having a rest day but there is no rest for the busy and I was out for a days Orchid hunting with Sue and Steve who were on holiday from Bristol in the Uk. We started by meeting on the side of the road below Hacho and took a walk along the track to the rear of the hill where we soon found Conical (Orchis conica), Yellow Bee (Orquídea Abejera / Ophrys lutea), Giant  (Himantoglossum robertiana), Fan-lipped (Orchis conica), several spikes of  Southern Early Purple Orchids (Chupaeros / Orchis olbiensis) and just as we got back to the car we saw a couple of none flowering spikes of Pink Butterfly Orchid (Orchis papilionacea) which were a good way from flowering.

Sue photographing Yellow Bee Orchid.

We moved on to a spot near to Moraleda where I had found a few spikes of the locally rare Dark Spider Orchid (Ophrys incubacea) a few days earlier, we again found the three original spikes with half a dozen spikes of Ophrys forestieri.

Steve taking a few shots.

We then went to another nearby spot and found 40 more spike which had been located by friend Juan Pérez Contreras a couple of days earlier. In the same area we had more Yellow Bees, Fan-lipped and Mirror Orchids (Ophrys speculum subsp speculum).

Southern Early Purple Orchid (Chupaeros / Orchis olbiensis).

Birds in this area included Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and a calling Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius) which remained out of sight.

Conical Orchid (Orchis conica).

We moved up on to the fields and stopped in an area of abandoned Almonds and photographed a flowering Pink Butterfly Orchid which was growing amongst several Mirror Orchids and a very bright Adonis Blue (Niña Celeste / Lysandra bellargus).

Adonis Blue (Lysandra bellargus).

We could hear Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) calling in a nearby grove, in the same area we also had Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) and Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica).

Pink Butterfly Orchid (Orchis papilionacea).

We headed back down to the motorway and then took the road which runs down the western side of the hill and stopped at a spot just out side of Venta del Raya where we had stunning views of at least 5 male and 4 female Montagu's Harriers (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) which gave us fantastic views as they displayed over a large crop field.

Dark Spider Orchid (Ophrys incubacea).

Our next stop was in amongst some road side oaks where we had our lunch and then searched the woods for Orchids finding more Conical Orchids, Southern Early Purple,  Sword-leaved Helleborine (Cephalanatera longifolia) and a couple of still good condition Giant Orchids. We moved on again a little further down the road to another spot amongst an abandoned Almond grove where we saw more plants of the above orchids

 with a stunning patch of Pink Butterfly Orchids.

Viola dementria.

We retraced our steps back up through the Valley seeing Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cyanus) on the way. We took the track up the Sierra to the small lower Quarry where we parked and checked out the Gorse covered slopes and found Small Early Purple, Sawfly Orchid (Flor de avispa / Ophrys tenthredinifera), Man Orchid (Orchis anthropophora), Conical and Mirror Orchids.

Man Orchid (Orchis anthropophora).

In the same area we also had a good number of Southern Wild Tulips (Tulipa sylvestris ssp. australis), Grey-leaved Cistus (Cistus albidus), Viola dementria, Gynandriris sisyrinchium (Barbary Nut), Eruca (Eruca sativa), Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum umbellatum), Tassel Hyacinth (Muscari comosum), Common Asphodel (Asphodelus albus) and Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta). Once we had finished here we headed back to the meeting point where we went our own ways after a very successful day.

Gynandriris sisyrinchium (Barbary Nut).