Sierra de Loja, Granada Province and Laguna Chica, Malaga Province.

A morning in the mountains and the afternoon at Laguna Chica.

Day two with Lynn and Tim.

Blue Spotted Hairstreak (Satyrium spini).

Today we were heading up into the Sierra de Loja looking for upland birds and butterflies, we started off by going up the track to the small quarry and checking the slopes there and the crags. 

Red-underwing Skipper (Spialia sertorius).

We soon had Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Dartford Warblers (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) and Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) on the list along with Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina),  False Ilex (Satyrium esculi) and Blue Spotted Hairstreak (Satyrium spini), Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Spanish Gatekeeper (Pyronia bathseba), Spanish Marbled White (Melanargia ines), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Red-underwing Skipper (Spialia sertorius), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), False Mallow / Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus tripolinus / alceae), Large Psammodromus (Lagartija colilarga / Psammodromus algirus) and Spanish Ibex (Cabra pyreaica hispanica).

Ocellated Lizard (Lacerta lepida).

From here we drove across the mountain to the pool of Charca del Negra, on the way we saw Black-eared Wheatear (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cyanus), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa) and Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator). 

Spanish Ibex (Cabra pyreaica hispanica).

We parked near the pool and had a look at what was left of the water and had views of several Sharp-ribbed Salamanders (Pleurodeles waltl) and a couple of male Blue / Common Emperors (Anax imperator). 

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

On the surrounding crags and grassland we saw and heard Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius). 

As we could not find the target Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush (Roquero Roja / Monticola saxatilis) we continued on to another set of crags where we soon were having very nice views of both male and female birds of this uncommon and shy species. 

In the same area we picked up a fine female Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), more Black Wheatear's, Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), Ocellated Lizard (Lacerta lepida) and Thread-winged Lacewings (Nemoptera bipennis). 

Spanish Argus (Aricia morronensis).

We retraced our way down the hill after some time watching these cracking birds but did not get very far as we stopped to check an area of rocks which have the uncommon Erodium cheilanthifolium growing on them, this is the Laval food plant of the uncommon Spanish Argus (Aricia morronensis). 

As the the plant was present we thought we might as well have a look for the butterfly in the area and soon had a small insect flying around one of the plants. Tim cracked off a couple of shots which later proved that we had in deed found the Argus we were looking for.

Spanish Argus (Aricia morronensis).

Again we continued on down stopping around half way to photograph some Thread-winged Lacewings and also picked up Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Marbled Skipper (Carcharodus lavatherae), Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) and Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris).

Our last stop on the Sierra was at an area of Broom scrub where we had views of a very flighty Spectacled Warbler (Curruca Tomillera / Sylvia conspicillata) and Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina).

Thread-winged Lacewings (Nemoptera bipennis).

As we drove down the last bit of the track we heard and saw Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Bonelli's Warbler Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).

Tim and I photographing the Lacewings.

Our next stop was at Laguna Chica where we hoped to track down a few dragonflies as well as boost the bird list a bit, on the water we saw several Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and from the reeds we heard Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) and a Little Bittern (Avetorillo Común / Ixobrychus minutus) and finally in the air came European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) and Alpine Swift (Vencejo Real / Apus melba). 

Scarlet Darter  (Crocothemis erythraea).

We spent most of the time around the margins amongst the reeds where we found large numbers of Dainty Damselflies (Coenagrion scitulum) along with lesser numbers of Scarlet  (Crocothemis erythraea) and Red-veined Darters (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata), Black-tailed (Orthetrum cancellatum) and Long Skimmers (Orthetrum trinacria), Lesser (Anax parthenope) and Blue / Common Emperors and Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathinerum) as well as Southern Gatekeeper (Pyronia cecilia) and Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria). 

Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata).

From here we headed back to the house.

Moraleda and the Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

The first of two days with Lynn and Tim from Hampshire in the UK.

Bath White (Pontia daplidice).

Lynn, Tim and I headed out towards the fields near to the town of Moraleda and on the way over we started the list off with Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cyanus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).

Ornate Shieldbugs (Eurydema ornata).

Once we were out on the fields the good birds just kept coming with Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), 3+ Great Spotted Cuckoo's (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius), 4 Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis), a cracker of a Roller (Carraca / Coracias garrulus), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Short-toed (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla) and Thekla Larks (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula).

Ornate Shieldbugs (Eurydema ornata).

As well as the birds we saw Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Southern Gatekeeper (Pyronia cecilia), 100s of Ornate Shieldbugs (Eurydema ornata) and their eggs on Caper Plants (Capparis spinosa) and what looked like the lavae of  Striped Lychnis Moth. 

Southern Gatekeeper (Pyronia cecilia).

We returned to the road and dropped down into the Cacín Valley and stopped at a point along the river where we had a short walk which took us quite a while as we kept on finding cracking species. 

The best of which was a pair of Western Demoiselles (Calopteryx xanthostoma) which up until now I had only seen a single female of this species so I was surprised to find these two perfect insects here. After checking with a couple of Spanish experts on dragons and their distribution I was very pleased to find out that this was the first record in the province since 1911. 

Chlorophorus trifasciatus.

In the same area we also had White Featherleg (Platycnemis latipes), Mercury Bluet's (Coenagrion mercuriale), Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi), Copper Demoiselle (Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis), Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus), Small White (Artogeia rapae), Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera) for the insects and birds included Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Melodious (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta), Reed  (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) and Sardinian Warblers (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) and Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur).

Lavae of  Striped Lychnis Moth,

Our next stop was at the Contraembalse just up the road, the water level was quite low but there were still good numbers of birds to be seen including Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Alpine Swift (Vencejo Real / Apus melba), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei). We also had Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Sage Skipper (Muschampia proto) and a flushed Ni Moth (Trichoplusia ni).

Western Demoiselle (Calopteryx xanthostoma).

We continued on down the road towards Cacín a short was and stopped to look at some roadside Scabious plants which had a good number of butterflies necturing on them and these included False Mallow / Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus tripolinus / alceae), Clouded Yellow, Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Large White (Pieris brassicae) and on the opposite side of the road we watched a stunning female Swallowtail (Papilio machaon) egg laying on the Fennel Plants.

Western Demoiselle (Calopteryx xanthostoma).

Whilst we were there we headed a Wryneck (Torcecuello / Jynx torquilla) calling from some river side trees so we took our lunch down and found a spot near the River and had our food whilst looking for the bird, we did not see it but added Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus) and Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria).

Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera).

We again continued on down the valley down to the gorge where we had great views of a pair of Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila-azor / Hieraetus faciatus), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) and Rock Pigeon (Paloma Bravia / Columba livia).

After the gorge we headed back up the Valley and were very pleased to see a fine female Northorn Goshawk (Azor Común / Accipitor gentillis) as it dropped off a roadside pylon. 

Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus).

Our final stop of the day was at Balsa de Rigedor a small lake on the side of the A92 motorway, here we saw several of the water species we had seen earlier. 

The main reason for calling here were the dragonflies which included Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum), Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope), Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata), Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea), Iberian Blue-tail (Ischnura graellsii), Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathinerum) and Small Red-eyed (Erythromma viridulum). 

From here we headed back to the house where later we sat and listened to the calling Red-necked Nightjars (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis).

Almargen and Salinas, Malaga Province and Moraleda Fields, Granada Province.

Another new dragon species for my Spanish list on Steve's third and final day.

Day three.

Yellow-Veined Skimmer (Orthetrum nitidinerve).

After I had fully read the notes about the dragons Almargen area I realised that we had been looking in the wrong area for one of the species we had wanted to see the Yellow-Veined Skimmer (Orthetrum nitidinerve) so we drove back over and visited the correct spot which looked totally uninspiring to say the least and along with the very high wind we were not very confident of seeing anything. 

Yellow-Veined Skimmer (Orthetrum nitidinerve).

We checked the only open area of water but found nothing so we walked the track which followed the river and after a about 100 meters we had a female type dragon zip up in front of us and away but even with the brief bad views we had we thought that we had got the targets species so we started to search the area. After a few minutes we relocated the dragon out on the field sat on the soil in a roughly ploughed field and it was instantly obvious that it was a female Yellow-Veined Skimmer with the veining in wings standing out very well. 

Iberian Water Frog (Rana Común / Rana Perezi).

We got some shots but it was hard going in the wind and with the brightness of the lumps of soil. We walked a little further along the stream picking up Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Egyptian Grasshopper (Anacridium aegyptium), Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma) and Iberian Blue-tail (Ischnura graellsii).

European Honey Bee (Apis mellifera).

We moved on to the far side of the town and out into the campo to a stream near a disused cortijo where we found ver little in the way of water except for a small sump pool right on the side of the track which was full of Iberian Water Frog (Rana Común / Rana Perezi) and drinking wasp's and European Honey Bee (Apis mellifera). 

Mercury Bluet's (Coenagrion mercuriale).

In the same area we found a female Southern Skimmer (Orthetrum brunneum), Iberian Blue-tail, Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Small White (Artogeia rapae), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Melodious (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta) and Reed Warblers (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).

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

From here we moved back towards home calling in at Salinas on the way to check the pool and ditches in the area, on the pool and ditches we found 2 male Scarlet Darters (Crocothemis erythraea), 4 male Southern Skimmers, 2 male and 2 female Mercury Bluet's (Coenagrion mercuriale), 1 male and 1 female Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator), 1 male Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi), 5x  Iberian Blue-tails, 2 male Keeled Skimmers (Orthetrum coerulescens), Swallowtail (Papilio machaon), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cyanus) and Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula).

Thekla Larks (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae).

During the heat of the afternoon we decided to go and have a look out on the fields around Moraleda hoping for a few bird species, we went out onto the tracks and soon had good views of a couple of Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis), a fine Roller (Carraca / Coracias garrulus) which gave us the run around and did not allow us to get any shot, Short-toed  (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) and Thekla Larks (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) and 2x Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus).

Fuente de Piedra and Almargen area, Malaga Province.

A new species for my Spanish Dragon list whilst out and about again with Steve Jones from Cornwall.

Day two.

Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula).

We headed out earlish and made our way to Fuente de Piedra where we were hoping to find some of the Dark Spreadwings (Lestes macrostigma) I had seen a few weeks earlier as it would be a new species for Steve's list. 

We arrived and checked out the now dry ditches and pools around the entrance road but all we found were a few Iberian Blue-tail (Ischnura graellsii) x10 on the dragonfront but we did see Gull-billed Tern (Pagaza Piconegra / Gelochelidon nilotica), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Western House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) before heading up to the Mirador with the Oak tree behind the Visitor Center. 

Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens).

From here we scanned the flock of Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) and quickly located 2 of the Lesser Flamingo's (Flamenco Enano / Phoenicopterus minor) at the site along with Pied Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula) and a couple of fly over Northern Ravens (Cuervo / Corvus corax). 

At the first screen which over looks a small pool we saw several Common Moorhens (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (FochaComún / Fulica atra), Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa) and the target species Dark Spreadwing x7 but they were a good distance away. 

Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens).

Steve did get some record shots but nothing very good so we continued on and had a look at the other two hides and added Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Great Reed Warbler (Carricero Tordal / Acrocephalus arundinaceus), Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator) 1 male, Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) 2 teneral, Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum) 1 male, Clouded Yellow (Colias Común / Coliascorcea) and Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina ssp hispulla). 

We returned to the view point and had another look at the Lesser Flamingo's before dropping back on to the lower track and checking the ditches again but with the same results.

From here we headed West to Campillos and then on to Almargen area where we were following information gained from ROLA. 

Small Red Damselfly (Ceriagrion tenellum).

We checked an area of river side vegetation which was absolutally alive with dragons of a good few species including Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens) x20+, Mercury Bluet's (Coenagrion mercuriale) x50+, Mediterranean Bluet (Coenagrion caerulescens) x300+, Small Red Damselfly (Ceriagrion tenellum) x30+, Blue / Common Emperor x 1 male & 1 female egg laying, Copper Demoiselle (Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis), Common Golden Ringed Dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltonii subsp algirica) x 1 male and Iberian Bluetails x 5+. 

Small Red Damselfly (Ceriagrion tenellum).

In the same area we also had Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Small White (Artogeia rapae) and Water Scorpion.

Small Red Damselfly (Ceriagrion tenellum).

Again we moved on but this time just down the road to a spot nearer to the town where we only added Orange Featherleg (Platycnemis acutipennis) to the day list.

Mercury Bluet's (Coenagrion mercuriale).

On the opposite side of the town we searched a stretch of the river in a large concrete colvert which turned out to be more productive than expected. 

Species seen included Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) over head, Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea) x 1 male, Southern Skimmer (Orthetrum brunneum) x 6 males and 1 female, Blue / Common Emperor x 1 male & 2 egg laying females, Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma) x 2 males, Iberian Bluetails x 10+ and Mediterranean Bluet x 3 males and 1 female.

Copper Demoiselle (Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis).

Copper Demoiselle (Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis).

On the way back home we called in at Laguna Dulce but it was generally quiet but we added Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) and Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) to the list before heading back to the house.

Rio Hozgarganta, Jimena del la Frontera.

Dragonflies and Birds with Steve Jones.
Day one.

Orange-spotted Emerald (Oxygastra curtisii).

Jayne was going back to the UK for a few days so I arranged with Steve Jones from Cornwall in the UK to have a few days Dragon hunting as we had done last year.
This time Steve arrived at Malaga airport about five or six hours before I was dropping Jayne off so he spent a while kipping on a very hard marble floor before the start of out adventure.

Pronged Clubtails (Gomphus graslinii).

I met him just after seeing Jayne off at 04:30 and we headed straight down towards Jimena and once there we found a place for some breakfast before parking at the start of the walk out to the main site we were to visit.

Pronged Clubtails (Gomphus graslinii).

On the walk out to the spot we saw or heard Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major).

Western Clubtail (Gomphus pulchellus).

Once we were in the area where we were going to spend the day we started to check the vegetation in the area looking for hung up insect but we found nothing but I heard several Iberian Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Ibérico / Phylloscopus brehmii), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and we flushed good numbers of Iberian Water Frog (Rana Común / Rana Perezi) from the margins.

Female Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata).

Once things warmed up a bit we started to find a few dragons including Orange-spotted Emerald (Oxygastra curtisii), Pronged Clubtail (Gomphus graslinii), Western Clubtail (Gomphus pulchellus), Orange (Platycnemis acutipennis) and White Featherlegs (Platycnemis latipes), Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator), Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma), Western Willow Spreadwing (Chalcolestes viridis), Copper Demoiselle (Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis) and Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata). Things were different to last year as the main target species Splendid Cruiser (Macromia splendens) was pretty much absent and the only sightings I did have lasted for just a few seconds.

Ant-lion species.

As the day went on and got warmer good numbers of Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) drifted over along with the odd Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus), White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia) and Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris).

Ant-lion species.

We also recorded a few butterflies including Spanish Gatekeeper (Pyronia bathseba), Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), False Ilex Hairstreak (Satyrium esculi), Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Marsh Fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina), Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus), Sage Skipper (Muschampia proto), Large White (Pieris brassicae) and Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) a long with a very smart Ant-lion species.

Orange Featherlegs (Platycnemis acutipennis).

Other birds recorded during the day included White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes) and Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris).

Iberian Water Frog (Rana Común / Rana Perezi).

Late in the after noon we walked back towards the car and on the way had good views of Western Spectre (Boyeria Irene), Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum), Blue-eye (Erythromma lindenii) and Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi). 

On the way back we disused our options for day two and decided to drive back to the house and set out from there in the morning.

The Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

A day in the Valley with Cathy & Paul from South Africa.

This is a short post as at the moment I have lost my notes for the day but have a few photographs.

El Faro Sea Watch hide, Malaga Province.

A couple of hour watch mainly the waves.

I dropped Jayne off at the shopping centre and drove the shot distance up to the hide looking over the rocks below El Faro light house and set the scope up and scanned the sea for a while. Apart fron 16 Balearic Shearwaters (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus) one Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) and a Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) it was very quiet. Down on the rocks there were 10 Ruddy Turnstones (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), a single Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), 3x Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), a few Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) as well as a small group of Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii) one of which had a small fish which it was struggling to eat.

 

Photographs from the top: Ruddy Turnstones (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), 2x Audouin's Gulls (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).