Cacín Valley and Sierra de Loja Areas, Granada Province.

In the Valley and around the hill.

Kate and Jim Day Five.

Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica).

We went up the motorway to Moraleda and out to the fields, on the way we had Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto). 

Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus).

Once we were out on the fields we soon located a single Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) at the far end of a newly harvested cereal field. We had a quick chat with a group of farm workers on the next field to check that we were OK to drive on the stubble before trying to get better views of the Bustard but before we reached the the spot we flushed up three Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis) which landed again on the far edge of the field and then disappeared over the Almond Groves. 

Wild Peony (Paeonia broteroi).

We could not relocated the Little Bustard so we continued on to the ruin and saw a male Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Thekla (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) and Short-toed Larks (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla). 

Late Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys ficalhoana).

Further on we picked up Roller (Carraca / Coracias garrulus) but they never came close enough for the camera to be used which was a bit of a theme with the birds today. In the same area we saw Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei) and European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster).

Late Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys ficalhoana).

We dropped down into El Turro seeing Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator) and Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) on the way and had a coffee in the bar where we added Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia).

Adonis Blue (Lysandra bellargus).

We later retraced our way along the motorway past Loja and on to the road south to Zafarraya, after a few KM we stopped and checked a couple of cereal crop fields and had views of Montagu's Harrier but as with most of the birds they kept their distance. We also had Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Large  (Pieris brassicae) and Small Whites (Artogeia rapae), Southern Marbled Skipper (Carcharodus boeticus) and Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus).

Adonis Blue (Lysandra bellargus).

We continued along the road and parked under some roadside oaks and had a walk through the woodland and soon started to find new species including Wild Peony (Paeonia broteroi), Lange's (Androrchis langei), Lizard Orchid (Himantoglosum hircinum), Pyramidal (Anacamptis pyramidalia) and Late Sawfly Orchids (Ophrys ficalhoana), Epipactis temolsii, Carpentor Bee (Xylocopa violacea), Libelloides Baeticus, Clouded Yellow, Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina), Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina), Lorquin's Blue (Cupido lorquinii), Spanish Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Adonis Blue (Lysandra bellargus) and Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina). 

Libelloides Baeticus.

Bird wise we saw Bonelli's (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Subalpine (Curruca Carrasquena / Sylvia cantillans) and Orphean Warblers (Curruca Mirlano / Sylvia hortensis), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus), 6x Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Woodlark (Totovia / Lullula arborea), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus).

Libelloides Baeticus.

Our last stop of the day was on the lower tracks of Sierra de Loja where we retraced our way around  the tracks around the low quarry. 

Spanish Brown Argus (Aricia cramera).

In the area we had Red-underwing Skipper (Spialia sertorius), Blue Spotted Hairstreak (Satyrium spini), Spanish Gatekeeper (Pyronia bathseba), Mucizonia hispida, Brown Bluebell (Jacinto bastardo / Dipcadi serotinum), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) and Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia).

Mucizonia hispida.

Blue Spotted Hairstreak (Satyrium spini).

Brown Bluebell (Jacinto bastardo / Dipcadi serotinum).

Northern Malaga Province.

A tour around several sites in Northern Malaga Province.

Kate and Jim Day Four.

Rufous Bush Robin (Alzacola Rojizo / Cercotrichas galactotes).

We drove west and on our way towards Antequera we started the day list off with Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).

Rufous Bush Robin (Alzacola Rojizo / Cercotrichas galactotes).

We continued on west to a spot where I have seen a pair of Rufous Bush Robins (Alzacola Rojizo / Cercotrichas galactotes) in the past, we arrived but found no sign of them at the usual spot so we moved to the far side of the Vineyard but again we found no sign of the birds so we went for a drive along some track around the fields in the area which had similar habitats.

Rufous Bush Robin (Alzacola Rojizo / Cercotrichas galactotes).

After a while I caught a glimpse of a bird on a fence so we turned up a small track to the entrance to a small holding and had OKish views of our first Bush Robin.

Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta).

Just as we parked to look at it it flew down into the vines and out of sight but within seconds appeared right at the side of the vehicle and started to sing and continued to do so from a couple of spots amongst the foliage giving us stunning views and making Kate and Jim's cameras work very hard.

Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus).

In the same area we also saw Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), Northern Raven (Cuervo grande / Corvus corax), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula) and European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster).

Hooverfly Species.

Our next stop was at Fuente de Piedra, the water levels were dropping fast but there was still small amounts in all of the outer pools and on the way in we picked up Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Pied Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and several Gull-billed Terns (Pagaza Piconegra / Gelochelidon nilotica).

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

We parked and then had a look down on the boardwalk but the only bird of note here was a bathing Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus) which showed quiet nicely for several minutes in the open.

Spanish Gatekeeper (Lobito listado / Pyronia bathseba).

We continued on around to the Mirador checking the reedy ditch seeing only a single Iberian Blue-tail (Ischnura graellsii) and a small Hoverfly species, as we walked we had fly overs by Booted Eagle and Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans) we also saw or heard Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Great Reed (Carricero Tordal / Acrocephalus arundinaceus), Common Reed (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala) and Cetti's Warblers (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti).

Day flying Moth species.

From the Mirador we saw more Greater Flamingo's, Gull-billed Terns and round the back from the hides Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus).

Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris).

Once we were back at the car we headed to a spot just to the south of Fuente to try and get some photographs of European Bee-eaters at a spot I had found a week or so earlier on another tour, we arrived and after a short while so did the birds and the photographs were taken and we were on our way back towards Home but called in at a wooded valley on the way to see if we could catch up with a few more butterflies, we did and they included Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina), Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus), Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina), Bath  (Pontia daplidice), Large (Pieris brassicae) and Small Whites (Artogeia rapae), Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenoides), Spanish Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Small (Thymelicus sylvestris) and Lulworth Skippers (Thymelicus acteon), Southern (Pyronia cecilia) and Spanish Gatekeepers (Pyronia bathseba), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) and Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra), we also had a very smart Day flying Moth but it still remains unnamed and Rose Chafer (Cetonia aurata).

Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos).

Birds at the site included Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oropéndola Europea / Oriolus oriolus), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

Rose Chafer (Cetonia aurata).

At the far end of this valley we saw three spikes of the uncommon Iberian Mirror Orchid (Ophrys vernixia) which I was pleased to see was doing well in a spot I had first seen it 8 years earlier.

Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus).

We also had Blue Hounds-tongue (Cynoglossum creticum), Brown Bluebell (Jacinto bastardo / Dipcadi serotinum), Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas), Grey-leaved Cistus (Cistus albidus), Meadow Saxifrage (Saxifraga granulata), Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum), Naples Garlic (Allium neapolitanum), Rabbits bread (Andryala integrifolia), Rosy garlic (Allium roseum), Southern Knapweed (Centaurea pullata ssp pullata), Yellow Phlomis (Phlomis lychnitis) and Globe Thistle (Echinops ritro) before we headed for Granada Province and the house.

Granada Coast, Granada Province.

A bit of a miss more than hit day today.

Kate and Jim Day Three.

White-throated Dipper (Mirlo Acuático / Cinclus cinclus).

We started the day at a spot along the Río Guadalfeo near Vélez de Benaudalla after seeing a Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) on the way down near Padul. On the river we soon found the target White-throated Dipper (Mirlo Acuático / Cinclus cinclus) which Kate and Jim had wanted, they did not come close but I think they got some desent shots. 

White-throated Dipper (Mirlo Acuático / Cinclus cinclus).

We also had Cetti's (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Melodious Warbler (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), European Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) and Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos).

Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata).

Our second stop was on the road behind Charca del Suarez where we soon found the first of several Monarchs (Danaus plexippus) but in the very strong wind it was difficult to get shots but we did get there in the end. 

In the same area we also had Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), a Red-necked Nightjar (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis) which flew in, landed and straight back off before I could get Kate and Jim on to it, Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix) and Red Avadavat (Bengali Rojo / Amandava amandava).

Monarch (Danaus plexippus).

The reserve was our next stop but things were very quite, and we had the first dip of the day as we did not find any of the Mediterranean Chameleons (Chamaeleo chamaeleon) we had hoped for. 

Red-knobbed Coot (Focha cornuda / Fulca cristata).

We did however see CommonReed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Nightingale, Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Red-knobbed Coot (Focha cornuda / Fulca cristata), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Squacco Heron (Garcilla Cangrejera / Ardeola ralloides) x3, Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Western House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) as well as Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa), Stripe-less Tree Frog (Hyla meridionalis), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), African Grass Blue (Zizeeia knysna), Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous) and Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope).

Red-knobbed Coots (Focha cornuda / Fulca cristata).

We had some lunch and then drove down the coast to Cerro Gordo but the wind was very strong by now and most things were keeping their heads down and we struggled a bit but managed Pallid  (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) and Common Swifts (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Eurasian Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Eurasian Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), European Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) and Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus).

Eurasian Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur).

We continued on up the coast and then made our way inland and headed back towards the house across the fields near Zafarraya and added Greater Short-toed (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Calandra Larks (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator) and Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) before we reached the house.

Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).

Sierra Nevada, Granada Province.

A visit to the Serra Nevada looking for Butterflies.

Kate and Jim Day Two.

Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenoides).

Kate, Jim and I headed out to El Purche on the lower Western slopes, we parked and searched a steepish flower covered slope and soon started to find some very nice species of butterfly including a cooperative Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenoides), several Provençal Fritillaries (Melitaea deione), Large (Pieris brassicae) and Small Whites (Artogeia rapae), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Southern (Polyommatus celina) and Lorquin's Blues (Cupido lorquinii), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Spanish Gatekeeper (Pyronia bathseba), Spanish Brown Argus (Aricia cramera) and Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus).

Provençal Fritillary (Melitaea deione).

As we were photographing the Provence Orange-tip a pale phase Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus) circled above us, in the area we also had singing Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and Great Tits (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus).

Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus).

Other species seen included 9100 Acontia lucida (Pale Shoulder), 5611 Synaphe Moldavica, Andalusian Storksbill (Erodium recorderi), Bitting Stonecrop (Sedum acre), Cliffhanger (Chaenorhinum villosum), Common Grape Hyacinth (Muscari neglectum), Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas), Dove's Foot Cranesbill (Geranium molle), Eruca (Eruca sativa), Ground-pine Germander (Teucrium pseudochamaepitys), Meadow Saxifrage (Saxifraga granulata), Mediterranean Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria), Navel-wort (Omphalodes commutata), Ox-eye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare), Purple Bugloss (Echium plantagineum), Rabbits bread (Andryala integrifolia), Rock phagnalon (Phagnalon rupestre), Southern Knapweed (Centaurea pullata ssp pullata), White Mignonette (Reseda Alba) and White Rockrose (Helianthemum apenninum). 

Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus).

Our next stop was further up the hill at the botanical gardens where we walked down to the lower meadows and pools checking the many flowering plants as we went down.

Saxifraga erioblasta.

Almost straight away we had a very smart Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri) and a good many of the butterfly species already seen but lower down we saw an egg laying Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli), Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus), Knapweed Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe), Southern Marbled Skipper (Carcharodus boeticus), Southern Gatekeeper (Pyronia cecilia) as well as Large Psammodromus (Lagartija colilarga / Psammodromus algirus) and Moorish Gecko (Tarentola mauritanica). 

Saxifraga erioblasta.

Wild flowers included Yellow Phlomis (Phlomis lychnitis), White stonecrop (Sedum album), Woad (Isatis tinctoria), Tassel Hyacinth (Muscari comosum), Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), Grey-leaved Cistus (Cistus albidus) and Curry Plant (Helecrisum stoechaes).

Onosma tricerosperma ssp granatensis.

Birds included Woodlark (Totovia / Lullula arborea), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), Crested Tit (Herrerillo Capuchino / Lophophanes cristatus), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia) and Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major).

Linaria aeruginea subsp aeruginea.

We had spent quite a while in the gardens and had met up with Juan Jesus the warden at the site who very kindly gave Kate and Jim a lift back up the slope to the car, we then dropped back down and took the old road down towards Guejar-sierra.

Lange's Orchid (Androrchis langei).

Not far from the visitor Center we stopped on the roadside and photographed some smart wildflowers which included Linaria aeruginea subsp aeruginea, Saxifraga erioblasta, Blue Hedgehog Broom (Erinacea anthyllis) and Onosma tricerosperma ssp granatensis.

Lesser Spotted Fritillary (Melitaea trivia).

We continued on down the hill a short way and parked on the roadside and searched a small area of rocky grassland where we had a single spike of Lange's Orchid (Androrchis langei), Saponaria ocymoides, Lesser Spotted Fritillary (Melitaea trivia), Sage Skipper (Muschampia proto), Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius) and European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster).

Lesser Spotted Fritillary (Melitaea trivia).

We dropped further down the hill and made a stop near the river in the bottom of the valley, Jim and I had a stroll down to the water and found another Lesser Spotted Fritillary as well as a couple of Marsh Fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia), a Queen of Spain (Issoria lathonia) and Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina). 

Marsh Fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia).

As well as Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Dipper (Mirlo Acuático / Cinclus cinclus) and several Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris).

Lesser Spotted Fritillary (Melitaea trivia).

We then dropped back down past Granada and back to the house.

Sierra de Loja, Granada Province, Spain.

A day in the hills with Kate and Jim from the UK.

Kate and Jim Day One.

Southern Gatekeeper (Pyronia cecilia).

Kate and Jim had arrived a couple of days earlier but due to Kate being unwell this was our first day in the field and we started with one of my favourite place, Sierra de Loja.

Southern Gatekeeper (Pyronia cecilia).

We started on the slopes just past the Abades service area and soon started to find interesting species including Southern Gatekeeper (Pyronia cecilia), Spanish Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina), Panoptes Blue (Pseudophilotes panoptes), Small White (Artogeia rapae), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia),

Panoptes Blue (Pseudophilotes panoptes).

Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Blue Alkanet (Anchusa azurea), Blue Hounds-tongue (Cynoglossum creticum), Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas), Common Snapdragon (Antirrhinum major), Eruca (Eruca sativa), Ground-pine Germander (Teucrium pseudochamaepitys), Mallow-leaved Bindweed (Convolvulus althaeoides), Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum), Navel-wort (Omphalodes commutata), Pitch Trefoil (Psoralea bituminosa), Rabbits bread (Andryala integrifolia), Rosy Garlic (Allium roseum), Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum umbellatum), Bellardia trixago,  Southern Knapweed (Centaurea pullata ssp pullata), Southern Red Bartsia (Parentucellia latifolia), Star Clover (Trifolium stellatum), Wild Gladiolus (Gladiolus illyricus) and Yellow Phlomis (Phlomis lychnitis).

Cerastium boissieri.

We moved on up to the lower quarry and walked back down the track, during this stroll we found Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala). 

Blue Spotted Hairstreak (Satyrium spini).

Butterflies included Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenoides), Southern Marbled Skipper (Carcharodus boeticus), Blue Spotted Hairstreak (Satyrium spini), Spanish Gatekeeper (Pyronia bathseba), Large White (Pieris brassicae), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas).

Pyramidal Orchid (Orquidea Pyramidal / Anacamptis pyramidalia).

We also had Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalia), Mediterranean Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria), Southern Wild Tulip (Tulipa sylvestris ssp. australis) seed pods, Centaurea boissieri, Cerastium boissieri, Dianthus brachyanthus, Brown Bluebell (Jacinto bastardo / Dipcadi serotinum), Curry Plant (Helecrisum stoechaes) and plenty of 5611 Synaphe diffidalis.

Lythria sanguinaria.

Again we moved on up passed the crags picking up Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Jackdaw, Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus). 

Ocellated Lizard (Lacerta lepida).

Once we were up to the top of the crags we checked the flat area out and had 8222a Lythria sanguinaria a very smart looking day flying moth, Alpine (Vencejo Real / Apus melba) and Pallid Swifts (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) and several Spanish Marbled Whites (Melanargia ines).

Ocellated Lizard (Lacerta lepida).

We drove fairly quickly over to a small dell near to Charca del Negro just stopping a couple of times seeing a huge Ocellated Lizard (Lacerta lepida) sat on a rock with really leathery looking folds in his neck and a smaller nicer looking one on the track as well as several Black-eared Wheatears (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa) and Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

Southern Mountain Argus (Aricia montensis).

At the dell we found Knapweed Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus), Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina), Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Red-underwing Skipper (Spialia sertorius), Lizard Orchid (Himantoglosum hircinum), Upland Peony (Paeonia coriacea), Large Psammodromus (Lagartija colilarga / Psammodromus algirus) and Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Southern Marbled Skipper (Carcharodus boeticus).

We next stopped at Charca and had a short walk but we only added Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes). In the same area there was a fantastic show of Andalusian Storksbill (Erodium recorderi), Blue Hedgehog Broom (Erinacea anthyllis), Buckler Mustard (Biscutella frutescens), Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator) and Sharp-ribbed Salamander  (Pleurodeles waltl). 

Erodium cheilanthifolium.

We went on just a short way past the Goat / Fossil caves and parked, here Jim and I searched for what I thought were Spanish Argus (Aricia morronensis), we saw them but failed to get shot but we succeed later in the week and were surprised with our find.

Upland Peony (Paeonia coriacea).

In the same area we did see Erodium cheilanthifolium, Southern Mountain Argus (Aricia montensis), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra) and Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) before we made our way steadily down the hill and back towards the house.