Sierra Nevada, Granada Province.

A walk along the track to the Hoya de San Juan with Jayne.

Apollo (Apolo / Parnassius apollo subsp nevadensis).

As the temperature down low was in the cooking range Jayne and I decided to go and do most of her 10,000 steps in the hills which also gave me the chance to see some of the superb plants and butterflies up there. 

Spanish Brassy Ringlet (Erebia hispania).

As we started to climb things did not look to good with thick cloud and rain on the way up. We stopped at a bar on the way and had a coffee and got a couple of sandwiches for our lunch later.

Southern Mountain Argus (Aricia montensis).

We arrived at the car park and things were still looking quite dull but dry so we started the walk and after 500m or so the sun came out and so did the butterflies.

Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe).

I was soon seeing good numbers of Apollo (Parnassius apollo subsp nevadensis), Spanish Brassy Ringlet (Erebia hispania) as well as smaller numbers of Purple-shot Copper (Lycaena alciphron), Southern Mountain Argus (Aricia montensis), Nevada Blue (Polyommatus golgus), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Black Satyr (Satyrus actaea) and Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas). 

Purple-shot Copper (Lycaena alciphron subsp gordius).

Birds were few but I did see several Rock Sparrows (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), House (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae).

Before I reached the wetter areas at the Hoya de San Juan I found quite a few nice wildflowers including Nevada House Leek (Sempervivum minutum), Hard Fern (Polystrichum lonchitis), Asplenium septenrionale, Rusty-back Fern (Ceterach officinarum), Sedum melanantherum, Arenaria imbricata, Eryngium glaciale, Dianthus subacaulis ssp brachyanthus, Sideritis glacialis, Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea), Euphrasia willommii, Cirsium gregarium and quite a few others.

Nevada Blue (Polyommatus golgus).

I eventually reached the wet areas, by this time Jayne had walked there and back again at least twice and when I got there she had already found Alpine Gentian (Gentiana alpina) and Gentiana boryi.

Gentiana boryi.

I spent the next half hour checking the wet gullies and added Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina), Southern Heath (Melitaea nevadensis) and Niobe Fritillary (Fabriciana niobe) to the butterfly list and Gentianella tenella, Plantago nivalis, Pinguicola nevadensis, Whorled Lousewort (Pedicularis verticillata), Epilobium alsinifolium, Erigeron frigidus, Galium pyrenaicum and Saxifraga stellaris ssp alpigena.

Gentianella tenella.

Jayne came back to the wet area after doing another stretch back along the track so I joined her and we walked back towards the car and on the way I found a very nice Mazarine Blue (Cyaniris semiargus) which was a new species for my Andalucian butterfly list, Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Knapweed Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe), Blue Spotted Hairstreak (Mancha Azul / Satyrium spini) and Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae).

Alpine Gentian (Gentiana alpina).

Once we reached the car we dropped back down to the city, most of the way it was raining, where we did some shopping before heading home.

Mazarine Blue (Cyaniris semiargus).

Mazarine Blue (Cyaniris semiargus).

Southern Heath Fritillary (Melitaea nevadensis).

Knapweed Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe).

Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe).

Moraleda Fields and Balsa de Rigedor, Granada Province.

A mornings birding with Lars from Denmark.

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

I met Lars just up the road at Moraleda and we were soon out on the nearby fields and watching a female Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis) which was a lifer for Lars.

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

In the same area we had Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei) and as we drove across to the edges of some nearby Almond plantations we found 2 Rollers (Carraca / Coracias garrulus), an amazing 50+ Hoopoes (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Short-toed (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla) and Thekla Larks (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) and European Bee-eaters (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) which were flying over. 

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

We made our way back out on to the tarmac and then back in to the site on another track and found the first of quite a few Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Iberian Green Woodpecker and heard both Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius) and Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), both species eluded us for the rest of the morning. 

Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).

We continued out on to the far side of the site through some rather smelly, recently naturally fertilised fields and then into another Almond grove where we could see a good number of Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Rock (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia) and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia) and a singing Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus) which stayed hidden in the Almonds. 

Captive falcons.

Next we did a loop around some more tracks adding Barn (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Red-rumped Swallows (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).

In the time we were in this area we also had a few none avian species which included Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Iberian Scarce (Iphiclides feisthameli) and Common Swallowtails (Papilio machaon), Small (Pieris rapae) and Bath Whites (Pontia daplidice), Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and Iberian Brown Hare (Lepus europaeus / capensis).

Captive falcons.

Things were getting warm so we headed back towards the Motorway and then across to Balsa de Rigedor where we soon added 2 Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Cetti's (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and Sardinian Warblers (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and 3 flying Golden Orioles (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus).

There was also a guy there from the medio ambiente who was recording the Dragonflies on the site, we found several species including Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator) x3M, Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum) x4M, Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi) x3M, Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata) x5M, Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) x1M, Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathinerum), Iberian Blue-tail (Ischnura graellsii) and Small Red-eyed (Erythromma viridulum).

Captive falcons.

By now it was getting hot so we retired to a nearby bar and I gave Lars some info about a couple of sites that he could visit during the rest of his stay.

For a few months I have been watching the construction of two very large concrete and metal circular frames near Moraleda de Zafayona in Granada Province. My first thoughts were that they would eventually be lined and become storage silo's of some sort so I was surprised a couple of days ago to find that they had been netted and were full of around 40 or so Gyrfalcon / Peregrine Hybrid type falcons. Guessing that they are to be sold to falconers, just hope they do not end up in the hands of the wrong sort of hunters.

El Faro, Fuengirola, Malaga Province.

An hour in the sea watch hide at El Faro.

Audouin's Gull (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii).

I dropped Jayne off at the shopping centre and then drove down to the spot a short way down the coast, I parked and walked along to the hide seeing just a single Audouin's Gull (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), several Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and a single Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres) which was still in none breeding plumage.

Audouin's Gull (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii).

From the hide I recorded Balearic Shearwater (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus) x3W, Cory's Shearwater (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea) x18E and 6W, Arctic Skua (Págalo Parásito / Stercorarius parasiticus) x1E, Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) x1E, Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) x2W, Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) x1 and dozens of immature Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) all heading west down the coast.

La Malaha and the Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

A day in the Cacín Valley and surrounding fields with Charlotte, Adrian and Gwyn from the UK.

Roller (Carraca / Coracias garrulus).

I met Charlotte, Adrian and Gwyn near Padul and then we made our way to a semi-derelict Cortijo where we had good views of several Lesser Kestrel (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni), Rock Pigeon (Paloma Bravia / Columba livia), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) and female Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) which crossed a field on the far side of the road. 

Roller (Carraca / Coracias garrulus).

We moved down the road to a road bridge just outside La Malaha where we had Red-rumped (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica) and Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).

We next made a roadside stop to view a Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus) which was perched on a distant pylon as well as Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla) and Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis).

Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus).

Just up the road we turned on to the tracks over the fields were we very quickly found a female Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) trying to hide from us but failing. In the same area we had Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator) and Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica).

We came back on to tarmac and then headed through Ventas de Huelma and made a stop on the roadside and had a short walk trying to find a calling Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus) but it remained hidden. We did however find Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and then a distant pale phase Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus).

Immature Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos).

Just down the road we again hit the tracks and straight away we had the booted Eagle right over head and then a cracking Roller (Carraca / Coracias garrulus) which flew around and showed well for us. We checked the areas futher along the track seeing hundreds of Common Swift and at least three very smart Hoopoes (Abubilla / Upupa epops). As we got back to the road we had our second but much darker Short-toed Eagle and we had better views of the Roller sat in a dead tree along with several Rock Sparrows (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia).

Just down the road we had European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) and a male Golden Oriole which flew across us giving nice views. Near the Cortijo an immature Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) which gave us super views and in the same area we had Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and on another pylon our third Short-toed Eagle.

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

Once we were down in the valley we drove to the end of the gorge but it was quiet and we only added Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes) as well as another fine male Golden Oriole and two more Short-toed Eagles. 

Back up the valley we called in at the Contra-embalse where we found Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

Our last stop of the day was on the fields near Moraleda where the target bird was Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis) which we eventually found at the far end of the site where we also had nice views of some European Bee-eaters before hitting the motorways back to Padul.

Torrecilla, Nerja, Malaga Province.

A quick sea watch.

Whilst Jayne, Barb, Sue, Brenda, Keith and Peter were sun bathing by the pool at the Rue Monica I went and sat on a rock on the out crop at Torrecilla. Whilst I was there I had some cracking views of several Cory's Shearwater (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and Audouin's Gull (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and plenty of immature Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) which were heading west down the coast in quite large numbers.

Coastal headland, Granada Province.

4 species of Swift in the air at the same time.

 

Little Swift (Vencejo Moro / Apus affinis).

After making sure Jayne and her family where set up on the beach I headed down the coast to a site just over the border in to Granada Province. 

White-rumped Swift (Vencejo Cafre / Apus caffer).

I visited a spot where in the passed I had seen White-rumped Swift (Vencejo Cafre / Apus caffer) and I quickly found a pair in amongst dozens or so Pallid (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Common (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) and 2 or three Alpine Swifts (Vencejo Real / Apus melba) which I was very pleased with. 

White-rumped Swift (Vencejo Cafre / Apus caffer).

I also saw Red-rumped (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica) and Barn Swallows (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Crag (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica),  Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and a couple of Spanish Ibex (Cabra pyreaica hispanica).

Two-tailed Pasha (Charaxes jasius).

Later I went to another spot near by and took some nice shots of a couple of Two-tailed Pasha (Charaxes jasius) and I also saw Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus).

Two-tailed Pasha (Charaxes jasius).

Later I joined the other for the afternoon on the beach were I saw several Geranium Bronze butterflies (Cacyreus marshalli) where we had lunch.

Two-tailed Pasha (Charaxes jasius).

Cerro Bar, Loja, Granada Province.

Birding whilst having a beer with friends.

Allan and Lesley Brisco, Jayne and I were having a drink and a very nice meal, during the meal I picked up two Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus) and two separate Night Herons (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax), all the birds were flying West along the river Genil.

Huétor Tajar, Granada Province.

A loop of Huétor.

During our evening walk we had an Eagle Owl (Buho Real / Bubo bubo) fly over our heads.

Cacín Valley, Granada Province.

A mornings birding with Nigel from Australia.

Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).

I met Nigel up in the city of Granada at 06:00 as he had to be back at the hotel for 12:00 for a transfer to Morocco so we headed straight out to our first site near Moraleda. Once we were on the fields we quickly found Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Ganga Ortega / Pterocles orientalis), Roller (Carraca / Coracias garrulus), Thekla (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Calandra (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) and Short-toed Larks (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Iberian / Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Collared (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica).

Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).

We dropped down off the fields and in to the Pine woodlands along the Rio Cacínwhere we boosted the list with Coal Tit (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli). A short way down the Rio we saw Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Great Tits (Carbonera Común / Parus major), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus). 

We went just up the road and scanned the Contra-embalse de Bermejalis adding Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) x6, Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) and Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis).

Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).

Our last area to be visited before we headed back in towards the city was the far end of the Cacín Gorge were we found Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura).

As we headed back to the city we only added Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) to the list. I dropped Nigel off and then headed back home.

Later in the day Jayne and I did a loop of Huétor Tajar, during this walk we had a flock of three Night Herons (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax) flying west along the Rio Genil.

Peñón de Jolúcar (RAM), Motril Port and Charca Suarez, Granada Province.

Birding with Juan Pérez Contreras for the first time in far too long.

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus).

After what seemed like ages Juan and I were meeting up to go down the coast and do a mornings birding and sea bird recording. 

Shag (Cormorán Mondudo / Phalacrocorax aristotelis).

We arrive at Peñón de Jolúcar and walked up to the highest point and got set up and soon started to pick up good numbers of Cory's (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea) and Balearic Shearwaters (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus) as well as smaller numbers of Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and a single unexpected Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and even more surprising there were 7 immature Shags (Cormorán Mondudo / Phalacrocorax aristotelis) on the rocks below the cliffs. 

Shags (Cormorán Mondudo / Phalacrocorax aristotelis).

We also saw Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Crag (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala). 

Audouin's Gull (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii).

Our next stop was on a beach next to Motril Port where we walked it's full length and added Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and a couple of Monarchs (Danaus plexippus).

Little Bittern (Avetorillo Común / Ixobrychus minutus).

We then moved to the wetlands of Charca Suarez and had a walk around the hide but it was quiet as expected, high lights were finding a nest of Penduline Tits (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus) with the male still building, an immature and a male Little Bittern (Avetorillo Común / Ixobrychus minutus), Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Purple Heron (Garza Imperial / Ardea purpurea), Red Avadavat (Bengali Rojo / Amandava amandava), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria), African Grass Blue (Zizeeia knysna), Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous), Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi) and Stripe-less Tree Frog (Hyla meridionalis).

African Grass Blue (Zizeeia knysna).

Later we went and had a coffee and chatted about one of the books released recently about the Orchids of Granada.

Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous).

Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild).

Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild).

Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild).

Immature Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus).

Sierra Nevada, Granada Province.

A morning of butterfly photography or not !!!

Ononis cristata.

I dropped Jayne in the city and then headed up to the sierra and made my first stop at a spot just below the 2500 meter point and had a walk out in to one of the valleys. Here I saw Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Tawny Pipit (Bisbita campestre / Anthus campestris), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Ononis cristata, Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea), Jurinea humilis, Polygala boissieri and Minature Wild Plum (Prunus prostrata).

Spanish Rusty Foxglove (Digitalis obscura).

I then went up higher to where the barrier prevents further access and parked hoping to do a walk out along to the Hoya de San Juan but as I was hoping to photograph Butterflies and it was by now drizzling I decided I would be wasting my time. 

Idas Blue (Plebejus idas).

I decided to drop back down to a lower level and just as I set off it started to turn to sleet and then more to snow !!

False IlexHairstreak (Satyrium esculi).

I dropped back down to another small gully but only found Ptilotrichum spinosum, Erigeron frigidus,  Eryngium glaciale as well as Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Coal Tit (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia) and Spanish Ibex (Cabra pyreaica hispanica).

Blue Spotted Hairstreak (Satyrium spini).

Just out side the ski resort I made another quick stop but the cloud had again come over but I did find Robust Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza elata), Red Clover (Trifolium pratense), White Clover (Trifolium repens) and Marsh Violet (Viola palustris).

Zygaena sarpedon.

Further down still I stopped at the Botanical Gardens and as I walked around I found the first butterfly of the day an Idas Blue (Plebejus idas) which sat nicely but the light was awful so the shots were not great. 

I also saw Achillea ageratum, Salvia lavandulifolia, Corncockle (Agrostemma githago), Spanish Rusty Foxglove (Digitalis obscura), Pine-cone Knapweed (Leuzea Conifera) and loads more plant.

Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera).

Birds included Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirudo daurica), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and Crested Tit (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus).

Southern Mountain Argus (Aricia montensis).

My last stop of the day was on the old road in an area of rocky grassland surrounded by pine woodland where I saw Onosma tricerosperma subsp granatensis, White (Linum suffruticosum) and Large Blue Flax (Linum narbonense), Lizard Orchid (Himantoglosum hircinum) and when the sun came out for a few minutes Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), False Ilex (Satyrium esculi) and Blue Spotted Hairstreaks (Satyrium spini), Spanish Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Spanish Gatekeeper (Pyronia bathseba), Southern Mountain Argus (Aricia montensis), Great Banded Grayling (Brintesia circe), Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Zygaena sarpedon and Heliothea discoidaria both very smart day flying moths. 

Southern Mountain Argus (Aricia montensis).

There was also Andalucian Wall Lizard (Podarcis vaucheri), Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi) and a singing Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus).

Spanish Brown Argus (Aricia cramera).

I then dropped back down into the city and spent the rest of the day with Jayne.

Heliothea discoidaria.

Salvia lavandulifolia.