Sierra de Loja and Western Slopes, Granada Province.

First full day with Karen and Rob out on Sierra de Loja and surroundings.

Karen and Rob, Day One.

Panoptes Blue (Pseudophilotes panoptes).

I met Karen and Rob up at the Cortijo and we headed back up on to the Sierra de Loja where we made our way straight up to the lower quarry, this time I had the scope and the adult Eagle Owl (Buho Real / Bubo bubo) was still showing well from the top hole on the cliff. 

Spanish Gatekeeper (Pyronia bathseba).

In the same area we had Dartford (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata). 

Knapweed Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe).

As we walked down the track and back up again we had several Panoptes Blues (Pseudophilotes panoptes), Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina), Knapweed Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe), Blue Spotted Hairstreak (Satyrium spini), Spanish Gatekeeper (Pyronia bathseba), Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenoides), Spanish Brown Argus (Aricia cramera) and Small White (Pieris rapae). 

Spanish Brown Argus (Aricia cramera).

Wild Flowers included Centaurea boissieri, Centaurea prolongoi, Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalia), Blue Hedgehog Broom (Erinacea anthyllis), Common Snapdragon (Antirrhinum major), Tassel Hyacinth (Leopoldia comosa), Common Fumitory (Fumaria officinalis), Torcal Toadflax (Linaria anticaria), Wild Gladiolus (Gladiolus illyricus), Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum umbellatum), Rosy garlic (Allium roseum), Navel-wort (Omphalodes commutata) and Common Asphodel (Asphodelus albus).

Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas).

We walked back up towards the car and then into the quarry where we had Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and over the main crag a Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila Perdicera / Aquila faciatus) which Karen picked up as it passed over high.

Large Wall Brown (Lasiommata maera).

We drove up along the crags and up on to the tops, we drove straight over to the far side of the area where we searched an area of rocky grassland in a strong wind for the uncommon Geranium Argus (Eumedonia eumedon) and eventually we found one but it was swaying around so much a photo was impossible. Later we found another and Karen managed to get a couple of shots off before it get up and was blown out of sight. 

Large Wall Brown (Lasiommata maera).

In the same area we had Black-eared Wheatear (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and even in the strong winds we managed to find a few more species in the more sheltered areas including Western Dappled Whites (Euchloe crameri), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera) and a new species for my Granada list Large Wall Brown (Lasiommata maera) which I must have over looked in the past as we found several during the day.

Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina).

Just along the track we stopped again and looked around the slightly more sheltered area of Charca del Negra, we soon had views of Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) and on a distant ridge of rock two male Rufous-tailed Rock Thrushes (Roquero Roja / Monticola saxatilis) which were standing off at each other. 

Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina).

In the same area we had Sharp-ribbed Salamander (Pleurodeles waltl), Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus), Spanish Marbled White (Melanargia ines), Wall Brown and more Large Wall Browns.

We again dropped down a little further and stopped at a small dell on the road side where we had several very smart Spanish Festoons (Zerynthia rumina), Queen of Spain (Issoria lathonia), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Red-underwing Skipper (Spialia sertorius), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) and the main target species for the trip for Karen and Rob 2x Cardinal Fritillaiers (Argynnis pandora) both of which where in stunning condition.

Cardinal Fritillary (Argynnis pandora).

We also saw a big clump Upland Peony (Paeonia coriacea), Southern Red Bartsia (Parentucellia latifolia), Wild Clary (Salvia verbenaca), Yellow Phlomis (Phlomis lychnitis) and Andalusian Storksbill (Erodium recorderi).

Cardinal Fritillary (Argynnis pandora).

From here we dropped down off the hill and made for a site on the western slopes in amongst the Oak woods, we parked and very quickly found a single spike of Small Woodcock (Ophrys picta), several spikes of Late Sawfly (Ophrys ficalhoana), lots of spikes of Lizard (Himantoglosum hircinum) and Yellow Bee Orchids (Ophrys lutea).

Cardinal Fritillary (Argynnis pandora).

As we walked through the woods we also recorded Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), a Woodlark (Totovia / Lullula arborea) which was sat on a wire with a mouthful of grubs and Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus). 

Red-underwing Skipper (Spialia sertorius).

Butterflies were Black-veined White (Aporia crataegi), Lorquin's Blue (Cupido lorquinii), Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris), Clouded Yellow, Small White, Iberian Marbled White, Adonis Blue (Lysandra bellargus), Cardinal Fritillary, Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli), male Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator), Langes Orchid (Orchis langei) and several not yet flowering Epipactis tremolsii.

Sharp-ribbed Salamander (Pleurodeles waltl).

Our final stop was back towards Venta del Raya where we stopped and had great views of Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and lots of  Western Dappled Whites.

Small Woodcock Orchid (Ophrys picta).

Late Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys ficalhoana).

Late Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys ficalhoana).

Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea).

Adonis Blue (Lysandra bellargus).

Lorquin's Blue (Cupido lorquinii).

Langes Orchid (Orchis langei).

Lizard Orchid (Himantoglosum hircinum).

Clouded Yellow (Colias Común / Colias croceus).

Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri).

Guadalhorce, Malaga Province and Sierra de Loja, Granada Province.

A morning around the pools with Mehdi and Tatiana before meeting Karen and Rob at the airport.

Collared Pratincole (Canastera Común / Glareola pratincola).

I drove down to the cost and walked in to the reserve along the beach again, on the river there was a pair of Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) out to sea and a male Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) in the beach scrub.

Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

Once in the hide I immediately picked up a flying Collared Pratincole (Canastera Común / Glareola pratincola) in amongst the flock of feeding Sandwich (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis) and Whiskered Terns (Fumarel Cariblanca / Chilidonias hybridus).

Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

Out on the pool there was also a good selection of waders including Ringed (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) and Kentish Plover (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus), Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus) x3, Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa), Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), Little Stint (Correlimos Menudo / Calidris minuta) and a couple of flighty Common Sandpipers (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos). After a while Mehdi and Tatiana arrived after getting nice views of a couple of Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) which showed well for their camera.

Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula).

We boosted the list when a group of Slender-billed Gulls (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei) dropped in along with Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Pallid (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) and Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), a couple of Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos) and Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).

Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus).

We moved on and walked around to the next hide finding a female Pied Flycatcher (Papamoscas Cerrojillo / Ficedula hypoleuca) in the Tamarisk trees.

Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus).

We arrived at the hide and soon found Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala) and a stunning male Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus) which was sat in the top of a nearby Tamarisk.

Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus).

We walked around to the next two hides were we had better views of the Black-tailed Godwit and a Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia).

Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres).

There were lots of waders on the old river but the only new ones were Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina) and Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba) along with a few adult and immature Audouin's Gull (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii).

Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus).

We headed back to the cars along the beach and as we reached the river I said goodbye the Mehdi and Tatiana as they went to try and get better views of the Hoopoes they had seen on the way in and I headed to the Airport to meet Karen and Rob.

Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina).

I arrived with just a few minutes to spare as Karen and Robs flight had arrived early and they were through the airport very quickly. We got to the car and headed back towards the local patch and decided to call in at te lower quarry track on the way to the hotel and quickly started the trip on a high with the adult Eagle Owl (Buho Real / Bubo bubo) which was sat on it's usual perch.

Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus).

We spent the next warm hour or so searching the areas along the track and found Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenoides), Spanish Gatekeeper (Pyronia bathseba), Panoptes Blue (Pseudophilotes panoptes), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Small (Pieris rapae) and Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Southern Marbled Skipper (Carcharodus boeticus), Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli), Centaurea boissieri, Centaurea prolongoi, Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalia), Andalusian Storksbill (Erodium recorderi), Blue Hedgehog Broom (Erinacea anthyllis), Common Snapdragon (Antirrhinum major), Tassel Hyacinth (Leopoldia comosa), Yellow Rockrose (Helianthemum nummularium), Bonelli's Eagle (Aguila Perdicera / Aquila faciatus), Barn (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica),  Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and a fleeting Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata).

Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus).

We headed in to the Cortijo de Tajar where Karen and Rob checked in and we sorted out the pickup for morning before I headed Home.

Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa).

Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa).

Southern Marbled Skipper (Carcharodus boeticus).

Southern Marbled Skipper (Carcharodus boeticus).

Centaurea boissieri.

Sierra de Loja and Western slopes, Granada Province.

Straight back in to some super local birding with Mehdi and Tatiana from Switzerland.

Eagle Owls (Buho Real / Bubo bubo).

After arriving back home from the UK at 01:15 in the morning I was out birding with Mehdi and Tatiana by 08:00 and met them at the Abades and we went up the tracks to the lower quarry and were soon watching a Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata) one of the main targets for Mehdi which Tatiana picked up on the slopes by the car.

Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalia).

A few minutes later we were also watching a couple of Eagle Owls (Buho Real / Bubo bubo), in one hole there was an immature bird which was being watched over by an adult from the upper hole.

Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata).

In the quarry and along the track we soon found a Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia) with a mouthful of grubs,  pair of Black Wheatears (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Crag (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Red-rumped (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica) and Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), a group of jingling Serins (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and a couple of calling Sardinian Warblers (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala).

Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata).

As we walked up and down the track we also found Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenoides), Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina), Ocellated Lizard (Lacerta lepida), Large Psammodromus (Psammodromus algirus), Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus), Yellow Phlomis (Phlomis lychnitis), Tassel Hyacinth (Muscari comosum), Southern Wild Tulip (Tulipa sylvestris ssp. australis) which had gone to seed, Purple Bugloss (Echium plantagineum), Navel-wort (Omphalodes commutata), Mediterranean Catchfly (Silene colorata), Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas), Common Grape Hyacinth (Muscari neglectum), Blue Hedgehog Broom (Erinacea anthyllis) and several spikes of the beautiful Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalia).

Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia).

We drove further up on to the tops and right out to the furthest point where we were looking for the Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush (Roquero Roja / Monticola saxatilis) which we found but had very brief views as a pair flew around the corner of a crag not to be seen again, typical. 

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

In the same area we had good numbers of Black-eared Wheatear (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator) and in one of the Hawthorn bushes around the corner a singing male Orphean Warbler (Curruca Mirlano / Sylvia hortensis) which showed briefly but well for us.

Ocellated Lizard (Lacerta lepida).

We moved back down along the crags looking for the Rock Thrush but we did not see them again, however we did see Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) and Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula).

Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae).

By the pool of Charca del Negra we found Sharp-ribbed Salamanders (Pleurodeles waltl) and Natterjack Toads (Sapo Corredor / Bufo calamita) coming up through the Pond Water Crowsfoot (Ranunculus Peltatus), we also heard a calling Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei) off in the distance.

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

We dropped down the hill picking up Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Rock Dove (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and a fine Spectacled Warbler (Curruca Tomillera / Sylvia conspicillata) which showed well for us. 

Spectacled Warbler (Curruca Tomillera / Sylvia conspicillata).

We then took the road to the west making a stop in the bar in Venta del Raya for a baguette or two (Mehdi) seeing a Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) on the way and whilst we were sat there we heard a Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus) which was hiding in trees on the other side of the road.

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

We moved on to a spot just down the road and took to a track where we had some great views of several Montagu's Harriers (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) over the Olive groves and cereal fields, in the same area we also had Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Southern Marbled Skipper (Carcharodus boeticus), Western Dappled (Euchloe crameri) and Small Whites (Pieris rapae).

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

We drove back to Venta del Raya and took a small road off west and just as we turned the corner we saw a couple of stunning European Bee-eaters (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) on the wires and further along the track Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos) and a Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major).

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

Our last stop of the day was at Laguna Grande, on the drive up the track we had a single Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes) fly across the track and Turtle Doves (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur) on the track, when we arrived at the pool we were surprised that it was still full to the brim and held a family group of 2 adult and 3 immature Great Crested Grebes (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), a well hidden Purple Heron (Garza Imperial / Ardea purpurea) and in the surrounding we had Sardinian, two very close Bonelli's (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli) and a difficult to find but singing Melodious Warbler (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta) and Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus).

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

We returned to the Service area where I said goodbye to Mehdi and Tatiana before heading home.

Turtle Doves (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur).