Northern Malaga, Fuente de Piedra, Laguna Dulce, Teba Raptor watch point and Teba Gorge, Malaga Province.

A bit of birding with Sharon and Steve from the UK.

Rufous Bush Robin (Alzacola / Cercotrichas galactotes).

We headed out early so that we could be on site at a spot for the locally rare and becoming rarer Rufous Bush Robin (Alzacola / Cercotrichas galactotes), we parked on a roadside and scanned the fences and wiresbut to start with we only found Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and then on a distant fence the target species but it was a not a good view so we relocated to a spot nearer to the fence but at a safe distance so not to cause any disturbance. 

Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula).

In this area we had Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Common (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) and Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica).

As we were stood at the second spot we noticed the Bush Robin back where we had been stood in the first place so we again relocated and this time things worked well when the bird came up on wires a couple of posts away giving good views through the scope.

Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula).

We moved on to Fuente de Piedra picking up a pair of White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia) on the chimney just out of the town, once on the reserve we parked and walked around to the mirador behind the visitors centre picking up Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) on the way, from the mirador we scanned the main lake where there were several thousand Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), a couple of  Shelducks (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), several Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), a pair of Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), a great many Eurasian Coots (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and several flying Common Pochards (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina) and Gull-billed Terns (Pagaza Piconegra / Gelochelidon nilotica).

Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

At the first hide on the way around to the back fresh water pools we found a couple of Dark Spreadwings (Lestes macrostigma) and a fine male Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator). On the same pool there were a couple of skulking Common Moorhens (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), a male Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), a singing male Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and a few Stripe-necked Terrapins (Mauremys leprosa) which were sunning them selves on the muddy margins.

Our next stop was at the main hide over looking the bigger of the pools where we soon had White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Red-crested Pochard (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), more Avocets, Black-winged Stilts and Gull-billed Terns. 

White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala).

We checked out the smaller pool and found Great Reed (Carricero Tordal / Acrocephalus arundinaceus) and Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus), Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi), Hummingbird Hawkmoth (Macroglossum stellatarum), Small White (Pieris rapae) and Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea).

We returned to the car and headed along the western side of the reserve making our way to Laguna Dulce, on the way we had a fine male Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus) and a couple of Common Kestrels (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus).

Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) being abused by a couple of Eurasian Coots (Focha Común / Fulica atra) with a Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) on the shore.

We parked near the hide at the Laguna and as we walked the short way to the hide we had the first of a few Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus) fly over us and from the hide we added several new species for the day including Great Crested (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus) and Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) and Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) as well as more White-headed Duckd, Common Pochards, Red-crested Pochards, LittleGrebe, Gadwall, Greater Flamingo's, Gull-billed Terns, and a few Red-veined Darters (Sympetrum fonscolombii) and Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope).

Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis)-

We drove down the road towards Malaga and stopped at the Raptor watch point on the Teba road where we soon had several Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) over head along with a large number of Alpine Swifts (Vencejo Real / Apus melba) and some calling Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax).

Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis).

Our final part of this mornings birding was on the Bridge over the Rio la Venta which runs through the Teba Gorge. We did not walk the trail along the Rio as it was still the breeding season but from the bridge still had Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Rock Doves (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia) and loads more Alpine Swifts and a couple more Red-billed Chough.

Black-necked Grebes (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis) scrapping.

We drove back to the house but later in the evening we went down on to the fields near Huétor looking for Steve's main target bird which had played hard to get during their stay. 

We parked by the Arroyo Vilano and with in a few minutes Sharon picked up the first Red-necked Nightjar (Chotacabras Cuellirrojo / Caprimulgus ruficollis) as it flew in over the river and over the fields, a few minutes later it returned and sat on the field for a few seconds. 

We drove around the tracks and lanes and had a couple more brief views as birds flew up off the floor but as we drove back towards the house we found a bird which sat nicely in the headlights.

Sierra Nevada botanical Gardens and Old Road, Granada Province.

More Orchids, Birds and some even better Butterflies.

Karen and Rob, Day Four.

Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli).

For the last time I met Karen and Rob and we headed up through Granada and to the Botanical Gardens where we walked down to the visitor centre, on the way we had Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), Crested (Herrerillo Capuchino / Lophophanes cristatus), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major).

Veronica turbicola

We dropped down on to the meadows below and as things warmed up we started to get the first butterflies including Provençal (Melitaea deione), Knapweed (Melitaea phoebe) and Queen of Spain (Issoria lathonia), Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina), Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli), Small White (Pieris rapae) and a rather tatty looking Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi).

Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

As we walked down to the far end of the rockery section seeing Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Large Psammodromus (Psammodromus algirus), Andalucian Wall Lizard (Podarcis vaucheri), Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi), Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) and a rather tatty Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina).

Andalucian Wall Lizard (Podarcis vaucheri).

There were lots of the plants in flower including Lizard Orchids (Himantoglosum hircinum), Veronica turbicola, Blue Hedgehog Broom (Erinacea anthyllis), Common Asphodel (Asphodelus albus), Field marigold (Calendula arvensis), Hop Trefoil (Trifolium campestre), Woad (Isatis tinctoria), Mediterranean Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria), Navel-wort (Omphalodes commutata), Polygala boissieri, Rabbits bread (Andryala integrifolia), Tassel Hyacinth (Leopoldia comosa), Yellow Phlomis (Phlomis lychnitis), Upland Peony (Paeonia coriacea), Pitch Trefoil (Psoralea bituminosa) and Gum Cistus (Cistus ladanifer).

Knapweed Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe).

We walked back up to the car and then dropped down on to the old road but stopped breifly near the Visitors centre and checked the road side where we saw Lorquin's Blue (Cupido lorquinii), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Rosy Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus onopordi),  Southern Blue and then on some grassland a little further along the road we found a couple of Lesser-spotted Fritillaries (Melitaea trivia), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Iberian Scarce Swallowtail, Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina) as well as the day flying Moth Synaphe Moldavica,

Knapweed Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe).

Crested Tit, a soaring Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas), Onosma tricerosperma ssp granatensis, Curry Plant (Helecrisum stoechaes), White (Helianthemum apenninum) and Yellow Rockrose (Helianthemum nummularium), Berberis hispanica and Thymus mastichina.

Large Psammodromus (Psammodromus algirus).

Again we dropped down the hill making our next stop ata road side fuente near the Seminario Diocesano but it was much quieter than I had expectered, however we did find a very tatty Nettle-tree Butterfly (Libythea celtis), Small White, Southern Marbled Skipper (Carcharodus boeticus), Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenoides), Spanish Gatekeeper (Pyronia bathseba), a singing Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), another couple of soaring Booted Eagles and Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli).

Provençal Fritillary (Melitaea deione).

Just a short way down the road we stopped again and walked from the edge of a wet roadside ditch where we had none flowering Robust Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza elata) and the much rarer Epipactis fageticola.

Lorquin's Blue (Cupido lorquinii).

As we walked down the road we found a pair of Green-veined Whites (Pieris napi) with the male chasing the female around the brambles and umbellifers.

Lorquin's Blue (Cupido lorquinii).

In the same area we picked up Comma (Polygonia c-album), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Clouded Yellow, a female Provence Orange-tip, another Lesser-spotted Fritillary and more calling but unseen Golden Orioles.

Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera).

Our final stop of the day was down at the bottom of the valley along the Rio Genil where we looked for butterflies coming down to collect minerals from the damp gravel areas and we soon had several Small (Thymelicus sylvestris) and Southern Marbled Skippers, Panoptes Blue (Pseudophilotes panoptes), Provençal Fritillary, Spanish Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Common Orange-tip (Anthocharis cardamines) and over on the grassy areas a pair of courting Provence Orange-tips with the male flying around trying to turn the females head.

Rosy Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus onopordi).

Rosy Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus onopordi).

Lesser-spotted Fritillary (Melitaea trivia).

Lesser-spotted Fritillary (Melitaea trivia).

Nettle-tree Butterfly (Libythea celtis) or what's left of it.

Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria).

Lesser-spotted Fritillary (Melitaea trivia).

Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenoides).

Green-veined White (Pieris napi).

Green-veined White (Pieris napi).

Green-veined Whites (Pieris napi).

Panoptes Blue (Pseudophilotes panoptes).

Panoptes Blue (Pseudophilotes panoptes).

Southern Marbled Skipper (Carcharodus boeticus).

Common Orange-tip (Anthocharis cardamines).

Provence Orange-tips (Anthocharis euphenoides).

Sierra de Huétor, Granada Province.

Orchids, Birds and some good Butterflies.

Karen and Rob, Day Three.

Barton's Orchid (Dactylorhiza insularis).

I again picked Karen and Rob up from the Cortijo de Tajar and we headed out East along the A92 to the stunning mountains of the Sierra de Huétor just to the North of Sierra Nevada where we parked just off the Los Mimbres exit.

Orchis Cazorlensis.

We started the day off with a walk through the pine woods and almost straight away we found good numbers of the beautiful Barton's Orchid (Dactylorhiza insularis) as well as quite a few over with Dense-flowered (Neotinea maculata) and a later nice population of the rarer Orchis Cazorlensis as we returned to the car.

Orchis Cazorlensis

As we walked on we saw and heard Crested (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Long-tailed Tits (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus).

Latticed Heath Moth (Chiasmia clathrata).

During the walk around this woodland we also had Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria), Pitch Trefoil (Psoralea bituminosa), Spotted Rock Rose (Tuberaria guttata), Wild Clary (Salvia verbenaca), Love-in-a-Mist (Nigella damascena), Polygala boissieri, Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), Queen of Spain Fritillary (Issoria lathonia) and Latticed Heath Moth (Chiasmia clathrata).

Queen of Spain (Issoria lathonia).

We moved on east to the Venta de Molinillo and along the Arroyo de Prado Negro where we walked just 800 meters but it took several hours whilst we searched for more butterflies. 

Queen of Spain Fritillary (Issoria lathonia).

It was warming up and a few more species were on the wing including Spanish Marbled White (Melanargia ines), Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli), Knapweed (Melitaea phoebe), Provençal (Melitaea deione) and Queen of Spain, Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina), Spanish Gatekeeper (Pyronia bathseba), Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri), Bath White (Pontia daplidice), my first Dingy Skipper (Erynnis tages) in Granada Province, Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina), Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Small White (Pieris rapae) and Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) which were all seen on the first meadow.

Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta),

Birds seen during the walk included Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus) which we only heard, Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Rock (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia) and Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus) and several Crag Martins (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris).

Dingy Skipper (Erynnis tages).

On the far meadows and along the Arroyo we had more butterfly species including both Provence and Common Orange-tip (Anthocharis cardamines), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Rosy Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus onopordi), Wood White (Leptidea sinapis) and Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus).

Provençal Fritillary (Melitaea deione).

We had a single Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) as well as a pair of Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes) which flew up into some poplars just before a couple of Golden Orioles also went into the same trees.

Provençal Fritillary (Melitaea deione).

During the walk back we added Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Subalpine (Curruca Carrasquena / Sylvia cantillans) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei) and Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus).

Rosy Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus onopordi).

We dropped back on to the motorway and stopped at the services on the way to Sierra de Alfacar where we had some lunch before checking out the area near to the Botanical gardens / arboretum where we walked a couple of tracks finding Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi), Large Tortoiseshell, Provence and Common Orange-tip, Wood White as well as a pair of Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), Coal Tit (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Lizard (Himantoglosum hircinum), Langes Orchids (Orchis langei), Sword-leaved Helleborine (Cephalanatera longifolia) and some not in flower yet Violet Limodore (Limodorum abortivum) Spikes.

Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula).

Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli).

Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera).

Rosy Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus onopordi).

Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera).

Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros).

Common Orange-tip (Anthocharis cardamines).

Sword-leaved Helleborine (Cephalanatera longifolia).

Langes Orchid (Orchis langei).

Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenoides).

Provence Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenoides).