Botanical Gardens and Old road, Sierra Nevada, Granada Province.

Back up in to the tallest of the Sierra's with Harry and Peter.

Day Two.

Provençal Fritillary (Melitaea deione) an aberrant insect.

We set off from the Cortijo again and headed around the City, picking up a bit of traffic but we were soon up at the Botanical Gardens, we parked and walked down to the entrance gate but it looked as though it was locked but harry checked the barrel lock and it pushed across so we cold get in.

Silver-studded Blue (Plebejus argus).

We walked down the steps starting the list with a calling Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater) and Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli).

Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas).

We met the warden at the office and then went down on to the lower meadows and as we walked along the track by the big lawn we had a pair of pale morph Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas) came up from the valley and drifted past. 

Knapweed Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe).

Amongst the flower beds we started the butterfly list with a rather worn Provençal Fritillary (Melitaea deione) and a second which was a strange aberrant insect which was followed by a much fresher looking Knapweed Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe) along with Rosy Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus onopordi), Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina), Spanish Marbled White

Provençal Fritillary (Melitaea deione).

(Melanargia ines), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Queen of Spain (Issoria lathonia), Southern Marbled (Carcharodus boeticus) and Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris), several Speckled Woods (Pararge aegeria), a couple of Lorquin's Blues (Cupido lorquinii) one of which was tatty but the other was much smarter, Silver-studded Blue (Plebejus argus), Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus), Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) and a stunner of an Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli).

Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria).

A single Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) drifted as we walked back up towards the car, also seen during the walk we saw Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), a male Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula), Spanish Foxglove (Digitalis obscura) and a Large Psammodromus (Psammodromus algirus).

Large Psammodromus (Psammodromus algirus).

We dropped back down the hill and made a stop near the Visitor's center where we checked a damp patch on the roadside and found a couple of nice Marsh Fritillaries (Euphydryas aurinia), another group of Lorquin's Blues, Southern Blue, Small Skippers with one that I thought was an Essex skipper (Thymelicus lineola) but it was not quite right, shame.

Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

We dropped down on to the Old Road and made our next stop on a grassy area where we spent a while and found a couple of really good species including a fine male Purple-shot Copper (Lycaena alciphron), Dusky Heath (Coenonympha dorus) as well as Blue Spotted Hairstreak (Satyrium spini), Panoptes Blue (Pseudophilotes panoptes), Iberian Scarce Swallowtail, 

Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus).

Lorquin's Blues again, both Bath (Pontia daplidice) and Black-veined White (Aporia crataegi), Knapweed Fritillary, Clouded Yellow, two Swallowtail (Papilio machaon), a hunting male Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator) and a new day flying moth Loxostege tesselalis.

Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina).

We dropped down again and parked by the entrance to the Seminario Diocesano and walked back up along the road where we saw a very smart male Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes) which sat and showed very well in one of the Pyrenean Oaks (Quercus pyrenaica).

Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula).

We also had Small Skipper, Southern Marbled Skipper (Carcharodus boeticus), Comma (Polygonia c-album), Spanish Gatekeeper (Pyronia bathseba), a single none flowering spike of the uncommon Epipactis fageticola and singing Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla).

Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera).

Just down the road we had a spike of Robust Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza elata) which was just starting to flower and more not yet in flower Epipactis fageticola.

Spanish Foxglove (Digitalis obscura).

Our final stop of the day was at a rather windy Rio Genil down in the bottom of the valley, we checked the edge of the water and soon found several species puddling for minerals including Marsh Fritillaries, Southern Marbled Skippers, Silver-studded Blue, Small Skipper, Spanish Brown Argus, Southern Blue, Black-veined White, Red-underwing Skipper (Spialia sertorius), Green-veined (Pieris napi) and Small White, Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

Loxostege tesselalis.

We dropped down out of the mountains, around Granada and back towards the Cortijo but made a quick stop at the Balsa de Rigedor to look for some Dragonflies, we found lots of Common Blue Damselflies (Enallagma cyathinerum), White Featherleg (Platycnemis latipes), Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula), Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata), Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope) and Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum).

Marsh Fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia).

Marsh Fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia).

Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris), the one I thought was an Essex skipper (Thymelicus lineola).

Blue Spotted Hairstreak (Mancha Azul / Satyrium spini).

Grass species.

Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli).

Purple-shot Copper (Lycaena alciphron).

Dusky Heath (Coenonympha dorus).

Blue Spotted Hairstreak (Satyrium spini).

Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris).

Green-veined White (Pieris napi).

Silver-studded Blue (Plebejus argus).

Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris).

Marsh Fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia).

Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus).

White Featherleg (Platycnemis latipes).

Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathinerum).

Sierra de Loja and the western slopes, Granada Province.

Up on the best hill with Harry and Peter.

Day one.

Southern Gatekeepers (Pyronia cecilia).

I met Harry and Peter up at the Cortijo de Tajar and we headed for the Sierra de Loja and up to the lower quarry picking up Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris).

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

Once we were up at the quarry we started the look for Butterflies on the gorse covered slopes and we soon found the first of a few Southern Gatekeepers (Pyronia cecilia), which was followed by quite a few Spanish Gatekeepers (Pyronia bathseba), a single Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Blue Spotted Hairstreak (Satyrium spini), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Southern Marbled Skipper (Carcharodus boeticus) and Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera).

Spanish Gatekeepers (Pyronia bathseba).

We also had a few bird species as we walked down the track, back up again and then into the quarry including Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), a Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus) which was hanging in the air above the quarry, Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), both Dartford (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Crag (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica),  Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and a singing Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes). 

Centaurea prolongoi.

There were also quite a few wildflowers in the area along the track, we found Andalusian Storksbill (Erodium recorderi), Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum umbellatum), Mediterranean Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria), Navel-wort (Omphalodes commutata), Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), Rabbits bread (Andryala integrifolia), Southern Wild Tulip (Tulipa sylvestris ssp. australis) in seed, Tassel Hyacinth (Muscari comosum), Centaurea boissieri, Centaurea prolongoi and Yellow Phlomis (Phlomis lychnitis).

Southern Marbled Skipper (Carcharodus boeticus).

We continued on up on to the tops and aout towards the pools at Charca del Negro, on the way we had views of Black-eared Wheatear (Collalba Rubia / Oenanthe hispanica), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) and during a roadside stop we managed to find a single False Ilex Hairstreak (Satyrium esculi), Spanish Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), the first of quite a few Spanish Marbled Whites (Melanargia ines), Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus) and on the bird front Thekla Larks (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia) and a very smart male Spectacled Warbler (Curruca Tomillera / Sylvia conspicillata).

Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina).

We made a second stop on the way and searched a small dell on the roadside, it was much quieter than on my last visit but we still found Large Wall Brown (Lasiommata maera), Red-underwing Skipper (Spialia sertorius), Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina), Queen of Spain (Issoria lathonia), Hummingbird Hawkmoth (Macroglossum stellatarum), Chickweed (Cerastium boissieri), Common Snapdragon (Antirrhinum major), Upland Peony (Paeonia coriacea) and Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus).

False Ilex Hairstreak (Querquera / Satyrium esculi).

We passed the pool at first and made our way around to the crags a little further on where we searched for new species but on the butterfly front we only managed a couple of Cardinal Fritillaries (Argynnis pandora) which were nectering on Centaurea prolongoi above us.

Spanish Brown Argus (Aricia cramera).

In the same area we also saw Wall Brown, Clouded Yellow, Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Erodium cheilanthifolium, Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas), White Rockrose (Helianthemum apenninum), Rusty-back Fern (Ceterach officinarum) and Southern Knapweed (Centaurea pullata ssp pullata).

Blue Spotted Hairstreak (Satyrium spini) Aberrant.

We retraced our tracks a short way back to the Pools of Charca del Negro and soon had our first Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Rock Sparrow, Rock Bunting, Linnets, Thekla Larks, Pond Water Crowsfoot (Ranunculus Peltatus), the tadpoles of Sharp-ribbed Salamander (Pleurodeles waltl) and a nice male Broad-bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa).

Blue Spotted Hairstreak (Satyrium spini) Normal.

As we drove down the hill to get a late lunch we had a group of 11 Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) passing over.

Red-underwing Skipper (Spialia sertorius).

We had lunch and then finished the day off along the western slopes where we headed to a spot where I regularly see good numbers of Montagu's Harriers, on the day we had a nice male Montagu's and a couple of European Bee-eaters (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster).

Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus).

Once we reached the final site we had very good views of several Monty's along with Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica) and Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).

Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas) and Andalusian Storksbill (Erodium recorderi).

By some farm buildings we checked out a some damp areas where there were 100s of Southern Marbled Skippers, Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris), Small Whites, a single Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus), an unknown Wasp species and further up the track a couple of Bath Whites (Blanqiverdosa / Pontia daplidice), Common Mallow (Malva sylvestris) and Wild Carrot (Daucus carota).

Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia).

Male Broad-bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa).

Southern Marbled Skipper (Carcharodus boeticus).

Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris).

Wasp Species.

Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus).

Wild Carrot (Daucus carota) and Common Mallow (Malva sylvestris).

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.