Sierra Huétor, Granada Province, Spain.

Orchid hunting for the Lady with the Ladies.

 

Lady Orchids (Orchis purpurea).

I drove out to a spot North of Granada near the Sierra de Huétor where I was going to meet up with Anita, Kiersten, Laura and Ann a little later but I arrived early to check things out before they arrived and I was pleased with what I found.

Lady Orchid (Orchis purpurea).

Lady Orchid (Orchis purpurea).

Lady Orchid (Orchis purpurea).

Lady Orchid (Orchis purpurea).

Lady Orchid (Orchis purpurea).

Lady Orchid (Orchis purpurea).

In an area of Oak scrub land I returned to the spot where I had seen several spikes of the stunning Lady Orchids (Orchis purpurea) and today they were in even better state than the week before but the weather was not much better and the light did not make for great shots.

Ophrys dyris.

Ophrys dyris.

Anita arrived and was followed shortly afterwards by the other three ladies and soon after that we were all enjoying these stunning plants and taking loads of photographs before we spent another hour or so checking some more of the area. By the time we finished we had found between 35 and 40 flowering spikes of the Lady and at least another 50 or so leaf rosettes for future years.

Linaria aeruginea.

Narrow-leaved rock-rose (Cistus monspeliensis).

As we searched the area we added Linaria aeruginea, Narrow-leaved rock-rose (Cistus monspeliensis), Shrubby Gromwell (Lithodora fruticosa), Tassel Hyacinth (Leopoldia comosa), Large Blue Flax (Linum narbonense), Hippocrepis bourgaei, Paeonia broteri as well as a few more orchids including Yellow Bee (Ophrys lutea), Mirror (Ophrys speculum), Southern Early Purple (Orchis olbienis) and some not yet in flower Lizard Orchid (Himanthoglosum hircinum). 

Paeonia broteri.

We also saw and heard several bird species which included Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Woodlark (Totovia / Lullula arborea), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus) and Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus).

Plantain-leaved Leopard's-bane (Doronicum plantagineum).

Yellow Pheasants eye (Adonis vernalis).

We moved on to our next spot in another part of the Sierra Huétor where we walked through an area of mixed woodland found lots of Yellow Pheasants eye (Adonis vernalis), a new plant for me Plantain-leaved Leopard's-bane (Doronicum plantagineum), Grey-leaved Cistus (Cistus albidus), Lesser Celendine (Ranunculus ficaria), Polygala boissieri, Narcissus triandrus subsp. pallidulus and lots of signs of Wild Boar (Jabalí / Felis silvestris).

Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi).

Flatpod (Adenocarpus decorticans).

Snowy Mespilus (Amelanchier ovalis).

All the time we were there we could hear Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea) making several of its many calls, as well as a singing Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), Crested Tit (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major) and Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla).

Wood White (Leptidea sinapis).

We again moved on towards our last spot of the day but made a couple of roadside stops where we found Saxifraga carpetana, Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi), Laurel-leaved Cistus (Cistus laurifolius), Flatpod (Adenocarpus decorticans), Snowy Mespilus (Amelanchier ovalis) and the leaves of the Paeonia coriacea.

Southern Early Purple Orchid (Orchis olbienis).

Dense-flowered Orchid (Neotinea maculata).

We stopped again down the road for our lunch and the continued on to our last stop near the A92 where we searched the Pine Woodlands for more Orchids and Flowers, we found Ornithogalum algeriense, more Yellow Pheasants eye, Wild Clary (Salvia verbenaca), Spring Cress (Arabis verna),  Aristolochia paucinervis, Geum sylvaticum, Valeriana tuberosa, as well as Dense-flowered (Neotinea maculata), Barton's (Dactylorhias insularis), Somber Bee (Ophrys fusca / foresteri), Sawfly (Ophrys tenthredinifera) and the rosettes of a few Orchis cazorlensis. We also found a hatch of moth caterpillars which Anita said are a species of Malacosoma.

Barton's Orchid (Dactylorhias insularis).

Barton's Orchid (Dactylorhias insularis).

We were also very lucky when a very nice Wood White (Leptidea sinapis) sat for us and we all managed to get some very nice photographs before we walked back to the cars and the headed off home.

Malacosoma species ????

Sierra de Loja and Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A day up on the Sierra and a short walk along the Arroyo.

 

Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Cabra pyreaica) Male.

I drove up on to the Sierra via the Service area and then right the way out passed the far crags and down into the furthest valley.

Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Cabra pyreaica) younger Male.

On the way over there I picked up Coal Tit  (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes) in the Pine woods, Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and a Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus).

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

In the last few pines there was a small flock of Iberian  Magpies (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and up along the crags a Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) sat on road side rocks and a trio of Thekla Larks (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae).

Western Orphean Warbler (Curruca Mirlona / Sylvia hortensis) Male.

As I continued out across the tops I added Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) and the first of several male Northern Wheatears (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) which were passing through the area as this one of the three species does not breed here.

Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax).

Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax).

I drove passed the far crags and out into the valley at the far end of the track where I could hear at least 4 male Western Orphean Warblers (Curruca Mirlona / Sylvia hortensis) singing from the Oak trees, as well as several Woodchat Shrikes (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus) and a nice male Subalpine Warbler (Curruca Carrasquena / Sylvia cantillans).

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

Andaluz Storksbill (Erodium primulaceum).

In the same area I found Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Andaluz Storksbill (Erodium primulaceum), Common Asphodel (Asphodelus aestivus) and Southern Red Bartsia (Parentucellia latifolia).

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

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

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

As I drove back towards the far crags I had views of Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis) and along the crags Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia), Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala).

Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia).

Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia).

Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) immature.

Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina).

I parked by Charca Negro and walked around the pools finding Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina), Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus) and in the pool several Sharp-ribbed Salamanders (Pleurodeles waltl).

Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) Male.

Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia).

Iris Subbiflora.

Knapweed Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe).

I dropped just down the track to a small dell in the rock where I had a walk around finding my first Knapweed Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe) of the year as well as Erodium cheilanthifolium, Iris Subbiflora and Blue Hedgehog Broom (Erinacea anthyllis) flowering amongst the Limestone pavement.

Erodium cheilanthifolium.

Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae).

Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) Male.

Also seen as I walked around were Spectacled Warbler (Curruca Tomillera / Sylvia conspicillata), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Andalucian Wall Lizard (Podarcis vaucheri),  Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera),  Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Common Fumitory (Fumaria officinalis), Linaria tristris, Southern Knapweed (Centaurea pullata) and Wild Peony (Paeonia broteri).

Andalucian Wall Lizard (Podarcis vaucheri) Female.

Andalucian Wall Lizard (Podarcis vaucheri) Male.

I continued on down the hill and Stopped along the crags to check the wild flowers finding Chaenorhinum villosum subsp. granatensis, Buckler Mustard (Biscutella frutescens), Ranunculs spicatus ssp blepharicarpos, Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis), Starry Clover (Trifolium stellatum), Cloven Petalled Campion (Silene colorata) and Navelwort (Umbilicus rupestris).

Paeonia broteri.

Ornithogalum algeriense.

I drove up the narrow track to the middle quarry where I parked and had a walk back down the hill, along the way I found Wild Tulip (Tulipa sylvestris), White Mignonette (Reseda Alba), Viola dementria, Tassel Hyacinth (Leopoldia comosa), White Rockrose (Helianthemum apenninum), Wild Clary (Salvia verbenaca), Sawfly (Ophrys tenthredinifera) and a few spike of Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalia) which will need another couple of weeks before they will be in flower.

Dianthus boissieri ???????

Wild Tulip (Tulipa sylvestris).

As I walked I also had Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica) and Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus).

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui).

Small White (Pieris rapae).

Green-Striped White (Euchloe belemia).

I finished on the hill and went for a walk along the edge of the Lucerne fields where I finished the day off with Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), a male Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), Whinchat (Tarabilla Nortena / Saxicola rubetra), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) as well as Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Green-Striped White (Euchloe belemia) and Small White (Pieris rapae).

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

Short walk along the Lucerne fields.

 

Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina).

I parked and walked up stream for a short way looking for Butterflies on the thistle plants finding several Meadow Browns (Maniola jurtina), Bath Whites (Pontia daplidice), Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) and Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera).

Bath White (Pontia daplidice).

Bath White (Pontia daplidice).

Bath White (Pontia daplidice).

 

There were also quite a few Carpentor Bees (Xylocopa violacea) nectering on the Thistles as well as another unknown beast.

Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus).

Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera).

As I walked I also saw Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster).

One needing a name.

Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator).

 

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Moth Count.

 

Very slightly higher temperature overnight at 10+ but there were only 13 moths of 5 species.

4855 Epinotia thapsiana x1, 6719 Nomophila noctuella (Rush Veneer) x7, 6860 Hyles livornica (Striped Hawk-moth) x1, 9056 Autographa gamma (Silver Y) x3 and 9433 Caradrina clavipalpis (Pale Mottled Willow) x1.