Barranco de San Juan, Barranco de los Prados del Aire and Casa Rural Diamen, Sierra Nevada, Granada Province, Spain.

Up out of the heat for a while.

Steve and Lynn, Day Ten.

 

Black Satyr (Satyrus actaea) female.

We parked at the normal spot just below the barrier and as we walked up to the start of the walk out towards the Hoya de San Juan we checked some Ptilostemon hispanicus, an endemic thistle species which was covered in Black Satyr (Satyrus actaea) butterflies along with several Silver-spotted Skippers (Hesperia comma) and a couple of Oriental Meadow Browns (Hyponephele lupinus).

Black Satyr (Satyrus actaea) Male.

Black Satyr (Satyrus actaea) female.

Black Satyr (Satyrus actaea) female.

Black Satyr (Satyrus actaea) female left and male right.

Before we passed the barrier we had the first Northern Wheatears (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Linnets (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) and tatty Queen of Spain (Issoria lathonia).

Silver-spotted Skipper (Hesperia comma) female.

Silver-spotted Skipper (Hesperia comma).

Silver-spotted Skipper (Hesperia comma).

Out on the track to the Hoya things were much quieter than on my last visit a couple of weeks ago but we did Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea),  Eryngium glaciale, Centranthus nevadensis, Alpine Swift (Vencejo Real / Apus melba) and Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

Bath White (Pontia daplidice).

Niobe Fritillary (Fabriciana niobe).

Niobe Fritillary (Fabriciana niobe).

Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas).

We reached the the gullies on the wet area at the Hoya where we found loads of spikes of Grass of Parnassus (Parnassia palustris), Gentiana pneumonanthe, Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina), a very tatty Spanish Brassy Ringlet (Erebia hispania), Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera) and a couple more Northern Wheatear's which sat out for us to get a few photographs.

Centaurea ornata.

Grass of Parnassus (Parnassia palustris).

Gentiana pneumonanthe.

Gentiana pneumonanthe.

We walked back towards the car seeing Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), the endemic Sierra Nevada Saddle Bush-cricket (Baetica ustulata) and once back at the car and on our way down to our next stop we had a couple of Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Capra pyrenaica hispanica) one of which was a very smart Male.

Taking in the view.

Sat watching the Northern Wheatears.

Steve get a shot of the Gentians.

Steve and Lynn on our way back to the car.

Steve and Lynn.

We parked on the roadside and had our lunch sat under some trees, whilst here we watched Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Great Banded Grayling (Brintesia circe) and Iberian Marbled White (Melanargia lachesis).

Sierra Nevada Saddle Bush-cricket (Baetica ustulata) female.

Sierra Nevada Saddle Bush-cricket (Baetica ustulata) female.

Sierra Nevada Saddle Bush-cricket (Baetica ustulata) male.

Sierra Nevada Saddle Bush-cricket (Baetica ustulata) male.

Our last stop of the day was on the scrub and grass area a couple of KMs down the old road to Guejar Sierra, in this area we found Dusky Heath (Coenonympha dorus), Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli), Striped (Hipparchia fidia) and Tree Grayling (Hipparchia statilinus), Purple Hairstreak (Favonius Quercus), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina) and Red-underwing Skipper (Spialia sertorius).

Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) male.

Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) male.

In this area we also had Crested Tit (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major) and European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster).

Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina).

Spanish Brassy Ringlet (Erebia hispania).

Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera).

Meadow Browns (Maniola jurtina).

Purple Hairstreak (Favonius Quercus).

Sage Skipper (Muschampia proto).

Sage Skipper (Muschampia proto).

Sage Skipper (Muschampia proto).

As we walked around this area we also had a male Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) and a young female Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi).

Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) male.

Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi) female.

Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi) female.

Padul Wetlands and Balsa de Regidor, Granada Province, Spain.

Couple of local spots after a visit to the Subdelegación del Gobierno Oficina de Extranjería in Granada.

Steve and Lynn, Day Nine.

 

Purple Heron (Garza Imperial / Ardea purpurea).

We drove up into the city, parked and went to a bar for some breakfast as we were early for my appointment to collect my new TIE / Residencia card which with the assistance of Marta from Gestoria Lizana in Loja was very easy to sort out.

Purple Heron (Garza Imperial / Ardea purpurea).

I went in and collected the card and then we dropped down south of the city to the wetlands of Padul but it was fairly quiet and as we walked along the board walk from the Northern end we only saw and heard Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild) and from the platform view point Purple Heron (Garza Imperial / Ardea purpurea), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) and Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus).

Yellow Iberian Weevil (Lixus pulverulentus).

Other species seen included African Grass Blue (Zizeeia knysna), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Small White (Pieris rapae), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea), Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi), Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator), Iberian Bluetail (Ischnura graellsii), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos).

Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata).

Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata).

On the way back to the car on the board walk Steve spotted a new species the Banana Weevil which was a better name in my view than the Yellow Iberian Weevil (Lixus pulverulentus) but either way it was a new species for us all along with a Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata) which sat quite nicely.

Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum) male.

We headed back towards the house but stopped off at the man made Balsa de Regidor where we were looking for Dragonflies mostly but also added a couple of bird species which included Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) x5, Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Barn Swallow and Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).

Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria).

The dragons we also around but in smaller numbers than usual unfortunately, possibly due to the number of fish in the pool these days, however we did see Blue / Common and Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope), Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata), Long (Orthetrum trinacria) and Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum), Scarlet Darter, White Featherleg (Platycnemis latipes), Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathinerum), Iberian Bluetail and a nice male Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus).

Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata) male.

The afternoon was moving on and it was getting warm so we went back to the house and Lynn and Steve went for a Swim at a friends place up the road.

Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator).

Rio Agar o Cacín, Sierra Tejeda, Granada Province, Spain.

A visit to one of Steve and Lynn's finds.

Steve and Lynn, Day Eight.

 

Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum), young male.

Today we were visiting a new site for me which Steve and Lynn had been to on past visits to the area and what a great unspoiled place it is. We drove South towards Alhama de Granada and then to the South of the Embalse de Bermejales where we took to the tracks and then parked by the Rio Agar o Cacín.

Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) Female.

Once we had put on our sun protection we dropped down to the river and started to make our way up stream, straight away we started to see Large Pincertail (Onychogomphus uncatus) but most were females which were acting more like males by sitting up in obvious spots.

Large Pincertail (Onychogomphus uncatus) female.

Large Pincertail (Onychogomphus uncatus) female.

In the same are we had several Common Darters (Sympetrum striolatum) both male and female and young and mature insects as well as Keeled Skimmers (Orthetrum coerulescens), Western Spectre (Boyeria Irene), Copper Demoiselle (Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis), Adonis Blue (Lysandra bellargus), Dusky Heath (Coenonympha dorus), Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus), Bath White (Pontia daplidice) and Striped Grayling (Hipparchia fidia).

Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus).

Adonis Blue (Lysandra bellargus).

Dusky Heath (Coenonympha dorus).

There were a few birds about including Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).

Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator) female.

Western Spectre (Boyeria Irene).

Common Winter Damselfly (Sympecma fusca).

Blue-eye (Erythromma lindenii) female.

As we continued on up stream we found more Large Pincertails, Common Darters and added Common Winter Damselfly (Sympecma fusca), White Featherleg (Platycnemis latipes), Red-underwing Skipper (Spialia sertorius), Small White (Pieris rapae), Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli), Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi) and a very nice Viperine Snake (Culebra Viperina / Natrix maura) which was chasing tadpoles in the leaf litter on the bottom of the stream.

Steve with a Large Pincertail.

Steve weighing up his next target.

As we continued on we found Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea), Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera) on the way to our turn around point, we turned around and started back to the car where we had our lunch in the shade of the bridge before we headed out again but this time we went down stream.

Bat Species.

Bat Species.

Under the bridge we found two Bats which where having a kip in the shade but I have no idea which species at this point.

Southern Darter (Sympetrum meridionale) female.

Southern Darter (Sympetrum meridionale) female.

Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) male.

We walked down stream which soon became more wooded and we were soon finding more Western Spectres, Copper Demoiselles, Common Darters, Blue-eye (Erythromma lindenii) and then a nice female Southern Darter (Sympetrum meridionale), a male Large Pincertail and Yellow Shell Moth (Camptogramma bilineata).

Viperine Snake (Culebra Viperina / Natrix maura).

Western Spectre (Boyeria Irene) Exuvia.

Large Pincertail (Onychogomphus uncatus) male.

Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum).

Western Spectre (Boyeria Irene).

We returned to the car and made our way back to the house once things got just too dam warm. 

Hacho, Granada Province, Spain.

A mornings stretch of the legs up to the top of Hacho.

Steve and Lynn, Day Seven.

 

Lynn and Steve with Loja and Sierra de Loja in the back ground.

We drove just up the road to the parking spot under the Almond trees just up from the main road where we started our walk to the upper car park, on the way we saw and heard Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus) and Adonis Blue (Lysandra bellargus).

Adonis Blue (Lysandra bellargus).

Striped Grayling (Hipparchia fidia).

From the car park we took the track along the southern side of the hill and then from the highest point of the track we cut across the rocks to the trig point, on this stage we added Southern Gatekeeper (Pyronia cecilia), Striped Grayling (Hipparchia fidia), Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), several Pallid (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus) and 3x Alpine Swifts (Vencejo Real / Apus melba).

Just one of us Missing.

Alpine Swift (Vencejo Real / Apus melba).

On the way back to the track and on the way down the zigzag trail we recorded Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina), Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus), Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra), Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia) and Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli) before reaching the car.

The Trig point in the back ground.