Sierra Nevada, Granada Province, Spain.

A day in the hills searching for butterflies with Richard Trip from the UK.

 

The habitat.

I met Richard at bar La Mora just off the A92, where we had coffee before continuing on to a site in the Sierra Nevada, where we parked at 2040m and walked a track up to around 2380m where we spent quite a while searching for Butterflies.

Looking North.

Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus alceae).

Apollo (Parnassius apollo nevadensis).

Apollo (Parnassius apollo nevadensis).

Purple-shot Copper (Lycaena alciphron).

Purple-shot Copper (Lycaena alciphron).

Queen of Spain (Issoria lathonia).

Niobe Fritillary (Fabriciana niobe).

Niobe Fritillary (Fabriciana niobe).

Niobe Fritillary (Fabriciana niobe).

Niobe Fritillary (Fabriciana niobe).

During the walk we found Cryptic Red-underwing (Spialia rosae), Mallow (Carcharodus alceae), Small (Thymelicus sylvestris) and Silver-spotted Skipper (Hesperia comma), Swallowtail (Papilio machaon), Apollo (Parnassius apollo nevadensis), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra), Small (Lycaena phlaeas) and Purple-shot Copper (Lycaena alciphron), Cardinal (Argynnis pandora), Dark-green (Speyeria aglaja) and Niobe Fritillary (Fabriciana niobe), Queen of Spain (Issoria lathonia), Idas Blue (Plebejus idas), Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus), Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Iberian Marbled White (Melanargia lachesis), Nettle-tree Butterfly (Libythea celtis), Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus), Black Satyr (Satyrus actaea),  Grayling (Hipparchia semele), Rock (Hipparchia alcyone) and Great Banded Grayling (Brintesia circe), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina) and 8097 Idaea sericeata, a well-marked moth species.

Idas Blue (Plebejus idas).

Nettle-tree Butterfly (Libythea celtis).

Black Satyr (Satyrus actaea).

Grayling (Hipparchia semele).

Grayling (Hipparchia semele).

8097 Idaea sericeata.

Other species seen included Sierra Nevada Saddle Bush-cricket (Baetica ustulata), Blue-winged Grasshopper (Oedipoda caerulescens), Mountain Stone Grasshopper (Eumigus monticola), Hummingbird Hawkmoth (Macroglossum stellatarum), Alpine Gentian (Gentiana alpina), Marsh Violet (Viola palustris) and Alyssum granatense. 

Sierra Nevada Saddle Bush-cricket (Baetica ustulata).

Alpine Gentian (Gentiana alpina).

Richard photographing Silver-spotted Skippers (Hesperia comma).

Birds recorded included Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido /Apus pallidus), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito ibérico / Picus sharpei), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), Eurasian Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Long-tailed Tit (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala) and Western Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Northern Raven (Cuervo grande / Corvus corax), Eurasian Jay (Arrendajo Euroasiático / Garrulus glandarius), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Eurasian Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Tawny Pipit (Bisbita Camprstre / Anthus campestris), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis).

We returned to the car, just before we got there we had great views of a very thirsty-looking Red Fox (Zorro / Vulpus vulpus) in the picnic area.

Red Fox (Zorro / Vulpus vulpus).

We travelled back to the meeting point, where we had a coffee and went through some of Richard's photos before I headed off home, but I went to see Paqui on the way, I was very pleased to see that she had kindly prepared a cracking plate of food for us, thanks Paqui, your food is amazing.

Eggs, Poor-man's Potatoes, Morcilla and Green Peppers, beautiful.

Riofrio, Granada Province, Spain.

A nice stroll around Riofrio with Paqui, followed by some breakfast in La Casa del Pastel.

 

I picked Paqui up in Huétor and we headed down to Riofrio where we chilled for a while on one of the benches along the Rio, whilst we sat there and went for a walk we saw Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki),  Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis).

Other species seen were Brown Rat (Rattus norvegicus), Small White (Pieris rapae), Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina), Small Fleabane (Pulicaria vulgaris), Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) and Common Mallow (Malva sylvestris).

We walked up to the La Casa del Pastel where we had a coffee and a Tostarda before we headed back to Huétor. 

Huétor Fields, Granada Province, Spain.

A walk with Paqui after I got home late last night after nearly two weeks away.

 

I was up fairly late but I still got down to the fields to meet up with the Lovely Paqui for a walk, as we walked we saw Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and European Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Cetti's (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

When I got back home I started to clean up a bit outside, as I was up on the terrace I could hear an approaching group of Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki) which were soon feeding in the Fig tree.

Riaño, Las Salas in Asturias and Bejes in Cantabria and then the drive home, Spain.

A good and disappointing morning in a hide before heading for a target butterfly and then the long drive home.

 

The view from the Hide.

I was up and out early as I was meeting Mario, the guide for the day in the centre of Riaño, I met him and the other three guests before we all headed out to the hide, on the way as we turned up towards the site a European Wildcat (Felis silvestris) was seen out in a newly cut Hay Meadow.

Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos).

Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos).

Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos).

Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos).

Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos).

Once we reached the hide Mario and his colleague put out the food for the Cats and the Golden Eagles (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos), once they had finished they left us for a few hours.

Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos).

Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos).

Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos).

Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos).

Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos).

After just a few minutes the first Eurasian Jay's (Arrendajo Euroasiático / Garrulus glandarius) flew in and started to feed on some of the meat that was put out, they were quickly followed by the two Golden Eagles (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos), this was the first of several visits during the morning.

Eurasian Jay (Arrendajo Euroasiático / Garrulus glandarius).

Eurasian Jay (Arrendajo Euroasiático / Garrulus glandarius).

Eurasian Jay (Arrendajo Euroasiático / Garrulus glandarius).

Eurasian Jay (Arrendajo Euroasiático / Garrulus glandarius).

Eurasian Jay (Arrendajo Euroasiático / Garrulus glandarius).

Unfortunately the main target for me, the Cat didn't show up but we did see Small White (Pieris rapae), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Great Banded Grayling (Brintesia circe), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), European Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Eurasian Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteño / Emberiza cirlus) and Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs).

Mario returned just before 12:00 and we returned to Riaño, on the way out we had a European Pine Marten (Martes martes) run across the track in front of us and gave us nice views as it went up the bank and away. 

Southern Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus malvoides).

Southern Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus malvoides).

Marbled Skipper (Muschampia lavatherae).

Dingy Skipper (Erynnis tages).

Dingy Skipper (Erynnis tages).

As soon as we reached Riaño I pushed off and made my way to Potes and then to a site that Caitriona and Martin had told me about, after parking I walked up a nearby track checking the verges for Large Chequered Skipper (Heteropterus morpheus), I had two sightings but neither sat and allowed me to get any photo's unfortunately.

Large Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanus).

Lulworth Skipper (Thymelicus acteon).

Skipper species I saw well were Southern Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus malvoides), Marbled Skipper (Muschampia lavatherae), Dingy Skipper (Erynnis tages), Large Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanus) and Lulworth Skipper (Thymelicus acteon).

False Ilex Hairstreak (Satyrium esculi).

Provençal Fritillary (Melitaea deione).

Chalk Hill Blue (Lysandra coridon).

Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus).

Pearly Heath (Coenonympha arcania).

Other species seen were False Ilex Hairstreak (Satyrium esculi), Provençal Fritillary (Melitaea deione), Chalk Hill Blue (Lysandra coridon), Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus), Pearly Heath (Coenonympha arcania), Common Golden Ringed (Cordulegaster boltonii), Western Spectre (Boyeria Irene), Horse Mint (Mentha longifolia), Field Eryngo (Eryngium campestris), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Eurasian Jay (Arrendajo Euroasiático / Garrulus glandarius), Red-billed (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) and Alpine Chough (Chova Piquigualda / Pyrrhocorax graculus).

I walked back down the hill to the car and then apart from a brief stop for a coffee and to get some food I did the 9.5 hour drive home in one go, arriving at just after 02:00.