Huetor Fields, Granada Province.

A walk along the Rio. 

 

Yogi.

Today we jumped in to the car and went down to the bar at the bottom of the road and parked there, Yogi instantly headed for the water and was up to his belly with in seconds of leaving the car. 

We crossed the Rio or what was left of it and started to walk down the far bank, the first birds seen were Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) a small flock flew up from the track side, along with a couple of Eurasian Hoopoes (Abubilla / Upupa epops) which Yogi made a vain attempt to chase. 

We carried on down to the goat herders shelter where a dozen or more pairs of Eurasian Tree Sparrows (Gorrión Molinero / Passer Montanus) were breeding in the metal uprights which held up the shade matting, also in the compound there was a single Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) and a couple of immature Woodchat Shrikes (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator). 

Greater Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla).

Several Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) were feeding in fig trees on the opposite bank, whilst Western House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Barn (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Red-rumped Swallows (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica) flew low over a flock of goats in a weed field mopping up the disturbed insects. 

As we reached the first road bridge a small group of European Bee-eaters (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) about 20 birds flew over calling loudly, other birds seen along this side of the Rio included Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), European Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Great Tit (Carbonero Común / Parus major), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala).

We then walked along the road for a short before Yogi decided that a dip into one of the running irrigation channels would be a good idea, he dived in went fully under the water and was not to impressed, so he jumped straight back out again before changing his mind and diving back in and floating along with the flow for about 50 meters.

Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae).

We then turned back towards the bars on a dirt track on the opposite side of the rio, the first birds added along here were a pair of Greater Short-toed Larks (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla) chasing the hordes of House Sparrows (Gorrión Común / Passer Domesticus) off their patch of field.  

Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) were flushed from the verge all along this track and Zitting Cisticola’s (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis) zitted continuously over the maize fields. 

When we again came alongside the river, we disturbed several more Little Ringed Plovers and a single Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus). To finish off we had a quick look at the crossing point and found several ♂ Southern Skimmers (Orthetrum brunneum) chasing each other, there was no sign of a ♀.

Barranco de San Juan, Sierra Nevada, Granada Province.

Endemic Plants and Butterflies.

 

Nevada Houseleek (Sempervivum vicentei).

After a last minute decision to go up the Sierra Nevada, Yogi and I set off from the car park at 2500 meters near the barrier stopping traffic proceeding towards the summit. 

We walked out towards the top of Barranco de San Juan, almost the first thing seen was a cracking ♂ Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush (Roquero Rojo / Monticola saxatilis) which flew past and perched on a rocky outcrop below the track. 

Amongst the scree above the track there were a lot of Nevada Houseleek (Sempervivum vicentei), Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea), Lysimachia ephemerum and Lotus glareosus.

Spring Gentian (Gentiana sierrae).

We walked on around several rocky bends in the track picking up Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido / Apus pallidus), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia) and Eurasian Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes). 

Several of the endemic Apollo's (Parnassius apollo  subsp nevadensis) flew over the slopes, along with good numbers of Silver-studded Blues (Plebejus argus), a couple of Purple-shot Coppers (Lycaena alciphron) and several of the very rare Spanish Brassy Ringlet (Erebia hispania) flew by but would not allow me to get a shot.

Butterwort (Pinguicula nevadensis).

Further on we came to the main plant site and area of wet gullies with low grass and other plants, here we found good numbers of Spring Gentian (Gentiana verna subsp sierrae), a few Gentiana alpina which were not quite in flower and a couple of the pale Gentiana boryi. Also here there were hundreds of plants of the insectivorous endemic Butterwort (Pinguicula nevadensis), Plantago nivalis, Campanula herminii and Starry Saxifrage (Saxifraga stellaris subsp alpigena).

Moonwort (Botrychium lunaria).

On the drier banks between the gullies I found Pale Lady's Mantle (Alchemilla xanthochlora), Potentilla nevadensis, Moonwort (Botrychium lunaria) and Loosewort (Pedicularis verticillata var caespitosa).

Starry Saxifrage (Saxifraga stellaris subsp alpigena).

It was at this point where it all went a bit pear shaped as Yogi, my tripod and I became one for a second and I ended up full length in one of the wettest gullies, twisting my ankle, knee and taking a bit of a winding. 

After a few minutes, I recovered and started the slow hobble back towards the car, looking rather peat coloured and wet.

Barranco de San Juan.

On the way we added several more plants to the list including the first Centranthus nevadensis I have found in a photographable position, Senecio pyrenaicus subsp granatensis, Meum athamanticum, Eryngium glaciale, Ptilotrichum spinosum, Silene rupestris, Arenaria imbricata and Arenaria pungens. 

A few more butterflies were also seen including Clouded Yellow (Colias crocea), Spanish Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus), Queen of Spain Fritillary (Issoria lathonia), Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) and Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera).

Yogi.

 I then meet up with three Spanish lads from up North in the Pico's who appeared to be catching and potting butterflies, I am pretty sure that this is an Illegal practice in any Natural Park, so I informed the barrier man in my worst Spanish, but he seemed to understand and made a swift phone call, so hopefully the situation was sorted later. 

Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe) ♂.

Just as I reached the car park another two butterflies were added, a single Cardinal Fritillary (argynnis Pandora) and a few of the endemic Nevada Blue (Plebicula golgus), both species were on a damp area of gravel taking on water and minerals. 

The bird list also grew slightly with Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Western House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer Domesticus), a Tawny Pipit (Bisbita campestre / Anthus campestris) with a bill full of grubs and finally I was seen off by a pair of cronking Northern Ravens (Cuervo / Corvus corax).

We both eventually made it back to the car, Yogi in better shape than me but by the look of his face we had both enjoyed it.

Near Huetor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Walking Yogi the dog. 

 

Yogi.

Paul and Cherry decided to spend their summer holidays back in a wet and stormy UK and this meant that we had the great pleasure of a visit from Yogi, their mad hound. He has to be one of the best behaved and mild manned dogs we have ever known, I was looking forward to taking him for some nice walks. 

Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera).

The first longish one was in the Olive groves and along one of the barranco's behind the house. We headed out and immediately started to pick up European Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), European Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and good-sized flocks of Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki). 

An Immature Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius) was flushed from a fig tree just as we reached the barranco along with the parents, a pair of Eurasian Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica). On the dried out grassy bank on the far side of the almost dry barranco there were several species of butterfly including Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra), Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Clouded Yellow (Colias crocea), Common / Southern Blue (Polyommatus icarus / celina), Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Small White (Artogeia rapae) and Spanish Marbled White (Melanargia ines). Also seen here was a single adult male Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) which perched on the dead tips of some Fennel plants. 

European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster).

Amongst the olives we also flushed good numbers of Rabbits (Orycolagus cuniculus) and Iberian Brown Hare (Liebre ibérica / Lepus granatensis) which all bolted for cover quickly. 

As we continued up the barranco we passed some Oak woodland and a few Poplars, along here we added Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Woodlark (Totovia / Lullula arborea) x4, European Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), a silent Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), a pale morph Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and just as we reach the top of the barranco we found a small breeding colony of European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) with about 8 nest holes. 

Bath White (Pontia daplidice).

On the way back we flushed more hares and a family party of about 20 Red-legged Partridges (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa) and down near the back of the house we added Barn (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Red-rumped Swallows (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), not bad for a walk with the dog.

Huetor Tajar, Granada Province.

The best team wins the cup.

Dancing on the tables.

Well what a night, Jayne and I spent several more than just pleasant hours sat at one of our local bars in Huetor Tajar watching Spain win the world cup, I am not a fan of football normally but when you live in a place where the team are actually proud to play for their country (not just happy to take the money) and put every thing into each game it would be rude not to support them. 

The locals in the town certainly enjoyed a game which was marred just slightly by the opposition’s tactics, but the end result was what counted.

and Dancing in the streets of Huétor.

As soon as the match was over, there were some incredibly noisy celebrations, both in the bar and on the streets. Masses of cars started to pass up the high street, horns blasting, occupants cheering and waving flags.

Fire works could also be seen and heard, sometimes a little too close to the crowds for comfort, so we decided to make our way back home and call it a night, a very good night.

Rio Guadalhorce, Malaga Province and Zafarraya area, Granada Province.

A better than expected visit.

After dropping David and Pauline off at Malaga airport, I went and had a quick look around Guadalhorce Nature reserve, first of all I had a look at a small canal just outside the airport where I picked up several Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Kentish (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus) and Little Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) and a single Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos). 

Along the side of the canal several pairs of European Bee-eaters (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster) were nesting in the soil banks and feeding over the nearby waste ground amongst the many Barn (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Red-rumped Swallows (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), Western House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Pallid (Vencejo Pálido / Apus pallidus) and Common Swifts (Vencejo Común / Apus apus).

I then had a run to the mouth of the river and had a walk along the beach to the entrance of the reserve, on the sea there were a few Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Audouin's Gulls (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii) and as I started to walk up the track into the reserve I had one quick look back at the sea just in time to see two largish Red / Orange billed Terns flying off east, unfortunately I could not get the bill size well enough to ID them.

On the main lagoon there were 3 Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia) feeding on the far shore, which made a change from seeing them roosting on one of the islands and 5 Slender-billed Gulls (Gaviota picofina / Larus genei) were an unexpected find. 

Good numbers of Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta) fished around the margins and out on the water White-headed Ducks (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina) all dived regularly amongst the many dabbling Mallards (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) and single Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Anas clypeata).

On the muddier areas there were more Black-winged Stilts, a single Eurasian Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus), White (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and several immature Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae). 

I then walked towards the bridge and back to the car along the main river picking up several groups of noisy Monk Parakeets (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus), European Bee-eaters, Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), European Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), European Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), a nice Squacco Heron (Garcilla Cangrejera / Ardeola ralloides) but the biggest disappointment was that I did not see a single Dragonfly whilst I was on the main reserve.

We came home via Torre-del-Mar and passed through the Vega de Zafarraya. On the way through we got some great views of a male Little Bustard (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) right at the side of the road, Lesser Kestrel (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni), Calandra Lark (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra) and Montagu's Harrier (Aguilucho Cenizo / Circus pygargus).

Ronda and Grazalema, Malaga Province.

We've had a full day of it!

David and Pauline.

David and Pauline were visiting us from the UK so we decided that we would pay a visit to Ronda and the white villages nearby, on the way over we stopped off at Laguna Dulce to have a look at the small flock of about 70 Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber) which were on the near shore and could be viewed easily. 

There were at least 2 none breeding adult Slender-billed Gulls (Gaviota Picofina / Larus genei) feeding amongst the Flamingo's legs, Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) were also there in good numbers. 

Signal Crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus).

At least 50 Gull-billed Terns (Pagaza Piconegra / Gelochelidon nilotica) fed over the nearby fields and skimmed the lake surface, alongside a few Whiskered Terns (Fumarel Cariblanca / Chlidonias hybridus). Birds on the lake were few and too distant to ID without the scope, we did manage to pick out Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina) and Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis). 

We then headed towards Ronda picking up a pair of Bonelli's Eagles (Aguila Perdicera / Aquila faciatus) low over the road and a few distant Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

View from Steve's Bridge.

Once in Ronda we walked the main shopping street before reaching the gorge where I saw Lesser Kestrels (Cernicola Primilla / Falco naumanni), Pallid (Vencejo Pálido / Apus pallidus), Common (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) and Alpine Swifts (Vencejo Real / Apus melba), Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Blue Rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) and Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia). 

Lunch was the next stop in the small village of Benaoján; we all had a very good Menu del Dia, we then pushed on up to Grazalema where I dropped off Jayne, David and Pauline while I went to have a look at Steve's Bridge where I had seen several interesting Dragonflies the week before but what a difference, the only species seen were White Featherleg (Platycnemis latipes) and Copper Demoiselle (Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis). 

White Featherleg (Platycnemis latipes).

I did manage to see a Crayfish which I suspect is one of the introduced Signal Crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) but awaiting some confirmation, I returned to the village, met the others and went and popped into the visitor centre for a quick chat with Clive. A little later, we made our way home via a garage for ice creams.

Cabo Sacratif and Charca del Suarez, Granada Province.

Well what a day (for a day dream) should have stayed in bed.

Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

We started out from Granada at the usual 06:15 but something was not quite right! We got to the coast to carry out the JULY Ram Seabird Survey, and it was damn cold, heaving down with rain and blowing a gale. We were all sat there in our summer shorts and tee shirts freezing our bits off, even the Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) looked at us as if we were mad. 

Any way we carried out the two-hour stint picking up fairly good numbers of Balearic Shearwaters (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus), a few Cory's (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea) also passed west along with a handful of Northern Gannets (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus). 

Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus).

Juan picked up a single Great Skua (Págalo Grande / Catharacta skua) but even with directions the bird slipped away from me unseen, several Audouin's (Gaviota de Audouin / Larus audouinii), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Mediterranean Gulls (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) all made there way back to wards the port at Motril during the session.

Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido / Apus pallidus), Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and European Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) were some of the other species noted.

Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis).

We then moved on to a quiet Charca, well when you have 3 Little Bitterns (Avetorillo Común / Ixobrychus minutus), Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio) and Stripeless Tree Frog (Hyla meridionalis) all on view at the same time, it sounds harsh to say it was quiet but compared to other times of the year and the fact that the weather kept all the Dragonflies under cover, it was.

Little Bittern (Avetorillo Común / Ixobrychus minutus).

Other birds seen included Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), European Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Great Tit (Carbonero Común / Parus major), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Western House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius).

Ronda, Malaga Province and Grazalema, Cadiz Province.

Two new Dragon's in one day.

Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi) ♂.

Jayne and I drove over to Ronda where we had a pleasant few hours wandering around the town's shops, on the way we passed Laguna Ducie and picked up half a dozen Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus ruber), Gull-billed Tern (Pagaza Piconegra / Gelochelidon nilotica), Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), European Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Alpine (Vencejo Real / Apus melba) and Pallid Swifts (Vencejo Pálido / Apus pallidus) and several Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis). 

Around the town in Ronda, we had Pallid's but also some Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus) as well.

We later popped in to see Peter Jones (of Spanish Nature) and his wife Brenda for a couple of hours, after a pleasant chat we made our way to Montecorto for some lunch.

The next stop was at a spot for some Dragonfly photography, I was soon wading my way along the stream and soon started to find some cracking species, the first was a ♂ White Featherleg (Platycnemis latipes), quickly followed by Iberian Bluetail (Ischnura graellsii) and what was going to turn out to be the star of the day a ♂ Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi). 

I must admit that at the time I did not know what this insect was but with some work in the books and some help from Steve Jones of Cornish Nature it was soon sorted. 

Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi).

I think that it is still a very rare species in Spain and is best identified by the brightness of the red colouration, Short dark pterostigmas, and the amount of amber colour in the wings, this new species was soon followed by another when a nice ♂ Small Pincertail (Onychogomphus forcipatus) flew in and started to chase the Dropwing around for a while before they both settled allowing me to get some good shots of the Pincertail but the Dropwing was less helpful. 

At least five Viperine Snakes (Natrix maura) were seen, four of them swimming for cover but one decided to test how much better my phobia of snakes had come on, well it won I was on top of the biggest rock in a flash. 

Hundreds of Iberian Water Frogs (Rana perezi) were flushed from the margins, along with loads of Andalucian Wall Lizard (Podarcis vaucheri) and a couple of Large Psammodromus (Psammondromus algirus).

We then made our way to Grazalema to see Clive in the Visitor Centre on the main Car Park. The place was looking great with a couple of exhibitions to view and lots of local goods for sale. 

We dropped lucky, both Sue and the fast-growing Sam were there for the afternoon, during the next half hour or so Sam showed us that he can now get around on his own two feet quite well, ee then departed and had a steady drive back home.

Small Pincertail (Onychogomphus forcipatus) ♂.

Other birds seen during the day included Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Eurasian Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Melodious Warbler (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta), Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia) and Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).

Balsa de Íllora, Upper Cacín Valley and Mesia, Granada Province.

Another excellent site from Juan.

Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina).

I met Juan Perez just off the A92, we made our way to the site near Illora, as soon as we arrived we meet up with some of the farmers and checked that we could walk all the way around the lake as they were harvesting on the far bank. 

Once we were given clearance to proceed we set off, the first birds we picked up were a couple of immature Little Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) feeding out on the thick blanket weed which covered about a quarter of the water. 

On the more open areas there were at least four family groups of Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina) duckling, numbers ranging from 8 down to just a single bird. Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) were also seen on the pool. 

Overhead, we added Pallid Swift (Vencejo Pálido / Apus pallidus), Western House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster). 

Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathinerum) ♂.

On the fields surrounding the site and in the dead trees at the far end of the lake we picked up Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), European Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), European Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).

Teneral Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii).

Dragonfly species were few but the two seen were in good numbers, Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathinerum) several seen in the marginal weeds and a great many teneral Red-veined Darters (Sympetrum fonscolombii) were over the water. 

No butterflies of note were seen only Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Small (Artogeia rapae) and Large Whites (Pieris brassicae). 

Just as we returned to the car we picked up eight Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus) flying in and bumped into the Campo Warden for the estate, he was very helpful and gave us the phone numbers of the people to contact for access to the site on future visits.

Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus).

Juan then dropped me back to my car and made his way back into the city, I went to the agricultural area in the upper Cacín Valley where the only species of interest were a pair of Eurasian Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) and good numbers of Greater Short-toed Lark (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla).

Mesia woods were also quiet, I got some nice views of Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Cetti’s Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).

Near Archidona, Malaga Province.

Up to my knees in it, but it was worthwhile.

 

White Featherleg (Platycnemis latipes).

Jayne and I fancied some fresh air so we went to a cracking site near Archidona, just over the boarder into Malaga Province, a small water course called the Arroya Marin meanders along an at times steep sided valley lined with Pine and Oak woodlands. 

The main interest today was to see Butterflies and Dragonflies, The first stop was by a concrete bridge over the Arroya, Jayne settled down with her book and music and I had a wander. The first species seen was a ♀ White Featherleg (Platycnemis latipes) which posed nicely on a Bramble stem (makes a nice change), several more of them were seen including a nice male which did not settle at all. 

False Ilex Hairstreak (Satyrium esculi).

On the river back several species of butterflies were coming to damp gravel to take on water and minerals, these included Spanish Marbled White (Melanargia ines), Spanish Gatekeeper (Pyronia bathseba), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera) and Purple Hairstreak (Favonius Quercus), the latter was the first confirmed sighting I have had in Spain. 

The area was also being used by huge numbers of Honey Bees to take on water, which meant that the butterflies were impossible to photograph as they were constantly disturbed by the Bees, the only shots taken were of a very nice False Ilex Hairstreak (Satyrium esculi) which landed on the path nearby. 

On my way along the river I flushed a larger Dragonfly which settled long enough for me to identify it as a Pincertail, but that was it, the insect then disappeared as quickly as it arrived. 

Large Pincertail (Onychogomphus uncatus) ♂.

More butterflies were also seen in this area including Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Common (Polyommatus icarus) and Holly Blues (Celastrina argiolus), Large White (Pieris brassicae), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus) and Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli). 

A stop a little further along the track produced another sighting of the Pincertail but this time a ♀. 

Hawfinches (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotraustes) called from the tops of some Poplars near where we parked the car, only 4 juvenile birds were actually seen. 

I was getting a little frustrated with the Pincertail and said that I would like to go back to the original spot but Jayne suggested that we went down to the last of the bridges and had a look there and how right she was. 

Large Pincertail (Onychogomphus uncatus) ♂.

At least five ♂ Large Pincertails (Onychogomphus uncatus) were sat out on and fighting over rocks in the centre of the river, I took a few shots through the scope for insurance and then went in to get closer views. 

The first insect approached was not interested in flying anywhere and sat for ages while got some nice shots of it from all angles. I then took some of the others in the area, another female type fly through but did not settle. 

Large Pincertail (Onychogomphus uncatus) ♂.

Other birds seen or heard during the couple of hours were Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Western Bonelli’s (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli), Cetti’s (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and Melodious Warblers (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Común / Merops apiaster), Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), European Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), European Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata) and Eurasian Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris). I then got back to dry land and we made our way into Loja and then home.

Balsa de Regidor, Moraleda de Zafayona, Granada Province.

A site that's hard on the senses.

Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina).

Jayne and I stopped off briefly on our way back from the Garden Centre with the latest lettuce plants for the veg patch, so that I could check out the Dragonflies, the first thing that hits you at this site is the smell of raw sewage which is allowed to leak into this man made irrigation lake. 

It is far as I am aware a known problem that no one seems to want to do anything about. 

Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope).

Anyway, there is still quite a lot of wildlife on the site, on the pool a couple of pairs of Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina) had 10 ducklings between them and there were also numerous young of both Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinula Chloropus) and Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) around the margins. 

In the Almond trees around the northern side of the pool I was scolded by several Common Nightingales (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos) and at least two Juvenile Great Spotted Cuckoos (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius) also rattled the disapproval from a nearby Willow. 

Wasp species on Wild Carrot (Daucus carota).

Good numbers of Dragonflies were around the marginal vegetation, including Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum), Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope), Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Iberian Bluetail (Ischnura graellsii) and Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathinerum).

La Zubia, Granada Province.

What a fantastic place to find, well OK Juan told me about it.

Marsh Fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia).

Armed with some good directions from Juan Perez-Contreras a friend from Granada, I made my way along the narrow roads of the village of La Zubia and eventually found my way out on to the road into the mountains. 

I started the drive towards an area Juan had said was great for wildflowers, I passed through Pine and Oak Woodlands on the climb after the town. Several Eurasian Jays (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius) flew across the road and European Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and Rock Buntings (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia) were all flushed from the road side as were a couple of Red Squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris). 

Marsh Fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia).

Once I was in the valley butterflies were everywhere, the commonest were Spanish Gatekeeper (Pyronia bathseba), Marsh Fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia), Small White (Artogeia rapae), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) and Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria). 

The roadside flowers included Phlomis crinita subsp compositae, a pale orange/yellow flower with white furry leaves and stem, Phlomis lychnitis and Phlomis purpurea, Antirrhinum hispanicum, Spanish Foxglove (Digitalis obscura) and in some of the wooded damper areas Fly Honeysuckle (Lonicera arborea). 

Phlomis crinita subsp compositae.

After quite a while I reached the car park of the botanical gardens and met the warden for the site who was amazingly helpful, in the area surrounding the gardens he showed me Tragopogon cazorlanum a very rare plant that is only found here and at a couple of other sites in the Sierra Cazorla in Jean Province, here it was found about five years ago and is doing very well. 

The next plant was the main target species of the day, Aquilegia nevadensis which was growing in a damp area of woodland beside a small steam, exactly the sort of place Juan had said I would find it. 

A view up the Valley.

About twenty plants were found with most of them in seed, a few flowers were still left but just starting to go past their best, also seen in this area were Salvia verbenaca, Salvia argentea, Salvia lavandulifolia, Blue Flax (Linum narbonense), Salix atrocinerea and Adonis aestivalis subsp. squarrosa. I then had a quick look around part of the Botanical Gardens where I saw the only Orchids of the day, a couple of well over with Barton's Orchids (Dactylorhiza insularis) and a single but perfect spike of Robust Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza elata). 

Several more butterflies were seen in the gardens including Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina), Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Grayling (Hipparchia semele) and Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina). 

Tragopogon cazorlanum.

Several birds were also noted nearby including the unexpected Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), at least two males were heard calling and a single Eurasian Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea) was seen in one of the pines. Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oropéndola / Oriolus oriolus), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Eurasian Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Great (Carbonero Común / Parus major) and European Crested Tits (Herrerillo Capuchino /Parus cristatus), Melodious (Zarcero Común / Hippolais polyglotta) and Western Subalpine Warblers (Curruca Carrasquena / Sylvia cantillans).

Aquilegia nevadensis.

I then took a very slow drive back towards the city stopping many times on the way. One of the highlights was a new butterfly species for my Spanish list, Several Spotted Fritillary's (Melitaea didyma) were seen but did not want to let me get a decent photo, many more Marsh Fritillary's were seen and a pupal case was found in a small bush. 

Marsh Fritillary Pupa.

New plants seen on the return included White Bugloss (Echium albicans), Putoria calabrica, Coris monspeliensis, Anthyllis tejedensis and Paeonia coriacca. At lower levels large numbers of Black-veined Whites (Aporia crataegi) were seen flying over two huge fields of thistles, Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Spanish Marbled White (Melanargia ines), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Rock Grayling (Hipparchia alcyone) were also added to quite a butterfly list.