Sierra de Morena, Andujar, Jaen Province, Spain.

Another day in the Sierra but with Anna and Charles Hughs today.

Ebird List for La Lancha, 18 Species.

 

Andalucian Wall Lizard (Podarcis vaucheri) male.

Anna, Charles and I started the day nice and easily with breakfast at La Caracola before heading out to the Rio Jándula and up to the Presa de El Encinarejo, we parked and walked out onto the bridge where we found Cetti's (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and Western Subalpine Warbler (Curruca Carrasquena / Sylvia cantillans), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla),Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Crag (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs),  Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

Andalucian Wall Lizard (Podarcis vaucheri) female.

Large Psammodromus (Psammodromus algirus).

We returned to the car and checked some rocks near the car park finding Andalucian Wall Lizard (Podarcis vaucheri), Large Psammodromus (Psammodromus algirus) and a nice Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous).

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

We got back into the car and made our way along the river making a few stops along the track, at the first stop we heard a drumming Lesser-spotted Woodpecker (Pico Menor / Dryobates minor) and when we tracked it down we found a very nice Male bird which actually behaved quite well.

Lesser-spotted Woodpecker (Pico Menor / Dryobates minor) male.

Lesser-spotted Woodpecker (Pico Menor / Dryobates minor) male.

Lesser-spotted Woodpecker (Pico Menor / Dryobates minor) male.

Lesser-spotted Woodpecker (Pico Menor / Dryobates minor) male.

Other stuff seen along the track included Wild Clary (Salvia verbenaca), Narrow-leaved Lupin (Lupinus angustifolius), Tassel Hyacinth (Leopoldia comosa), Common Stork's-bill (Erodium cicutarium), Long-headed Poppy (Papaver dubium),  Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum baeticum), Rusty-back Fern (Ceterach officinarum), French Lavender (Lavandula stoechas) and a couple of Red Squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) which chased each other around a large Pine Tree. 

Narrow-leaved Lupin (Lupinus angustifolius).

Long-headed Poppy (Papaver dubium).

Also seen were Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Swallowtail (Papilio machaon), Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi) calling noisily from a pool on the far side of the river and a herd of Red Deer (Ciervo común / Cervus elaphus) which were running around on the far bank with an imposter amongst them, a similarly coloured feral goat.

Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum baeticum).

Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum baeticum).

Down at the far end of the track at the picnic area we made another stop and added Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), a distant Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti) which was at first perched on a large Pylon and then flew off, Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) and Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus).

Common Stork's-bill (Erodium cicutarium).

Linaria spartea ?????

From here we headed out to La Lancha, on the way out we made a few stops for plants and birds before we dropped down to the Dam, species included Linaria spartea, Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Woodlark (Totovia / Lullula arborea), Griffon  (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) and Cinereous / European Black Vulture (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Snake's Head Fritillary (Fritillaria  lusitanica), Tassel Hyacinth (Leopoldia comosa), Palmate Anemone (Anemone palmata),  Champagne (Orchis champagneuxii) x7 and Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera) x5.

Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera).

Champagne Orchid (Orchis champagneuxii).

We reached the dam and had some lunch before Charles and I went for a walk across the dam and into the tunnel where another couple showed us some roosting bats, we also saw Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Great Cormorant and Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris).

Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

We headed back up the hill and set ourselves up at a spot where we could see a good bit of the area where we scanned for the Lynx but we only managed to find Brown Bluebell (Dipcadi serotinum), Lesser Snapdragon (Misopates orontium), Gum (Cistus ladanifer) and  Grey-leaved Cistus (Cistus albidus), Narrow-leaved rock-rose (Cistus monspeliensis), Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri), Tree Germander (Teucrium fruticans), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), Clouded Yellow, Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and a passing Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) which in this area are more uncommon than the Imperials.

Cinereous / European Black Vulture (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus).

Later in the day we drove back towards La Caracola slowly, on the way we saw Fallow Deer (Gamo común / Dama dama), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus),

Sierra de Morena, Andujar, Jaen Province, Spain.

My last day with Chamila and Manuel.

Ebird List for La Lancha.

 

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

We again had a coffee before heading out to the La Lancha area again, on the way in we saw several Red-legged Partridges (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Red Deer (Ciervo común / Cervus elaphus) and Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus).

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).

We arrived on site and set ourselves up at the shelter and as we had done for the last three days we scanned the crags and slopes and over the next few hours we saw Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus), a Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus) which passed through quickly heading North, Griffon (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) and Cinereous / European Black Vulture (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Booted (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus) and Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Crested (Herrerillo Capuchino / Lophophanes cristatus), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Woodlark (Totovia / Lullula arborea), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata) and Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia).

Ocellated Lizard (Timon lepidus).

French Lavender (Lavandula stoechas).

Rusty-back Fern (Ceterach officinarum).

Whilst we were there we also saw had Ocellated Lizard (Timon lepidus), distant Mouflon (Moflon / Ovis orientalis) and Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Capra pyrenaica hispanica), Western Dappled (Euchloe crameri) and Small White (Pieris rapae), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Rusty-back Fern (Ceterach officinarum) and French Lavender (Lavandula stoechas).

Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata).

In the afternoon we drove down to the far shelter and scanned from there for a while before driving back as far as the old Bull Ring and the we drove out to the Mirador de Los Alarcones but apart from a few Thekla Larks (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) it really wasn't worth the 14km drive.

Mouflon (Moflon / Ovis orientalis).

Mouflon (Moflon / Ovis orientalis).

We turned around and headed back to the apartments, on the way we saw a pair of Mouflon which gave us some good views, the best I have had of the species.

Mouflon (Moflon / Ovis orientalis).

Mouflon (Moflon / Ovis orientalis).

In the same area we also saw Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum baeticum), Spanish Bluebell (Scilla hispanica), Tassel Hyacinth (Leopoldia comosa), White Mignonette (Reseda Alba) and Navelwort (Umbilicus rupestris) before we returned to the digs, said our goodbyes and I headed for La Caracola where I met up with another couple of Butterfly / Lynx hunters.

Mouflon (Moflon / Ovis orientalis).

Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum baeticum).

Sierra de Morena, Andujar, Jaen Province, Spain.

Day three of the search.

Ebird List for Presa del Encinarejo.

Ebird List for  La Lancha.

 

Night Heron (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax).

We were out early again and started down at the bridge below the dam on the Rio Jándula, there was a guy there who told us that the Otter (Nutria / Lutra lutra) had gone out very early, we stayed there for a while and picked up Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Cetti's (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and 5 Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser) which flew up onto the Reservoir above the Dam.

Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major).

After a while started to walk along the river and a little later we caught here up but not before we saw an adult Night Heron (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax) in the bushes on the far side of the river and a singing Iberian Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Ibérico / Phylloscopus brehmii) in the Oaks.

Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea).

We then parked on the side of the road at the start of the track and again checked the area near the river seeing an adult Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), another Kingfisher and a couple of noisy Perez's Frogs (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi).

Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

We moved on and headed back up to the stakeout spot at La Lancha where we spent the rest of the day scanning the slopes and crags, whilst there we picked up an immature Iberian Imperial Eagle,and later an adult bird which was carrying a Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Griffon (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) and Cinereous / European Black Vulture (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus), Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus), 2x pale Morph Booted Eagles (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Woodlark (Totovia / Lullula arborea), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Crested (Herrerillo Capuchino / Lophophanes cristatus) and Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) and Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris). 

Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti).

Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila pennatus).

Wild flowers seen included Iberian Milk-vetch (Astragalus lusitanicus), Little Robin (Geranium purpureum), Brown Bluebell (Dipcadi serotinum), Eruca (Eruca sativa), Lesser Snapdragon (Misopates orontium),  Field Marigold (Calendula arvensis), Narrow-leaved rock-rose (Cistus monspeliensis), Grey-leaved (Cistus albidus) and Gum Cistus (Cistus ladanifer) and Meadow Saxifrage (Saxifraga granulata).  

Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti) Adult.

Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti) Adult.

There were also a few butterflies on the wing including Bath (Pontia daplidice) and Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Common Orange-tip (Anthocharis cardamines), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina) and Swallowtail (Papilio machaon). 

Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs).

Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia).

On the way out we decided to check the area near the Toro Fields where two guys had seen the Lynx on the Saturday morning but we only managed to pick up a noisy Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius) which flew through the area.

Red Deer (Ciervo común / Cervus elaphus).

Before we reached the digs we had Cloven Petalled Campion (Silene colorata), Fallow (Gamo común / Dama dama) and Red Deer (Ciervo común / Cervus elaphus). 

Iberian Milk-vetch (Astragalus lusitanicus).

Cloven Petalled Campion (Silene colorata).

Sierra de Morena, Andujar, Jaen Province, Spain.

Back out looking for the Lynx again.

Ebird List for Área recreativa del Encinarejo area, 22 Species.

Ebird List for Presa del Encinarejo, 24 Species.

Ebird List for La Lancha, 29 Species.

The view from Mirador del Peregrino.

Chamila, Manuel and I were up and out early and after getting a coffee at Restaurante El Rancho headed down to the Rio Jándula, we made a stop at the Mirador del Peregrino seeing Meadow Saxifrage (Saxifraga granulata), Common Stork's-bill (Erodium ciconium), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs).

Heading along the river just as the fog was lifting.

We continued on down to the river and parked up at the Área recreativa and walked down to the river, on the way we heard the drumming and calling of a Lesser-spotted Woodpecker (Pico Menor / Dryobates minor) but only got the briefest of views as it flew away.

Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea).

In the same area we also recorded Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and several Iberian  Magpies (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).

Looking up the Rio Jándula from the lower bridge.

We moved on up to the far end of the track and went out on to the bridge, after a few minutes there was a swirl in the river and we briefly saw the Otter (Nutria / Lutra lutra) which then swam under the bridge and all the way down to the next large pool before surfacing.

Looking down stream from the bridge.

Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus).

Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus).

Whilst we were stood there and walked around the area we also recorded Common Cuckoo (Cuco Común / Cuculus canorus), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Crested Tit (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Barn (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) and Red-rumped Swallow (Golondrina Dáurica / Hirundo daurica), Branched Asphodel (Asphodelus ramosus), Snake's Head Fritillary (Fritillaria  lusitanica), Wild Clary (Salvia verbenaca), Narrow-leaved Lupin (Lupinus angustifolius), Tassel Hyacinth (Leopoldia comosa), Spanish Bluebell (Scilla hispanica), Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis), Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina) and a Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris).

Narrow-leaved Lupin (Lupinus angustifolius).

Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas).

Snake's Head Fritillary (Fritillaria  lusitanica).

Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina).

We returned to the car and then headed for the La Lancha area again, on the way in we saw Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator), Red (Ciervo común / Cervus elaphus) and Fallow Deer (Gamo común / Dama dama).

Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator).

Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator).

Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón Común / Lanius senator).

We arrived and we set up in one of the watch points and scanned the surrounding areas, whilst we were there we saw Griffon (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) and Cinereous / European Black Vulture (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus), Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti), a good sized flock of Black Kites (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans) which were moving North, Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Common Cuckoo, Hobby, Iberian Green Woodpecker, Iberian  Magpie, Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Large Psammodromus (Psammodromus algirus), Bath (Pontia daplidice) x4, Western Dappled (Euchloe crameri) x25+ and Small White (Pieris rapae) x5, Swallowtail (Papilio machaon) x2, Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra) x1, Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) x4, Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) x3, Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) x1, Common Orange-tip (Anthocharis cardamines) x3 and Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) x30+.

Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia).

Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia).

Later we returned to the car and started to make our way off the site and went for another meal in the nearby bar where we heard a Tawny Owl (Cárabo Común / Strix aluco) calling before we turned in.

Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans) passing over head.