Puerto de las Palomas

Our last two stops before the trip back to the airport were at the two highest points of the Grazalema ring. The last of these at Puerto del Boyar (1103m) provided the only definite Spanish Ibex (Capra pyrenaica hispanica), high on a ridge. But before that at Puerto de las Palomes (1157m) on the Zahara road (CA531) were some spectacular sights.



A remarkable swarm of Swift (mainly Pallid Swift (Apus pallidus)) possibly running into tens of thousands of birds were accompanied by Griffon Vultures (Gyps fulvus) seemingly coming out of nowhere. There were also swarms of Hummingbird Hawk-moths (Macroglossum stellatarum) on the clumps of Echium albicans and with them, all too briefly and unfortunately not photographed, one of the highlights of the trip for me, a huge Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moth (Hemaris fuciformis).

The fast-flying ascalaphid were numerous here but difficult to track down stationary.

Hummingbird Hawk-moths (Macroglossum stellatarum)





Libelloides coccajus (an ascalphid related to ant-lions and lacewings)


Nikon CP995

Grazalema Mirador

The drive around to the village of Grazalema provided two more Short-toed Eagles (Circaetus gallicus), one perched on a high ledge, and three Dartford Warblers (Sylvia undata) on the edge of the village itself.

Just outide the village at the first mirador on the road to Zahara de la Sierra we had our best encounter with the local buntings (Cirl and Rock), more Black Wheatears and some good insects.

Rock Bunting (Emberiza cia)

Digiscoped with Nikon CP995, Leica APO77 + 20x eyepeice

Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides podalirius)

Nikon CP995

Next - Puerto de las Palomas

Las Covezuelas

Another inspired stop not far from Villaluengo. The highlight was a point-blank encounter with three Bonelli's Warblers (Phylloscopus bonelli) and tantalisingly perhaps the only Rufous Bush-chat (Cercotrichas galactotes) of the trip.

Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus alceae)

Nikon CP995

Next - Grazalema Mirador

Villaluengo Pass

Km 10 on the road near Villaluengo del Rosario and one of the most productive stops of the whole trip. Unpromising at first, a little time revealed masses of birds (Blue Rock Thrush, Rock Bunting, Cirl Bunting, Alpine Swift, Crag Martin, Chough, Great Tit, Blackbird, Sardinian, Subalpine, Orphean and Olivacious Warbler, Griffon Vulture, Stonechat and Black Wheatear) and butterflies (Black-veined White, Morrocan Orange-tip, Spanish Marbled White, Scarce Swallowtail, etc.).

Sardinian Warbler (Sylvia melanocephala)

Digiscoped with Nikon CP995, Leica APO77 + 20x eyepeice

Synaphe moldavica (a skipper-like moth common in the high places)




Bright Wave (Idaea ochrata)


Marsh Fritillary (Eurodryas aurinia)


Black-veined White (Aporia crataegi)


Nikon CP995

Next - Las Covezuelas

Flowery Places

Our first stop in the mountains was the village of El Bosque where the flowers were attracting many insects.


Nikon CP995

Woodchat Shrike (Lanius senator)

Digiscoped with Nikon CP995, Leica APO77 + 20x eyepeice

Black Wheatear (Oenanthe leucura)

Digiscoped with Nikon CP995, Leica APO77 + 20x eyepeice

Brown Argus (Aricia agestis)


Nikon CP995

Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina)

Nikon CP995

Provencal fritillary (Mellicta deione)

Nikon CP995

Cleopatra (Goneopteryx cleopatra), female

Nikon CP995

Royal Burnet (Zygaena sarpedon)


Nikon CP995

Next - Villaluengo Pass

Run to the hills

Our final day was to be spent in the Sierras around Grazalema but on the way we stopped for a look at a quarry near Arcos de la Frontera


Nemoptera bipennis - the long streamers are modified hindwings.


Mylabris quadripunctata


Nikon CP995

Next - Flowery Places

Ojen Valley

We eventually ended up at the renowned Ojen Valley, where Thekla Lark (Galerida theklae) was added to the list along with Melodious Warbler (Hippolais polyglotta) and some more insects caught our attention.

Marsh Fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia)



Nikon CP995

Next - Run to the hills

Seeking Sanctuary

A run around the coast via Tarifa, where a couple of distant Cory's Shearwaters (Calonectris diomedea) and a Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni) added to the trip lifers for some team members. Then on to a shallow valley containing the snappily named Santuario de Nuesta Señora de la Luz.

Nikon CP995

The bottom of the valley held a large swarm of Spanish Sparrows (Passer hispaniolensis) and a pair of Montagu's Harriers (Circus pygargus). Further along the CAP2213 road past the Santuario things got far more interesting and frequent stops provided some of the creatures of the trip including a pair of White-rumped Swifts (Apus caffer) and a Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus). Other goodies included Short-toed Eagle (Circaetus gallicus) and much more.

Tawny Pipit (Anthus campestris)


Digiscoped with Nikon CP995, Leica APO77 + 20x eyepeice

Moorish Gecko (Tarentola mauretanica)

Nikon CP995

Dusky Heath (Coenonympha dorus)

Nikon CP995

Spanish Marbled White (Melanargia ines)

Nikon CP995

Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus)

Nikon CP995

Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina)

Nikon CP995

Paper Wasps (Polistes gallicus?)


Nikon CP995

Next - Ojen Valley

Sotogrande

A brief, fairly unproductive stop at the 'exclusive' resort of Sotogrande. The blue hindwings of the conspicuous grasshopper only show in flight.

Blue-winged Grasshopper (Oedipoda caerulescens)


Scarab Beetle (Scarabaeus sacer?)


Nikon CP995

Next - Seeking Sanctuary

Laguna da Medina

Perhaps the most uninspiring tick of the trip came at this lagoon, which was nearly full of water and supported a fair few waterbirds. The target was Crested Coot (Fulica cristata), but the one or two seen were non-breeders, with no red knobs on the head, and were beyond photography range. Plenty of other wildlife kept up the interest before we pressed on south.

Great Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus)


Digiscoped with Nikon CP995, Leica APO77 + 32x eyepeice

Banded Groundling (Brachythemis leucosticta)

Nikon CP995

Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus)

Nikon CP995

Oil Beetle (Berberomeloe majalis)

Nikon CP995

Next - Sotogrande

Storks at El Portal

Sunday saw us tearing south towards the south coast holiday strip but on the way there were a couple of places to stop. This is a ruin called Azucarera Jerezana with many White Storks nesting.

White Stork (Ciconia ciconia)


Digiscoped with Nikon CP995, Leica APO77 + 20x eyepeice

Next - Laguna da Medina

Nightjar sunset

The final visit of the day was back at the Algaida pines, where we once again failed to locate any Azure-winged Magpies (Cyanopica cyanus). Stationing ourselves at a likely spot just before sunset we had no idea of the spectacle we were to be treated to.

There was still plenty of light when the first snatches of song started up. The rythmic, mechanical sounds of Red-necked Nightjar (Caprimulgus ruficollis) were soon echoing across the heath and it wasn't long before birds started to appear briefly. Occasionally two would tussle briefly and as darkness fell birds could still be seen by torchlight. Then one appeared to be singing very close by and it took a while before we realised it was above our heads singing from near the top of the observation tower. The eye shone back at us in the torchlight before it flew down to the ground.

We can thoroughly recommend the Asador Picantito on the road through Algaida for a late night snack on the way home.

Click for larger pic

Nikon CP995

Next - Storks at El Portal