SPANISH STEPS(PART 1)HELP ME RONDA

The last week has been spent in Montejacque, Andalucia in southern Spain,staying in a pleasant rented house

CHOUGH

DOUBLE CHOUGH

MAIN SQUARE

RONDA BRIDGE

GERANIUM BRONZE

that was advertised in Birds magazine.On our first full day we went to Ronda to stock up on essentials and see the famous gorge,it is a terrific sight with crag martins and choughs flying around.Also found there wasthe geranium bronze butterfly which is a south african species that has established a foothold in southern europe having been imported with pelargoniums to Mallorca in 1990,it has been found as far north as Brussels.

SPOTLESS STARLINGS

CRIMSON SPECKLED MOTH

RED RUMPED SWALLOWS

MARBLED SKIPPER

RED RUMPED SWALLOW

Back in the village found resting on a tower crane were a dozen or more starlings ,not our birds but Spotless Starlings,much cleaner than  ours in fact spotless.The next day was overcast and drizzly so went for a walk at Benaojan beside the Rio Guadiaro,here we saw red rumped swallows,booted eagles,short toed snake eagles,black kite,olivaceous warbler,spotted flycatcher and kingfisher as well as more familiar species.Along the road was a hidden cave called Cueva de la Pieta which cost 7 euros to get in you carried your own tilly lamp and no photos,but it contained some brilliant stalagtites and mites and some primitive cave paintings so on balance it was worth a visit....coming soon The Alhambra and lots of vultures.