Spain - Ronda & the Strait of Gibraltar

Spain - Ronda & The Strait of Gibraltar

Naturetrek Tour Report 2 - 8 November 2017

Griffon Vulture Firecrest

Monarch Red-billed Chough

Report compiled by Simon Tonkin & Niki Williamson Images courtesy of Caz Robertson & Simon Tonkins

Naturetrek Mingledown Barn Wolf's Lane Chawton Alton Hampshire GU34 3HJ UK T: +44 (0)1962 733051 E: [email protected] W: www.naturetrek.co.uk

Tour Report Spain - Ronda & The Strait of Gibraltar

Tour participants: Simon Tonkin & Niki Williamson (Naturetrek leaders and naturalists) with nine Naturetrek clients

Summary

This tour had two bases - a mountain hotel with outstanding food in the quirky and fabulous blue village of Jùzcar, and the tranquil eco-lodge of Huerta Grande in the village of Pelayo, near Tarifa. It yielded a great-quality bird list from mountain habitats, coastal and inland wetlands, salt pans, farmland and Cork Oak forest, as well as views of thousands of migrating and resident Griffon Vultures. Highlights included Ring Ouzel, a huge “chough- eration” of Red-billed Chough and the vortices of migrating Griffon Vultures crossing the Straits.

The group also had encounters with many species, including Black Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush, Rock Sparrow, Crag Martin, Hawfinch, Firecrest, Short-toed Treecreeper, Northern Bald Ibis, Audouin’s Gull, Western (Purple) Swamphen, huge flocks of White Storks, and an exciting Spanish rarity in the form of a Yellow-browed Warbler. Non-avian stars came in the form of Spanish Ibex sauntering along a cliff face, and encounters with Monarch Butterflies.

Day 1 Thursday 2nd November

The group arrived on their respective flights to Màlaga, and Simon and Niki were pleased to greet them at the airport. After handing out a light snack for the journey, we set off on the short drive up into the Serranìa de Ronda, to our first base at Hotel Bandolero - a characterful hotel with outstanding cuisine in the quirky, blue, mountain village of Jùzcar.

En route we stopped for an afternoon-tea picnic in the Sierra de las Nieves National Park, where the group were treated to amazing close-up views of around 30 wintering Black Redstarts, who obligingly posed for photos just metres from where we were eating. We also had our first glimpse of Griffon Vultures circling over nearby hills. The group went for a short stroll around the area, where Eurasian Jay, Woodlark, and wintering Eurasian Siskins were numerous, and we also encountered a Brambling – unusual for the area. A Ring Ouzel was heard but remained elusive, for now.

We completed the brief journey to Jùzcar along scenic mountain roads, where we were surprised to see our first Spanish Ibex, an adult male with impressive horns, grazing at the roadside as we whizzed past!

Our hosts David and Ivan settled us into our rooms and welcomed us to the Hotel Bandolero with a stunning three-course meal of tomato and blackberry salmorejo, spicy chicken and couscous, and a glazed chestnut crème.

Day 2 Friday 3rd November

Today was spent exploring the dramatic mountainside landscapes of the area, where star species abounded. Our first stop was at Los Riscos, an imposing limestone outcrop at 1,400 metres above sea level. After pausing on the way up through Olive groves and Cork Oak trees to admire Corn Buntings and a calling Iberian Green Woodpecker, we ensconced ourselves in a viewing area, high up in the crag. Here we enjoyed the aerial antics of Crag Martins as well as some great views of Wood and Thekla Lark. Cirl Buntings, Sardinian Warblers and

Spain - Ronda & The Strait of Gibraltar Tour Report

Meadow Pipits called from the hillside scrub, and the group got a view of a Dartford Warbler. As the sun began to warm the rock face, Rock Sparrows began to flit across it, and several Blue Rock Thrush sang from the peaks and boulders of the crag. Soon we also spotted a distant Black Wheatear – a lifer for many of the group. An Alpine Accentor was heard briefly but proved elusive today. We were also treated to views of Rock Bunting before we travelled on.

While Niki prepared a delicious open-air picnic for the group, featuring chef Ivan´s homemade chestnut bread, they had some time to wander around the riverbanks and crystal-blue streams near Cueva del Gato. This beauty spot forms the downstream end of a vast eight-kilometre cave system, of which the group would be birding both ends today.

Among the wildlife seen were Common Kingfisher, Cetti´s Warbler, wintering Common Chiffchaffs and Eurasian Blackcaps, Grey and White Wagtails and many Crag Martins overhead, as well as a lovely selection of butterflies including Clouded Yellow, Brimstone (both possible here at the same time!), Bath White and Small Copper.

We then made a brief stop for a reviving coffee at a charming local venta, before continuing on to the final stop of the day at Cueva del Hundidero.

This second cave lies at the base of a spectacular mountain gorge and forms the northern end of the Hundidero/Gato cave system. From a viewpoint overlooking the Montejaque dam, we immediately saw the area´s resident Griffon Vultures circling overhead, and enjoyed great views of Red-billed Chough, both overhead and perched on the rocks in front of us. Scanning the hillsides, we were excited to spot several Spanish Ibex balanced precariously on a rocky pinnacle next to the dam, so we drove down into the gorge to get a closer look.

From our new vantage point, we then spent a wonderful afternoon observing the canyon’s nature, as many species passed through, and eventually came in to roost among the crags and scrub. Northern Ravens, a Booted Eagle and a Peregrine Falcon soared overhead, amongst the ever-present Griffon Vultures. Flocks of Rock Doves frequented the valley, as an increasing number of Red-billed Choughs whirled calling over our heads in an enjoyable phenomenon which the group dubbed a “chough-eration”!

A lone Short-toed Treecreeper fascinated us by foraging for spiders in a small cave in front of us. As well as superb views of Rock Sparrows, Rock Buntings, fighting Black Wheatears and singing Blue Rock Thush, we were also thrilled to catch up with an Alpine Accentor, which perched on a rock for long enough for the whole group to get great scope views.

By now we had seen everything! We returned to the hotel as the sun was setting over the impressive scenery, to more fabulous food, including a sensational fennel and manchego risotto.

Day 3 Saturday 4th November

Today it was time to say goodbye to our lovely hosts David and Ivan, and travel coastwards to our second base in the Straits.

2 © Naturetrek November 17

Spain - Ronda & The Strait of Gibraltar Tour Report

On the way, we spent a morning in the charming historic town of Ronda. Strolling through the attractive park, we found Hawfinch and wintering Common Chiffchaff in the trees. We wandered the clifftop promenades, with views over the spectacular El Tajo gorge, and enjoyed Red-billed Choughs playing and calling over the town.

We took a morning coffee looking right down through the gorge for which the town is perhaps best known, and which separates the city’s circa-15th-Century new town from its old town, dating to Moorish rule. As we supped, we enjoyed a Peregrine Falcon molesting the gorge´s Feral Pigeon population, stooping down between the 18th- Century and Moorish bridges which span the vertiginous gorge.

Descending towards the coast, we again stopped to enjoy our tasty picnic of local cheeses, olives and meats, salads, fruits (and cake!) at the Sierra de las Nieves site. As well as an even larger number of Black Redstarts, Woodlarks and Eurasian Siskins than before, the woodland choir was today joined by calling Common Firecrest, Dartford Warbler and a Ring Ouzel, so we set of into the wooded slopes in hot pursuit! After a little searching, we eventually got views of one of two calling Dartford Warblers. Walking back along the track to the van, we spied an Iberian Grey Shrike, showing beautifully from the top of a bush. It seems the skulking Ring Ouzel was jealous of our admiration of this smart bird, as it chose this moment to show itself, flying conspicuously into another berry bush right in front of the group and giving everybody a really good view!

After a brief comfort and ice-cream stop to further break the journey, we arrived at the eco-lodge of Huerta Grande. We received the customary warm welcome from Katrin and the team, who provided the group with a welcome afternoon drink, as local resident species such as Common Firecrest, Crested Tit and Short-Toed Treecreeper called around us. Simon and Niki then helped the group move into their secluded lodgings, giving them plenty of time to freshen up and relax before dinner.

Day 4 Sunday 5th November

The day began with an exploration of local farmland habitat close to Huerta Grande. From a stopping point a short distance down a farm track, the group had superb views of both pillars of Hercules – the Rock of Gibraltar and the Jebel Mousa in Morocco - marking the mouth of the Mediterranean and the mythical gateway to the civilized world. Amongst the numerous Corn Buntings, Goldfinches, Meadow Pipits and White Wagtails, a group of Bramblings were feeding - an unusual sight in the Straits which only happens in irruption years.

We continued with a visit to the inter-tidal habitat at Playa de los Lances. On the short stroll across pastureland to the viewing hide, we encountered Crested and Calandra Larks, wintering Skylarks, Zitting Cisticolas and Corn Buntings. From the hide we had excellent views of Audouin’s Gulls and a Sandwich Tern on the beach right in front of us. On the sand there were large numbers of Kentish and Common Ringed Plovers and Sanderling. Out to sea were Cory´s Shearwaters travelling over the choppy sea and Northern Gannets fishing enthusiastically. As the air warmed, we could see dozens of vultures rising from their roosts in the hills behind us and forming swirling groups on the emerging thermals.

It was soon lunchtime, so Simon and Niki took the group for a picnic at La Peña, a site near the coast with wonderful views across the Straits. Here we enjoyed further close views of Crested Larks, and a passing Short- toed Eagle, while tucking into our food, washed down with a choice of wines.

Spain - Ronda & The Strait of Gibraltar Tour Report

As we travelled up a scenic road to our next stop, suddenly the skies around us were black with Griffon Vultures, erupting from their roosts at nearby Bolonia and forming huge tornadoes! This awe-inspiring sight led to an impromptu stop in a hilltop layby, where the birds swirled over our heads in towering kettles, accompanied by five bewildered Black Storks! Many hundreds more were pouring in from the surrounding hills, and they soared high over our heads, filling the sky before heading off towards Tarifa and ultimately Africa.

Once we´d caught our breath, we headed on to the colony of resident Griffon Vultures on the rocky hilltops of Sierra de la Plata. Despite the mass exodus we had just witnessed, there were still over 100 birds here and the group were impressed by stunning views as they soared screeching overhead and perched on the rocks in front of us. To our surprise we found two Alpine Accentors, a wintering rarity for the Straits. Scanning through the assembled Vultures, we were also lucky enough to find a beautiful chocolate-brown Rüppell´s Vulture. The Straits is the only place where this African vagrant can regularly be seen, but it´s still not easy to find.

Very satisfied with our day´s endeavours, we headed back to Huerta Grande, via an ice-cream stop at the Mirador del Estrecho, where we watched Short-toed Eagles quartering the land as the evening sun illuminated the Jebel Mousa.

Day 5 Monday 6th November

This morning at breakfast time, we spent a little time going through the contents of Simon and Niki´s moth trap, which included pretty Canary-shouldered Thorns, Frosted Orange, and a migrant Vestal as well as several Spanish species.

Next, we took the opportunity to look for a local rarity which Simon and Niki had found just before the group´s arrival. In the trees just outside their local village of Pelayo was none other than a Yellow-browed Warbler! They had found this species in the same spot two years running, and are fairly sure it is the same bird, now migrating in parallel with the main route of its species but several thousand miles further west! Today there were not one, but two individuals calling from the trees, so he had clearly found a friend to travel with! Barbara was also able to get the close-up encounter with a Monarch butterfly that she had been looking for.

Mid-morning, we headed to a local farm, where a goat carcass would surely soon be attracting the attention of the neighbourhood´s cruising vultures! We took our ringside seats with a great view over the field where the carcass lay. We enjoyed watching the Andalucian morning unfold, with Cirl Buntings, Common Buzzards and Black Redstarts amidst the varied and inventive calls of many Spotless Starlings. Several Vultures cruised over, failing to notice the tasty offering below them. Then one glanced and doubled back to look again; within seconds, there were six more, then there were another 10, then dozens of vultures in the air above us, circling over our goat! They were nervous at first but then one took the plunge – it lowered its legs like a plane´s undercarriage and it was clear this bird was going to land! Taking confidence from the lead bird, soon others were piling in on the corpse. Strangely, after sitting nervously round the body for some minutes, seeming unsure what to do, this group of entirely first-year birds lost confidence and left again. The group were thrilled with these outstanding close views, and some were perhaps slightly relieved at the lack of gore!

We made a comfort stop and gave the group their requested shopping opportunity before taking our lunch in Los Alcornacales Natural Park, on the road to Sanctuario Nuestra Señor de la Luz. This pretty spot is known to

4 © Naturetrek November 17

Spain - Ronda & The Strait of Gibraltar Tour Report

Simon and Niki as the Secret Valley, and here Oleander, Milkweed and native shrubs form a canuta or ´tunnel´ around a tiny stream. It´s a great area for butterflies and views could be had of Monarchs, Geranium Bronze, Red Admiral and Bath White, as well as dragonflies such as Red-veined Darter. Many warblers called from the scrub and Red-rumped Swallows showed well overhead.

After lunch we explored the huge plain of La Janda, formerly a vast wetland which was mostly drained for agriculture in the 19th Century. Fragments of wetland remain amongst the low-intensity farmland, and we spent the morning finding a host of wetland and farmland treasures. Greater Flamingos, Eurasian Spoonbills and Common Cranes mingled with massive flocks of thousands of White Storks, while waders paddled in the mud and Marsh Harriers and a Hen Harrier quartered the land. The group got amazing views of a Western Swamphen (formerly known as Purple Swamphen), iridescent in the sun, and also of a Black-winged Kite in flight over our buses before it came in to rest on overhead wires. Other highlights included Great Egret, Penduline Tit calling, Black-winged Stilt, Pied Avocet, Iberian Grey Shrike and Spanish Sparrows.

After a highly enjoyable afternoon we returned to Huerta Grande for another of chef Juan Carlos´s delicious meals

Day 6 Tuesday 7th November

We started the day with another visit to the farm where we had left our goat carcass the previous day. Miraculously, it was still there, and again many dozens of Vultures were jetting back and forth, including an Egyptian Vulture. However, none were showing interest in the rapidly bloating goat. As the air warmed up, dozens became hundreds, and it became clear that they had migration on their minds. So, after a brief coffee stop back at base, we headed out to El Trafico, a raptor watchpoint on the coast, to intercept them.

As we arrived, it became clear we were in for a migration spectacle of the highest order! Many Vulture vortices, hundreds of birds strong, spiralled above the landscape, and the sky above looked like a scene from the Battle of Britain as they headed out over the Straits of Gibraltar in ranks. Caught up in the flow like Dorothy in a tornado, other soaring birds such as White Storks and Black Kites were migrating with them. The group enjoyed a spectacular picnic just 14 kilometres away from Africa, surrounded by this breath-taking phenomenon, during which around 3,000 birds crossed the Straits.

For the afternoon, we headed over to Barbate, where an area of abandoned salt pans has become a haven for birdlife. Scanning out across the saline mud, we enjoyed views of many Kentish and Common Ringed Plovers, Common Redshank and Sanderling, as well as a group of Audouin’s Gulls and a Eurasian Spoonbill. A Marsh Harrier hunted over the neighbouring farmland, sending Greater Short-toed Larks, Calandra Larks and Eurasian Skylarks into a flurry.

We picked up the googly yellow eye of a Stone-curlew, and on further searching, found another 17 wintering birds. And as the afternoon drifted past, we were treated to a fly-past by 34 Northern Bald Ibis – one of the world´s most endangered birds with less than 1000 left in the wild. Watching these strange beasts head off to roost was a perfect end to an amazing day´s birding, so we headed home to share our highlights while we ate a delicious paella washed down with plenty of sangria!

Spain - Ronda & The Strait of Gibraltar Tour Report

Day 7 Wednesday 8th November

The group´s afternoon flight meant we had time after breakfast for a relaxed walk around the grounds at Huerta Grande, ensuring that the group had had good views of the resident star species such as Firecrest, Short-toed Treecreeper, Hawfinch and Crested Tit.

Seven days had flown by, and it was already time for the group to say “¡Hasta luego!” to Katrin and the wonderful team at Huerta Grande. We made our way to Màlaga airport, where Simon and Niki ensured the group arrived for check-in in good time, before dropping Bill at his hotel until his flight the following day. The group left with plenty of good memories and great photographs to remind them of their time in Ronda and the Straits of Gibraltar.

Simon and Niki thoroughly enjoyed leading this trip from the mountains to the coasts of Andalucìa and sharing the spectacle of Vulture migration with some lovely people!

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G-El Pelayo, Gibraltar by Caz Robertson

Spain - Ronda & The Strait of Gibraltar Tour Report

Species Lists

Birds (=recorded but not counted) November Common name Scientific name 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos 3 2 Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa 2 3 Cory's Shearwater Calonectris borealis 2 2 4 Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis 1 5 Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus 9 6 Black Stork Ciconia nigra 5 1 7 White Stork Ciconia ciconia 2+ 2,000+ 50+ 8 Northern Bald Ibis Geronticus eremita 34 9 Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia 3 1 10 Western Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis       11 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea 8+   12 Great Egret Ardea alba 2 13 Little Egret Egretta garzetta 4 10+ 4+ 14 Northern Gannet Morus bassanus 20+ 15 Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 1 3 3+  16 Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus 1 17 Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus 1 18 Rüppell's Vulture Gyps rueppellii 1 19 Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus 50+ 30+ 500+ 1500+ 3000 20 Short-toed Snake Eagle Circaetus gallicus 5 2 5+ 21 Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus 1 1 3 22 Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus 1 1 2+ 2 23 Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus 20+ 1 24 Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus 1 25 Common Buzzard Buteo buteo 1 1 c.5 4+ 1 26 Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio 4 27 Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus 3 28 Common Crane Grus grus 500+ 29 Eurasian Stone-curlew Burhinus oedicnemus 18 30 Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus 2 31 Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta 1 32 Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus 20+ 33 Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola 1 34 Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula   35 Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus 50+ 10+ 36 Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago 1 37 Common Redshank Tringa totanus 5+ 38 Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia 1 39 Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus 15+ 40 Sanderling Calidris alba 100+ 50+ 41 Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus 2   42 Audouin's Gull Ichthyaetus audouinii 20+ 30+ 43 Mediterranean Gull Ichthyaetus melanocephalus 1 44 Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis     45 Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 5+   46 Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis 1 2 47 Rock Dove / Feral Dove Columba livia       

Spain - Ronda & The Strait of Gibraltar Tour Report

November Common name Scientific name 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 48 Common Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus    100+  2 49 Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto        50 Tawny Owl Strix aluco 1 1 1 2 51 Little Owl Athene noctua 1 52 Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis 1 1 1 53 Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major 1 1 2+ 1 1 54 Iberian Green Woodpecker Picus sharpei 2 1 3+ 55 Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni 1 56 Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus 1 2 1 5 5+ 10+ 2 57 Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus 1 1 1 1 1 58 Southern Grey Shrike Lanius meridionalis 1 1 59 Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius 3 10+ 60 Red-billed Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax 56 20+ 61 Western Jackdaw Coloeus monedula  62 Northern Raven Corvus corax 2 6 3 4 2 63 European Crested Tit Lophophanes cristatus 2 2 1 4 64 Eurasian Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus 5+ 5+ 10+  2+  65 Great Tit Parus major 1 2 1   66 Woodlark Lullula arborea 2 3 6 67 Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis 2 10+ 68 Thekla Lark Galerida theklae 3 c.18 1+ 69 Crested Lark Galerida cristata 20+   70 Greater Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla 2 71 Calandra Lark Melanocorypha calandra 2 10+ 72 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica 2 3+ 73 Eurasian Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris 2+ 40+ 20+ 30+ 50+ 10+ 5 74 Common House Martin Delichon urbicum 2+ 75 Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica 3+ 2+ 76 Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti 3 1 2 77 Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus 5+ 78 Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita c.5 c.10 20+ 10+ 5+ 10+ 5+ 79 Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus 2 80 Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis 5+ 10+ 81 Eurasian Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla 3+ 10+      82 Garden Warbler Sylvia borin 1 83 Dartford Warbler Sylvia undata 1 2 1 84 Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala     1 5+ 85 Common Firecrest Regulus ignicapilla 3+ 1 5 5+ 6 86 Eurasian Wren Troglodytes troglodytes 2+ 5+ 3 3+ 1 87 Eurasian Nuthatch Sitta europaea 1 1 88 Short-toed Treecreeper Certhia brachydactyla 3 1 3+ 2 2 2 89 Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris 1 90 Spotless Starling Sturnus unicolor        91 Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus 1 1 92 Common Blackbird Turdus merula     5+   93 Song Thrush Turdus philomelus     3 3+ 94 Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus 4+ 2+ 3 95 European Robin Erithacus rubecula        96 Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros 30+ 50+ 20+ 10+ 3 20+ 10+ 97 Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius 1 8 98 European Stonechat Saxicola rubicola       

Spain - Ronda & The Strait of Gibraltar Tour Report

November Common name Scientific name 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 99 Black Wheatear Oenanthe leucura 8 100 House Sparrow Passer domesticus        101 Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis 4+ 3 102 Rock Sparrow Petronia petronia 30+ 103 Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris 1 2 104 Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea 4 4 1 1 105 White Wagtail Motacilla alba 1 2 20+ 10+ 30+ 2 106 Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis        107 Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs        108 Brambling Fringilla montifringilla 1 3+ 1 5+ 109 Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes 4 7 10+ 3 3+ 3 110 European Greenfinch Chloris chloris 2 2 3 111 Common Linnet Linaria cannabina 5+     112 European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis        113 European Serin Serinus serinus        114 Eurasian Siskin Spinus spinus 20+ 10+ 20+     115 Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra 6+ 20+ 5+ 30+ 2 116 Rock Bunting Emberiza cia 5 117 Cirl Bunting Emberiza cirlus 3 2 2 2

Mammals 1 Spanish Ibex Capra pyrenaica 1 4 2 Dolphin sp. 5 3 Kuhl’s Pipistrelle Pipistrellus kuhlii 1

Odonata 1 Southern Migrant Hawker Aeshna affinis     2 Red-veined Darter Sympetrum fonscolombii  

Butterflies 1 Swallowtail Papilio machaon   2 Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta  3 Geranium Bronze Cacyreus marshalli   4 Small Copper Lycaena phlaeas  5 Clouded Yellow Colias croceus     6 Large White Pieris brassicae    7 Small White Pieris rapae  8 Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria    9 Holly Blue Celastrina argiolus  10 Brimstone Gonopteryx rhamni   11 Wall Brown Lasiommata megera  12 Monarch Danaus plexippus    13 Bath White Pontia daplidice   14 Mallow Skipper Carcharodus alceae 

Moths 1 Frosted Orange Gortyna flavago   2 Dotted Carpet Alcis jubata   3 Jasmine Moth Palpita vitrealis 

Spain - Ronda & The Strait of Gibraltar Tour Report

November Common name Scientific name 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 4 Campaea honoraria  5 Spiny Hooktip Watsonalla uncinula  6 Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata  7 Waved Umber Menophra abruptaria  8 Willow Beauty Peribatodes ilicaria  9 Crocallis auberti  10 Canary-shouldered Thorn Ennomos alniaria  11 Dorset Cream-wave Stegania trimaculata  12 Idaea antiquaria  13 Vestal Rhodometra sacraria  14 Purple Marbled Eublemma ostrina 

Other Invertebrates 1 Millipede sp. 2 2 Red-winged Grasshopper Oedipoda germanica  3 Egyptian Grasshopper Anacridium aegyptium  4 Wartbiter Cricket Decticus verrucivorus  5 Fiddler Crab sp. 

Reptiles & Amphibians 1 Moorish Gecko Tarentola mauritanica  2 Mediterranean Tree Frog Hyla meridionalis  3 Common Toad Bufo bufo 

Mirador de la Estrecho, Morocco coastline by Caz Robertson