Serra de Ronda - Part three and day three

Italian Man Orchid - one of the most impressive orchid species I have ever seen.

Day three – lifers and inspirers.
An early morning roadside stop followed by a short walk along a track proved very worthwhile. First to be seen was a pair of Red-rumped Swallows which were nesting under the road bridge, and the vista in front of us consisted of Cistus covered in white flowers contrasted with the red bark of the Cork Oaks beyond. Bird song was all around us and Corncockles grew next to a nominate form of Sawfly Orchid (another lifer). A Hoopoe and a Robin were seen along with a pair of Cirl Buntings and the distinctive call of a Golden Oriole could be heard close by. As we watched in anticipation for the oriole to show, a Red Deer made her way down the hillside amongst the Oaks, stopping to stare at us briefly before disappearing deeper into the woods. The Oriole showed several times, flashing the beautiful orange and black as it flew quickly back and forth, followed by the lovely call. A Short-toed Treecreeper flew low overhead and a Great Spotted Woodpecker was added to the list.

Nearby we stopped at another orchid site, and it was nice to see Mirror Orchids again, but a small group of Plain Orchids and a single specimen of a Man Orchid would be two new species for me. Griffon Vultures circled overhead and a Raven and two Choughs joined them which were duly mobbed by a Kestrel. Bartsia was growing in both white and yellow forms and delicate Star Clover seed heads could be seen. An Orphean Warbler was heard briefly. We moved on to join a rough mountain track that passed by a little hideaway some of the local old folk had made, complete with an open fire for cooking, and inside were two old gents, one asleep and the other taking things very slowly. There was plenty of bird life to be seen in this gorgeous valley such as Blue Rock Thrushes, Serens, Cirl Buntings, Melodious Warblers and several Black-eared Wheatears. A distant ledge had a Short-toed Eagle perched on the top. Butterflies put on a good show and included Brown Wall, Iberian Marbled White, Black-veined Whites, Spanish Festoon (again too quick for a picture) Cleopatra’s and Clouded Yellows. Ibex, Iberian Wall Lizards and an Osculated Lizard perched on a rock were added to the day list. Moving into the wooded areas the songs of Bonelli’s Warblers could be heard along with flitting glimpses, and a pair of Crested Tits likewise moved through quickly.

Male Marsh Frog

Entering an open valley we were greeted by views of several Woodlarks and a Woodchat Shrike. A large Carpenter Bee flew past and Bath White, Brimstone and Scarce Swallowtail butterflies were seen along with Vipers Bugloss which was only about three inches tall – but when you are growing at an altitude of around 1,300m it is not surprising. Here, I was to be shown probably the prettiest orchid species I have ever seen, a single specimen that was growing amongst some boulders, and aptly named too – Italian Man Orchid. This breath-taking specimen had petals that were indeed shaped like a person, with arms and legs and even two black dots for eyes. This really was an awesome plant which will stick firmly in my mind. Peter’s bag tends to hold nice little surprises from time to time. A Golden Eagle called from somewhere on the high ridge, and behind a hermitage we looked at one of the many pools constructed by the Andalucian Bird Society – this one like the others attracts not only birds but Salamanders, reptiles and insects. In fact, three Broad Chaser dragonflies were a lifer for me. Passing back through the wooded area I saw a Large Tortoiseshell butterfly, Subalpine Warbler and the resident Little Owl perched up near its nest site. A Rock Sparrow showed really well on the return route. Lunch today due to having so much to see was around 3pm, and well deserved too.

Male Rock Sparrow showing the distinctive yellow throat patch

After a late lunch we stopped briefly at the Cuaves de Gato to see Alpine Swifts before moving on to a river area. Here another Golden Oriole was seen and a Grey Wagtail passed close by. Cettis Warblers were calling away and the Nightingales all sang beautifully but stayed well hidden in the Tamarisks and Eucalyptus. A Dipper was nesting under a road bridge and a Marsh Frog sat out in the open for a change made a beautiful photograph. Scanning from a road bridge close by we watched Red-rumped Swallows, another Vagrant Emperor dragonfly, Small Blue butterflies and a Western Olivaceous Warbler. That evening over the gorge at Ronda I watched the Choughs on the cliff ledges and overhead was a pair of Booted Eagles and higher up, six migrating Honey Buzzards.

All pictures copyright of N J Davies.