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Great Spotted Woodpecker87 viewsGreat Spotted Woodpecker
Dendrocopos major
Pico Picapinos
The Sierra de Grazalema only has two woodpecker species, this one (with its unmistakable bright colours) and the Green woodpecker.
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Little Owl83 viewsLittle Owl
Athene noctua
Mochuelo Europeo
The little owl can often be heard calling in the daytime and is seen here on a prickly pear just as the sun goes down.
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Griffon Vulture "Bell"81 viewsGyps fulvus
Buitre Leonado
Look closely at the throat of this bird and you can see a goat bell. This bell, fixed by a leather collar and buckle will shorten the life of the bird. A goat herders prank.
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Griffon Vulture "Bell"76 viewsGyps fulvus
Buitre Leonado
Last year, 2006, "Bell" raised a chick. In 2007 we have yet to see this bird!! Perhaps the goat herders prank has caused the death of this huge bird.
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Little Owl76 viewsAthene noctua
Mochuelo Europeo
Little Owls can often be seen out in the daytime, such as this one sitting on a post at the edge of an olive grove.
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Sawfly Ophrys75 viewsOphrys tenthrendinifera
Flor de Avispa
Flowering March to May
Easier to see than some of the other Ophrys due to the brighter colours
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Spanish Ibex Male74 viewsSpanish Ibex
Capra pyrenaica hispanica
Cabra Montes
The suprised face of the Ibex was matched by Clive behind the camera as this alpha male climbed a rocky slope to within a few metres of us!
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Griffon Vulture Underside74 viewsGyps fulvus
Buitre Leonado
Too close to the zoom lense to fit in!! Taken at the Garganta Verde vulture viewing platform.
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Little Owl Crouched74 viewsAthene noctua
Mochuelo Europeo
This Little Owl was not at ease when spyed by the camera lense.
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Griffon Vulture73 viewsGriffon Vulture
Gyps fulvus
Buitre Leonado
Listening to the wind whistle through a Griffon Vultures wings at this proximity is an amazing experience.
Garganta Verde where this photo was taken (near Zahara de la Sierra), has a platform to observe these enormouse birds at their nesting cliffs.
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Griffon Vulture On Rock Face73 viewsGyps fulvus
Buitre Leonado
This vulture has just returned to the nest from feeding. If you look closely to the right in the rock face there is the beak and eye of the partner about to depart.
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Blue70 viewsLarge Blue Alkanet
Anchusa azurea
Lengua de Buey
Flowers March to June on roadsides, cultivated, fallow ground and open garrigue.
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Blue Tit69 viewsParus caeruleus
Herrerillo Común
A common, resident bird seen in woodland, scrub and gardens. A tiny and athletic bird that helps control insect populations.
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Spanish Ibex Group69 viewsSpanish Ibex
Capra pyrenaica hispanica
Cabra Montes
We call this image "Wall Art" as it reminds us of cave art from prehistoric times!
It was taken in Garganta Verde while watching the Griffon Vultures at their nest site.
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Painted Lady69 viewsVanessa cardui
Cardera
Nymphalidae
Flight Time-April to October Larval Food Plant-Varied
A fairly common species that is fast flying and capable of migrating.
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Griffon Vulture Flying66 viewsGyps fulvus
Buitre Leonado
A nearly three metre wingspan stretches against a blue Andalucian sky.
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Green65 viewsLarge Cuckoo Pint
Arum italicum
Aro
Flowers April to May with the seed head as shown following later. Woodland, hedgerows and ditches.
There are several pale green flowers but nothing of a strong green so we stretched the theme to include the unripe seed head.
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Great Spotted Woodpecker On Tree65 viewsDendrocopos major
Pico Picapinos
This brightly coloured resident bird can often be heard calling before being seen.
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Little Owl On Ground63 viewsAthene noctua
Mochuelo Europeo
This Little Owl affectionately known as "Peep" landed on the ground close to us in order to catch a beetle.
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Swallowtail63 viewsPapilio machaon
Macaón
Papilionidae
Flight Time-February to October Larval Food Plant-Fennel
A large and attractive butterfly with strong colours and long "tails".
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Rock Bunting62 viewsEmberiza cia
Escribano Montesino
This fairly small bird, resident bird, with its notable facial stripes can be seen in rocky areas and scrub around the Sierra de Grazalema.
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Little Owl On Prickly-Pear61 viewsAthene noctua
Mochuelo Europeo
A contrast between the soft feathers, hard stare and sharp prickly pear thorns!
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Goldfinch57 viewsCarduelis carduelis
Jilguero
A common, resident bird found in woodland, scrub and gardens, seen here at a flowing stream.
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Swallowtail Butterfly54 viewsSwallowtail (Papilionidae)
Papilio machaon
Macaón
A restless flyer it is best observed when drinking nectar. Flying April to September.
Larval foodplants are fennel, milk parsley and others in the carrot family.
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