A slide show of the high route to Trevélez in high summer

Having now a better idea of the different butterflies in the area, we decided to count the number of species on an August day on the high route to Trevélez. While ascending through the pine forest we saw a number of graylings resting on trees. In a clearing we saw a Tree Grayling (Hipparchis statilinus) with marbled looking underwings resting on a stone with exactly the same colouring. Almost at the end of the forest, close to a small pond, we saw a number of Iberian Marbled Whites (Melargia lachesis). After having left the forest behind, we entered the world of slate and Black Satyrs (Satyrus actaea), there were literally hundreds of them. At 2400m we saw a Humming-bird Hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum) polinizing a Centranthus nevadensis, an endemic type of valerian. Just before the highest point of the route we saw a number of Blues that we have not identified yet. On the top of the Peña de los Papos (2538m) a Purple-shot Copper (Lycaena alciphron) and a Large Wall Brown (Lasiommata maera) were sunbathing. Another highlight was the reservoir at the top of the Barranco de los Castaños were we saw more Iberian Marbled Whites, apparently they want to be near water. Here we could also take photographs of Clouded Yellows (Colias croceus), Fritillaries, Lang's Short-tailed Blues (Leptotes pirithous) and other types of Blues, all atracted by the flowering ragwort, mentha and thistles. On the descend we saw Dusky Heaths (Coenonympha dorus subsp andalusica), another Large Wall Brown feeding on a yellow thistle, a Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia) that did not want its picture taken and more Blues while crossing a stream. In the slide show we included a Striped Grayling (Hipparchia fidia), not a very good photo but the first one we sighted ever. Apart from the fifteen different species of butterflies we counted, we also saw a number of different grasshoppers and two different types of dragonflies, a male (blue) and female (golden) of a Broad-bodied Chaser (Libelle depressa) and the striking Golden-ringed Dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltonii) near a small natural pool close to Trevélez. We made a slide show with photogrpahs of these insects and their habitats, and of course of the excellent views. For those interested in doing this route, we offer a taxi drop off to the pine forest at 1900m.  This means you could arrive in Trevélez at lunch time, when you do not get off too late, which can be nice on a warm summer day.

Sierra Nevada, a paradise for nature photographers

One of the interesting phenomena of the Sierra Nevada are the insects inhabiting the high peak areas. According to an article on the Fauna de Sierra Nevada on the website of Waste Ideal, there are possibly about five thousand species of invertebrates of which more than a hundred are endemic to this mountain range. A few days ago we took the microbus up from Capileira the Mirador de Trevélez (2,650m) and enjoyed taking pictures of the flora and fauna in the vicinity of this viewpoint. We wandered about on the boggy pastures or borreguiles of the Barranco del Postercuelo and the Barranco del Peñon Negro above the dirt track going to the Refugio de Poquiera. The Estrella de las Nieves immediately caught our eye and we were pleasantly surprised by the number of Apollos, Fritallaries and colonies of Silver-studded blues. We saw one Plebejus Argus being caught in a spider web. We came across a longhorned beetle, Iberodorcadion lorquini, and and a ´smiling´ grasshopper. While walking cross-country up through pebbled terrain we saw many endemic plants, like the Sierra Nevada violet and a black beetle called Pimelia monticola. We followed the Pista de Capileira (antigua carretera de Sierra Nevada) back to the Mirador de Trevélez and photographed a Baetica ustulata holding on to a flower of the Jurinea humilis and an Eumigus rubioi, an endemic wingless grasshopper, enjoying his lunch. A Silver-studded Blue was comparting a flower of the Reseda complicata with a couple of interesting looking insects. While we still had some time left before the microbus would take us back, we climbed up the Alto del Chorrillo, an excellent watch out point with a large ruined building that was used to store supplies in the Civil War. Our selection of photographs of Monday the 25th of July shows that if you´re interested in nature photography in the high peak area, but don´t want to walk for hours, taking the microbus up from Capileira to the Mirador de Trevélez is an excellent alternative. On the way back somebody showed us his inspiring pictures of beautiful flowers, mountain goats and birds. At that moment we were confirmed in the thought that the higher zones of the Sierra Nevada is a paradise for nature photographers, especially in this time of the year.

Erebia hispania or Spanish Brassy Ringlet

The Erebia hispania is now considered to be endemic to the Sierra Nevada and therefor one of the highlights of butterfly lovers that visit this mountain range. The habitat of this Montañesa excéntrica are stony and wet grasslands between 1,800 and 2,900m. On Waste magazine we can read that the number is reducing of this Nymphalidae and that it is listed as ´threatened´. It also says that it flies in the Pyrenees as well. Tristan Lafranchis, in his latest book on identifying European species, divided hispania into two distinct species, ´Erebia hispania´ occurring in the Sierra Nevada in southern Spain, and ´Erebia rondoui´ or the Pyrenees Brassy Ringlet as confined to the Pyrenees. On the fore-wing upperside of the Spanish Brassy Ringlet the orange band becomes abruptly narrower and the black ocelli is reduced ormissing on the male hind-wing upperside. Its primary foodplants are gramineae (grass) and Festuca (fescue). We photographed our Spanish Brassy Ringlet in a ´borreguil´ close to the Barranco de las Albardas (2,600m) at the beginning of August last year. It was sharing its habitat with a Parnassius apollo. We are now planning to go back there in the same week hoping to reencounter this unique Erebia. In Dutch its name is Spaanse glanserebia and in French it is known as Moiré des Ibères.
PS On the 7th of August 2011 we did indeed reencounter a Spanish Brassy Ringlet in the same barranco, see article De Bérchules a Trevélez por el Horcajo.





Related key words: nymphalidae, satyrinae, satíridos, satyridae, satyrines, satyrids, browns, bruintje, brush-footed butterflies, vlinder, schmetterling, papillon, natuurreis, natuurvakantie, turismo de naturaleza, nature holiday

Pseudochazara hippolyte or Nevada grayling

The Pseudochazara hippolyte is called Cuatro ocelos de Sierra Nevada in Spanish as it has four ocelli. This Nevada grayling can be seen flying in Sierra Nevada at altitudes between 1,400 and 2,700m from the third week of June to mid July. The female lays eggs on Festuca Indigesta (fescue grasslands or Nevadan stripped grasslands) that grows on the siliceous upper slopes and summits. The Pseudochazara hippolyte is included in the ´Libro Rojo de los Lepidópteros ibéricos´ (The Spanish Invertebrates Red Data Book), but classified as not threatened. In the Libro Rojo de Invertebrados de Andalucía it is classified as vulnerable. This Red Data Book is available on the internet as PDF and this is for us a good source of information on this butterfly. As there are isolated populations in the different mountainous areas different subspecies are described. In the Red Data Book it mentions that in Sierra Nevada there is a subspecies known as Pseudochazara hippolyte williamsi and that three other subspecies in Spain exist: Pseudochazara hippolyte augustini in the Sierra de Gádor, Pseudochazara hippolyte aislada in the Sierra de María-Orce and Pseudochazara hippolyte reverchoni in north-eastern Andalusian Sierras. According to the information available in 2001, it is mentioned that the populations of the Sierra Nevada are not endangered, whereas the other three subspecies must be regarded as vulnerable because of the low population density, the small number of colonies and the small area they occupy. There are also populations of the Pseudochazara hippolyte in the Ural, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, southern Siberia, Mongolia and China, where they fly at altitudes between 1,500 and 2,000m.
We had the privilige to see a number of Nevada graylings two days ago at an altitude of about 2,500m while walking over a ridge between the Alto the las Chorreras and the Peñon del Lobo in the sierra above Mecina Bombarón. The photo below gives an idea of the fantastic views from this ridge as well as of the habitat of the Nevadaheremiet as it is known in Dutch or Ocellé andalou as it is known in French.




Related links: European interests group of Butterfly conversation in Spain; in the text on the highlights of the Sierra Nevada, Pseudochazara hippolyte or Nevada grayling is mentioned.

Related key words: insectos, lepidóteros, ropaloceros, nymphalidae, satyrinae, satíridos, satyridae, nymphalidés, papillons, vlinders, natuurvakantie, turismo de naturaleza, nature holiday

Libelloides longicornis

Just after writing an article on the Libelloides baeticus, we saw a large number of a different species of owlflies near the Peñon del Lobo in the Sierra above Mecina Bombarón at an altitude about 2,400 metres. We were delighted to see two of them resting on a stem that kept still just long enough to get a picture. A little bit higher up we reached a mountain pasture, and there they were flying around in even greater numbers. The ones we photographed yesterday were the Libelloides longicornis, which occur in a number countries in southern Europe. We found an informative text on the Libelloides longicornis in Dutch on the website of the Soortenbank. We are now looking forward to photograph the other four species of owlflies of Spain: Libelloides coccajus, Libelloides ictericus, Libelloides hispanicus and the Libelloides cunii.



Related key words: ascalaphus libelloides, insectos, neurópteros, ascalaphidae, vlinderhaften, insecten, netvleugeligen, alpujarras, sierra nevada, andalusia, andalucía, spain, spanje, turismo de naturaleza, nature holiday, natuurvakantie, aAscalaphe commun, langfühlerige schmetterlingshaft, netzflügler, schmetterlingshafte, ascalaphidae

Maniola jurtina or Meadow Brown

The Maniola jurtina or Meadow Brown is one of the more common European butterflies and on the terrain of  casa rural El Paraje it is well represented as well. It´s Spanish name is Loba and in Dutch Bruin zandoogje. Last week we took a photograph looking one in the eyes and today we were lucky to take a picture of two of them together. We also found out that the one on the last photograph that is somewhat brighter orange, is actually considered a subspecies. According to Matt Rowling this subspecies called Maniola jurtina hispulla flies in Spain, North Africa and southeren France. He writes that it has orange markings in the underside hindwing post discal band.







Related links: ´Butterflies sighted at El Paraje´, album of photos on our facebook page

Related key words: epinephele splendida, papilio hispulla, große ochsenauge, myrtil, ninfálidos, nymphalidés, edelfalter, vlinder, schmetterling, papillon, satyrinae, satíridos, sayridae, alpujarras, sierra nevada, wandelen, wandelingen, stappen, trektocht, standplaats vakantie, hiking, trekking, berchules, B&B, hotel, wanderungen, turismo de naturaleza, natuurvakantie, natuurreis, butterfly holiday 

Pyronia bathseba or Spanish Gatekeeper

This last week we have seen a fairly large number of Pyronia batshebas on different parts of the finca, in general skulking low down about entwined twigs and branches of scrub. Today we encountered a cooperative one posing on a flower just above the house. According to the drawing of the Spaans oranje zandoogje on the website of the Soortenbank we photographed a male Pyronia bathseba. In Spanish this butterfly is called Lobito listado. The white stripe on the underside hindwing is distinctive for this Spanish gatekeeper and it has an orange upperside with broad brown borders. Larvae feed on Brachypodium grasses, tussock or bunch grasses that grow abundantly on our terrain. Apart from the Iberian Peninsula, this butterfly can be seen in North Africa and across southern France as well.





Related links: ´Butterflies sighted at El Paraje´, album of photos on our facebook page

Related key words: l'ocellé rubané, tityre, ninfálidos, nymphalidés, alpujarras, sierra nevada, wandelen, wandelingen, stappen, trektocht, standplaats vakantie, hiking, trekking, berchules, B&B, hotel, wanderungen

Melitaea didyma or Spotted Fritillary

The Spotted Fritillary is a very variable butterfly and it is said that the underside is the best means of identification. As we have no photographs of the underside yet, we consulted Matt Rowlings. The Spotted Fritillary can be found on his excellent website on European butterflies.
He wrote that he considered the changes in colouration of our ´Spotted Frit´ within the normal range and that it looks like a female judging by the rounded abdomen. We took this photograph of the Melitaea didyma last Monday, an excellent day for butterfly watching. In a few hours we spotted a number of species we had not seen on the finca before like the Spanish Marbled White.



Related links: ´Butterflies sighted at El Paraje´, album of photos on our facebook page

Related key words: doncella tímida, red-band fritillary, tweekleurige parelmoervlinder, la mélitée orangée, damier orangé, didymaeformia didyma, rote scheckenfalter, edelfalter, ninfálidos, nymphalidés, alpujarras, sierra nevada, wandelen, wandelingen, trektocht, standplaats vakantie, hiking, trekking, Berchules, B&B, hotel, wanderungen

Alectoris rufa or Red-legged Partridge

Yesterday guests that were having a drink on the terrace were treated by a close look at a pair of Red-legged Partridges. As they were keen birdwatchers they had there binoculars within reach and enjoyed following this game bird and looking at its colouration. We quite often hear this Perdiz roja and we sometimes see them in the kitchen garden, but so close to the terrace was quite special. A Russian ornithologist who stayed with us in April had taken a number of photos of this bird of which we incorporated one in a slideshow. Here is another photo of this Alectoris rufa taken by Sergei V. Drovetski.



Related key words: rode patrijs, rothuhn, perdrix rouge

Melanargia Ines or Spanish Marbled White

Quite often we see the Spanish Marbled White on our walks and quite recently also on our own finca close to the Barranquilla de Agua. Today we were lucky enough to take a photograph of this Melanargia inés, a species belonging to the family Nymphalidae. It is said to be quite common in southern Spain and Portugal. According to the butterfly-guide.co.uk, the brown ocelli on the underside hindwing of this Spanish Marbled White separates this from other Marbled whites.
Its larvae feed on various grasses and on the text of this butterfly on Waste Magazine it is said that this Medioluto Inés flies in May and June. For our Dutch readers we would like to mention that it is called Moors dambordje.



Related key words:  échiquier des almoravides, ninfálidos, nymphalidés,mariposa, vlinders, schmetterling, tagfalter, familie der edelfalter, B&B, alpujarras, sierra nevada

Zerynthia rumina or Spanish Festoon

The Zerynthia rumina or Spanish Festoon is a butterfly belonging to the family Papilionidae. In Spanish this charming butterfly is known as ´Arlequín´. Its flight period is from March to May, but in Andalucía a second breed in autumn is not uncommon. Articles and reports consider this butterfly’s existence in Spain threatened on the basis of global warming theories.
This morning we came across an interesting article on a Spanish Festoon survey in Cala Higuera in Cabo de Gata and Busquístar in the Alpujarra. One of the observations is: "is interesting to note the variation in colour saturation and pattern. The differences are quite wide and don’t match illustrations of gender difference. Perhaps the wings are not fully expanded on the Alpujarra specimen? The sites are 115Km apart and at very different altitudes (40 m Higuera and 900-1000 m Busquistar."
The larval food plant of the Zerynthian rumina are different of Aristolochia species and because of the rarity of larval food, the Spanish Festoon are not common. Aristolochia baetica is an evergreen climber that can be found along the GR-7 footpath between Montenegro and Mecina Bombarón, it is therefor not surprising that one guests photographed this extremely striking species on their walk from Yegen to El Paraje at the beginning of April. From now on we will pay better attention to the Dutchman´s pipe, which perfectly explains the Dutch name of this butterfly, namely ´Spaanse pijpbloemvlinder´.
PS On the 10th of April 2011 we did see a Spanish Festoon on our estate, but were not able to get a good picture.



Related key words: mariposa arlequín, westlicher osterluzeifalter, spanische osterluzeifalter, proserpine, pages, grote pages, papilionidae, papillon, famille des papilionida, vlinders, mariposas butterflies, schmetterlinge, famille de lépidoptère, alpujarras, sierra nevada, wandelen, wandelingen, wanderung, B&B, hotel, hostal, hostel, bérchules, trektocht, hiking, trekking, standplaats vakantie, wandelvakanties, holiday, urlaub, vacances, GR7

A few excellent bird photographs taken by an ornithologist

The Russian ornithologist Sergei V. Drovetski who stayed at El Paraje recently shared the wildlife photographs he took in the area. It is a great pleasure for us to be able to offer a slideshow of a selection of his bird shots and we feel really grateful for this opportunity. We hope other people will enjoy the photos as much as we do.



Falco Tinnunculus - Common Kestrel - Cernícalo vulgar - Torenvalk
Alectoris rufa - Red-legged Patridge - Perdiz roja - Rode patrijs
Galerida cristata - Crested Lark - Cogujada común - Kuifleeuwerik
Saxicola Torquata - Common Stonechat - Tarabilla común - Roodborsttapuit
Oenanthe oenanthe - Northern Wheatear - Collalba gris - Tapuit
Oenanthe hispanica - Black-eared Wheatear - Collalba rubia - Blonde tapuit
Certhia brachydact​yla - Short-toed Treecreepe​r - Agateador - Boomkruipe​r
Lanius senator - Woodchat shrike - Alcaudón común - Roodkopklauwier
Serinus serinus - European Serin - Verdecillo - Europese kanarie
Emberiza cia - Rock Bunting - Escribano montesino - Grijze gors
Miliaria calandra - Corn Bunting - Triguero - Grauwe gors

Timon lepidus or Ocellated lizard

One of the special moments of the spring Bird Census last Saturday was watching a pair of Ocellated lizards through Gary´s telescope. Antonio Ramos, guide of the Parque Nacional de Sierra Nevada, took a good photograph of these ´lagartos ocelados´ basking in the sun. We read on Wikipedia that this Ocellated lizard  is part of the cuisine of Extremadura. "In this region there is a speciality known as lagarto con tomate. This dish is made by frying slices of lizard in olive oil, after which they are stewed with tomatoes and onions on a slow fire in an earthenware pot." This is something that never would have crossed our minds while watching this wall lizard along the GR7 path between Cádiar and Lobras.



Related key words: parelhagedis, perleidechse, lézard ocellé

Report of the IV Censo de Aves or Alpujarra bird count

Yesterday the 16th of April the IV Censo de Aves took place. The census was led by Antonio Ramos, guide of the Sierra Nevada Parque Nacional de Sierra Nevada, and the local wildlife specialist Gary Morrell. Five people, of three different nacionalities, participated. A total of 45 species were counted of which 7 birds were not seen or heard on earlier bird counts: Sparrohawk (Gavilán), Cuckoo (Cuco), Little Owl (Mochuelo común), Pallid Swift (Vencejo común), Nortern Wheatear (Collalba gris) and the Woodchat Shrike (Alcaudón común). The Collalba gris (Oenanthe oenanthe, Tapuit in Dutch) and the Collalba rubia, the Black-eared Wheatear (Oenanthe hispanica, Blonde tapuit in Dutch) were regarded as the´Birds of the Day´. We saw a male and a female of the Collalba rubia in an abandoned vineyard and we could follow them closely as they were posing on the trunks. The guides agreed that there could very well be a nest somewhere between the vines. We ticked off the bird species that were observed on this census on the ´Listado de aves avistadas en los censos de Alquería de Morayma´ (see related links below).
Apart from counting species, the participants appreciated all aspects of wildlife on a glorious morning in an area of great natural beauty. Four different types of orchids were counted, amongst which the Ophrys lutea or Yellow Ophrys and the Ophrys tenthredinifera. Footprints were found of a Genet and a couple of Ocellated Lizards were observed through Gary´s telescope. Like last time we followed the GR142 to Lobras and returned to the Alquería de Morayma on the GR7. This walk is a route that we offer our guests as well (see map below), but it must be observed that parts of the path along the Rambla Albayar have disappeared. Some people will find it difficult to find their way through this riverbed. You should not mind improvising a little bit following the watercourse northwards until you get to the crossing of the two Long Distance Footpaths. Almost all waymarks of the GR142 have diseappeared on this stretch.





Related articles:
- Report I bird census, II bird census, III bird census

Related links:
- List of birds censuses around Alquería de Morayma (word doc)
- GPS track of the walk
- Slideshow of photos IV Censo de Aves
- Crónica de Carmen: IV Censo de aves de la Alpujarra desde la Alquería de Morayma


Related key words: vogeltelling, orchid, orchidee

Colias alfacariensis or Berger's Clouded Yellow

A couple of days ago we took this photograph of this Colias alfacariensis or Berger´s Clouded Yellow (we think) close to the wall of our large terrace. They say that the Berger´s Clouded Yellow is very difficult to distinguish from the Pale Clouded yellow (Colias hyale). The only thing we go by is comparing pictures and reading about the differences. The Berger’s Clouded Yellow was identified as a distinct species from the Pale Clouded Yellow in 1945 and is named after the Belgian entomologist, L.A. Berger, who made this discovery. This species is considered one of the rarest migrants to the British Isles. In the Netherlands is has been sighted only nine times in the past century, according on the information on this Zuidelijke Luzernevlinder on Vlindernet.nl. On the Guía de Mariposas of the online Waste magazine only the Colias alfacariensis (´Colias de Berger´ in Spanish) is mentioned, would be interesting to know whether this is because this one is the only one sighted in Andalucía.



Related key words: pieridae, piéridos, witjes, weißlinge, gelblinge, coliadinae, dwaalgast, wanderfalter, zuidelijke luzernevlinder, hufeisenklee-gelbling, südliche heufalter, hufeisenkleeheufalter, federfühler-herbstspanner, fluoré, jumeaux, soufré austral, vlinder, schmetterling, B&B, bérchules, alpujarra, sierra nevada, andalusië, andalusia

Vanessa atalanta or Red Admiral

This week we discovered a small corner on our finca that seems to be particularly popular with butterflies. Our white arrow route passes this sheltered spot before you start walking northwards. We visited this ´butterfly corner´ a number of times and saw different types of Whites (Pieridae), an abundant number of Old World Swallowtails, Scarce Swallowtails and the Vanessa atalanta. At first we did not see this Red Admiral (´Vulcana´ or ´Numerada´ in Spanish) butterfly of the Nymphalidae family rest for a single moment. Yesterday it was later in the afternoon and finally one of them decided to have a little break for a moment. Like the Vanessa cardui or Painted Lady it is a migratory butterfly that will fly north later on in spring, maybe to our native country where this ´Atalanta´ is one of the most widespread species.





Related links: 
- Guia de Mariposas on the online magazine Waste Ideal

Related key words: vanesa, almirante rojo, admiraal, admiraalvlinder, ninfálidos, nymphalidés, familie der edelfalter, vulcain, papilio atalanta, pyrameis ammiralis, vulcano, mariposa migratoria, trekvlinder, vlinders, B&B, alpujarras, sierra nevada

Anthocharis euphenoides subsp andalusica or Morocco Orange Tip

Sunday afternoon while walking down our own dirt track enjoying the last moments of sun, we were lucky to photograph a female ´orange tip´ that we had not seen on our finca before. To find the names of new butterflies we always first consult the online magazine of Waste Ideal. Looking at photographs on this website an flora and fauna in Andalusia, we now think that the one we saw is an Anthocharis euphenoides subsp andalusica, a butterfly in the Pieridae family. Another name is mentioned between brackets: Anthocharis belia euphenoides Staudinger, 1869. The Spanish names given on this website are ´Aurora meridional´ or ´Bandera española´ and the English name ´Moroccan Orange Tip´. It apparantly closely resembles to the Provence Orange Tip (Anthocharis euphenoides). In an article on the Provence (Moroccan) Orange Tip by Matt Rowlings from his website dedicated to European Butterflies, we can read that the Provence Orange Tip has only recently been split from the Moroccan Orange Tip. Of this beautiful species he mentions that it flies from April in one generation and that it mostly is over by the end of May. The Morocco Orange Tip (Anthocharis belia) and the Provence Orange Tip are both said to fly in Spain. We hope to be able to take more pictures soon so that we can learn to distinguish them better.
PS We often see the male Morocco Orange Tip - much smaller and yellow with orange tips - flying around today (the 8th of May) we saw it res for a moment for the first time (see last photograph).







Related links: 
- Guia de Mariposas on the online magazine Waste Ideal

Related key words: familia peridos, familie pieridae, witjes, geel oranjetipje, vlinders, alpujarras, sierra nevada,  bérchules, trektocht, trekking, wandelvakanties, holiday, urlaub, vacances

Bird Count, IV Censo de Aves de la Alpujarra 16 de abril de 2011

This coming Saturday the 16th of April at 08.00 hours the second spring bird count will take place starting at the rural hotel Alquería de Morayma in Cádiar. Last year the spring bird census was done on the 18th of April, during which 37 different bird species were counted. It will be the fourth censo, as two other autumn countings were organized. From the map of this announcement the first loop will be done which is a walk of 8,5 kilometres through the beautiful valley of the Río Guadalfeo. Anybody interested is welcome to participate. The ´IV Censo de Aves´ will be led by Antonio Ramos, guide of the National Park Sierra Nevada and by the enthusiastic expert and local wildlife guide, Gary Morrell. For more information you can call us at El Paraje, the Parque Nacional de Sierra Nevada or Alquería de Morayma.



Related article:
- Report of the II Censo de aves de la Alpujarra 18th of April 2010

Related key words: censo de pájaros, bird census, vogeltelling

Gonepteryx rhamni or Common Brimstone

The Gonepteryx rhamni is most conspicuous during the first warm days of early spring when it is one of the first butterflies on the wing following hibernation. This Common Brimstone is said to be one of the longest lived butterflies, living up to thirteen months, but most of this time is spend in hibernation. Their leafshaped wing is designed to act as camouflage while they rest. This butterfly has a striking yellow upper side, but this is not easy to photograph as they keep their wings closed when they settle. At ´El Paraje´ we saw them this morning feeding on the nectar of the Henbit Deadnettle or Greater Henbit. This Lamium amplexicaule is sometimes regarded as an invase weed but it is apparantly an important nectar plant for this beautiful ´limonera´ and for many other insects like honeybees for example.



Related articles:
- All ´butterflies´related posts on this blog (see column at the right for all labels).

Related key words: citroenvlinder, zitronenfalter, le citron, dagvlinder, tagfalter, luzernevlinder, witjes, schmetterling, familie der weißlinge, pieridae family, familie pieridae, famille des piéridés, alpujarras, sierra nevada, wandelen, wandelingen, wanderung, B&B, hotel, bérchules, trektocht, hiking, trekking, standplaats vakantie, wandelvakanties, holiday, urlaub, vacances

Bronze symbols of Sierra Nevada of José María Moreno Rodrigo

For two more days the exhibition ´Luces de Sulayr, Cinco Siglos en la Imagen de Sierra Nevada´ can be visited in the Centro de Arte of Almería. Altough the exhibition is quite small compared to the one which was held in Granada last year, it is still interesting. We especially enjoyed the bronze sculptures of insects, birds and mammals of José María Moreno Rodrigo. His sculputures of fauna of the Sierra Nevada were earlier this year exhibited in the Parque de la Ciencias de Andalucía en Granada. On the website of the Casa Taller Miguel Moreno a list of artistic reproductions can be found, amongst which the twenty-four sculptures that form his project ´Esculturas Símbolo de Sierra Nevada´. The Alpine Accentor is an example of a true symbol, as it is a bird that inhabits the high mountains. On the summits of the Mulhacén and Veleta it can often be observed. It has become quite familiar with the presence of people and does not act shyly at all. Something we experienced ourselves and that is also mentioned on the Spanish text of Prunella collaris or Acentor alpino on Wikipedia.




Related links:
-Catálogo de la exhibición Luces de Sulayr (pdf 19,94 mb)

Related articles:
-Luces de Sulayr, images of Sierra Nevada