More Spain

 

 

 This is the little hamlet of Riglos, a bit touristy owing to these spectacular sandstone cliffs, the scale of which is hard to imagine until you get up close. They are home to lots of Vultures as well as a dead cert wintering location for Wallcreepers which can be found, with patience, in the shady crevices I was told.

 

so here we are a bit closer having parked the car just outside the hamlet

 

 

As I climbed nearer this Black Kite came drifting over me

 

and then I saw the first wallcreeper, aka rock climber!

(and, no, he hasn't got a bare bum, its his "ordinary" shoes slung round his waist if you look closely!). I don't fancy this as a pastime at all, thanks. There were 4 lots there today

 

From here, just turn round and admire the view while waiting for the Wallcreepers to appear

This plant caught my eye tho' I've no idea what it is - have you?

 

I spent 4 hours here gazing into shady crevices like this without any Wallcreepers showing themselves - there was a brief glimpse of a Blue Rock Thrush, photograph impossible. This view also shows Griffon Vulture nest ledges ( look for the white poo)

 

Oh look! There's one now

This place was very quaint and narrow, a bit like Loporzano but more hilly

 

and this yellow plant was very striking but, to me, unscented

 

 

this next picture, which I've twiddled a bit, gives some sense of scale, and the bravery of the rock climbers; they frightened me 

 

 

So, I failed to see the Wallcreepers here, oh well!

 

Next day I went South into the steppes and regretted not taking my telescope. Apart from the larks present, all other stuff was a long way away, or very wary. A good camera, together with the skill to make the most of it, like Steve Ray or Phil Smith, are also essential; so, with apologies, no pics of the goodies found . This first view is typical of the scenery, quite unlike any other part of Spain I've been to

 

Here is the place I was directed to, where I found Stone Curlew, Calandra, Thekla, Short Toed, Lesser Short Toed, Crested and possibly Dupont's Lark, Black Bellied and Pin Tailed Sandgrouse, Tawny Pipit, Short Toed Eagle, and Linnet!

Later, at a small lake and reedbed,  I found the warden, one Alberto - smashing bloke, who was very excited by the prescence, among the Red Crested Pochard and Black Necked Grebe, of a pair of Tufted Duck! 

 

 Later, back at Loporzano, another walk into the low hills at the back of the village as a thunderstorm brewed up in the hills

 

 

the scent of this almond blossom was just superb

and as the sky darkened, the blossom itself seemed to glow, it was all very dramatic, and I couldn't resist getting all arty!

 

Back at the church the White Storks were at home on the somewhat crumbling tower

and as it started to rain I headed back, stopping for this pic of the Castell Montearagon

 

When I got back to Boletas, somewhat damp, the Storks were down feeding, and this is my attempt to photograph them at the end of the rainbow!

 

My prize for getting wet was this butterfly photographed while the sun was still shining, a superb Spanish Festoon. It was worth the trip almost just to see this

 

 

 

Final part 4 to come