On Cerro del Lopera, Sierra Nevada beyond Possibly the last Wednesday Walking Group ramble of the season as Summer is suddenly upon us. Temperature and humidity have soared so it was a good idea to go high into the Sierras where it was slightly cooler and dryer. It was a one hour drive to the Agricultural College above Orgiva, 1215 m. above sea level. Click on the photo to see a map with details of the route. The highest point was 1493 metres at the Trig. point on Cerro del Lopero, from where the views out to sea and across the Sierras were breathtaking.
Mulhacen and Veleta The photo above with Sierra Nevada snow in the distance was taken with an 8 - 16 mm lens. I then switched to 400mm, no cropping, to hone in on the snowy peaks of Mulhacen (3,478.6m) and Veleta (3,396m). The ski season up there has only just finished and Bob and I skied last week, so I have now skied there in every month from October to May, impressive for a Mediterranean resort.
The same 400mm lens was used to shoot these Five-spot Burnet Moths, a common day flying species that make a nice clean picture on some tall dry twigs. Fitting extension tubes allowed me to blow away the background & highlight the insects by using the lens in close-up mode.
The same 400mm lens was used to shoot these Five-spot Burnet Moths, a common day flying species that make a nice clean picture on some tall dry twigs. Fitting extension tubes allowed me to blow away the background & highlight the insects by using the lens in close-up mode.
 Five-spot Burnet Moths - zygaena filipendula |  Five-spot Burnet Moths - zygaena filipendula |
Pied Flycatcher - ficedula hypoleuca Here´s another shot with a nice creamy-soft background, this time created by the light being filtered through fresh leaves on the tree in which the Pied Flycatcher was sitting.
Woodland path I know this is primarily a wildlife blog, but I post a couple more shots of the varied environment along this walk. It´s an easy trail which has a bit of everything, woodland, pasture, open country and mountain and sea views. What better way to spend the day? and full of possibilities for the amateur photographer. For example these horses decided to walk with us for a while, we thought for the pleasure of our company. However it was purely coincidental, they were on their way to the water trough, it was a hot day after all.
 Pasture |  Water trough |
Swallowtail - papillo machaon I picked up a nice Swallowtail Butterfly along the way. Common I know but always photogenic. They are something of a rarity in Britain and I remember people traveling to Norfolk from other parts of Britain in the hope of seeing this iconic species. They should come to Spain, we have lots!
Blue Rock Thrush male - monticola solitarius After the walk we ate at a restaurant in Orgiva, where from the dining terrace we watched a nesting pair of Blue Rock Thrushes, the only residents of an otherwise abandoned building site. The bank´s loss has obviously been their gain.
| The female was constantly seeking attention with a rather plaintive mewing call, very unlike the superb song of the male when he is seeking a mate.  |  Blue Rock Thrush female - monticola solitarius |
I left Orgiva to go straight to a Frigiliana Camera Club photoshoot at the fishing port in Motril. Elena had a lift home to Nerja. Once again I am mindful that this is primarily a wildlife blog, but I would like to post a few photos from the Club shoot. The fishermen´s faces tell it all, they have seen good times and bad. These guys remind me of my home town of Lowestoft, a fishing port where the men who ply this trade are hardy and self reliant.
 Moored up in Motril |  Andalucian Fisherman 1 |  Andalucian Fisherman 2 |
