Common Waxbill - estrilda astrild August in Southern Spain is generally not good for birding, but there seem to be even fewer birds around than usual this year. Raptors are virtually non existent, even sparrows and collared doves have gone elsewhere in search of food. I have not been too bothered by flying insects at all this summer, fewer mosquitos, flies, bees or wasps, not even the usual cacophany of cicadas buzzing in the trees. No geckoes or wall lizards around the house, and butterfly numbers are well down. I don´t know why? Possibly the result of a particularly long wet winter.
I have been out and about though since returning from a week in England and did manage to snap this Common Waxbill at the Rio Velez.
I have been out and about though since returning from a week in England and did manage to snap this Common Waxbill at the Rio Velez.
Woodchat Shrike - lanius senator No sign of the Red Avadavats that we saw recently with the Axarquia Bird Group, and a distinct lack of waders or anything much else worth photographing, except perhaps a Woodchat Shrike perched on the overhead wire.
Lesser Emperor - anax parthenope With so few birds to snap I turned my attention to dragonflies, but there were none over the River at all, not a single one! However I did catch some Lesser Emperors hawking along a ditch behind the flood barrier at the back of the beach. I was pleased to see the ditch full of little Marsh Frogs, a promising sign for the future food chain.
 Broad Scarlet - crocothemis erythraea Also in the ditch a solitary Iberian Bluetail damselfly and one gorgeous Broad Scarlet perched on a leaf for a shot.  Marsh Frog - rana ribidunda |  Iberian Bluetail - ischnura graellsii  Marsh Frog - rana ribidunda |
Copper Demoiselle female - calopteryx haemorrhoidalis Next day I took a short walk along the Rio de la Miel to photograph the beautiful Copper Demoiselle damselflies that flit about there in considerable numbers. I also spotted Blue Emperor, Small and Large Pincertail and another largish dragonfly I was unable to identify as it moved so fast without settling. I like the sleek coppery/metalic machine-like look of these damselflies which could have been designed by Pininfarina himself.
Copper Demoiselle male - calopteryx haemorrhoidalis
Crimson Speckled Moth The little Crimson Speckled Moth always makes a colourful macro shot. It stays low to the ground and ensures I get plenty of exercise chasing it around and crouching down to get close enough, but it´s worth it for its attractive wallpapery wing design.
Isabelline/Western Olivaceous Warbler - iduna opaca The week ended on a rather sad note as Elena found a tiny dead bird on our terrace that had flown into a window pane. I only post this as it is an interesting species, a Western Olivaceous Warbler, otherwise known as Isabelline Warbler. Later we heard and saw another one, probably its mate, calling from trees around the house.
