Our outing started off at the Venta Navasillo  where we had a great coffee and toastada stop before driving into the Natural park entrance 500m back along the road.
Our first stop was the water trough found by the eagle statue which often has birders giddy with excitement until we realise it’s a stone statue!,
Here we had a chance meet with local photographer and naturalist Geoff  Simpson who had just filled the trough earlier that morning and reported lots of Chaffinch, Serin, Goldfinch and even two Golden Oriole had visited earlier. We caught a glimpse of a departing Golden Oriole, and Chaffinch drinking.

Geoff was happy to join us and point out some of the fauna on his patch, so along with Kian who had scouted some orchid species earlier, we were guided to a feast of flowers , insects and butterflies, during a few stops on route to the Area Recreativa los Quejigales picnic and parking area.

Ophrys picta K. Khalilian

Ophrys apifera K. Khalilian

Ophrys fusca group K. Khalilian

Orchis langei K. Khalilian

We stopped in a dry riverbed and after a wait were treated to a glimpse of the large and  beautiful Marsh Fritillary. Returning to our cars Kian pointed out a Yellow Bee Orchid very close to where we were parked and almost overlooked. We also stopped to look at some beautiful specimens of wild peonies.

The parking area was beautiful and green and the stream area was carpeted in deep blue irises and Portuguese Giant Squill’s.   Chaffinches were calling from the woodlands and we were lucky enough to catch the sound and a glimpse of a feeding Great Spotted Woodpecker, as well as a Whinchat.

Kian was also delighted to find a beautiful specimen of his favourite Geranium malviflorum

Our walk took us along the valley bottom on a gentle rise out into a more arid environment where we eventually had spectacular views of the distant Sierra Nevada mountain range.
We were treated to glimpses of Ibex, and many bird species including Stone chat, Pied Flycatchers, Robins etc.
On our return route we stopped off at another water trough and were treated to visiting Nuthatch and more Chaffinches, and a male Redstart.