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Yellow Bee Ophrys
Ophrys lutea
© Teresa Farino
The Sierra de Grazalema
Spring wildflowers and birds in Western Andalucía
The Sierra de Grazalema is one of south-western Spain's natural wonders. Its rugged
limestone terrain rises to 1,654m and attracts an average annual rainfall of 2,200mm, providing a refuge for all manner of wildlife
that cannot survive in the arid plains round about. Grazalema is perhaps best-known for its relict Spanish fir forest
(pinsapar), but is also home to around 1,300 species of vascular plant (including some 30 orchids),
as well as more than 220 species of vertebrate, notable among which are a healthy population of Spanish ibex,
the diverse forest and cliff-breeding bird communities and a rich amphibian and reptile fauna.
Grazalema is an outstanding spring destination
for the travelling naturalist. Quite apart from the diversity of birds to be seen in this corner of Spain - ranging from greater
flamingo to griffon vulture, from purple gallinule to blue rock thrush - Grazalema's flora is outstanding, rich in spring
wildflowers and including many attractive species that are confined to the Iberian Peninsula.
Griffon Vultures
Gyps fulvus
© Teresa Farino
During the week we will be exploring the limestone rock gardens, meadows and pastures, Spanish fir forests and dehesas of cork and
western holm oak of the Grazalema Biosphere
Reserve and parque natural (53,439ha). Here we can expect to encounter a wealth of spring-flowering monocots, notably rush-leaved
jonquil and the local endemic Narcissus cuatrecasasii, Spanish Iris, Portuguese squill, Spanish bluebell, Anthericum baeticum,
Ornithogalum orthophyllum and the eye-catching O. reverchonii, as well as many members of the Orchidaceae, including dull, yellow,
bumble-bee, sawfly and woodcock ophrys, and Lange's, green-winged, lax-flowered, tongue, man and dense-flowered orchids. Other
notable spring-flowering plants of
the area include Iberian endemics such as western peony, the white-flowered saxifrages Saxifraga boissieri and S. haenseleri,
the diminutive Viola demetria, the chunky, silver-leaved, viper's-bugloss Echium albicans, the toadflax Linaria platycalyx
and the stunning cliff-hugging knapweed Centaurea clementei.
Ocellated Lizard
Lacerta lepida
© Teresa Farino
Among the birds to look out for are those of rocky habitats such as alpine and pallid swifts, crag martin, rock thrush, blue rock
thrush, black wheatear, rock sparrow and chough, as well as an abundance of griffon vultures (320 pairs breed here) and the
possibility of Egyptian vulture, golden and Bonelli's eagles and peregrine. More Mediterranean habitats harbour Scops owl,
bee-eater, Thekla Lark, Sardinian and subalpine warblers, black-eared wheatear, southern grey and woodchat shrikes and rock
bunting. By contrast, the thick Spanish fir forests are home to little more than Bonelli's warbler, Iberian chiffchaff and
short-toed treecreeper, but our visit to this habitat is likely to be enlivened by sightings of the splendid Spanish ibex and
by western peonies and sword-leaved and red helleborines.
The reptiles of Grazalema are many and varied, with the most commonly seen species including large and Spanish psammodromuses,
Iberian wall and ocellated lizards and western three-toed skinks. Butterflies on the wing at this time of year include
Fennel Flower
Nigella papillosa
© Teresa Farino
eye-catching Spanish festoons, Spanish swallowtails, Large Tortoiseshells and Provence orange tips, as well as green-striped,
western dappled and wood whites, Berger's clouded yellow, Lorquin's and Panoptes blues and Provence hairstreak.
One day during the week we will take time out from the mountains to visit the endorheic lagoons of Espera (and a sherry bodega in
Jerez de la Frontera!). Espera is a fabulous place for birds in late spring, with white-headed duck, purple gallinule and crested
coot all easy to see here, along with black-necked grebe, red-crested pochard, great reed warbler and even stone curlew. Overhead
it is worth watching out for black kite, marsh harrier and booted and short-toed eagles, while closer at hand we might encounter
European pond terrapins, spiny-footed Lizards, Iberian water frogs and dragonflies
such as broad scarlet, blue-eye, Iberian bluetail, common goldenring and lesser emperor. The surrounding Mediterranean scrub and forest is worth examining for
roller, golden oriole, black-eared wheatear and woodchat shrike, while the dry grasslands and cereal fields are coloured by
pheasant's-eyes Adonis spp., fennel flower Nigella papillosa ssp. atlantica, large blue alkanet, yellow cupidone and Cleonia
lusitanica at this time of year.
We will return to Málaga via another endorheic lagoon - Fuente de Piedra - which is home to the largest colony of greater flamingo
in Spain (some 22,000 pairs in 1998), as well as breeding collared pratincole, avocet, black-winged stilt and gull-billed tern.
Lunch will be taken on the summit of the nearby Torcal de Antequera, whose sculpted limestone turrets harbour such botanical gems
as Ranunculus rupestris, Saxifraga biternata, Phlomis lychnitis, Linaria anticaria and Iris subbiflora.
Provence Orange Tip
Anthocharis euphenoides
© Teresa Farino
The Sierra de Grazalema
Leader: Teresa Farino
2009 Dates: Sun. 3 May - Sun. 10 May
Price: £870, including half-board, en suite accommodation in the family-run Casa de las Piedras, picnic lunches, hired minibus transport throughout, all entry fees and the
services of Teresa Farino as leader. A single-room supplement of £100 is applicable.
This is a land-based tour. Flights and travel insurance (obligatory) are the responsibility of the client.
Pick-up details: Teresa will be collecting clients from Málaga airport at 16.00 on 3 May. Many operators - both
scheduled and low-cost - fly to Málaga from the UK, and all that we ask is that you select a flight that arrives before this time,
otherwise you will have to arrange your own transfer to Grazalema. On 10 May, we will be arriving back at Málaga airport at 16.00,
so please make sure that your selected flight does not depart before 18.00.
Alternatively, those travelling to Grazalema independently can arrange to meet the group at the hotel on the first evening.
Group size: maximum 8 clients.
Booking information:
please contact Teresa Farino for further details and a booking form, or if you have any queries about this tour.
| E-mail: |
teresa@iberianwildlife.com
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| Office phone: | (+34) 942 735154 |
| Mobile phone: | (+34) 656 337129 |
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| Address: |
Apartado de Correos 59
39570 Potes
Cantabria
Spain
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