The day I met an Ocellated Lizard
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On the trail of the Quebrantahuesos!
The Quebrantahuesos (bone breaker), Gypaetus barbatus, Bearded Vulture, Lammergeier, Lammergeyer or what ever you want to call it, is one of the rarest birds in Europe. Once upon a time it was a common bird in Andalucia, but thanks to poison, poaching and hunting the bird became extinct in Andalucia during the 80′s. This left [...]
Read MoreAn incredible encounter with Golden Eagles
I had the most amazing Golden Eagle encounters yesterday. I was driving up on the Ventura track to extract some Spanish Highs Mountain Guides clients who had been on a 4 day winter mountaineering trip in the Sierra Nevada. On the drive up a Golden Eagle flew right over the car so close, I stopped [...]
Read MoreA fascinating live Bald Eagle Webcam
Thanks to one of Khumbu’s twitter friends (Norwoodsworld) mum who sent me a link to this incredible live webcam of a Bald Eagle nest in America. It belongs to an organisation called the Raptor Resource Project who do a great job and specialise in the preservation of falcons, eagles, ospreys, hawks, and owls. Established in [...]
Read MoreWhite-throated Caracara in Patagonia
Thought you might like to see one of the characters I met whilst in Patagonia recently. Its a White-throated Caracara (phalcoboenus albogularis). We had walked to the Laguna Torre to get a nice close view of one of the most iconic mountains in the world, Cerro Torre, whilst admiring the view the Caracara came along [...]
Read MoreThread-waisted Wasp (Sceliphron spirifex)
Living here in the campo of Lanjaron in Andalucia you get used to seeing some strange insects. I photographed this one the other day. It is a Thread-waisted Wasp. No need to worry about these they are solitary and non-aggressive unless mishandled.
Read MoreScorpion! – Buthus occitanus or Buthus ibericus
So there I was minding my own business weeding away in the veggie garden, when I felt a sharp pain in my finger. I took my glove off to investigate what the problem was but noticed movement to my right. . . . . a scorpion making a run for it! I think I had [...]
Read MoreUp close and personal with a Griffon Vulture
Vultures, they are not the prettiest of birds, well some are, but their sheer size has me in awe of them. How can an animal have a wing span of up to 9ft and such a tiny head? When you see them flying on the thermals they make it look so effortless, just the odd [...]
Read MoreSpider – Araneus diadematus
I found this spider hanging out at a friends house above Lanjaron, its been identified as :- English – Cross Spider Spanish - Araña de la Cruz Latin – Araneus diadematus This species of spider is “Spider of the year 2010″ and is being studied by the Iberian Aracnologic Group who are collecting data and detailed pictures. [...]
Read MoreDragon fly – Desert Darter (Sympetrum sinaiticum)
Out with the camera again and I had another encounter with a dragon fly, different one this time, this one is a Desert Darter and is comparatively scarce in Spain, but in recent years it has started to become more frequently encountered, it is classed as a good find. It is a species of arid regions and [...]
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