Kiersten Rowland

Adventures, wildlife, and life in the Alpujarras

Notes – All years

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Where in the world am I? It certainly doesn't feel like Southern Spain, in particular Andalucia. We have gone from autumn to winter in the blink of an eye. The Sierra Nevada mountains are looking quite splendid in it's first winter outfit.

A view of snowy mountains thought an opening in the clouds. Show's the three highest peaks of Spain's Sierra Nevada. On the left Alcazaba (3371m). In the middle Mulhacen (3482m). On the far right Veleta (3394m) A view of snowy mountains thought an opening in the clouds. Show's the three highest peaks of Spain's Sierra Nevada. On the left Alcazaba (3371m). In the middle Mulhacen (3482m). On the far right Veleta (3394m)

A canal bridge with it's reflection in the canal. Autumn colours just starting on the trees which are also reflected in the water, fallen leaves on the tow path. A canal bridge with it's reflection in the canal. Autumn colours just starting on the trees which are also reflected in the water, fallen leaves on the tow path.

Another favourite of these four ❤️ The two youngsters on either end of the picture, Rita (left) is now 11 and Arko (right) is nearly 9. Khumbu (Siberian Husky) and Kyra (Leonberger) in the middle of the picture are no longer with us. How time passes so quickly.

Four dogs (a white mix, two black and white Siberian huskies and a Leonberger) sitting on the hillside looking towards the camera. Mountainside behind with a pale blue sky and clouds. Four dogs (a white mix, two black and white Siberian huskies and a Leonberger) sitting on the hillside looking towards the camera. Mountainside behind with a pale blue sky and clouds.

over Lanjarón just now. Autumn is always great for bringing colours to the sky.

Sunset over a Spanish village. Orange colour to the sky and orange hue to the picture Sunset over a Spanish village. Orange colour to the sky and orange hue to the picture

The land of the dragons. Who'd have thought the Canary island of La Palma would be home to dragons. This very handsome one is known as Gallotia galloti ssp. palmae, also known by the nickname "barba azul" bluebeard, I think we can see why!

In front of a blurred background is a side on view of the front half of a brownish/greyish/blackish lizard. The lizard has a golden eye with a big black pupil, a blue throat and blue and yellow dots going down the side. In front of a blurred background is a side on view of the front half of a brownish/greyish/blackish lizard. The lizard has a golden eye with a big black pupil, a blue throat and blue and yellow dots going down the side.

I sure miss this pack. Kyra (Leonberger) and Khumbu (Siberian Husky) on the right of the picture are no longer with us. The two youngsters on the left are now 9 and 11 years old. How time passes so quickly.

A picture of 4 dogs on the right side and the full setting moon in a blue sky on the left. Lots of vegetation surround the dogs. Three dogs at the back, one sitting black and white husky, one sitting white mix and one standing sandy coloured Leonberger. Sitting in front of the Leonberger is a black and white husky. A picture of 4 dogs on the right side and the full setting moon in a blue sky on the left. Lots of vegetation surround the dogs. Three dogs at the back, one sitting black and white husky, one sitting white mix and one standing sandy coloured Leonberger. Sitting in front of the Leonberger is a black and white husky.

These roses in a friends garden smell gorgeous.

A rose stem from bottom left with a red rose not fully open in the centre to top right of the picture. Behind the rose is blurred out greenery. A rose stem from bottom left with a red rose not fully open in the centre to top right of the picture. Behind the rose is blurred out greenery.

The first Saturday of September every year marks International Vulture Awareness Day, uniting thousands globally to raise awareness about vultures' importance and the urgent need for their conservation. This is a picture of Griffon Vulture that I took close to home. Vultures: vital guardians of the natural world, not just mere scavengers. Find out more about vultures https://vultureday.org/vultures/

Picture of a Griffon Vulture flying in front of a rock wall. The bird is eye level with the photographer. Picture of a Griffon Vulture flying in front of a rock wall. The bird is eye level with the photographer.

On the morning after our night out in the mountains recently the first light was just hitting a herd of Spanish Ibex. This male was lit up in all his glory.

A male Spanish Ibex making his way through the picture from right to left. Behind him are rocks. In front of him is blurred. The Ibex, the rocks, the thistles, grass, everything is versions of the same colours, they blend into their terrain perfectly. A male Spanish Ibex making his way through the picture from right to left. Behind him are rocks. In front of him is blurred. The Ibex, the rocks, the thistles, grass, everything is versions of the same colours, they blend into their terrain perfectly.

Someone was very proud of her find on the dog walk this morning 😅 For those wondering, no she didn't get to keep it!

Front half of a white dog with a bone in her mouth. Just to the side of the white dogs head further down the hill is the head of a black and white husky. Front half of a white dog with a bone in her mouth. Just to the side of the white dogs head further down the hill is the head of a black and white husky.

Around here Golden Oriole are shy birds making them really difficult to photograph well. Another season has passed without a good opportunity. The closest I had was with this family group just before they left for Africa. They were still out of range of the camera and were messing around before the sun came up so light was poor. Anyway regardless of that, how many can you spot in this picture?

A family of Golden Oriole birds in an almond tree. One adult flying at the bottom of the picture. A family of Golden Oriole birds in an almond tree. One adult flying at the bottom of the picture.

View from this mornings dog walk, we went to the ermita again. I love how the dogs place themselves for a photo when we visit. There was much excitement in the early hours of the morning, we had a band of storms roll through. We were woken not long after 1am and enjoyed hours of thunder rolling around the hills and a spectacular light show. Sadly not much rain fell. It was wonderful to experience 'weather' again after a seemingly never ending summer.

Two dogs stood, one black and white, the other white, on a wall either side of a wooden cross. The view behind is a Spanish rural village on a hillside with hills behind. Clouds in the sky. Two dogs stood, one black and white, the other white, on a wall either side of a wooden cross. The view behind is a Spanish rural village on a hillside with hills behind. Clouds in the sky.

The summer is always a race against the sun 🌞 We visited the little Tajos de la Cruz ermita this morning on the dog walk, always a nice view point and made it back home before the sun came up for the day. I think we are all ready for summer to be done now.

Two dogs sat either side of a wooden cross. A black and white husky is sat on a wall to the right of the cross, a white dog stood to the left of the cross looking over her shoulder. The view behind is of a Spanish village with various hills and some mist in the valley. Two dogs sat either side of a wooden cross. A black and white husky is sat on a wall to the right of the cross, a white dog stood to the left of the cross looking over her shoulder. The view behind is of a Spanish village with various hills and some mist in the valley.

The endemic Parnassius apollo subsp nevadensis butterfly is now on the wing in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Such a graceful big butterfly and one that is suffering effects of the warming mountains, they need the cooler temperature and are moving higher up in search of that! It lives above 1800m. We encountered this one yesterday at 2400m which was having a good feast on the wild Thyme.

A large white butterfly with black circles with orange around the edge of the circles feeding on small pink Thyme flowers. The butterfly has it's wings closed and is looking directly at the camera with it's proboscis inserted into a flower. A large white butterfly with black circles with orange around the edge of the circles feeding on small pink Thyme flowers. The butterfly has it's wings closed and is looking directly at the camera with it's proboscis inserted into a flower.

Out camping in the Sierra Nevada and it was quite windy until the moon vanished around 03.15ish then it was still and the temperature dropped. I took this shot not long before it vanished last Wednesday.

A picture of the moon, not full, in a black sky. Visible are the craters. A picture of the moon, not full, in a black sky. Visible are the craters.

Reintroduced Bearded Vulture killed by wind turbine collision in 🤬

"Incidents like this undo decades of effort in the recovery and protection of Spanish biodiversity. The Bearded Vulture, a symbol of conservation success, faces an uncertain future if current trends continue. It is imperative to learn from this tragedy and take decisive steps to ensure that renewable energy development does not come at the cost of our most vulnerable species." https://4vultures.org/blog/bearded-vulture-killed-by-wind-turbine-collision-in-spain/

I always get a thrill when I am able to spend time with these wonderful birds, natures clean up crew. This bird was seen at first light after we had climbed a peak. Griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus), also known as the Eurasian Griffon, is a large short tailed vulture with excellent eyesight and in flight can spot an animal carcass from a distance in excess of five km (info from Bird Fact).

A Griffon vulture lit up by first light gliding below the photographer. The rocky background is blurred out. A Griffon vulture lit up by first light gliding below the photographer. The rocky background is blurred out.

I love seeing these little insects. Thread-winged Lacewing (Nemoptera bipennis) are like fairies. I saw quite a few of these flying around on our recent overnight trip into the Sierra Nevada.

A beautiful Iberian Spoonwing insect. The background is blurred and the insect is holding onto a dead blade of grass. A beautiful Iberian Spoonwing insect. The background is blurred and the insect is holding onto a dead blade of grass.

From the garden this past week.

A type of Allium. As sphere shape with pinkish tones on a slim brown stem with blurred dead brown grass behind. A type of Allium. As sphere shape with pinkish tones on a slim brown stem with blurred dead brown grass behind.

The first Passion flower of the year. I have no idea how to describe this crazy purple flower with mostly blurred out green leaves behind. The first Passion flower of the year. I have no idea how to describe this crazy purple flower with mostly blurred out green leaves behind.

A baby apple among the green leaves of the tree. The tree was only planted this year and this is it's first fruit. It's a Pink Lady variety. A baby apple among the green leaves of the tree. The tree was only planted this year and this is it's first fruit. It's a Pink Lady variety.

A black cat with tan bits throughout her coat laying fast asleep on outdoor furniture. She says to wake her when summer is over. I didn't have the heart to tell her it's only just started! A black cat with tan bits throughout her coat laying fast asleep on outdoor furniture. She says to wake her when summer is over. I didn't have the heart to tell her it's only just started!

Wild horses in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Always nice to come across these small family groups.

A picture of 4 grey horses looking towards people who are not on the picture. They are stood in the high mountains with rocks, vegetation and snow around. A picture of 4 grey horses looking towards people who are not on the picture. They are stood in the high mountains with rocks, vegetation and snow around.

While back in the UK in May I watched a pair of Blue tits who had nested in a bird house in my Dad's garden going backwards and forwards with food. I didn't get to see the babies fledge, but my Dad reports that they did. Does anyone know if they will have two broods in a season or just the one?

A small Blue Tit bird perched on a metal bracket with a yellow background behind. The bird has a tiny yellow/green caterpillar in it's beak. A small Blue Tit bird perched on a metal bracket with a yellow background behind. The bird has a tiny yellow/green caterpillar in it's beak.

Humid day here in Lanjarón today. Photo from the dog walk this morning. Enjoying the cooler air and getting jobs done that I've been putting off because of the heat.

One white dog and one black and white husky standing looking over a cliff edge towards a Spanish village with low lying clouds. One white dog and one black and white husky standing looking over a cliff edge towards a Spanish village with low lying clouds.

I can hear you thinking "Why is she posting this awful shot?" It is rather exciting. In this picture there are 3 species of vulture. Taken at 2200m in Sierra Nevada mountains, in the Granada province. Among the more common Griffon vultures there is 1 Black & 1 Bearded vulture. The Black is a very occasional visitor to our province. The Bearded is part of a successful reintroduction programme in. Not many have seen this in our province

A photograph showing mostly Griffon vultures flying around, some with a blue sky background and some with the bare mountain with a patch of snow background. The bird circled in red (top left) is a Bearded vulture (the bone breaker), they are trying to breed in the Sierra Nevada after a successful reintroduction programe in Andalucia. The bird circled in purple, just above the skyline on the right, is a Black vulture, not often seen in the Granada province. The birds were a long way off, it's a poor photo, but a record shot of a scene not many people have seen in the Granada province. A photograph showing mostly Griffon vultures flying around, some with a blue sky background and some with the bare mountain with a patch of snow background. The bird circled in red (top left) is a Bearded vulture (the bone breaker), they are trying to breed in the Sierra Nevada after a successful reintroduction programe in Andalucia. The bird circled in purple, just above the skyline on the right, is a Black vulture, not often seen in the Granada province. The birds were a long way off, it's a poor photo, but a record shot of a scene not many people have seen in the Granada province.

I took a sneaky photo of our new neighbours yesterday. I certainly prefer them to human neighbours 😅 These two male Spanish Ibex have taken up residence on a big rock opposite our house. I think I found out who ate my bulbs!

Two male Spanish Ibex laying down, both have noticed the photographer. They are laying on a big rock that has plenty of soil and stones on it. The background of green trees is blurred out. Two male Spanish Ibex laying down, both have noticed the photographer. They are laying on a big rock that has plenty of soil and stones on it. The background of green trees is blurred out.

Perhaps the most exciting bird we saw that day was the Little Bustard. We saw 3 different male birds. This bird is quite difficult to see, besides it's camoflauge, it's habitat is being destroyed so there are not many of them left in our province. Sadly the thing that is destroying the habitat the most are solar farms, thousands and thousands. It's horrific to see.

A ploughed field with a Little Bustard male bird just off centre left. The bird blends in really well to the brown ploughed field. A ploughed field with a Little Bustard male bird just off centre left. The bird blends in really well to the brown ploughed field.

A male Little Bustard flying (there were two) in a pale blue sky. The bird is very duck like while flying and quite comical. A male Little Bustard flying (there were two) in a pale blue sky. The bird is very duck like while flying and quite comical.

Before coming to the UK I got to spend a few hours birdwatching with friends. The most numerous raptor during that time were the returning Short-toed Eagles.

An adult Short-toed eagle flying from the right of the picture to the left. The sky is pale blue. The bird has dark markings and a dark hood, showing it's older age. An adult Short-toed eagle flying from the right of the picture to the left. The sky is pale blue. The bird has dark markings and a dark hood, showing it's older age.

A young Short-toed eagle. The bird is flying from the left to the right of the picture. The sky is a pale blue. The bird has very pale markings showing it's young age. A young Short-toed eagle. The bird is flying from the left to the right of the picture. The sky is a pale blue. The bird has very pale markings showing it's young age.

Back in the UK for a week, timed it right with Bluebell season. These little beauties were up at the church yard. Looking forward to getting to the local woodland at the weekend to see a full display. Just a shot from the mobile.

A small clump of British Bluebells standing in green grass A small clump of British Bluebells standing in green grass

I encountered this super cool insect on our land yesterday. Introducing the Acrida hungarica or commonly known as the Nosed Grasshopper. Also known as Mediterranean slant-faced grasshopper!

A green long thin grasshopper (looks more like a stick insect) It's mainly green in colour. It is resting on stone. A green long thin grasshopper (looks more like a stick insect) It's mainly green in colour. It is resting on stone.