Kiersten Rowland

Adventures, wildlife, and life in the Alpujarras

Notes – 2026

I was very happy that the timing of our trip to the Pyrenees coincided with the flowering of the Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium calceolus) again. It had been in flower for 5 days and flowers for around 15 days. It brings me such joy to see this wonderful orchid. @WildOrchids

Many large yellow slipper type flowers with 4 deep wine colour petals, one from the top, one from the bottom and one on each side. The two on the sides have a twist in them. The leaves to these orchids are green. All the vegetation around is green. Many large yellow slipper type flowers with 4 deep wine colour petals, one from the top, one from the bottom and one on each side. The two on the sides have a twist in them. The leaves to these orchids are green. All the vegetation around is green.

Some call the Northern Bald Ibis the ugliest bird in the world 😱 they might not be the best looker in town but they are full of character thanks to their unique looks! Whilst in the Cadiz province for the week we visited the critically endangered birds yesterday. It looks like the reintroduction site is doing well with many pairs sitting on and building nests. I believe there are now over 50 pairs 😍

The very unique looking northern bald ibis. One bird is sat on a nest of twigs with a small piece of greenery showing, which the other bird stood on the edge of the nest site brought. The birds are large black looking, feathers are quite iridescent in sunlight. They have spiky crazy feathers surround the back of their heads. A bald face with a long pink beak. The nest sites are on a sandy coloured cliff ledge. The very unique looking northern bald ibis. One bird is sat on a nest of twigs with a small piece of greenery showing, which the other bird stood on the edge of the nest site brought. The birds are large black looking, feathers are quite iridescent in sunlight. They have spiky crazy feathers surround the back of their heads. A bald face with a long pink beak. The nest sites are on a sandy coloured cliff ledge.

Sometimes you take a picture, not necessarily a good one, but you feel you could write a story from that one picture. For me, this is one of those pictures 🧐

A photo showing a black and white husky standing on a green grass terrace surrounded by wildflowers and some olive trees. The dog is looking down the terrace towards a white dog and a human who are walking was from him. A cloudy light blue sky and mountains in the distance. The photo has a white boarded frame around it. A photo showing a black and white husky standing on a green grass terrace surrounded by wildflowers and some olive trees. The dog is looking down the terrace towards a white dog and a human who are walking was from him. A cloudy light blue sky and mountains in the distance. The photo has a white boarded frame around it.

I'm seeing this Common Kestrel regularly on the dog walk at the moment. Maybe she is claiming this territory as hers for the breeding season? Or maybe she is just out hunting the same time I walk the dogs! Not quite silent sunday 😁

A common Kestrel just taken off from the top of a metal pylon. She has her wings raised. Her underneath body and wings are light beige with black dots and strips. Her tail is striped black with black edging. She has yellow legs. A common Kestrel just taken off from the top of a metal pylon. She has her wings raised. Her underneath body and wings are light beige with black dots and strips. Her tail is striped black with black edging. She has yellow legs.

Love these two ❀️ They are showing their age but they are still keen to get out for a walk even if its only half an hour.

Two dogs, one white and one black and white, ears alert and mouths open making them look like happy faces. Stood on the edge of an olive tree terrace with small white flowers. Two dogs, one white and one black and white, ears alert and mouths open making them look like happy faces. Stood on the edge of an olive tree terrace with small white flowers.

What a perfect day we had, topped off by a close encounter with a Bearded vulture (Lammegeier) on the drive back down the mountain. Photos to come.

After 20 years I still get amazed that sometimes we can see the Riff mountains in Morocco from our mountains here in Spain. These pictures were taken yesterday on our walk. Long distance views were hazy yesterday but you could still see the mountains over 200km away. In each picture you can see the mountains, even snow on one of the shots. Europe to Africa.

A hillside with pine trees slanting middle left to bottom right. Behind is the blue Mediterranean sea and behind that in the haze are the Riff mountains in Morocco, Africa A hillside with pine trees slanting middle left to bottom right. Behind is the blue Mediterranean sea and behind that in the haze are the Riff mountains in Morocco, Africa

The blue Mediterranean sea and behind that coming out of the haze are the Riff mountains in Morocco, Africa. You can see snow on one of the mountains. The blue Mediterranean sea and behind that coming out of the haze are the Riff mountains in Morocco, Africa. You can see snow on one of the mountains.

A hillside slanting down just below centre right to middle bottom. On the sunlit Mediterranean sea are two ships and behind that coming out of the haze towards the right are the Riff mountains in Morocco, Africa. A hillside slanting down just below centre right to middle bottom. On the sunlit Mediterranean sea are two ships and behind that coming out of the haze towards the right are the Riff mountains in Morocco, Africa.

We've had a rainbow type of day today and this one was particularly bright 🌈 Still the unsettled weather persists here in Andalucia. I should say I zoomed right into this to see how it would look.

Part of a bright rainbow coming down behind a tree covered hill. Part of a bright rainbow coming down behind a tree covered hill.

Awe a nice memory from 15 years ago. Everyone in the shade apart from Tapa who was sunbathing. Clockwise from bottom left - Bruno the Leonberger, Khumbu the Siberian Husky, Taz the cat & Tapa the no idea what breeds were involved in making him haha. None of them are with us anymore 🌈

A group siesta of dogs and a cat laying in various sections of shade, except one dog who is sunbathing. They are all laying on the ground. Palm and Olive trees behind them. A pruned grapevine is in the shot top of the shot right to left. A group siesta of dogs and a cat laying in various sections of shade, except one dog who is sunbathing. They are all laying on the ground. Palm and Olive trees behind them. A pruned grapevine is in the shot top of the shot right to left.

The first of the Giants are on their way. Orchid season is starting to open. Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum robertianum) @wildorchids

Two flowers start to unfurl on a Giant Orchid. The flowers are white with pink tinged edges ans pink dots in the white. Shiny green leaves. Many buds still to open. The orchid is standing among grass and other orchid rosettes. Two flowers start to unfurl on a Giant Orchid. The flowers are white with pink tinged edges ans pink dots in the white. Shiny green leaves. Many buds still to open. The orchid is standing among grass and other orchid rosettes.

In the cloud and rainy dog walk today. Embracing these weeks of bad weather knowing full well summer will be here too soon and it will be too hot!

Two dogs with their backs to the camera. One black and white and one white stood on an ancient rocky muddy mule track, a ruin with almond and olive trees around it and the mule track curving in front. Through the cloud you can just make out the village below. Two dogs with their backs to the camera. One black and white and one white stood on an ancient rocky muddy mule track, a ruin with almond and olive trees around it and the mule track curving in front. Through the cloud you can just make out the village below.

Looking forward to the hillsides being covered in Almond blossom. We are having a proper winter, the blossom is being delayed and no doubt when February comes it will be glorious. The picture is from a few years ago.

A bee heavily laden with yellow pollen on her legs resting on an almond flower before flying back to the hive. The almond flower has white petals with pink smudge in the centre. A bee heavily laden with yellow pollen on her legs resting on an almond flower before flying back to the hive. The almond flower has white petals with pink smudge in the centre.

Here is an up close picture of an Andean Condor, who I affectionately named Cindy, her partner I named Cyrl, ❀️ from our recent trip to Patagonia. We spent a lot of time with these particular birds as they live on cliffs close to the town of El Chalten. We had some pretty close encounters at times as they came into land. Fabulous birds. Only the female has the red eye.

A close up picture of an Andean Condor flying below the photographer as she was coming into land on the cliff. The bird is mostly black, but has a white ruff on her neck and white bands of feather towards the back of the wings. A bald greyish head and beak and red eye. A close up picture of an Andean Condor flying below the photographer as she was coming into land on the cliff. The bird is mostly black, but has a white ruff on her neck and white bands of feather towards the back of the wings. A bald greyish head and beak and red eye.

Today's dog walk reminded us that Arko has a fear, bridges & drops.Maybe his eye sight is not so good now 🀷 A year or so ago he refused to walk past the swimming pool, there's no water in there, but a greenhouse! Middle of last year he decided he wasn't going out, or in, the steps leading out of the garden, he will only go through the main gates. I put on his lead and encouraged him across the bridge he'd turned back from.

Video showing one white dog crossing a bridge over a river. The second dog, black and white husky starts to cross but gets scared and turns around off the bridge running past the person taking the video. The second part of the video shows rather than take the bridge, like the humans, two dogs ford the river. First goes the black and white husky, followed shortly after by smaller white dog. They both love the water but it does get a little deep before they exist the river.

I thought "they' (whoever they are) said living or getting in the countryside is good for your health, better air quality etc! Hmmm not today in Lanjaron it isn't, someone must have said today is the day to burn the garden rubbish. Looks like Spain will have overshot their emissions target for 2026 in one day 🀭

Picture showing a Spanish village, disappearing in smoke, surrounded by hillsides with green trees in the foreground. Grey cloudy sky. Picture showing a Spanish village, disappearing in smoke, surrounded by hillsides with green trees in the foreground. Grey cloudy sky.