📖 🇪🇸 ~ Spain Visit Pictorial Spring 2023

Thought I'd try something different and post some of the sightings I've managed at the halfway point during my latest visit to Spain. A visit to the La Concepción Jardín Botánico-Historico de Málaga, A drive around the Rio Grande and of course around the gardens and terrace of the villa. I hope you enjoy them!

A quick snap of a Firecrest while taking a breather walking around the Botanical Gardens in Malaga

A female Blackcap takes time out for a bath at the Botanical Gardens

A few large water features around the gardens provide a perfect opportunity ~ Black-tailed Skimmer 

A Serin taking advantage of the water features

Basking in the sun this Turtle ~ Not sure of the I'd but fits Mesoamerican Slider, which would mean an introduced species at the Botanical Gardens.

A Common Buzzard over the villa terrace ~ Always looks different in the bright Spanish sunlight.

A noisy Iberian Green Frog 

Scarlet Darter ~ Botanical Gardens

Orange-winged Dropwing ~ I suppose it does what it says on the tin

A Serin takes shade in the garden

Watching these amazing Bee-eaters along the Rio Grande

Another Bee-eater performs aerobatics over the Rio Grande.

A Cattle Egret from the car window while driving the Rio Grande ~ Luxury Birding!

Western Yellow Wagtail along the Rio Grande

Singing Crested Lark ~ Rio Grande

A Hoopoe forages as I park under some tree cover along the Rio Grande

A Swallowtail butterfly visits the terrace

A Lang's short-tailed Blue ~ A regular to the villa gardens

Another occasional visitor to the garden terrace is a Western Dappled White



A Wood White during a woodland walk at Refugio de Juanar

A Clouded Yellow visits the garden

Booted Eagle over the Villa

We watched from the villa as a wildfire in Mijas is brought under control quickly by the amazing Spanish firefighters. Memories of last year's devastating wildfire come flashing back.