Fields turn golden as the heat steps up a notch, or two!You will be looking out for the wildlife when it is most active – before the midday heat. Earlier morning starts and choosing walks with mature trees for shade, ensures that we get the most of our day, followed by a relaxed afternoon.
Narrow leaves are an asset, so thistle type plants do very well such as; the Spanish white Artichoke, Branched carline thistle, Eryngium, Stemless thistle, and those covered with a resinous secretion – Sticky inula, or which inhabit damp sites – Pennyroyal. Read more about the Sierra de Grazalema here: https://grazalemaguide.com/blog/the-sierra-de-grazalema-natural-park/
Insects dominate the summer with butterflies on the wing being; Clouded yellow, Spanish swallowtail, Swallowtail, Purple hairstreak, Brimstone, Cleopatra, Cardinal, Woodwhite and Lang’s short-tailed blue amongst others. Grasshoppers, bush-crickets and cicadas add the background sound as aromatic leaves scent the air whilst we walk.
Insects in Spain
Read more about the bugs and beasties to be found here in Spain: https://wildsideholidays.co.uk/bugs-and-beasties-in-spain/
Water bodies may be drying out which concentrates the wildlife together. Terrapins share rocks and logs while the Iberian water frogs share the banks, each splashing into the water if we approach. The dragonflies we may see have some very descriptive common names; Orange-winged dropwing, Violet dropwing, Lesser emperor, Common and Red-veined darter, Black-tailed skimmer, Broad scarlet and Western willow spreadwing.
Ronda Today
Everything you need to know before you visit Ronda “The city of dreams” in Andalucia. https://www.rondatoday.com/
Wildside Holidays – Spain
Take a trip on the Wildside! Discover the wildlife and nature of Spain, its Natural and National Parks and find the top wildlife, activity and walking holiday companies.
Clive Muir – Wildside Holidays – Walking, wildlife and culture holidays in Spain
I’ve been living in western Andalucía for more than 20 years and spend much of my time researching and running English-language travel websites about Spain. My work covers destinations including Cádiz, Ronda, Grazalema and the Caminito del Rey, as well as Wildside Holidays, which focuses on walking, wildlife and nature travel in Spain.
Through Wildside Holidays, I share practical information about Spain’s natural parks, mountains, wildlife and walking destinations, drawing on many years of living and travelling in the country. The aim is to help visitors discover Spain’s natural landscapes responsibly and plan rewarding walking and wildlife experiences.