string boozel
Well-known member
I recently spent a few days on a short break in Fuengirola and my wife allowed me to get out and try and find something natural amongst the highrises and concrete. For anyone else that finds themselves here I'll write a brief account of what I saw in case it helps build up a picture of what to expect.
Quite a lot of skippers were noted, at least four of which one I've had to put on the I.D part of the forum. The others were Lulworth, Mallow and Dingy, the latter was too quick for a pic and was seen near Guadalmar to the west of Malaga while the others were on wasteground at Torreblanca. This area in a suburb of Fuengirola was a sunny patch of scubby and flowery grassland and produced some nice stuff. If you're in the area look for the hill with the giant bull cut-out and tower and you'll be fine!
Clouded Yellows were fairly common and other whites noted where Portuguese Dappled and Green-striped while there were also many Small and a Large or two about too. Of the browns Wall and Speckled Wood were common and actually looked very similar, rather a few Gatekeepers around and I identified several as Southerns.
A few Painted Ladies were among the more colourful of the types seen though three more spectacular species overshadowed them. Those three were Swallowtail, a Scarce Swallowtail and my star of the show, a Spanish Festoon. When I thought that a lens cap left on the camera cost me a photographic opp I turned the air as blue as the Spanish sky but it thankfully worked out OK in the end - phew!
Many blues had to go unidentified but the few that I could confidently I.D were Common, Lang's Short-tailed and Brown Argus. Finally both Blue-spotted Hairstreak and Small Copper were found but did not hang around long enough for a picture. A Hummingbird Hawk moth was also seen.
If any of my I.D's are dodgy plus let me know, it certainly wouldn't be the first time.
James.
Quite a lot of skippers were noted, at least four of which one I've had to put on the I.D part of the forum. The others were Lulworth, Mallow and Dingy, the latter was too quick for a pic and was seen near Guadalmar to the west of Malaga while the others were on wasteground at Torreblanca. This area in a suburb of Fuengirola was a sunny patch of scubby and flowery grassland and produced some nice stuff. If you're in the area look for the hill with the giant bull cut-out and tower and you'll be fine!
Clouded Yellows were fairly common and other whites noted where Portuguese Dappled and Green-striped while there were also many Small and a Large or two about too. Of the browns Wall and Speckled Wood were common and actually looked very similar, rather a few Gatekeepers around and I identified several as Southerns.
A few Painted Ladies were among the more colourful of the types seen though three more spectacular species overshadowed them. Those three were Swallowtail, a Scarce Swallowtail and my star of the show, a Spanish Festoon. When I thought that a lens cap left on the camera cost me a photographic opp I turned the air as blue as the Spanish sky but it thankfully worked out OK in the end - phew!
Many blues had to go unidentified but the few that I could confidently I.D were Common, Lang's Short-tailed and Brown Argus. Finally both Blue-spotted Hairstreak and Small Copper were found but did not hang around long enough for a picture. A Hummingbird Hawk moth was also seen.
If any of my I.D's are dodgy plus let me know, it certainly wouldn't be the first time.
James.