Orchids & Migrants

Today was a lovely warm day and so we decided to walk to Remolar Filipines, which is part of Delta Llobregat. I don't normally visit this site as its about 10km from home but we had the time today. A lovely walk along the beach to get there gave us great views of numerous passing Audouin's Gulls, with an increase in people with the warming weather.

Delta Llobregat, in Spring Sunshine.

It took us about 2 hours to walk there and the first migrants we picked up consisted of a flock of 30+ Barn Swallows & House Martins. It's always nice to see these back to signal the end of winter, even though winter is not at all the same here, when compared to Ireland.

En route to the first hide we decided to stop and check up on some lovely orchid habitat, which is protected with an electric fence to prevent the local Wild Boar from upturning and subsequently destroying orchids. I checked on this a few weeks back and saw numerous immature orchids of apparently varied species. Much to our delight, a couple of plants were now in flower and we could identify them.

The first species was Ophrys sphegodes, commonly known as the Early Spider Orchid. This species begins flowering in March, and was a new species for us both. 

Early Spider Orchid

 
The next species was Ophrys tenthredinifera, or Sawfly Orchid. Again this was a new species for us both. This area held many other orchids, some of which appeared to have different leaf shapes, so it will be interesting to check back in another few weeks. 

Sawfly Orchid

The other orchid we came across was Ophrys speculum, also known as Mirror Orchid. This was another new species for us both, and this one was found growing under a pine tree, and was protected by a wire surround, to keep it safe from the boars. 

Mirror Orchid

From the main hide we had a few migrants, including 6 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Ruff, & 4 Glossy Ibis, as well as a mixed hirundine flock, again.   

A single Ruff with a male Eurasian Teal

Migrant Glossy Ibis

Distant Little Ringed Plover

Spring is accelerating quickly here now and it's great. I'm trying to update my local plant knowledge which is adding extra entertainment to my days out. I'm learning every day and really enjoying it, as it's my first spring here. 

A Capbusset - taken by Alba