The First Orchids and First Eggs

The first orchids are appearing in the Serranía de Ronda area. In the right upper corner is a photo of the Barlia Robertiana taken near Montejaque. These can appear as early as November. The colours can vary between the quite rare pure white to dark purple. Another early species is Ophrys fusca from the "fuzzy bug" family, very different from the elegant many-flowered type of wild orchids.

Today was also a good day for listening to and watching the Sardinian Warblers and Corn Buntings, announcing that spring is in the air. Although humans may still not feel the coming spring, many birds are already repairing their nests and laying eggs. Robins are particularly active; Griffon Vultures are already fussing over newly-laid eggs.

Deer or Ibex?

The Spanish Ibex (Capra pyrenaica hispanica), a wild mountain goat typical of high sierras in Spain, is a graceful and fascinating animal. The Grazalema and Sierra de las Nieves Natural Park are excellent areas for Ibex-watching. However, the animal can be confused, especially at a distance, with Red Deer with which Ibex can sometimes share parts of habitat. Here are a few quick tips how to distinguish between the two species.

Red Deer males

Whilst deer can climb mountain slopes up to a point, they do not posses the ability to scramble up sheer rock faces like Ibex. Deer males will stay in the open to fight during rutting season but in general deer dislike open areas. Ibex feel at home in the open and will often lounge on flat rocks for hours. Ibex do not require dense forests in their habitat the way deer do.

Group of Red Deer - the very large ears well visible even from far away

Group of Spanish Ibex - much smaller ears and unbranched horns both on male and female

Deer dash and run at the slightest sign of danger as soon as they hear, smell or see it. Ibex can endure human presence for longer and they tend to move away from the obsever more slowly though quite "deliberately". Ibex  will maintain a steady distance from the observer and only break into a run when suprised at a very close range or when the observer makes a lot of noise.

Red Deer is a much taller and slender animal than Ibex, its ears are very large, femals do not have horns while male´s antlers are branched. Ibex looks more stumpy than deer, with shorter stronger-looking legs, has smaller ears and black markings on shins; in males these markings are much more prominent and exted up to their thighs, chest and shoulders. Females, males and young have horns which are never branched.  Male´s horns are long and curved and can grow up to a metre.

Male Red Deer (Cervus elaphus)

 Ibex males do not bellow during rutting season the way Red Deer males do. Rocks rolling downhill can alert the observer of a group of Ibex passing by above but Ibex are mostly silent, they will sneeze and snort when disturbed and communicate using body language more than sound.

Male Spanish Ibex (Capra pyrenaica hispanica)