Nature around the house
From the terrace it is possible to see and hear birds such as Common Kingfisher, Blue Rock Thrush, Hoopoe and Azure-winged Magpie on a daily basis. European Bee-eater, Golden Oriole and Nightingale are also plentiful except in the winter months when they are further south in tropical Africa.
A pair of Bonelli’s Eagle also breed in the area and are seen on most days. In the summer and autumn groups of over-flying Griffon Vultures are equally impressive.
Otters live in the stream, and can be seen with a bit of patience and luck. At dusk Wild Boar and Red Deer are regularly seen.
Around the stone walls geckos and lizards can be found, and sometimes a Ladder Snake, warming up in the sun.
The area is rich in flora with several species of orchid, cistus and much more. If the orange trees and cistus are in bloom then there is a lovely scent in the air. There are often plenty of butterflies around the garden, the most impressive of which is the Monarch.
Adjoining the land is a stream, a continuation of the Arade river which begins in the nearby reservoir. This stream can be full of colours and sizes of dragonflies and damselflies. Around the stream it’s possible to enjoy the singing Cetti’s Warblers and various other species can be seen at close range as they come to drink. The harmless Viperine Water Snake is often seen here.
Flora & Fauna
Below is a list of some of the flora and fauna that has been recorded in the area. As you can see it is not complete, and would welcome any sightings and information to make it as complete as possible.
Birds
Mallard
Gadwall
Eurasian Teal
Red-legged Partridge
Common Quail
Great Cormorant
Western Cattle Egret
Little Egret
Grey Heron
White Stork
Griffon Vulture
Short-toed Snake-eagle
Booted Eagle
Bonelli’s Eagle
Common Buzzard
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Common Kestrel
Peregrine
Common Moorhen
Black-winged Stilt
Little Ringed Plover
Common Sandpiper
Eurasian Greenshank
Green Sandpiper
Common Snipe
Yellow-legged Gull
Lesser black-backed Gull
Wood Pigeon
European Turtle Dove
Collared Dove
Common Cuckoo
Eurasian Eagle Owl
Tawny Owl
Little Owl
Red-necked Nightjar
Common Swift
Pallid Swift
Alpine Swift
Eurasian Hoopoe
Common Kingfisher
European Bee-eater
Iberian Green Woodpecker
Great spotted Woodpecker
Lesser spotted Woodpecker
Eurasian Skylark
Crested Lark
Sand Martin
House Martin
Barn Swallow
Red-rumped Swallow
Meadow Pipit
Tree Pipit
White Wagtail
Grey Wagtail
Dunnock
European Robin
Common Nightingale
Black Redstart
Common Redstart
European Stonechat
Song Thrush
Redwing
Common Blackbird
Blue Rock Thrush
Blackcap
Garden Warbler
Sardinian Warbler
Western Subalpine Warbler
Dartford Warbler
Zitting Cisticola
European Reed Warbler
Melodious Warbler
Willow Warbler
Western Bonelli’s Warbler
Common Chiffchaff
Iberian Chiffchaff
Firecrest
Winter Wren
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Crested Tit
Long-tailed Tit
Short-toed Treecreeper
Woodchat Shrike
Azure-winged Magpie
Eurasian Jay
Spotless Starling
Golden Oriole
House Sparrow
Common Chaffinch
Linnet
Goldfinch
Greenfinch
European Siskin
European Serin
Hawfinch
Bullfinch
Corn Bunting
Rock Bunting
Butterflies
Monarch
Red Admiral
Painted Lady
Mammals
Otter
Egyptian Mongoose
Red Deer
Wild Boar
Common genet
European Rabbit
Red Fox
European Badger
Southern water vole
Orchids
Green winged orchid
Man orchid
Sombre bee-orchid
Yellow bee-orchid
Mirror orchid
Reptiles and amphibians
Viperine water snake
Ladder snake
Moorisch gecko
Large psammodromus
Iberian green frog
Common toad
Mediterranean tree frog
Iberian ribbed newt
Spanish pond turtle
Iberian worm lizard
