Torre de Maro 6th & 7th/11/24

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Having been told that this site was good for butterflies I visited it two days in a row. The main quarry was Camberwell Beauty, an individual having been seen on the 5th.

On the first of my visits, together with Noella, the weather was not very sunny though a range of butterflies were nevertheless very active. These included a Swallowtail, several Painted Lady, a fair number of Red Admiral, and a couple of Long-tailed Blue. However, there was no sign of Camberwell Beauty.

Birds seen on the first visit were Black Redstart, Cirl Bunting, Crag Martin, Stonechat, Sardinian Warbler, and a couple of flyover Crossbill.

The 7th was a sunny day and very warm. A Swallowtail was seen again, probably the same individual, Painted Lady were seemingly more numerous, as were LT Blue. However, Red Admiral were barely seen this time. 

Edit: looking at one of my photos taken on the second day it is Lang's Short-tailed Blue as the underwing lacks the broad pale streak of LT Blue. As such a new species for me!

New butterflies included a Clouded Yellow, and very briefly a Camberwell Beauty, though search as I might I couldn't refind the latter.

A Dartford Warbler was seen and heard at the start of the walk on day two, and perhaps unsurprisingly was in the vicinity of a pair of Stonechat.

Torre de Maro

Day 1 route to the top!

View east from the top.

Long-tailed Blue 

Painted Lady

Red Admiral 

Black Redstart 

Black Redstart 

Alypo Globe Daisy 

Day 2 route to the top.

Stonechat

Dartford Warbler

Lang's Short-tailed Blue

Painted Lady

Painted Lady

Swallowtail

Swallowtail

View west from the top on day 2.

Dodder












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