Sunday 9th April 2017, sunny, very warm 24c.
We left ALCOSSEBRE for ZARAGOZA today, on our way to BILBAO and home for Easter. We took the shorter scenic route via MORELLA, a medieval fortress town, it rises from the plain around a small hill crowned by a tall, rocky spur and a virtually impregnable castle that dominates the surrounding countryside. A perfectly preserved ring of ancient walls defends its lower reaches, I must make time to stop here next year.
Bob, a friend from our campsite, told me about a church on a hill, about half way along the road to Zaragoza, here he had seen the odd butterfly on previous trips and its a safe place for a rest too.
I spotted the church, pulled over and parked my motorhome in the shade as the temperature had climb to about 24c now, early afternoon.
I had a look in the olive groves and the track running along side them first, here I saw Small Whites, Wall Browns, Clouded Yellows, a Red Admiral and a couple of Adonis Blues flying up and down the track, coming to rest on the warm stones actually on the track. Also a possible Latticed Heath moth??
A walk up the hill to the Ermita Santa Barbara church, here I was mesmerised by the aerobatics of 3 or 4 Scarce Swallowtails and a solitary Common Swallowtail, ducking and diving at pace all around and over the top of the church. I stood in the shade, watching for at least 30 minutes, I'd get a quick shot every now and then.
A great end to my winter trip
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Russ
Photo's to follow.