Holiday to Spain part 2a
Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2016 8:53 pm
From part 1: - “Something needed to change”
The Change came the next morning … clear blue skies and heat already starting to build up like a warm summer’s day in July
. On Sunday night on our way to the “Safari restaurant” we’d passed rows of Lanterna hedges near the tennis courts, that were in flower and which we being visited by moths. In Tenerife the lanterna was a good nectar source for attracting butterflies so I wasted no time in checking the area out.
It wasn’t long before I got my second butterfly of the trip, a Painted Lady .
Then I noticed another and was kept busy trying to get in close for a picture. The insects seemed smaller than the ones I have seen in the UK 
. Also spotted was a praying mantis (Mantis religiosa) ootheca cemented in the tangled mass of lanterna stems and leaves
Moving onto another area, this time ‘waste ground’ (i.e not yet built on 
) with lots of lush weeds and denser bushes of Lanterna. Again there were more Painted ladies but also a Small White, my third species of the holiday .
While stalking out the Small White I came across a Large white larva with the tell-tale yellow cocoons showing it had been parasitized by a Braconid wasp probably Cotesia glomerata
Though in my element it was time to get back to the others, pick up the hire car and make use of the weather by a visiting “Andy’s Beach” Cabopino on the outskirts of Marbella. I was looking forward not only to the beach, but also a chance to explore the dunes area that I remembered from our last visit in 2007 (September) 
. Back then there were many Grasshoppers, some of locust size but I only remember seeing one butterfly; a Clouded Yellow 
.
Our Ford Fusion hire car was OK, if somewhat troublesome with the automatic central locking (wouldn’t lock on occasions
) At 10Km from the CLC resort, Cabopino it was only a taxi drive away .. but it's far more convenient to go under your own steam. When I arrived the car-park I was surprised to find it fairly full and also to find elevated boarded walkways 
that criss-crossed the dune area allowing access to different parts of the beach. Although there were no obvious signposts I later discovered on the internet, that their purpose was to discourage beach goers and dog walkers from trampling over the dunes, having picnics etc. (and the inevitable mess that ensues from litter and dog faeces) Most important of all, to minimise the risk of fires 
.
The whole dune area eco systems support a range of rare flora and fauna and at one time covered a large area of the Andalusian coastline but has suffered from over-recreational use and beach-side land development. A concerted effort by local conservationists and volunteers had been put in to clean-up, restore and protect the few remaining areas from further exploitation and damage. Justification for the need to protect has been tackled not just from preventing the loss of wildlife but also by raising awareness of the importance of the dunes as a natural defence against the encroaching sea.
http://produnas.org/B/Ecosystems%20The%20Dunes.htm
Facing the sea and to the left of the “Dunas de Artola o Cabopino”, was the commercial beach and Marina featuring the the ‘Chiringuito’ of Andy’s Beach bar, where the staff worked like galley slaves to keep the considerable number of beach goers supplied with food and drink . In addition, live music was provided by (ex-pat) Steve Nelson “the retro boy” and his guitar playing all the favourites from Dire straits; Pink Floyd; Chris Rea; Rolling stones: - the whole works for 3 hours + non-stop 
. All he needed it seems was to be plied with Sangria 
.
After half an hour or so of lounging; reading and chilling the urge to explore the dunes for butterflies was proving too strong. After a quick swim in the sea with the kids I earned permission to go ahead and do my thing .
First thing I did was to photograph some flowers. I’m hoping someone will be able to identify the yellow one and to confirm my own IDs .
Close to the commercial beach was a small area of lusher vegetation in which there was substantial sized lanterna bush. The Lanterna whilst good for butterflies is an invasive species originating from South America. It seemed to be plentiful in Southern Spain. However, before I had a chance to check out the bush my attention was caught by a passing male clouded Yellow low down and continually on the move. I kept track of it and was amazed when it went down to nectar (In France the male butterflies I saw never stopped). Even more pleasing was the fact I was able to creep up on it and get a few shots off before it had had its fill and moved on . However, that wasn’t the end of it because a small butterfly took off to buzz the cloudie intruder and as it did so I immediately said to myself “Small Copper”, (and so it was, my fifth species of the holiday) .
to be continued
The Change came the next morning … clear blue skies and heat already starting to build up like a warm summer’s day in July
. On Sunday night on our way to the “Safari restaurant” we’d passed rows of Lanterna hedges near the tennis courts, that were in flower and which we being visited by moths. In Tenerife the lanterna was a good nectar source for attracting butterflies so I wasted no time in checking the area out.It wasn’t long before I got my second butterfly of the trip, a Painted Lady
. . Also spotted was a praying mantis (Mantis religiosa) ootheca cemented in the tangled mass of lanterna stems and leaves- Ootheca of Mantis religiosa
) with lots of lush weeds and denser bushes of Lanterna. Again there were more Painted ladies but also a Small White, my third species of the holiday .- Pieris rapae
. Back then there were many Grasshoppers, some of locust size but I only remember seeing one butterfly; a Clouded Yellow .Our Ford Fusion hire car was OK, if somewhat troublesome with the automatic central locking (wouldn’t lock on occasions
) At 10Km from the CLC resort, Cabopino it was only a taxi drive away .. but it's far more convenient to go under your own steam. When I arrived the car-park I was surprised to find it fairly full and also to find elevated boarded walkways that criss-crossed the dune area allowing access to different parts of the beach. Although there were no obvious signposts I later discovered on the internet, that their purpose was to discourage beach goers and dog walkers from trampling over the dunes, having picnics etc. (and the inevitable mess that ensues from litter and dog faeces) Most important of all, to minimise the risk of fires . The whole dune area eco systems support a range of rare flora and fauna and at one time covered a large area of the Andalusian coastline but has suffered from over-recreational use and beach-side land development. A concerted effort by local conservationists and volunteers had been put in to clean-up, restore and protect the few remaining areas from further exploitation and damage. Justification for the need to protect has been tackled not just from preventing the loss of wildlife but also by raising awareness of the importance of the dunes as a natural defence against the encroaching sea.
http://produnas.org/B/Ecosystems%20The%20Dunes.htm
Facing the sea and to the left of the “Dunas de Artola o Cabopino”, was the commercial beach and Marina featuring the the ‘Chiringuito’ of Andy’s Beach bar, where the staff worked like galley slaves to keep the considerable number of beach goers supplied with food and drink
. In addition, live music was provided by (ex-pat) Steve Nelson “the retro boy” and his guitar playing all the favourites from Dire straits; Pink Floyd; Chris Rea; Rolling stones: - the whole works for 3 hours + non-stop . All he needed it seems was to be plied with Sangria .- Steve Nelson, loves all the old numbers (cool)
- Andy's beach, the definition of 'chilled'
- Towards dune area with Torre de Ladrones a lookout monument for thieves raiders in Moorish times.
. First thing I did was to photograph some flowers. I’m hoping someone will be able to identify the yellow one and to confirm my own IDs
.- Sea Wallflower
- ?
(In France the male butterflies I saw never stopped). Even more pleasing was the fact I was able to creep up on it and get a few shots off before it had had its fill and moved on . However, that wasn’t the end of it because a small butterfly took off to buzz the cloudie intruder and as it did so I immediately said to myself “Small Copper”, (and so it was, my fifth species of the holiday) .
