Kiersten Rowland

Adventures, wildlife, and life in the Alpujarras

Notes – All years

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We often get a good view of the incoming weather. It's been a morning full of showers so far. Grabbed the photo with the mobile.

A shot looking out over the tops of trees, village on the right, towards hills in the distance. The incoming weather is coming from behind the hills. The clouds are heading towards the photographer. A shot looking out over the tops of trees, village on the right, towards hills in the distance. The incoming weather is coming from behind the hills. The clouds are heading towards the photographer.

A continuation from yesterdays video. This is what it looks like after it rains during a thick Saharan dust storm! Mud, the slippiest kind, it was like potters clay. Anything that was outside was covered in it, white houses were now mud colour. The traditional white villages you see here in Andalucia still have not returned to their full whiteness. It was a crazy thing to experience. Mud rain!

Showing a blue dog pool with muddy brown water in it. The floor around the pool is also covered in mud. Showing a blue dog pool with muddy brown water in it. The floor around the pool is also covered in mud.

Showing part of a terrace, the white walls and seating area, table and floor are covered in mud. Showing part of a terrace, the white walls and seating area, table and floor are covered in mud.

Showing a roof terrace, the once white walls are now mud colour and the red roof is covered in mud Showing a roof terrace, the once white walls are now mud colour and the red roof is covered in mud

Another pool covered by a blue cover which has picked up the terracotta colour of the mud. Another pool covered by a blue cover which has picked up the terracotta colour of the mud.

3 years ago today we experienced what it was like to live on Mars 👽 We had a rather thick Sahara dust storm episode 😷 Then it rained and turned it all the slippiest mud you can imagine. Cleaned up, then one week later the same thing happened again, but worse! Spain sold out of power washers!

A short video showing an orange sky this is what happened to the sky because of the thick Saharan dust storm that we experienced. Usually you can see the village of Lanjaron and beyond from this view.

A picture showing rain falling from the sky in the distance, it looks to be falling over the Mediterranean sea or is it on the land? The sky is various shades of grey. There is an almond tree in flower in the bottom right of the picture. Various heights of hills around and a reservoir in the middle. A picture showing rain falling from the sky in the distance, it looks to be falling over the Mediterranean sea or is it on the land? The sky is various shades of grey. There is an almond tree in flower in the bottom right of the picture. Various heights of hills around and a reservoir in the middle.

I wonder if we will get enough snow this season to get the dogs easily to it? The dogs are getting older and need easier access to snow than in years gone by. At the moment the snowline is quite high up. This photo was from a wonderful day we had snowshoeing back in 2021. All the rain in Spain seems to be mostly missing us here 🙄

A black and white husky with pale blue eyes mid step through snow. There is a large rock just to the side of him which is snow covered and few icicles hanging from it. Behind him you see the sun reflecting off the Mediterranean Sea and a blue sky. A black and white husky with pale blue eyes mid step through snow. There is a large rock just to the side of him which is snow covered and few icicles hanging from it. Behind him you see the sun reflecting off the Mediterranean Sea and a blue sky.

A Scarce Swallowtail butterfly resting on a twig. The butterfly is being viewed from above looking down onto it. It is pale yellow and black striped with blue semi circles towards the back ending in two points on the bottom wings. In the centre at the bottom of the wings are two orange semi circles around two blue dots. The body is hairy, you can see one eye and the antenna of the butterfly. A Scarce Swallowtail butterfly resting on a twig. The butterfly is being viewed from above looking down onto it. It is pale yellow and black striped with blue semi circles towards the back ending in two points on the bottom wings. In the centre at the bottom of the wings are two orange semi circles around two blue dots. The body is hairy, you can see one eye and the antenna of the butterfly.

Face to face with a wasp. Not sure what the wasp was upto other than hanging out. It was happy to have a camera lens pointed at it but I can't say it smiled 🤔

Face on picture of a wasp. Black and yellow mean looking insect resting on a grey rock. Blurred out background the orange colour is actually an orange! Face on picture of a wasp. Black and yellow mean looking insect resting on a grey rock. Blurred out background the orange colour is actually an orange!

The beautifully ugly endangered Northern Bald Ibis (Geronticus eremita). This bird, K61, is one of the few birds nesting in Europe. We visited the nest site a couple of years ago and found only K61 at home. We are lucky to have them nesting here in Andalucia.

Picture of a northern bald ibis leaning forward on a rock face. Black plumage with green purple iridescent sheen. A black ruff collar. The head is bald and pink with some black on the top of the head. The eye is red. It's bill is long and pink as are it's legs. This bird has a yellow tag on one leg. Picture of a northern bald ibis leaning forward on a rock face. Black plumage with green purple iridescent sheen. A black ruff collar. The head is bald and pink with some black on the top of the head. The eye is red. It's bill is long and pink as are it's legs. This bird has a yellow tag on one leg.

The same bird as in the first photo but it's preening it's beautiful feathers. You can see the ruff around the back of the head and the feathers on the neck are fluffed up too. You can also see the black markings on the top of the bald pink head more clearly. The same bird as in the first photo but it's preening it's beautiful feathers. You can see the ruff around the back of the head and the feathers on the neck are fluffed up too. You can also see the black markings on the top of the bald pink head more clearly.

Visiting the UK again this past week, we didn't see the sun or blue sky for 8 days. It's amazing when it's the norm how much you miss it. When we took off on our way home we popped out the cloud pretty quickly and found where the sun had been hiding all that time 😎

A picture from the window of a plane looking out at a sea of cloud below and the late afternoon sun on the horizon. A picture from the window of a plane looking out at a sea of cloud below and the late afternoon sun on the horizon.

We visited the little ermita Tajos de la Cruz this morning on the dog walk. Rita has always jumped upon the wall since she was a pup, she's now 11. I don't think she does it to admire the view like us, I'm pretty sure she does it to get a good view point of any Ibex that might be below 😅

A white dog stood sideways on to the camera stood on a small wall, next to her is wooden cross with some red flowers at the base. The sky is a light blue with white clouds. To the lower right of the picture there is a Spanish village and lower left and centre behind the dog are mountains. A white dog stood sideways on to the camera stood on a small wall, next to her is wooden cross with some red flowers at the base. The sky is a light blue with white clouds. To the lower right of the picture there is a Spanish village and lower left and centre behind the dog are mountains.

The choice of clean river water or swamp mud ..... The decision was easy for Arko, he went for the facial 😂

A black and white husky with blue eyes. He has dark mud all over his muzzle making his blue eyes stand out even more. His snow nose is prominent as is his pink tongue. He has quite a pleased look on his face! A black and white husky with blue eyes. He has dark mud all over his muzzle making his blue eyes stand out even more. His snow nose is prominent as is his pink tongue. He has quite a pleased look on his face!

It's the time of year again for the cats to snuggle. They are sisters and have always been very close. Completely different personalities. What amuses us, a lot, they can be snuggling, seemingly asleep, when all of a sudden there's an explosion of cats and they've shot off in different directions 😅

Two cats snuggling in a cream fluffy bed. Two cats snuggling in a cream fluffy bed.

Khumbu was never happier than when he was in the snow. Here he is sporting his snow beard ❤️ He maybe gone but I have many great memories of our years together.

Black and white picture of a black and white Siberian husky. Side view of his head, sporting a snow beard. Black and white picture of a black and white Siberian husky. Side view of his head, sporting a snow beard.

Sometimes having to get up to answer the call of nature is rewarding. Our first night off the icecap two of our tents and the rising sun at Laguna Ferrari in Patagonia on our way back to civilisation, still two days away. This photo was taken in 2014.

Orange sunrise reflecting on a glacial lake. The clouds and lake are orange. In the foreground are two orange tents with a rock wall around them pitched on moraine. A mountain side comes down from the left with glacial moraine on the right side of the lake. Bits of snow can be seen. Orange sunrise reflecting on a glacial lake. The clouds and lake are orange. In the foreground are two orange tents with a rock wall around them pitched on moraine. A mountain side comes down from the left with glacial moraine on the right side of the lake. Bits of snow can be seen.

Each year on his birthday I still think of him. This will be the 6th without Khumbu. I hope he's plenty of snow to keep him happy wherever he is, he sure loved the snow 🐺

A black and white husky looking side on showing his perfectly lit face side on and his snow nose. Behind him are shrubs, mountains and clouds. A filter showing snow flakes has been put over the picture. A black and white husky looking side on showing his perfectly lit face side on and his snow nose. Behind him are shrubs, mountains and clouds. A filter showing snow flakes has been put over the picture.

As the sun set on Christmas day we were treated to a great view of the mountains in north Africa.

Picture at sunset looking over hills and mountains in Spain (Europe), down to the Mediterranean sea and across to the mountains on the horizon just below the changing colour of thin clouds. The mountains on the horizon are on the Rif mountains of Morocco on the continent of Africa. Picture at sunset looking over hills and mountains in Spain (Europe), down to the Mediterranean sea and across to the mountains on the horizon just below the changing colour of thin clouds. The mountains on the horizon are on the Rif mountains of Morocco on the continent of Africa.

The advance party of one! Some of the early almond trees are starting to flower. By February the hillsides of the Alpujarra will be sparkling with the blossom from these trees.

A picture of an almond tree flower. Five rounded white petals with 5 green very small inner petals, splashes of pink at the centre. The flower is attached to a small branch with a flower bud coming off to the right. A picture of an almond tree flower. Five rounded white petals with 5 green very small inner petals, splashes of pink at the centre. The flower is attached to a small branch with a flower bud coming off to the right.

Orchid season is starting 🙂 I found the first of the Sombre Bee Orchids (Ophrys fusca) yesterday. They were living up to their name and were in the shade, this particular area gets no sun this time of year, they make it very difficult to photograph them. I've seen plenty of rosettes around and about so many more to come yet, some may get some sun and make a brighter picture!

A small thin green stem holding two Sombre Bee orchids. The background is blurred vegetation. A small thin green stem holding two Sombre Bee orchids. The background is blurred vegetation.

Can you spot the face in the mountains? It looks like a giant laying down. One from our walk on Tuesday.

At the top a light blue winter sky with high cloud whisking through it. Below the sky are lightly snow covered mountains of the Sierra Nevada. In front of those mountains are more mountains but one looks like a human face, side view. Still coming towards the viewer are forested hills and on the front left of the picture is a green pine tree. At the top a light blue winter sky with high cloud whisking through it. Below the sky are lightly snow covered mountains of the Sierra Nevada. In front of those mountains are more mountains but one looks like a human face, side view. Still coming towards the viewer are forested hills and on the front left of the picture is a green pine tree.

The best vegetarian pizza I have found anywhere in the world came from La Cervecería in El Chalten, Argentina's Patagonia. There was no skimping on the veggies like every other veggie pizza I've come across. Each year I have visited it has been the same standard. To all restaurant owners who sell pizza, take note 😁

A picture showing a pizza full of vegetables. Broccoli, shaved carrot, sweetcorn are the main attraction. There is a pint of beer behind. A picture showing a pizza full of vegetables. Broccoli, shaved carrot, sweetcorn are the main attraction. There is a pint of beer behind.

A beautiful new to us dog walk today. Four dogs and four humans very happy. The winter weather was perfect and in traditional style we ended the walk at a bar 🍻

A white dog playing in the water on the edge of a lake with a stick in her mouth. The sun is making the water glisten. Vegetation surrounds the lake. I don't know what happened to the top of her tail in the photo haha A white dog playing in the water on the edge of a lake with a stick in her mouth. The sun is making the water glisten. Vegetation surrounds the lake. I don't know what happened to the top of her tail in the photo haha

Three people and four dogs walking on a dirt track above and to the side of a lake. The lake is blue with a few ripples on it. Trees and hillsides surround the lake, some wind turbines can be seen in the distance. The sky is blue. Three people and four dogs walking on a dirt track above and to the side of a lake. The lake is blue with a few ripples on it. Trees and hillsides surround the lake, some wind turbines can be seen in the distance. The sky is blue.

A blue lake surrounded by hillsides covered in trees and shrubs. In for foreground a bit of grass and some autumn coloured shrubs. A blue lake surrounded by hillsides covered in trees and shrubs. In for foreground a bit of grass and some autumn coloured shrubs.

A rubbish shot of one of the dogs, the husky, bouncing through the lake water. It's just his body and tail on the right of the picture haha A rubbish shot of one of the dogs, the husky, bouncing through the lake water. It's just his body and tail on the right of the picture haha

Rita often takes herself off to stand on top of things that give her some extra height to survey the goings on. Today on our walk she looked great against the Andalucian blue winter sky. She maybe 11 but she still believes she is the fastest dog in the world!

A white dog standing front on but head turned to the side. Mouth open from panting, showing her pink tongue. A very blue sky with white high wispy clouds. Either side of the dog are small bushes. A white dog standing front on but head turned to the side. Mouth open from panting, showing her pink tongue. A very blue sky with white high wispy clouds. Either side of the dog are small bushes.