Kiersten Rowland

Adventures, wildlife, and life in the Alpujarras

Notes – 2023

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Another scene from down on the coast the other day. This dog posed so perfectly it was impossible not to take a picture of it with the owner who was fishing.

The almost silhouette of a dog stood behind it's owner who is holding a long fishing rod and is fishing off the end of a wall. The calm grey Mediterranean sea and grey sky. The almost silhouette of a dog stood behind it's owner who is holding a long fishing rod and is fishing off the end of a wall. The calm grey Mediterranean sea and grey sky.

Down at the coast yesterday I was trying to photograph a bird flying above the sea when I was aware of movement in the water. I forgot about the bird and concentrated on the movement, watching for ages as this thing flopped about on the surface. I was baffled by what I was seeing, something twigged in my head hey that has to be a Sunfish. Today I did some research and yep I can confidently say it was a Sunfish.

A picture showing a fin sticking out of the sea. Grey sea and various shades of grey fin A picture showing a fin sticking out of the sea. Grey sea and various shades of grey fin

When I visit Patagonia, one of the many joys about being there is getting to see these birds up close. The Andean Condor, wow what a bird it is. Weighing in at 15kg and a wingspan up to over 3m it is one of the largest flying birds in the world.

An Andean Condor perched on a rock face with a grey river below and behind. The rock face is on the right half of the picture. The bird is black and white. Mostly a black body, with white on it's wings and a white ruff around its bold black/grey head. It has a read eye. An Andean Condor perched on a rock face with a grey river below and behind. The rock face is on the right half of the picture. The bird is black and white. Mostly a black body, with white on it's wings and a white ruff around its bold black/grey head. It has a read eye.

Not quite the morning the dogs thought they were having. Both Rita and Arko at the vets. Rita to get a dental and Arko to have a small tumour removed from his eye. I don't think the dogs are going to talk to us again 😬 There is a lot of complaint coming from both of them already. I fear Arko will give us husky hell once his legs have recovered sufficiently 😂

Rita the white dog laying on a black sofa giving her best Princess Diana look. She is recovering nicely. Rita the white dog laying on a black sofa giving her best Princess Diana look. She is recovering nicely.

Arko the Black and white husky laying on the floor with Rita a white dog stood next to him. Arko was still coming round from his anaesthetic and refused to move any further. Needless to say, the car was brought to him. Arko the Black and white husky laying on the floor with Rita a white dog stood next to him. Arko was still coming round from his anaesthetic and refused to move any further. Needless to say, the car was brought to him.

White dog laying on a purple floor on a grey rug with a light blue blanket over her. She has just been given a sedative at the vets and is falling asleep. White dog laying on a purple floor on a grey rug with a light blue blanket over her. She has just been given a sedative at the vets and is falling asleep.

Arko the black and white husky with pale blue eyes, comfortable back at home. He's laying on a brown dog bed which is sat on orange tiles. Arko the black and white husky with pale blue eyes, comfortable back at home. He's laying on a brown dog bed which is sat on orange tiles.

Never a nice sight to see, but it always seems worse at night. Around 8.30pm a wildfire started on our mountain, we were safe, and thankfully those whose properties were involved were okay too. Wildfire just seems very wrong in winter.

Photo of a wildfire taken at night, yellow flames on the left and orange flames at the top and right. Photo of a wildfire taken at night, yellow flames on the left and orange flames at the top and right.

Photo of a wildfire taken at night. Orange flames, lots of embers and smoke. Photo of a wildfire taken at night. Orange flames, lots of embers and smoke.

Another Patagonian beauty and the original Woody Woodpecker, introducing Mr and Mrs Magellanic Woodpecker. It is the largest South American Woodpecker and one of the largest in the world.

A picture of a male and female Woodpecker on opposite sides of a tree. The female is on the left, mostly a black bird with a quiff. She has a golden eye and red feathers around the top of her beak. The male is on the right side of the tree, mostly black but with a red head, golden eye and a red quiff. A picture of a male and female Woodpecker on opposite sides of a tree. The female is on the left, mostly a black bird with a quiff. She has a golden eye and red feathers around the top of her beak. The male is on the right side of the tree, mostly black but with a red head, golden eye and a red quiff.

In Patagonia the birdlife seems to have little fear of humans. Here a White-throated Caracara came to visit me and clearly wanted it's photo taken 🙂

A White-throated Caracara sitting on rock with a blue sky and mountains streaked with snow in the back ground. The bird is a bird of prey. It is standing side on to the camera with it's head turned looking behind it. The under body is white, it's head, wings and top of the body is black. It has yellow legs with long claws. It has an orange coloured featherless part of face and the beak is clear blue colour. A White-throated Caracara sitting on rock with a blue sky and mountains streaked with snow in the back ground. The bird is a bird of prey. It is standing side on to the camera with it's head turned looking behind it. The under body is white, it's head, wings and top of the body is black. It has yellow legs with long claws. It has an orange coloured featherless part of face and the beak is clear blue colour.

This was a particularly handsome Gallot's lizard (Gallotia galloti palmae). He hung out with many of his relatives at the hotel we were staying at while walking with friends for a week on the Canary island of La Palma.

A side on view of dark grey lizard. He has a blue part face and throat with white bits. On his body he has yellow and blue splodges and dots. He has a yellow eye with a black pupil. He is stood on lava rock the same grey colour as himself. A side on view of dark grey lizard. He has a blue part face and throat with white bits. On his body he has yellow and blue splodges and dots. He has a yellow eye with a black pupil. He is stood on lava rock the same grey colour as himself.

The upper Lanjaron valley seen from the top of Cerro de Caballo (3009m) in the Sierra Nevada. We saw few signs of wildlife up this high now, only the real hardy souls like the Iberian Ibex are still around. The 3 highest peaks of the mountain range can be seen in the background with bits of snow hanging on. It was very very cold 🥶

A picture showing a valley. The highest peaks of the Sierra Nevada in Spain are seen at the back of the photo with some snow clinging to them. A layer of white cloud with a hole in allowing a bit of blue sky to push through. At the bottom of the picture is a lake with a small refuge looking over it. Quite a stark image. A picture showing a valley. The highest peaks of the Sierra Nevada in Spain are seen at the back of the photo with some snow clinging to them. A layer of white cloud with a hole in allowing a bit of blue sky to push through. At the bottom of the picture is a lake with a small refuge looking over it. Quite a stark image.

Here comes the sun 🎶

A picture showing a partial halo in a blue sky with light high clouds as the sun rises behind a mountain range with pine trees in the foreground A picture showing a partial halo in a blue sky with light high clouds as the sun rises behind a mountain range with pine trees in the foreground

I haven't done a for a while. It's the time of year when Sooty and Sweep snuggle up, looking all cosy and sweet until one of them starts a fight and it's all over 😅

Two cats snuggled into eachother. One is white with grey and ginger splodges and the other is black with ginger splodges and little bits of white hair. Two cats snuggled into eachother. One is white with grey and ginger splodges and the other is black with ginger splodges and little bits of white hair.

My nemesis bird the Iberian Magpie (Cyanopica cooki). These are the best shots I've gotten of them in 17 years 😂 One of these days I will nail a shot of them! Do you have a nemesis bird? I actually have a few!

An Iberian Magpie flying into a tree. The woodland is soft green light. The Magpie has azure blue wings and tail, buff coloured body, black top half of head and white throat An Iberian Magpie flying into a tree. The woodland is soft green light. The Magpie has azure blue wings and tail, buff coloured body, black top half of head and white throat

An Iberian Magpie sat on the branch of a tree. The Magpie has azure blue wings and tail, buff coloured body, black top half of head and white throat An Iberian Magpie sat on the branch of a tree. The Magpie has azure blue wings and tail, buff coloured body, black top half of head and white throat

An Iberian Magpie sat on the branch of a tree. The Magpie has azure blue wings and tail, buff coloured body, black top half of head and white throat An Iberian Magpie sat on the branch of a tree. The Magpie has azure blue wings and tail, buff coloured body, black top half of head and white throat

Another windy day in Lanjaron. It started to build while I was out with Arko this morning. Yesterday was crazy with a couple of gusts over 75 km/hr, hoping today won't be so bad even if the alerts are still being activated. I don't think the greenhouse will survive another onslaught like yesterday.

A short video clip showing a black and white husky's coat being blown by the wind. He is stood on an old mule track looking down onto the Spanish town of Lanjaron.

Out working today, not a bad view from the office 😁

The village of Busquistar on the hillside with a group of walkers making their way down the gorge to cross the Rio Trevelez The village of Busquistar on the hillside with a group of walkers making their way down the gorge to cross the Rio Trevelez

A group of walkers heading down into the Trevelez valley following an old trade route. In the background on the opposite side of the valley are a few of the white villages of La Taha. A group of walkers heading down into the Trevelez valley following an old trade route. In the background on the opposite side of the valley are a few of the white villages of La Taha.

Six week check up for Rita - x-ray shows complete healing of the break in her pelvis 🙏 She has been signed off 🥳 Tomorrow we can start short walks with her on a lead. She had a nice sleep 😴 at the vets for an hour and half sleeping off the drugs and is now doing the same at home 🥰 The picture is of when she was given her sleepy drugs before the x-ray was taken.

Picture shows a sleeping white dog on the floor of the vets with her little tongue popping out of her mouth. Picture shows a sleeping white dog on the floor of the vets with her little tongue popping out of her mouth.

I had a hanging around the roof terrace yesterday so I tried to photograph it. I did okay, but definitely need more practise. I think it's type of Darter? Maybe someone with more dragon knowledge can help. Edit - Identified as a Red-veined Darter - sympetrum fonscolumbii

Side view of a dragonfly flying past with a terracotta wall background. Side view of a dragonfly flying past with a terracotta wall background.

It's thanks to these people that we are lucky to have the Bearded vulture gracing our mountains in the Sierra Nevada. You have to be lucky to see them here, but it's such a buzz when you do ❤ Enjoy the lovely short video and article about the work being done. https://4vultures.org/blog/the-story-of-the-bearded-vulture-by-lizzie-daly/

A picture taken of the title of the video link. It shows a Bearded vulture flying through the clouds above trees. A picture taken of the title of the video link. It shows a Bearded vulture flying through the clouds above trees.

The European Bee Eaters have been passing through en-mass over the past few weeks heading off to their wintering grounds in Africa. Our local populations left a long time ago, these passing through now are from further north. I was enjoying watching them feed up for their journey until one hit the alarm button, they all gathered together and shot off. Wise birds as a Peregrine Falcon had decided to join them!

A colourful European Bee Eater flying showing it's colours. Yellow chin, rust red head, aqua blue underbody and red/green on top A colourful European Bee Eater flying showing it's colours. Yellow chin, rust red head, aqua blue underbody and red/green on top

What else did we see 🤔#Lammergeier that's what we saw, not 1 but 2 of these beauties ❤ We watched them away in the distance as they 'played' in the sky mirroring eachother flying. I only have record shots because they were too far away, when one did come reasonably close it took us by surprise and I wasn't ready 🤣 But for me it was the highlight of our trip, It's an amazing privilege to have seen this pair. Bit of info in the comments about these

Distant shot of a Lammergeier flying high in the mountains Distant shot of a Lammergeier flying high in the mountains

Distant shot of a Lammergeier flying close to a mountain Distant shot of a Lammergeier flying close to a mountain

Lammergeier flying past showing it's beard and a satellite tracker on it's back Lammergeier flying past showing it's beard and a satellite tracker on it's back

Back shot of a Lammergeier flying past showing it's satellite tracker Back shot of a Lammergeier flying past showing it's satellite tracker

We were going to be walking and spending the night in a reliable place for seeing the Griffon Vulture. I hoped that adding the extra weight to my pack, ie the enormous lens and camera, that I wouldn't just be taking it for a walk for 2 days but would actually use it. The Griffon Vultures didn't let me down ❤️ 17 yrs walking in these mountains I am learning where the wildlife hangs out

A head on shot of a Griffon Vulture flying straight at the photographer A head on shot of a Griffon Vulture flying straight at the photographer

The enormous bulk of the Griffon Vulture can be seen in this over head shot as the vulture flew overhead as the sun was going down The enormous bulk of the Griffon Vulture can be seen in this over head shot as the vulture flew overhead as the sun was going down

A Griffon Vulture resting on some rocks blending in with it's surroundings A Griffon Vulture resting on some rocks blending in with it's surroundings

A photo of the underside of a Griffon Vulture flying overhead A photo of the underside of a Griffon Vulture flying overhead

Yesterday I shared a sun photo, today is the photo I took during our overnight trip into the mountains recently. Both shots were hand held, which I think is quite impressive considering the weight of the lens and camera 🥴

A photo of a half moon seeing clearly the craters and other markings on the moon. A photo of a half moon seeing clearly the craters and other markings on the moon.

One photo from our latest overnight trip into the mountains. The setting sun allowed me to get a shot of it, just as it was dunking down into the mess of the calima and heat haze. Taken from our bivvi spot on the Cartujo at 3152m. Look at those sun spots!

A close up picture of the setting sun showing sun spots A close up picture of the setting sun showing sun spots

We took the dogs to the river for a walk today. It's really a stream, not rivers how we know them to be, but hey it's a close to a river you get around here. Anyway for the summer months they partially dam part of it to make a pool. Two years ago we taught our dogs to swim here and each year we visit a couple of times. Arko was straight in no encouragement needed ❤️

A black and white husky swimming in a pool in a river

The last of the pictures from our trip into the mountains. Mostly scene shots today. Can you spot the face in the rocks 🤔

A photo of ridgelines of mountains appearing in the setting sun A photo of ridgelines of mountains appearing in the setting sun

Another view of ridgelines of mountains in the setting sun with the orange glow over the Mediterranean sea Another view of ridgelines of mountains in the setting sun with the orange glow over the Mediterranean sea

A picture of the setting sun going down behind a mountain. The mountains are silhouetted and the sky is orange A picture of the setting sun going down behind a mountain. The mountains are silhouetted and the sky is orange

A face in the rocks A face in the rocks

Some nature shots from our recent outing into the Sierra Nevada mountains. Vasar de Mulhacen, a night on the Collado de Siete Lagunas and all the way down, down, down, 1700m down to Trevelez. Great trip, legs still recovering from that decent 🥴 We saw plenty of wildlife, Iberian Ibex, Griffon Vultures, Booted Eagles, Red-billed Choughs, Northern Wheatears, Alpine Accentors. Not so many wildflowers left now.

A male Iberian Ibex standing on rock watching the approaching humans A male Iberian Ibex standing on rock watching the approaching humans

A Griffon Vulture flying overhead A Griffon Vulture flying overhead

A young Iberian Ibex standing on a rock looking at the camera with yellow flowers scattered among the rocks behind A young Iberian Ibex standing on a rock looking at the camera with yellow flowers scattered among the rocks behind

A picture of some yellow flowers growing beside a mountain stream A picture of some yellow flowers growing beside a mountain stream

I enjoy my Four O Clock flowers seeing what colours they have decided to come out in. They are mostly multicoloured and not often just one solid colour. Mine don't flower at four o clock they are much later as the sun goes down. Proper name Mirabilis jalapa, or another common name The marvel of Peru.

Four O Clock flower. The flower is yellow, white and pink. Four O Clock flower. The flower is yellow, white and pink.

Four O Clock flowers. these ones are a mix of yellow pink white all blended into one Four O Clock flowers. these ones are a mix of yellow pink white all blended into one

Four O Clock flowers. These particular ones are a mixture of white and pink Four O Clock flowers. These particular ones are a mixture of white and pink

I rescued this baby Praying Mantis yesterday from the dog pool. I had to use the macro lens as she was so tiny but seemed grateful for the rescue 🙏 Update : - Turns out this is an endangered adult Apteromantis aptera

A tiny baby Praying Mantis looking straight at the camera while clinging onto a blade of grass. A tiny baby Praying Mantis looking straight at the camera while clinging onto a blade of grass.

A sweet little Long-tailed Tit family were searching for food in the trees this morning ❤ They never stay still for long, always on the move. Regular visitors to the garden.

A Long-tailed Tit looking into an olive tree for food A Long-tailed Tit looking into an olive tree for food

A Long-tailed Tit sitting still for a second in an olive tree, you can just start to see the white head stripe A Long-tailed Tit sitting still for a second in an olive tree, you can just start to see the white head stripe

Long-tailed Tit sitting still long enough to get an in focus shot. Sitting side on to the camera Long-tailed Tit sitting still long enough to get an in focus shot. Sitting side on to the camera

This Long-tailed Tit took off just as I pressed the shutter, hence the head is not in focus This Long-tailed Tit took off just as I pressed the shutter, hence the head is not in focus

It always pays to stop and look at the view behind you when you are walking. The north faces of and dominating the skyline with the rising above. The red roof of refugio San Fransico standing out.

A view of the north faces of two of biggest mountains in Spain's Sierra Nevada national park. The moon rising behind one mountain. At the end of a track there is a little refugio with a red roof standing alone on the green slops with the big mountains behind. A view of the north faces of two of biggest mountains in Spain's Sierra Nevada national park. The moon rising behind one mountain. At the end of a track there is a little refugio with a red roof standing alone on the green slops with the big mountains behind.

On Friday we said our final goodbye to Mum 💔

Through the last 20 years she had 10 cancer diagnosis, she never complained, never looked for sympathy or loaded her troubles onto anyone. She was always smiling, positive and continued to live her life. Most people would not have known how poorly she had been at times. She has been inspiration and I will miss her enormously.

I will take a leaf out of Mum's book and live life with a smile, courage, strength, love and happiness ❤️

A head picture of my Mum taken on her 60th wedding anniversary celebration A head picture of my Mum taken on her 60th wedding anniversary celebration

A wicker coffin inside a hearse with white flowers spelling out Mum in front. A wicker coffin inside a hearse with white flowers spelling out Mum in front.

On Tuesday we found 4 of the 6 Gentians in the Sierra Nevada mountains. It's highly likely we saw 5, the two tube gentians are very similar. Some of these flowers are so tiny, most people don't see them. Info on each picture.

Gentianella tenella (Lapland Gentian). Grows between 2800 and 3200m. It has a wide distribution but is classed as a threatened species in the Sierra Nevada. Gentianella tenella (Lapland Gentian). Grows between 2800 and 3200m. It has a wide distribution but is classed as a threatened species in the Sierra Nevada.

Gentiana boryi. Grows between 2200 and 3200m. I believe this only grows in Iberia and only on two other mountain ranges. It is classed as a vulnerable species. Gentiana boryi. Grows between 2200 and 3200m. I believe this only grows in Iberia and only on two other mountain ranges. It is classed as a vulnerable species.

Gentiana pneumonanthe subsp. depressa (Marsh Gentian). It grows between 2200 and 3200m. It is endemic to the Sierra Nevada and is classed as a vulnerable species. Gentiana pneumonanthe subsp. depressa (Marsh Gentian). It grows between 2200 and 3200m. It is endemic to the Sierra Nevada and is classed as a vulnerable species.

Gentiana sierrae (Spring Gentian). Grows between 1700 and 3200m. It is endemic to the Sierra Nevada. Gentiana sierrae (Spring Gentian). Grows between 1700 and 3200m. It is endemic to the Sierra Nevada.