CABO DE GATA THE HIDDEN TREASURE

The area of Cabo de Gata natural park is one of the most arid regions of Europe, there are not many trees there and it has four distinct geographical units. Approximately 40kms of coastal cliffs up to 100m high, the salinas and coastal lagoons, the plains with important dune systems and the very important marine habitats off shore. We have visited this area many times and love the totally diverse nature of the place and the wildness. Below is the church of La Almadraba de Monteleva, a small fishing and salt-mining town, which is wind and sand blasted in stormy weather and some small inshore fishing boats, lying idle, waiting for the tide.

The famous salt marshes of Cabo de Gata are a refuge for many passage migrants and you can see Greater Flamingo there, also many waders and ducks.

Just a short distance on from the Salinas, is the Lighthouse, perched at the tip of a rugged range of volcanic cliffs.

There are many beautiful coves dotted along the shoreline, to get to them requires a climb,

but it is well worth it.

Looking like something out of the Arabian Nights is the beautiful beach at El Playazo, where there is the Castillo de la Bateria.

When visiting the Lighthouse at Cabo de Gata, you need to look out for these cheeky little birds. The Trumpeter Finches that are to be found among the rocks feeding on seed heads. We were lucky enough to find some after they had been enjoying the heads of Lavender. This area is the only breeding site for this little bird in mainland Europe.

Mike photographed this beautiful little male Subalpine Warbler in the scrub on the hillside.

Also, having just made the crossing from Africa, this beautifully smart male Black-eared Wheatear

The rocky habitat also is a favourite place to spot the smart Black Wheatear, like
the female Mike photographed below.

Surrounded by the majestic volcanic cliffs, lies Los Escullos,
 the name means breakwater, you can see why, as the fossilised dunes reach out into the blue waters. This has become a favourite place for us, especially for me, being able to indulge my love of pottering about in rock pools and deep into the clear water, looking for all manner of interesting sea life.



The waters around this coast are some of the least polluted in Europe and there is a protected area which covers some 12,000 ha. Also found here 14,000 species of marine animals and plants, due to the convergence of the Mediterranean and Atlantic currants. Below is a vivid green seaweed,
one of the many types found here.

A myriad  of underwater jewels, cling to the rocks.

There are so many Sea Urchins here that you must wear protection on your feet, or there will be a painful visit to the hospital. All around are beautiful Sea Anemones waving pink tips like flowers.



So many different types of sea weed and in so many beautiful colours.

Looking deep into the water, a shell appeared to be walking about on the sea bed,
 on closer examination, someone was at home in the shell.



Then out he popped, a wonderful little green Hermit Crab. I put him carefully back where I had found him and off he trotted.

Below is the delicate and aptly named Mermaids Cup sea weed,  which is attached to most
of the rocks here.

What do you think this could be? I thought it was sea weed walking along the sea bed, until I
picked it up.

Mike held it so that I could photograph it, a delicate a rather beautiful little Crab, with tiny pincers 

and so cunningly disguised as a lump of sea weed. Again, after we had looked at it,

 it was carefully returned to its watery home.

 The day drew to a close, a sea mist descended, giving a magical light to the distant cliffs

and another day exploring this wonderful area ended.

HUGE WILD FIRE IN THE SIERRA GADOR, NORTH OF ALMERIA

A huge wild fire destroyed hundreds of acres north of Almeria in the Sierra Gador on Wednesday 26th March. Below is the photograph we took, when we spotted it, en route for the Sierra de los Filabres. Although we were some 40kms away, it was possible to see the flames licking across the hillsides and the towering clouds of smoke. There was a powerful wind too, whipping the fire ever faster. As you pass through this landscape, it is easy to see how a fire could take hold, as the vegetation is tinder dry after a long period of no rain. 

The Spanish Air Force deployed four  Bombardier planes, from the 43rd Groupo at Torrejon, near Madrid, to fight the fire. They are Spain's elite fire fighting unit. Below are three of the planes, Mike photographed.

Not wishing to get in the way of any fire fighting action, we waited until Friday to go to the area of the fire to see for ourselves the damage and it was a very sad scene of desolation. The village of Enix was  lucky to be spared, as the fire reached the very boundaries of the village, some houses only metres from being engulfed, but it must have been terrifying to see at close quarters, as it was driven so fast by the wind.

This area, thankfully, is sparsely populated, so to our knowledge there was no loss of life, but the damage to the countryside was huge. What trees there are in this area were mostly destroyed, below you can see the scorched hillside, where the fire swept through. As we stood sadly viewing the blackened and charred hills, the smell of fire and clouds of ash pervaded the air.

Although some trees appear green on the top, they are blackened and burnt below.

Some pockets seem to have been spared and hopefully will help to regenerate the area, but the damage to species of insects, flora and fauna is incalculable, especially at this time of year.

But nature is a wonderful thing and just along from the devastation, Mike photographed a pair of Golden Eagles, hunting, as if nothing had happened.

Also on some wild flowers, we found this handsome Burnet Moth, in all its metallic beauty.

A miniature Rock Rose bloomed among some boulders. 

This area has seen many fires and nature repairs and replenishes the land, but we must not take her for granted. We each have a duty to future generations, to keep these special places in the world and to do all we can to preserve them.

THE SIERRA NEVADA

Traveling from Grenada to Almeria, you have the most stunning views of the Sierra Nevada, capped with snow and below the Almond trees, all laced with pink blossom. The Sierra extends for about 80kms and has the highest peak in Spain, Mulhacen, standing at 3482m. It is tremendously important botanically, as almost a third of the total flora of Spain, some of which are unique are only found here.
The Sierra is sometimes snow clad for 9 months of the year and 95% of precipitation falls as snow on the highest peaks. It is also home to many birds and mammals, especially the magnificent Iberian Ibex.

Before we followed the road up into the Sierra, we stopped at the village of Calahorra, where a magnificent 16th century Castillo perches high on a hill overlooking the village.

Climbing higher we follow the winding road towards the Puerto de la Ragua, at 2609m.
This must be a stunning sight, but the weather has closed in and it has started to snow!

The weather brightened as we descended on the southern side of the Sierra and the sun came out, as we travelled the road through the Alpujarras. Our lunch stop found us overlooking this almost surreal view of Almond trees on different coloured soil.

Further along our route looked down on valleys and gorges, stopping to admire the view, we heard bells tinkling and below us a shepherd with his sheep and dogs came into view and just as quickly disappeared into the vast and desolate landscape.

Below is one of the famous white villages of Andalusia, called Ohanes, all piled up on itself, with
the Church at its centre.

The village was surrounded with ancient terraced fields.

Another white village, behind you can see the beginning of the Tabernas landscape, which is more desert like, with arid mountains also known as the badlands.

At any moment we expected to see Clint Eastwood riding across the range, but no luck!

Now in the Sierra de los Filabres, down one of the most winding roads ever,
 ( we thought that we would meet ourselves, coming up) we came across this little gem of a village,
called Terque, like an oasis in the barren landscape. Not only with beautiful colonial Spanish houses,
 but also cave dwellings.

Like a painting, a quiet corner of Terique.

Following the valley of the Rio Andarax, we then turned northward into the badlands of the Desert de Tabernas as the sun was going down, lighting the tips of the grasses.
A fitting end to a day of contrasts.