You could say that we had "entered Sierra de Andújar through the back door." We climbed slowly higher from the former coal-mining town of Puertollano, the open cast mining landscape replaced by grazing cattle and sheep, passing through the narrow settlement of Mestanza and higher the Sierra Madrona, both beautiful and devoid of other road users.
Here in this remote corner of Andalucia, we find the Northern extreme of the Sierra Andújar.
This is the Province border between Jaén and Andalusia. Andalusia is not committed to spending on the road surface, and our onward progress is plodding as we avoid multiple potholes.
The road does not detract from the view, and we have time to ponder our chances of spotting a Pardel Lynx in this vast area, "third time lucky." Um!
Short-toed treecreeper (Certhia brachydactyla)
We park and walk along the charming Jándula River, birdsong exploding.
It is about 2.5 kilometres from the picnic area up to the dam, well worth the time as there is usually lots to see, like this Short-Toed Treecreeper.
As evening descends, small gatherings of people gather close to the dam; they hope to see two sightings: the pair of Otter often seen on this stretch of the river and an elusive Pardel Lynx.
A Red Deer watches our progress, not alarmed by our presence.
No Otters and no Lynx on our first evening.
As the low Winter sun starts to rise on our first morning, we are out fresh and alert. The sun had been up 45 minutes when a shadow seemed to move down the hillside on the opposite side of the river.
It took a lot of work to make a positive identity with the light, large boulders, and shrubbery.
"Movement"! And there it is, not the best photograph in the World, but it is a Pardel Lynx in the wild.
The tracking collar is looking very warn. Apparently, the collar colour correlates to the Lynx's given name.
Sadly! Gone so fast.
It just disappeared into the undergrowth.
To say they are challenging to see, there were a few guys only 15 meters away from us, and they missed it!
As the best time to see the Lynx is early and late, we spent the rest of the day observing other local wildlife.
Nuthatch (Sitta europaea)
In the forest, this Nuthatch finds a Moth in the Lichen.
Horseshoe Whip Snake (Haemorrhoids Hippocrepis or Coluber hippocrepis)
Horseshoe Whip Snake is a non-poisonous snake.
Enjoying the sun on the rocks.
Azure-winged Magpie (Cyanpica cyanus)
Large numbers of these charming birds, usually found in family groups, appear to love the stone pines. They are pretty shy and alert birds.
Our second day had not started well; the early morning fog was getting thicker as the sun rose.
The previous morning, at this time, we were photographing a Lynx; it's hard to see a Cormorant at 10 meters on this occasion.
As the fog starts to lift, we scan the right-hand bank, but it's not to be today.
As we have said, the Sierra Andújar is a large area. At La Lancha, you will find the most popular Lynx-watching area. At the weekends, watchers line the twisting mountain road with their telescopes and picnic chairs. Plenty of Red Deer exists if you are not lucky enough to peek at a Lynx here.
The view looking down the Rio Jádula.
It was a great visit for us and a third time lucky.
Lynx-watching really is a case of lots of patience and even more luck!
Here in this remote corner of Andalucia, we find the Northern extreme of the Sierra Andújar.
This is the Province border between Jaén and Andalusia. Andalusia is not committed to spending on the road surface, and our onward progress is plodding as we avoid multiple potholes.
The road does not detract from the view, and we have time to ponder our chances of spotting a Pardel Lynx in this vast area, "third time lucky." Um!
Short-toed treecreeper (Certhia brachydactyla)
We park and walk along the charming Jándula River, birdsong exploding.
It is about 2.5 kilometres from the picnic area up to the dam, well worth the time as there is usually lots to see, like this Short-Toed Treecreeper.
As evening descends, small gatherings of people gather close to the dam; they hope to see two sightings: the pair of Otter often seen on this stretch of the river and an elusive Pardel Lynx.
A Red Deer watches our progress, not alarmed by our presence.
No Otters and no Lynx on our first evening.
As the low Winter sun starts to rise on our first morning, we are out fresh and alert. The sun had been up 45 minutes when a shadow seemed to move down the hillside on the opposite side of the river.
It took a lot of work to make a positive identity with the light, large boulders, and shrubbery.
"Movement"! And there it is, not the best photograph in the World, but it is a Pardel Lynx in the wild.
The tracking collar is looking very warn. Apparently, the collar colour correlates to the Lynx's given name.
Sadly! Gone so fast.
It just disappeared into the undergrowth.
To say they are challenging to see, there were a few guys only 15 meters away from us, and they missed it!
As the best time to see the Lynx is early and late, we spent the rest of the day observing other local wildlife.
Nuthatch (Sitta europaea)
In the forest, this Nuthatch finds a Moth in the Lichen.
Horseshoe Whip Snake (Haemorrhoids Hippocrepis or Coluber hippocrepis)
Horseshoe Whip Snake is a non-poisonous snake.
Enjoying the sun on the rocks.
Azure-winged Magpie (Cyanpica cyanus)
Large numbers of these charming birds, usually found in family groups, appear to love the stone pines. They are pretty shy and alert birds.
Our second day had not started well; the early morning fog was getting thicker as the sun rose.
The previous morning, at this time, we were photographing a Lynx; it's hard to see a Cormorant at 10 meters on this occasion.
As the fog starts to lift, we scan the right-hand bank, but it's not to be today.
As we have said, the Sierra Andújar is a large area. At La Lancha, you will find the most popular Lynx-watching area. At the weekends, watchers line the twisting mountain road with their telescopes and picnic chairs. Plenty of Red Deer exists if you are not lucky enough to peek at a Lynx here.
The view looking down the Rio Jádula.
It was a great visit for us and a third time lucky.
Lynx-watching really is a case of lots of patience and even more luck!
Happy Days, indeed!
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