Not all smoothies are good for your health
Posted on May 23, 2013
False smooth snake, Macroprotodon brevis – Serranía de Ronda, Andalucía, Spain
The False smooth snake is a secretive through a rather abundant species in wildflower meadows, rocky outcrops on the edge of woodlands and I have even seen the species basking beside busy main roads. Not much is known as its biology other than to say the female breeds every 2 years and lays between 2 and 6 eggs. Small nocturnal lizard species form 90% of the snakes diet, it hurts at dusk and through the night, therefore it is safe to assume that both Moorish and Turkish geckos form the sample diet as both are nocturnal. Unlike the British smooth snake, the false smooth snake is venomous though it rarely bites if handled and will often skulk away, hiding its head among its coiled body.
False smooth snake coiled among the Castanea leaves
Large Psammodromus Lizard are the main prey for most Iberain snake species
Juvenile Montpellier snakes also prey on Large Psammodromus lizards
The Ultimate Wildflower Tours Dates for 2014
Posted on May 21, 2013
Spain has the most diverse climatic conditions of any country in Europe and its landscape, flora and fauna reflect this fact. From the coastal rainforest of Los Alcornocales to the alpine meadows of the Sierra de Las Nieves wildflower species abound in extraordinary numbers the like of nowhere lese on the continent. Due to the number of enquiries we have received over the past year regarding future Andalucían Photo Adventure tours and workshops we have added 3 new dates. 2 long weekends and a week-long intensive botanical tour of the region known as the Serranía de Ronda. Each tour is highly suitable for photographers of all abilities, botanists and nature-lovers alike.
What we can assure of is the most beautiful wildflower meadows the colours of which cannot be matched anywhere else on the continent and that’s a fact! With over 8,000 species recorded and more endemic species than anywhere else in Europe, including many rare orchid species, our tours are guaranteed to be a nature photographers dream.
TOUR FACT FILE:
Long-weekend dates: 18 April 2014 – 21 April 2014 & 25 April 2014 – 28 April 2014
Price: 775€ Deposit: 150€
Week-long dates: 2 May 2014 to 9 May 2014
Price: 1,275€ Deposit: 275€
TOUR DETAILS:
Group Size: 6 plus Geoff (Guide)
Price Includes: All accommodation, all meals, transport (including pick up and drop off at Malaga airport) and all the necessary guidance and tuition from Geoff.
Price Excludes: International flights, alcoholic drinks and insurance.
Rural Hotel Accommodation: In comfortable, clean traditional rural style hotel near Gaucín, Serranía de Ronda, Malaga Province with both single and double rooms with en-suite facilities. Accommodation is based on single occupancy.
Contact us a full itinerary and booking form by calling the office on 0034 627 242 417 or email
Geoff, the man in the mountains, conbributes to the Marbella-Eye.com online Magazine
Posted on May 19, 2013
Geoff Simpson – Professional outdoor photographer, columnist and media presenter.
A big thanks to Marbella-Eye.com for the invitation to contribute to this great online magazine. I’ll he will sharing my images and knowledge each week, from the mountains above Marbella and Andalucía: A jewel in Spain’s crown.
Enjoying life in the sun on the beach at Estepona with the girls, Niamh and Zadie.
All smiles, Fee enjoys the sun, sea and sunburn
Some interesting facts about Andalucía
Posted on May 15, 2013
- Andalucía is the most south of the seventeen autonomous states that make-up Spain.
- Andalucía is made up of 8 provinces - Huelva, Sevilla, Cadiz, Cordoba, Malaga, Jaen, Granada and Almeria.
- The capital city of the state is Sevilla.
- Andalucía is the second most mountainous region in Europe after Switzerland.
- The are over 30 bullrings in Andalucía registered by the Regional Government.
- Andalucía has 27 public astronomical observatories.
- The Osborne Bull is the black silhouette of a bull that stands on hilltops and along the road in most of Spain.
- The Kite surfing World Championships are held each year off the coast of Tarifa, Costa de la Luz.
- Christopher Columbus departed for America from Huelva.
- Pablo Picasso was born in Malaga in 1881.
- The Province of Jaen is the olive growing capital for Spain.
- Flamenco dancing is the traditional form of dance of Andalucía.
- Andalucía is the world stronghold for the Griffon Vulture and Crested Tit.
- Andalucía is home to the only rainforest along the entire Mediterranean coastline, the magnificent Los Alcornecales.
- One of world’s greatest bird migrations occurs each spring when literally ten of thousands of birds cross the Straits of Gibraltar.
- Andalucía has more species of flora and fauna than anywhere else in Europe, it is the biodiverse hotspot of Europe.
- The Iberian Lynx one of the rarest cats in the world is not confined to the Cota Donana as is often thought….. in fact it has a wider distribution across Andalucía.
- The rain in Spain does not fall mainly of the plain. That honour goes to the fabulous mountainous region of Grazalema, where annual rainfall often exceed 2.2 metres.
- The world’s rarest pine tree species the Abies pinsapo is only found in the Serranía de Ronda.
- Nobel and Pulitzer prize-winning novelist and correspondent, Ernest Hemingway was able to capture the essence of the Spanish way of life and its unique culture. He spent many summers living in Ronda.
- Children attending infant schools in the campo (countryside) in Spain are taught about natural history as part of the education curriculum.
Art rock
Posted on May 13, 2013
I discovered this fascinating collection of honeycomb rocks along the Costa de le Luz, Andalucía, Spain. The honeycomb geological feature is result of disaggregation of mineral grains by evaporation of salt water impacting the rocks. This weathering style are also known as “tafoni“
Wild Travel Magazine – British Reptile feature
Posted on May 9, 2013
In the forthcoming issue of Wild Travel magazine I have a feature relating to British Reptiles for those of you interested in these fascinating scaly creatures and naturally a collection of superb images of all the native terrestrial species is included and I hasten to add, all taken in the wild. Something that is becoming a comparatively rare feature these days judging from some British photographers efforts I have recently perused.
Light fantastic over the Valle del Guadiaro
Posted on May 6, 2013
Sunburst over Cortes de la Frontera, Valle del Guadiaro, Andalucía, Spain
