This huge nest of invasive Asian predatory wasps found in Montseny near Barcelona. The caption read it was home to 6,000 adults, 30,000 larval cells. Adults feed on nectar, honey, sugars. Larva fed on insects, threatening eg honey bees. These nests are a common sight in Barcelona’s trees. Great and blue tits will eat larva which is something.
Museu Blau natural history museum.
This fat, handsome fella near Horta de Sant Joan, Tarragona. It is the caterpillar of a spurge hawk-moth (Hyles euphorbiae) feeding on spiny starwort (Pallenis spinosa). A juicy, looking but toxic prize for many birds.
Abandoned train line. San Esteban de Gormaz, Soria in August heat several years ago. 1000s of kilometres of lines were lost in the 20th century, Many are now idllyic cycling and walking routes but others like this in 1995, closed. A symbol of la España Vacía/da (Empty/ied Spain) as the tragedy of the depopulating hinterland is called.
Date palm, possibly the oldest in Barcelona, planted in 1873 in the Casa de l’Ardiaca (Archdeacon) next to the cathedral.
In the late 19th century Spain, palms were very much associated with the “Indianos”, hardworking, often ruthless men who made their fortunes -one way or another- in the Indies. They form an essential part of the landscape of many coastal areas of Spain.
The Riu Besòs this evening, Barcelona on right bank. In the 1970s this was (it is claimed) Europe’s most polluted watercourse, an open sewer, a deadzone. The factories moved to China and the watercourse was cleaned up. It is now a biodiverse river park cutting through a dense metropolis. No kingfishers today but a heron flew past.
This gorgeous Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthamelii) on Montjuïc, one of around 51 species of butterflies found in Barcelona’s city parks.
By way of comparison, the entire UK has ~60.
Roman coin of Hispania minted during the reign of Emperor Hadrian between 130 and 138 CE. It bears a distinct rabbit, endemic to Iberia and exported elsewhere. The most widely–accepted theory says Phoenicians called Iberia i-shepan-im, the Land of Rabbits (or to be more precise the land of hyrax north African animals they confused) which then became Hispania.
Stamps showing amphibians of Spain. 1975.
Common salamander, Marbled newt, European Tree Frog, Midwife Toad, European common frog.