Two river ramble – Part 2

Leaving the river on my left, I headed up one of the tracks and through the farmland. Most of the avocado trees were in flower, although one or two did have some fruit on them.

There were also some new plantations.

The land is quite undulating and you get some good views.

Came across a field full of goats, so had to stop and give them a bit of attention. Once one approaches, the rest seem to follow suit and before long they were squeezing through a small gap in the fencing…ooops.

Crossing the Frigiliana road I then took the track down to the Rio Chillar where I came across these really strange leaf bugs gathered on a clump of flowers.

These are Oxythyrea funesta as far as I can ascertain, chafer bugs who inhabit a number of flowers and vines and cause quite a bit of damage. The larvae eat the roots of flowers and vines.

A lovely aniseed smell from some wild Fennel.

There are quite a few of the plants on this walk that I have yet to identify, but hopefully I will get there in the end.

Plenty of Saxifrage growing in cracks and crevices in the walls or on rocks. It is a perennial, cushion-like herb which flowers from March to June or July.