Moorelands in Forgoselo hills

  Today I returned to O Forgoselo, a hills area in A Capela, close to Ferrol city. Weather was bad at early morning, with cloudy sky, fine rain and cold. So I modified my first plan (watching forest birds) and decided to explore numerous moorlands wich are around there.

 A mooreland in O Forgoselo

 Intense raining of this past winter made that all was wet. Although it´s May, ponds are full of water everywhere.

 I put my tall boots, and came into it! Several typical plants of those habitats appeared at my feet. Like this carnivore species: the "Rorella" (as is known in galician language)

 "Rorella" (Drosera rotundifolia)

..or "Gorga", a parasite plant, that usually live over Ulex sp

"Gorga" (Cuscuta epithymum)

 On sand or stoned areas, several kinds of "Queirogas" are commom too

"Queiroga" (Erica umbellata)

 And "Abrótega" grows specially well over burned lands

"Abrótega" (Asphodelus lusitanicus)

Next mooreland was almost full with "Xunca de algodón", wich indicates, many times, deepper water zones of moore.

"Xunca de algodón" (Eriophorum agustifolium)

 I begun to lift stones up, looking for animals under it. Juvenil individuals of Bosca´s newt were my first discovery

Bosca´s Newt (Lissotriton Boscai), juvenile

And an adult of Marbled Newt was my second one. It´s posible this male had just leaved a pond, cause reproduction season can start in November or December in galician coast. However, I only could see a larva into ponds! (maybe this year season begun later)

 Marble Newt (Triturus marmoratus)

   Natterjack is one of most abundant toad in galician hills and mountains. Always over short and opened scrub terrains. Superficial ponds are its favourite reproduction places.

Natterjack (Bufo calamita)

 I detected a unique egg string (grazas Damian!). Normally, I´ll expect ponds would be full with eggs and larvas of Natterjack at these dates, and  I became really surprised!

Natterjack egg string into a pond

 Under a stone, I found this little big hunter (quite "asleep" with cold). I could take a photo, good enough for National Geographic, he, he,..

 Cicindela campestris

 A great female of Common toad was my last finding today

Common Toad (Bufo bufo)

 Well, until next post!. See you on "Animals and rest of family" (english version)