Llanelli Naturalists Newsletter - March 1983
Denys Williams
Leaving such activities as a winter walk to Tywyn Point to the more hardy of his fellow members the writer retreated to the sunshine and spirit of manna in the town or village of Mojacar for the period Jan. 9/Feb. 6.
Mojacar is situated in the South-east corner of Spain in the province of Almeria. It is a Moorish type of village perched precariously on a spur of the Southern Sierras. It is about 600 ft. above sea level and 1½ miles from the sea. Between it and the sea is what appears to be a raised sea bed broken by frequent pyramid-like volcanic cones giving the area a strange lunar appearance. The area is the most arid (and sunny) in Europe having a rainfall of about 5 inches per annum but the overall barrenness is broken by patches of fertility due to underground springs having their source many miles away. Mojacar itself owes its being to the presence of a copious outflow.
Air travel necessitates the cutting down of the weight of one’s luggage and I took only Trees and Shrubs of the Mediterranean” by Helge Vedel much to my regret, as I found to my surprise more plants in flower than I had previously encountered in the Mediterranean in January. Even so without any very great diligence I was able to identify the following: (items + were observed in flower.)
Common Fig, Indian Rubber Tree, Evergreen Oak, Bougainvillea+, Prickly Pear, Hibiscus+, Tree heather, Almond+, Mimosa+, Carob, Spanish Broom+, Eucalyptus spp., Myrtle+, Pomegranate, Castor Oil Plant, Poinsettia+, Tree Spurge+, Citrus, var., Nicotiana glauca+, Lantana camara+, Rosemary+, Olive, Laurestinus+, Canary Date Palm, Cuppressus, Plane, Vine, Acacia farnesiana+, Rock Rose+, Helianthemum nummularium+, Trumpet creeper+, Greater Periwinkle+, Monterey Pine, Sand Spurrey+, White Henbane+, Pheasants Eye+, Giant Knapweed+, Gromwell+, Ramping Fumitory+, Bladder Campian+, Sea Astericus+, Agave, Dwarf fan Palm, Sea Stock+, Asparagus, Pea+, Stonecrop+, Bermuda Buttercup+, Mallows+, Thyme+, Lavender+, Sweet Alison+, Hottentot Fig+, Lampranthus roseus+, Apple of Sodom, Allium+, Geraniaceae - many species ranging from garden Pelargonium’s to Geranium molle+, Loquat+ Banana, Carline Thistle, Globe Artichoke.
Odontospermum maritumum and many other composites that I could not begin to identify without a reference book.
Birds were also surprisingly abundant. The Latin habit of loosing, off shotguns at anything that flies does not seem to have reduced the bird population as much here as in some parts of the Mediterranean lands, Although more at a loss than ever without a suitable book the following, relative strangers to our country, were observed. Hoopoe, Great Grey Shrike, Quail, Orphean Warbler, Sardinian Warbler and Crag Martin. The Sparrows of course spoke Spanish and one pair were investigating an old House Martin’s nest, presumably with a view to moving in.
