TRIP REPORT SPAIN...SPAIN 2011 TRIP REPORT 5 Lunch in Quesa – we had to wait but it was worth it! Views across the hills near Utiel from the El Tollo – typical motorway hotel

TRIP REPORT – SPAIN 2011

D G Chelmick

Macromia Scientific

Mar‐2012

SPAIN 2011 TRIP REPORT

1

Participants

This was a trip of approximately 4,900 kM and was in three parts as follows:

Dates: 6‐Jul – 13_Jul D G Chelmick, B P Pickess, P. Mitchell, R. Wicks, A. Winchester – green route

` 13‐Jul – 20‐Jul D G Chelmick, A Winchester – pink route

20‐Jul ‐ 3‐Aug DG Chelmick C E Chelmick – red route

Due to the size of the report it is presented in three parts:

Part 1 – Green route and introduction, species recorded

Part 2 – pink route

Part 2 – red route

Dragonflies Recorded

The list which follows this narrative shows a total of 55 species recorded for the trip; this must be viewed with care

as follows which must be considered as doubtful:

Oxygastra curtisii – one sighting on the Guadalaviar

Orthetrum nitidinerve – only a distant sighting at Gaucin Bridge

Selysiothemis nigra – all records were sight only

Excluding these records a total of 51 species were recorded.

The most interesting species found was, in fact, one of the commonest European species: Lestes sponsa. I have done

a separate paper on this species but in summary, we discovered it in its most southerly site in Spain and the only site

on a southern draining river.

Notable absentees from the list include Platycnemis acutipennis. This common damsel is easily found in May and

June but clearly over by July when it is replaced by its co‐gener P. latipes which was very common.


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Systematic List of species recorded

Family Genus Species Libro Rojo

Espana

Spain 2011 sites recorded

Remarks

Aeshnidae Aeshna affinis DI 3 Alcazar lakes

Aeshnidae Aeshna mixta 2 Alcazar lakes

Aeshnidae Anax imperator 30

Aeshnidae Anax parthenope 4

Aeshnidae Boyeria irene 11

Aeshnidae Anax ephippiger 3 Gomphidae Gomphus graslini P 2 Bi Corp Bridge and

an exuvia from Gaucin Bridge

Gomphidae Gomphus simillimus V 3 Ademuz – upper Turia

Gomphidae Onychogomphus costae V 4 Bi-corp area Gomphidae Onychogomphus uncatus PM 10

Gomphidae Onychogomphus forcipatus 16

Cordulegasteridae Cordulegaster boltonii 5

Corduliidae Oxygastra curtisii V 1 One sighting near Albarracin

Libellulidae Brachythemis impartita 5

Libellulidae Crocothemis erythraea 25

Libellulidae Libellula depressa 6

Libellulidae Libellula quadrimaculata 4

Libellulidae Orthetrum brunneum 13

Libellulidae Orthetrum cancellatum 10 Libellulidae Orthetrum chrysostigma 8

Libellulidae Orthetrum coerulescens 13

Libellulidae Orthetrum nitidinerve V 1 One distant sighting at Gaucin Bridge

Libellulidae Orthetrum trinacria 2

Libellulidae Selysiothemis nigra 2 BPP sighting at Laguna de Una was incorrect (DGC fault) Other sighting records only

Libellulidae Sympetrum flaveolum V 1 Huelamo marsh

Libellulidae Sympetrum fonscolombei 27

Libellulidae Sympetrum meridionale DI 4 Alcazar lakes Libellulidae Sympetrum sanguineum 7

Libellulidae Sympetrum sinaiticum DI 1 Tabernas

Libellulidae Sympetrum striolatum 5 Libellulidae Trithemis annulata 13

Libellulidae Trithemis kirbyi 4

Libellulidae Zygonyx torridus V 5 Calopterygidae Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis PM 22


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Family Genus Species Libro Rojo

Espana

Spain 2011 sites recorded

Remarks

Calopterygidae Calopteryx virgo 2

Calopterygidae Calopteryx xanthostoma 7 Lestidae Lestes barbarus 15

Lestidae Lestes dryas 1 Huelamo marsh

Lestidae Lestes sponsa 11 Probably the best record of the trip. See text

Lestidae Lestes virens 9

Lestidae Lestes viridis 3 Lestidae Sympecma fusca 3

Coenagrionidae Erythromma lindeni 13

Coenagrionidae Ceriagrion tenellum 4 Coenagrionidae Coenagrion caerulescens V 6

Coenagrionidae Coenagrion mercuriale V 7

Coenagrionidae Coenagrion puella 1 Huelamo marsh Coenagrionidae Coenagrion scitulum V 12 Coenagrionidae Enallagma cyathigerum 8

Coenagrionidae Erythromma viridulum 8

Coenagrionidae Ischnura elegans 11

Coenagrionidae Ischnura graellsi 21

Coenagrionidae Ischnura pumilio 10

Coenagrionidae Pyrrhosoma nymphula 1 Huelamo marsh

Platycnemidae Platycnemis latipes 17

Total Species 55


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Daily Log – Part two

This section provides more detailed information of the many sites visited together with notable fauna recorded and

any other information that may be of interest. Site refs all refer to DGC database. For more information contact

[email protected]

Wednesday 13‐Jul

Back to Valencia with the lads then back to work!!

Bicorp/ Quesa roadbridge over the Rio Grande (see above)

Parched habitat at Quesa where O. costae (females only – below) were laying up along with many Platycnemis latipes singles and copula.

O. coerulescens juvenile also along this track


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Lunch in Quesa – we had to wait but it was worth it!

Views across the hills near Utiel from the El Tollo – typical motorway hotel. Not much character but ideal for fieldwork as you get anywhere quickly.

Thursday 14‐July

Rio Mira through the town at Mira long.1.26.41 lat.39.43.03 alt. 890 m DGC Ref 2370.00 Rather early and nothing about

Arroyo de Narbonetta near Mira long 1.30.08 lat 39.44.06 alt 900 m DGC Ref 2380.00

C. xanthostomma – common on all these streams


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Rio San Martin, Villora long.1.34.23 lat.39.44.51 alt. 806 m DGC Ref 2390.00

O. uncatus present here with O. forcipatus

Rio Cabriel, near Cardenete long. 1.38.23 lat 39.45.05 alt 800 m DGC Ref 2400 This last section was particularly superb but almost completely inaccessible. This section looks worth a longer visit. All these rivers looked good but nothing of great significance recorded.


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Rio Cabriel, Enguinados long 1.39.52 lat. 39.42.84 alt: 800 m DGC Ref 2410.00 This site covers the stretch below the HEP – very poor

Rio Cabriel, Yamada long 1.43.52 lat.39.45.31 alt 800 m DGC Ref 2420.00


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Solera de Gabadon

Lunch was Morteruelo, a mixture of pork ham chicken bread in cinnamon and olive oil served warm – looked disgusting but quite tasty.

Rio Gritos, roadside pools near Solera de Gabadon long 1.58.93 lat 39.45.22 alt 1050 DGC Ref 2430.00

Superb shallow pools full of Lestids mostly just emerging


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Ischnura pumilio common (top left) L. barbarus male (above) C. scitulum copula recorded here(left)


10

Rio Gritos, roadside stream near Valverde long 2.08.00 lat. 39.48.44 alt 930 m DGC Ref 2440.00 Described by Chelm as a sh***y stream. C. mercuriale recorded here

Miguel Esteban Hotel stop

Friday 15‐July

Los Charcones, Miguel Esteban long.3.02.58 lat.39.31.06 alt 670 m DGC Ref 2450.00

Flamingos at Los Charcones


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The previous evening at around 20:30 the air was filled here with Aeshna affinis in a feeding frenzy prior to roosting in the nearby willows

I returned to this spot on the evening of 15‐July to find the same feeding swarm.

This depression in the marsh provided territory for a male Aeshna affinis Female A. affinis caught in feeding frenzy

Pin tailed and black bellied sand grouse here


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Pedro Munoz – Laguna del Pueblo long.2.56.40 lat.39.24.40 alt. 650 m DGC Ref 1390.00

Water levels holding up well at Pedro Munoz similar to 2010

Lestes virens – the pruinescence on the end of the abdomen is supposedly diagnostic but I am not so sure. See also the pterostigma which is almost bicoloured. The most obvious field difference is size. L virens is obviously smaller and much more dainty

Lestes barbarus – the end of the abdomen is white rather than pruinescent and the pterostigma is clearly bi‐coloured


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L. virens male (opp) straight lower anal appendages visible. Bicoloured peterostigma quite clear? This is not a reliable feature in Spain

L. virens female (opp). Note the widethoracic stripe recalling L. barbarus and the dark colouring extending right to the end of the abdomen

Sympetrum meridionale Very common here at Pedro Munoz. Young male below note very light pterostigma


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Aeshna affinis (opp) also common here

Ischnura pumilio – green female form at Pedro Munoz

I. graellsi – the green thorax and very orange abdomen recall I. saharensis


15

Laguna del Retamar long.2.58.15 lat.39.25.21 alt 650 m DGC Ref 1395.00

Almost dried out – no odos but we did have a Pratincole and Glossy Ibis

Lunch in Pedro Munoz. I had Sanya cobo

Rio Zancara south of Alcazar long.3.09.11 lat.39.18.32 alt 400 m DGC Ref 2460

Completely dry

Laguna del Camino de Villafranca, Alcazar long 3.15.09 lat.39.24.27 alt 632 m DRG Ref 2470.00

Lapwings and Flamingos and storks on the lake here

We had a pair of A. affinis ovipositing along this path next to the reeds


16

L. barbarus juvenile – common here. Note how the end of the abdomen is completely white recalling the pruinescence of L. virens

L. barbarus in copula


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Laguna Grande, Alcazar long 3.20.12 lat.39.27.04 alt 650 m DGC Ref 2380.00

Complete with pedalos. And very blue female Enallagma cyathigerum

Laguna Grande, Quero

This huge salt lake is like a small Laguna de la Fuente. A great deal of Sea Club Rush here and according to John Muddeman this is a historical L. macrostigma site??

This entire area around Quero is worth a complete trip.

AW Classic “The trouble with dragonflies is the’re 3 dimensional”


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Saturday 16‐July

Tablas de Daimiel long.3.42.11 lat.39.08.50 alt 610 m DGC Ref 230.05

This is one of Spain’s most famous wetlands now sadly much drained. It is formed at the junction between the Rio

Ciguela (saline) and the Rio Guadiana which joins from the south bringing about unique water conditions which

attract wildfowl and waders in huge numbers.

Looking north to the Ciguela

Reedbeds which dominate the wetland


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Female Crocothemis erythraea

American crayfish now common in the park

Ischnura graellsi was very common. No sign of protuberance on top of prothorax and very small post‐ocular spots and with oddly marked specimen (below)

Heavy rain has ensured that the wetland is spectacular now; however, in years of drought during the winter months

the agricultural extraction reduces the rivers to little more than a trickle. At such times the wetland virtually

disappears.

This is our second visit to the area. Last year the weather was terrible and we saw only av few birds. This year the

weather was perfect but the Odos were hopeless. I have emailed Alfonso Diaz who has been studying the Odo

records at the Parque

Nothing much today just a long drive to Granada


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Two views of the E 5 autovia as it crosses the Parque Natural de Despenaperros

Sunday 17‐July

Sierra Nevada – Pradollano Laguna de las Yeguas long.3.22.49 lat.37.03.21 alt 2,995 m DGC Ref 2490.00

Small upland bog near summit(opp).

The Laguna de las Yeguas at the top of the Sierra. Too cold for Odos and no emergent vegetation. Water beetles present This is the top of the cable car at Pradollano which is north of the peak of Mulhacen which at 3,450 m (aprox) is the highest in mainland Spain


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Alpine Accentors and Wheatears common The flowers were spectacular

Some flowers from the mountain. Pictures by AW


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Travelled to the top by chairlift, first for AW.

No odes but the flat bog below the lake had Alpine Accentors and Spring Gentians.

Sierra Nevada – Pradollano village pond long. 3.24.01 lat.37.05.30 alt.2,124m DGC Ref 2500.00

Aeshna mixta and Libellula depressa seen around the village but this must be a block of solid ice from December onwards.

Laguna de Padul long.3.36.05 lat.37.00.57 alt.720 m DGC Ref. 2510.00

Another AW site. Not brilliant probably because of the cold water source off the Sierra Nevada

Monday 18‐July

Laguna de Padul (see above)

Better access found thanks to Google maps. Drive another 500 m along the road and park by the brestaurant. The

reserve has good access from here and excellent paths. The water is very cold and I sudspect the fauna would be

very late. Not much on the odo front but we had an Avadavit.

The Laguna at Padul which has much open water and fine reed beds


23

Sympecma fusca – first record for the trip

Rio Guadalfeo, Orgiva long.3.25.02 lat.36.53.01 alt 315 m DGC Ref 1555.00

The bridge near Orgiva Guadalfeo in Spanish means the ugly river; it certainly is not very pretty.

The cold fast flowing river with a surprising number of Libellulids


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Two species of Trithemis (opposite)

T. annulata (left)

T. kirbyi (right) The river flows through the Alpujarra which is beautiful; but the river is ugly; perhaps the grey aggregate that fills the river basin contributes.

Orthetrum chrysostigma female ovipositing. A common species on the river


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We drove along the valley of the Guadalfeo and crossed the Sierra de la Contravesia and took lunch at a rather nice Venta above Albunol . Morcilla (black pudding) broad beans and bacon, Rabbit in garlic and Jamon Serrano ‐ perfic

Once over the Sierra you are faced with a sea of plastic

Rio Adra, Estuary at Adra long.2.58.43 lat.36.44.20 alt 0 m DGC Ref 2520.00

Anax parthenope here But surrounded by a sea of plastic most of which has no cultivation!!


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Guardias Viejas – Almerimar long.2.50.37 lat.36.42.07 alt 0 m DGC Ref 230.056

We drove through this area which has some potential with some remnant wet areas

The following shows some views of possible Lestes macrostigma sites between Adra and Almeria

The Albufera de Adra

Pools near Guardias Viejas

Drove through a most isolated valley to Lucainena del Torres

Tuesday 19‐July

A day on the Cabo de Gata with no odes much to the chagrin of AW. Good birds including three species of wheatear.

Solar installation Some views of the country around Lucainena

Parched country full of wheatears

The Salinas at the Cabo de Gata


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Charco on the estuary of the Rambla de Morales long.2.15.17 lat.36.47.38 alt 0 m DGC Ref 2530

The Charco de Morales – a pond right on the estuary

The Cabo de Gata lighthouse

Flamingos, little ringed plovers, Avocet, Black winged stilt etc.

Drove through San Jose (avoid like plague) then lunch in Nijar.

We drove through the desert to the Pantano del Isabella 2 and then on to the Molino del Rio de Aguas but not a

drop of water to be had.

Pantano de Isabella along the Ruta de Aguas

Constructed in 1842 but now completely defunct without a single drop of water nearby


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Nightfall over Lucainena del Torres

Dinner at the Venta del Museo in Lucainena del Torres rounded off with grappa. So grateful for cash payment we got

a free round.

END OF PART TWO

Documents

TRIP REPORT SPAIN...SPAIN 2011 TRIP REPORT 5 Lunch in Quesa – we had to wait but it was worth it! Views across the hills near Utiel from the El Tollo – typical motorway hotel