Andalusian dragonflies (1 Viewer)

[pdwinter]

A few from the past few days - males unless stated -
Orange-winged Dropwing, Small Pincertail, Faded Pincertail, female Desert Darter, Dark Spreadwing, Ringed Cascader, females and male Iberian Bluetail, White Featherlegs

 

[pdwinter]

Scientific names are on the photos - the common names are from memory so may not be exactly right

 

[pdwinter]

Southern Skimmer, Epaulet Skimmer, Black-tailed Skimmer, Violet Dropwing, Broad Scarlet, teneral female Western Wiĺlow Spreadwing

 

[pdwinter]

Eventually caught up with Red-veined Darter yesterday with just one female seen. Did see a few more today and a Lesser Emperor but had the wrong camera.

 

[pdwinter]

A few goodies today. Male Large Pincertail, female Orange-spotted Emerald, male Golden-ringed, male Western Spectre, male Yellow-veined Skimmer, male Blue-eye, male Copper Demoiselle

 

[aeshna5]

A great thread, Paul-really enjoying your images & a touch of envy in your exotica. Recent trips to both northern Greece & Albania produced few Odonata.

 

[Scridifer]

A few goodies today. Male Large Pincertail, female Orange-spotted Emerald, male Golden-ringed, male Western Spectre, male Yellow-veined Skimmer, male Blue-eye, male Copper Demoiselle

Some crackers there Paul, keep 'em coming!

Chris

 

[pdwinter]

A great thread, Paul-really enjoying your images & a touch of envy in your exotica. Recent trips to both northern Greece & Albania produced few Odonata.

Thanks aeshna5. I have the advantage, after many visits, of knowing where to look.

Some crackers there Paul, keep 'em coming!

Chris

Thanks Chris. Unfortunately coming back to UK wednesday as we are having work done on the house throughout the summer so that will probably be all the pics for now!

 

[pdwinter]

Last day out and it was cloudy with a few spots of rain so really pleased to see this female Faded Pincertail just 50m from the car after a mostly fruitless walk along an overvegetated stream

 

[creedence]

Great to see your pictures Paul! Was spring early or on time in Andalusia?

Does Med Bluet still occur in your area? Would August be a good month to search for Desert Darter and would it be too late to hope for a Faded Pincertail at the same time of year?

Thanks again for all the help in finding and identifying dragonflies which you have previously given me.

 

[pdwinter]

Great to see your pictures Paul! Was spring early or on time in Andalusia?

I only really know about Málaga province and mostly within 40km of Álora but I think it was late - I only found three dragonflies in early April.

Does Med Bluet still occur in your area?

Someone has seen them along the arroyo de las Piedras this year - I looked in Observation España - Observation.es and there were some records from a Dutch visitor (Jelle Wissink) in late May. On the two short visits I made I didn't see any.

Would August be a good month to search for Desert Darter

They emerge in late spring / early summer and then spend time away from water returning to water to breed from September. In my experience they appear after the first big rains in early September and then they are suddenly everywhere. I have only spent 2 days in Spain in August - 01-02.08.2015 so I'm probably not the best person to advise. If you're in woodland/forest with a stream through it or it surrounds a lake then have a wander away from the water and you might find them (and Southern Darter). The phenology in http://static.malaga.es/malaga/subidas/archivos/4/7/arc_305674.pdf is probably the most accurate you will find (although the book is about the gran senda (big path) of Málaga the phenology is from the whole province!)

would it be too late to hope for a Faded Pincertail at the same time of year?

You should be fine with that - I've seen them up to 10th September. They have been found in a lot of places along the Guadalhorce recently.

Good hunting

 

[creedence]

Thanks Paul I’m looking forward the first week of September!