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TRIP REPORT – SPAIN 2012 – Part 3

D G Chelmick

Macromia Scientific

Feb‐2013

SPAIN 2012 TRIP REPORT – Part 3

1

Introduction and Participants

This year cannot be considered as one trip; it comprised four separate visits as follows:

1. 21‐May to 28‐May D G Chelmick, P. Mitchell, R. Wicks,

a. Lagunas de Castilla la Mancha

b. Laguna de Gallocanta

2. 6‐June to 12‐June D G Chelmick, C E Chelmick

a. Gaucin and environs

3. 4‐July to 11‐July D G Chelmick, P. Mitchell, A Winchester

a. Upper Tajo

b. Teruel

4. 3‐September to 7‐September D G Chelmick, C E Chelmick

a. Upper Tajo

Due to the size of the report it is presented in separate parts for each trip.

Dragonflies Recorded

Systematic List of species recorded

For a full list of species recorded refer to 2012 Trip Report Part 1

For detailed information concerning sites and species contact the author

Once again my thanks to Bryan Pickess for his assistance in identifications of plants and non dragonfly

creatures.


2

Daily Log – Part Three

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]

4‐July‐2012

First stop the Rio Dulce near Siguenza about 100 kms north east of Madrid . It is a tributary of the Tajo.

Its visitor centre, now apparently permanently shut, is another example of the hubris pre 2008 and the

current financial disaster that is Spain

One silent Centro de Visitantes

The Rio was rather like a well wooded chalk stream, rather sluggish but with gin clear water and choked with vegetation. The river temperature was 16.2 degrees. Typical of UK not Spain


3

Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis very common

Pair in copula showing the red underside of the male’s abdomen


4

Coenagrion mercuriale was common here

This blue female is almost certainly C. mercuriale and is the most common colour form here

Cordulegaster boltonii was very common here dark specimens and very yellow ones as well


5

Rio Tajo system

The attached map shows the three rivers that we studied during this brief trip A – Rio Ablanque B – Rio Salado C – Rio Tajo

Site A – Rio Ablanquejo just north of Ablanque. Clearly a dam made to form a leaisure pool. Pedro is standing next to the barbeque area with tables etc. The picture below shows the stretch below the dam.


6

Both these species are common along this river

Orthetrum brunneum (left) Gomphus pulchellus (below)

Cicada (Cicada orni probably) And Sympetrum meridionale which was very common and just emerging


7

Platycnemis latipes looking extremely blue. There were also examples present clear white with much reduced abdominal markings

Calopteryx virgo. All three Calopteryx species were found here with C. xanthostomma by far the most common


8

5‐July‐2012

Our accommodation in Ablanque. The bar is the life blood of the village and the only shop. Even better, the landlady spoke English and even gave us bacon and egg for breakfast.

First stop was the Ablanquejo just near the village. Another typical wooded stream dominated by Lesser Water

parsnip and Bur reed.

The Roman Bridge over the Ablanquejo

The wooded stream


9

A spy in the wheatfield

C. mercuriale (right) was common here as it is in any similar habitat

All three species of Calopteryx were recorded with C. xanthostomma (left) the most abundant.


10

After our excellent breakfast – not much happens in Ablanque before 10:00 am. We moved back to the dammed

stretch of river that we had seen last evening. I walked up river from the dam and into a choked stretch beyond the

picnic area. It proved to be a very diverse area.

Dachtylorhiza spp.

Marsh helleborine – Epipactis palustris


11

The team hard at work!! AW was chasing Gomphus pulchellus

Orthetrum coerulescens was also common here

Ceriagrion tenellum A small colony including this female found in the stream just up from the picnic area. We also had Coenagrion puella here


12

Enallagma cyathigerum was common on the dammed area along with Erythromma lindeni (below)

I observed E. lindeni ovipositing with the female going below the water surface and abandoning the male just like Enallagma.

Onychogomphus forcipatus Can you spot the difference!

Onychogomphus uncatus


13

Gomphus pulchellus

Rio Tajo – our next stop at the Puente do San Pedro – site C on the above map.

We had a fine lunch in Zaorejas (down the road) and saw an Egyptian Vulture whilst dining. Pedro had Gazpacho de

Melon that looked delicious

The view from the roadbridge. Fast flowing and cold but crystal clear (Left) Calopteryx xanthostomma was present all along this stretch of the river in huge numbers


14

I walked a few hundred yards up the river. The substrate is rocky with little mud. I did not see any Macromia or Oxygastra. The lack of detritus pools and very cold temperature probably explains this

What was present was Boyeria in very large numbers. Deep in this pile of sticks was a female Boyeria irene (see below). She was ovipositing well above the water level as is the behaviour in most Aeshnids. At one point a male came by. The female froze clearly petrified of being discovered. She stayed concealed for at least 15 minutes.


15

In summary the river Tajo is beautiful but probably not suitable for Macromia. My sightings of Oxygastra could not

be confirmed. Gomphus simillimus was present along with G. pulchellus and Cordulegaster boltonii.

6‐July‐2012

Rio Salado – Site B on the map above

We visited this river on the last day of our May trip this year. We found an exuviae of Cordulegaster boltonii along

with Coenagrion mercuriale. Just look at it now – completely dried out. Not a single dragonfly present

This fine specimen of Pennyroyal was about as good as it gets here

We returned to Ablanque for breakfast and then made off towards the Gallocanta


16

The Ablanque dam popular with the punters

Laguna de Zaida in full agricultural production phase. Better luck for the wildlife next year!!


17

Laguna de Gualguillero

Another site that was visited in May‐2012. We were hoping for great things from this permanent lake but the reality was not maintained. It seems that permanent lakes in central Spain are rather poor for dragonflies.

Molina de Aragon from the Peralejos road


18

After much searching and taking quite the wrong road we visited yet another permanent central Spanish lake

Laguna de Taravilla

This photo is taken from the approaching road. Very like the Laguna de Una and equally poor for dragonflies

7‐July‐2012

We left Ablanque before breakfast and drove up to Mazarete on the main road. We found a little café in the vil;lage

which provided a good start for the day.

Pedro and AW at breakfast

This picture was on the wall of the café. Remember we are at 1000m. This whole area can be a real winter wonderland.


19

The Upper Tajo from Molina

We left the main road and headed south for Peralejos crossing the Rio Cabrillas which is a tributary of the Tajo but

further east.

We first visited the Rio Cabrillas in 2010 when it was in flood. This year it as completely dry Pedro had a Boyeria which settled on the bridge


20

The river Tajo at Peralejos is still in full flow apparently unaffected by the drought. Calopteryx virgo was very common here along with Boyeria Irene. Having crossed the river we turned south heading for Tragacete. In explicably Pedro asked me to pull off the road into a small parking area. I was mystified. “Don’t you remember” reminded Pedro “we found this pond on the may trip.” I got out of the car and still it did not come back to me. Pedro took me across the road and I remembered the pond. If it hadn’t been for Pedro I would have completely forgotten what was to be a memorable site

Canada de las Tablas

These two views of the almost dry feeder stream were the site for Lestes dryas


21

Young Lestes dryas photoed on the now drying feeder stream marsh female (below) note massive ovipositor

The pond itself. It was full and clearly unaffected by the drought. It would appear that this pond has been created

artificially by damming at the far end and its purpose is for the watering of livestock including cattle and the horses

which are kept here.

Unlike our last visit the pond had Aeshna juncea males holding territory and an exuviae. It also had Lestes dryas and

Libellula quadrimaculata


22

Libellula depressa – a really ancient female Two blues, C. scitulum was common

Coenagrion scitulum

C. puella


23

Huelamo Marsh

Unfortunately the promise of the May trip where water levels were holding up well, were not maintained. The

marsh was completely dry and nothing was see. There were Calopteryx virgo (very common) on the Rio Jucar but the

marsh was completely devoid of dragonflies. Even the pond at the back where the Sympetrum flaveolum were found

was totally dried out.

Following lunch in Tragacete we went up to:

Nacimiento del Jucar and Auberge de San Blas

The Nacimiento of the Jucar is flowing well and the waterfall is maintained. We had female Aeshna cyanea

ovipositing here


24

The marsh at Auberge San Blas (up the road from the Nacimiento) looked superb but was surprisingly sparse on

dragonflies.

Coenagrion mercuriale in small numbers and in copula on the marsh

Cordulegaster boltonii in copula

We drove on to Monreal del campo via the Rio Royuela that we had looked at in 2010 – completely dry


25

8‐July‐2012

This day we headed north east to Fonfria to search for Lestes sponsa.

Rio Pancrudo – This is a tributary of the Jiloca which drains the Canizar and is a tributary of the Ebro

Navarete del Rio and environs

Rio Pancrudo – a small stream with some very choked stretches that have good colonies of C. puella and C. mercuriale (below)

Groenlandia densa is common in all streams here Tragopogon porrifolius (Salisfy) below – common here


26

We left the Pancrudo and drove over the Fonfria pass (1470 m) and were faced with the magnificent nay

spectacular view across the valley of the Rio La Huerta

Rio la Huerta

The river runs at the foot of these fantastically folded cliffs

Scolymus hispanicus This compositae was very common in the valley Butterflies: Fritillaries, Blues, Marbled Whites everywhere


27

The was the first of the known Lestes sponsa ponds. Almost completely dried up. AW saw a pair of Lestids

here but nothing else was seen.

Typha angustifolia and Potamogeton natans totally covering the drying pond

Pond 6 – Bea

The pond is close to the river and surrounded by trees

Typha angustifolia dominates. The pond had very steep sides and was very deep probably about 2.0 m


28

Pyrrhosomma nymphula was recorded here

The stream next to the Pond 6 was almost dried out. Once again clouds of butterflies everywhere. I saw at least one pair of L. sponsa over this stream and looking to oviposit. There were many males in this area. I did not find exuviae but this looked like a favoured breeding area. In isolated clumps of Sparganium there were always males of L. sponsa

Typical male Lestes sponsa at the pond with bright blue eyes and ab.seg 2 completely blue. BPP points out that segment 8 is completely blue unlike our UK specimens where this segment is usually green.


29

Lestes sponsa ovipositing. I only observed oviposition high up the leaves and stems of Typha angustifolia.

No andromorph females were seen

This dark pair at Pond 6 look more like L. dryas which was found at another pond in the area This scarce swallowtail was drinking from the mud in the stream


30

Coenagrion mercuriale which was common on the choked stretches of the river

Lunch in Bea – the only place around. We had to wait; it was Sunday but it was worth it.

Venta “El Rebollar” at Bea

Excellent Lentil soup


31

Fonfria ponds

This pond now completely dry has L. sponsa and L. dryas recorded

This vegetation free pond has neither species recorded. This pond is clearly for livestock with the spoil just over the edge of the hill.

Pond 3 – This shallow pool is full and dominated by Eleocharis

It is hard to understand in this dried up area why this pond is here. It must be situated on a spring line


32

This pond was heaving with these enormous tadpoles which were at least 40 mm long.

Lestes sponsa, dryas, viridis and virens . Only L. sponsa were fully adult.


33

Even though the second segment is only part coloured, this male is L. sponsa.

Rio Huerta at Bea

We drove back towards Bea sampling the river at regular intervals. In most places it was dry but where

water was present so was Calopteryx xanthostomma and C. mercuriale. More interestingly Lestes sponsa

was alos present on the river; it clearly breeds here.


34

Lestes sponsa female photoed at the river site. No andromorph females were recorded

The team after a hard day

And a view like this for 29 euros a night!!


35

Spurge Hawk Moth found at the Motel and as identified by Pedro and Mr P.

9‐July‐2012

This day was a return to the Alfambra area via the Laguna de Canizar

Laguna de Canizar

The view from the visitor centre hide in July 2011. A lake filled with Chara spp and incredible numbers of Erythromma viridulum.

July 2012. Dried out with rotting vegetation and only Ischnura graellsi. No sign of E. viridulum


36

Only the deepest area had any water with a few dying fish

This ditch near the main lake had a large number of Libellula quadrimaculata ovipositing in May. Now completely dried out

The marsh in general was very dry


37

Sierra Palomera – Rio Alfambra long. 1.10.15 lat 40.33.53 alt. 1,000 m DGC Ref: 2280.00

This site was first visited last year (by mistake) and then again in May this year. Water levels had not

improved and there was no sign of Lestes sponsa.

The valley now quite dry apart from the pool by the bridge and isolated pools along the valley (below)

The lake and looking down the Alfambra valley

Sympetrum fonscolombei and Orthetrum brunneum here but no blues or Lestids. Eventually we found a good number of O. coerulescens and 1 male Coenagion mercuriale

Not much on the lake


38

Sympetrum fonscolombei common on the pools along the Alfambra

We drove on along the valley towards Alfambra and after only a short distance (less than 1 km) we came upon two

roadside ponds

I had great hopes for these two ponds but apart from common Libellulids and Ischnura graellsi, there was nothing of interest


39

This large leach (250 mm long) was probably the most interesting beast in these two ponds

Sympetrum fonscolombei in tandem


40

Rio Alfambra – between Orrios and Villalba

Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis and C. xanthostomma. Coenagrion mercuriale.Platycnemis latipes, Ischnura graellsi, Cordulegaster boltoni (very yellow form). Boyeria irene exuviae in large numbers and quite recently emerged

Typical views of the river with Chara the dominant aquatic plant with Groenlandia densa and Sparganium the key emergent


41

Coenagrion mercuriale – common along the river

The blue females are common here The male (right) has interesting and reduced markings on the abdomen


42

Coenagrion mercuriale along the river. It was very common here

This pool near the river was dominated by Eleocharis and appeared to be formed as a leak in an irrigation system


43

Coenagrion scitulum was common here in this seepage

Laguna de Tortajada

Visited for the first time in 2011. The weather was fine for this visit but the wind was far too strong to see

anything

This is the feeder stream to the Tortajada. It is a rocky series of pools and was the only site where we reliably identified Coenagrion caerulescens


44

Anax imperator ovipositing along the rocky stream

Coenagrion caerulescens

Laguna de Tortajada with much lower water levels than last year. This year two fishermen were present

The upper end of the lake was completely dry


45

Roadside pool north of Teruel on A226 long 1.03.10 lat 40.22.36 alt. 1,100m DGC Ref 2320

We visited this pool last year. This year it was predictably dry

This small reservoir is close to the main road and is part of the treatment works

Sympetrum fonscolombei was the only beast present here


46

We drove up to Aguilar de Alfambra on the Rio Alfambra. It was a bit of a waste of time. We had Anax and one

female C. mercuriale and P. latipes. There was one large pond by the bridge but very little on it. Perhaps it was justr

the lateness of the day.

This blue female (C. mercuriale)was the best thing we saw at Aguilar


47

10‐July‐2102

I have circled the phrase in Michael Rebane’s book : “ Also worthy of mention are the quaking bogs of the Sierra del Tremedal”. I first read this on our 2010 trip to this area and the phrase has haunted me every since.

Imagine, quaking bogs in southern Spain how can this be – just think of the species that must occur in such habitats

assuming that the habitat actually exists, after all what’s in a name.

On the Cuenca map (Mapa Provincial !:200,000 series) There are two areas known as Sierra del Tremedal. The first is

around Orihuela where we looked without success in 2010. The second is even more interesting as it is the upland

country above the Canada de las Tablas. The pond here had Aeshna juncea which is a acid loving bog pool species.

Was there acid bog habitat in easy reach of the track near Canada de las Tablas?


48

I cannot remember quite when it was but I remember looking up the word tremedal in a large Spanish dictionary. It

means quaking bog!! So it is not just the name of an area, it actually describes the habitat ‐ the Sierra of the Quaking

Bogs. We drove around Orihuela de Tremedal in 2010 (in the pouring rain) but found no sign of such habitat. But

what about Canada de las Tablas??

The only way to find out was to go have a look!

First a return to the pond

Another large leech (above) Libellula quadrimaculata (comon) right


49

My only reasonable photo of Aeshna juncea (left)

Coenagrion scitulum (right)


50

But was this the key habitat; what about the Sierra del Tremedal?

The two views below are of the stream which feeds the pool here. It is now almost completely dry; there is no open

water; however as well as Lestes dryas at the bottom a good number of male Aeshna juncea were flying. Further up

the hill Cordulegaster was abundant with Calopteryx xanthostomma and Onychogomphus uncatus

This visit raised far more questions than it answered. With all these insects in an apparently dry area, was

there another source population nearby?

We drove around the area and tried to penetrate the upland from different directions with no success.

This question certainly needs another trip!!

We ended the day driving round the steppe habitat around Blanca looked without success for Dupont’s

Lark


51

11‐July‐2012

Our last morning with a gentle drive via Molina and Blancas

Breakfast in Mazarete ‐ again

And finally on the main rain from Molina tio Madrid just 100 km for the capital a vulture kill. Note the

Egyption vulture waiting its turn

End of Part 3

trip report spain - macromia scientific · spain 2012 trip report – part 3 8 5‐july‐2012 our...

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