Odonata - Pyrenees

With just three species of Odonate recorded during working hours on a recent trip to the Spanish Pyrenees, I eventually cracked and went out one evening exploring and found a small reservoir (Balsa la Estanca) above Bailo that satisfied my Odo-needs. This Sympetrum fusca male was my first in Spain. [A full list of the Odonata recorded on the tour follows these photos]

My only odo-lifer of the tour came in the form of this splendid Coenagrion scitulum, a long overdue addition to my list.

Another Spanish first for me was Erythromma lindeni

A few Sympetrum fonscolombii were also my first in Spain

An encounter with Gomphus pulchellus at Balsa la Enstanca was my first in many years and most welcome.

Odonata recorded in the Spanish Pyrenees between 25^th June and 2^nd July 2013

Common winter demoiselle	Sympecma fusca	Two males at Balsa la Enstanca.
Blue-eye	Erythromma lindeni	A few at Balsa la Enstanca.
	Ischnura spp.	A few at Balsa la Enstanca.
Dainty damselfly	Coenagrion scitulum	Two males at Balsa la Enstanca.
Common bluet	Enallagma cyathigerum	Small numbers at Balsa la Enstanca.
Yellow clubtail	Gomphus simillimus	One at the Atares junction stream for Bruce and Mary only...
Western clubtail	Gomphus pulchellus	A few males at Balsa la Enstanca.
Emperor	Anax imperator	Small numbers at Balsa la Enstanca, including an egg-laying female.
Broad-bodied chaser	Libellula depressa	Pair on roadside runnel high up the Hecho Valley.
Black-tailed skimmer	Orthetrum cancellatum	One male at Balsa la Enstanca.
Southern skimmer	Orthetrum brunneum	Single male along the Aragon River on the afternoon of the first day.
Red-veined darter	Sympetrum fonscolombii	Small numbers at Balsa la Enstanca. One at Casa Sarasa on the last day.

La glorieuse Loire

On our recent trip to France, we were allowed just half a day on the Loire on 28/7, instead of our planned 2-3 days. We had a great afternoon though and are keen to go back. Our first look at a river was a lunch stop on the Vienne at L’Île Bouchard which produced some interesting Odo’s, with Erythromma lindeni taking pride of place, alongside Calopteryx splendens, Platycnemis pennipes and Onychogomphus forcipatus. Later the kids swam at the confluence of the Loire and Vienne whilst I poked about along the bank. Amongst the numerous Onychogomphus forcipatus we did see one (probably female) Ophiogomphus cecilia. But the view was brief and no photos… Also here a single Lestes viridis and yet more Erythromma lindeni. A great insight into the joys of dragging on the Loire, I hope we return.

My first European Erythromma lindeni turned up on the Vienne and the Loire.

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Platycnemis were common along the Vienne.

Lestes viridis were on the wing along the Loire.

Onychogomphus forcipatus were very common along the Loire and Vienne, diligent searching produced a frustrating fleeting view of my first Ophiogomphus.

Number 2 found this big European mantis (Mantis religiosa) along the riverbank.