Wildlife

Wildlife in Spain is incredibly diverse, from Iberian lynx and brown bears to flamingos and eagles. Spain’s varied landscapes, including mountains, wetlands, and forests, provide habitats for many unique species. Observing wildlife offers a chance to connect with nature and learn about conservation efforts.

Finding dragonflies and damselflies in Spain

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Dragonflies have huge eyes

Dragonflies and damselflies in Spain are extremely beautiful insects which capture the very essence of summer as they perform their intricate aerobatics around the gleaming backdrop of rivers and pools on hot sunny days. They are reasonably easy to observe and are also important indicators of the health of our wetlands, being top insect predators both as airborne adults & aquatic larvae. Heres a few lists and places for finding dragonflies and damselflies in Spain

For those with an interest in observing and photographing these insect jewels, August is definately the best month. Many people avoid Spain during the peak of summer due to the intense heat (which may be hovering around the high 30’s and low 40’s) so, you’ll have the countryside pretty much to yourself. The scent of hot pine resin, gum cistus and the baked appearance of the area is quite different from the spring wild flower season just a few months earlier and is an experience in itself.

The tiny feather legged damselfly
The tiny feather legged damselfly
The Iberian blue tailed damselfly
The Iberian blue tailed damselfly
Pincer tail
Pincer tail
Dragonflies have huge eyes
Dragonflies have huge eyes
Copper demoiselle
Copper demoiselle
Banded Groundling
Banded Groundling

During a few days visit in August you should expect to see around 15 species of Dragonfly and Damselfly and in some cases you may even be rewarded with upwards of 10 species in just a single location including emperors and goldenrings along with damselflies such as the beautifull copper demoiselle and Iberian blue tails…

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Wildife tourism in Spain

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Andalucia Nature Trips

Wildife tourism in Spain can have both positive and negative effects on the environment. On the one hand, it can help to protect wildlife and their habitats by bringing in revenue that can be used for conservation efforts. Additionally, it can raise awareness about conservation issues and help to educate people about the importance of protecting wildlife and their habitats.

On the other hand, wildlife tourism can also have negative effects on the environment if it is not properly managed. For example, large numbers of tourists visiting wildlife areas can damage habitats and disrupt wildlife. Some tourism activities such as safaris or wildlife watching can put stress on wild animals. Additionally, if wildlife tourism is not well-regulated, it can lead to illegal hunting and poaching, which can be devastating for wildlife populations.

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Midwife toads in Spain

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Midwife toads in Spain

Midwife toads (Alytes obstetricans) are actually frogs, not toads. They belong to the family Alytidae (formerly Discoglossidae), which is a group of frogs that are found in Europe and northern Africa. They are called “midwife toads” because of their unique breeding behavior, in which the male carries the fertilized eggs on his hind legs, but they are not classified as toads. Toads and frogs are both amphibians, but they are different groups of animals. Toads are generally stockier and have rough, warty skin, while frogs are typically more slender and have smooth skin.

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Common genet – Genetta genetta – Gineta

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Common genet – Genetta genetta – Gineta

Genetta genetta is a small carnivorous mammal known as the common genet and Gineta in Spanish. It is native to Africa, and has been introduced to parts of Europe. It is a member of the Viverridae family, which also includes civets and meerkats. They have a slender body, short legs, and a long tail, and are usually gray or brown in color with black spots or stripes. They are primarily active at night and feed on small animals such as rodents and insects.

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