The rare White-faced darter conquers new territory in the Pyrenees

The rare White-faced darter conquers new territory in the Pyrenees



Leucorrhinia dubia –

The site of

Bassa d’Oles

in the Val d’Aran (above Vielha in the spanish Pyrenees) is quite remarkable for its dragonflies, its flora and its beauty.

Bassa d’Oles

, un site remarquable dans le Val d’Aran (Pyrénées Espagnoles) où nous aimons prospecter chaque année pour les odonates et la flore mais aussi pour sa beauté.

The rare White-faced darter conquers new territory in the Pyrenees

One of the peatbogs

Parce que nous la rencontrons chaque année dans les Pyrénées françaises ou espagnoles cela ne m’a pas immédiatement frappée de la voir là!! En fait c’est bien la première fois que nous constatons sa présence ici et donc l’extension de son territoire dans ces montagnes; une belle surprise relatée ici: Leucorrhinia dubia colonise un nouveau site. Quelle bonne nouvelle quand on entend parler bien plus souvent de la régression de telle ou telle espèce…

Because we find it regularly every year in the french and spanish Pyrenees it didn’t dawn immediately on me that it was the first time we saw it here!! In fact it is the very first time we observe it on the site thus its territory is increasing. Such good news considering we always hear about regression of such or such species…

Toutes les photos suivantes sont prises avec le Macro Sigma 150 mm The follow pics wre taken with the Sigma 150mm

LIB LeucDubia D5200G 1619 190614

L. dubia, adult male

LIB LeucDubia D5200G 1627 190614

L. dubia, mâle adulte

J’attends, couchée par terre devant ce gros cailloux qui lui sert de reposoir, un des 2 seuls mâles présents sur cette partie de la berge…

I am lying on the ground by this rock he uses as a resting place, waiting for one of the 2 males present on this side of the bank…

LIB LeucDubia D7100 9596 300614

il finit par me regarder dans les yeux:

at last he looks at in the eye:

LIB LeucDubia D5200G 4447 3006

Nous n’avons vu que 4 cœurs copulatoires cette fois-ci et pour cause puisque seuls quelques rares individus avaient atteint ce site pour y commencer leur tout premier cycle de leur reproduction; voici 3 d’entre eux:

All in all we only saw 4 mating wheels 3 of which we managed to shoot. The low number of individuals explains it since they only started to mate here for the very first time.

LIB LeucDubia D5200G 1572 190614

LIB LeucDubia D5200G 1568 190614

Et le 3ème cœur qui fait mal au cœur… Le dernier segment du mâle est arraché mais tient encore suffisamment pour accrocher une femelle:

And the 3rd wheel, somewhat heartbreaking… The male’s last segment has been partly torn off but enough is left for him to grab and hold a female:

LIB LeucDubia D57100 7618 200614

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Noushka

Passionate about Nature and photography but mostly animals and birds. I live in France at the present, but have lived in Africa for 16 years and in the U.S. for 3 years and with Australia in mind for the future. With my husband, I created and managed a Bird Park in South Africa, raising mainly psittacines; the breeding facility housed over 1000 parrots at any given time. My photography is about sharing fauna's beauty with other enthusiasts! Equipment: NIKON lenses: 400 mm Z F4/5, 800 mm Z, 500 mm, 200/500 mm, 800 mm f5/6E

Noushka Wildlife

Passionate about Wildlife, Photography and Wildlife issues. I live in the south of France at the present, but have lived in Africa for 18 years, in the U.S. for 3 years. With my husband, I created and managed a BIRD PARK in South Africa, raising mainly psittacines; the breeding facility housed over 1000 parrots at any given time. I speak French and English alike and manage decently in Spanish. My photography is about sharing fauna's beauty with other enthusiasts! Equipment: ALL NIKON Cameras: Z9, D850 Tele lenses: 70/200 mm f2/8, 500 mm f4, 800 mm Z f6/3, Zoom lenses: 24/105 mm, 200/500 mm * * * My work can be seen HERE: https://www.facebook.com/wildlife.gateway

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