Málaga province sites

07.04.2025 The apartment in Álora has now been sold and my visits will now be a lot less frequent (if at all!)  so the information won't be updated, Observation.org (or/and iNaturalist) would be the best place to find what has been seen recently. There has been plenty of rain in winter / spring so the 2025 season should be a good one. Enjoy!

I have been looking for dragonflies in Málaga province since September 2005. What drives me Is finding my own dragonflies - either new species at existing sites or finding new sites and seeing what dragonflies occur. The first sites I first visited were birdwatching sites (with a water component) given in the books by Andy Patterson and John Butler. I subsequently found other sites - some spotted while driving around and others identified through google maps. Other sites were 'discovered' by seeing the site named on a photograph on the web! Most of the sites are a short (in Spanish terms) drive from Álora.

If you are searching for your own sites the only useful advice I can offer is to not be deterred by the fact that you cannot see water in the arroyo or río from the bridge that you are crossing in your car. Quite often in the summer sections become dry but a little further up or downstream from the bridge there my well be water.

Summer 2015 and 2016 have been extremely hot in Malaga province and many water courses have been short of water. I do not have the time to update this site to reflect the water situation so apologies if you visit and it is dry.

Sites

Below are a few sites I visit and their species list as seen by me plus (in italics) other observers. These sites are ones that I have discovered or were in the public domain and are relatively easily accessible.

Until 2013 I visited for a week in January, April and mid to late September with a 16-17 day visit in June so the May and July / August species are not well represented. You might find more up to date information (to 30/09/2015) on my blog and subsequently on my facebook page.

For additional sites a useful reference source are the bulletins of ROLA (Red de observadores de libélulas en Andalucia) which contain observations recorded at the 1km square level and for recent years.

Another useful source of information are the bulletins of the Asociación odonatológica de Andalucía.

Note that legally protected species and scarce species are not mentioned here and you won't be able to obtain the information by contacting me (Of the protected species Macromia and G.graslinii don't occur in the Álora area!). If you can find flowing water in July, August and September then you will most likely find Zygonyx.

Sites (enter the supplied coordinates into Google maps)

Arroyo de Casarabonela (36.754803, -4.745814)

[Update 19.06.24.  Arroyo bone dry in all sections.]

Access is along an unmade road - Carretera Pista Confederación - from Zalea. Park near the bridge and the section downstream from the bridge is usually the best. Other sections of this arroyo can be accessed by parking at 36.753688,-4.721452 and walking upstream or at 36.752134,-4.732691 and walking either downstream or upstream. It is a permanent arroyo but there will be dry sections in September.

Damselflies: Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis, Chalcolestes viridis. Ischnura graellsii, Coenagrion caerulescens, Erythromma lindenii, Platycnemis acutipennis, P. latipes

Dragonflies: Aeshna mixta, Anax imperator, A. parthenope, Gomphus pulchellus, Onychogomphus forcipatus, Orthetrum coerulescens, O. brunneum, O. chrysostigma, O.nitidinerve, O. trinacria, Sympetrum fonscolombii, S. sinaiticum, Crocothemis erythraea, Trithemis annulata, T. kirbyi, Diplacodes lefebvrii

Here is a simple document with a few images of the arroyo and where to park (updated 01.05.18).  

Arroyo de Las Cañas

[Update 19.06.24 On my recent trip there was water in the arroyo from the Pizarra turnoff - if you walk several hundred metres upstream.]

I access this at two points off the A-357 - by the Álora norte junction (36.802258, -4.757519) and by the Pizarra turn off (36.773033, -4.737589). Note that you can only turn off the A-357 at the Álora norte junction if you are driving north.

Damselflies: Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis, Ischnura graellsii, I. pumilio (once), Erythromma lindenii, Platycnemis acutipennis, P. latipes

Dragonflies: Anax imperator, A. parthenope, Gomphus pulchellus, Onychogomphus forcipatus, Orthetrum cancellatum, O. coerulescens, O. brunneum, O. chrysostigma, Sympetrum fonscolombii, Crocothemis erythraea, Trithemis annulata, T. kirbyi, Diplacodes lefebvrii

Arroyo de las Piedras  (36.877325,-4.715422)

{Update  07.04.25  I think that the new bridge over the de las Piedras has been completed so it may be difficult to park and  access the arroyo and the adjacent río Guadalhorce at the coordinates given above - but I haven't visited so I don't know!]

 [Update 19.06.24. There are roadworks (building a new bridge) at the section where the arroyo flows into the Guadalhorce so no access there currently. There is water in the other sections and I found the area either side of the AVE bridge to be the easiest to access; the other sections have a lot of spring vegetation making walking and viewing difficult but no doubt it will die back as summer progresses.]

This is a facebook post from 27.01.25 🔴El Puente del Arroyo de las Piedras se... - Ayuntamiento de Álora | Facebook 

This is where the Arroyo de las Piedras flows into the río Guadalhorce at Las Mellizas. You can also access the arroyo further upstream by driving along the old Álora to Abdalajis road (which is a country track) and parking at 36.882380,-4.709095 or 36.892897,-4.706816 or 36.897028,-4.703080. The track runs out after this. I have seen O.nitidinerve between c. 36.881085,-4.711758 to c. 36.908487,-4.704075. 

Damselflies: Chalcolestes viridis, Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis, Ischnura graellsii, Coenagrion caerulescens, Erythromma lindenii, E. viridulum, Platycnemis acutipennis, P. latipes

Dragonflies: Aeshna mixta, A.cyanea, Anax imperator, A.parthenope, A.ephipigger, Boyeria irene, Gomphus pulchellus, Onychogomphus forcipatus, O. costae, Orthetrum coerulescens, O. brunneum, O. nitidinerve, O. chrysostigma, Brachythemis impartita, Sympetrum fonscolombii, S. striolatum, S. sinaiticum, Crocothemis erythraea, Trithemis annulata, T. kirbyi

Here is a simple document with a few images of the arroyo and where to park (updated 01.05.18). 

Campo de Golf Drainage Channel (Málaga) aka Canal Guadalmar  (36.658917, -4.468833)

Sometimes there's water - sometimes not!  It's near the airport so worth a look if you have an hour to kill.

Damselflies: Chalcolestes viridis, Lestes barbarus, Lestes macrostigma (2015 and again 2018, 2022, 2023,2024), Sympecma fusca, Ischnura graellsii, Erythromma viridulum

Dragonflies: Anax imperator, A. parthenope, A. ephippiger, Orthetrum cancellatum, O. coerulescens, O. brunneum, O. chrysostigma, O. trinacria, Sympetrum fonscolombii, S. striolatum, Crocothemis erythraea. Trithemis annulata, T. kirbyi, Diplacodes lefebvrii, Selysiothemis nigra

Paraje Naturale Desembocadura del Guadalhorce (36.669617, -4.459144)

Do not park by the entrance to the reserve (as directed by the signs) as you will probably get your hire car window smashed. I park down near the sea - parking by the church is also supposed to be safe.

I usually walk along the lower path on the near bank making forays down to the fishing 'platforms'. You'll never see vast numbers of dragonflies here but I've managed a decent species list over the years.

Damselflies: Ischnura graellsii, Enallagma cyathigerum, Erythromma viridulum, Platycnemis acutipennis, P. latipes

Dragonflies: Anax imperator, A. parthenope, A. ephippiger, Onychogomphus forcipatus, Orthetrum cancellatum, O. chrysostigma, O. trinacria, Sympetrum fonscolombii, Crocothemis erythraea, Trithemis annulata, T. kirbyi, Brachythemis impartita, Selysiothemis nigra

PTA - Campanillas (36.731939, -4.549892)

PTA stands for Parque Tecnológico de Andalucía and the google coordinate is for the entrance pool. There are other pools dotted around the site which you can see if you click on satellite while in google maps. The entrance pool usually has Orthetrum trinacria and I have also seen Diplacodes and Selysiothemis there. I have also seen those three species on the pool opposite the health club but finding somewhere to park near there can be problematic so I usually leave my car parked next to the entrance pool and walk down. I don't visit this site as often as the others which might explain the small species list.

Damselflies: Sympecma fusca, Ischnura graellsii, Erythromma viridulum, E.lindenii

Dragonflies: Anax imperator, A.parthenope, Orthetrum cancellatum, O.chrysostigma, O.trinacria, Sympetrum fonscolombii, Crocothemis erythraea, Trithemis annulata, T.kirbyi, Diplacodes lefebvrii, Selysiothemis nigra

Río Grande

Locally I access the river at two locations - (36.718669, -4.721292) which is west of the A-357 with parking by a bridge in the shade of the eucalyptus trees and you can explore east and west from here - and (36.724178,-4.692065), again with parking under trees, which gives you access to the confluence of the ríos Grande and Guadalhorce.

I have only been looking at these sites from September 2014 but have seen 26 species of odonata.

Damselflies: Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis, Chalcolestes viridis, Ischnura graellsii, Erythromma lindenii, Platycnemis acutipennis, P. latipes

Dragonflies: Aeshna cyanea, Anax imperator, Anax parthenope, Boyeria irene, Onychogomphus forcipatus, Orthetrum cancellatum, O. coerulescens, O. brunneum, O. chrysostigma, O. nitidinerve, O. trinacria, Sympetrum fonscolombii, S. striolatum, S. sinaiticum, Crocothemis erythraea, Trithemis annulata, T. kirbyi, Diplacodes lefebvrii, Selysiothemis nigra

Río Guadalhorce, Álora  (36.806886, -4.698819)

[Update: 19.06.24. Good numbers of Onychogomphus costae found either side of the road bridge. North of the bridge there is an obvious 'farm crossing' with large stones adjacent and this was a good spot.]

I park opposite the GGG garden centre (it may have a different name now - it is closed) not far before the road bridge - there is a savage sleeping policeman just before where you park - and walk down to the river. A lot of vegetation was lost in the floods of autumn 2012 but it is slowly recovering. Since the floods it is now easy to access the river south of the roadbridge as well as the section opposite the GGG.

Damselflies: Ischnura graellsii, Erythromma lindenii, Platycnemis latipes

Dragonflies: Anax imperator, A. parthenope, Onychogomphus costae, Onychogomphus forcipatus, Orthetrum cancellatum, O. coerulescens, O. brunneum, O. chrysostigma, Sympetrum fonscolombii, Crocothemis erythraea, Trithemis annulata, T. kirbyi, Brachythemis impartita

Río Guadalhorce, Las Mellizas  (36.877325,-4.715422)

[Update: 19.06.24. The "Camino cortado" sign is now for real and there is no access - although I expect that when they are not working you could park your car by the sign and walk down.]

When approaching from the south the road drops down sharply towards the river just after the "Camino cortado" sign and on the left hand side there is room for a couple of cars to park. Note that they dump shit in the river a little further north (near the blue railway bridge) so I tend to not get in the water unless wearing wellington boots (even in high summer!)

Damselflies: Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis, Ischnura graellsii, Erythromma lindenii, Platycnemis acutipennis, P. latipes

Dragonflies: Anax imperator, A. parthenope, Onychogomphus forcipatus, O. costae, Orthetrum coerulescens, O. brunneum, O. chrysostigma, Crocothemis erythraea, Trithemis annulata, T. kirbyi

Río Turon, Ardales (36.880058, -4.860211) to (36.896450, -4.838142)

I park under the A-357 (36.889225, -4.846639) or by the old bridge (36.882803 -4.851214) or just off the A-357 at (36.896762, -4.847302).

Damselflies: Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis, Ischnura graellsii, Ischnura pumilio (once), Enallagma cyathigerum, Erythromma lindenii, Platycnemis acutipennis, P. latipes

Dragonflies: Anax imperator, A. parthenope, Onychogomphus forcipatus, Paragomphus genei, Orthetrum cancellatum, O. coerulescens, O. brunneum, O. chrysostigma, Sympetrum fonscolombii, S. sinaiticum, S.striolatum, Crocothemis erythraea, Trithemis annulata, T. kirbyi

Río Turon between Ardales and El Burgo

I access the river at two locations(1) 36.830308, -4.896075 - room to park by the KM1 sign of the MA-5402 (Google shows the road as MA-446!) - and at 36.843583, -4.895219 by a bridge a short drive down an unmade track. At the latter site a large farm dog may approach but it bathes, licks your leg and goes back to the farm!

Damselflies: Calopteryx xanthostoma (not since 2014), C. haemorrhoidalis, Ischnura graellsii, Erythromma lindenii, Platycnemis acutipennis, P. latipes

Dragonflies: Anax imperator, Boyeria irene, Gomphus simillimus, Onychogomphus uncatus, O. forcipatus, Orthetrum coerulescens, O. brunneum, O. chrysostigma, Sympetrum fonscolombii, S. sinaiticum, Crocothemis erythraea, Trithemis annulata, T. kirbyi

Sierra de Aguas waterfall and stream (36.847733, -4.765669)

I park at (36.841408, -4.761850) and walk up to the waterfall. You could drive but I enjoy listening to Golden Orioles, Bee-eaters and Rock Buntings and seeing the butterflies and passing dragonflies on the walk up. There is an alpine meadow above the waterfall which is well worth visiting for resting dragonflies and other insects.

Damselflies: Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis, Sympecma fusca, Pyrrhosoma nymphula

Dragonflies: Aeshna mixta, A. cyanea, Anax ephippiger (twice), Boyeria irene, Oxygastra curtisii, Onychogomphus uncatus, O. forcipatus, Cordulegaster boltonii, Orthetrum cancellatum(once), O.coerulescens, O.chrysostigma (once), Sympetrum fonscolombii, S.meridionale, S.sinaiticum, S.striolatum, Trithemis annulata, T. kirbyi

Finally a site I've visited only eleven times which I wish was a little closer to Álora!

Laguna Chica (Archidona) (37.098536, -4.309153)

Park just past the cement factory at (37.095933, -4.315239) and walk up the track. The track had been repaired in July 2015 and it was possible to drive up to the top to park under the trees. (Much reduced water early July 2017, not visited 2018)

Damselflies: Lestes virens, Chalcolestes viridis, Sympecma fusca, Ischnura graellsii, Enallagma cyathigerum, Coenagrion scitulum, Erythromma viridulum, E. lindenii

Dragonflies: Anax imperator, A. parthenope, Orthetrum cancellatum, O. coerulescens, O. trinacria, Sympetrum fonscolombii, S. striolatum, S. meridionale, S. sinaiticum, Crocothemis erythraea, Trithemis annulata

Last updated 28 July 2018