summer02-2008.htm

strait nature news

Summer through to autumn 2

Some of this seasons photos and notes

All Creatures

great and small

- Stephen Daly takes a look at the less cuddly animals and insects to be found in Spain

This summer I was asked to write an article in La Luz magazine about any insects, spiders or other creatures that we should be aware of and of course, treat with respect.....

Moving to another country or even travelling abroad often raises questions about the possibility of encountering dangerous wildlife. Here I want to clear up a few points about some of the commoner types of hazardous creatures. This very brief guide highlights some of the commoner living creatures that one may come across. The chances of coming across a poisonous animal in Andalucia are very small, unless you are looking for them. In this article I have deliberately left out poisonous plants. Common sense, preventative measures and a greater understanding of wildlife always play a big part in how safe we make our lives whatever the danger.
The good the bad and what we deem as positively ugly get persecuted wherever we travel to, as well as perpetuating false myths about what can be harmful or dangerous. Accurate information on dangerous wildlife is often confusing or difficult to find and here I want to highlight some of the commoner types of hazardous creatures, should you or your family happen across some of them.
Let’s talk about larger mammals first. Wolves were persecuted for centuries and are almost extinct in Andalucia with only a few packs consisting of no more than around fifty animals in the Sierra Morena area.

Bears do not occur here and are the few remaining northern Spanish bears are under extreme pressure from hunters. Both Wolves and bears have had protected status under Spanish and EU legislation since 1986.
Not all creatures are cute and cuddly. Some insects bite or sting and there is usually a good reason for this.
There are thirteen species of snakes in Spain with only five that are venomous. These are the Montpellier’s Snake (Vipera seoanei ) which is the largest, growing to over two meters in length and can easily travel faster than a running human! The Asp Viper (Vipera aspis). The Snub-nosed or Lataste's viper (Viborade lataste) and the False smooth snake (Macroprotodon cucullatus).

Most of the commoner ‘garden’ snakes that one comes across are the Ladder Snake, Horseshoe Whip Snake. They’ll be looking for rats, mice, geckos and often take fledglings from bird’s nests in spring. All snakes like to climb trees and of course they love warm walls to sun themselves and will usually have a ‘bolt-hole’ very close by.
Normally snakes will avoid people and they usually detect the vibrations from footsteps well before you come to their area. The best advice is not to panic but walk slowly backwards away from the snake. All snakebites should be treated as quickly as possible at a medical centre or hospital.
There are over 1,650 different species of spiders on the peninsula alone! Let’s have a look at some that you might find. The most dangerous spider is the Black Widow Spider (Latrodectus tredecimguttatus). Their name comes from the practice of the female devouring their mate after mating, thus making them ‘widows’. Most female spiders are larger than the males and the bite of the Black Widow is very painful and you should seek medical attention. Black Widows are commonest in Andalucia and on the Costa Blanca.
Wolf Spiders (Lycosa tarantula) can also give a stinging bite that can give swelling and immediate area around the bite. They often occur in gardens and in spring can be fairly aggressive if you happen to disturb them.
After writing about the negative aspects of spiders, as far as Humans go, these are indeed truly remarkable creatures. The first thing to realise is that spiders are not insects. They belong to a group of their own. Spiders have two main body parts, eight walking legs, simple eyes and piercing jaws (fangs), abdominal silk spinning organs which the silk they produce size for size, is in fact stronger than high-tensile steel, they have anterior abdominal genital opening.

Insects on the other hand are very different with three main body parts with six walking legs, compound eyes, antennae, chewing jaws (mandibles - often secondarily modified), posterior abdominal genital opening.
Spiders can't fly like many insects can, but may allow themselves to float on the wind, traveling vast distances and heights to populate new areas. You will probably have seen floating web strands in the air from traveling spiders at various times of the year.
On to Scorpions now. The most common species is the Mediterranean or Spanish Scorpion (Buthus occitanus). They normally are nocturnal hunters but can be found during daylight. They have turned up in our garden before and you have to be aware that their sting (not a bite), can be quite painful and not life-threatening. When out walking on drier slopes it may be advisable to wear boots should you disturb a sleeping scorpion. Oh yes, in all the films you see people checking their boots in the morning before putting them on – well, I always do this if they have been left outside.

Centipedes can also sting and the one with the biggest “kick’ is certainly the Megarian Banded Centipede (Scolopendra cingulata – escolopendra). This beauty is quite long at about 9cms and is dark yellow and black. Best to leave it alone. It is not considered life-threatening but now I really respect them!
All in all, there are lots of other insects I could write about, their activities and habits. I have deliberately left out all the obvious ones like hornets, horseflies, mosquito's as well as other reptiles and amphibians. There are of course lots of informative websites out there along with wonderful photos and descriptions.
All creatures have their part to play in the fantastic intricate world we share. It’s good to remind ourselves that we are just a very and often vulnerable small part of all of this beautiful and varied life on Earth.

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Bonelli's Warblers are quite vocal little summer visitors to southern and central

Europe. This wee bird was photographed in Bavaria and had a nest in the area,

so I cleared off after taking a few shots.

A Tawny Pipit surveys the Military area near Barbate prior to nesting.

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Click below for most of the past months to get an overview of what to expect with migration and weather for each month.

Please use this stamp for your letters!

April May & June 2007

December 2007 & January 2008

Summer 2008 -Page 1

Raptor Identification

European Chameleon did turn up in our garden last year. This wonderful fellow was found in Portugal during last autumn's migration tour.

Little Bustard males displaying on the Extremaduran steppe near to Trujillo. April 2007

Honey Buzzards were flapping over our house this spring and in late September we expect to see them

gliding down the coast to make the short crossing to Morocco, where they'll spend the winter.

Such graceful and unique raptors with a host of special characteristics all to themselves.

Little Swifts are particularly fast flyers and often give you a challenge to get reasonable photos.

Swift by name indeed!

Cirl Buntings are not really a UK species having just a few footholds in the south. Here in Spain they

are not so common but we are lucky to have a few good sites for this great looking seed-eater.

Dartford Warblers tend to stick to semi-mountainous areas on the Mediterranean and Central Iberian

areas. Great little birds that have so much energy.

You can get quite a nasty sting from this Banded Centipede if you upset it. Usually they like to take

cover under stones or wood. This beautiful creature lives in our garden.

Southern Grey Shrikes are pretty rare on the Iberian peninsula. This race (ssp. algeriensis)

was photographed in Morocco

The Asphodel plant is pretty much avoided by most animals. Cattle in Andalucia, goats, rabbits and

everything else that one would think would eat the green leaves and shoots, avoids it like the plague.

In Morocco however, the Common Bulbul just adores to eat the spring flowers of this peculiar plant

Lanner Falcons are making their presence increasingly known in Cadiz province. In the last five years

there have been increased numbers of mainly juvenile birds turning up during autumn migration.

2008 saw at least three immature birds present for most of the winter on the Costa de La Luz.