Amateur photographer and wildlife enthusiast who is passionate about Dragonflies.
I've lost count of the amount of Keeled Skimmer pairings I've witnessed over the years.
Notoriously nervous & flighty, and when they finally do settle it's inevitabely in the most unflattering of places.
Still, that's what you get for chasing them down or trying too hard. Best to just ignore them and fix your gaze on something else...and look over you shoulder just in case 🙂
Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens) - pair in-cop
Missing four to six weeks right in the middle of the season meant I was in danger of missing out on one of my favourite dragonflies.
Thankfully my recovery is moving on at a rapid pace to which I could chance an hour or two in the New Forest yesterday.
I didn't have to wait long for my first encounter, and there were enough individuals to keep me satisfied allow me a chance at getting a shot or two.
Golden Ringed Dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltonii) - male
Nice to see these at the pond again; a reminder that the area used to be lowland heath before being swallowed up by urban sprawl...
Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens) - male
I went out to the local pond early the other day and the only species braving the cool temperatures were the Blue-tailed and Common Blue. Hardy little fellows...
Blue-tailed damselfly (Ischnura elegans) - female violacea form
I had a chance to connect with the Downy at Bentley Wood last Sunday -always a Spring treat and a great way to get the season started.
I came home with too many last season and couldn't pick any to post. This year I've decided on two - one which I refer and one which Sue prefers.
Which do you prefer?
Downy Emerald (Cordulia aenea)
The forecast was for rain, so I looked out the window and wondered why the sun was shining. Bit windy, granted, but rain? You lying toe-rags!
Anyway, Sue had to pop out to do a bit of shopping so I asked her to drop me at the pond. Yep - sun was out here too!
About a dozen fresh Black-tailed Skimmers rising from the pond and flying out of reach, however closer to shore ws a green femal Scarce Blue-tailed and a few immature males.
A little more detective work and I spotted the unmistakeable glint of orange in the grass. Just before the clouds came in.
Result! Not bad for a rainy day
Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly (Ischnura pumilio) - immature female aurantiaca phase
I needed a Downy fix yesterday and wasn't disappointed. Well over a dozen males patrolling and over a dozen pairings - every single one of them disappearing on approach!
Also pleased to see quite a few Hairy Hawkers - more than previous years, a couple of male Emperors and the usual Four-spotted and Broad-bodied Chasers.
The most surprising sightings were the first ever Banded Demoiselle on a strean in the woods and some freshly-emerged Common and Ruddy Darter. Well early!
I'll post a Downy later but for now here's one of the Common Darters.
Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) - teneral female
I took my first walk to the local pond a couple of days ago and was pleased to finally report - after 3 years - the first Four-spotted Chaser!
I can't beleive they've waited this long to put in an appearance, considering they're established half a mile away.
That brings the total species up to 17 😎
Talking of waiting, I had to wait an hour or so before the BBC's decided to make an appearance. Nice to see a little colour about the place 😊
Broad-bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa) - immature male
Territorial behaviour or just antagonistic?
I'm more than used to battling Chasers or unsociable Skimmers chasing Golden-ringed from theie resting place.
Common Blue damselflies disturbng female Emperors ovipositing and as recent as yesterday watching a male Azure pestering a mating pair of Blue-tailed among the grass.
First time I've witnessed a Four-spotted Chaser being knocked off its perch by a Ladybird...
Four-spotted Chaser (Libellula quadrimaculata) and friend?
Sometimes they just don''t offer themselves up for a decent opportunity, so you have to capture what you can. Unsurprisingly numb from the nettles later that evening 😁
Hairy Dragonfly (Brachytron pratense) - female
Happy New Season to everyone. After a rather fraught start to this year I finally got some sunshine on Saturday and a good selection to start the season, including this rather gorgeous FSC
Four-spotted Chaser (Libellula quadrimaculata) - female
I haven't ventured out in search of dragonflies during October for quite a few years now; the original reason being a lack of returns and repetition with just Common Darters and Migrant Hawkers being on the wing.
Thankfully now there is a third species on the wing with Willow Emerals being present in many places throughout the south of England.
An unexpected upturn in the weather begged me to get my boots on for a late look at the local pond, and although I didn't encounter any Willow Emeralds I was amazed at the amount of Common Darters - at least a two dozen in-cop and another two dozen single male.
There were also a dozen Migrant Hawker on the wing, one allowing a late-season chance to grab a shot.
Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta) - male on patrol
Southern Hawker (Aeshna cyanea) - male on patrol
I wouldn't normally post so soon after the last time however this calls for a celebration.
Since I first discovered the local ponds last July I've managed a count of 15 species. I thought I might add to that with some FSC this season but didn't encounter one.
The presence of Bullrush should also attract Ruddy Darter and Brown Hawker, but as yet no sightings.
I popped in today in the hope of maybe a RVD or other migrant considering the wind direction. Wishful thinking maybe, but it doesn't hurt to look.
Plenty of Migrant Hawker, Common Darter, Common Blue, a few Blue-tailed, a Southern Hawker and....the 16th species encountered at this wonderful urban pond.
One shot only managed before I lost him. I did search thoroughly for another encounter but he eluded me.
A new resident or a late summer visitor from across the channel? They have been recorded at Swanwick a short distance away and Titchfield Haven further east, so we'll see.
A nice positive for a change 😎
Willow Emerald (Chalcolestes viridis) - male
Something rather unfortunate has befallen the local pond.
Besides the Duck House being reeled in and subsequently disappearing there appears to be evidence of dumping which has turned the water brown along the one shore 😟
It doesn't smell like sewage, and the floating w**d has taken on this rusty-red tinge, which you can see on the wings of the Emperor below.
At another pool a little way off someone has dumped a load of expensive-looking Koi Car; one very huge, possibly 60cm,and at least 50 smaller individuals.
Unfortunately this is the fate which 'urban' ponds have to deal with. I truly hope the main pond recovers.
Emperor (Anax imperator) - male
The last day of August already!
Reflecting on the miserable summer we've had to endure I can at least take one positive - all those idiots who ruined the countryside since lockdown may choose to fly abroad next year and leave this beautiful land to those of us who deserve it 😁
We are promised some good weather in September - let's hope it's not another false promise; after all the forcasters don't have to appease the tousist trade now the season is more or less over 😉
We had some unscheduled free time last week so at the last minute we decided to visit an old haunt for the first time this year. I wasn't expecting a great deal, just hoped for a glimpse of Hampshire's newest resident species to make up for missing the Brilliant Emeralds this year.
This time I didn't come home disappointed
Willow Emerald (Chalcolestes viridis) - male
It's been rather quiet lately and it's also been a typical British Bank Holiday, to the extent that unless sunshine was guaranteed I really didn't want another disappointing day.
Thankfully there was one day last week where I came home satisfied.
Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta) - male
I do love a Red-eyed - especially when they offer such a fine opportunity as this.
Red-eyed Damselfly Erythromma najas) - male
Sunday looked promising so we visited Bentley Wood in the hope of finding a few Southern Hawkers.
Now usually around this time we see a good number vying for territory over the pond and a few along the woodland rides. None on the way in and none on the way out, and just the one on the pond despite the pleasant conditions.
Ruddy Darter were the only odos present in reasonable numbers. A couple of Emperor, a few Migrant Hawker, very few damsels and a few Common Darters.
Another disappointing day and hard work pinning down this slightly battered specimen on the rare occasion he made an appearance.
Southern Hawker (Aeshna cyanea) - male on patrol
One of the highlights of my recent Ramsdown visit was the superb blooming heather. Had this summer been more agreeable I'd have spent some more time among it looking for treasures. Still time, he says hopefully!
Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) - female
Oh good - some sunshine, warmth and a rare chance to get out. Except it was depressingly quiet.
A trip to Town Common and Ramsdown this time of year should have had all four hawkers in good quantities. As it was the majority on the wing were Brown Hawker followed by Migrant. Southern were a rareity - three spotted in total - and I disturbed (bother) a Moorland in the heather.
The heather should've been blooming with dragonfles except subject opportunities were scarce. After such a lousy month surely things should be looking up? I guess I'll have to give it another week and a few days warmth to bed in.
Still, I didn't come away entirely empty-handed...
Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta) - male
Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) - male from Thursday
It's been the best part of a month - since I last ventured out. Blame the weather? Absolutely!
I can’t remember a July so bad. Mid-summer; taken away just like that.
The pond was worryingly quiet today. I shouldn’t be that surprised considering, first good day etc - but all the Black-tailed Skimmers have gone. So too the Broad-bodied Chaser and Keeled Skimmer.
Damsels were also few & far between. The odd Azure, Common Blue, a few Blue-tailed…no Small Red-eyed!
As for larger species it was mainly Common Darters and a couple of Emperor.
I did have my first glimmer of the second emergence of Scarce Blue-tailed - just over a year on from last season’s discovery. A couple of teneral males and my first auriantica, which eluded me beyond a record shot.
Thankfully I found another later - in precisely the same spot as my first last season! This one chose a stem out of the breeze and stayed around.
At lkast a subject!
I'm posting this back-lit shot because there's something about the way the light emphasises the translucence.
Scarce Blue-tailed (Ischnura (Ischnura pumilio) - teneral female aurantiace phase
For me mid-July is usually time to grab a few non-local species or spend a few hours at a favourite New Forest location, however the unreliability of the recent weather rules out taking a chance travelling too far or having a fulfilling day following a stream.
The weekend before last was a perfect example of changing weather. Friday was perfect sunshine with plenty to keep us occupied. Saturday however was the start of the change, with scarce sunny intervals and an incoming gloom where only the hardy stayed around.
I did manage to come away with this one though 🙂
Beautiful Demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo) - male
I'm sure you're all as fed up with this weather by now. What a difference to the last truly sunny day we had 9 days ago. Here's one from then...
Golden-ringed Dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltonii) - male
Black Darter (Sympetrum danae) - immature male from the New Forest last weekend
Nice to get out after a fortnight of gloomy weather. I had planned a trip to Town Common/Ramsdown however I received a call from Steve saying he would be down this way. So we agreed to meet up.
We took in Crockford and Ramsdown under glorious sunshine and for me the best opportunity arrived with this female Common Emerald.
Common Emerald (lestes sponsa) - female
Due to the downturn in weather it's been a fortnight since I last went out. Hopefully the sunshine can bring forth some entertainment today. In the meantime here's one from earlier.
Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) - immature female
Sometimes it pays to just sit & watch from a suitable vantage point. While sat at the pond observing the Small Red-eyed the other day I had two or three BTS holding their own territories.
Now usually you have to approach carefully if you do find one perched. This fellow became comfortable enough to perch pond-side within my range.
Makes a change from chasing all over the place!
Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum) - male
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