UK Dragonflies & Damselflies 2022 (3 Viewers)

[marky boy]

I assume this is pretty recent - Norfolk Hawker in urban Peterborough. The finders say they're going to put it on iRecord which will provide an exact date.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1526565443749781514

It was found yesterday (17th) by my sister, and she didn’t know what species of dragonfly it was, and duly sent me a photo. I was very surprised to see that it was a female Norfolk Hawker. A record was submitted by myself to irecord.

 

[Farnboro John]

I assume this is pretty recent - Norfolk Hawker in urban Peterborough. The finders say they're going to put it on iRecord which will provide an exact date.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1526565443749781514

Common at Little Paxton, 26 miles South along the A1 (I'm not suggesting Norfolk Hawkers drive along the A1), so perhaps not that odd.

John

 

[RobinD]

Common at Little Paxton, 26 miles South along the A1 (I'm not suggesting Norfolk Hawkers drive along the A1), so perhaps not that odd.

John

Any particular area of Paxton Pits or are they widespread? I could head there when visiting family near Bedford.

Thanks

 

[Farnboro John]

Any particular area of Paxton Pits or are they widespread? I could head there when visiting family near Bedford.

Thanks

I had plenty at Rudd Lake and Hayling Lake (check out the reserve map on the website). Access to the shoreline at Rudd Lake provided excellent views in flight and occasionally hung up a few yards off. At Hayling Lake I was first recommended to go up the steps and turn right to the open area near the right-angled corner of the lake but when there (and struggling to get photos) someone recommended that I should go the other way round to the path near the allotments and there I did get perched pictures including a couple hung up in the wheel position. I do remember teetering on the brink, at the end of a short path off the main one.

After that I didn't worry about the rest of the reserve!

Good luck

John

 

[Timbirder3]

As an added bonus Variable Damselfly is common and usually easy to see at Paxton Pits, including along the path south from the visitor centre, which is the route you would take to get to Rudd and Hayling Lake.
Tim

 

[Timbirder3]

And there should be Scarce Chasers around too!
Tim

 

[pdwinter]

Saw my first Black-tailed Skimmer (immature male) of the year in Nursling Substation (Hants) yesterday (19.05.22). There have been a lot of immature Scarce Chasers recently, presumably emerging on the River Test and its tributaries and popping over to feed up and mature before going back to breed.

 

[pdwinter]

Pleased to see a teneral Golden-ringed female in Hants today along with Southern Damselflies.

 

[Scridifer]

Pleased to see a teneral Golden-ringed female in Hants today along with Southern Damselflies.

Looking at my book I think C. mercuriale is quite a rarity Paul?

Chris

 

[pdwinter]

Looking at my book I think C. mercuriale is quite a rarity Paul?

Chris

Southern Damselfly is on the Red Lists (European 'conservation concern'; GB 'Endangered') and has a very restricted distribution as it's very fussy about its habitat requirements, but two of its strongholds are the New Forest and the Itchen Valley with the Test Valley also having colonies. As I live right at the southern end of the Test Valley, just over 10 miles from Crockford(NF), it is not too difficult for me to see.

 

[Scridifer]

Southern Damselfly is on the Red Lists (European 'conservation concern'; GB 'Endangered') and has a very restricted distribution as it's very fussy about its habitat requirements, but two of its strongholds are the New Forest and the Itchen Valley with the Test Valley also having colonies. As I live right at the southern end of the Test Valley, just over 10 miles from Crockford(NF), it is not too difficult for me to see.

Thanks for the info Paul! I will be near Andover in July, I might try my luck!

Chris

 

[pdwinter]

At last today (29.05) I saw an Emperor Dragonfly, at Testwood Lakes (Hants), with three emerging and a female turning up to oviposit. There was also a female Hairy Dragonfly laying eggs.
I see there has been a Red-veined Darter in Cornwall - Windmill Farm again.

 

[Swindon Addick]

I tagged along on the BDS Worcestershire group's trip to Ripple yesterday. Several clubtails, a scarce chaser, multiple black-tailed skimmers & 4-spotted chasers, one Emperor. Damsels: common blue, azure, red-eyed, blue-tailed, white-legged & banded demoiselle. The first time I've ever seen clubtails sat still.

 

[pdwinter]

Three male Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfies of varying maturation at a balancing pond of a posh housing estate NE of Romsey (Hants) on 01.06.2022. Saves me diesel money on a trip to the New Forest.

 

[earthdragon64]

Saw my first Four-spotted Chasers of the year today, Craigellachie NNR just west of Aviemore.

 

[Swindon Addick]

Red-veined darters in Cornwall yesterday.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1532787462627635200

 

[Swindon Addick]

Common Hawker recorded emerging in Stirlingshire yesterday.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1533892596451491846

https://twitter.com/x/status/1533892615309082626

 

[pdwinter]

Scarce Emerald Damselfly at Little Belhus CP in Essex yesterday https://warehouse1.indicia.org.uk/upload/o_1g51bqi08t301jpk1m8l14q21m65b.jpg

 

[pdwinter]

I had hoped to see some Small Red Damselflies in the New Forest today but 100% cloud and a fairly brisk wind meant I failed. New for the year for me were a White-legged Damselflies and Keeled Skimmers in Dames Slough Inclosure.

 

[pdwinter]

When I started dragonflying I had to travel to the Hampshire Avon but Scarce Chaser is now a misnomer in the Lower Test Valley - this one on territory at Nutsey (fishing) Lake (Testwood). Yet to see a Four-spotted Chaser this year