brilliant emerald sites (1 Viewer)

[Steve Babbs]

Hi

Can anyone suggest a really good site for brilliant emerald, in southern England. I've tried Thursley a couple of times and never seen them, despite concentrating on the moat area last time, in good weather.

Cheers

 

[Larry Sweetland]

I was about to post the same question Steve! In my case I'd like to know of the nearest reliable site to Bristol, presumably somewhere in east Berks??.

 

[pdwinter]

Steve Cham reports sightings from Warren Heath ponds (Hants) each year on the BDS site. e.g. on http://www.dragonflysoc.org.uk/cold2009.html scroll down to June 28th.

I'm going on the last wednesday in June if the weather's good so I can let folk know the outcome after that.

 

[Larry Sweetland]

Thanks Paul, looks like a good site. Good luck for when you go.

 

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

Buchan Country Park nr Crawley, West Sussex

 

[Surreybirder]

I think that they must be reasonably common in southern Surrey. I had one in the garden last year and I see one or other of the emeralds most years. I had a downy in the garden yesterday.
For some reason they seem to like our trellis - both posed long enough for me to get a shot. My in-flight shot leaves a lot to be desired :-O
Ken

 

[Steve Babbs]

Thanks for the tips. If anyone does visit I'd love to know how they do. It'll be about the last week of July before I get chance.

 

[lewis20126]

Steve

despite living in Hants, I haven't seen one for 20yrs (alwasy something else on) but think I'll make the effort this year. I'll put something on here if I do; might be worth bumping the thread occasionally!

cheers, alan

 

[Steve Babbs]

Alan

I'd forgotten you lived in Hants, you don't have good sites for orthoptera and reptiles do you?

Cheers

 

[lewis20126]

Alan

I'd forgotten you lived in Hants, you don't have good sites for orthoptera and reptiles do you?

Cheers

Only well known places really - I've seen Smooth Snake in the Forest but the tins have gone now.

cheers, alan

 

[Dave Ball]

Couple of reports of Brilliants on the BDS news pages in the past few days:

http://www.british-dragonflies.org.uk/content/latest-sightings

Swinley Brick Pits Berks (25th) and River Wey Near Papercourt Lock Surrey (21st)

 

[Steve Babbs]

I presume they're out most places by now, this is just a polite reminder of this thread.

Cheers

 

[Farnboro John]

The Basingstoke Canal between Fleet and Aldershot (the stretch near Farnborough Airfield) can be quite good for Brilliant Emerald. They even perch occasionally...

John

 

[lewis20126]

I presume they're out most places by now, this is just a polite reminder of this thread.

Cheers

Steve

Saw one yesterday on the Basingstoke Canal at 6-6.30pm (temp still 29C!), great views and perching occaisionally; will PM location.

cheers, alan

 

[LindaBuckell]

Englemere Pond, Nr Ascot had quite a few last year.

Linda

 

[lewis20126]

very poor photo of a male BE from yesterday; it was high in a tree on the opposite side of the canal! just noticed how manky the wings look - I suppose its just crawled out of a canal near Basingstoke..

cheers, a

 

[Steve Babbs]

Steve

Saw one yesterday on the Basingstoke Canal at 6-6.30pm (temp still 29C!), great views and perching occaisionally; will PM location.

cheers, alan

Alan

just a gentle reminder about that PM

cheers

 

[RoyW]

Saw Brilliant Emeralds at Thursley at the weekend; one teneral male on Saturday evening, at least 3-4 mature males patrolling territories at the edge of 'the moat pond' on Sunday.
Larger numbers of Downy Emeralds present though.

 

[lewis20126]

Alan

just a gentle reminder about that PM

cheers

PM sent but suspect the Surrey sites may be more certain?

cheers, a

 

[Larry Sweetland]

Thanks to Farnboro John for suggesting the Basingstoke canal between Fleet and Aldershot :t: This proved to be a great site, and we saw around 8 Brilliant Emeralds this morning ( a couple of less well seen individuals may have been Downies).

The best stretch we found was just west of the airfield, between where the banks get more wooded and the road bridges at the roundabout east of Fleet. Here there were more sightings, and great scope views of them flying and perched. We also saw one along the more open stretch further east (in a 3-way aerial clash with a Black-tailed Skimmer and an Emperor), and a couple further east where it becomes more wooded again (including in an impressive 3-way clash with a Brown Hawker and an Emperor).

A delightful stretch of canal for a walk, with even a great secluded overnight parkup looking down on the canal by a Brilliant Emerald territory :t:

Also loads of Red-eyed Damsels, single sightings of White-legged and Common Emerald Damsels, and a couple of Silver-washed Fritillaries. Garden Warbler, Kingfisher, Common Tern, and a swimming Grass Snake too.