[aeshna5]

Has anyone who has been to see the Southern Emerald Damselflies at Cliffe RSPB Reserve this year got any info as to the best place to look for them as I maybe going there over the weekend?

[redhoopoe]

Hi Aeshna.
I can tell you where i found one 2 weeks ago, not at Cliffe RSPB but at the same site where they were found in previous years. I only found one but i reckon it may have been a bit early for them.
Enter Cliffe village and go down Pond Hill, continue along rough track till you come to first viewing point, bear right along track, go past the barn on the right, carry on until you come to the next viewing point and you will see a track on the right. I parked my car here and searched the track on the right. Halfway down on the left there is a wooden fence and gate, i found one there among the reeds in the ditch.
Good luck, hope you find some.

Colin.

[aeshna5]

Thanks for that info Colin. I decided not to go today as the tides looked unsuitable for wader roosts +opted for the New Forest instead where I got my first Southern Damselflies +first UK Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly.

May well goto Cliffe in a couple of weeks time depending on weather + what's around.

[dungeness1]

We visited the site today for two hours around mid-day. The hot spot for Southern Emerald is the track opposite the second viewing mound. In warm, but very windy coniditions we failed to find any this time. Last year most were to the left of the track in the adjacent reed ditch. Although there was plenty of Common and Ruddy Darters we only saw 2 Scarce Emeralds today, and no sign of any Migrant Hawkers or indeed Southern Migrant Hawker.

[aeshna5]

Thanks for that info Dungeness1.