[Lightthiscandle]

Quite a few at Strumpshaw today...

[HarassedDad]

Tetrad bashing in south norfolk this morning I was walking down a hedge line hoping to kick something out of the grass when a large hawker came up from the other side. I didn't get a great view but it wasn't brown, had spots and was big - coupled with the fact that I was surrounded by wheat fields pretty much rules out anything except southern or common hawker, and in Norfolk southern has to be most probable. But it zoomed off across the field before I could get bins on it to clinch it.

[alundra82]

I visited Hellesdon Meadow yesterday and saw about 8 Banded Demoiselles plus Common Blue, Azure Blue, Emerald and Large Red Damselflies. Not a single butterfly tho.....

[grumps]

Hi all,
Am staying in Blakeney at the end of June. Wonder if anyone could point me to the nearest site for Norfolk Hawkers please?

Thanks,

Hugh

[HarassedDad]

From Blakeney I reckon Catfield or Hickling are your best bets Directions to Hickling here
and catfield here

Both have variable damsel as well.

[grumps]

Originally Posted by HarassedDad

From Blakeney I reckon Catfield or Hickling are your best bets Directions to Hickling here
and catfield here

Both have variable damsel as well.

Thanks, much appreciated. Have been birding in Norfolk for years and know most of the sites for birds and butterflies. D'flies are usually ok for me has I can determine habitat etc. Its localised ones like the Norfolk Hawker which present problems of location.
Hope to try those sites esp with the added attraction of Swallowtails.
Do the Norfolk Hawker ever appear at coastal sites like Cley or Titchwell or are they confined to the Broads?

Again, thanks,

Hugh

[HarassedDad]

Pretty much the broads - I've seen them at Winterton and Norwich, and they are reported from Carleton Marshes down south. I think Stalham is as far North as I've seen them, but they might have made it to Felbrigg or Kelling. I'm sure Cley would have it on their list, but it wouldn't be a regular.

[grumps]

Originally Posted by HarassedDad

Pretty much the broads - I've seen them at Winterton and Norwich, and they are reported from Carleton Marshes down south. I think Stalham is as far North as I've seen them, but they might have made it to Felbrigg or Kelling. I'm sure Cley would have it on their list, but it wouldn't be a regular.

Thanks again,

Hugh

[Stratton Birder]

Two Norfolk Hawkers at Rollesby Bridge this morning + one Hairy, Four-spot Chaser, lots of Red-eyed Damselflies and several Common Blues. All on the Ormesby Broad side of the bridge.
Strumpshaw - Three Norfolks, one Hairy, and lots of Black-tailed Skimmers.

[Paul Woolnough]

Red-eyed damselflies and four spotted chaser Cockshoot Dyke with many black-tailed skimmers

[HarassedDad]

The pond at cow tower in norwich had a 4 spot and lots of azures on monday, as well as a lovely pair of grey wagtails.

[Stratton Birder]

Male Banded Dem at Carrow Bridge on Tues.
Lots of Common Blue Dams at Morningthorpe along the B1527 near Boyland House today and in Hempnall Village there was a Large Red and two Azure's at somone's garden pond.

[guernsey_dave]

Hi Guys

Some help with this one, I'm pretty useless with damsels, but the nearest i could get was female dainty damsel coz of the tail pattern - which doesn't occur as far as I know...

cheers

Dave

[Tideliner]

First 2011 sighting of an emperor dragonfly yesterday at Swanton Novers yesterday.

[grahamarchy]

Originally Posted by guernsey_dave

Hi Guys

Some help with this one, I'm pretty useless with damsels, but the nearest i could get was female dainty damsel coz of the tail pattern - which doesn't occur as far as I know...

cheers

Dave

looks like a variable to me. dainty i have seen in france dont have the same pattern on the tail end as your damsel. Variable does extend to this type of pattern as well- although this does look very dark.


where did you see them?

[guernsey_dave]

Originally Posted by grahamarchy

looks like a variable to me. dainty i have seen in france dont have the same pattern on the tail end as your damsel. Variable does extend to this type of pattern as well- although this does look very dark.


where did you see them?

It was just the one I saw, amongst large reds and blue tailed etc at Upton Fen. I thought it might just be a variable but the 'Pi' type marking in the tail is similar to that shown on female dainty in Richard Lewingtons illustrations in Dragons of Britain and Europe.

[HarassedDad]

Gotta say the tail pattern does look like the picture in Dijkstra for scitulum, but variable is much more likely.

I got Emperor today but I see I was pipped at the post for a first!
Searching Holt Lowes produced a single Keeled - last year there were loads - but then there was a lot more water about last year as well. Several areas dries up today, suggesting that we might get keeled wandering around the holt area in search of better conditions. Otherwise a fairly good day. East Ruston common had 4 spot, bbc, emperor, common blue, azure, blue-tailed, large red and red-eyed; holt lowes had 4 spot, bbc, large red, azure and keeled, and the canal just down from east ruston had a couple of hairies to add to the list.

Popped into Catfield yesterday evening and between 6 and 6.30 we got norfolk, Hairy, 4 Spot, Azure, Variable, red-eyed and blue-tailed. So I've done a lot better with dragons than butterflies this week.

[grahamarchy]

Originally Posted by guernsey_dave

It was just the one I saw, amongst large reds and blue tailed etc at Upton Fen. I thought it might just be a variable but the 'Pi' type marking in the tail is similar to that shown on female dainty in Richard Lewingtons illustrations in Dragons of Britain and Europe.

i agree having looked at the pictures-it is similar but still not a match.

have a look at these pictures of variable:
http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news...selfly.html#cr
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O9Yo5BYROF...og+28Apr11.jpg

they show the same pattern as your female.


it does seem on the more unusual-end of the variable spectrum


Daintys also behave differently: they tend to hold their wings at rest not quite as neatly as variables. This is subjective- as i am basing this on your pictures, but your damsel is holding the wings neatly and in-order.

anyway interesting individual. but for my money it is a variable.

[magicisosceles]

but for my money it is a variable.[/quote]

I've come to this a bit late, but definitely agree it's a Variable. They're quite plentiful at Upton Fen usually and the species definitely lives up to its common name.

Pam

[HarassedDad]

Someone from Kent posted a picture of a migrant hawker emerging from their garden pond on the 3rd! That's ridiculously early. Meanwhile I've heard of what sounds like a Southern seen in norwich yesterday. Anyone had Brown Hawker yet?

[James Emerson]

At Hickling Broad on Saturday we had Norfolk Hawker, 2 Four-spot Chasers, 1 Hairy Dragonfly, Azure Damselfly and loads of Black-tailed Skimmers. My favourite dragon of the day was this pictured one, presumably just beginning to aquire male colouring.

[Stratton Birder]

Female Broad-bodied Chaser, Four-spot Chaser, several Banded Dems, many Azures, and a few Blue-tailed along the Tas Valley Walk west of Tharston yesterday (TM 174946).
Today - Norfolk Hawker and Black-tailed Skimmer along the river at Thurne.

[Frootshoot]

Healthy numbers of male and female Banded Demoiselles at Honing Lock (River Ant - TG 331 270) this morning plus single male Black-tailed Skimmer...

James

[HarassedDad]

Just had my first Brown Hawker over a cornfield just by Tyrolls Wood, pulham market.

[guernsey_dave]

seems to be a good year for norfolk hawkers, seen them all over the place.