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Bucks Souther Emerald Damselfly Info? (1 Viewer)

gnome

Well-known member
Bucks Southern Emerald Damselfly Info?

Saw this on BDS sightings page.

"Southern Emerald Damselfly
32 on small pond and adjacent scrubby footpath just off the A40 near the reclycing centre east of Beaconsfield."


Does anyone have any more info on this, specifically where the small pond is exactly? I think that this is the recycling centre here and there are several ponds nearby

TIA

Adam
 
Fascinating and tantalising record! Adam - did you get any more info at all?

There is a photo on Flickr - see here - ID looks good, but where is the site and how is it accessed?
 
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Looking to head to the site on Wednesday so if anybody's any further news it'd be appreciated.

Otherwise, will report back on returning.
 
There are actually two conflicting reports on the BDS site for 14th July:

“No Southern Emerald Damselfly at the usual pond 1km east of Beaconsfield”

“Well in excess of 50 Southern Emerald damselfly around the pond at southern (M40) end of the track running south from recycling centre. Over a dozen pairs in tandem and many individuals in the brambles and grasses along the track.”

Confusing, no? Either looking at two different ponds, or some mistake. Fortunately I’ve seen the species at the pool at Winterton, and have to look for Norfolk Hawker in Bedfordshire tomorrow anyway.
 
There are 2 ponds

I suspect 'the usual pond' is the artificial pond on the right at the start of the path. There are only Common Emeralds there. The actual pond is close to the M40 on the left of the path and invisible from it. This pond is on the landfill site and can only be accessed by trespass.
 
I visited earlier today, being on site late morning / early afternoon, and had no trouble finding decent numbers of the Southern Emerald Damsels present, both on the wing and settled on vegetation. At least four pairs in cop. were evident, perhaps a total of 15+ individuals being recorded.

The pond closest to the M40 is the one where the emeralds are, this however within the landfill site and therefore those visiting it trespassing. There's no doubt that this would give the best opportunities for encountering the emeralds but individuals were almost continuously to be found in / on the path-side vegetation immediately west / north-west of the pond / boundary fencing.

Parking's limited with space for three cars on the verge immediately west of the entrance to the recycling site, a lay-by a little further to the west, on the eastbound carriageway, allowing more parking but necessitating a longer walk to the site.

Take the footpath just west of the recycling site entrance south and follow this downhill, over a wooden bridge and past the pool on the right. Continue south until you reach the metal five-bar gate in to the landfill site / the copse. Follow the footpath around the western side of the copse and then scan the hedgerows etc. about the path on passing the obvious lone pine to the right of the path. The most northerly part of the pond can be seen poorly from the path, should you wish not to trespass. Patience along the path will get the damsels, they being seen regularly from at least early morning to early afternoon today.

The hedgerow bank on the right soon after entering the path area had showy Purple Hairstreak, the initial pond passed had smaller numbers of odonata, including Common Emerald Damselfly, but the largest numbers and variety of odonata were about the most southerly pool and adjacent scrub, dried grassland and thicker sedged / reedy areas; Pale Galingale also here.

A dozen species of odonata were seen, a dozen+ butterfly species and a few day-flying / disturbed moths, including Beautiful China-mark as well as numbers of both Red Kite and Buzzard overhead, Blackcap and Chiffchaff in the deeper scrub / hedgerow.

All the best if you head there, it's certainly worth it!
 
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