RFI Scarce Emerald Damselfly site (1 Viewer)

Larry Sweetland

Formerly 'Larry Wheatland'

• Jul 9, 2007

• #1

RFI Scarce Emerald Damselfly site

We're driving between Bristol and Lowestoft next week. Can anyone suggest any sites where Scarce Emerald Damselflies occur, that would involve the minimum amount of detour. I think our most direct route would bypass their strongholds to the north and south.

Thanks for any ideas,

Larry

 

SueBryan

Well-known member

• Jul 9, 2007

• #2

Larry Wheatland said:

RFI Scarce Emerald Damselfly site

We're driving between Bristol and Lowestoft next week. Can anyone suggest any sites where Scarce Emerald Damselflies occur, that would involve the minimum amount of detour. I think our most direct route would bypass their strongholds to the north and south.

Thanks for any ideas,

Larry

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Hi Larry
You could try Thompson Common in Norfolk which is 4 miles SE of Watton on the A1075 (Grid Ref 940967). I found them there a couple of weeks ago just inside by the car park at the start of the trail.

Sue

 

Larry Sweetland

Formerly 'Larry Wheatland'

• Jul 9, 2007

• #3

Thanks Sue, that doesn't look too far off our route. Could you give us some directions from the A1075 ? Also, does Common ED occur there too ?

 

H

HarassedDad

Norfolk County Butterfly Recorder

• Jul 9, 2007

• #4

Larry Wheatland said:

Thanks Sue, that doesn't look too far off our route. Could you give us some directions from the A1075 ? Also, does Common ED occur there too ?

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The car park is on the A1075 (map ref is TL940967 - map here) and marked as "Pongo trail". It's on the left as you head towards Watton, just after a sharp bend and off a layby so keep an eye out, it's confusing (I always have to turn round and head back having missed it)
Cmmon emeralds here as well, as well as loads of other dragons. This page has more info.

 

Larry Sweetland

Formerly 'Larry Wheatland'

• Jul 10, 2007

• #5

Great stuff, thanks HD.

 

Larry Sweetland

Formerly 'Larry Wheatland'

• Jul 24, 2007

• #6

Thanks Sue and HD. What a great site, with both Emerald Damsels present as well as big numbers of Ruddy Darter and a few Southern Hawkers.

I found the damselflies confusing at first, and I lacked confidence in their "secondary" differences until I got my eye in ! The brighter blue eye colour, for example, varied according to angle and brightness of the light. I eventually got conclusive looks at both species very closely by sneaking up on them and looking at their anal appendages magnified through the wrong end of my bins.

 

Brian Stone

A Stone chatting

• Jul 24, 2007

• #7

Larry Wheatland said:

...sneaking up on them and looking at their anal appendages magnified through the wrong end of my bins.

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What a great hobby this is!

Do you have any pics of the appendages?

 

Andrew Whitehouse

Professor of Listening

Supporter

• Jul 24, 2007

• #8

I think it's called the 'Pingo Trail', although it's several years since I've been there. I remember it being easier to ID the damsels in the early evening because they were less active and you could get closer. This is certainly useful with this species and copping an eyeful of those anal appendages.

 

Larry Sweetland

Formerly 'Larry Wheatland'

• Jul 24, 2007

• #9

Brian Stone said:

What a great hobby this is!

Do you have any pics of the appendages?

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Sadly no pics of the appendages Brian, and luckily no embarrasing pics of me crawling around looking at them.