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Vagrant Emperor (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Britseye
- Start date
Farnboro John
Well-known member
Masses moving North along the Moroccan coast on Thursday, could get more up here yet.
John
Thanks, John. Nice to have a first-hand report. We heard the same, was it two springs ago or last spring, can't remember (!) only to have nothing materialise. I only just saw my first last October and this is my second. Like Crimson Speckled moth that we get a bit excited about up here, it's a chastening reminder that both are abundant in the 'right' range.
Not sure I'd describe Vagrant Emperor as massive, but I guess that's what it's most likely to be. At least 15 have been reported recently. Amazing to think what a mega-rarity it was just a few years back!
Still one I've yet to see in the UK-could do with one coming further east!
dantheman
Bah humbug
It was seen from a car as they drove through - I'm sure size would have been difficult to gauge but they were impressed. Quite frustrating in a way as I drove down the same road an hour or two later on my way to work too.
Chances must be good this year ...
Was walking around St Agnes this morning with a friend who's just started taking an interest in flying things. As we approached the spot where I saw the VE earlier in the week, I said: "You rarely get insects appearing in the same place twice in succession, moreover I've heard these Vagrant Emperors are not prone to perching much." Two minutes later there it was in the exact same place... and a minute later it perched up for two minutes close-range viewing!" No camera, alas, but isn't it nice to be wrong on two counts like that!
Yes it was. Up to 20 at one site on the Lizard, if I remember? Can't recall exactly which site it was. I seem to recall 4 together at times on the Pool above the seawatching point at Porthgwarra? We had about half a dozen in total on Scilly, though there were other sightings of unidentified plain medium-large Dragonflies in October that presumably related to this species.
dantheman
Bah humbug
Maybe 5 - 10 years ago there were 4+ at Windmill Farm (presume that's where they were last year too), have a feeling they were spring. Jammed in on and 'found' some despite not really knowing much about dragonflies otherwise.
How long do they usually spend in the nymph stage?
pdwinter
Paul Winter
About 100 days - in warm African waters. I'm sure warm shallow pools in the southern UK would be ok.
Gastronaut
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Are you thinking of the (up to) 4 Southern Migrant Hawker on the pool at PG last year?
No sign of any offspring Vagrant Emperors emerging so far on the Lizard. Don't recall anyone reporting any new arrivals on Lizard either.
Ah yes. I'm new to this game. Forgive?
Gastronaut
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|:d|
Fingers crossed there may be offspring SMH this year, either at PG or Windmill Farm perhaps.
