UK Dragonflies & Damselflies 2022 (1 Viewer)

[Kevin Byrnes]

A pair of Dainty damselflies from Sandwich bay which completes my UK list.

 

[Farnboro John]

Northern Damselflies, White-faced Darters and Northern Emeralds all out yesterday at Loch Garten RSPB, damselfly on the pool nearest Boat of Garten, others on the White-faced Darter pool near the Tulloch Moor turning. Northern Emerald wouldn't settle at all but happily flew over our heads close enough to see the abdomen and calliper shape easily.

John

 

[Swindon Addick]

I had a ticket for one of the Sandwich Bay Obs guided visits to the Dainty Damselfly colony on Wednesday. Very good, although numbers are strictly limited and they're sold out for this year. They did say they're hoping to run more visits next year than they were able to organise this year, and there was lots of ovipositing going on so fingers crossed there should be opportunities for those who want to see them. They said the late morning visits were seeing the largest numbers, but my afternoon visit was fine and everyone saw plenty of them. Still no sign of them spreading to anywhere that has public access.

 

[Farnboro John]

Four plus male Azure Hawkers near the Beinn Eighe visitor centre, along the path to Kinlochewe that leads off the Buzzard Trail. One sat on me three times, the third time it was chewing the head off a Large Red Damselfly male that was in tandem with a female. Also Northern Emeralds present (not landing for us though they did for others) along with Golden-ringed Dragonfly and Four-spotted Chaser.

Pix at some point!

John

 

[Owene]

White legged, azure, blue tailed, Common blue and emerald damsels for me at Whixall moss on Friday, guy I was with felt the emerald was quite early . White faced darters, four spotted chasers and a hawker that I didn't manage to identify

 

[Steve Arlow]

Southern Emerald, Emerald and Scarce Emerald out now at Canvey Island

 

[Scridifer]

Southern Emerald, Emerald and Scarce Emerald out now at Canvey Island

Thanks Steve, will be hoping to see them next month!

Chris

 

[Matthebirder]

Bumped into several Norfolk Hawkers by chance at Hinchingbrook Country Park (Huntingdon, Cambs) today; I am out of touch with dragonflies nowadays so they may be regular here as it isn't far from Little Paxton where they first colonised a good few years ago. Easily seen from the footpath that crosses the main lake from Brampton village to Hinchingbrook hospital.

Sounds like Scotland is proving productive, always good to hear about the Azure Hawkers at Beinn Eighe; I remember rescuing one from a Golden Ringed just before it was about to lose its head!

 

[earthdragon64]

First White-faced Darter, Golden-ringed Dragonfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly and Northern Damselfly of the year. Yes, it's warm and sunny in the Spey Valley today.

 

[Swindon Addick]

Newly-emerged Black Darter seen on the BDS guided walk at Fifty Acre Piece, east of Aldermaston, today. Also Scarce Blue-tailed damsel, and commoner species including Emperor, Four-spotted chaser, Black-tailed skimmer and common blue, azure, blue-tailed and large red damsels. A couple of emerging common emeralds also found. Quite a day, and rounded off with a trip to nearby Oval Pond to see the Downy Emeralds.

 

[pdwinter]

Managed to catch up with Four-spotted Chaser (!) and Common and Ruddy Darters for the year list yesterday (01.07.22) at Emer Bog (Hants)

 

[Kevriano]

Southern Hawkers now emerging in numbers on the Norfolk Broads.

 

[aeshna5]

Really surprised & delighted to find a male Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly on my local Sunday patch this morning in the outer west London suburbs. The only odonate seen in this particular part of the patch. Habitat was good-on a golf course development along a seepage with a mix of bare soil & was perching in adjacent grasses. A few metres away is a Typha choked pond.

Later on the other side of the wood (an LNR) in a meadow a male Emperor was the only other Odonata, though ,many butterflies such as Ringlets, Marbled Whites, Meadow Browns & Small Skippers.

 

[pdwinter]

Really surprised & delighted to find a male Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly on my local Sunday patch this morning in the outer west London suburbs. The only odonate seen in this particular part of the patch. Habitat was good-on a golf course development along a seepage with a mix of bare soil & was perching in adjacent grasses. A few metres away is a Typha choked pond.

Good record. I usually find a 'new' site each year locally - but after one or 2 years they disappear - but as I'm a stone's throw from the New Forest it's not unexpected.

Yours must be a long way from the nearest known breeding population.

 

[aeshna5]

Good record. I usually find a 'new' site each year locally - but after one or 2 years they disappear - but as I'm a stone's throw from the New Forest it's not unexpected.

Yours must be a long way from the nearest known breeding population.

Yes I think so. I'm not aware of any others in the London area. Where I found it is a golf course that's been developing ever since I started going there over 15 years ago. Interestingly it was the only odonate I saw there yesterday but it was quite overcast at times & breezy.

 

[RobinD]

Delighted to see a new UK species for me this week with 2 Lesser Emperors at Hosehill lake near Reading.

 

[Farnboro John]

Delighted to see a new UK species for me this week with 2 Lesser Emperors at Hosehill lake near Reading.

Splendid, must have missed those on RBA though, nobody put news out?

John

 

[pdwinter]

There are a lot of current pics of Lesser Emperor from Tice's Meadow - must be a short drive for you John.

 

[pdwinter]

A few from the New Forest on 14th July. Male and female Southern Damselfly, male Golden-ringed Dragonfly and mating Small Red Damselflies

 

[pdwinter]

A few from Abbotswood (nr Romsey, Hants) on 15.07.22.
Tatty male Emperor, male Broad-bodied Chaser, male Ruddy Darter, immature Small Red Damselfly (not sure on the sex), male Emerald Damselfly. It's the sort of site that would be good for Migrant Spreadwing (Lestes barbarus) shold they ever decide to fly north from the IOW.