After a successful trip to the collection of small ponds at Bouldnor Forest I returned yesterday to take a closer look at one or two of the other dragonfly species.
First sighting, a pair of mating Emperor Dragonflies in the reeds close to the edge of a pond.Leaving them to look at the activity on the ponds and of particular notice were the regular aerial clashes of the male Broad-bodied Chasers and the Black-tailed Skimmers.Both species find the habitat around the ponds ideal and although in flight both species of males are very similar,it is easy to know which is which when they land on their own piece of territory.The Chasers tend to perch on a reed stem or overhanging twig whereas the Skimmers will always choose a spot on the bare ground.
Common Darter are still emerging and a few are easily disturbed from the surrounding long grass to flutter away to safety in the nearby branches of small trees. In these grasses too are the damselflies and a particular beauty is the very common Blue-tailed Damselfly.The immature male has a green thorax but when mature it will become blue and there are five colour forms for the females.
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| Mature male Broad-bodied Chaser |
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| Mature male Black-tailed Skimmer |
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| Tenaral Common Darter |
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| Maturing male Blue-tailed Damselfly |
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| Immature female Blue-tailed Damselfly |
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