Still Going Strong.

Although the weather was wet and very windy over the last weekend,this week is giving us several days of late summer sunshine with midday temperatures again in the low 20's celcius.At Bouldnor the Southern Emerald Damselflies are continuing with their long season with a count today of four males and two females.It remains to be seen if this colony can clock up a fifth month this year as no doubt so much depends on favourable weather.

Back at Bouldnor.

A further visit to  the Southern Emerald Damselfly site yersterday was rewarded with four males and a mating pair.All the sightings were at the smaller of the two breeding scrapes as no damselflies could be seen at the larger scrape.Weather conditions were again good with temperatures exceeding 20 celcius.

The only other species recorded were Common Darter,Ruddy Darter,and at the other ponds on the site Southern and Migrant Hawkers.

Late Summer Sunshine at Bouldnor Forest.

On the Isle of Wight today we enjoyed a warm and sunny day.This late summer day enticed the dragonflies into action and in Bouldnor Forest plenty were about.The colony of Southern Emerald Damselflies continue to occupy their two dry scrapes with seven males,a female,and a mating pair in evidence.Not surprisingly Common Darters were the most numerous along with several Southern Hawkers as well as the slightly smaller Migrant Hawkers.

More From Town Common.

Despite my disappointment at failing to locate more than one female Black Darter I was pleased to see several males.By this time of the season the males have matured with their frons darkening as well as the yellow spots on the side of the abdomen. The base of the hind wings is very broad as can be particularly noted in the second photo below.Unlike the female,the males wings are clear.

A Late Summer Darter.

The Black Darter is not found on the Isle of Wight.The nearest sites are situated in the New Forest where the lowland heaths provide the right habitat conditions for our smallest dragonfly.However perhaps the best location is on Town Common in Hampshire's neighbouring county Dorset 

Yesterdays trip was blessed with sunny weather and is just an 18 mile car ride from Lymington.The Common is a large expanse of  heathland normally with areas of very wet and boggy ground,although due to the dry conditions this summer they all seemed well dried out.It therefore transpired that the best locations to find any darters was to search for the odd damp pool or runnel.Luckily one of two still remained and male Black Darters were on guard for intruders and females.

On the  heather covered heath I only saw one darter,a female,that unfortunately disappeared as quickly as it appeared.

Southern Emerald Season Sees a Fourth Month.

This morning under sunny skies the bone dry scrapes at Bouldnor saw Southern Emerald activity go into its fourth month.Mature males were evident at both scrapes with a count of eight individuals and two pairs.Not surprisingly the males like their own space and see off any other encroaching males that come too close.