Southern Emerald's Still Proving Elusive.

The temperature in the last day or two has dropped significantly although the sun is shining, albeit with a stiff breeze.A wander around the Southern Emerald site at Yarmouth this afternoon proved to be another disappointment as regards numbers of individuals recorded.Just one male at the smaller scrape.This season seems to be the lowest count for Lestes barbarus since they were discovered here several years ago.

  

Southern Emerald Activity at Yarmouth.

Immediately on arrival at Bouldnor this afternoon a female Southern Emerald was seen at the smaller of the two breeding scrapes. It must be said that this is the first sign of any Southern Emerald activity at this scrape this season.While observing her she suddenly  and purposefully flew off and paired with a male just a few feet away.Hopefully this  behaviour will now continue until well into September.

Moving on to the larger scrape and despite a prolonged search only one mature male Southern Emerald was recorded.However I am sure that numbers will again increase over the next few days.

Southern Emerald Damselflies Holding On at Yarmouth.

After drawing a blank at Bouldnor Forest ponds last week, a curtailed visit  this afternoon resulted in two sightings of male Southern Emerald Damselflies at their usual site.Both individuals were seen at the larger of the two scrapes,the two 'ponds' now completely dry despite unsettled weather over the last couple of weeks. It seems that their only company at the moment are several male Emerald Damselflies and one or two Common Darters.

Male Common Emeralds Compete for Space at Bouldnor.

The Common Emerald Damselfly is another damselfly to be seen now at Bouldnor Forest ponds.My earlier post of the 5th July recorded the first female Lestes sponsa   at the ponds this season and yesterday several males were vying with the male Southern Emerald Damselflies for territory .

Southern Emerald Numbers Rise as August Arrives.

Today Southern Emerald Damselfly numbers increased dramatically at their Isle of Wight breeding site.Dramatically that is for this colony,as since its discovery in 2015 sightings have only once reached double figures at one time.

At least six males were recorded this afternoon at the larger of the two scrapes.This area now looks bone dry although there are plenty of green rush and reed growing from the scrape.The same can be said of the smaller scrape, although it seems to be deeper than its partner with a hint of moisture and a covering of dead vegetation between the rush and reed.As yet no sightings have come from the smaller scrape this season.

I expect and hope that females will soon appear as August progresses with the mating period now imminent.