Unfortunately there was no sign today of the two Southern Migrant Hawkers seen a couple of weeks ago at the ponds in Bouldnor Forest. In fact not many dragonflies were observed,just one male Emperor and a handful of Common Darters. However a female and a male Emerald Damselfly made an appearance in the scrub close to one of the dried up ponds and the female is pictured below.
A visit to the ponds in Bouldnor Forest close to Yarmouth today was rewarded with two male Southern Migrant Hawkers.Both were occasionally disputing a dried up pond. This species was recorded here back in 2020 and I have not seen any until today.
Close to the ponds along a leafy forest ride I came across a couple of immature Southern Hawkers,both hunting, and this one pictured had caught a Meadow Brown butterfly.
Dragonfly activity was good today at the ponds in Bouldnor Forest,Yarmouth. The first of the season sightings included this male Golden-ringed Dragonfly flying along a sheltered but sunny forest ride and also in the same location three Southern Hawkers, one of which is pictured below. At the ponds male Broad-bodied Chasers are still evident along with an Emperor Dragonfly and increasing numbers of Common Darter..Another season first was this male Four-spotted Chaser.He regularly perched in the reeds of the pond until disturbed. The final first of the year species was this female Emerald Damselfly found in a sunny spot.
The ponds at Bouldnor today seemed quiet with not much dragonfly activity.This handsome male Emperor was the only highlight.
My wife is currently in the Greek Island of Thassos situated in the north of the Aegean Sea.She was lucky enough today to see this handsome dragonfly on the beach.It is a Bladetail, Lindenia tetraphylla found in Central and South West Asia and the eastern Mediterranean. A description of this species is below.
It is the largest member of the Gomphidae family to be found in Europe. This elegant species gets its name from the four ‘blades’ located underneath the tip of the abdomen. The thorax and abdomen of the bladetail both have a sandy grey base colour, and the thorax is decorated with four curved black stripes which form two ring-like patterns at the front.
The ongoing heatwave has produced several new dragonfly species and today at Bouldnor Forest,Yarmouth I saw my first Common Darter of the year. The individuals pictured are the two immatures observed fluttering away from the pond margins.Also recorded were at least four Emperor ,all males together with four male Broad-bodied Chasers and a Hairy Dreagonfly.Along a nearby woodland track was a female Beautiful Demoiselle.
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Sightings of odonata in my garden this year have been few to date.However today in the bright and hot sunshine this female Broad-bodied Chaser spent sometime perched on several different types of suppport in the flower border.
Yesterday saw the first Large Red Damselfly emerge in my garden.The container on my patio produced this emergent pictured below and was closely followed by another.Meanwhile at my garden pond I saw a first Broad-bodied Chaser flutter away from the pond margin.
A morning visit to the old pond at Bouldnor Forest today was rewarded with at least 6 teneral Large Red Damselflies.All were observed fluttering away from the pond margins to the safety of the surrouding trees and bushes.
