Four-spotted Chaser Back Again.

The Four-spotted Chaser has never been a common sight on the Isle of Wight. Perhaps the only well known site for this species is Brading Marsh. However for the last two or threee years I have recorded this chaser at Bouldnor Forest ponds. Yet again a male was observed at the ponds yesterday having hold its own against several male Broad-bodied Chasers and a male Emperor Dragonfly.

A first of the season record was this female Emerald Damselfly,a regular at this site and at this time. Apart from the usual damselflies there was also a female Beautiful Demoiselle and a small number of teneral Common Darters. 

Two First of the Year at Yarmouth.

After a few days of poor weather the sun was out today and two first of the season sightings were made at Bouldnor Forest ponds. A very small number of Common Darter were recorded around a couple of the ponds and this was followed by a lone female Black-tailed Skimmer. Other species seen; Broad-bodied Chaser, Emperor Dragonfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly , Azure and Large Red Damselfly. 

 

Colourful Dragons at Bouldnor.

I was rewarded today with two good sightings in and around the ponds at Bouldnor. A  colourful male Emperor Dragonfly landed very nicely right in front of me and seemed happy to have its photograph taken. Not too far away along a woodland ride a Golden-ringed Dragonfly was observed resting briefly on a bramble bush before moving on in its search for prey.

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Hairy Dragonflies Out in Numbers.

At Bouldnor Forest Yarmouth today there were at least three male Hairy Dragonflies constantly patrolling several of the  six small ponds.In fact it could have been as many as five males as three of the ponds were occupied by male Broad-bodied Chasers who quickly shooed away their smaller rivals. It is the first time that I have seen Hairy Dragonflies at this site  and  also good to see them in such numbers.

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More Dragonflies at Bouldnor.

Last Saturday was bright with sunny spells and the dragonflies at the ponds in Bouldnor Forest  were active.The most prominent species of the day was the Emerald Damselfly,with several males to be seen.Among the others on show were a pair of  mating  Black-tailed Skimmers and Broad-bodied Chasers, with numerous emerging Common Darters, a couple of Blue-tailed Damselflies,a mature male Ruddy Darter, and Emperor Dragonflies.A first of the season sighting was this immature Southern Hawker.

 

Dragonflies at Bouldnor.

A very bright,sunny, and warm afternoon in Bouldnor Forest today which certainly encouraged plenty of activity at the ponds. This resulted in a first sight of  the year of a female Emerald Damselfly together with another first of the season,a male Black-tailed Skimmer. Emperor Dragonflies were very prominent,especially the males patrolling the ponds.

Activity at Bouldnor.

A visit to the ponds in Bouldnor Forest today was rewarded with the first Common Darter of the year.At least two were observed flying away from the pond edge and into the surrounding gorse. Broad-bodied Chasers were also evident with several males occupying the array of shallow ponds at the site. This male Four-spotted Chaser was  seen,patrolling his section of a pond. Other species recorded were Azure,Large Red, and Blue Tailed Damselflies.

 

Garden Large Red's.

Since a first sighting of a Large Red Damselfly in Bouldnor Forest on the 8th of April,the weather has been cool and windy.However today the brisk winds have gone and that has allowed the temperatures to rise in the spring sunshine. As a result the first damselfly was observed in my Freshwater garden this morning. This immature male Large Red probably emerged from the pond next door seeking a warm sunny spot.

Large Red's Take the Stage.

The mild temperatures of the last several days prompted me to  pay a first visit of the season to the ponds at Bouldnor  near to Yarmouth. At the old pond it was not too long before I counted four teneral Large Red Damselflies that I disturbed from the reeds around the pond edge. They quickly fluttered  into the shrubbery  and out of sight Walking to the new ponds in the forest  I was fortunate enough to encounter another teneral  Large Red.He did not fly away at once and the individual can be seen below.

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Dragonflies & Darters.

No damselflies were seen today at Yarmouth,however the dragonflies were out and about with the Southern Hawker prominent. Several males were recorded around the forest ponds at Bouldnor together with many Common Darters and a few Ruddy Darters. The female Southern Hawker pictured below, was in some form of difficulty amongst the tall grass and reeds at the edge of the pond. I managed to extricate her from her dilemma and she happily rested on my hand for a few seconds before flying off.

Ruddy Darter male

Quiet at Bouldnor Forest Ponds.

Cooler temperatures today and cloudy at times which curbed a lot of activity at Bouldnor Forest ponds. Just a few of the common damselflies to be seen along with one or two teneral Common Darters. However the one damselfly of interest was this male Emerald Lestes sponsa  observed in the larger of the now dry scrapes formerly used by Southern Emerald Damseldlies. No sign of the latter so far this season following no sightings of it last year.

Dragonflies Enjoy the Settled Sunny Weather.

With the settled and warm sunny weather due to continue for another week at least,the dragonflies at Bouldnor Forest today were out and about. The damselflies seen at the ponds  included Azure,Large Red,and Blue-tailed while dragonflies were two male Four-spotted Chasers, Emperor Dragonflies,one of which was an ovipositing female, Broad-bodied Chasers,and several teneral Common Darters. Close by, along the forest tracks were two Southern Hawkers.

Dragonflies on Show at Bouldnor.

A first seasonal visit to Bouldnor Forest ponds  at Yarmouth today discovered a reasonable selection of species. Broad-bodied Chasers were of course very evident with several mature males flying over the ponds.However in the quieter spots just away from water one or two immature chasers were encountered and particularly this male starting to  take on  the blue abdomen. Competition was fierce at one of the ponds with not only Broad-bodied Chasers but also a male Emperor Dragonfly involved.This was too much for this male Four-spotted Chaser that took station over a small side pool away from all the action.

Recorded today at the site were 6 Emperor,7 Broad-bodied Chasers,Azure and Large Red Damselflies,together with a  Blue-tailed Damselfly violacea, and of particular interest was a teneral Common Darter. 

  

First Damselfly of the Season.

A first visit of the year to Bouldnor Old Pond at Yarmouth today produced my first damselfly of the season. I disturbed a teneral female Large Red Damselfly in the reeds at the edge of the pond and it fluttered past me  into a bramble thicket. Not surprisingly despite a quick search I was unable to relocate it. This was the only sighting of the day but no doubt  it will be the first of many Large Red's seen in the  coming days.

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Emerald Damselfly on Show.

The first sighting of the year of the Emerald Damselfly was recorded today at Bouldnor Forest ponds. Initially a female and then a male. Other species were very limited despite a warm and partly sunny day.

Summer Dragonflies on the Wing.

 Three new species for 2022 were recorded today in Bouldnor Forest near to Yarmouth. A male Golden-ringed Dragonfly hunting along  the main track seen at the end of my visit and earlier two immature Southern Hawkers,one male and one female, doing the same in a forest ride. At the ponds, along with the common damselflies and darters was a mature male Ruddy Darter. Other species  included several Black-tailed Skimmers, Emperor Dragonflies, Common Darters, and Broad-bodied Chasers.

Common Darters Take Flight.

The Common Darter was a new addition to this year's species list today with at least twelve  recorded around the ponds at Bouldnor,Yarmouth. All were either tenerals or immatures and I am certain that other individuals were scattered among the surrounding scrub and gorse as they seem to emerge in large numbers. Also present were the common damselflies and in particular several Blue-tailed Damselflies,again in and around the two Lestes barbarus  scrapes.

Spring Dragonflies on Show at Bouldnor.

A reasonable selection of spring dragonflies at Bouldnor Forest ponds today under mainly sunny skies. Several Emperor Dragonflies were recorded around the ponds which followed up my first sighting of the year of this species on the 18th May in the same location. Black-tailed Skimmers were also in evidence with at least two immature individuals. This was in addition to the four tenerals I encountered on the 28th May.

I have made a few visits to these ponds in the last week in the hope of seeing the first Lestes barbarus, but no luck up to now. In fact the two ponds used by this species over the last six years were today occupied by Blue-tailed Damselflies with a count of at least six.