Dragonflies Out in the Summer Heat.

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.

Heatwave Leads to More Dragonflies on the Wing.

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.

 

Stock Photo

First Adult Dragonfly this Season in my Garden.

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.

Season Underway

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. 

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. 

 

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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First Dragonfly Drops In.

Although  I am still awaiting the first sight of a damselfly from my garden pond this year, I was delighted to see this female Broad-bodied Chaser in the flower border outside my back door today. This sunny border has always been a favourite spot for dragonflies and she spent some time there in the warm sunshine.

 

First One of the Season.

 The first activity at my garden pond was today when this male Broad-bodied Chaser was observed just emerged from the water. It is not often that a Chaser is seen prior to the usual damselflies.

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.

 

Broad-bodied Chasers Take Over the Garden.

Over the last few days Broad-bodied Chasers have been very active in and around my garden pond. More than one female have oviposited in the pond with males visiting and taking station close by. This immature male in particular has spent some time in the sunny flower border  outside my back door and as can be seen is maturing.

 

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.

 

More Broad-bodied Chasers.

With the visit of two female Broad-bodied Chasers to my garden pond  a couple of days ago,it is not surprising that today a first male Chaser spent some time at the pond. Although perhaps not fully mature this male is no doubt on the lookout for females.

  

First Broad-bodied Chaser of the Season.

We are currently enjoying a period of warm,sunny weather and the dragonflies are responding with plenty of activity at my garden pond. Apart from the Large Red Damselflies there were at least two Broad-bodied Chasers  seen today in the garden. Both were female and they spent some time in sunny spots and at the pond.

Garden Pond Welcomes Back it's Visitors.

In my first post  of 2023 I mentioned that my garden pond had become clogged with vegetation leading to a substantial decline in dragonfly activity. Therefore over the winter I performed a clearout of plants and now  the pond boasts open water with marginal reed,cotton grass and frogbit Hydrocharis morsus-ranae. The latter is much used by ovipositing damselflies and I have noted  a lot of egg laying by Large Red  and Azure Damselflies over the last few weeks.

For the first time in some years this male Broad-bodied Chaser took up station at the pond today and over the last fortnight I have recorded several female Chasers ovipositing into the open water.

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. 

  

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.

First Dragonfly of the Year.

A walk around the ponds in Bouldnor Forest,Yarmouth today was rewarded with my first dragonfly of the season. Along a narrow path leading away from the ponds bordered by gorse,I came across this immature female Broad-bodied Chaser enjoying the warm sunshine.This was one of two Broad-bodied seen ,as later I disturbed  a teneral from pondside vegetation. Particularly noticeable today were damselflies,with numerous Large Red's and several Azure.