A Delicate Damselfly.

Like the Southern Damselfly the New Forest is renowned as a stronghold for the Small Red Damselfly Ceriagrion tenellum. Perhaps the best location to see this delicate damselfly is Crockford Stream on Beaulieu Heath.A visit to the stream on Tuesday discovered good numbers of this very restricted species.It is classed as Nationally Scarce and the habitat required for the Small Red is usually limited to shallow warm acidic waters on heathland bogs where there are pools and small streams.

  

Crockford Stream Does Not Disappoint.

Crockford Stream trickles its way across Beaulieu Heath in the New Forest.As soon as you leave the small road  bridge that spans the stream activity is frantic with a myriad of  dragonflies every few feet along the watercourse.It really is a mecca for heathland odonata. 

Perhaps the most numerous species here is the Keeled Skimmer,closely followed by Beautiful Demoiselles and at regular intervals male Golden-ringed Dragonflies.They patrol the stream on the lookout for females and any other males that they may want to send on their way. 

One must not forget of course the two species of specialised damselflies that are also present along the stream,the Small Red Damselfly and the Southern Damselfly.

 

A Heathland Damselfly.

Yesterdays trip to the New Forest was to Crockford Stream,one of several watercourses that cross Beaulieu Heath.The stream has a good mix of odonata and is renowned for the Southern Damselfly and the Small Red Damselfly.Both species were evident in addition to other more common dragonflies.

The Southern Damselfly Coenagiron mercuriale is classed as Near Threatened in the UK due to its specialised habitat requirements.It is confined to shallow,well vegetated base-rich flushes and runnels usually found on wet heathland.The New Forest in Hampshire is one of this species strongholds.

Crockford Stream.

Crockford Stream is on the southern edge of Beaulieu Heath in The New Forest.As mentioned in my two previous posts the stream is well known for two special damselfly species,the Small Red Damselfly and the Southern Damselfly.The stream is best accessed at Crockford Bridge on the B3054 from Lymington to Beaulieu.
On my visit this week I was welcomed by numerous male Beautiful Demoiselles and Keeled Skimmers every few feet, all defending their piece of the stream.The stream trickles its way through this boggy area almost disappearing at times in the low scrub. In places it forms small open pools and also clear slow running spots where female Golden-ringed Dragonflies can be seen laying their eggs in their unique fashion.There is also no shortage of male Golden-ringed flying low along the stream in search of females.
It wasn't long before I came across several male Southern Damselflies  at certain favoured points on the bank.Small Red Damselflies were not so common and only found in the more boggy areas of the stream.As this habitat seems to be very specialized the only other species of damselfly on view was a single male Blue-tailed.

Looking east to Crockford Bridge with the stream on the right

Southern Damselfly in The New Forest.

Apart from the Small Red Damselfly there is another specialist damselfly at Crockford Stream in the New Forest.The Southern Damselfly Coenagrion mercuriale or the Mercury Bluet as it is named in continental Europe is restricted to just a few sites in England and Wales.The New Forest is perhaps its main stronghold in the UK.The name of this Red Data Listed damselfly refers to the 'Mercury' mark on the S2 segment of the male, although this shape can sometimes vary slightly.

The female is normally a dull green with the abdomen mainly black above and blue divisions between the last few segments There is a blue form of the female as shown below in the third photograph.It can be seen that the female has green eyes.

Small Red Damselflies in the New Forest.

Yesterday I made a long overdue visit to Crockford Stream in the New Forest .This stream is renowned above all for the Small Red Damselfly and the Southern Damselfly. The New Forest is one of the few locations in England and Wales for this species.The Small Red requires shallow and quite warm acidic waters in the form of pools,and small streams.This type of habitat is usually associated with heathland bogs as found in the New Forest.