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.

Golden-ringed Dragonfly Drops In.

 Good to see this female Golden-ringed Dragonfly at my garden pond today. She spent some time at the pond as well as around the garden enjoying the sunny and warm spots. It is not the first time that I have enjoyed the sight of this species in my garden,although the others were all males.

 

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.

Stock Photo

Another Golden Opportunity.

My garden pond has attracted  many common damselflies this season and more recently the always reliable  Common Darter. However today I was very pleased to see this male Golden-ringed Dragonfly. This is the first time that I have recorded this species at the pond. He spent some time hanging around and making  numerous short flights over the pond.

A Golden Opportunity.

Walking along a very grassy forest glade today was rewarded with an encounter with this male Golden-ringed Dragonfly. He was so pre-occupied with hunting and feeding that my presence was partically ignored. Finding any suitable grass stalk the dragonfly would spend time devouring it's catch and  after a short rest would continue the pursuit.

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.

Demoiselles and Golden Rings.

Yesterday's walk along a short stretch of Shalfleet Stream produced good numbers of Beautiful Demoiselles. However the main species of interest was the impressive Golden-ringed Dragonfly that with luck are seen here. Good fortune was with me as I soon came upon an individual  flying ahead of me along the path between the wooded stream and a field boundary. The female took time to land at various points but eventually made off toward the stream.

 

Our Island Resident Species-Dragonflies(5).

The last entry in our Island resident species list describes the final three species. The large and impressive Golden-ringed Dragonfly is frequently seen on the Isle of Wight, in woodland rides and fields when immature, and  along streams when mature. Territorial males will  patrol up and down  their breeding waterways while the female may be seen  prodding her long needle-like ovipositor into the bed of shallow water while hovering in flight to deposit her eggs.

The Emperor Dragonfly is perhaps our largest dragonfly, and the male Emperor is unmistakable  as he quarters  any large pond. The female is a visitor to ponds large and small in order to lay her eggs.

The Migrant Hawker is a late summer hawker and seen here into October. It is usual to see this species in woodland rides hawking for insects well into the evening.

 

All Quiet at Bouldnor.

It was a disappointing visit to Bouldnor Forest today with little in the way of dragonfly activity despite the warm and sunny weather.Yet again no Southern Emerald Damselflies were encountered and the usual species seen in very small numbers.In fact it seems to be the norm this year with low counts of odonata.

A slight improvement was made on my return out of the forest, when along the track I recorded my first Golden-ringed Dragonfly of the year.This male was in hunting mode and I had only a brief glimpse before it took off into the trees.  

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.

 

Beautiful Demoiselles Steal The Show.

A  trip on the car ferry and a short drive  to the Hampshire town of Whiteley yesterday was ostensibly in search of butterflies.However dragonflies took main attention as the area visited is criss-crossed with wooded streams and brooks. Here there are Beautiful Demoiselles at any sunny spot and also the occasional Golden-ringed Dragonfly patrolling the waterway.

The short sequence of photos below show a female demoiselle ovipositing into a reed stem at one such wooded stream,choosing a small sunny glade.After laying into the stem she went to a branch very close by either to continue egg laying or perhaps to clean herself.