Our Island Resident Species-Dragonflies(3).

The Keeled Skimmer could be considered a surprise resident on the Isle of Wight. The species is found in acidic wet heathland containing runnels and streams, not the habitat that you would associate with the Island. However on our  south-west coastal cliffs where the sandstone and clay are always on the move due to erosion, suitable habitat has been created on the landslip. Here small pools form  with emergent reeds and in a couple of areas along the coast this skimmer has made it home.

 

A common skimmer mainly found at any pond with bare exposed banks is the Black-tailed Skimmer. The males like to perch horizontally on bare ground,mud,stones and dead wood.

   

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 Look at Latchmore Brook.

My first ever visit to Latchmore Brook in the New Forest was an unexpected opportunity and unfortunately rather brief.Still an hour or so exploring the boggy feeder streams that flow from the north into the brook discovered several of the rare Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly and also the equally uncommon  Southern Damselfly.Other species seen at the brook and along the runnels were Beautiful Demoiselle,Keeled Skimmer,Large Red Damselfly,and Emperor Dragonflies.    

  

Anceps.

Although the Scarce Chaser tends to dominate the streams and ditches around the town of Nydri on the Ionian Island of Lefkada,there is another dragonfly that shares this habitat.In the southern Balkans the Keeled Skimmer subspecies anceps is dominate, where the adult male may be all-pruinose.Unlike the Keeled Skimmers of northern Europe anceps frequent streams and ditches whereas its northern cousin prefers boggy acidic runnels.
A great surprise to me was also the sighting of a male Southern Skimmer Orthetrum brunneum, a species very similar to the Keeled Skimmer but differing in several features. 

A male Southern Skimmer

Immature male

Immature female

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

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.