Downy Emeralds at Stag Lane Pond.

The pond at Stag Lane near to Newport was out of bounds today as work is  in  progress to clear reeds etc from the margins. However that did not prevent me from observing two male Downy Emerald Dragonflies patrolling close to the bank. This pond has regularly produced this species every saeason at this time. 

Stock Photo

Find Water and Find Dragonflies.

 As I happened to be very near to the pond in Stag Lane,Newport this morning, I  stopped for a quick visit and was rewarded with good numbers of  odonata. As we are now well into a prolonged dry period with no substantial rain  for nearly two months this large pond is well down on it's usual level. Emperor Dragonflies were patrolling the reeded margins and  the open water and some Common Darters were also evident. Perhaps the most interesting sightings were several male Small Red-eyed Damselflies  perching on reed stems in the sunshine. 

Small Red-eyes at Stag Lane Pond.

Stag Lane pond is situated near to Newport on the Isle of Wight and close to the Dodnor Creek Nature Reserve bordering the River Medina.The pond is a renowned fishing lake and also a place for many species of odonata.At this time of year Small Red-eyed Damselflies abound and today under cloudy skies but high temperatures of over 30 degrees celcius several males were resting on pondside foliage.

More Red-eyes.

The Red-eyed Damselfly or Large Red-eyed,as the name suggests, is a slightly bigger and more robust damselfly than its relative the Small Red-eyed Damselfly. Whereas the latter normally appear here at the beginning of July,the Red-eyed can be seen at the start of May.In fact an immature male was spotted at my garden pond on the 29th April this year.

This species is closely associated with floating leaves,typically water-lillies,and they favour large ponds and lakes where this plant grows.On the Isle of Wight the ponds at Stag Lane and Dickson pond which is close by, are good sites.
Both species can be seen in the same locations and can be difficult to tell apart.The following photographs show the Small Red-eyed Damselfly,except the two final images which are of an immature male Red-eyed.

Mature female

Immature male

Immature male