Summer Takes a Turn for the Better.

The month of June has been very changeable, but we are promised a period of summery weather this weekend.Yesterday was one such day and a visit to the Southern Emerald site at Yarmouth was rewarded with a lone male in the scrub, of low bramble,gorse, and long grass between the two breeding scrapes.I can only surmise that any emergent that has  come from these scrapes has dispersed and will return when conditions are right.The water levels are high for this time due to this month's  rainfall and I assume that when dry it will suit this species.

The Summer Weather Brings Out The Southern Hawker.

Now that the summer seems to have arrived,at least for now,a first sight of a Southern Hawker this year at Bouldnor Forest,Yarmouth.This immature male was seen along the road to the old WW2 Gun Battery.

The Dismal Weather Puts a Hold on Southern Emerald Emergence.

Yesterday was fine,warm, and sunny and one of the very few good days of the month so far.Unfortunately we have not had many of those sort of days recently with cold winds and high rainfall.Sightings of Southern Emerald Damselflies at Yarmouth have been nil since the 6th June when one was recorded.I am still hoping that when summer does arrive numbers will recover.

In a way of consolation, close by the ponds was a female Large Red Damselfly of the form melanotum. I do not know how common this form is,but it was a first for me.

Another New Emperor.

Another Emperor emerged from the garden pond today.A total of nine that I know of so far this season.It must be said that I feared the worst, as after some leg movement while in the process of leaving the exuvia, this individual stopped moving for some time.Anyway it must have been resting, as soon it had turned and continued to get the body ready for the first flight.

Southern Emeralds On Station.

After drawing a blank at Yarmouth on Monday last, I was pleased to see male Southern Emerald Damselflies today.However it was only two males and probably just one as I cannot be sure that the same individual was not spotted on two occasions.This sighting was again at the larger of the two breeding ponds.I say ponds,but in fact there is no visible sign of water at either.Once again this damselfly was spotted in the reeds of the pond and not at the margins. Let us hope that my next visit will see an increase in numbers.

 

No Southern Emeralds on View at Yarmouth.

I must admit that I was disappointed at Yarmouth not to see any Southern Emerald Damselflies at their breeding ponds.Hopefully no cause for concern as yet.At the ponds today were many teneral Ruddy Darters and a lone Black-tailed Skimmer.

A New But Not Perfect Emperor.

Over the past week or so three Emperor Dragonfly exuviae have been found on my garden pond.This morning  another Emperor emerged and lingered on a reed preparing for his first flight.Unfortunately as can be seen from the following photos the wings were deformed.However I am pleased to say that after about three hours he took off into cover.

Back for the Summer Season on the Isle of Wight.

The weather conditions were much improved on  yesterday's with long sunny spells and lighter winds.An early afternoon visit to Bouldnor Forest ponds was rewarded with a first of the year sighting of Lestes barbarus, the Southern Emerald Damselfly.At the larger of the two breeding scrapes,now almost dry, an immature male and female were seen.Both did not seem to be tenerals as they were flying around in the reeds of the scrape and not fluttering weakly to the cover of the marginal vegetation as I have observed last season.

First Black-tailed Skimmer on Show.

It is at this time that I would expect to see the first Southern Emerald Damselflies emerging from the Bouldnor site at Yarmouth.However no sightings were made today and as long as the colony is still there, the first damselflies must appear in the next few days.

As a consolation I recorded my first Black-tailed Skimmer of the year at the ponds.This female was the only one of this species on show.

White-legs Under Pressure.

On a holiday to the Greek Island of Meganisi last week there was time to spent an hour or so in Nydri on Lefkada.A visit to a favoured site for dragonflies was a disappointment as the area has succumbed to development with many lots fenced off and up for sale.The result was that only one male Scarce Chaser was recorded along with several White-legged Damselflies.