Dull Days & Damsels

Cooler conditions, cloud cover and even rain has curtailed most dragon activity in the past few days. The rain is desperately needed though, with many New Forest ponds already drying out. Just a few days ago we were watching several female Broad-bodied Chasers ovipositing in one spot which is now no more than mud.

Regardless of the weather I did a little scouting on Friday around Burley. Nothing at all to be seen, but worthwhile for finding a new pond to explore during sunny weather. The pond is surrounded by boggy marsh which is a challenge to navigate, but eventually I found a way through. Good emergent vegetation with nearby heather should produce some worthwhile results.

Afterwards I visited Troublefield to be greeted by a depressing sight. The resident cattle had been moved to the north meadow and had proceeded to devour and flatten the glorious vegetation. All that was left were a few pockets of cow parsley, nettles and a few isolated wild flowers.

Two days was all it took to devastate the strong population of butterflies, Beautiful Demoiselles and Scarce Chasers. There were a few Common Blue butterflies, a couple of Beautiful Demoiselles hiding very deep in what was left and frankly not much else!

At least the path between the fields still contained a few Azures

Azure Damselfly - Male
Azure Damselfly – Male

On Sunday 30th Doug and I were asked to lead a field trip for the photographic members of Dorset Wildlife Trust. Conditions were far from perfect but at least we did find four species of damsel at Delph Woods. First to be spotted were Common Blue’s among the heather, followed by Azure’s, Large Reds and Blue-tailed along the back path.

Luckily we had a back up site close by along the River Stour at Canford Magna, which offered a different environment and a chance to observe and photograph river species. Shelter from the wind and even the odd glimpse of sunshine provided excellent opportunities for Banded Demoiselles and White-legged Damsels.

White-legged Damselfly - Male
White-legged Damselfly – Male
White-legged Damselfly - Female
White-legged Damselfly – Female

A week on from my previous visit had meant that there were now both male & female White-legged with mature colouration.

White-legged Damselfly - Male
White-legged Damselfly – Male
White-legged Damselfly - Male
White-legged Damselfly – Male

The Banded were a little more shy, but at least when they did appear the cool conditions meant they for once stayed around for a photo opportunity.

Banded Demoiselle - Male
Banded Demoiselle – Male

Apart from those Doug did spot a female Scarce Chaser and we both spotted what possibly could have been a Downy Emerald along the banks, but given that it was only a glimpse we decided the official count for the day was 7 species. Not bad at all considering the conditions.

We decided to call it a day, but not before Doug & I decided to pop in to Troublefield on the way home to observe the damage and a few more Azure and an obliging teneral male Scarce Chaser.

Following the Scarce Chaser revealed some strange behaviour we hadn’t witnessed before. He was flying low, in & out of the vegetation very much like a wasp, carefully choosing a roosting spot. After pausing several times low down among the grassy tussocks, we coaxed him out onto some Cow Parsley to provide a better photo opportunity.

Scarce Chaser - Immature Male
Scarce Chaser – Immature Male

While he was perched, he ‘vibrated’ his wings several times, I’m presuming in an attempt to warm up for further flight, although I’d be grateful for any insights into this behaviour.

All in all and despite the weather a very enjoyable day spent in the company of genuine enthusiasts who were willing to learn the secrets of photographing dragonflies, and in turn taught us  thing or two about photography.

Thanks to everyone who braved the weather and thanks especially to Stewart for organising the day and giving us the opportunity to give a little back.

Golden Rings and Emperors

A fine weather forecast for Wednesday saw me once again out early morning, this time at Ramsdown Forest where the only dragons I saw on the heath were a few Scarce Chasers, and on the only remaining pond with water were a couple of Four-spotted Chasers.

Tired of the still windy conditions I decided Troublefield was the better option. On arrival I bumped into a working party from Dorset Wildlife Trust, there to do some spring cleaning. They were busy cutting down the reeds, a practice which didn’t really sit well with the leader – knowing they were a refuge for a lot of insect life.

I decided to concentrate on the back meadow which had overgrown considerably since my last visit, with chest-high nettles making the going tough. Once again there were several Beautiful Demoiselles and even some Banded, Large Red and Common Blue Damsels, yet more Scarce Chasers who were not so willing to stay put, and – my goal for the day – a fresh male Golden-ringed Dragonfly.

Golden-ringed Dragonfly - Male
Golden-ringed Dragonfly - Male
Golden-ringed Dragonfly - Male
Golden-ringed Dragonfly - Male

More than satisfied with the Golden-ringed I headed over to Linford Bottom where things were really kicking off at last. Large Red, Common Blue and Blue-tailed Damsels along with a couple of Male Emperors, a couple of Downys’, several Four-spotted and Broad-bodied Chasers and among the heath even a Scarce Chaser and another Golden-ringed.

Scarce Chaser
Scarce Chaser

This is the first time I’ve seen Scarce Chaser at this location and was a real bonus. The Golden-ringed wasn;t hanging around for a shot though.

Once again time was scarce so I decided to concentrate on the Emperors. Far to easy to take for granted, they truly are magnificent beasts and real masters of the air. I spent a good hour watching their acrobatics, occasional clashes and sheer majesty to exclusion of all others. I also decided to attempt some in-flighters – no easy task when faced with such a fast and unpredictable flyer.

Emperor Dragonfly
Emperor Dragonfly

The distance didn’t help either, but it was fun none-the-less

Emperor Dragonfly
Emperor Dragonfly

Again I could have stayed there all day, but time was tight and I had to cut short my visit. As the forecast had promised a good day, Sue & I headed over to Crockford Stream in the afternoon in the hope of seeing more Golden-ringed and hopefully some Southern Damselflies.

On arrival we saw several female Broad-bodied Chasers around the margins, several males clashing along the stream, a reasonable population of Beautiful Demoiselles – although far less than I was expecting – and about a dozen Southern Damselflies mixing it with the Large Reds.

After such a fine morning I was a little disappointed with the lack of activity and decent photo opportunities so we headed over to Hatchet small pond where even less was going on, although we did spot a few teneral Black-tailed Skimmers which made the call worthwhile.

From there it was a short trip to Hawkhill where I hoped there would be a few Golden-ringed along the rides. Big disappointment! The Forestry Commision have stripped away vast areas of pine leaving the area wide open and very unfamiliar. This has opened up the rides with trees only bordering one side of the main path with clearance all the way down to the boggy area.

These warm, sheltered rides were a haven for dragonflies and a certainty for spotting Golden-ringed, and Hawkers later in the season. Now the clearance has taken away the natural windbreak, desecrated the refuge of ferns and gorse and despoiled the gullies which were alive with Common Lizards.

Even though we spotted a few female Broad-bodied Chasers and a reasonable population of Beautiful Demoiselles down along the shelter of the stream, the experience left me cold, much like the weather which had by now clouded over.

Not much left to do then but return home and celebrate the positive aspects of the day. I guess sometimes you can have too much of a good thing and need to be brought back down to earth. Much like those pine trees…..

New Horizons

After a week of primarily butterfly activity I ventured out Tuesday in search of dragons. On Tuesday 24th I took a walk along Latchmore Brook from Ogdens as far as Deadbuck Hill, taking in both the banks including the boggy areas and seepage’s to the north.

At 10.00am on a blustery and relatively cool morning there wasn’t a lot to see, but there were several Beautiful Demoiselles cascading around the main stream, Male & Female Broad-bodied Chasers in the bogs and feeder streams, and several teneral Large Red Damsels concentrated in one small area.

Broad-bodied Chaser - Female
Broad-bodied Chaser - Female

Dragons may have been thin on the ground, but other wildlife provided a morning spectacle with a herd of over 40 Fallow Deer sunning themselves on the heath, 3 Adders scurrying to safety along the northern bank, 2 pairs of Curlew nesting among the heather and a lost & disorientated fledgling Great Tit.

Afterwards I went in search of a pond I’d spied on google earth and after a walk in populated with yet more Broad-bodied Chasers, teneral Keeled Skimmers and a racing Grass Snake, I negotiated the boggy heath leading down to the pond.

Common Blue Damselfly
Common Blue Damselfly

Although the wind was still irritating, the brief spells of  sunshine had warmed the air sufficiently for dragons and there were several Four-spotted Chasers, a Downy Emerald and 2 Male Emperors patrolling the margins.

Common Blue Damselfly - Teneral
Common Blue Damselfly - Teneral

A brief moment of cloud cover provided my first opportunity to photograph an Emperor this season as it perched right in front of me.

Emperor Dragonfly - Male
Emperor Dragonfly - Male

I gingerly made my way around half of the pond before the depth of bog forced me back. Among the rushes and reeds were several Large Red and Common Blue Damsels

Common Blue Damselfly
Common Blue Damselfly

On my return I was amazed to see a male Downy Emerald land right in front of me

Downy Emerald - Male
Downy Emerald - Male

These have given me so many problems finding perched individuals previous to this year that I had to pinch myself before pressing the shutter. Once back to my own ‘safe’ perch another male Emperor did the decent thing and again landed almost at my feet

Emperor Dragonfly - Male
Emperor Dragonfly - Male

I could have stayed there all afternoon, but once again the clock was ticking and I headed back to the car, but not without my first Keeled Skimmer opportunity of the year

Keeled Skimmer - Teneral
Keeled Skimmer - Teneral

After the cool, cloudy conditions of the morning, the afternoon brightened up considerably so Sue & I headed out to our favourite spot late afternoon for some entertainment. Once again the Broad-bodied Chasers were vying for territory with the Four-spotted, sharing the margins with a couple of Downy Emeralds

Downy Emerald
Downy Emerald

and a couple of male Emperors.

Emperor Dragonfly - Male
Emperor Dragonfly - Male

Now I had always assumed that Emperors were the dominating species due to their size and speed, but it was interesting to observe a male Downy chase one of the Emperors off with help from one of the male Broad-bodied Chasers!

The Downy’s have become a favourite of mine this year with their playfulness and I can quite happily spend an hour in the water with them attempting an in-flight shot. However this individual decided I was no longer a threat and once again perched right in front of me, albeit at a difficult angle for a decent shot

Downy Emerald
Downy Emerald

We left the pond around 6.00pm when all activity had died down. All in all a fine day’s dragon spotting!

Chartley Moss

In less than ideal conditions Sue & I took a 400 mile round trip to hopefully see one of our rarest dragonflies – the beautiful White-faced Darter.

The weather forecast for Sunday had threatened rain all week, and changed at the last minute to sunny spells. On arrival at Chartley in Staffordshire the clouds were grey & gloomy and pushing out the occasional shower. Worse than this was the strong gusty winds, definitely not a day to see dragonflies of any description.

However we had managed to grab the last places on one of only two organised tours led by English Nature of Chartley Moss – the most southerly outpost of the WFD. This site is protected and closed to the public mainly due to the danger of disappearing without trace in the dark 16 meter depths of a submerged lake topped with up to 3 meters of Sphagnum Moss and peat.

Most of the people on the tour were there to experience the feeling of walking on water, marvelling at the wonders of the bouncing bog with half-submerged trees. Some of us were purely there for the dragonflies.

The tour was expertly guided by the Staffordshire reserves manager and only allowed a short time – about half-an-hour – for dragon hunting. This was never going to be enough time given the conditions and the excellent camouflage of the WFD. But we did spot 4. One briefly perched on a log, 2 flying out of range and finally a male perched among the heather.

White-faced Darter - Male
White-faced Darter - Male
White-faced Darter - Male
White-faced Darter - Male

This individual therefore became a little bit of a celebrity and was netted and potted for closer observation, a method I don’t agree with and obviously caused some distress. After everyone had a chance to observe the captive he was finally set free among the heather and we were free to obtain some natural shots.

The tour was over far too soon and I for one was not ready to leave, so we negotiated  a place for Sue & I and another enthusiast on the second tour of the day. This time the 3 of us were given permission to go ahead of the group on condition that we didn’t venture out of the designated area and shared any findings with the rest of the group.

So a further hour provided a few more chances and we at least got to see a little sun along with a few more tenerals

White-faced Darter - Freshly Emerged Female
White-faced Darter - Freshly Emerged Female
White-faced Darter - Freshly-emerged Female
White-faced Darter - Freshly-emerged Female

including a freshly-emerged specimen

White-faced Darter - Freshly Emerged
White-faced Darter - Freshly Emerged

and even an emerging larvae.

White-faced Darter Larvae
White-faced Darter Larvae

Wish we could have stayed to watch the emergence. But alas this time it was really time to leave. A fantastic day which could have turned out a bit of a disappointment if we hadn’t wangled that second tour. Well if you don’t ask….

A great many thanks to Mel from English Nature for her excellent guidance and admirable patience in the presence of a few persistent dragonfly nuts!

Hangover

It was inevitable that the warm, sunny days couldn’t continue. The past week has seen almost constant cloud cover, stiff breezes and just the odd smattering of rain. This in turn has subdued nearly all activity until the afternoons.

On Thursday 12th I spent an uneventful morning scouring the banks of Ober Water and the surrounding heaths & bogs for signs of life. My main intention was to hopefully find some early White-legged Damsels and maybe – just maybe – an early Scarce Blue-tail. No such luck, not even a single Beautiful Demoiselle graced the banks of the stream, although there were a couple of Four-spotted Chasers flying off into the distance.

Duckhole Bog was also devoid of life. Not a damsel or dragon to be seen. I returned to the banks of the stream and waited an hour hoping that the brief sunny spells would produce a sighting before reluctantly moving on.

I paid a brief visit to Broomy Pond where a few Large Reds and Azures were in attendance. Whilst there I received a call from Doug who excitedly informed me that a mass emergence of Emperors was underway at Dunyeates Pond in Poole. Maybe a visit to Dorset would’ve been a better idea!

Starved of my dragon fix, Sue & I took an afternoon trip to our favourite pond at Cadnam Common. The cloud had broken up a little to produce some decent sunny spells and the water was alive with Broad-bodied Chasers.

Broad-bodied Chaser - Female
Broad-bodied Chaser - Female

Over a dozen mature and young males were fighting over 3 females. There were several couplings followed by immediate ovipositing where the successful male would try to defend his mate.

Broad-bodied Chaser - Female Ovipositing
Broad-bodied Chaser - Female Ovipositing

With so many males around this was no easy task and many battles ensued. This was a spectacle to observe, but you had to feel a little sorry for the poor female who undefended was soon engaged in unwelcome couplings

Male Broad-bodied Chaser attempting to mate with an ovispositing female
Male Broad-bodied Chaser attempting to mate with an ovispositing female

Besides BBC’s there were a few Four-spotted Chasers and Downy Emeralds holding their own amid the chaos. Surprisingly there were few damsels to be seen. Usually the pond margins are alive with Azures and Large Reds, but we only saw a couple of Red-eyeds and a single Blue-tail. It’s possible the stiff breeze kept them hunkered down among the islands reeds or perhaps the populations had been decimated by the many dragons or the pair of Swallows who appeared frequently over the water.

On Saturday we had an invite to Clive Farrell’s home in Dorset for a butterfly bonanza. The grounds contain many sculptured ponds where Azures were swarming in the surrounding foliage. Several spent Emperor exuvia were attached to the reeds but the only dragons on the wing in the breeze were Four-spotted chasers. A visit on a more dragon-friendly day is a must.

On Monday 16th I visited Bentley Wood, mainly for the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries, but did visit the ponds where only a few Large Reds were seen. However I did encounter a lone female Broad-bodied Chaser along one of the forest rides.

In such dull weather conditions I’ve decided to concentrate on butterflies in the mornings and wait until the afternoons for dragons. On Tuesday 17th I followed my visit to Martin Down with a visit to Canford Magna on the banks of the River Stour after a tip from one of my Flickr friends.

Last year The Stour proved excellent for Banded Demoiselles, White-legged Damsels and Brown Hawkers so I was anxious to survey this new location.

Banded Demoiselle
Banded Demoiselle
Banded Demoiselle
Banded Demoiselle

There were plenty of Bandeds but the main prize during my short visit were hundreds of teneral White-legged Damselflies taking refuge in the lush bank-side grass.

Teneral White-legged Damselfly
Teneral White-legged Damselfly

I only had a half-hour and promised myself a return visit to explore further in the near future.

Teneral White-legged Damselfly
Teneral White-legged Damselfly

Once again Dorset has produced the goods ahead of Hampshire, but this good fortune  means WLD’s should appear along Ober Water shortly. I’m just waiting for a better day before I venture down that way…

Be Careful What You Wish For

This superb unseasonable weather has meant I’ve barely had time to eat, let alone keep up to date with the internet. All winter I’d been longing for the season to start and now it’s here I’m making the most of it!

After a forgetfully dumb visit to Titchfield Haven on Tuesday 3rd (they’re closed Monday & Tuesday) we returned on Wednesday to check on the Hairy activity. There were plenty around, but none offering the chance of a decent shot.I did however manage a male as it stopped to feed on a Large Red Damsel

Hairy Dragonfly - Male
Hairy Dragonfly – Male

A female Broad-bodied Chaser was more obliging

Broad-bodied Chaser - Female
Broad-bodied Chaser – Female

She even allowed me to change position

Broad-bodied Chaser - Female
Broad-bodied Chaser – Female

And just as we were about to leave a Four-spotted Chaser perched for me

Four-spotted Chaser
Four-spotted Chaser

On Thursday I paid a short visit to my favourite pond for a little Downy playtime

Downy Emerald
Downy Emerald

Titchfield had previously supplied me with decent chances to capture a Hairy but the draw of Somerset was too hard to resist and as both Sue & I had Friday 6th free we made a day of it.

Hairy’s were once again in abundance, this time joined by swarms of Four-spotted Chasers. At one point there were 11 all perched in a small area and would have made a great photo opportunity if I hadn’t been focused on getting a decent single specimen

Four-spotted Chaser
Four-spotted Chaser

However Hairy’s were my main focus and this time I managed a female, a couple of males and a couple of breeding pairs

Hairy Dragonfly - female
Hairy Dragonfly – female

This female could have been better positioned, but to give her her due she had just been bothered by a male and was desperately trying to right herself, so I didn’t push it.

Hairy Dragonfly - male
Hairy Dragonfly – male

This male gave me the run around, and while I was attempting to reposition myself for a better capture he dropped down into the foliage

Hairy Dragonfly - male
Hairy Dragonfly – male

This one was slightly better placed though

Hairy Dragonfly - male
Hairy Dragonfly – male

Another excellent chance for a breeding pair provided almost a carbon copy of the week previous

Hairy Dragonflies - Breeding Pair
Hairy Dragonflies – Breeding Pair

Damsels were once again in abundance and I allowed myself a couple of shots, first a female Red-eyed

Red-eyed Damselfly - Female
Red-eyed Damselfly – Female

and a most colourful female Blue-tailed

Blue-tailed Damselfly - Female
Blue-tailed Damselfly – Female

We could have stayed at Westhay all night, but with a two hour journey ahead of us we just had time to witness the marvelous display of hawking Hairy’s as they polished off the rising cloud of midges late afternoon.

Sunday saw us back at Pangbourne on a dull and very windy day with Doug in tow hoping to spot a few Club-tails. We saw two, but at least the journey was worthwhile. This freshly-emerged specimen was showing us more than we needed to see

Common Clubtail
Common Club-tail

 

Who knew they were green? Well I guess you learn something every day!

Afterwards we took a trip cross-country to Thursley Common and were a tad disappointed. The wind was still horrendous and nothing at all was showing along the boardwalks. The main pond at least provided some opportunities with a playful Azure

Azure Damselfly
Azure Damselfly

A male Blue-tailed

Blue-tailed Damselfly - Male
Blue-tailed Damselfly – Male

and finally a difficultly-perched Downy Emerald

Downy Emerald
Downy Emerald

Besides the wind the major disappointment of the day was somehow the quality setting on my camera had accidentally switched to JPEG Basic before we reached Thursley and all shots I took at that location, including the ones above, were saved in this format.

Without getting into the old argument RAW vs JPEG I’ll just say I always prefer to shoot RAW, so from now on I’m making sure that’s added to my list of pre-shoot checks.

On Monday 9th I crossed the county border yet again to visit Ramsdown Forest on the edge of the New Forest for the Scarce Chasers. A little flush & stalk provided the goods

Scarce Chaser
Scarce Chaser

Again the windy conditions meant that they weren’t going far, even if it meant taking resident on my finger

Scarce Chaser

 

And of course I had to get my angled shot

 

Scarce Chaser

and one just prior to take-off

Scarce Chaser
Scarce Chaser

Afterwards I nipped into Troublefield where along with yet more Scarce Chasers was the most spectacular display of Beautiful Demoiselles

Beautiful Demoiselle - Female
Beautiful Demoiselle – Female

Everywhere you looked there were swarms of them

Beautiful Demoiselle - Female
Beautiful Demoiselle – Female

The only place I’d previously seen such numbers is Durley Mill on the upper reaches of the River Hamble

Beautiful Demoiselle - Male
Beautiful Demoiselle – Male

On Wednesday the 10th I visited Keyhaven mainly for the Wall Brown butterflies but was surprised to see two Hairy Dragonflies hawking the ride along the old highway, along with an Emperor. Meither stopped. I did manage a pair of Blue-tails during my walk along the sea wall though

Blue-tailed Damselflies - Breeding Pair
Blue-tailed Damselflies – Breeding Pair

By yesterday the weather had taken a turn for the worst and after a brief soaking at Higher Hyde Heath in Dorset I braved the clouds to witness a couple of patrolling Downy’s and a few damsels, including this fresh Azure

Azure Damselfly - Teneral
Azure Damselfly – Teneral

So a cooling of the weather and some much-needed rain has dampened a lot of the activity this week, but when the sun does shine all hell breaks loose as you will see next time……

You’re Never Too Old To Go Clubbing

Last year Sue & I promised ourselves a trip to find the Common Club-tail Dragonfly, but due to other commitments we never did get to go. So on a very windy Sunday we drove the 60 miles to Goring-On-Thames armed with a highlighted OS map.

About half-an-hour into the walk I spied, my first ever, fly high into a tree. Nevertheless I still frantically snapped away just in case it was the only one I saw.

I needn’t have worried. Just as we started our walk back down the track we saw this teneral fly up from the foliage and back down again a few feet away. He wasn;t exactly in a prime position and once again I got seriously stung getting my shots.

Common Club-tail Dragonfly
Common Club-tail Dragonfly

There was no way Sue was following me in, so after I had my fill I thought if she can’t come to the dragon then I will take the dragon to her. Surprisingly the closer I got with my finger the more he stayed put, until he obligingly crawled onto it.

I gingerly tiptoed over to Sue to enable her to get a photo and he made a girl very happy when he obligingly crawled from my finger to hers. Of course I had to capture the moment!

Common Club-tail Dragonfly
Common Club-tail Dragonfly

After our little encounter we drove the short distance down-stream to another reliable location and saw a half-a-dozen more perched quite happily in the bank-side foliage

Common Club-tail Dragonfly
Common Club-tail Dragonfly
Common Club-tail Dragonfly
Common Club-tail Dragonfly

I had no idea what to expect and thought that they would be difficult to locate or approach for a photograph, but having all been fresh individuals and probably because of the windy conditions they proved most obliging.

If you have never seen this beautiful species I urge you to take a trip to Goring-On-Thames or Pangbourne – two of the only stretches of this river accessible among the prime real estate – and witness them for yourselves.

The following day we took a trip to Pulborough in West Sussex to another suggested location.

The small area just north of Stopham Bridge was a relative jungle compared to the well-manicured banks of the Thames with waist-high nettles, brambles and several other obstacles which makes the going tough. However the clearing is ideal for dragon spotting being surrounded by gorse and trees. Just make sure you’re well protected!

Male Banded Demoiselle
Male Banded Demoiselle

Although we saw a few Four-spotted Chasers, several Banded Demoiselles and swarms of Mayflies, we didn’t see any Club-tails. It is possible that they haven’t emerged there yet or we didn’t look hard enough.

On the south side of the bridge, at the end of the lane leading from the pub, there is a footpath leading to a wide riverside area which is easier going and again may well provide a feast of dragonfly activity later in the season.

A little disappointed with this location after the fruits of the previous day, we decided to drive the 20 miles to Thursley Common to get our fix – and it is well that we did so! As soon as we reached the pond we were greeted by several Downy Emeralds patrolling the banks.

The wet reeded area to the north of the pond is backed by gorse and trees and I had my chance to get a couple of perched shots

Downy Emerald
Downy Emerald

From experience I know that the Downy can be hard to approach and does tend to like perching in – or in the case of this one – on trees

Downy Emerald
Downy Emerald
Downy Emerald
Downy Emerald

I could have stayed here all evening stalking my quarry but as time was getting on and the wind yet again was proving uncomfortable I relented knowing I had a few good shots in the bag. Just enough time to grab a Four-spotted Chaser

Four-spotted Chaser
Four-spotted Chaser

So a perfect start to May and the perfect end to a Bank Holiday weekend.

A Perfect End To April

We have been blessed with exceptionally good weather this April, which in turn had resulted in earlier than usual emergence of many dragonfly species.

I’m pleased to say the New Forest is catching up with Dorset with Azure, Blue-tailed, Common Blue, Beautiful and Banded Demoiselle and Red-eyed damselflies joining the Large Reds.Dragons on the wing include Broad-bodied Chasers, Four-spotted Chasers, Hairy’s, Downy’s and Emperors.

After a well-deserved rest on Tuesday I ventured out for an early morning butterfly hunt at Hod Hill in Dorset before meeting Doug Overton at Dunyeats Pond. Cloudy & cool weather meant activity was muted with a few damsels and a Four-spotted Chaser patrolling.

At the end of our short lunchtime visit Doug spied a freshly-emerged Hairy dragonfly in a bad way resting on a small log on the pond. Unfortunately this poor individual had not emerged properly and it’s wings were undeveloped. We relocated him to some sheltered undergrowth where no doubt he would end up in the food chain.

After this sad encounter I left Doug and decided to visit my favourite pond where things were really kicking off. I only had time for a short stay, but returned an hour later with my partner Sue for some serious dragonfly watching.

Large Red Damselflies
Large Red Damselflies

Among the large Red, Azure and Blue-tailed damsels were several male Broad-bodied Chasers engaging in battle around the pond. These were joined later by a few females enabling brief coupling before the females oviposited immediately afterwards.

Male Broad-bodied Chaser
Male Broad-bodied Chaser
Female Broad-bodied Chaser
Female Broad-bodied Chaser

Thursday early morning, perhaps a little too early and cool for any real activity, I briefly visited Hatchet Pond and Crockford Stream, but it was only when I reached Keyhaven that any signs of life were seen, with Blue-tailed, Azure, Large Red and a single Red-eyed damselfly. The only dragonfly on the wing was a sole male Hairy.

By the time I reached Ramsdown Forest the temperature had increased enough to enable a spectacular display of Four-spotted Chasers vying for territory on the small pond, later joined by a male Broad-bodied Chaser.

Four-spotted Chaser
Four-spotted Chaser

Time ran out all too soon and I had to cut my visit short, but Sue and I decided to visit Durley Mill later that afternoon in the hope that the Beautiful Demoiselles were on the wing. Sure enough there were several males and a few females along the banks of the infant Hamble River, mostly flying high above the tree line but there were a few males willing to perch long enough for a photo or two

Male Beautiful Demoiselle
Male Beautiful Demoiselle

The upper Hamble has to be one of the best places to observe the Beautifuls – even better than Crockford Stream in my opinion – with 100’s on the wing in peak season. From a photographers point of view the variety of bank-side foliage allows you a wide choice of compositional opportunities.

While most of the country were celebrating the royal wedding Doug, Sue & I took advantage of the quiet roads to visit Shapwick Heath and Westhay Moor on the Somerset Levels.

The weather was a little threatening but brief sunny intervals at Shapwick saw Hairy’s patrolling the reeds. However the advantage of cloud cover means damsels are less flighty and these provided our main photographic subjects to begin with.

Male Azure Damselfly
Male Azure Damselfly

Common Blues, Azures, Blue-tails were interspersed with Variables – a species we’re not lucky to have access to in the New Forest.

Variable Damselfly
Variable Damselfly

However the most impressive display of all were the Red-eyed Damsels. As soon as the sun broke through they would take off as one from the bank-side foliage and fly in formation to their chosen lily pads.

Male Red-eyed Damselfly
Male Red-eyed Damselfly
Female Red-eyed Damselfly
Female Red-eyed Damselfly

So far the only opportunities for photographing a Hairy or two had been the possibility of an in-flight male or ovipositing female but I eventually persuaded Doug to move on to Westhay where Jerry had kindly given me a tip that opportunities were plentiful.

However before we could leave we spotted a male and female Broad-bodied along with our first Scarce Chaser of the year.

Male Broad-bodied Chaser
Male Broad-bodied Chaser
Female Broad-bodied Chaser
Female Broad-bodied Chaser
Scarce Chaser
Scarce Chaser

When we finally dragged ourselves away from Shapwick we took the short ride to Westhay and had a spot of lunch before delving in.

Opposite the disabled Car Park near the hide was undoubtedly the best display of damsel activity we had ever witnessed. Hundreds taking to the air in response to our movement. Plants and reeds festooned with several individuals giving endless possibilities to choose your composition.

But it was the Hairy’s we were really their to see and sure enough barely 100 yards down the path we spotted our first perched female, albeit hidden by the vegetation. We needn’t had worried as she was soon followed by several males and a selection of breeding pairs perched in more suitable locations.

Hairy Dragonflies (Breeding Pair)
Hairy Dragonflies (Breeding Pair)

We were like kids in a sweet shop!

Male Hairy Dragonfly
Male Hairy Dragonfly

The next hour was spent capturing more shots than we needed and all too soon it was time to hit the road. We never did venture any further down that path, but you can guarantee we’ll be back to complete the transect and take in Ham Wall next time.

Hairy Dragonflies (Breeding Pair)
Hairy Dragonflies (Breeding Pair)

For two enthusiasts so blessed with variety that can be found in the New Forest, the Somerset Levels are a real eye-opener and a must visit for any dragonfly fan.

Once again thanks to Jerry for the locations and also Mike for the inspiration to visit such a wonderful place.

Hairy Encounters

As of last week the New Forest is still lagging way behind Dorset in sightings, although I’m pleased to say that it has now finally woken up with several species now present. Along with the Large Reds, there have been sightings of Hairys, Downy Emeralds, Broad-bodied and Four-spotted Chasers, Azures, Blue-tails and Common Blues.

On Wednesday of last week, after a great day at Studland, I decided to scout a few reliable sites in the forest but the only species to be seen were Large Reds, albeit in greater numbers. having spent the end of the week in pursuit of my other passion, butterflies, I decided to spend Sunday afternoon at Keyhaven.

Large Red Damselflies (Pair in cop)
Large Red Damselflies (Pair in cop)

Several Large Reds, Azures and Blue-tails were on the wing, a fresh Four-spotted Chaser disappeared over the tree tops and a little later I had my first sighting of a Hairy Dragonfly, followed closely afterwards by two more.

Azure Damselfly
Azure Damselfly

I then spent the next 3 hours watching 2 males and a female patrolling the bank, weaving in & out of the reeds at great speed and with maneuverability. This of course didn’t provide the best opportunity for a photograph! So I had no other choice than to attempt an in-flight shot

Hairy Dragonfly
Hairy Dragonfly

After a reliable report of plentiful Hairy activity along with a large population of damsels, I decided to take a trip to outside of Hampshire Somerset Levels on Monday.

We arrived shortly after midday and took a short walk along one of the many paths where damsels were in profusion, mostly Azures and Common Blues along with possibly some Variables, although unable to get close for a photo I cannot be sure.

Azure Damselfly
Azure Damselfly
Azure Damselfly
Azure Damselfly

Having found our bearings we found the path of most activity and were rewarded with a good 18 Hairy’s patrolling the rides, but it was a good hour before I had my first close chance for a perched shot

Hairy Dragonfly (Female)
Hairy Dragonfly (Female)

She was very accommodating and allowed me several shots

Hairy Dragonfly (Female)
Hairy Dragonfly (Female)

even allowing me to get in close

Hairy Dragonfly (Female)
Hairy Dragonfly (Female)

Satisfied with a good opportunity, we decided to explore further and spotted several more along with a few Four-spotted Chasers, although none perched close enough for a decent shot

Four-spotted Chaser
Four-spotted Chaser

Returning to the main path we spotted our first Banded Demoiselles of the season

Banded Demoiselle
Banded Demoiselle

We counted 3 males and 2 females, all very flighty

So all in all a very rewarding day and well worth the 2 hour drive

A Scorching Day At Studland

Just because it’s called Hampshire Dragonflies doesn’t mean I restrict my locations, and Dorset is a very special place for dragonflies as well as being a top County for wildlife and habitat in general. So I paid a long overdue visit to Studland today in search of the Hairy Dragonfly, among others.

The Hairy is a magnificent beast and sorely lacking from most of Hampshire. There are a few spots where a sighting is almost guaranteed, but there had been a report of sightings in Studland along with some excellent photos over the weekend. So armed with a grid reference, off I went.

As is typical with me, having found nothing at the location (still early at 10.30am I guess) I went on a trek around ‘Little Sea’. Biting off more than I can chew as usual; but I did disturb a couple of Hairy’s a good way further down the south side. No chance of a photo though.

After a long and tiring walk I found a busy and productive little area on the north side of the lake where I spotted and photographed my first Downy of the season.

Teneral Female Downy Emerald
Teneral Female Downy Emerald

Major excitement and payoff for the hard slog, but she wasn’t perched in a very good place to begin with. High on gorse and in shadow. Luckily she moved a little to the left with the sun upon her and I grasped the opportunity, hoping I had a result.

Also in this patch were several Large Reds

Large Red Damselfly
Large Red Damselfly

and a good number of teneral Blue-tailed damsels, another first for the season.

Teneral Blue-tailed Damselfly
Teneral Blue-tailed Damselfly

Further along the track and in a small clearing I spotted a rather pristine and mature Four-spotted Chaser. Just enough time to rattle off one shot before he took flight.

Four-spotted Chaser
Four-spotted Chaser

Tired and thirsty I finally made it back to the car park and partook of some much-needed refreshment, but as it was only 2.30pm I decided to look again at the original grid reference and disturbed another 2 Hairy’s, neither of which would settle. So they’re there, I just need some luck! But then they never were an easy subject to photograph!

Four new species for the season and three photographed, so it would be very churlish to complain. As well as dragonflies I spotted a Common Lizard, a female Sand Lizard, an Adder and a huge and very fast Grass Snake.

So despite the self-inflicted exhaustion it was a fantastic day, and a site I can highly recommend.

Just be aware that there is a charge for parking at the designated car park (although there is free road-side parking if you’re early and lucky), the cafe charge extortionate prices, in season it is overrun with tourists and day-trippers and be advised that the eastern end of the beach and heath allows nude sunbathing!