Author: Paul Ritchie

Last Sunday I finally paid a visit to Thursley Common, noted nationally for it’s wide selection of Odonata. The Moat Pond by the car park entrance provided the first signs of activity with Downy Emeralds patrolling the shoreline along with Four-spotted, Emperors, Broad-bodied’s and various other usual suspects.

This pond is certainly worthy of further exploration and deserves a good amount of time following the shore and delving among the reeds, however I had a full afternoon planned so continued along the heath to the boardwalks where there was enough activity to satisfy the enthusiast.

The provision of boardwalks is a great feature and allows you access to the flooded bogs & mires which would normally be inaccessible. Numerous side channels and pools were heaving with a good selection of species, but nothing which I hadn’t photographed many times before. Looking longingly at the large body of water towards the end of the boardwalk, I returned to the heath and walked south-east across the heath where I found the odd Black Darter and continued towards the woodland where I encountered some White-legged Damsels.

I then turned west along the common where Silver-studded Blue butterflies where dancing among the heather and returned to the path leading back to the entrance where every step provided damsels and dragons aplenty, including more Black Darters and Emerald Damselflies.

Unfortunately I had to cut short my visit as I had another destination to visit in North Hampshire, but the sheer diversity and activity encountered at Thursley deserves a repeat visit or two with time to fully appreciate it’s wonders.

Hampshire and the New Forest is blessed with a great diversity of species and habitats and the summer months can be filled visiting those favourite locations where you are always guaranteed plenty of activity and photo opportunities.

On Sunday I decided to pay a visit to Burley Heaths which contain small acidic ponds, a reasonably large body of water in the form of Whitten Pond and the old Brockenhurst to Ringwood railway line. The smaller ponds are home to the usual suspects along with the beautiful and delicate Emerald Damselflies and Small Reds while Whitten Pond and the lead-in stream is an excellent site for Hawker activity later in the season.

Although there were sightings of teneral Emeralds and Small Reds, Sunday wasn’t as prolific as I expected it to be. However populations of Common Blues, Blue-tails, Emperors, Four-spotted, Broad-bodied’s and Keeled Skimmers provided plenty of interest.

It is always important to never restrict your search to bodies of water alone. The surrounding heaths and forest rides will always provide sightings of tenerals and females along with adult males searching for new territories.

During this season I’ve decided to extend my search to include some new sites both within the New Forest and Hampshire and across the county border in Dorset – a county which contains some magnificent lowland heaths so essential for diversity.

On Monday I visited Hatchet small pond where Downy Emeralds and Black-tailed Skimmers provided the entertainment followed by a visit to every one’s favourite New Forest location, the nationally famous Crockford Stream, where Southern Damselflies are in abundance and Golden-ringed’s (see previous post) patrol the stream vying for territory with dozens of those Keeled Skimmers.

Next up was a revisit to Roydon Woods – a nature reserve just outside the national park boundary. I was hoping for my first glimpse of Ruddy Darters, but as the weather had clouded over I had to be content with Beautiful Demoiselles parading around the Lymington River and throughout the forest rides, yet more Keeled Skimmers, Broad-bodied Chasers, a few Emperors and some rather accommodating Golden-ringed.

On Tuesday I ventured out to another Ruddy Darter stronghold, Emer Bog near Romsey. Having only been there twice before the site was still ripe for further exploration and can be hard to navigate with bog, heavy vegetation and annoying fences barring your progress. Again no Ruddy’s but at least this time I found the pond – hidden away behind one of those fences and surrounded by woodland. Emperors were patrolling and a female was ovipositing and Hundreds of Azure Damselflies were patrolling the edges.

From there I went to Bentley Woods for some butterfly diversion and a good hour watching the activity of the two fabulous ponds. At least now I know where the Downy Emerald’s land – right up in the trees and far out of reach of a camera.

On Wednesday I fulfilled an obligation to meet a fellow wildlife enthusiast and one of my Flickr contacts Dave Longshaw on his home patch in Dorset. We were joined by another enthusiast and Flickr contributor for a walk around Higher Hyde Heath, a small nature reserve on the site of an old quarry with plenty to satisfy the dragonfly freak along with some of the country’s reptile species including Grass Snakes and Sand Lizards.

At last I had my first glimpse of Ruddy Darters along with Emerald Damselflies, Azures, Large Reds and Downy Emeralds patrolling the clearings. Another wonderful surprise was a lone male Hairy patrolling the lower pond.

The heath didn’t disappoint either, with another Golden-ringed happy to pose for a few shots.

Next up was Kilwood Heath which also contained a fantastic pond with plenty of activity including a female Emperor ovipositing

And finally we paid a relatively short visit to Morden Bog – famous for it’s dragonflies and one of their major predators – the Hobby. The visit was far too short and deserves a good few hours of exploration, but at least I finally located some mature Small Red Damselflies

All in all a fantastic day and some welcome new sites for fyrther exploration. Although Dorset isn’t technically in the New Forest it’s terrain is very similar and is essential visiting for dragonfly enthusiasts.

The Avon Valley between the counties is also a hot spot. Just because this site is called Hampshire Dragonflies it doesn’t mean I should restrict my search to Hampshire alone. That would be unforgiveable and deny me a great many missed opportunities.

Today was a day of rest ready for a marathon session next week when I will be joined by fellow enthusiast Doug Overton for most of the week along with a few other visitors to the New Forest. Here’s to the weather staying agreeable and plenty of photo opportunities.

The Golden-ringed Dragonflies are gaining good populations in the New Forest right now – along fast-flowing gravel-based streams, on heath’s and along forest rides.

They can be hard to follow in-flight, disappearing out of vision when the background doesn’t supply a good contrast.

However they do land reasonably frequently and can perch very close if you remain still and don’t make any sudden movements.

On the heath and along forest rides they can be very well camouflaged when perched on heather, bracken and other foliage and only make their presence known when they fly up ahead of you.

They usually land again after a short while and stealth is needed to approach them for a good photo opportunity.

A fulfilling week with better success locating Scarce Chasers at Testwood Lakes and Ramsdown Forest just over the county border. The females in particular are magnificent in their fresh vibrant colours.

Young males start out similar, if nowhere near as vibrant, before obtaining their predominantly blue colouring

On Wednesday I visited a few favourite locations in the forest and as well as hundreds of Keeled Skimmers was rewarded with my first sightings of the Golden-ringed Dragonfly

On Thursday I spent an afternoon at Crockford Stream, always a reliable site for diverse species activity. Southern Damsels were in abundance along with Beautiful Demoiselles, Large Reds, Azures, Keeled Skimmers, Broad-bodied Chasers, Emperors and Golden-ringed.

There was also a single male Hairy Dragonfly patrolling the stream, an unusual sighting at this location and far from it’s usual haunts. Unfortunately the sighting was all too brief and no photo opportunity presented itself, however the same individual was spotted the previous day by my friend Doug Overton, who did at least manage a photograph or two whcih can be seen here:-

http://www.newforestdragonflies.com/NFDForum.html

On Friday I walked from Mill Lawn following Ober Water up as far as Markway Bridge and besides the usual Beautiful Demoiselles, Large Reds, Azures, Southerns, Keeled Skimmers and Broad-bodied Chasers there were also Golden-ringed and probably most surprising a colony of White-legged Damselflies at the far end among the heather

There were also teneral Small Reds around, but no mature specimens. A week or two should see them in reasonable numbers as this site has proved reliable in the past. I did also look for Scarce Blue-tails among the feed-in channels, but only normal Blue-tails were present.

I strongly believe that the Ober Water has as much diversity as Crockford although spread out a lot more and is well worth a visit.

On Sunday afternoon I promised myself a return trip to upper Ober Water in search of more White-legged and those pesky Scarce Blue-tails. Fabulously quiet and tourist free, the peace only slightly shattered by traffic along the A35 and a stallion fight which I unwillingly became involved in!

On Saturday we had arranged to meet Doug Overton for a visit to Titchfield in the hope of spotting and photographing a Hairy Dragonfly or two before their season’s end. We arrived just after 9.30am and spent a couple of hours observing our quarry hawking the pond and the side channels, but had to be content with photographing other species – including yet another early Common Darter, a striking Four-spotted Chaser, male and female Emperors, a female Black-tailed Skimmer and the usual Azures and Blue-tails.

After nearly 3 hours we finally got our main prize as a male Hairy took off from the pond and landed high in the trees to feed on a Large Red Damselfly

After a celebratory cuppa, we parted company with an elated Doug and headed over to Testwood Lakes in search of more Scarce Chasers. This time we were lucky with spotting both sexes along with some male Black-tailed Skimmers.

Following on from Wednesday’s visit, I returned to Testwood on Friday afternoon in search of those elusive Scarce Chasers – which were still living up to their name! I did a full circuit of the lakes and as well as Azures, Common Blues and Blue-tails there were hundreds of Banded Demoiselles alongside the River Blackwater.

On returning to Alder Gully Pond I finally saw some dragon activity – a single female Emperor ovipositing.

Elated at actually witnessing a dragonfly on the pond, I vowed to return later on that evening, and was finally blessed with my first Scarce Chaser

Last Wednesday I spent some time at Testwood Lakes in search of Scarce Chasers which had been sighted and reported on the BDS site. No luck and no sightings of any dragons. Plenty of Damselfly activity, even though the foliage was wet from a night’s rain.

From there I paid a visit to Badminston, site of some wonderful damsel and dragon activity last year. The main footpath through the gravel workings is still closed even though it was only meant to be temporary. Further investigation revealed that they have completely dug over the path, as well as excavating areas of the old gravel workings, including destroying the corner section of reeds – so vital for breeding activity last season.

Somewhat disappointed and angry at the commercial desecration of such a valuable site, I continued across the common where Common Blues were plentiful, and finally found the fishing pond which had eluded me last year. Azures and Blue-tails were in abundance along with Red-eyeds and a single male Emperor and a couple of Downy Emeralds hawking the pond edge.

After witnessing a few Keeled Skimmers along the walk back, I returned to Testwood and finally found a dragonfly – an early Common Darter

Titchfield Haven is a reasonably local nature reserve which is national famous for it’s birdlife. Yesterday they were hosting an open day – without charge – in an effort to draw in more visitors. We were expecting swarming hordes, but there were surprisingly few visitors during the 3 hours we stayed.

Our main reason for being there was for the Hairy Dragonflies which are approaching the end of their season, and has proved a reliable site for me previously. On a recent visit I was lucky enough to photograph two ‘perched’ – which is a real bonus as this species is reknown for constantly being in flight and landing out of view.

On arrival there was plenty of damsel activity with hundreds of Large Reds, Azures and Blue-tails. Banded Demoiselles were also on the wing. An increase in temperature and a brief glimpse of the sun brought out the dragonflies with Four-spotted Chasers being the first on the wing followed closely by the elusive Hairy’s and joined by a very active male Emperor.

There was also a female Emperor in attendance laying eggs among the reeds and careful searching provided a fresh and very vibrant Four-spotted Chaser drying off among the reeds.

The highlight of the day was a chance to observe and photograph two Hairy Dragonflies at rest among the willow away from the pond. They stayed there long enough to break out the macro lens and we both went away very happy indeed to observe these fantastic hawkers at close quarters.

June has started with some wonderful weather and some wonderful dragon & damsel activity. Wednesday I paid a quick visit to Durley Mill in search of Banded Demoiselles

On Friday I decided to check out a few New Forest locations, beginning at Testwood Lakes hoping to find Scarce Chasers which had recently been spotted there. No luck and no sightings of any dragons, but there were plenty of Common Blue damsels and Banded Demoiselles

From there I visited my favourite pond to observe Large Reds, Azures, Broad-bodied Chasers, Four-spotted Chasers, Keeled Skimmers, Downy Emeralds and my first sighting this year of a Large Red-eyed Damsel

Onwards to Latchmore Brook, my first visit this year, hoping to find some Scarce Blue-tails. None to be found but among the usual Large Reds, Azures, Broad-bodied Chasers and Four-spotted Chasers there were plenty of Beautiful Demoiselles taking the attention away from the tourists.

On Friday I visited Bentley Wood, mainly to look for the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary butterflies, but was elated to finally locate the two ponds where there was plenty of activity from Large Reds, Azures, Broad-bodied Chasers, Four-spotted Chasers and the largest population of Downy Emeralds I’ve encountered yet

Saturday was spent in the company of my partner, Sue, and a fellow enthusiast and proprietor of New Forest Dragonflies website, Doug Overton. We called in at Holmsley on the way to Silver Stream, where we encountered dozens of fresh Keeled Skimmers along with adults of both sexes and our first Southern Damselflies of the season among the usual suspects.Ober Water.

Onwards to Ober Water with our main objective being the first White-legged Damselflies of the season along with a few Southern Damselflies.

On the way back we stopped briefly at Linford Bottom to witness a few Broad-bodied’s and the first Emperor we’d encountered that day.

A fabulous day to end a fabulous week.