The reasonably dry summer has really taken it’s toll on our water bodies and associated odonata. Most of the New Forest heath ponds are critically low and a good number have dried out completely.
I’ve had to look long & hard for dragons & damsels over the past week. At least Higher Hyde Heath produced a few Ruddy Darters of both sexes along with a welcome Southern Hawker
![Southern Hawker Southern Hawker](http://hampshiredragonflies.co.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/DSC_25905-300x214.jpg)
On Tuesday I took a trip around a few favourite New Forest haunts including Crockford Stream which disappointingly only produced a few Beautiful Demoiselles, a few Southern Damsels, a few Small Reds and a lone Golden-ringed. Next stop was Hawkhill which only produced a few Keeled Skimmers and no Hawkers whatsoever. Even the stream which runs through the valley is completely dry.
At least Badminston produced a few damsels and plenty of Common Darters, although not near as many as there should be this time of year.
![Common Darter Common Darter](http://hampshiredragonflies.co.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/DSC_26104-300x214.jpg)
![Common Darter Common Darter](http://hampshiredragonflies.co.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/DSC_26106-214x300.jpg)
At least Wednesday saw a little rain and even a brief thunderstorm, but nowhere near enough to replenish the water table. I went out early – probably too early – on Thursday for a stroll around upper Ober Water and Duck Hole Bog. Again activity was almost non existent, although there were a few sightings a little later when the sun made a brief appearance.
Still only a couple of White-legged Damsels, a few Beautiful’s and a reasonable number of Keeled Skimmers patrolling the bog to the south of the main river.
![Female White-legged Damselfly Female White-legged Damselfly](http://hampshiredragonflies.co.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/DSC_26125-300x214.jpg)
Next stop was Holmsley where at least there was more activity with Common and Ruddy Darters, Small Red, Emerald and Azure Damsels and even a brief sighting of a Southern Hawker. A chat with a fellow enthusiast revealed there was more of the same along with a couple of Emperors and several Keeled Skimmers at the old Quarry.
![Male Small Red Damselfly Male Small Red Damselfly](http://hampshiredragonflies.co.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/DSC_26181-214x300.jpg)
![Mating Pair of Small Red Damselflies Mating Pair of Small Red Damselflies](http://hampshiredragonflies.co.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/DSC_26183-214x300.jpg)
With time to spare I paid a brief visit to Ramsdown Forest where I saw absolutely nothing! Not even a Golden-ringed or Black Darter was to be found among the heath. So all in all a pretty disappointing week. Let’s hope the weather improves with some heavy rainfall followed by more than just sunny spells.