Male Emerald Damselfly
Well, what a change! Temperatures have soared this week and brought out good dragonfly activity. Over the last few days I have visited Pitsford Reservoir Nature Reserve and Finedon. Ruddy Darters and Emerald Damselflies are around in good numbers and today saw a synchronised emergence of at least 10 Ruddy Darters at Finedon. Of pedrhaps greater interest was a very old female Broad-bodied Chaser, showing some signs of male pruinescence. This is a very good late date for this species and a good indicator that dragonflies can still survive and live for a long time despite of the poor weather. In many respects, good weather is known to shorten the flying season - dragonlfies often die because their wings become too tatty and they can no longer fly.
Still no Migrant Hawkers recorded, which is late. Normally they appear towards the beginning of July.
