End of October Update

A glance down the Hot News page on the BDS website (british-dragonflies.org.uk) shows that some southern counties are still showing reasonable numbers of species, more than we are here in Northants. There are even good numbers of Willow Emeralds in Norfolk and Red-veined Darters elsewhere. Back home, the decline is well under way though with only 2 species left now. Reported sightings are few and far between and I must admit, I only tend to go out once a week to chart the decline. I still aim to find Migrants into November and a target of getting Common Darters into December is still to be achieved. Today (26/10), the weather was really clear although a bit breezy and the dragons at Ditchford were hard to find. I first spotted a female Migrant Hawker buzzing around the grassland, and only realised she was a she when she landed in the brambles to soak up some sun. Her first landing site was low down with a very messy background, but then for some reason she moved and landed in a much better place for me. I managed to get an in flight shot that showed her with a meal. I watched her fly around with this bug in her jaws, and drop the inedible wings. There were plenty of strange moth-like bugs around so it must have been one of them. Also on these brambles were 4-5 Common Darters including this old female.

Fermyn and Fineshades Woods

I spent a glorious hour at Fermyn Woods on Friday watching Common Darters and Southern Hawkers around the Big Pit Pond. The weather was great and there was good activity to observe.

On Sunday, we walked around Fineshades and due to forestry work, our usual route was closed and the detour took us past the wildlife hide. The pond there is quite overgrowth but was buzzing with activity. There were around 10 Southern Hawkers, several Migrants Hawkers and many Common Darters. You can't approach the pond, only observe from the hide which was really frustrating because the Southern Hawkers were hovering perfectly.