Scarce Chaser Hunting

Early in their season, the best places to see Scarce Chasers are in woodland rides close to the river, and I have visited the woodlands at Achurch, across the river from Wadenhoe, several times and seen hundreds of maturing adults. With the weather hot and humid, I set off from the car park at Wadenhoe Mill. Several females were perched just before the path across the meadow to the bridge and posed nicely for photos. It's a fair walk to the woodland ride, but worth it when I found 30+ Chasers flying around and perched, often together in sunny areas. I also got three Hairy Dragonflies and many Banded Demoiselles. Only one male Chaser was developing the blue colouration, but he was too far in to get a shot. 

Two more species appear

Over the last week, Beautiful Demoiselle have been recorded in the Norton area, near Daventry. This is a potential new site for them, but is quite close to a known site near Long Buckby (about 3km), so it's possible they have spread to some of the other streams around here (thanks Bee Jackson).

Tony Vials reports seeing our first Black-tailed Skimmers at Bedford Purlieus, but as there is little water here I suspect they came from the nearby Yarwell Quarry which is an excellent site for them.

We took a cruise up the Nene from Oundle to Fotheringhay on 20 May, and I counted dozens of emerging Scarce Chaser - I could see them taking first flights or perched above their exuvia. The river also had 50+ Hairy Dragonflies hawking around the margins over the same route, again with exuviae visible.

My favourite Scarce Chaser sites at Lilford and Wadenhoe have been producing more Chasers, where I stalked 6 into the buttercup meadow. I have been visiting Lilford every morning looking for emergees, and have recorded a few, along with some beautiful dew-covered Demoiselles. Scarce Chaser tend to emerge from around 0700hrs, so you have to get there early - fortunately I can go on my way to work. 

Julia Rushton sent some shots to our facebook group of a large emergence of Common Blue Damselflies seen from the boardwalk at the new Rushden Lake shopping complex.

Finally, I visited Finedon Pocket Park and found it to be flooded after the extensive winter rains. That didn't stop 12 Broad-bodied Chasers buzz around along with Large Reds, Azures, Four-spotted Chasers and a single Hairy Dragonfly. Most of the Willows that contain Willow Emerald eggs are now submerged and I am a little concerned that this has harmed the eggs. I'll check with Adrian Parr of the British Dragonfly Society.

Female Banded Demoiselle, River Nene Lilford

Male Broad-bodied Chaser, Finedon Pocket Park

Female Broad Bodied Chaser, Finedon Pocket Park

Emerging Scarce Chaser, River Nene Lilford

Scarce Chasers & Downy Emeralds

I spent most mornings this week visiting the Nene at Lilford in the hope of finding emerging Scarce Chasers, frustratingly finding none. I was pipped at the post by a sighting at Barnwell Country Park on 17 May, still I've got plenty of mornings next week to find them (the weather looks good too). I did find 12 Hairy Dragonfly exuviae - this is exceptional for this short stretch of river. Elsewhere, Scarce Chasers have been recorded at Thorpe Waterville by Darryl Sutcliffe and at Titchmarsh Nature reserve by Bee Jackson, as well as recent emergees at Barnwell by James Underwood   

The new colony of Variable Damselflies at Weldon appears to be confirmed with several people reporting seeing males, and when I visited I found a female and a male, but due to the warm and breezy conditions I couldn't get a photo. This is a really interesting find as this pond is not at all "typical" - whatever that means in relation to Variables, and I am planning on writing it up for the Journal of the British Dragonfly Society.  

At the Chase, I found 72 Downy Emerald Exuviae in one pond and found 5 emerging. I watched them all take their maiden flights. I managed an emergence sequence, which was another of my targets for this year. The next species due to appear is the White-legged Damselfly, which probably wont be for just over 1 week - so keep an eye out on our rivers.

Female Large-Red ovipositing next to a recently emerged Azure Damselfly

46 of the 72 Downy Emerald exuviae fro the Chase

Female Downy Emerald emerging

Mating pair of Large Reds

Four-spotted Chaser

An exciting week for our Dragons

The excellent weather over the Bank Holiday weekend, really got things moving with 7 new species recorded for the first time this year.

Bee Jackson reports Large Red Damselflies emerging in Norton near Daventry, while James Underwood reports Banded Demoiselles, Large Reds, Azures and Blue-tailed Damselflies at the pond in Weldon. He also created some excitement by posting photos of several Variable Damselflies from the same pond, on the Northants Dragonflies facebook group. It will be really great news if this turns out to be a colony, but also quite confusing as this is not your typical Variable site - it isn't that well vegetated, but does have a strong colony of Azures.

Jeff Blincow saw our first Four-spotted Chasers and Broad-bodied Chasers in the Yardley Hastings area, while the first Banded Demoiselles were seen on the Nene at Irthlingborough by Tony Vials, who also reports Broad-bodied Chasers near the Whitestones ponds at Twywell Hills and Dales.

For my part, I witnessed hundreds of Red-eyed Damselflies emerging at Ditchford Lakes, along with a few Blue-tailed Damselflies and Common Blue Damselflies.

Immature Red-eyed Damselfly, Ditchford

Red-eyed Damselfly, Ditchford

Emerging Azure Damselfly, Weldon

Female Banded Demoiselle, Weldon

Early May Bank Holiday

The fantastic weather allowed for some quality dragonfly watching. First off, I found 100+ emerging Large Red Damselflies, and a single Azure Damselfly. I also had the privilege to watch and photograph the full emergence of a male Hairy Dragonfly, something I've been trying for for 15 years. It was one of those occasions when everything came together: timing, the weather, and a good clean background! I found him at around 0930hrs and recorded his emergence until 1130hrs when he was ready for first flight.

The 2018 season kicks off

After a long cold winter and early spring, the season finally got going with Large Red Damselflies seen at Priors Hall on 22 April by James Underwood. This was followed by more Large Reds at Fermyn Woods on 1 May by Roland Bogush. This is the first year for a long time that I missed seeing Large Reds in April, but I am glad that James found them. I must get over to to Priors Hall one of these days.

Anyway, my first sighting was on Star Wars day, when I found three emerging Hairy Dragonflies at Ditchford Lakes Nature Reserve. Two took their first flights while I photographed them, but the third was some way behind. No damselflies were in evident, but with good weather due over the weekend, I am sure that will change.