Only one species to go now....

Once upon a time, the Migrant Hawker was reliably the last species to emerge in Northants. When the Small Red-eyed Damselfly appear, this changed with some years showing Small Red-eyes first and some years the Migrants. Now though, with the arrival of the Willow Emerald, Migrants are consistently last but one. This year, Mark Piper reported the first Migrant on 22 June, and James Underwood saw the first Small Red-eye at Weldon on 25 June.

Elsewhere, Barnwell Country Park is showing well with many Scarce Chasers, Black-tailed Skimmers and Emperors (especially ovipositing).

At Hanging Houghton, the Beautiful Demoiselles are still showing well.

Emerald Damselfly and Ruddy Darter numbers are building well, with plenty at Finedon, Norton and Yardley Chase.

I haven't receved any records from Boddington Reservoir fecently, so was pleased whrn Bee Jackson sent some to the facebook group, listing Common Blue Damselflies, Emperors and Black-tailed Skimmers among others.

Mating Black-tailed Skimmers, Old Sulehay quarry

Damaged male Southern Hawker, Yardley Chase

Female Southern Hawker, Yardley Chase

Recently emerged Emerald Damselfly, Yardley Chase

Male Ruddy Darter, Finedon

Ovipositing Emperor, Finedon

Broad-bodied Chaser, Finedon

Scarce Chasers on the move

It's always difficult to know which site to visit on an individual day - do I go and hunt for the Variables at Weldon, watch the Scarce Chasers at Wadenhoe or the Broad-bodied Chasers at Finedon? I chose Ditchford to look for ovipositing Hairys, and just as fate must have predicted, I found 4 male Scarce Chasers at territory around the first lake. Last year, John Showers reported an immature on the river, but further searches in June failed to find anymore. So, have they established themselves here or are these pioneering males? Stuart Page posted an image in our facebook group of a territorial male on the Nene between Ditchford and The Embankment at Wellingborough. The habitat here is suitable, but I wondered if the sewage treatment plant at Ditchford had an impact on their range - apparently not!. Keep your eyes peeled if you are in the area, in case they have established themselves here - also they should now be at Irthlingborough Lakes too.

Beautiful Demoiselles also appear to be on the move, with an adult found near Harper's Brook Lowick (Doug Goddard), on the Avon (Mark Piper) around Welford and around Norton and Long Buckby (Bee Jackson).

Mark Piper reports the first Emerald Damselflies at Welford and James Underwood saw the first Common Darters at Weldon.

An early morning pair of Banded Demoiselles, River Nene, Lilford

Banded Demiselle, River Nene Stanwick Lakes

Mating pair of Red-eyed Damselflies, photo-bombed by another male, Ditchford Lakes

Ovipositing Hairy Dragonfly, Ditchford Lakes

My first in-flight shot of 2018 - Red-eyed Damselfly, Ditchford Lakes

Peak time for Scarce Chasers

As the Scarce Chasers reach their peak over the next couple of weeks, 100s can be seen on the Nene, especially at Wadenhoe and Oundle where access to the water margins is good. I saw 100+ at Lilford, with 6 mating pairs, many sharing the same area and not interacting with each other - normally they are territorial, but can tolerate interlopers when numbers are high. Good numbers an be seen along the old railway line at Thrapston too, as well as Titchmarsh Nature Reserve.

Along the Brampton Valley Way, 100s of Beautiful Demoiselle flit along the trees and bushes as they mature before returning to the river. At Hanging Houghton I saw 26, and Darryl Sutcliffe saw many more further south.

Female Common Blue Damselfly, Stanwick Lakes

Rufescens form female Blue-tailed Damselfly, Stanwick Lakes

Male Beautiful Demoiselle, Brampton Valley Way Hanging Houghton

Scarce Chasers, River Nene Lilford

The Emperor has arrived

Bee Jackson spotted the first Emperor at the ponds in Norton, near Daventry (31 May) and since then they have been recorded at several other sites including Priors Hall during the Wildlife Trust BioBlitz on 2 June), and at Weldon by Darryl Sutcliffe.

James Underwood reports that the Variable Damselflies at Weldon are becoming harder to find, probably because they have moved to the water on territory, however James did find White-legged Damselflies along the stream here. The Weldon pond is becoming one of the best sites in the county, which is really weird considering it's a man-made pond (with a stream) that isn't particularly well vegetated.  

I found the first White-legged Damselflies on the River Ise at Burton Latimer on 24 May, and photographed more near Findon. The British Dragonfly Society are doing a special survey on this species, so please keep a look out and send me any sightings.

Finally, I saw 26 Scarce Chasers along the old railway line at Thrapston Town Lake, a mix or females and males at territory. Also, many Hairy Dragonflies and thousands on Common Blue Damselflies.

Male White-legged Damselfly, River Ise

Female White-legged Damselfly, River Ise

Scarce Chaser, Thrapston Town Lake

Immature Male Scarce Chaser, Thrapston Town Lake

Female Scarce Chaser, Thrapston Town Lake