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