Sunday 1 July 2018

A trip to Canvey Island, Essex

I've been planning to go to Canvey Island to see the Scarce Emeralds and Southern Migrant Hawkers for several years and when Darryl contacted me with the suggestion that we go on 1 July I jumped at the idea, especially as the Mother-in law was due to visit for the day. We visited the ditch opposite the recycling centre and soon located two of our three target species - Scarce Emeralds and Southern Migrant Hawkers. Our third target species, the Southern Emerald remained elusive. We saw hundreds of the Scarce Emeralds including mating and egg-laying and about 25 Southern Migrants including one take its maiden flight. I collected three exuviae. A great day even though we didn't find the Southern Emeralds.


Southern Migrant Hawker

Male Scarce Emerald Damselfly

Southern Migrant Hawker

Scarce Emerald Damselfly

Tandem pair of Scarce Emerald Damselflies