5 Species in April

A Hairy Dragonfly was photographed at Summer Leys on 24 April, and more Banded Demoiselles were seen in the area.

I went to Yardley Chase on Sunday and found 3 emerging Hairys, but no sign of any Large Reds, which are normally seen here around now even in a normal year.

At Ditchford, I found 5 Hairy exuviae and one flying female, who promptly landed close to some nettles, so I got well stung getting the shot below. A couple of female Red-eyed Damselflies had emerged and took their first flights along with a female Blue-tailed Damselfly. Large Reds don't breed at Ditchford.

So that makes a total of 5 species so far for April, which has only been seen before in 2014. With one day to go we may yet exceed this - Common Blue Damselflies perhaps?

Female Violacea Blue-tailed Damselfly

Female Hairy Dragonfly

Female Red-eyed Damselfly

Female Red-eyed Damselfly

Female Red-eyed Damselfly

Early Banded Demoiselles

I popped up to Weldon to see my first Large Reds and found 3 in total. I bumped into James Underwood who'd already found a female Banded Demoiselle and we went to relocate it.

I don't recall a time when Demoisellse were #2 recorded species in Northants and I wonder whether this is a quirk of this site or indicates they are appearing elsewhere and that other species are to be found too. 

Male Large Red Damselfly

Female Banded Demoiselle and lunch

2019 seasons gets off to a sunny start

Large Reds are appearing in good numbers at several sites over this Easter weekend, with adults seen at Weldon & Priors Hall by James Underwood and Carey Fields, Northampton by Darryl Sutcliffe - see Darryl's photo below.

Female Large Red Damselfly at Carey Fields by Darryl Sutcliffe