Monday 29 April 2019

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