A walk around Kinewell Lake

The spell of wet and windy weather is now over and as we move into high pressure we took a walk around Kinewell Lake in Ringstead. The sunshine allowed >500 Common Blue, Red-eyed and Blue-tailed Damselflies to bask in its warmth, along with around 10 Banded Demoiselle. I found a male Hairy Dragonfly close to the river, with his wings still closed. Thanks to Graham Bentley, a Northants dragonfly enthusiast we know that this species takes its first flight and then lands up and closes its wings again, presumably to avoid predation. My first Azure Damselfly completed the set of 5 species.

Immature male Red-eyed Damselfly

Immature female Azure Damselfly

Immature female Common Blue Damselfly

Close-up of the above Common Blue

Actually 6 Species in April

I received an email from John Windust. who saw and photographed Common Blue Damselflies at Stanwick Lakes on 30 April, at around the same time I saw a couple at Ditchford Lakes. That makes 6 species for April.

Elsewhere, Common Blues and Hairys have been reported from Summer Leys and Banded Demoiselles from the Nene at Kinewell Lake in Ringstead.

Here are a couple of Female Hairy Dragonflies that I found emerging at Ditchford. on 30 April.

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

December Darter

James Underwood posted a photo of a Common Darter near Weldon seen on 9 Dec, which makes it the first December Darter recorded in Northants.

Willow Emerald egg scars at Barnwell Country Park

Judy & Terry Wood saw a few Darters at Barnwell over the weekend and also found these Willow Emerald egg scars close to where James Underwood found adults earlier in October. As autumn leads to winter, the loss of leaves should reveal more hidden egg scars so it is worth keeping an eye out just in case.

Darters on Posts

We still have strong numbers of Common Darters around the County, with records from Woodford, Wilson's Pits, Stanwick Lakes, Weldon and Summer Leys to name a few. At Summer Leys today, I counted 40+ basking on the fence posts around the car park. If you scale this up for the whole reserve, there could be several hundred left.

End of the Willow Season and some early November Darters

With three visits to Finedon since 25 Oct and no more Willows, I guess their season is over. This is the last male I saw on 25th (and the first one not in a tree), 
and he looks in good nick so may be the frost got to him. Anyway, the eggs are protected for next year and I have found scars in all of the willow trees so we 
should be OK for 2019. 

I had an email from Froglife asking for confirmation of egg scars they found at a pond they were clearing in Cambs, so it's great to know I have saved them as well! 
Here are my first November Darters at Finedon. I'm sure they'll last a bit longer although I think December is looking unlikely.

Willow Emeralds still at it.

I met up with Ross and Michelle from Froglife while they were clearing the pond at Finedon. After a good chat, I was able to show them the Willow Emerald egg scars, and we were lucky enough to find a single adult. When I finished lunch and they had left, I surveyed he willow trees and found two more males and a mating pair, who promptly went to on egg lay higher up in the tree - I managed a great shot with the blue sky behind. It was a shame that Ross & Michelle didn't see this, but at least they know what to look for when they manage other ponds in the region. The only other species present was Common Darter. The willows are looking a little bear of leaves now which perhaps mades the adults easier to find. I found more egg scars too, so it looks good for 2019 with plenty of eggs due to hatch.

More October Willow Emeralds

The Willows Emeralds were showing well today, including one flexing its muscles (show-off!). There are plenty of egg scars now at Finedon, where I spotted a sign put up by Froglife, who are planning a clearance of the pond on 19 Oct. 

I wrote to them, and it was just as well I did because they told me they planned to remove all the willows from the pond - aaargh. Luckily, they have listened to me and promised not to touch them. Phew! 

Also seen were many Common Darters and ovipositing Migrant and Southern Hawkers.

Willow Emeralds at Barnwell Country Park

I thought I was lucky to find this Willow Emerald in October, at Finedon (photo below) until I read James Underwood's post on our facebook group about his find at Barnwell Country Park!. So far, Willow Emeralds have been recorded at:

Finedon Pocket Park
Fermyn Woods Country Park
Priors Hall
Barnwell Country Park

As autumn is well and truly established, now is a good time to look for their egg scars a trees loose their leaves.

Male Willow Emerald at Finedon Pocket Park

Willow Emeralds at Fermyn Woods Country Park

I visited Fermyn Woods today with the intention of capturing Southern Hawkers flying around the Big Pit Pond. There wasn't much activity, which was fine because I found two sets of Willow Emerald egg-laying scars, and had a fleeting glance of an adult. I spoke to the rangers who were very excited at the news. 

Those pesky Willows again

Despite a real lack of sightings of the adult Willow Emeralds - my max at one time is four - I am still finding new & fresh egg-laying scars on the willow tress at Finedon. On Monday, I saw two males, and today found three new scar tracts. I've seen many photos on facebook from nearby St. Neots that show good activity and plenty of adults, so I'm really frustrated by ours. I hope that the new sightings at Priors Hall lead to a new colony, and the nearby Weldon pond looks promising too.

I'm posting a picture of today's fresh scars so please keep an eye out for similar scars on branches overhanging the water - these may be the easiest way to spot this elusive species.

Around the County, plenty of Migrant Hawkers, Southern Hawkers and Common Darters are being seen, for example at Sywell Country Park, Barnwell Country Park and Summer Leys. Roland Bogush even recorded Common Blue Damselflies at Sywell.

Male Common Darter

Male Willow Emerald 

Male Willow Emerald

Fresh egg-laying scars