Is this a downy emerald dragonfly?

zail · #1 (**permalink**) 13-07-2008, 09:15 PM

Is this a downy emerald??? Sorry for the poor quality of the image but it only settled for seconds and I didn't manage to get shots of it in flight as it was so quick! There were at least four of them on the pond at Priddy Mineries - there were some amazing inter species territorial battles going on - at one point there was one of these, 2 black tailed skimmers, 3 four spotted chasers and an emporer chasing each other backwards and forwards! It was amazing to watch

aeshna5 · #2 (**permalink**) 13-07-2008, 09:16 PM

Yes it is!

Dogghound · #3 (**permalink**) 13-07-2008, 09:20 PM

As far as i can tell from the photo yes. Although there is also the brilliant emerald which it can be confused with.

leifus · #4 (**permalink**) 13-07-2008, 09:27 PM

yes

zail · #5 (**permalink**) 13-07-2008, 09:38 PM

Thanks for that! I thought it was more likely to be the downy rather than the brilliant because of where I saw it - a very spectacular beast it is too and the first one I've ever seen.. next to get a decent shot of one

Wild-Woman · #6 (**permalink**) 13-07-2008, 09:43 PM

Well done! Where were you?

zail · #7 (**permalink**) 13-07-2008, 09:56 PM

I was at Priddy Mineries on the Mendips in Somerset - it was lead mines and smelting works up until 1907 so because of the lead contamination no stock can graze on it so it's become a pretty unique habitat - 2 ponds, lots of peat based wetland with bog cotton and lots of other wetland plants, all the uk amphibians and reptiles (except the nj toad), 16 species of odonata have been seen there in the past (I have seen 12 there now!), rare beetles, lots of birds (I saw nightjars in the woods opposite the other week..), bats, badgers, foxes, voles - All in all a fantastic place! It's an SSSI and used to be a nature reserve but the landowners wouldn't renew Somerset Wildlife Trusts lease last year

.

Wild-Woman · #8 (**permalink**) 13-07-2008, 10:00 PM

Hmm. This sounds a very nice place. Possible place for a WAB meet? Lots of species for everyone to enjoy.

Oh just re-read your last line. That's not good.

zail · #9 (**permalink**) 13-07-2008, 10:08 PM

Not good at all... there is also a possible threat to the habitat as well from the local hunt kennels being moved to a farm bordering the Mineries

This will mean major development at the farm to make room for 60 hounds and a flesh house with all the resulting disruption and pollution that can be caused by major building works

The hunt have also said that the hounds will be exercised over the Mineries and have started this already. This could be one of the reasons the landowners didn't renew the lease but that is pure speculation on my part....