Countdown tothe Hairy Dragonfly and Large Red Damselfly.

[cwpbirder]

I had my first ever Hairy Dragonflies yesterday (25th) at Wicken Fen in sunny conditions - distinctive zigzag patrolling fights of the males along the edge of the reeds. They never settled for a photo!

[Dragoner]

Originally Posted by GuyF

I had a great day out today with some of the summer species appearing on the wing, there were a couple of teneral Emperors and two immature Golden-ringed Dragonflies, while I was really pleased to see my first Scarce Chaser and good numbers of Downy Emeralds.
Here's the complete list:
Large Red Damselflies
Common Blue Damselflies
Azure Damselflies
Emperor (2)
Hairy Dragonfly (1)
Downy Emeralds
Golden-ringed Dragonfly (2)
Four-spotted Chasers
Broad-bodied Chasers
Scarce Chaser (1)
Keeled Skimmers (5+)
and a possible Black Darter, although it flew off before I could get a good look!

Guy

That's a list and a half there Guy. To hear of so many on the wing so early in the season is superb news. It sounds like there we will have a good summer.

Stephen

[cwpbirder]

Am I too late for Club-tailed Dragonfly this year? I live within striking distance of the R Thames, but do they head away from the river once they emerge? Further info gratefully received., time of day, weather etc.

[Keith Talbot]

dont know how many of you have been following my dragonfly diary but heres my list of sightings in the New Forest so far this year

Beautiful Demoiselle

Large Red damsel
Azure damsel
Southern damsel
Blue-Tailed damsel
Common Blue damsel

Keeled Skimmer dragon
Broad-bodied dragon
Four-spotted dragon
Golden-ringed dragon
Downy Emerald dragon
Emperor dragon

[RoyW]

Originally Posted by cwpbirder

Am I too late for Club-tailed Dragonfly this year? I live within striking distance of the R Thames, but do they head away from the river once they emerge? Further info gratefully received., time of day, weather etc.

It's not too late, the peak emergence on the Thames is probably during the last part of May, but there might still be some emerging and adults will be on the wing until the end of June or early July.
After they emerge (any time from early morning to early afternoon) they tend to head away from the water to mature, but they have to return to water to breed. It is generally easier to find them when they are emerging, because you don't tend to find mature adults present in any numbers. Any visit during the middle part of the day (mid morning to mid afternoon) on a warm, sunny, preferable still day, is likely to give you a good chance of finding males, which will return to the water and hold 'territories' from time to time while waiting for females. Look for males perched on bushes, or other bankside vegetation, or flying low out over the river (like Black-tailed Skimmers over a lake).

Roy.

[schlocky]

I've had 7 Large red damsels in my garden, egg-laying. 1st one spotted 29th or 30th May - I forget which.