It was Dragonfly week at WWT Arundel Wetland Centre, with lots of kids’ activities around dragonflies – face painting etc.
Spotted a few dragonflies walking around their trails.
Migrant Hawker.
Also spotted a Willow Emerald damselfly.
Hottest day of the year yesterday (so far). I have been staying clear of the New Forest due to the major wildfires.
So spent the day at the coast visiting Titchfield Haven Nature Reserve.
I have been visiting the reserve since childhood, but I have never seen it so dry; the top 2 lagoons/scrapes have dried up completely; the lower scrape has water, but this is due to the effort of wardens who routed water by opening sluice gates on the river.
Common Terns
Juvenile Common Tern.
There are still a few Dragonflies about on the east side of the reserve.
Common Darters.
Southern Hawker(female). Egg laying under the duckboards.
Gosander.
Wood Pigeon.
Common Sandpiper.
The Common Darter is a small, narrow-bodied dragonfly that is typically on the wing from July to October.
A hot walk in the New Forest during a “heatwave” and spotted a new dragonfly, 1st for me. Red-veined Darter. According to the British Dragonfly Society, this dragonfly is a fairly frequent migrant, principally to southern Britain, with scattered sightings elsewhere. Numbers spotted have been increasing since the 1980s. Breeding has been observed regularly, but the colonies are not yet stable.
A striking, large black dragonfly with yellow rings along the length of the abdomen.Breeds in acidic rivers and streams of all sizes. Can also be seen away from its breeding habitat over the heathland. One of our regular dragonfly spots in the New Forest at this time of the year.
| Scientific Name | Cordulegaster boltonii |
|---|---|
| Status & Distribution | Widely distributed in Scotland, Wales, and north and west England. |
After a wet Monday and a Tuesday morning, the rain stopped, and the sun came out, so did the Dragonflies and Damselflies.
Titchfield Haven Nature Reserve.
Broad-bodied Chaser (male)
Azure Damselflies.
Large Red Damselfly.
Norfolk Hawker.
Four-spotted Chaser.
Broad-bodied Chaser female
Now we are into May, and the sun is out. Dragonflies are starting to appear.
Emperor Dragonfly through the reeds.
Four-spotted Chacer.
With the sun out today, out came the dragonflies. I thought the season for these dragons of the sky was over, but as the sun hung on as we entered the autumn, so have a few of the insects.
Willow Emerald Damselfly and Southern Hawker Dragonfly at Titchfield Haven this morning.
Continued Reflections from my World. 