My OperaSouthern Migrant Hawker Dragonfly and scarce emeralds at Wat Tyler Country Park, Essex
Thursday, June 30, 2011 8:13:26 PM
Yesterday morning I was heading into work when I came across this odd looking dragonfly. Initially I thought it may be a vagrant emperor but it turns out to be a southern migrant hawker (female).
This is the same species that was found flying around Hadleigh Country Park last year, before which there were only 3 records for the UK!
Hopefully this increase in sightings and 1 for the second year running will mean there is a breeding population in South Essex. Fingers crossed!
There were also a number of ruddy darters around. One posed for a photo.
Also about, as there has been for over a month were the scarce emerald damselflies. I didn't get any good photos yesterday, but I have in the last month in the park:
My first of the year on the 25-5-11 was this lovely female.
The next sighting was another female on the 3-6-11.
I had a trip to Wales for a week before I could look again. The main pond for breeding scarce and 'common' emeralds dried up at the start of May, as did another productive pond under the care of the RSPB. But there were still a few around, if not in the numbers of last year. A trip to the site of last years southern emerald in the park lead to this posing male.
And a posing female
And on the 24th June this male posed, if on a cluttered background.
Unregistered user # Thursday, June 30, 2011 9:41:22 PM
Words # Friday, July 1, 2011 9:45:20 PM