Friday 2 December 2011

Hairy Dragonfly (Brachytron pratense) in Wiltshire!

I recently received a report [which I have now confirmed] of a Hairy Dragonfly seen back on 22nd May by Tom Smith. This was during a joint Wilts/Dorset Butterfly Conservation survey of parts of Chase Woods, right in the far South-west of the county. The sighting was just within Wiltshire along Bridmore Ride. This is the first recent record of the species in Wiltshire, the last being back in the early 1960's at Braydon Pond! Whether this is a wandering individual or the start of a possible colony remains to be seen. There is a golf course adjacent with water features and drainage ditches; Brachytron is expanding it's range nationally so .....watch this space!