After a week of miserable weather conditions brightened up today and a trip to the Cotswold Water Park [after a tip off by Chris Beard [thanks Chris!] was very fruitful.
Near the dipping ponds were 2 male and 1 female
Downy EmeraldCordulia aenea followed by 5 more [3 males and 2 females] emerging along the boardwalk [a repeat of last year]after Rosie Ray called us having 'staked' them out!
Chris Beard LH image; Steve Covey RH image.
At this location there were also several Large Red Damsels emerging on the side of the boardwalk - as well as many elsewhere on the reserve.
A further search in the vegetation around the dipping ponds turned up a number of
Common Blue Damselflies Enallagma cyathigerum from very teneral to immatures.
Image Steve Covey.
At the pond edge I found a fresh
4-spotted Chaser Libellula quadrimaculata perched near it's exuvia.
Image Steve Covey.
Finally, after Chris had disturbed one earlier, I managed to find a freshly emerged male
Broad-bodied Chaser Libellula depressa which was perched in a useful photographic location. The sun had gone in by now and it welcomed the warmth from my finger!
LH image Steve Covey; RH image Chris Beard.
So 4 new species for the year [BB Chaser for VC7 and the rest for the county as a whole] was a very welcome result for a brief period of 'proper' Spring weather...
My thanks go to Rosie and Chris for their companionship and tracking skills!
Chris Beard LH image; Steve Covey RH image.
At this location there were also several Large Red Damsels emerging on the side of the boardwalk - as well as many elsewhere on the reserve.
A further search in the vegetation around the dipping ponds turned up a number of Common Blue Damselflies Enallagma cyathigerum from very teneral to immatures.
Image Steve Covey.
At the pond edge I found a fresh 4-spotted Chaser Libellula quadrimaculata perched near it's exuvia.
Image Steve Covey.
Finally, after Chris had disturbed one earlier, I managed to find a freshly emerged male Broad-bodied Chaser Libellula depressa which was perched in a useful photographic location. The sun had gone in by now and it welcomed the warmth from my finger!
LH image Steve Covey; RH image Chris Beard.
So 4 new species for the year [BB Chaser for VC7 and the rest for the county as a whole] was a very welcome result for a brief period of 'proper' Spring weather...
My thanks go to Rosie and Chris for their companionship and tracking skills!
