16th May 2013. Lower Moor Farm.

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!