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!

Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) Male

Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) Male, originally uploaded by Rezamink.

One of the Common Darters Damian saw on Friday 25th November at Chippenham Pond.
Maybe the last as we had a frost last night...?

Still on the wing!

Damian Pinguey just phoned to say he's watching 4 male Common Darters still flying at the Pond behind the Volvo garage off the A4 in Chippenham. Will check the database later but getting very close to the latest date....!

Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) Pair

Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) Pair, originally uploaded by Rezamink.

Damian Pinguey visited The Pond at Chippenham on Saturday where he found this mating pair of Common Darters and also a patrolling Migrant Hawker [which failed to stop and be photographed!].

Southern Hawker (Aeshna cyanea) ♂.

Southern Hawker (Aeshna cyanea) ♂., originally uploaded by od0man.

The male Southern Hawker at rest [plus other shots of him on my photostream].

Late Fliers

First of all, apologies for the lack of reports through the summer; various reasons - not least of which was the rubbish summer we had!
I hope to present a round-up some time during the Winter.
Yesterday I and Chris Beard, a fellow photographer, visited Savernake Forest looking for subjects to point our lenses at - fungi and, hopefully, Odonata! Well we never got as far as the fungi as we were distracted early on at the Column Pool by several mature male Common Darters and a late Southern Hawker male! I even coaxed the Hawker onto my finger where I'm sure he soaked up the warmth which enabled him to continue hunting!
Not the latest date for Southern Hawker, but getting close!

Scarce Chaser on the Salisbury Avon!

I have just received a record from the Kent odonata recorders [John and Gill Brook], who were visiting the area on 29th May. They were walking the Avon Valley Path just West of Woodfalls and spotted a female Scarce Chaser by the side of the path! This is only 1.5kms East of the Salisbury Avon, which suggests the population on this river in Hampshire may be expanding Northwards! I ask that anyone who lives or visits the area has a look at the river here to see if they are on territory there. I will try and get down but it's at the opposite end of the county to me [60 odd miles away!!] Many thanks to Jill for adding this important sighting to the Living Records website:o)