You may or may not know that this week was Dragonfly Week - conveniently coinciding with National Insect Week!
We returned from a dragonfly infested holiday just before the week began, and ended it with a two-day stint of members meetings.
Saturday saw over 30 people meet for the Devon County Council dragonfly walk from Countess Weir on the Exe. The experienced mixed with some new-comers to enjoy the Large Red-eyed Damselflies on the canal. We also found a couple of White-legged Damselflies wandered over from the river and the usual cohort of Emperors on territory. My attempts to catch a passing Emperor led to me almost popping my shoulder out of socket, not to mention nearly falling in the canal! I shall wait hopefully for the day I see Britain's biggest in the hand...
At midday the Devon County Council walk officially ended, and the serious members stayed for more. We wondered over to the Alphinbrook. It was here that several years ago I witnessed the first ever sighting of a Scarce Chaser in Devon - at the time unaware that it was more than a Black-tailed Skimmer until a few doubtful minds took a closer look at the photographs. We found a Hairy Dragonfly (very late in the season for these now) and plenty of Banded Demoiselles fluttering in the sunshine. We headed back to Countess Weir for lunch, then on to Exminster Marshes. It wasn't long after that first Scarce Chaser was spotted that they were discovered to be breeding on the marshes, now in fairly good numbers - I fear that one day the Scarce Chaser will need to be renamed! I was pleased to spot the first individual along a ditch and point it out to the group, but it wasn't long before we found several more - I think 11 in total, including an old female egg-laying (we know she was old as her colour was very dull grey and she was beginning to acquire pruinescence as in the males). We also found a battered old Hairy Dragonfly with barely any wingtips left - bizarrely the torn edges were symmetrical on each of the four wings, so we can only imagine how it happened! A while after investigating the individual we realised that it was in fact a female - with male blue/black colouration! How strange!
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Scarce Chaser male
Hairy Dragonfly female with male colouration and torn wings
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On Sunday we met at Colaton Raleigh Common to investigate the Southern Damselfy site. This species is listed as rare in the Red Data Book list and has a declining population all over Europe. This is one of several locations in Devon where the species in surviving in acid heathland streams and runnels. We found several within minutes of arriving at the location, and more were discovered as the group worked their way across the site. There were literally hundreds of Keeled Skimmers; males, females and many tenerals taking their maiden flights as we wandered through. We also found Small Red which exists here in small numbers. They are an easy one to identify as they are completely red, unlike its larger relative with a couple of black segments. Small Red has an all red abdomen, red eyes, red legs and a red wing spot. Basically they are just very red! As we walked through the bog we came across both Round- and Oblong-leaved Sundew, and Dad managed to catch a Golden-ringed Dragonfly in the net - very smart! And surprisingly easy to catch on their regular patrol, considering they are one of our longest dragonflies! We found a Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary which I discovered was easy to identify by the "face" pattern on its upperwing (two eyes and the abdomen makes a nose!) and had fleeting views of a possible Dark Green Fritillary.
Golden-ringed Dragonfly
Small Pearl-bordered showing "face" on upper wing
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We wandered back to the car via a few Silver-studded Blues by the track, and drove over to Bystock where we ate our lunch. We then enjoyed the afternoon sun with a walk around the lily-clad reservoir watching the Downy Emeralds and Emperors on patrol, and some nice views of a White Admiral amongst the trees. We found more Small Red out on the heathland ponds, but I was suffering from the heat at this point so I sat quietly in the shade to nurse a few scratches, insect bites and to remove a tick! We walked back up to cars and paid Squabmor a quick visit where a few more Downy Emeralds were seen and some Large Red-eyed on the lilies. Its was after 4pm by this point and my concentration was definitely lagging and I was pleased to return the the car and enjoy a nap on the drive home!
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Bystock Pond
Bystock heath
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