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Latest Leics & Rutland Dragonfly SightingsTuesday, July 31, 2007Priory Water 31 July 2007The recent warmer weather has seen an increase in Odonata activity on the reserve, with excellent munbers of many of the remaining species being recorded over the past four days. Small Red-Eyed Damselfly is now present in large numbers again, although an accurate count has yet to be carried out. The 16 species recorded in the last four days are as follows;  Southern Hawker Brown Hawker Migrant Hawker Common Darter Ruddy Darter Black-Tailed Skimmer Four-Spotted Chaser Emperor Dragonfly Common Blue Damselfly  Azure Damselfly Blue-Tailed Damselfly White-Legged Damselfly Banded Demoiselle Emerald Damselfly Red-Eyed Damselfly Small Red-Eyed Damselfly Grantham Canal, July 31, 2007
Plungar Bridge to Lincolnshire Border
What a difference a bit of sunshine makes! During a cycle ride along the towpath from Plungar to Woolsthorpe, but without counting numbers, I spotted the following: Brown Hawker Emperor (Males and females) Southern Hawker Migrant Hawker Common Hawker Black-tailed Skimmer Common Darter Ruddy Darter Banded Demoiselle Blue-tailed Damselfly Azure Damselfly Variable Damselfly Common Blue Damselfly Sunday, July 29, 2007Grantham Canal, July 29, 2007
Plungar Bridge to west of old railway bridge (Bridge 47A)
Another depressingly low count for what was, last year, a very active site. 1 male Emperor 1 Brown Hawker 6 Common Darters including 2 tenorals 4 Four-spotted Chasers Small number of Azure Damselflies Small number of Blue-tailed Damselflies 1 male Common Blue Damselfly There was some compensation with good numbers of butterflies including Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper, Ringlet, Meadow Brown, Large White, Small White, Green-veined White and Peacock. There was also a Grasshopper Warbler. Wednesday, July 18, 2007Priory Water, 14-7-07-(2)-768954.jpg) From Oscar OrridgeAs neither Steve or Mark have sent anything for a week, I thought I send in my records from Saturday. As a novice (* don't believe it - RPF *) I'm only recording the numbers I positively see, not what would be there.
Ruddy Darter -1 Emperor - 1 Southern Hawker - 2 (females) Common Darter - 10+ Black-tailed Skimmer - 20+ (male pictured) Common Blue Damselfly - 100's White-legged Damelfly - 2 Four-spotted Chaser - 1 Brown Hawker - 2 Banded Demoiselle - 2 (1m 1f) Monday, July 16, 2007Grantham Canal, July 16, 2007
Plungar Bridge to west of old railway bridge (Bridge 47A)
3 Brown Hawkers 15 Emperors including 6 females ovipositing 12+ Four-spotted Chasers 2 Common Darters Variable Damselflies Azure Damselflies Blue-tailed Damselflies Much more activity than of late helped by the warm, sunny conditions Sunday, July 08, 2007Priory Water 8th July 2007 The recent adverse weather does not seem to have had much impact on the Odonata population of the reserve. In hot sunny weather today most species previously seen this year were recorded in good numbers, with the exception of Large Red & Variable Damselfly, both of which are nearing the end of their flight season. The first Southern Hawker of the year was recorded today along with the first Ruddy Darters. There are now large numbers of both Brown Hawker & Emperor on the wing. Perhaps the most exciting records this weekend were the 4+ Small Red-Eyed Damselflies found in different areas of the reserve, all were mature males perched on the algal blooms on the lake margins.  Saturday, July 07, 2007Wymeswold, north Leicestershire, large garden pondFrom Lorraine Ellison: I live in Wymeswold, north Leicestershire, at 608233. We have a large garden pond. 12th May - Large Red damselflies emerging, along with blues, but I couldn't tell which blues they were then. 18th May first Dragonfly exuvia - Emperors (we've had about 30 since then) 19th May - damselflies very active - Azure and Common Blue damselflies, and the Large Red egg laying June 3rd - first Broad bodied Chaser - male June 4th - female Broad bodied chaser emerging, Blue tailed damselfly, Four Spotted Chaser June 10th - Common Darter in grass - just emerged I think June 15th - male Emperor, female emperor egg laying, June 21st - Four Spotted Chaser egg laying, 3 Common darters emerging, I have quite a lot of exuvia as well - mostly emperors. On a sunny day my favorite place is sitting by the pond. Thursday, July 05, 2007Grantham Canal, July 5, 2007
Plungar Bridge to west of old railway bridge (Bridge 47A)
1 female Common Darter Blue-tailed Damselflies Variable Damselflies Azure Damselflies Common Blue Damselflies Although sunny there was little flight activity. The damselflies were to be found in and around the waterside vegetation with none flying over the water. The Common Darter put in the briefest of appearances. The recent wet weather appears to have adversely affected dragonfly numbers in what is usually a very busy site. Sunday, July 01, 2007NEW BOOK - Watching British Dragonflies This new book is published in late July and is now available to pre-order. It should prove to be an invaluable addition to any odonata enthusiasts' bookshelf.Introduction: A completely new style of field guide combining for the first time a traditional identification guide and detailed site guide. Quick ID Guide: A unique 14 page section with side by side comparison of each regular British species by family. Species accounts: covers 46 species. All British breeding species receive a 2 page spread (vagrants receive a single pages) with specially commissioned artwork opposite concise species accounts.
Gazetteer: 95 pages of sites to visit in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The book is expertly illustrated by Leicestershire artist Andy Mackay. Here are a couple of sample illustrations to get you all in the mood... 
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