welcome note


On this blog you will be able to share sightings of Dragonflies and Damselflies within the recording area of VC41. However, sightings further afield will be welcome on this site also. To become an author of this blog please register by sending an email to vc41dragonfly@gmail.com and an invite will be sent to you. Alternatively if you want to record your sightings on this blog but do not wish to register then please email sightings with or without photos to the above address and they can be published for you. Please continue to record your sightings through the correct channels and details of these can be found above.

Saturday 23 July 2011

Abercregan.

Female Common hawker.
Female Goldring.
Goldring ovipositing.

Friday 22 July 2011

40 UK's Dragon and Damselfly Reserves


Mike Powell has recommended this link for anyone who is interested in visiting some of the best Dragonfly and Damselfly reserves the UK has to offer. The link opens up a pdf which is loaded with lots of great information which can be printed off for future reference as required. Follow the link below or to the right to open this pdf, the front page of which is shown above.

40 UK's Best Dragon and Damselfly Reserves

Recent sightings

(c) Jeff Driscoll

A couple more photos from Jeff Driscoll. Above Golden-ringed Dragonfly at Nantyffyllon on the 19th July 2011 . A nice capture of a female ovipositing.

(c) Jeff Driscoll

Above a Black-tailed Skimmer at Fendrod Lake 14th July 2011. Again a nice capture of a male feasting on a hoverfly!

Wednesday 13 July 2011

Thursday 7 July 2011

Red-eyed Damselfly in Swansea

(c) Jeff Driscoll
 Jeff Driscoll sent us a selection of Damselfly photos recently and among them was this one. After a bit of back tracking and jogging the memory it was established that this photo had been taken in early June 2011 at Pluck Lake. It is a male Red-eyed Damselfly (Erythromma najas) and not surprisingly sitting on a Water Lily. This species does seem to be expanding its distribution westwards through Wales currently and is well worth looking out for. This may be the furthest West this species has been recorded in VC41 so far and is a very good record by Jeff.

If you have seen this species then please let us know.

I visited Pluck Lake today and found at least 1 male present. Not difficult to track down as the only patch of Water Lilies on the lake is very obvious, although not very close to the waters edge. Pluck Lake can be found at SS669957.
Water Lilies at Pluck Lake
Also on show here today during a brief visit were Blue-tailed Damselfly, Broad-bodied Chaser and Black-tailed Skimmer

Swansea Vale Roadside Ponds

(c) Jeff Driscoll
 Jeff sent us another selection of fine images this time from the Swansea Vale roadside ponds. I've never been to this site but it looks very nice from Google Maps! Found at SS679986. A nice shot of a male Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum) above and a female Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) below. Very nice!
(c) Jeff Driscoll

Monday 4 July 2011

Southern Hawker at Tennant Canal

(c) Jeff Driscoll
 Jeff Driscoll has sent us these very nice images of a Southern Hawker (Aeshna cycnea) taken on 29th June 2011 at the Tennant Canal. Cracking shots Jeff and a good record also.
(c) Jeff Driscoll

Variable Damselfly at Tennant Canal

Variable Damselfly (Coenagrion pulchellum)