Park Slip has not changed, a lot of the ponds are still overgrown so not a lot of clear water for the Dragons. Even the ponds around the visiting center are overgrown. I did find a male Broad-bodied Chaser on the small pool near the bird hide overlooking the lake where there was plenty of Dragons hunting.
I visited the holding ponds at the back of the castle spending a couple of hours walking around the four pools. There were a lot of Damsels about on the lily pads and in the bank-side vegetation, Common Blue, Large Red, Blue-tailed and Azure.
I did not see any Dragons in all the time I was there.
For info:- The cafe in the Castle worth a visit :-)
After Visiting Pysgodlyn mawr I got to llanerch wood as the day got hotter. The first walk around the ponds did not produce much, a few Azure and Blue-tailed Damsels. For the second year running there were no Red-eyed Damselflies on the lily pads, I wonder why that is, (water quality or the presence of more fish in the ponds)?
The second walk around saw more and more Damsels of the same emerged from the vegetation. A surprise was this lone male Banded Demoiselle, this is a still water not running water?
A single Four-spotted Chaser was hunting over one of the pools but no other Dragons seen.
My first visit of the year to this pool to catch the Downy Emerald and I was not disappointed, there were at least 8 flying around the pool with a couple of females laying eggs in small bays.
This obliging male landing near by allowing me to get a pic.
There was an Emperor hunting over the pool but camera shy. At the dam end there were 5 Four-spotted Chasers with the males fighting over the females, the females were trying to lay eggs but kept on getting jumped on by the male after only lay 2 or 3 eggs.
Along the margins and in the bank-side vegetation were plenty of Large Red and Azure Damselflies with a few Blue-tailed damsels. Some in tandem and mating.
A few hours spent around the reserve and only one Dragon seen, an Emperor hunting over the pool. There were plenty of Damsels around, on the stream there were a lot of Beautiful Demoiselle and Banded Demoiselle.
Parc Penallta. 22/04/2026
Hi everyone, the new season as started. A nice sunny day but a bit windy I managed to get out and about initially looking for butterflies. The first thing I came across was a Large Red Damselfly, there was no water nearby. Although I walk around most of the water pools on this site I did not see any other Damsels.
