Bryngarw Country Park. 04/07/2026

 This is not my first visit to this park, I visited this park a couple of years ago but never recorded it. It as a main pool which is where everybody goes too to feed the ducks, there are some Dragons here but always to far away to photo. Down in the woods there is an area which is called The Oriental Garden were there are a couple of small ponds which are always good for Dragons.

After a coffee in the cafe I went straight down to the garden to check out the pools where I found plenty of Azures and Large Red Damsels, some in tandem and ovipositing.

On a small stream running between the large pond and the small ponds were a couple of Beautiful Demoiselles plus a couple of Golden-ringed Dragons hunting.

On the large pond there was a single male Broad-bodied Chaser and a female Emperor ovipositing.

So quite a good day out.

Rhoose Point. 03/07/2026

 My first visit to this site for this year, it was very hot and with no shelter so did not stay for long. There was not a lot of Dragons on the wing with only one male Emperor and one male Black-tailed Skimmer near the pool and a few Blue-tailed Damsels in the bank-side vegetation.

May call back again later in the year when its a bit cooler.

Parc Cwm Darran 25/06/2026

 A hot sunny day I spent a couple of hours around the Dragonfly pools at the top end of the Park and there were plenty of Dragons about. The first pool was being patrolled by a male Emperor and a Broad-bodied Chaser with some Azure Damsels in the margin. Also on the reeds were a lot of  Exuviae.

On the way down to the next pool I found a female Broad-bodied Chaser resting.

At the main Dragonfly pools there were plenty about with Emperor, B-B Chaser, Four-spotted Chaser, Azure, Blue-tailed and Large Red. 

Walking back to the visiting centre I found a Golden-ringed Dragon in a hedge.

Then in a small pool near the centre there was another Emperor and Broad-bodied Chaser.

Only thing was due to the hot weather the cafe had closed early so I could not cap the day off with a nice cup of coffee.

Kenfig NNR 20/06/2026

 My first visit to Kenfig since Covid and surprise we now have to pay to park but a good thing there is now a food and drinks cabin on site. On the path to the pool there were a lot of Damsels mainly Common Blue and Azure.

I took the path along the right side of the pool and along with all the Damsels there was a good number of Black-tailed Skimmers with some mating.

Also along this path were a lot of Darters,at first I thought Common Darters but on close inspection they turned out to be Red-veined Darters and Ruddy Darters.

At the top end of the pool there were a few hawkers hunting over the water but no pics available.

Away from the water I found some female Blue-tailed Damsels different forms,

rufescens.

infuscans.

Just as I was leaving the pool area I found more Black-tailed Skimmers and Red-veined Darters plus an Emperor.

It was a very hot sunny day so next time I think I will come back when it's a bit cooler.

Lisvane & Llanishen Reservoirs

  A few hours around these reservoirs purposely looking for Dragons and there was a lot of Damsels in the vegetation around the water and footpaths, mainly Common blues with a few Azures.

 

As the sun came out so did some Black-tailed Skimmers with five males patrolling along the waters edge and two females, one pair coming together and mating. Now and again a male would land on the footpath but kept on being push along by the joggers.

There is a great looking pool near the grounds of the Llanishen reservoir but fenced off and "No Public Access" which is a pity because it could be good for Dragons.

Penallta Park 14/06/2026

 My second visit to the park and a lot more on the wing, I did not do my usual route  so did not take in the fishing ponds and wet meadow. There were a lot of Damsels on show, Blue-tailed, Azure and Large Red. Mainly all males.

On one of the pools there were three Broad-bodied Chasers (two males, one female) both males fighting over the female.

And near by what I believe to be an immature male Black-tailed Skimmer.

Will more than likely make another visit in the coming weeks.