Four-spotted Chaser at Banwen Pryddin

male Four-spotted Chaser

Good numbers of Four-spotted Chaser(16) at a pond near Banwen Pryddin. Many other ponds in the vicinity were not checked but this area has held good numbers before. Also noted at this pond
Azure Damselfly 100+
Blue-tailed damselfly 2
Large Red Damselfly 8

Black-tailed Skimmer at Trimsaran (OOC)

female Black-tailed Skimmer

Male and female Black-tailed Skimmer noted at this site along with Broad-bodied Chasers(6). Large Red Damselfly(10+) and impressive numbers of Azure Damselfly(40+)

Red-eyed Damselfly at Neath Canal

Red-eyed Damselfly pair

A very productive visit to the Neath Canal today produced a highlight of 17 Red-eyed Damselfly including at least 3 tandem pairs.

male Red-eyed Damselfly

teneral male Red-eyed Damselfly

Other tallies taken from the visit include Variable Damselfly(12), Azure Damselfly(38), Blue-tailed Damselfly(20), Large Red Damselfly(3), Hairy Dragonfly(50+) and Four-spotted Chaser(1)

male Variable Damselfly

male Azure Damselfly

immature male Blue-tailed Damselfly

The vast majority of these sighting were taken along a 300m stretch of the Neath Canal between the railway bridge and the footbridge(next to the field with horses). The centre point grid ref SS74009598. All of the Red-eyed Damselfly were along here. I didn't have time to check SW of the railway bridge but that stretch looks equally good.

House Sparrow predates Hairy Dragonfly

I often see House Sparrows diving into the reed in search of insects but this female came out with quite a catch, a female Hairy Dragonfly. Clearly the House Sparrow is not blessed with the agility of a Hobby but she didn't necessarily need that today. There were large numbers of Hairy Dragonfly along the Neath Canal today, and this included a good number of ovipositing females. I watched the females hawk around the margins of the reeds looking for suitable places to lay the eggs. They do this at a much slower pace than males who are defending territories and clearly this House Sparrow was able to take advantage of that less evasive behaviour.

Nantyffyllon

                                           Beautiful  demoiselle - 1
                                           Broad bodied chaser - 1
                                           Large red damselfly - 7
                                           Common blue damselfly 2
                                           Blue tailed damselfly - 1.

Cardiff

Beautiful Demioselle (2) at Nant Fawr stream, The Rec, Roath.

Parc slip, Sunday.

                                         Four spotted chaser. Also my first Common blue damsels
                                          of the season.

Variable Damselfly Crymlyn Bog

male Variable Damselfly (c) M Hipkin

1 of only 2 Variables seen during a quick visit to the pools around the centre at Crymlyn Bog. No other species seen during the visit!

Hairy Dragonfly at Oxwich

Hairy Dragonfly (c) S.J. Stewart

Large Red Damselfly at Ferry Boat Wood

Large Red Damselfly (c) M Hipkin

My first dragon of the year!