Gnoll CP

male Emerald Damselfly

Nick Edwards sent me a timely reminder, yesterday, to check out some of the more suitable wetland habitats that are part of the Gnoll Country Park. I was able to visit this afternoon and was pleasantly surprised by a few ponds, only recently created, at the lower part of the pitch & putt course (SS76579791). Incidentally, an interpretation panel placed next to the ponds does show a photo of a Small Red Damselfly, although it is unlikely that they will ever occur at this location. However, many of the more likely damselflies that are found locally, were on view.

male Broad-bodied Chaser

Totals - Broad-bodied Chaser(5m), Scarce Blue-tailed(3), Blue-tailed(12), Large Red(6), Common Blue(30), Azure(4) and Emerald Damselfly(2m)

Southern Damselfly at Cefn Bryn

male Southern Damselfly

There were 3 male Southern Damselfly in flight in one of the runnels SW of Broad Pool, today.

Totals - Emperor(1m), Golden-ringed(2), Common Darter(7), Large Red(2), Blue-tailed(1) and Southern Damselfly(3m)

Broad Pool, Gower

male Emperor Dragonfly

6 Emperor Dragonfly were in flight around Broad Pool today, 5 males and an ovipositing female.

female Emerald Damselfly

My first Emerald Damselfly of the year were among a good selection of species in flight over the pool or in the surrounding vegetation.

Totals - Emperor(5m,1f) Black-tailed Skimmer(2m), Four-spotted Chaser(5), Black Darter(1f), Common Darter(20) and Emerald Damselfly(2f). Blue-tailed, Azure and Common Blue Damselfly also present.

Pluck Lake (SS669957)

male Black-tailed Skimmer

 At least 6 male Black-tailed Skimmers were patrolling the lake and flooded tracks at this location today often coming into conflict with Emperor Dragonfly.

tandem pair Red-eyed Damselfly

Also at least 3 Red-eyed Damselfly were observed in flight over open water. The tandem pair above and a single male were seen together; there may be more on the Lily pads but they're difficult to scan with bins - a telescope would be better.

Totals - Emperor(4m), Golden-ringed(1m), Black-tailed Skimmer(6m), Four-spotted Chaser(1), Common Darter(40), Red-eyed Damselfly(1p+1m) and Large Red(2). Blue-tailed, Azure and Common Blue Damselfly all present.

Resolven to the Borrow Pits

female  Common Darter

 A walk, from the Neath Canal carpark at Resolven along the canal for a few hundred yards and then following the path running alongside the Neath River as far as the Borrow Pits, today, produced a few species.

female Southern Hawker

The above female Southern Hawker was observed hunting in a completely shaded-out section of the Neath Canal, around 18:00. It was quite cool at ground level in the shade and I watched as she hawked acrobatically (with loop-the-loop included) for a few minutes before flying high into the Ash Tree above to take some sun.

male Golden-ringed Dragonfly

Totals from the day - Common Hawker(1), Golden-ringed Dragonfly(4), Common Darter(40), Large Red Damselfly(3), Common Blue Damselfly(1000+), Azure Damselfly(30), Blue-tailed Damselfly(8)

And then the sun came out...

female Black Darter

 I'm on a bit of a mission to try and build up the site list for Odonata at the Panasonic site, Baglan Moors. Today, I was please to add Black Darter to my own list for this location, however it has been recorded here previously by Barry Stewart in 2003, at least.

female Black Darter

 8 Black Darters noted today, all female.

immature male Common Darter

 Once again a strong presence of Common Darters (50+), most newly emerged with a couple of adult females

male Emperor dragonfly

3 male Emperor Dragonfly were patrolling the area including this male which I observed attacking a Four-spotted Chaser midair. They fell together sharply into the vegetation and a little later only the Emperor Dragonfly emerged. The photo was taken following that event which may help explain the damaged left forewing?

Also noted today Four-spotted Chaser(3), Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly(25), Blue-tailed damselfly(20) and Azure Damselfly(1)

Rhoose Point

Hi Folks - I'm new to this blog!  Wondered if you might be interested to see this photo that I popped onto ispot a few days ago.  I'm no expert on these beasts, but I'm told it is probably the less common form of blue-tailed damsefly, form rufecens-obseleta??

I would also be interested to hear if anyone has practical knowledge of habitat requirements for Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly - I'm in dialogue at the moment with the Council about how the public areas at Rhoose Point (which is a SINC) are managed, and apparently Scarce Blue-tailed damsels were present here a few years ago but have been lost.  It would be nice to see if with appropriate management we can get them back again!

Adam

Azure Damselfly with broken Antehumeral Stripes

Azure Damselfly tandem pair

This male Azure Damselfly shows a distinct broken antehumeral stripe, creating the 'exclamation marks' normally associated with the identification of Variable Damselfly.  A side on view of this male also gives the impression of a 'wine glass' shape on S2. The connection, I've found, can often be difficult to see from the side and this individual shows me that more care is needed when calling Variable on the antehmeral stripes alone.
This would have been my first Variable Damselfly for the Panasonic site at Baglan Moors, and I'm sure that they will yet turn up here for me.

Otherwise at this location on 8th & 9th

8/7/12 - 1 Emperor Dragonfly, 1 Four-spotted Chaser, 15+ Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly, 3 Blue-tailed Damselfly & 4 Azure Damselfly

9/7/12 - 2 Emperor Dragonfly (including an ovipositing female), 8 Common Darter, 2 Blue-tailed Damselfly & 7 Azure Damselfly