Late Common Darter

After starting the year with the first sighting for 2013, it's just possible that I may be finishing the year off with this late Common Darter that was basking in the warmth of a south facing wall in my garden this afternoon.  Looking at the records in Mapmate for Glamorgan, as best as I can tell this is the third latest record for this species.  I appreciate there may be other records not on Mapmate though!

Vagrant emperor.

                           Photographed at Nantyffyllon yesterday by Craig Furlong.
                          
This is the 4th record for VC41, the others being in 2011 (April, May & Nov.).

Cosmeston Lakes Today

While at the lake waiting to see the male Bearded Tit on the boardwalk there were 3 male Common Darters making the most of the sunshine, after seeing and photographing the bird I walked around to the pool between the visitor centre and the village and found that they have altered that area possibly to the benefit of the dragonflies. There were about 20+ Common Darters flying and resting up four of which were in tandem and ovipositing.

Migrant Hawker at Margam

A Migrant Hawker was on the wing today, but not stopping near the rail crossing near to Margam Moors, this afternoon.

Dragonfly video

The BDS posted this beautiful video this morning, I thought I would share it too http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=BR6twTdsyNE&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DBR6twTdsyNE%26feature%3Dyoutu.be&app=desktop

Parc Slip

Ruddy darters in wheel formation today at Parc Slip! They're really making the summer last!

Llanilid

Also at the south pools today was 1 Ruddy and Common darter and still a few Migrant hawkers at this site

Llanilid

At least three female Red-veined Darters were at Llanilid this afternoon, in the vicinity of the pool adjacent to the studios. Thanks to Alun for helping locate them today and for the excellent discovery.

This species - along with the other recent additions of Black Darter and Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly - brings the site's odonata list to 23, by my calculation.

Llanilid

Llanilid Main Pool/Scrape

Llanilid

1 week ago and earlier in the year four spotted chaser

Llanilid

SOME LATE DRAGONFLIES
(posted a few photos which I think maybe red veined darter any ideas please this might  be the first record for this site and myself or are they just common Alun Hughes)

Parc Slip Nature Reserve 15th October 2013

With the lovely weather we had on the 15th it still felt like summer, particularly with the dragonflies and butterflies still flying! Not many, but there was a male Southern Hawker and an over mature female common darter on and around the visitor centre ponds (the butterfly was a speckled wood). A far cry from the weather this morning- I doubt I'll see any dragons on the wing today!

p.s. thank you for accepting me as an author on this blog!

Kenfig

                          A Red-veined Darter photographed recently at KNNR by Clive Ellis

Lavernock NR & Cosmeston Lakes Today.

At Lavernock there where 30 + Common Darters on the small pools with at least 8 of them in tandem and ovipositing, plus 2 pairs of Migrant Hawkers copulating and 3 males patroling.

In and around Cosmeston I saw at least 8 male Migrant Hawkers and a few Common Darters.

Cosmeston Today

The pond to the left of the visitor centre on the way to the village had three male Migrant Hawkers patroling plus a male and female copulating, two male Common Darters and one female ovipositing. No Damselflies.

Not alot happening elsewhere on the park, on the dragonfly pond there were no dragons only a few damselflies Common Blue, Blue-tailed and Emerald.

Abercanaid, Merthyr.

While out and about I thought I would check out an old fishing lake from years ago just off the A470 round-about at Aberacanaid take the forestry road to the new mountain bike centre. Its a bit of a walk to the pond but when I got there it was alive with Odonata, three male Common Hawkers patroling, alot of Common Darters again mainly males, Common Blue, Azure Blue and Emerald Damselflies some of the Emeralds were in tandem. This will be worth another visit next year in the spring/summer.
The name on the sign said Webbers pond NR.(sorry no pics I did not have my camera with me)

PENALLTA PARC TODAY

Around the horse-shoe ponds today the only damselflies found were Emeralds mainly males with only a couple of females in tandem. There was alot of Common Darters around the ponds with two of the ponds holding some Black Darters.

Flying between the ponds there were three Common Hawkers hunting, while trying to get a shot of one of these I came across this female Common Hawker ovipositing.

On the other ponds around the site I found Emerald, Common Blue and Blue-tailed Damselflies, Common Darters and one other Common Hawker.

Llanilid Yesterday

Just a few Common Darters and Common Blues near the large pond at the entrance there was more activity in the form of butterflies; Common Blues, Wall, Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell, Gate-keepers, Meadow Browns and a Grayling. But I digress, I found a few small ponds which were full of Emerald Damselflies some in tandem also Common Blue and Blue-tailed Damselflies there were alot of Common darters here also, some of which were ovipositing. A single Common Hawker was patroling above the ponds.

On the larger pond/lake further over I found more than twenty Common Darters ovipositing plus one pair of Common Hawkers copulating. Others on and around the lake; Black-tailed Skimmer, Common Blue and Blue-tailed Damselflies.

Aberpergwm

male Common Hawker

 A very nice wet area has developed on an old coal tip just above Glyn-Neath. I spent a few minutes looking around it this afternoon and found 8 species of Odonata present.  4 Common Hawkers including 3 males battling for supremacy, allowed me a chance to take a few photos.

male Common Hawker

Emerald Damselfly (30+ including a few tandem pairs)
Blue-tailed Damselfly (12)
Common Hawker (3m, 1f - ovipositing)
Golden-ringed Dragonfly (2m, 1f)
Four-spotted Chaser (1)
Keeled Skimmer (1m)
Black Darter (5m)
Common Darter (20+ including a few tandem pairs)

Garnwen, Maesteg.

 

                                   Black darter.
                                   Also 3 Goldring and a Southern hawker.

Garnwen, Maesteg, yesterday.

                                Black darter

                                Black darter

          

                                        Common hawker.

BARRY SIDINGS, HOPKINSTOWN.

Called into the park yesterday, 06/08/13 for a few hours and found a few Damselflies on the ponds mostly Common Blues with a few Blue-tailed and Large Reds. There was a Golden-ringed Dragonfly patroling around the bottom pool. I then took a walk up into the forestry area and came across a male Golden-ringed Dragonfly patroling an area of clear ground stopping now and again giving me a chance to get a photo.

There was another Dragon flying above the playing field but to high for me to get a good look at it plus I did not have my bins.

LLANERCH WOOD & PYSGODLYN MAWR

Friday 26/07/13 checked out the above for a couple of hours in the afternoon, at Llanerch wood I found alot of Common Blue & Blue-tailed Damselflies some still in tandem and ovipositing. On one of the pools there was an Emperor patroling plus three male and one female Black-tailed Skimmer also one male Broad-bodied Chaser. On the other pool just one male Black-tailed Skimmer and one female Common Darter.

 At Pysgodlyn Mawr nearly all the Damsels seen were Blue-tailed, there was still some Four-spotted Chasers flying around albeit rather tatty looking and some Black-tailed Skimmers one pair in tandem.

Garnwen, Maesteg.

My first Southern hawker of the season here today, also my second Goldring sighting (the first was last week).

Parc Cwm Darren Today

Not alot of Dragons on the wing today apart from a few Common Blue, Blue-tailed and Large Red Damsels there were no Dragons on the big lake. I did find 2 Female Keeled Skimmers in the butterfly meadow and 2 Male Broad-bodied chasers on the new dragonfly pond, there was also 2 Male and 1 Female Broad-bodied Chasers on the feeder stream near the top wooden bridge. Olso on the feeder stream there was a Male and Female Beautiful Demoiselle. I also checked out the lower pond and did not find any Dragons only Damsels.

I have not seen any Hawkers for a while now could the weather be too hot for them??

Ruddy Darter at Kenfig

(c) D. Carrington

David Carrington found this male Ruddy Darter male Wednesday 17th July 2013. It was situated at the west end of Long Pool Slack along the northern bridleway (SS 7908 8204). It's a dragon I'm very much hoping to catch up with this year, but Dave also noted that he saw only one - hopefully the first of many!

Recent sightings

(c) J. Driscoll

Jeff Driscoll took this photo of a male Beautiful Demoiselle along the riverbank adjacent to Penllergaer Valley woods lower lake, on Thursday 18th July 2013

(c) A. John

Alun John paid a visit to Crymlyn Bog on Wednesday evening 17th July 2013. Dragons noted on the wing by Alun included

Blue-tailed Damselflies
Emperor Dragonflies
Golden-ringed Dragonfly (pictured)
Broad-bodied Chasers

Sorry for Late Post

Sunday 14/07/13 Took a trip down to Bridgend to look at another pool but found you have to be an angler with the Glamorgan A.C. to get in there, NO PUBLIC ACCESS. The pool is at Treoes SS 94613 79116.

So carried on to Kenfig to pick up the Red-veined Darter and was not disapointed.

The place was awash with Dragons, at the first stile I saw Hundreds of Common Blue Damsels and a few Blue-tailed Damsels also Keeled skimmers, Common Darters,Broad-bodied Chasers, Black-tailed Skimmers and Emperors. I walked along the bank until I found the Red-veined Darters and carried on until I came to a pool behind the main lake and just behind the Bird hide SS 79911 81946, I was amazed at the number of Four-spotted Chasers and Broad-bodied Chasers flying around this pool, also some Black-tailed Skimmers and Emperors.

Once I came back down to earth I made the long walk back to the car and headed for home but stopped of at Parc Slip to see if there was anything about, apart from some Large Red Damsels, Common Blues and Blue-tailed Damsels on the pool by the visiting centre I only came across 3m and 1f Broad-bodied Chasers on a pool near the first bird hide SS 8777884144.

A GOOD DAY OUT.

Neath Valley Dragons

 At the Borrow Pits on Saturday (13/7/13) 3 Banded Demoiselles (2m + 1f) were observed on the small lake. Also here  Common Blue Damselfly (100+), Blue-tailed Damselfly (4), Emperor Dragonfly (1) and Golden-ringed Dragonfly (2)

 Today, a fortuitous crossing of paths with an immature male Keeled Skimmer, near Resolven.

Kenfig NNR

(c) M. Hipkin

 Paul Grennard made a visit to Kenfig Pool today. He found 12 Red-veined Darters including an ovipositing tandem. The RVD's were showing again from the east pool shore.

(c) A. John

Paul's tally today included 12 Red-veined Darters. Also Common Blue Damselfly (100+), Emperor Dragonfly (3), Black-tailed Skimmer (20+) and Common Darter (4)

Martyn Hnatiuk made a visit to the Kenfig Rivermarsh and took notable records of Keeled Skimmer (50+) and Black-tailed Skimmer (20+)

Red-veined Darters at Kenfig

 Following Dave Carrington's report, after Rupert Perkins' discovery, of 10 Red-veined Darters at Kenfig NNR, yesterday, I was keen to make the visit to have a look at them this afternoon. I was very pleased to find approx 10 in flight and at rest along the east shore.

 My visit, as per usual, was dominated by trying to get record shots, but a general feel for numbers would place c6 males along the shore next to the first field and c4 males along the shore next to the second field, if walking north-east from the first style in the south-east corner.

They seemed to prefer the stretches of shore that were most open i.e. where the exposed mud was widest and away from the taller edge-vegetation. Periodically they would fly right out over the open water and regularly become lost from view, however, they would regularly come back to the same open areas to rest after a few minutes or so.

Numbers of Common Blue Damselfly were also impressive with 100s, even 1000+ along the east shore. Otherwise c20 Black-tailed Skimmers and 4 Emperor Dragonflies were conspicuous.

Margam former opencast

A brief sortie onto the former opencast north of Cefn Cribwr saw six Scarce Blue-tailed Damselflies - including a pair in tandem - at SS 8611 8370. Several Golden-ringed Dragonflies and plenty of Emerald Damselflies were also noted.

Llanilid former opencast

Good numbers of Black-tailed Skimmers were distributed over the site.

 More Keeled Skimmers noted today than I can previously recall here.

10 male Scarce Blue-tailed Damselflies were by a shallow muddy pool on the till mound at SS 9897 8157. Had to take the picture with my phone camera, as the Coolpix couldn't handle it!

Also seen: Emerald Damselfly, Azure Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly, Large Red Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Emperor Dragonfly, Broad-bodied Chaser, Four-spotted Chaser and Common Darter.