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.