Some recent pictures

Red-veined Darter at Kenfig

Scarce Blue-tailed Damselflies mating at Cwm Colliery

Ruddy Darters (copula with Common?!) plus Red-veined Darter sightings at Kenfig

© D.G. Carrington

I received news from David Carrington today of Ruddy Darters and at least 1 Red-veined Darter on the wing at Kenfig NNR during the last week. Lets deal with the photo first. Dave sent in this photo of a Ruddy Darter copula, taken today at SS79498076. The male appears to be a typical bright individual. However, the female appears to show many features one might expect to see on a female Common Darter. The most obvious feature suggesting Common is the pale stripe behind the legs. The female looks fairly big compared to the male Ruddy and the general colouration looks a little dull. The markings and shape to the abdomen is difficult to see in the photo as is the extent of the black markings around the frons. I'm not at all familiar with Ruddy Darter as a species, but there is not much shown in the photo that convinces me the female is a Ruddy Darter. I'd be very interested to hear any comments on ID of female Ruddy Darters or whether mixed pairs have been found at other locations, perhaps where Ruddy Darters and Common Darters occur more commonly.

Tony Messinger reported Ruddy Darters at the North Pool lagoons (SS799819) last week.

Red-veined Darter has been reported present from the east shore of Kenfig Pool.

Llanilid

Keeled Skimmers in evidence around the studio pool today, with Scarce Blue-tailed Damselflies again present alongside the commoner species.

Keeled Skimmer

Large Red Damselfly

Resolven/Glyn Neath Canal Today

Parking in the Canal car park near Resolven I came across this Female Blk-tailed Skimmer resting on the ground around the toilet block.

Taking a short walk along the canal towards Glyn neath I saw alot of Azure Damselflies (100+) many of them in tandem and ovipositing and quite a few Large Red Damsels.

Llanilid

Emeralds are now starting to come out in numbers with just one R.V.Darter

Llanilid

Decent numbers of Scarce Blue-tailed Damselflies noted today, at several locations over the site. Further species included Golden-ringed Dragonfly, Emperor, Black-tailed Skimmer and Broad-bodied Chaser. Common Darters are starting to appear in numbers now.

Rhoose Pool yesterday

Male Red-veined Darter

Llanerch Wood Ponds Today

Alot of Damselflies about today mainly Blue-tailed and Common Blues with some still emerging. There was a Male Emperor Dragonfly patroling one of the lakes and Two Broad-bodied Chasers keeping to the margins.

Did not get a chance to go elsewhere as the rain came in.

Parc Slip

Plenty of odonata activity at Parc Slip at the moment, including azure damsel, common blue and variable, large red, blue tailed and scarce blue tailed damselfly. Broad bodied chaser, four spotted chaser, golden ringed and black tailed skimmer noted among the dragonflies. Mike Clark reported a red veined darter male on the new scrapes yesterday too.

I photographed this damselfly while out walking today (apologies for the poor photo- taken on my phone). Is it a blue phase female  azure damselfly? Thank you.

Rose

Tennant Canal 7th June

A male Emperor Dragonfly was seen patrolling along the canal. Also Four-spotted Chaser (3),  Hairy Dragonfly (7) and a large presence of Azure Damselfly (100+). Mixed in with the Azures were Variable Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly and Large Red Damselfly, but all were in lesser numbers compared to Azure Damselfly.

Pysgodlyn Mawr

Four Downy Emeralds (including an ovipositing female) and 10+ Red-eyed Damselflies noted this afternoon.