Vagrant Emperor sightings request

We received a request from Adrian Parr today. Adrian is a member of the British Dragonfly Society and Migrant Dragonfly Officer. He is working on an article documenting the recent extraordinary numbers of this species in the British Isles, to be published this summer. It would be great if you have been fortunate enough to have seen this dragonfly and are able to contribute to building a picture, to be presented in this article. If you have seen this species or know someone who has and have not yet reported it to a county recorder, then please provide contact details to Adrian Parr at adrian.parr@btinternet.com , Mike Powell at mike.powell2@coorsbrewers.com or contact the email shown above and details will be forwarded on.

Adrian provided a nice bit of information which shows what a remarkable dragonfly the Vagrant Emperor is and also how remarkable the recent "invasion" has been.

These last few months have seen record numbers of Vagrant Emperor dragonflies reported from the UK. This species normally breeds in sub-Sarahan Africa, but is a very powerful migrant, having reached both Iceland and the New World (the Caribbean) in the past. Prior to this year, there had been only some 30 records from Britain in the past 100 years.

Thanks for your help.

Downy emerald at Hensol

Here's a record flight shot of a Downy Emerald at Hensol yesterday

Even though it's quite early in the year, there were double figures of Downy Emerald and smaller numbers of Red-eyed Damselflies.

Large red damselfly.

Hairy dragonfly at Kenfig pool.

Vagrant Emperor at Llanilid

Great news from Llanilid, where Paul Roberts has reported seeing a male Vagrant Emperor and says "It was hunting over fairly bare ground east of the pool at SS98368199." This species has been reported in recent weeks along the South coast of England and also a couple of reports from Pembroke in recent days. Well worth looking out for.

Damselflies at Crymlyn Bog

Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) 

 The recent run of exceptional weather has certainly got the damselfly activity into full swing at Crymlyn Bog. Large Red, Azure, Variable and Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum) all noted today. 4 Large Red Damselflies were noted today. 1 pair of Common Blue Damselfly was the least abundant species today.

Azure Damselfly (Coenagrion pulla)

 6+ Azure Damselflies were noted including a mating pair.

Variable Damselfly (Coenagrion pulchellum)

 The distribution of this species seems to be restricted, certainly in recent years, to this area and along the Tennant Canal within VC41. I would estimate that there were far more Variables than Azure present today and put the quantity in the region of 20 or more.

The female Variable Damselfly (above) was found quite some distance away from the main group and on closer inspection I found that it was eating a small Crane Fly or something similar.

One ovipositing tandem Variable Damselfly pair (above) was observed in the small pool accessed via the boardwalk. However, the bulk numbers of this species were observed in the pool nearest the carpark.

Chasers at Crymlyn Bog

Broad-bodied Chaser (Libellula quadrimaculata)

 An afternoon visit to Crymlyn Bog this afternoon was rewarding, with Broad-bodied Chaser, Four-spotted Chaser and also Hairy Dragonflies (Brachytron pratense) present showing in the small pools and wet fields around the carpark. At least 5 Broad-bodied Chasers were favouring the bushes around the wet fields.

Four-spotted Chaser (Libellula depressa)

At least 2 Four-spotted Chaser were found along the flooded ditch with 1 Hairy Dragonfly also patrolling along here. Not far from the carpark in one of the ponds accessed by via the boardwalk 6+ Hairy Dragonflies were present. A copulating pair and also a lone female ovipositing making up the numbers here.