Red-veined Darter (4-5 terneral males)
Lesser Emperor 1
Small-red eyed Damselfly 10+
So those looking for dragons and damsels in Oxon should keep an eye out for these!
Of the above, there are fully document records of Lesser Emperor in Oxon, most recently from Pit 60 and Radley Lakes. Shellingford Pit even had one in 2008. They are quite easy to identify - small dark hawkers with a vivid blue "rump".
Red-veined Darters are more elusive, but there are some not well documented records from Otmoor in 2006 and Radley in 2007 so you never know! Incidentally, the last time any were seen at Crookham was also in 2007. Immature males are not that easy to identify but the blue lower half to the eyes is diagnostic. Mature males are vivid red - brighter than Common Darters and hence stand out more.
SRE Damsels do occur regularly at a small number of sites in Oxon, with a few records this year from Shellingford Pit and Didcot.
Immature male Red-veined Darter at Crookham Common Berks (c) Stephen Burch
Small red eyed Damselfly at Crookham Common Berks (c) Stephen Burch
For more info on dragonflies in Oxon, see http://www.stephenburch.com/dragonflies/OxonDragons.htm
Thank you Stephen. At the moment at Radley Lakes and Barton Fields in Abingdon, Ruddy outnumber Common Darters (less than 10 Ruddy at each) and yet never seen so many Red-eyed and Common Blue damsels. And Brown Hawker outnumber Common Darters as well... what is happening ?
ReplyDeleteTalking to the BDS staff team yesterday (Bird Fair), there was no good indication of an influx of migrants, so particularly appreciate the heads up in this very strange Odonata year !
Indeed an odd year. I dont know if the RVD's are migrants or if the bred earlier in the season and this is the second generation. Many Common Darter there though, and also at Shellingford.
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