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Re: Not Lepidoptera (dragons!)

Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 7:33 pm
by Padfield
I agree, definitely black darter.

Guy

Re: Not Lepidoptera (dragons!)

Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 10:58 pm
by eccles
Black tailed skimmer at Backwell Lake on Tuesday.

Re: Not Lepidoptera (dragons!)

Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 7:33 am
by Zonda
On my wildlife pond http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/p- ... directlink I really hope this image will post this time.

Re: Not Lepidoptera (dragons!)

Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 8:25 am
by eccles
Hi Zonda. Welcome to UKB. If you want to embed an image that you've uploaded somewhere you can use the Img tab when creating your message. Alternatively you can just use the 'Upload attachment' option to load your image directly as I have done.
Mike.

Re: Not Lepidoptera (dragons!)

Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 2:16 pm
by Zonda
Thankyou Mike ...I'll try that. :)

Re: Not Lepidoptera (dragons!)

Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 6:43 pm
by eccles
Migrant hawker yesterday at Stoke Camp reserve, Somerset.

Re: Not Lepidoptera (dragons!)

Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2009 6:37 pm
by Dave McCormick
I found about 30 of these today.. I am not good with dragons, which one is it?
Image

Re: Not Lepidoptera (dragons!)

Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2009 9:31 pm
by xmilehigh
Hi Dave,

I think it is an immature Common Darter.

Re: Not Lepidoptera (dragons!)

Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2009 10:46 pm
by Dave McCormick
Thanks Jerry, thought it could have been one of those as I have seen common darters around here before, going back tomorrow to see if I can find any again as I know there was 2-3 different types of dragonfly where I was.

Re: Not Lepidoptera (dragons!)

Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2009 8:34 am
by GsButterflies
A trip to Thursley Common on Wednesday 05th August produced some great Dragonflies and a few Damselflies. I am pleased that I ignored the weather forecast and proceeded with my visit.

Hope you enjoy these...

G

Re: Not Lepidoptera (dragons!)

Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2009 7:10 am
by xmilehigh
Excellent Golden Ringed shot, good Damsel's as well.

Here's a few from Priddy Mineries yesterday.

Re: Not Lepidoptera (dragons!)

Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2009 8:12 pm
by eccles
Nice pics all. Jerry I think your teneral is a female common darter. :)
Here's a backlit common darter male, snapped late this afternoon.

Re: Not Lepidoptera (dragons!)

Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2009 10:26 am
by xmilehigh
I think your right, Thanks Pic corrected.

Re: Not Lepidoptera (dragons!)

Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2009 7:06 am
by Malcolm Farrow
Hi All

I thought you might be interested in my latest discovery. While visiting a local site in Suffolk I came across a number of damselflies that were new to me. I immediately had a hunch that they were Willow Emerald, and confirmed this on my return. The species has been recorded a few times before in the UK, and there has been a recent spate of records in east Suffolk. However, the number I saw (30+) suggests this might be an established colony, rather than migrants.

I've contacted BDS for advice, and will release the site details as soon as I receive confirmation that it is sensible to do so. In the meantime, I thought I'd share this photo with you. Hopefully, in the years to come these will become widespread in the UK!

Re: Not Lepidoptera (dragons!)

Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2009 2:27 pm
by Malcolm Farrow
Just a follow-up to my previous post regarding Willow Emerald Damselfly. Further exploration today revealed what I hoped to see - evidence of breeding behavior. It's also a useful picture to enable comparison between male and female and see the differences between this species and the UK's two currently resident emerald damselflies. It would be fantastic if this species were to become firmly established in the UK.

BTW, I think both your emerald damselfly shots are of females xmilehigh

Re: Not Lepidoptera (dragons!)

Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2009 4:16 pm
by Mikhail
Great find and excellent pics. Well done!

Misha

Re: Not Lepidoptera (dragons!)

Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2009 6:30 pm
by Zonda
Think i know, but checking with experts. Is this a female Common sympetrum? :)

Re: Not Lepidoptera (dragons!)

Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2009 7:41 pm
by eccles
Great catch, Malcolm, and nice tandem pic too.
@Zonda, common darter female it is. :)

Re: Not Lepidoptera (dragons!)

Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2009 6:55 pm
by eccles
Brown hawker has been a nemesis of mine for several years. I spent weeks of frustrating effort by the riverbank chasing this most skittish of dragonflies through the summer of 2005, finally to catch a single female in 2006. Now, three years later Jerry and I both snapped this male today at Priddy Mineries. It's a joy to watch this dragon in flight with the sun shining through its bronze coloured wings. Whoever called it a 'brown' hawker didn't do it justice, as my photo doesn't, but I found to capture it in flight was just too difficult. Maybe one day...

Re: Not Lepidoptera (dragons!)

Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2009 8:01 pm
by xmilehigh
Thanks for the correction Malcolm, on taking a second look and trying to verify with the Steve Brooks book, I'd also say it was a female. I'm surprised just how much these Damselflies can cgange / vary in colour. Very nice pic of the Willow Damsels.

I think we were very luck that the BH decided to take a rest this afternoon :D and even more so as it did so very close by.

Cheers

Common Darter
Image