Latest Sightings

Cosmeston Lakes VC41. A gut instinct told me that dragonflies were on the wing a visit to Cosmeston paid off there were 2 young males flying not altergether in full blue plamage still had a tinge of yellow near the top of the abdomen also 2 females seen at least 3 mid air copulations and seen the females oviposit at least 5 times [Presumed Broad-bodied Chasers - Ed]
Also seen my 1st Blue tailed damselfly copulating wheel   Numerous emergences Blue tail / Azure and Variable
Photos availeble on Flickr  New Era51  (female ovipositing BBC and young male BBC

Scores of Common Blue Damselfly, mostly teneral and all immature at East Lane, Bawdsey

Fen Drayton Lakes RSPB: 320 Variable Damselfly, 40 Common Blue, 40 Blue-tailed, 30 Red-eyed and 2 Large Red Damselfly, 6 Banded Demoiselle, 1 Broad Bodied Chaser, 1 Hairy Dragonfly. Large numbers of Variables just before the bulk of Common Blues is normal for this site.

It was a better day today (warm & sunny), and during the course of the day 29 Large Red damselflies emerged/flew up from our garden wildlife pond, here in Norwich. Since the start of May I have counted 189 Large Red damselflies emerging from the pond. No sightings of any other common damselfly species emerging so far this year. More details about the wildlife pond and photos can be seen by visiting the following web-link: http://www.davidboulton.co.uk/gallery_410877.html

2 Red Eyed Damselflies at Channels Golf Course, Chelmsford.

Bissoe Valley: 11 large red damselflies, 1 common blue damsel, 1 broad bodied chaser (female)

At Fingringhoe Wick Nature Reserve (Essex Wildlife Trust), 3 Four-spotted Chasers and Large Red Damselfly.

18 Large Red damselflies and 1 Broad Bodied Chaser emerged from garden wildlife pond, Norwich.

4-5 Large Red Damselflies spotted at Wilford Claypit Reserve, Nottingham. Walking around this small reserve near Compton Acre, Nottingham I spotted my first Large Red Damselfly of the year resting on a fence, I later spotted a few more teneral individuals near the waters edge and was fortunate to find an individual close to the ground that allowed me to take some close up portrait style macro shots :o)

On a lovely sunny day in Wymeswold, North Leicestershire, at least 16 Four-spotted Chasers emerged from my garden pond. I presume this would be called a mass emergence, I have never seen so many emerging at the same time before. Surprisingly some were quite adventurous and walked at a brisk pace through the undergrowth, and across a grassy path,  for about 150cm before deciding that quite thin, short grass was just the place to climb up to emerge. One managed this by pulling 7 blades of grass together to give better support. As most emerged among the plants around the pond I have now a good collection of exuvia which I will save to pass on to whoever needs them. The first of the Four Spots emerged on Sunday 12th May here, with the Large Red Damselflies preceeding them, emerging on 3rd May.

Three new species appear in Northants . During a productive lunchtime walk around Ditchford Lakes, I found 50+ emerging Blue-tailed Damselflies, 10+ emerging Common Blue Damselflies, 5+ emerging Azure Damselflies, 5+ emerging Red-eyed Damselflies and 6 emerging Hairy Dragonflies.  Photos of all species on my blog.

Good numbers of Azure Damselflies(50+) around Clamerkin NT pond and nearby ponds http://www.flickr.com/photos/odonatas/8740841553/in/photostream
 

Harold Wood Park, Romford. 2 imm Large Red Damselflies in vegetation by the River Ingrebourne but no sign of any banded dems in a brief search.

A single azure damselfly spotted in the morning at Wat Tyler CP, Pitsea.  ALso seen during the day were 12+ large red damselflies.  Photos: http://www.uk-wildlife.co.uk/first-azure-damselfly/

Fen Drayton Lakes RSPB: female Hairy Dragonfly, also Variable, Common Blue and Blue-tailed Damselflies

One teneral female Red-eyed Damselfly noted today (12/05) at Culford Lake, West Suffolk. No other damselflies noted, though.

First Damselflies at Fen Drayton Lakes RSPB: 10 Variable, 2 Common Blue and a Large Red Damselfly

Teneral Azures in Berkshire: On Friday 10th May I can confirm that there were 4 newly-emerged Azure Damselflies (Coenagrion puella) clinging to the branches of a willow a short distance from the pond at 2pm. Their weak flight and pale, almost transparent, bodies seem to suggest that they emerged earlier this morning, although there was no sign of any exuviae. The insects were very reluctant to fly in the breeze, allowing close examination - one even crawled onto my finger as I turned the leaf to get a better view) - and there's no doubt as to the ID.
I just hope they managed to escape the beady eyes of the hungry-looking Blue and Great Tits working their way through the undergrowth!
There were also 2 x Large Reds (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) but no sign as yet of any Anisoptera.

The proper large red damselfly hatch appears to have started, with at least 3 spotted in one of the more sheltered spots on a windy day in Wat Tyler Country Park, Pitsea.  Photos of 2 here: http://www.uk-wildlife.co.uk/orange-tip-butterfly-and-large-red-damselfly/

A visit to Roves Farm ponds near Swindon on 8th May was to try an abortive attempt to find teneral Broad-bodied Chasers. Instead I found my [and the county's?] first Azure Damselfly for the year; a teneral female at the south pond. Also present was a semi-mature female Large Red Damselfly. At the main 'scrape' was 4 Large Reds, 1 male and 3 females. I seem to be seeing more females than males so far - normally the other way round! Have others noticed this?

Two very new tenneral Large Red Damselflies by pond in Send, Surrey.

A mid-afternoon survey of the two small ponds at Bentley Wood produced several Large Reds and spent exuvia adorning the emerging reeds. These ponds have suffered over the past two years with sporadic activity, although has still proved good for emergence.

Watched 19 Large Red damselflies emerging this afternoon at Sulby Northants

A lovely warm, sunny day here in Norwich, and we had a mass emergence of 49 Large Red damselflies from our garden wildlife pond! They were emerging all day - more and more Large Reds were flying up from pond...only to be predated on by House Sparrows! The wildlife pond (which is 16ft x 16ft in size) was set up in 2011 specifically to attract damsels & dragonflies so I could photograph them emerging (as I am a wildlife photographer). We live on a housing estate and we have masses of House Sparrows here, and they take virtually every damselfly that emerges plus emerging dragonflies too! I know the Sparrows are feeding their chicks, but the severity of the predation is beyond words! If anyone knows how I can deter them, any help would be much appreciated!!! Website/contact: www.davidboulton.co.uk