Red-veined Darter - at last!!!

 Earlier in the year, I blogged about a possible sighting of a Red-veined Darter, seen as RSPB Frampton Marsh. Unfortunately, at the time, the individual didn't stay in sight long enough to clinch the id. Likewise, I had a single dragonfly in Menorca a few years ago, but again, I couldn't be 100% clear on identification. 

After a significant influx into the UK this year, a very good number of Red-veined Darters were seen at a site, Waverley Lakes/Lagoons, in South Yorkshire, just half an hour from home. I popped across last week, but didn't manage to find any. Another report came in yesterday of 30+ individuals (including pairs in tandem and ovipositing), so, this afternoon, I drove across again, and, after 20 minutes I eventually managed to find, and photograph my first confirmed sighting!

Red-veined Darter (male)

These photos were the best I could do, as they are extremely flighty and hard to pin down. Luckily, though, I managed to see to get a shot of the red veins, and the yellow pterostigma, complete with an obvious black border. The blue lower half of eye can also just be seen. I'll pop back again this summer, and hopefully get a few better shots.

Other species seen were: Small Red-eyed Damselflies (ovipositing), Blue-tailed Damselflies (in tandem) and Black-tailed Skimmer (10+ individuals, including this pair "in cop").

Black-tailed Skimmer

Linacre Lifer!

 I didn't really think that this weekend could get any better, after yesterday's lifer. But, this afternoon, after having spent time celebrating Father's Day, I went down to Linacre for just over an hour (3pm - 4.15pm) and discovered a new species of dragonfly for the site!

The dragonfly in question was a male Black-tailed Skimmer. It isn't an uncommon species, being widespread across Derbyshire, but, as I mentioned, this was my first record for the site. The individual was a "mature" male, as seen by the yellow markings down its thorax, and was found, basking in the 24 degree heat, on the stones of the bottom reservoir. Now I just need to find a female and prove breeding!!

Black-tailed Skimmer

Other insects seen were: Common Blue Damselfly (20+, including pairs in tandem), Blue-tailed Damselfly (1 male), 1 Comma, 1 Red Admiral, Meadow Browns (10+), Ringlets (2), 1 Great Pied Hoverfly, a Eupeodus sp Hoverfly (identified as E. corrallae by ObsIdentify), 1 Silver Y moth and several species of bumblebee (Red-tailed, Common Carder and White/Buff-tailed).

I only checked the birds on the bottom reservoir, and recorded: Mallard (1 female with 7 new ducklings, plus several moulting adults), Mandarin Duck (3 birds, all moulting), Moorhen (2 adults), Tufted Duck (9 males and 1 female - no ducklings), Great-crested Grebe (2 adults) and 1 Stock Dove (drinking from the reservoir). A single Garden Warbler was heard singing (and identified via Merlin app) in the ringing site.

Hardwick Hall - 12th July 2025

 It's been in the high 20s, low 30s this week, so Jayne and I made an early(ish) start for our walk around Hardwick Park and Hall. We walked around the ponds, and then up through the park to the hall and gardens.

Walking around the ponds, we soon spotted the first damsels and dragons of the day, with Common Blue and Red-eyed Damselflies seen. Several Emperors were also seen (minimum of 3) and a couple of Black-tailed Skimmers. 

Black-tailed Skimmer

Butterflies were numerous (which was a nice change!) with Gatekeepers being the most numerous (30+), along with Small Copper (1), Meadow Brown (20+), Large Whites, Small Whites and Red Admiral.

There were also lots of hoverflies, including a single Volucella inanis. A single Hummingbird Hawkmoth was also seen in the gardens.

Volucella inanis

Hummingbird Hawkmoth

Mannington Gardens - 30th July 2023

 After our walk in Holt Country Park, we drove across to Mannington Gardens. We had a walk around the grounds and spotted some nice wildlife.

First up were the butterflies: Comma, Peacock, Red Admiral, Gatekeeper, Large White, Green-veined White, Meadow Brown and 1 Silver-washed Fritillary. 

Dragonflies seen were: Emperor ( 1 male and 1 female ovipositing in the moat), Black-tailed Skimmer (1 male), Common Darter and Small Red-eyed Damselfly (2 males seen).

Small Red-eyed Damselfly

Other insects seen were: Roesel's Bush-cricket (my second in one day!!) and another new species, a Red-legged Shieldbug (Pentatoma rufipes). 

Roesel's Bush-cricket (female)

Red-legged Shieldbug

Birds were far and few between, but we did spot a single Swallow, a fly-over Hobby, Mallards, Moorhens and a fishing Common Tern.

Edible Frogs were on site, but we didn't see any this time.

UPDATE: We went back last night (2nd) and managed to see and hear the Edible Frogs from the bird hide. Whilst there, we also saw 2 Marsh Tits (176), coming to the feeders and a Kingfisher catching a fish.

Edible Frog (honestly!!)

Hardwick Ponds - 24th July 2021

 Jayne and I had a walk around the ponds at Hardwick Hall yesterday. It was 20 degrees, with a lot of cloud cover and a few sunny spells.

Whilst there we saw 6 species of odanata, the highlight being my first record of Small Red-eyed Damselfly for this site. Other species seen were: Red-eyed Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly, Emperor, Brown Hawker and Black-tailed Skimmer.

Red-eyed Damselfly

Small Red-eyed Damselfly

Butterfly species seen were: Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Gatekeeper and Large White. We also saw this caterpillar, which I think is a Large White. and a single Volucella pellucens (Great Pied Hoverfly).

Birdwise, it was pretty quiet, but there were Mallard and Tufted Duck ducklings as well as young Coots, Moorhens , Canada Geese and 2 adult Black-headed Gulls.

Butterfly and Dragonfly Update - July 2021

I've been out and about quite alot recently, and have managed to see some lovely butterflies. 

First up, is my annual trip to Lindrick Common. I went here on 1st July. The flowers weren't very far on, but I still managed to see Dark Green Fritillary, Marbled White and Silver-studded Blue.

Dark Green Fritillary

Marbled White

Silver-studded Blue

On 10th July, Jayne and I visited the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, where we had great views of Large Skipper and Black-tailed Skimmer. 

Last Saturday (17th) we travelled down to Cotgrave Forest in Nottinghamshire, where we had fantastic views of Purple Emperor butterflies. We also saw Small Skipper, Ringlets and a single Silver-washed Fritillary. 

Purple Emperor

Silver-washed Fritillary

On our last trip, to the Wellington Monument on 20th, we saw a male Golden-ringed Dragonfly, and a minimum of 4 Purple Hairstreaks!

Golden-ringed Dragonfly

Purple Hairstreak

Yorkshire Sculpture Park - 10th July 2021

 Jayne and I were at Yorkshire Sculpture Park today. After a misty start, the sun came out and we ended up with a few insect species. By far the most numerous butterfly seen was the Ringlet butterfly, with 20+ present, including one breeding pair. The other butterfly species species seen were Large Skipper and  Meadow Brown. Common Blue and Blue-tailed Damselflies were also seen as was a male Black-tailed Skimmer.

Common Blue Damselflies

Large Skipper

Black-tailed Skipper

As well as the insects, we also saw a Little Egret, a Kingfisher and a darvic-ringed Mute Swan (Y736). The swan was paired and appeared to have at least 4 cygnets. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to see see the legs of the other swan to see if it was ringed. I know that the bird was ringed by Sorby Breck ringing Group, and I'll update when I get details of where and when it was ringed.

Mute Swan Y736

RSPB Dungeness

Jayne and I had a trip around RSPB Dungeness on 1st August. We spent a couple of hours on the reserve, and saw some nice birds, insects and a couple of Harbour Porpoises.

Birdwise we saw, amongst others Dunlin, Lapwing, Common Tern, Little Egret and heard Bearded Tits.

Insects were in good numbers, and included Common Blue Damselfly, Emperor, Brown Hawker, Black-tailed Skimmer, Common and Ruddy Darter, Gatekeeper, Red Admiral and Painted Lady.

One of the Emperor dragonflies landed in a bush, and allowed some photos, as did a male Black-tailed Skimmer.

Emperor

Black-tailed Skimmer

After visiting the reserve, we had a walk down to the beach by the lighthouse, where we spotted a couple of Harbour Porpoises in the sea ( and a dead one on the beach) and several Herring Gulls on the beach.

Harbour Porpoise

RSPB Old Moor

Jayne and I spent a few hours at RSPB Old Moor yesterday. The weather wasn't great, but we still managed to see some good insects (and a few birds too!).

The first insect of the day was a Dingy Skipper. 2 were seen including this individual.

Dingy Skipper

Other butterflies seen were: Common Blue and Green-veined White.

Common Blue Butterfly (female, above and male, below)

We also saw 3 damselfly species: Common Blue, Blue-tailed and Red-eyed and 2 dragonflies: Black-tailed Skimmer and Emperor.

Black-tailed Skimmer (immature)

Birdwise, we saw Black-headed Gulls (many chicks), Black-tailed Godwit (10), Pochard, Mallard, Canada and Greylag Geese, Swifts, Great-crested and Little Grebes and Mute Swan, including this colour ringed individual with 4 cygnets.

UPDATE: The Mute San 087 was ringed as a young bird at Ulley, 15km away, in September 2013, making it 6 years old this year. It has spent its entire life within South Yorkshire, being reported in Aldwarke, Rotherham, Thrybergh and Wath, before being reported at Old Moor in 2017 for the first time. Has it been here ever since??

RSPB Minsmere - A Final Visit

Today was our last day in Suffolk, so we had a final visit to RSPB Minsmere (thanks Jayne). It was 21 degrees, and the sun was shining when we arrived, and we went straight down to the pond by the Reception to check on the dragonflies. The most numerous by far was Four-spotted Chaser, with at least a dozen flying around and perching on the reeds.

Four-spotted Chaser

A male Broad-bodied Chaser was also present on the pond, along with one Southern Hawker, Large Red, Common Blue and Azure Damselflies.

Broad-bodied Chaser

Away from this pond, we also managed to spot another four species of odanata; namely Red-veined Darter, Variable Damselfly, Norfolk Hawker (my first record at this site) and Black-tailed Skimmer. 

The Red-veined Darter, a male, was my first ever confirmed record. Unfortunately, it was a brief view, and it flew away before I could get a photo. Here's a link for more information about this species. The Variable Damselfly, a female, and , again a "lifer", was seen by South Hide, and I managed to get this photo. Again, details about this species can be found here.

Variable Damselfly

The Norfolk Hawker, and the Black-tailed Skimmer, were also seen on the path by South Hide. 

As well as the dragon/damselflies, we also added 3 new species to the ornithological "year list". The first new species was Sandwich Tern, with several breeding pairs seen. Next up were two gull species; Caspian and Yellow-legged.

Caspian Gull

Yellow-legged Gull

Year List update:

167 - Sandwich Tern

168 - Yellow-legged Gull

169 - Caspian Gull

Barlow Dragonflies

Barlow Fish Ponds are just a few miles away from home, and are a good place to see a few damsel and dragonflies. I spent a couple of hours there on Wednesday afternoon, and recorded Banded Demoiselle, Brown Hawker, Black-tailed Skimmer and Common and Blue-tailed Damselflies.

The Banded Demoiselles (4+), were all males, and were mainly seen around the first two ponds. As far as I know, they are relatively scarce in Derbyshire. This is my first record at this site, and only my second in Derbyshire.  

Banded Demoiselle 

Brown Hawkers, on the other hand, are a lot more common, and I saw at least 6 females ovipositing around the site, along with several males perched up.

Brown Hawker ovipositing

Black-tailed Skimmer is a species that prefers to spend most of its time resting on the ground, and the male that I saw was doing just that.

Black-tailed Skimmer

Common and Blue-tailed Damselflies were also seen during this visit, with many pairs "in tandem" and ovipositing.

Blue-tailed Damselflies "in tandem"

Common Blue Damselflies "in tandem"

More information about all these species can be found on the British Dragonfly Society's website here.