Dragonfly Week

July 19, 2015

Safe to say, today was probably the best day I've had for Dragonflies this year so far. I found my first Keeled Skimmer on my home patch, and what a beautiful Dragonfly they are! This particular individual was very kind and allowed me to get very close from all angles.. Golden-ringed still present in this area along with the typical, Emperor, Broad-bodied, Black-tailed and Common Hawker. I look forward to seeing what this site produces into August. Also in this location, lots and lots of Grayling Butterflies.

Emperor Dragonflies

July 17, 2015

Emperors still on the wing! Had another Golden-ringed flyby. No chance in getting a photograph of one of those.. Their behaviour is completely different to that of an Emperor. An Emperor will fly a relatively small territory, often in circles or 'race track strips': going round and round defending that patch so that females can lay their eggs on his patch. He will chase off any males that enter into that territory, including other dragonflies with the exception of the smaller damselflies that seem to live along side them very well. Even the Golden-ringed will be chased off as I have seen many times this month. If a female flies higher than 1ft, she will also be targeted! The males are very good hunters and can catch and eat on the wing.

Pontypool Uplands & Llandeg Re-visit

July 10, 2015

So much activity today, I don't know where to start! As a naturalist, it is very hard to document everything this time of year. It all happens so fast and all at the same time. A single Hobby was spotted and as a result, I missed a great opportunity with the Great White Egret.. Just the way it goes sometimes haha. Dragonfly activity today was fantastic! I got a new species (at least for me) at Llandegfedd in the form of an Emerald Damselfly. Not the best photograph of the Emerald though as it is slightly out of focus but good enough ID shot. Single Banded Demoiselle and plenty of Broad-bodied Chasers. Marbled Whites were abundant and the Great White Egret wasn't playing game at all... It is really shy. Altogether, a fabulous day. If you read yesterdays blog, I didn't manage to find that lure so I just hope that it doesn't end up being picked up again.

Female Broad-bodied Chaser 10th July.jpg

South Sebastopol Canal

July 3, 2015

Lots of activity on the Canal today! Over 50 swifts gathered at the lock for a drink and feeding above the meadows before moving on south. Lots of Dragonfly activity. Common Whitethroats were a plenty with lots of chicks around. Also spotted a Redkite high in the sky.

F Emperor and Common Blue Damselfly 3rd July.jpg

Pontypool Uplands

June 27, 2015

Lots of Dragonfly on the wing today! Photographed my first Golden-ringed Dragonfly (still lots more to edit) and seen the first signs of new Froglet emerging from the water. Bumped into this Tawny Owl that was having a good old peak. I do have other news to share but due to legal issues I can't talk about it.. Just as well, as it is really really sad! It's regarding a Scheduled 1 Bird that by the looks has been poisoned :(.

Also, Neodiprion sertifer (Pine Sawfly Larvae) was seen in the absolute thousands! Possible problematic in such high numbers so well worth keeping an eye on as these larvae will consume a lot of pine needles, to the extent that they can actually kill the tree altogether.
It is said that if you get so many in one forest, on a quiet day, you can actually hear the droppings pattering on the forest floor.