April & May Hot News

26 April--Azure Damselfly emerging near Towcester. This is some 2 weeks earlier than usual, especially considering the cold spring. However, Chris believes that this area is kept warm as a micro-habitat (CE).

27 April--Large Red Damselfly emerging at Yardley Chase. Photo right copyright Mark Tyrrell (MT & JB)

28 April--Large Red Damselfly emerging at Southfields Farm Marsh near Kettering (MT)

3 May--Large Red Damselfly emerging at Yardley Chase and Dicthford. Photo below copyright Mark Tyrrell (MT}

6 May--A lunchtime visit to Ditchford was rewarded with about 12 emerging Hairy Dragonflies at various stages, including several taking their maiden flight. Also Common Blue Damselflies emerging in small numbers, and a single Large Red. Photos copyright Mark Tyrrell

8 May--Banded Demoiselle on the River Nene near Titchmarsh Reserve and im mature Red-eyed Damselflies at Thrapston fishing lakes (DS)

9 May--Blue-tailed  Damselflies emerging at Southfields Farm Marsh near Kettering (MT)

10 May--Perfect weather prompted a survey of two sites with my kids: At Wilson's Pits, Hairy Dragonfly were emerging along with Azure, Blue-tailed and Red-eyed Damselflies.

At Yardley Chase (now 26 degrees!), among hundreds of Large Reds including copulating and oviposting pairs, we found 6+ Four-spotted Chaser with their exuviae, 4 Hairy Dragonfly exuviae (the first found here) and the highlight -a Downy Emerald exuvia (MT)

All photos copyright Mark Tyrrell

11 May - Large Red Damselflies at Stortons Pits. Grand Union Canal at Rothersthorpe produced one Blue-tailed Damselfly (NM).

12 May--100+ Common Blue Damselflies including mature and tenerals, 50+ Banded Demoiselles, 10+ Blue-tailed Damselflies and 1 mature Large Red Damselfly, and 1 Male Hairy Dragonfly on the river next to the foot bridge to Titchmarsh Reserve (DS).

At Fermyn Country Park - 20+ Large Red Damselflies, including copulating and oviposting. One Four-spotted Chaser and 5+ Blue-tailed Damselfly (GB).

13 May--Two male Broad-bodied Chaser at territory on the River Ise near Finedon. One was in full mature colouration. Not their usual habitat, so perhaps they were feasting on all the midges and Mayflies emerging from the river. Also present Large Red and Red-eyed Damselflies. (MT)

Broad-bodied Chaser emerging from a private pond near Oundle (RP).

14 May--10+ Hairy Dragonflies including recent emergents and exuviae recorded at Barnes Meadow Reserve, Northampton. Also see Large Red oviposting, Red-eyed Azures and Blue-tailed Damselflies. (GB&IW)