Darters and Skimmers

Back in Northamptonshire today after yesterday's gallivanting and I headed over to Priors Hall to have a look around. Unlike yesterday the sun was shining and it meant that many insects were active. One downside of this however was that the horseflies are on the wing and unfortunately on me too and I spent much of the time swatting my attackers.

Butterflies of summer, Small Heath, Meadow Brown and Common Blue...

I saw plenty of Common Blue Damsels before I even reached the site as many were hunting the grass verges of the A43. Once there I noticed a good number of Small Heaths and Common Blue butterflies while Meadow Brown numbers are on the increase.  At least five Green Hairstreaks were still on the wing and also four Dingy Skippers though the latter are clearly on the wane, their relatives, Large Skippers are however on the increase. Away from the grassland  Speckled Woods dominated with over fifty noted in the wooded areas.

...and some spring survivors, Green Hairstreak and Dingy Skipper.

Four-spotted Chasers were by far and away the commonest dragons with a veritable swarm around the ponds and their constant toing and froing made photography a little difficult. A male Emperor was present on the first pond and he seemed to keep both the Four-spots and also several Hairy Dragonflies to the margins of the ponds. Black-tailed Skimmers are beginning to increase while the males are beginning to develop their blue colour. Another species, Broad-bodied Chaser was present at two of the ponds and at least one female was ovipositing. Several darters were observed making what was likely to have been their first flight and I was lucky enough to get a picture of a Common Darter.

Large Skipper and Common Darter.

Damselflies were showing well too with Azures in particular being fairly common, I did check the hordes for any Variables but once again could not find any. Large Reds are still numerous and there were quite a few Common Blues too while there were a few Red-eyeds present. Another species that seemed to be doing well was Blue-tailed with rather a lot of this often quite unobtrusive species on view. Banded Demoiselles are a regular wanderer to the site, presumably from the streams in Weldon and I saw five males and a single female today. That made for a total of twelve odonata species which is my best total of the year so far.

Female Broad-bodied Chaser and young male Black-tailed Skimmer.

Not many birds about today though a Heron was flushed from one of the ponds and there seemed to be quite a lot of Reed Warblers around. Having had a pretty good little session I walked over to the Shoulder of Mutton pub where several pints of one of their locally brewed pints more than hit the spot.

Male Banded Demoiselle and mating Large Red Damsels.