• ABOUT
  • BIRDING 2018
  • Birding 2019
  • BLOG POSTS
  • Butterflies 2018
  • Resources

earthstar

~ a celebration of nature

earthstar

Tag Archives: British odonata

Hairy dragonfly

16 Tuesday May 2023

Posted by sconzani in insects

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Brachytron pratense, British dragonflies, British odonata, dragonfly, Hairy dragonfly, Odonata

The British Dragonfly Society website describes this lovely creature as the ‘UK’s smallest, hairiest Hawker that emerging [sic] before other Hawkers in May’, so the name Hairy dragonfly (Brachytron pratense) seems appropriate. The website also says it is ‘mainly found near unpolluted, well-vegetated water bodies’, though this particular beastie was in a secluded woody clearing, with a probably polluted (as once a quarry), definitely not well-vegetated lake a couple of hundred metres away. So, don’t write off the possibility if you see a potential Hairy dragonfly in an odd habitat! All that being said, this is a species I don’t see very often so I was very pleased to have found one.

Like this:

Like Loading...

Small but large

27 Wednesday Apr 2022

Posted by sconzani in insects

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

British damselflies, British odonata, damselfly, Large Red damselfly

Our first odonata of the year are out and flying in the local landscape. I somehow missed seeing any Large red damselflies last year – I’m not sure how that happened – but I saw six in one day at the end of last week so I’ve well and truly made up for last year’s omission. I’m seeing reports of Large reds being spotted all around Britain, so I hope you’ve also managed to have your first odonata fix of the season.

220427 large red damselfly

Like this:

Like Loading...

Golden-ringed dragon

10 Saturday Jul 2021

Posted by sconzani in insects

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

British dragonflies, British odonata, Cordulegaster boltonii, Golden-ringed dragonfly

It may have been only my second ever sighting of this gorgeous dragonfly species but, with its distinctive markings perfectly matching its name, I was certain of my ID – this is a Golden-ringed dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltonii). These beauties can be found in upland areas, heathlands and woodlands that have the flowing water they favour for breeding. The Golden-ringed I saw was close to a small river in a woodland setting, no more than 100 metres from where I spotted the White-letter hairstreak I posted about yesterday. That was a memorable walk indeed!

210710 golden-ringed dragonfly

You can read more about this dragonfly, and see lots of stunning images, on the British Dragonfly Society website.

Like this:

Like Loading...

Finally, odonata

19 Wednesday May 2021

Posted by sconzani in insects

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Azure damselfly, British damselflies, British odonata, Common blue damselfly, Cosmeston Lakes Country Park, damselfly

My first damselflies (still no dragonflies) of 2021 have been a long time coming but, finally, yesterday, at Cosmeston Lakes Country Park, before a thunderstorm drenched both the insects and me, I saw a small number of both Azure and Common blue damselflies in some of the more sheltered places around the fields … and it was magical!

Azure damselfly

Common blue damselfly

Like this:

Like Loading...

About me

sconzani

sconzani

I'm a writer and photographer; researcher and blogger; birder and nature lover; countryside rambler and city strider; volunteer and biodiversity recorder.

View Full Profile →

Follow earthstar on WordPress.com

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Recent blog posts

  • Beauty and the beast June 6, 2023
  • An early Painted Lady June 5, 2023
  • Four orchid firsts June 4, 2023
  • The dragon with the golden rings June 3, 2023
  • The Mallards June 2, 2023

From the archives

Follow me on Twitter

My Tweets

COPYRIGHT

Unless otherwise acknowledged, the text and photographs on this blog are my own and are subject to international copyright. Nothing may be downloaded or copied without my permission.

Fellow Earth Stars!

Blog at WordPress.com.

  • Follow Following
    • earthstar
    • Join 590 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • earthstar
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...
 

You must be logged in to post a comment.

    %d bloggers like this: