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Red Veined Darters

Posted by on July 5, 2009 12:20 AM | 

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Many thanks to Phil Smith for sending me these shots of Red veined Darters at Sands Lake - I didn't get a chance to look at them again today (busy time on the beach), but will have another crack tomorrow if I get the opportunity, they really are the most superb insects.
"Just back from Sands Lake, Ainsdale: at least 4 male and a pair (ovipositing!) of Red-veined Darters (Sympetrum fonscolombii) zooming about at northern end with Emperors, Black-tailed Skimmers, Four-spot Chasers etc," Phil e-mailed me on Thursday.
"Just like the Camargue - same temperature too!
"Birkdale scrapes also swarming with Broad-bodied Chasers, Blacktailed Skimmers, Four-spots, Emperors etc.
"Just amazing; anything could turn up!"

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And today Phil writes: "Sands Lake early afternoon today. At least seven male Red-veined Darters plus pair ovipositing. Also the large parasitoid fly Tachina grossa."

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Not much else that I saw today - Peregrine heading north over the dunes at 6.30pm, Sarnie Terns inshore, but tomorrow is another day.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...

Comments (7)

David McGrath wrote...

Hi John

Any Dark Green Frits in the dunes yet? Not sure if any were recorded last summer (was it a summer?)

Cheers

D

Posted by: David McGrath  | July 5, 2009 10:47 AM

John wrote...

A few have been seen down Formby way in the hot weather last week Dave - Cabin Hill is always a good bet.

Posted by: John  | July 5, 2009 11:17 AM

nogbad wrote...

Thanks for the superb photos - I thought they might have been a dragonfly, but it wasn't in my (basic) wildlife of Britain book. They are stunning.

Posted by: nogbad  | July 5, 2009 11:17 AM

baz wrote...

The 2 Green Sands were showing really well from the Swan Link hide today (Sunday) at Martin Mere.

Posted by: baz  | July 5, 2009 6:24 PM

Phil Smith wrote...

At least four males and a pair of Red-veined Darters still on Sands Lake today, disappearing during cloudy conditions. Great views when they perch on the boardwalk. An absolute treat for the dragonfly nut and not to be missed!
Dark Green Fritillaries appear to be having an exceptional year, turning up in new places like Freshfield Dune Heath. The best places to look include the Cabin Hill, Ravenmeols and Ainsdale dunes, about 100m in from the beach where there are plenty of flowers. Thistles and brambles are most favoured as nectar sources. Also good are sunny patches sheltered by scrub or pine plantations. These are very fast-flying butterflies, difficult to pin down. The best chance for photos is to stake out a patch of flowering Spear Thistle.

Posted by: Phil Smith  | July 5, 2009 9:37 PM

Pete Marsh wrote...

Help! Nearly as good as Middleton. More seriously, were there two influxes, early June with the Painted Ladies and on or about 4th July (see e.g. Walney Obs site?) Have you seen any sign of immaturity in any of the males?

It has been really difficult to be certain whether any this year at Middleton are from local stock with the only evidence being two imm males last week and a reported teneral, thought to be this species, two weeks ago

Regards

Pete

Posted by: Pete Marsh  | July 11, 2009 9:41 PM

John wrote...

Hi Pete - I didn't notice any influxes in early June - although I was up in Norway/Finland for much of the time. The Red Veined Darters at Ainsdale seemed to turn up at the beginning of July, I haven't seen any immature types yet - but Phil Smith is your man for the definitive answer to that one.
John

Posted by: John  | July 12, 2009 12:31 PM

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