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THE CONSERVATION BUDDHA
A Very British Blog About Wildlife
BANDED DEMOISELLE
One of my favourite Dragonflies, the Male is a gorgeous metallic blue colour and the female is a metallic green. Prob one of our most common Damselflies seen flying up and down the brook in the summer months between May and August.
AZURE DAMSELFLY
Only new to the course in June 2020 and possibly overlooked previously as it is very similar in appearance to the Common Blue Damselfly
COMMON BLUE DAMSELFLY
An abundant Damselfly in good numbers over the pond and along the brook during the summer.
SMALL RED-EYED DAMSELFLY
New for the course in the summer of 2019 when lots of them suddenly appeared all over the pond.
WILLOW EMERALD DAMSELFLY
This Damselfly was only new to Bedfordshire in 2012 and is spreading, finally reaching John o Gaunt in October 2019. Definately a case of being in the right place at the right time. I was by the brook cutting rough, got out to move a post when it flew down and landed on a leaf right in front of me. Quick pic with my camera phone and it was off. So far the only record.
EMPEROR DRAGONFLY
The Emperor is a large species of Hawker Dragonfly. We used to only get the odd single record but the last few years sightings have increased and it is now breeding with evidence of the female laying eggs (ovipositing)
BLUE TAILED DAMSELFLY
New to the course in 2018, rather striking colour of black and turqoise blue appears in small numbers in the summer.
LARGE RED TAILED DAMSELFLY MATING
Fairly common on the course seen along the brook during the summer in small numbers.
RUDDY DARTER
It is similar in appearance to the Common Darter. The male has a blood red appearance, Black legs and a club shaped abdomen. Like the Common Darter it is often seen late in the year. This pic was taken in October.
FEMALE COMMON DARTER
The Common Darter as it's name suggests is the most common of the Darter species of Dragonfly in the UK often being seen as late as November. The male is dull to bright orange-red.
FEMALE SOUTHERN HAWKER
A large species of Hawker Dragonfly often seen hunting away from water around woodland edges. It is not seen every year at the golf club but sightings are gradually increasing. I did find a Southern Hawker exuvia (outer skin after emerging as an adult) in the pond, so it is confirmed as a breeding species at the golf club.
FOUR - SPOTTED CHASER
A large Dragonfly species, easily recognised by the four black spots on the wings, new to the club in May 2019.
Male Black-tailed Skimmer.jpg
The Male is often seen around the pond, often seen resting on the wall/rock cages. The female has been seen along the brook but not as often
Female emperor Dragonfly Ovipositing.
The number of sightings of Emperor Dragonfly has increased over the last few years. I used to only get the odd one on a hot summers day but now there are up to 4 and as you can see from the video of the female ovipositing (laying eggs) the Emperor is now a breeding species at John o' Gaunt.
Golf Club Dragonflies
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