Thank you America!

One of my highlights of 2025 was seeing and photographing my first 'Kent' aurantiaca female Scarce Blue-tailed Damselflies. Having only seen one once in the New Forest over 10 years ago, to suddenly see a bright orange carrot matchstick perched up in the long grass was very rewarding. They really are quite small and delicate to watch and study. They only spend a few days in this form before maturing up but this year at Sandwich Bay, it was great to find a few of this still, very rare Kent Damselfly. It would be nice to think that they can continue to go from strength to strength at Sandwich Bay and given the habitat there, there is every chance of this. 

On another note, I have been stunned this month by the number of visitors to 'Kent Dragonflies'. Normally, I get about 6000 visits each month but this month, I must thank America who seem to have found my blog. So far this month, I have had over 51,000 visits with about 2,500 visits each day. It's certainly nice to know that someone is looking in occasionally. Thank you. 

Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly - aurantiaca female 

Autumn Odonata

A walk at Nethergong on Saturday in warm pleasant conditions produced a few Migrant Hawker, Willow Emerald Damselfly and Common Darter on the wing. As I have mentioned in previous posts, the numbers of Willow Emerald Damselfly seem well down compared to previous years but I hope this is because they have spread out more in the area, rather than be confined to a few areas. It was nice to get the camera on a few species which obliged nicely too. Hopefully weather permitting, they can carry on for a few weeks yet.

Migrant Hawker - male

Willow Emerald Damselfly

A Few Willows About!

Whilst birding down at Nethergong this morning, I spent a while in an area that normally holds a few Willow Emerald Damselfly and was pleased to find c15. I only checked a small area in the sun and expect that if I had taken a better look in the whole area, that many more were probably to be found. Whilst looking for a photographic opportunity, a mating pair flew in and landed nearby so after a bit of stalking and trying to get a better cleaner angle, I was able to take a few pleasing efforts. Whilst I knew that the female's abdomen was thicker, these photos really do illustrate the size difference in the species. The male had a right time trying to tempt the female but eventually, all went well. I also manged to see c15 Migrant Hawker and c10 Common Darter but no sign of any Southern Migrant Hawkers on the drying up pools. 

Willow Emerald Damselfly

Female Lesser Emperor Surprise

Whilst down at Sandwich Bay last week with Terry and Keith, I was walking through the longer grasses when I flushed a large dragonfly from the edge of the water. Thankfully, it only flew a few metres and soon came to rest. As I raised the binoculars, I was pleased to see that it was a female Lesser Emperor. We had only been watching a male a short while earlier so nice to know a pair is around. She looked to have some age to her with her faded abdomen and slightly tattered wings but nonetheless, still an impressive beast. I took a few distant shots and was soon joined by Terry and Keith where we spent some time studying her and getting some photos. Despite us moving around, she didn't seem bothered so I moved in closer with the macro lens. She didn't move and Terry asked if she would go on my hand. I carefully put my hand down and she obliged. We had superb views up close like I have never had before. The details up close were incredible. I soon put her back down and took a few more shots before we moved off to leave her. Hopefully the male has found her and they have egg layed in one of the pools. A cracking encounter at this superb venue. 

Lesser Emperor - female