Saturday 2 April 2016

Bad News for Recording Kent Odonata

With my wife and 2 girls going to the O2 this afternoon to see 'The Vamps' performing tonight, I had the afternoon to myself and with warm sunshine, I spent some time looking over the tanks and garden pond to see if any damselflies would emerge. As it happens, whilst sitting on the bench, 1 Large Red Damselfly emerged providing a nice spectacle to watch. In the shallows I could see a few more damselfly nymphs, some of them possibly Azure or Variable which I introduced a few months ago and I suspect it won't be too long until they think about emerging. With some time on my hands, I went through some of yesterdays photos and also spent some time photographing a Large Red Damselfly as it rested on rocks around the pond.

Large Red Damselfly Emerging 

Large Red Damselfly 'fresh wing'

On another note, regular readers will know that I visit a site near Reculver which has been fantastic for dragonflies and damselflies in the past few years. It was put up 'For Sale' a while ago and not long after as I passed by, a 'Sold' sign appeared. I made the odd visit hoping I would bump into the new owners where I hoped I could obtain permission to carry on visiting. On a visit, I did indeed meet one of the workers / owners, a very polite man who informed me that the land and water had been bought for 'duck shooting' and that I probably wouldn't be able to get permission there but he would try. I spoke to him a few days later where he did inform me that the young owner didn't want anyone on the site. He will continue to try for me as he was happy for me to make visits but I suspect that might be it for this site, devastating news for one of the best sites in Kent for odonata! This site has produced 22 species of dragonfly and damselfly including rare species such as Norfolk Hawker, Lesser Emperor, Red veined Darter, Southern, Willow,  and Scarce Emerald Damselfly to name a few. I just hope that he persuades the owner to change his mind and that I might be of benefit to let them know what wildlife appears at this site. As i'm often told, shooters are very much conservationists, we shall wait and see!


Large Red Damselfly 

17 comments:

  1. WOW! Amazing pictures.What is a stern-looking males and females? When I do not remember how to distinguish between them.

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  2. I wonder if seeing your blog and photos would persuade him to let you continue?

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    1. I did pass on my website address, hence why I was quite polite with my comments and feelings just in case its read. It would be nice to think this could happen but I don't hold out much hope.

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  3. Wonderful images as ever Marc. Hope you get more positive news soon about your site!!

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    1. Thanks Bob. Think this site may be lost to me know and all will go unrecorded, a great shame.

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  4. Crumbs, your work with macro is brilliant Marc.

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    1. Many thanks Bob. A real challenge with lots of patience required.

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  5. Marc,
    At least it's not going to have a housing estate put on it. A Duck shoot is the second worst option for it though :-(

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    1. Thats alot of my photo sessions gone for the season. Such a good range of species as well. Maybe the gods will look down on me and find me somewhere else to look.

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  6. I'm gutted to hear of the loss of this excellent site Marc. I won't make any comments on your website re the planned use for this location, and I admire your ability to remain outwardly calm and polite to the people involved.

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    1. Inside I'm very angry/upset but put a lid on my comments should the owners of the land read my blog. Hopefully they could then see that I could be a part of recording the wildlife that inhabits there.

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  7. Marc, as you will know, there are different types of duck shooters, something that both Warren and Peter will never accept. Some can be appalling conservationists but others such as the much maligned on the KOS website, Kent Wildfowlers, are of a very good and helpful type, that manage their sites for all forms of wildlife. Westbere lakes are a typical example of that.
    If I was you I would go all out to speak to one of the owners direct, with a selection of your photos, and the suggestion that not only would your visits take place outside the shooting season but that good PR for what they are doing could also result. Good luck.

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    1. Some sound advise Derek. I will try again in the next few days with my contact, urging him to take a look at my blog and photos.

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    2. You could also suggest that your regular presence could act as a form of caretaker.

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  8. Desperately sorry to hear of your concerns about Reculver, Marc. I'd already made a mental note, as a result of its regular appearance on your blog, to approach you about the possibility of my visiting there. I'll walk away from that idea now. I just hope that you can secure permission for you to continue visiting, and that the ecology of the place isn't detrimentally disturbed.

    I still intend, however, to visit the Sussex/Kent region this summer in search of the odonata.

    Oh - and those images of the Large Red Damselfly are amazing!

    With my very best wishes - - - - Richard

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    1. Many thanks Richard. I shall try to contact them again to see if anything can be done. Not hoping for much but its better than sitting back and doing nothing.

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