Southern Surveys

With a day of warm sunshine but a brisk wind forecast, I had arranged with the warden of Sandwich Bay to survey a few private sites in the area for dragonflies and damselflies. After arriving on site about 11am, I really wanted to see whether I could find any mating pairs of Southern Migrant Hawkers and if possible, see them egg laying in the ditches. After finding the first female in the area the week before, this would be fitting to complete the picture of this species and hopefully confirm that they are attempting to breed in the area. The wind made for a difficult few hours but walking the ditches, I managed to find 13 Southern Migrant Hawkers which included one mating pair which thankfully appeared in front of me when I was taking a drink break. As ever in these situations, all kinds of vegetation is normally in the way but I managed to take a few photos to confirm that the species is indeed mating in the ditches there.

 

Southern Migrant Hawker (Aeshna affinis) - mating pair

 

They eventually moved off into the shade to continue their private moment which ironically would have produced the best photo if I had managed to make it to the other side for a photo. I continued to walk and check the ditches where the cattle had left their footprints on the edge of the water when all of a sudden, a pair of Southern Migrant Hawkers flew up from one of the holes and continued to look for more egg laying sites. I was off in hot pursuit and saw them land a few more times in the cattle prints and slowly moved in for a shot. They were quite obscured but I had good views as they reversed down the hole to oviposit. I took a record shot which at least confirms that they are attempting to egg lay here.

 

Southern migrant Hawker (Aeshna affinis) - Ovipositing Pair

 

Feeling pleased with the detective work, I made my way back and checked a few more dry pools where I found 2 Southern Emerald Damselfly resting. I spent a few minutes here taking a few pleasing photos as they blew around in the wind.

 

Southern Emerald Damselfly (Lestes barbarus) - male

 

Other bits noted today included 2 Migrant Hawker and 3 Emperor Dragonfly. Despite the strong wind, a very successful trip and nice to be able to slowly put the jigsaw pieces together with the Southern Migrant Hawkers. Hopefully next year all being well, we will be able to prove without doubt that they are breeding in the area as we already expect they are.

 

Southern Emerald Damselfly (Lestes barbarus) - male

 

Southern Migrant Hawker (Aeshna affinis) - male