Friday 31 May 2019

Dragonfly Season

Paxton Pits Nature Reserve is one of Britain’s top places to see dragonflies.This is partly due to our location in East Anglia which is generally a good region for them, but also due to the range of wetlands on the Reserve that includes large and small still-water lakes and running water along the Great Ouse. It’s no wonder that photographers and naturalists come from all over the UK to see us. One of the most enthusiastic is Peter Wood who kindly contributed these photos. 
Four-spotted chaser (Peter Wood)
At the start of June we are already into the peak season and the list of species seen to date is remarkable. Of the big, glamorous species, we have seem emperors, hairy dragonflies, Norfolk hawkers, four-spotted chasers, scarce chasers, broad bodied chasers and black-tailed skimmers. Brown hawkers, southern hawkers, ruddy darters and common darters are yet to come, as well as the migrant hawkers which arrive in July plus any surprise visits by rarer migrants. Our regular annual list contains over 12 species, and that's not counting damselflies.
Emperor (Peter Wood)
Damselflies are smaller than dragonflies, but they are every bit as beautiful. They hold their wings folded along the body when resting while dragonflies hold their wings out at flat to either side. This year we have seen at least eight species of damselfly with more to come in late summer. 
Norfolk hawker (Peter Wood)
Almost every year brings us a new species, the most recent being willow emerald damselflies and our star attraction, the Norfolk hawker. 
The willow emerald holds its wings half way out
unlike most other damsels. (Peter Wood)
With British insect life generally in steep decline, the value of nature reserves like Paxton Pits that provide a chemical-free haven for them can’t be overestimated.