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Small Red-eyed Damselfly - Lound - July 19, 2003 - İRobert Wilton



BANDED DEMOISELLE
Calopteryx splendens
Carlton Marshes (Sprat's Water) - June 21st (female).
Lound Waterworks - July 20th (male).
Oulton Village - August 9th (male).



EMERALD DAMSELFLY Lestes sponsa
Gunton (nr. Tesco's) - July 20th (1 male), 26th (1 male).
Belton Marshes - August 9th.
Oulton Village - August 9th (3).
Somerleyton Village Pond - August 9th (2).
Lound Waterworks - August 13th (male), 16th.



LARGE RED DAMSELFLY
Pyrrhosoma nymphula
Oulton Marshes - May 25th (1).
Carlton Marshes - May 26th (2), June 8th.


Large Red Damselfly ©Andrew Easton
Large Red Damselfly - Carlton Marshes - May 26th, 2003 - İAndrew Easton


RED-EYED DAMSELFLY Erythromma najas
Carlton Marshes - June 8th (2 males), 29th (1 male).
Lound Waterworks - June 8th (several), 21st (numerous), July 13th, August 3rd, 10th (numerous), 13th (numerous), 16th.
Gunton (nr. Tesco's) - June 22nd (5).
Corton sewage works - June 29th (1), August 3rd (2), 10th (4), 13th (2).
Corton Woods - June 29th (5+).
Oulton Village - August 9th (8).
Belton Marshes - August 9th (3).



SMALL RED-EYED DAMSELFLY Erythromma viridulum
The expansion of this species is truly remarkable. First recorded in the UK in Essex in 1999 they have shown a rapid increase and are amongst the commonest species in the Lounge Lizard area. Noted during 2003 at:
Corton Sewage Works - July 19th (pr. ovipositing), August 2nd (10+ males), 3rd (90 males + 2 pr's), 10th (35 males, 4 pr's), 13th (30+), 24th (2).
Corton Woods - July 19th (8), 22nd (15), August 3rd (1).
Oulton Village - June 29th (3), August 9th (8).
Lound Water Works - June 29th (1), July 13th (2 prs. ovipositing + 10 males), 19th (60+), August 3rd, 10th (numerous), 13th (everywhere!!!), 16th.
Gunton (NR Tesco's) - July 13th (1), 20th (1),
Lowestoft (private site) - July 17th (80+), 20th (c800), 26th (2 500+).
Belton Marshes - August 9th (30+).
Benacre Pits - August 2nd (1 male) (Just south of our boundary).


At a private pond in North Lowestoft choked with weed 80 were recorded on July 17th. An attempt to count the population on the 20th produced a conservative estimate of 800. In order to get a better idea of the population here another visit was made on the 26th. The pond was buzzing and after checking the site to confirm that the species was evenly distributed over the whole site a count was made of the individuals on one area of weed. Multiplying this number by the number of patches of this size that would cover the surface produced a total of 2 500. 120 pairs were ovipositing in the small areas of open water and in addition to the numerous males milling around on the weed several were feeding in the plants around the lake. It is little wonder that this species has been expanding its range so rapidly when it can be this abundant. Whether this super abundance will be a permanent characteristics of this species, or a passing phase in the colonization process remains to be seen. Over the three visits just one Red-eyed Damselfly was seen on the 17th. Small numbers of Common Blue Damselfly were present on all three visits.

The most accessible site for Small Red-eyed Damselfly locally remains Lound Waterworks (where it can be compared directly with the larger Red-eyed Damselfly) and around 30 pairs and numerous extra males were spread out along the two main lakes. It is best to approach from the Hopton end as the road is closed for maintenance near the Lound end.



AZURE DAMSELFLY Coenagrion puella
Belton Marshes - August 9th (8).



VARIABLE DAMSELFLY Coenagrion pulchellum
Oulton Marshes - May 25th (numerous).
Carlton Marshes - May 26th (numerous), June 8th.



COMMON BLUE DAMSELFLY Enallagma cyathigerum
Lound Waterworks - June 8th, July 13th, August 13th (several pairs in tandem).
Corton sewage works - June 29th, August (43 males + 2 pairs), 10th (numerous), 13th (15+).
Gunton - July 20th.
Corton Woods - August 3rd (5).
Oulton Village - August 9th (20).
Somerleyton Village Pond - August 9th (10).
Belton Marshes - August 9th (120+).


BLUE-TAILED DAMSELFLY Ischnura elegans
Oulton Marshes - May 25th (2).
Carlton Marshes - May 26th.
Lound Waterworks - July 13th, August 13th (3).
Gunton - July 20th.
Corton Woods - August 3rd (4).
Corton Sewage Works - August 3rd (5), 10th (5).
Oulton Village - August 9th (4).
Somerleyton Village Pond - August 9th (2).
Belton Marshes - August 9th (10)
Blundeston - August 16th (4).



MIGRANT HAWKER Aeshna mixta
Freshly emerged individuals were noted at Lound Waterworks and Gunton on July 20th. The species was numerous at Belton Common and Gunton on July 26th.
On August 9th hundreds were between Waveney Forest and Belton Marshes. Noted at most places in reasonable numbers towards the end of September.



SOUTHERN HAWKER
Aeshna cyanea
Belton Common - July 26th.
Gunton - July 26th.
Corton Sewage Works - August 3rd.
Somerleyton Village Pond - August 9th (2)
Flixton - August 16th.
Waveney Forest - August 16th.
Corton Woods - September 27th (3).



BROWN HAWKER Aeshna grandis
Carlton Marshes - June 21st (1), 29th (numerous).
Lound Waterworks - June 29th (1 ovipositing), July 13th (several ovipositing), August 10th (ovipositing), 13th (3).
Gunton (NR Tesco's) - July 20th.
Belton Common - August 3rd (4).
Belton Marshes - August 9th (6+).



NORFOLK HAWKER
Anaciaeschna isoceles
At Carlton Marshes several were noted during visits on June 8th and 21st.
Coinciding with recent sightings in the Minsmere area three were found at the dragonfly hotspot of Lound Waterworks on June 15th. One was also photographed there on the 22nd. Presumably the same individual was also seen there on July 6th and 20th.



EMPEROR DRAGONFLY Anax imperator
Carlton Marshes - June 21st (2 males).
Gunton (NR Tesco's) - June 22nd (1 male).
Lowestoft (private site) - July 20th (2 males).
Corton Sewage Works - July 13th (female ovipositing), August 3rd (2 males + female ovipositing).
Lound Waterworks - June 21st (3 males), July 13th (female ovipositing), August 3rd (male).
Corton Woods - August 3rd (female ovipositing).
Oulton Village - August 9th (female).
Belton Marshes - August 9th (1 male, 2 female).



LESSER EMPEROR DRAGONFLY Anax parthenope
The undoubted insect blockbuster of 2003 will surely prove to be the male Lesser Emperor at Lound Water Works from July 13-19. This highly sought after species has been recorded less than 20 times in Britain and is likely to constitute Suffolk's first record of this rare migrant from southern Europe. On the first day it was twitched by two other lucky observers before heading east pursued by an Emperor.

The lakes at Lound cover an extensive area with limited access - patience was called for! One six hour wait provided a tantalizing 30 second view before a male Emperor chased it off again. Apparently this is a common problem when trying to watch this species and views were always brief because of this during the week. It was seen briefly on the 14th, 15th, 16th and 18th afternoon/early evening.

The best performance was on the 19th it was seen several times, 30 minutes in total. On this occasion it favoured the lake in front of Oak Farm, viewable from the causeway late afternoon. Several flight shots were obtained, as it wasn't seen to settle at any point during its stay. In the main picture below light reflecting off the abdomen makes it appear quite light in colour. However, the two insets show the true appearance of dark brown thorax and most of the abdomen, with a bright pale blue band around the base of the abdomen.

Lesser Emperor ©Andrew Easton
Lesser Emperor - Lound - July 19th, 2003 - İAndrew Easton


HAIRY DRAGONFLY
Brachytron pratense
Carlton Marshes - May 26th, June 8th, 29th (1).



FOUR-SPOTTED CHASER Libellula quadrimaculata
Oulton Marshes - May 25th.
Carlton Marshes - June 8th, 29th (numerous).
Lound Waterworks - July 13th.
Belton Marshes - August 9th (2).



SCARCE CHASER Libellula fulva
Carlton Marshes - June 29th (3+ males).



BROAD-BODIED CHASER Libellula depressa
A very smart pair of Broad-bodied Chasers Libellula depressa were along Corton disused railway line on June 8th, a picture of the female appears below. A female was again there on the 14th.
Gunton (NR Tesco's) - June 22nd (3).
Corton Sewage Works - June 29th ( 2 males), August 3rd (2 males).

Broad-bodied Chaser ©Robert Wincup
Broad-bodied Chaser - Corton - June 8th, 2003 - İRobert Wincup


BLACK-TAILED SKIMMER Orthetrum cancellatum
Lound Waterworks - June 8th, June 21st, July 13th, August 3rd (2), 10th (1).
Carlton Marshes - June 21st.
Lowestoft (private site) - July 20th.



COMMON DARTER Sympetrum striolatum
Lound Waterworks - July 13th, August 13th (10+).
Gunton (nr Tesco's) - July 20th.
Corton Sewage Works - August 3rd (3), 13th (5).
Waveney Forest - August 2nd (100's).
Belton Common - August 3rd (100's).
Oulton Village - August 9th (10).
Somerleyton Village Pond - August 9th (2).
Belton Marshes - August 9th (100's).
Noted at most places in reasonable numbers towards the end of September. On the 27th a fairly freshly emerged individual was in Corton Woods.



RED-VEINED DARTER Sympetrum fonscolombii
One male was found at Corton Sewage Works on August 2nd, and frequented the same area behind the pool as last years individuals. Though these ones seem slightly less approachable.

On the 3rd a minimum of five males were present, outnumbering the three Common Darters present! Most were again rather skittish, but one of them did allow a very close approach. Noted on August 7th (3), 9th (2), 10th (3), 12th (2+), 13th (5), 16th (1), 20th (3), 24th (1), 25th (1).


Red-veined Darter ©Robert Wincup
Red-veined Darter - Corton - August 10, 2003 - İRobert Wincup



YELLOW-WINGED DARTER Sympetrum flaveolum
Whilst searching for new sites for Small Red-eyed Damselfly on July 20th an immature male Yellow-winged Darter Sympetrum flaveolum was found at Gunton. It was around a small pond near the Tesco superstore (TM537958). It promptly disappeared and could not be re-found despite an extensive search. What was probably a different individual was seen early afternoon.

No pictures were obtained as it cleared off while cameras were being prepared, the observers didn't expect it to disappear so quickly! The basal two segments of the abdomen well marked with red, with the remainder of the abdomen orangey yellow. The abdomen was more or less parallel sided lacking the waisted appearance of Ruddy Darter with extensive unbroken black flanks. The legs were also two toned. We didn't note the colour of the pterostigma before it vanished.

Between one third and one half of each hind wing were a solid amber, much deeper in intensity and more prominent than that shown by some teneral Ruddies, and extended uniformly from the front to the rear of the wing. The yellow on the forewing was similarly intense. In colouration and distribution of yellow it was the spitting image of the male example figured in Cyril Hammond's Dragonflies of Great Britain and Ireland. This species was last recorded in our area at Lound Waterworks in the invasion year of 1996.


RUDDY DARTER Sympetrum sanguineum
Lound Waterworks - July 13th, August 10th (10), 13th (6).
Gunton - July 20th (10), August 5th (1), 10th (5).
Belton Common - August 3rd (1).
Oulton Village - August 9th (5).
Somerleyton Village Pond - August 9th (1).
Belton Marshes - August 9th (40+).