Wildlife

James Lowen

Finally, a couple of throwbacks from our life earlier this summer in southern England. After a meeting in Sussex, I tried (but failed) to see Brilliant Emerald at Old Lodge NR, land owned by the family of a friend but managed by the local wildlife trust. The weather was inclement, so no dragons were flying. In the circumstances, I was quite pleased to located a Small Red Damselfly and this Black Darter.

Now a couple of garden Odonata. Southern Hawker and Migrant Hawker are regular visitors to gardens during August. Ours in Norwich was no exception.

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31 August 2014 There be dragons

I am smitten with dragonflies. In flight or at rest, eating or mating, they rock. Each genus has a distinct character: feeble damselflies, cunning darters, feisty skimmers, pugnacious hawkers. Here are a few images from this summer that have not already featured on the blog.

First up, a recent arrival to British shores. Willow Emerald Damselfly was not known here a decade ago. Now it is found from Norfolk south to Kent - and every summer, new sites are discovered. These images were taken on the outskirts of Norwich (Norfolk), in the car park by the River Yare at Cringleford.