Thursley Common

Thursley Common is mentioned in several field guides and on several web-sites as a haven for dragonflies, and it's just over an hour's drive away for us ....

The large pond near the car park ('The Moat') gave us several downy emeralds (new species for Irma) and a few hairy dragonflies, as well as the usual collection of damselfly species (azure, blue-tailed, large red).

Unfortunately, the boardwalks going into the boggy area beyond were closed, due to what appears to have been a large out-of-control fire, so we had no choice but to skirt the edges of the bog. 

At least there were still some smaller and larger ponds which we could get close to!

And, with no exception, each of these ponds had at least a handful four-spotted chasers, the larger ones were teeming with them. By far the commonest dragonfly today! I had to wait for a long time before I could photograph one settling, as they were very active chasing each other and creating future four-spotted chasers.

The heather and gorse bushes a bit away from the water had several keeled skimmers ... 

... as well as a few common blue damselflies.

And we also saw a new species: a small red damselfly!

The highest number of "odo" species on a single day for us: 11! And we definitely need to come back next year, when the boardwalks are (hopefully) accessible again.

As to butterflies, just a pair of brimstones ....

Here the tables (one = 1; few = 2-4; several = 5-9; many = 10+).