Back to Hillier Gardens

When we went to Hillier Gardens early May this year, we only saw three butterfly species, and no dragons or damsels. Clearly, it was a wee bit early in the season! Last year, in mid-August, we saw ten butterfly species (we weren't yet into dragon/damselflies then), and in mid-September, we saw three dragonfly species (and only four butterfly species). Could we do better on both fronts this time, in late July?

Weather was warm and sunny, with just some occasional clouds, and the focus for butterflies was, as always, on the Centenary Border. 

Lots of gatekeepers, lots of peacocks, lots of meadow browns ...

... and a very good selection of other species. 

A total of 14 species, four more than last year, and our second-highest number of butterfly species in a single day!

On to dragons and damsels, there was not much activity on the large pond, though we did see a banded demoiselle, lots of azure damselflies, and a sole emperor there. Also, we saw a few common darters somewhat away from the ponds.

The most interesting dragonfly activity was at the small ponds this time:

A few patrolling golden-ringed dragonflies, a few emperors (one of which was ovipositing), and a few southern hawkers there. A male southern hawker swooped down onto a female and grabbed her by the head, and the sound of the impact as the two clashed was clearly audible! Total of eight dragons and damsels today, much more than the three we saw late last year (when, admittedly, the season was drawing to a close):

Here the tables of a very successful butterdamseldragon day (one  = 1; few = 2-4; several = 5-9; many = 10+):