Dibden Bottom & Ober Water

Although I'd seen a total of seven damsel and dragon species so far this year (mostly on the campus at work), we hadn't actually gone out specifically looking for damsels and dragons. Time to remedy that!

We decided to go to Rushbush Pond, Dibden Bottom, first. We'd visited the pond before last year, and saw a good number of species then. This time, a bit earlier in the season than last year, there were masses of damselflies (mostly azures, common blues and large reds), and two dragonfly species we hadn't seen there before: downy emerald and four-spotted chaser. 

Walking along the stream connecting the pond with Beaulieu river didn't give us anything new.

Then on to Ober Water. We had been to the western part last year, hoping to see beautiful demoiselles, but didn't see any then. We did now, though! Many flitting about the stream, both males and females.

Ober Water is also mentioned specifically as the only place in the New Forest to see white-legged damselflies, but, alas, that (new) species eluded us ...

Today's full tables, including the two butterflies we saw (one = 1; few = 2-4; several = 5-9; many = 10+):