Back to Wildern LNR today, about two months after we were last there. Coltsfoot pond was still struggling with a low water level, but a lot of invasive water plants had been cleared, creating more open water.
As we arrived, it was overcast and quite chilly. Accordingly, there was no damseldragonfly activity at all .... Until we saw a male southern hawker, hanging in the bushes, trying to warm up. Great opportunity for a close-up picture!
We walked around the pond several times, not seeing any further odo's, until the sun broke through the clouds, and it warmed up noticeably ...
Common darters came out, mating and ovipositing, and so making sure there will be common darters next year.
Pair of migrant hawkers also became active, with the female ovipositing in various places.
The title of this blog post talks about a new species, right? Here's the story of that one. We were given a tip that willow emerald damselflies had been seen repeatedly for over a week around Coltsfoot pond. Seemed a shame not to give seeing a new species a try! It wasn't until it warmed up that we first saw a damselfly shoot across the pond, and shortly after we saw one hanging from a birch branch. Took a quick picture just as it launched itself from the branch.
Here the usual tables, quite likely the last ones for 2022 (one = 1; few = 2-4; several = 5-9; many = 10+):
