Friday 24 April 2009

Blue-tailed Damselfly (Ischnura elegans).

First sighting of this species in Wiltshire for 2009 [as far as I'm aware anyway]. Today at the balancing ponds by the Semington Bypass.

Monday 20 April 2009

Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosomma nymphula).

More Large Reds.

Damian Pinguey visited the Pond at Chippenham behind the Volvo garage yesterday and discovered at least 20 Large Red Damselflies there! He took some shots too one of which is shown here. This warm weather is certainly accelerating things and it shouldn't be long before other species appear; A Downy Emerald was seen and photographed in Dorset yesterday! Also a Broad-bodied Chaser in Essex.

Thursday 16 April 2009

We're off!

Belatedly reported to me today was the sighting of a female Large Red Damselfly Pyrrhosoma nymphula in Swindon on Easter Monday 13th April. It visited the cafe of the lady owner who reported it and it was encouraged to leave by the gentle wafting of a newspaper! This cafe is at Rodbourne Cheney, not far from the fishing lakes at the back of Manor Garden Centre! Unfortunately the rain today and that forecast for tomorrow will prevent any search for more. But as soon as the sun reappears please get out there and start looking...

Tuesday 14 April 2009

Dotted Bee-fly (Bombylius discolor).

The new bee-fly in my garden.

The season has started - but not yet in Wilts!

Just to let you know that over the bank holiday weekend there have been several sightings of Large Red Damselflies emerging. Admittedly these are all from southern mostly coastal counties. But there is a strong possibility that some have emerged somewhere in Wiltshire. Likely spots are small, shallow, sheltered sunlit ponds where the water temperature will warm up more quickly than elsewhere.
As an aside, I had an interesting new insect garden tick yesterday in the form of the scarce Dotted Bee-fly [Bombylius discolor]